Monitoring the effects of partial cutting and gap size on microclimate and vegetation responses in northern hardwood forests in Wisconsin

Abstract

Silviculture modifies the environment. Past monitoring of silvicultural practices has been usually limited to vegetation responses, but parallel monitoring of the environment is needed to better predict these responses. In an example of monitoring temperatures in two studies of northern hardwood forests in Wisconsin, we found that different silvicultural practices modified the environment significantly. Temperatures become more extreme as openings in the forest canopy become larger. Temperatures in some cases reached lethal levels. By monitoring the microenviroment along with vegetation responses to different silvicultural practices, we can learn how to grow specific plants or plant communities by adapting the current silvicultural guides.

Parent Publication

• Communicating the role of silviculture in managing the national forests: Proceedings of the National Silviculture Workshop

Citation

Strong, Terry F.; Teclaw, Ron M.; Zasada, John C. 1997. Monitoring the effects of partial cutting and gap size on microclimate and vegetation responses in northern hardwood forests in Wisconsin. 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. 42-47.