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Abstract
Monitoring environmental change through documentation of species composition becomes problematic when compositional changes take several years to occur or simply do not occur following silvicultural treatment. Morphological characteristics (e.g., leaf area, node density, bud number) change in many plant species in response to factors such as light availability, soil compaction, and organic matter removal. As a monitoring tool, morphological characteristics: 1) detect plant responses soon after treatment, 2) reveal underlying factors that produce changes in plant condition and composition, 3) allow prediction of short-term growth response and long-term forest development, and 4) may aid in communicating effects of silvicultural treatments.
Parent Publication
Citation
Buckley, David S.; Zasada, John C.; Tappeiner, John C., II; Stone, Douglas M. 1997. Plant morphological characteristics as a tool in monitoring response to silvicultural activities. In: Communicating the role of silviculture in managing the national forests: Proceedings of the National Silviculture Workshop. 1997 May 19-22; Warren, PA.: Gen. Tech. Rep. NE-238. Radnor, PA: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Northeastern Forest Experiment Station. 37-41.
