DYNAST: Simulating wildlife responses to forest management strategies
| Authors: | Gary L. Benson, William F. Laudenslayer |
| Year: | 1986 |
| Type: | Miscellaneous Publication |
| Station: | Pacific Southwest Research Station |
| Source: | In: Verner, J.; Morrison, M.L.; Ralph, C.J., eds. Wildlife 2000: Modeling Habitat Relationships of Terrestrial Vertebrates. The University of Wisconsin Press, Madison, Wisconsin: 351–355. |
Abstract
A computer simulation approach (DYNAST) was used to evaluate effects of three timber-management alternatives on wildlife in a 2700-ha (6700-acre) study area located in the Sierra Nevada, California. Wildlife species selected to evaluate the effects of these alternatives were band-tailed pigeon (Columba fusciutu), pileated woodpecker (Dryocopus pileatus), and mule deer (Odocoileus hemionus). Pileated woodpeckers responded most positively to the long-rotation alternative. Responses by band-tailed pigeons and mule deer indicated that either the mixed-rotation or optimal-timber alternative would be the most beneficial.
DYNAST was shown to be a useful tool for displaying the effects of various timber management schemes. Program outputs were in a format that displayed trade-offs between timber and wildlife production. Because DYNAST simulations have not been tested for accuracy, the outputs should be used with caution. However, DYNAST is flexible, and forest dynamics can be simulated by this model.