Download (PDF 1.59 MB): https://research.fs.usda.gov/download/treesearch/68011.pdf
Abstract
Upland forests of east Texas were historically composed of varying mixtures of pine and hardwood species, with local structure and composition driven by site characteristics and fire regimes. The restoration of natural communities, including upland woodlands with mixtures of shortleaf pine (
Pinus echinata) and oaks (
Quercus spp.), provides conservation benefit, but we lack information on optimal silvicultural practices to meet restoration objectives. We examined contemporary and past stand structure and composition and stand dynamics of a shortleaf pine-post oak woodland at Boggy Slough Conservation Area (BSCA) near Lufkin, TX, using dendrochronological stand reconstruction approaches. The stand was dominated by loblolly pine (
P. taeda) and post oak (
Q. stellata), as well as shortleaf pine in lower abundance. Post oaks were relatively small and not part of the upper canopy. The age distributions strongly differed among these species, with loblolly pine in the younger age classes (mostly 40- to 50-year-old age classes), post oak in the older age classes (mostly 100- to 110-year-old age classes), and shortleaf pine in between (mostly 80-year-old age class). These results suggest the shortleaf pine-oak woodland is in the process of transitioning to loblolly pine, with management intervention needed to regenerate and recruit shortleaf pine and post oak.
Parent Publication
Citation
Knapp, Benjamin O.; Jack, Steven B. 2024. Reconstructing Stand Dynamics of a Shortleaf Pine-Oak Woodland in East Texas: A Case Study. In: Bragg, Don C.; Oswald, Brian P.; Koerth, Nancy E., eds. Proceedings of the 22nd biennial southern silvicultural research conference. Gen. Tech. Rep. SRS-274. Asheville, NC: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Southern Research Station: 156–162. https://doi.org/10.2737/SRS-GTR-274-Pap26.
