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Abstract
An understanding of natural regeneration processes, and the stand structural features that influence those processes, is vital to attaining goals associated with natural regeneration. This paper discusses natural regeneration concepts and the interactions that occur between shrubs and natural regeneration of ponderosa pine. The interactions observed recently in a series of related seedling recruitment studies in central Oregon are summarized. Evidence suggests a positive relationship between shrubs and the occurrence of ponderosa pine seedlings during the first two years of the seedling establishment phase. The vast majority of germinant mortality occurs during summer months, and especially the weeks immediately after emergence. Shrubs do not enhance emergence rates, but do enhance overall recruitment rates by reducing rates of first-summer mortality. The mechanism driving these patterns appears to be microenvironmental amelioration by shrubs, abating germinant moisture stress and desiccation. The manifestation of this relationship is a positive spatial relationship between shrubs and small seedlings during this establishment phase.
Parent Publication
Citation
Keyes, Christopher R.; Maguire, Douglas A. 2005. Postive seedling-shrub relationships in natural regeneration of ponderosa pine. In: Ritchie, Martin W.; Maguire, Douglas A.; Youngblood, Andrew, tech. coordinators. Proceedings of the Symposium on Ponderosa Pine: Issues, Trends, and Management, 2004 October 18-21, Klamath Falls, OR. Gen. Tech. Rep PSW-GTR-198. Albany, CA: Pacific Southwest Research Station, Forest Service, U.S. Department of Agriculture: 95-107
