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Abstract
Crown class, stem diameter, and sprout rank of 2067 red maples on medium quality sites were measured at 10-yr intervals between 1927-1987. Nominal stand age was 25 yrs in 1927. There was a progressive increase in the probability of an individual red maple ascending into the upper canopy and persisting in the upper canopy from suppressed through dominant crown classes between ages 25-85. While 41% of dominant red maples remained in the upper canopy for any 30-yr period, less than 10% of intermediate red maples ascended into dominant or codominant crown classes. Mortality rates were highest for the lower crown classes between ages 25-85. Mortality rates between ages 25-55 ranged from 18% for dominant trees to 75% for suppressed trees. Within several diameter classes at age 25, survival through age 55, and the proportion found in upper canopy at age 55 was greater for the higher crown classes. Mortality increased by approximately 10% with each decrease in crown class for similarly-sized red maples. Mortality rates between ages 25-55 were lower for the largest red maple in a sprout clump than for lesser sprouts and single stem red maples. Ingrowth was an important component of the lower crown classes, accounting for two-thirds of suppressed red maple at stand age 85. Red maple mortality rates decreased, and the rate of ascension into superior crown classes increased, following gypsy moth defoliations between 1961-64 and subsequent upper canopy oak mortality.
Citation
Ward, Jeffery S.; Stephens, George R. 1993. Influence of crown class, diameter, and sprout rank on red maple (
Acer rubrum L.) development during forest succession in Connecticut. In: Gillespie, Andrew R.; Parker, George R.; Pope, Phillip E.; Rink, George: eds. Proceedings of the 9th Central Hardwood Forest Conference; Gen. Tech. Rep. NC-161. St. Paul, MN: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, North Central Forest Experiment Station: 342-352
