Secondary forest succession following reproduction cutting on the Upper Coastal Plain of southeastern Arkansas, USA

Abstract

To contribute to an understanding of forest management on secondary forest succession, we conducted vegetation surveys in a chronosequence of pine stands ranging in age from 1 to 59 years. Adjacent areas were compared at 1, 7, 12, and 17 years following two reproduction cutting methods (clearcuts or pine seed-tree cuts); a 59-year-old pine stand that was periodically thinned was also included to represent conditions before reproduction cutting. Because average or better natural loblolly and shortleaf pine (Pinus taeda L. and P. echinata Mill.) seed crops coincided with the planned site disturbances, pines dominated the seedling-size classes at 1 and 7 years after reproduction cutting, the sapling-size classes at 7, 12, and 17 years after reproduction cutting, and the small- and large-tree size classes at 12, 17, and 59 years after reproduction cutting. For seedling size classes, three measures of woody plant diversity (Shannon's (H'), Simpson's (D), and evenness (e) indices) tended to increase from 1 to 12 years after reproduction cutting. In the sapling-size classes, H' and D diversity indices were highest at 17 years and lowest at 59 years after reproduction cutting. For small-tree size classes, H', and D were highest at 7 years and lowest at 12 years after reproduction cutting. Across all but the large-tree size classes, woody species richness peaked 7 years after reproduction cutting. Naturally regenerated pines achieved complete crown closure by 17 years after reproduction cutting; consequently, the presence of shade-tolerant woody plants increased in the understory, and shade-intolerant herbaceous plants disappeared from the forest floor.

Citation

Cain, Michael D.; Shelton, Michael G. 2001. Secondary forest succession following reproduction cutting on the Upper Coastal Plain of southeastern Arkansas, USA. Forest Ecology and Management. 146: 223-238.