Downed wood as seedbed: measurement and management guidelines

Abstract

Eastern hemlock has exacting germination requirements, and availability of suitable microsites for germination can limit the development of hemlock regeneration. A major contributor to those microsites is coarse woody debris. New methods for quantifying coarse woody debris have recently been developed that are complementary to strategies typically used in timber cruising. We discuss practical issues in estimating the abundance of coarse woody debris and associated germination microsites, and illustrate the techniques with reference to preliminary guidelines for coarse woody debris abundance.

Parent Publication

• Proceedings: symposium on sustainable management of hemlock ecosystems in eastern North America

Citation

Ducey, Mark J.; Gove, Jeffrey H. 2000. Downed wood as seedbed: measurement and management guidelines. In: McManus, Katherine A.; Shields, Kathleen S.; Souto, Dennis R., eds. Proceedings: Symposium on sustainable management of hemlock ecosystems in eastern North America. Gen. Tech. Rep. NE-267. Newtown Square, PA: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Northeastern Forest Experiment Station. 34-42.