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Dynamics of coarse woody debris following gap harvesting in the Acadian forest of central Maine, U.S.A.
- Source :
-
Canadian Journal of Forest Research . Dec2002, Vol. 32 Issue 12, p2094. 11p. - Publication Year :
- 2002
-
Abstract
- We examined the dynamics of down coarse woody debris (CWD) under an expanding-gap harvesting system in the Acadian forest of Maine. Gap harvesting treatments included 20% basal area removal, 10% basal area removal, and a control. We compared volume, biomass, diameter-class, and decay-class distributions of CWD in permanent plots before and 3 years after harvest. We also determined wood density and moisture content by species and decay class. Mean pre-harvest CWD volume was 108.9 m3/ha, and biomass was 23.22 Mg/ha. Both harvesting treatments increased the volume and biomass of non-decayed, small-diameter CWD (i.e., logging slash), with the 20% treatment showing a greater increase than the 10% treatment and both treatments showing greater increases than the control. Post-harvest reduction of advanced-decay CWD due to mechanical crushing was not evident. A mean of 18.48 m3 water/ha (1.85 L/m2) demonstrates substantial water storage in CWD, even during an exceptionally dry sampling period. The U-shaped temporal trend in CWD volume or biomass seen in even-aged stands may not apply to these uneven-aged stands; here, the trend is likely more complex because of the superimposition of small-scale natural disturbances and repeated silvicultural entries. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
Details
- Language :
- English
- ISSN :
- 00455067
- Volume :
- 32
- Issue :
- 12
- Database :
- Academic Search Index
- Journal :
- Canadian Journal of Forest Research
- Publication Type :
- Academic Journal
- Accession number :
- 9058303
- Full Text :
- https://doi.org/10.1139/x02-131