Hardwood Snag Fragmentation in a Pine-oak Forest of Southeastern Arkansas

Abstract

Because snags are important to forest wildlife as breeding, roosting and foraging sites, resource managers who wish to maintain this component in forest stands need to be aware of snag fragmentation rates. Measurements were taken in uneven-agedpine hardwood stands in southeastern Arkansas to determine fragmentation rates for hardwood snags 2 to 6 yr after stem injection with herbicides. Crown and bole condition of snags were also assessed. Pinus echinata Mill. and E. taeda L. were the dominant overstory components and were undisturbed. Quercus spp. accounted for 91% of hardwoods > 25 cm dbh. Since small diameter snags deteriorated first, snag diameter distributions changed from uneven-sized to even-sized structure as time since mortality increased. Within 3 yr of injection, 57% of snag boles had broken below crown height. Number of wildlife cavities per snag increased with time since mortality. At 6 yr after injection, 44% of residual snags had evidence of wildlife cavities. Less than 50% of hardwoods < 25 cm dbh were still standing 5yr after herbicide injection.

Citation

Cain, Michael D. 1996. Hardwood Snag Fragmentation in a Pine-oak Forest of Southeastern Arkansas. Am. Midl. Nat. 136:72-83