Canopy disturbance and tree recruitment over two centuries in a managed longleaf pine landscape

Neil Pederson; J. Morgan Varner; Brian J. J. Palik

doi:10.1016/j.foreco.2007.07.030

Treesearch

Canopy disturbance and tree recruitment over two centuries in a managed longleaf pine landscape

Formally Refereed

Authors:

Neil Pederson, J. Morgan Varner, Brian J. J. Palik

Year:

2008

Type:

Scientific Journal

Station:

Northern Research Station

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.foreco.2007.07.030

Source:

Forest Ecology and Management. 254(1): 85-95.

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Abstract

Disturbance history was reconstructed across an 11300 ha managed longleaf pine (Pinus palustris Mill.) landscape in southwestern Georgia, USA. Our specific objectives were to: (i) determine forest age structure; (ii) reconstruct disturbance history through the relationship between canopy disturbance, tree recruitment and growth; and (iii) explore the relationship between canopy disturbance and climate. Age structure, canopy disturbance events and initial growth patterns at coring height were examined by randomly sampling 1260 trees in 70 1.3 ha plots. Principal component analysis was used to group plots with similar age structures to gain insight into the dynamics between canopy disturbance and recruitment. Disturbance events were detected by large and rapid increases in radial growth. We tested the following hypothesis to investigate whether these growth increases could have been triggered by improved climatic conditions: precipitation and drought are positively correlated to radial growth releases. Only four stands (comprising

Keywords

Disturbance history, Dendrochronology, Tree mortality, Natural regeneration, Pinus palustris, Climate

Citation

Pederson, Neil; Varner, J. Morgan III; Palik, Brian J. 2008. Canopy disturbance and tree recruitment over two centuries in a managed longleaf pine landscape. For Ecol Manage 254:85–95.