Thesis (M.S.) University of Missouri-Columbia, 2006. / The entire dissertation/thesis text is included in the research.pdf file; the official abstract appears in the short.pdf file (which also appears in the research.pdf); a non-technical general description, or public abstract, appears in the public.pdf file. Title from title screen of research.pdf file (viewed on August 27, 2007) Includes bibliographical references.

No description available.

The objective of this study was to describe the dynamics of post-clearcutting forest floor N on mesic sites in the wet subzone of the Coastal Western Hemlock biogeoclimatic zone. Post-clearcutting release of N was examined by measuring the following parameters for a chronosequence of five sites ranging in age from an old-growth forest to a 26-yr-old stand: forest floor N capital; rate of in situ mineralization of forest floor; rate of decomposition of cellulose; concentrations of inorganic-N and total-N in soil solution; and adsorption of inorganic-N by ion exchange resin bags. Effects of the post-clearcutting release of N on tree growth were assessed by measuring foliar N levels and height growth of Abies amabilis (Dougl.) Forbes advanced regeneration. The following sinks for the mineralized forest floor N were investigated: accumulation in plant biomass; solution transfer of inorganic-N and total-N from the forest floor to storage in the upper mineral soil. Based on the difference between the old-growth and the 6- year-old forest floor N capitals, post-clearcutting mobilization of forest floor N was estimated to be 950 kg.N.ha⁻¹ . Although not significant (P=.05), rates of cellulose decomposition were about 3 times higher in the young clearcuts than in the old-growth stand. Indicators of N availability, including in situ rates of mineralization, soil water concentrations and ion exchange resin bags, revealed higher levels of nitrate in the forest floor and/or mineral soil in the 3- and 6-year-old clearcuts than in the other sites. Nitrate concentrations declined to pre-clearcut levels by 8-10 years after clearcutting. %N and N content of current needles, and 1983 height increment of amabilis fir regeneration reflected the pattern of N availability. Of the observed change in forest floor N (kg.N.ha⁻¹ ) over the 10 year post-clearcutting period, plant biomass accumulation accounted for 105 and solution transfer from the forest floor for 187. Together, this amounts to 1/3 of the observed decline of 950 kg.N.ha⁻¹ Potential rates of denitrification in the 5- and 12-year-old clearcut forest floors were 2-5 times greater than in the old-growth stand. The potential rates were sufficiently high to provide a plausible explanation for the post-clearcutting decline in forest floor N. / Forestry, Faculty of / Graduate

Ecological theory states that forest succession is largely environmentally determined. Many investigators have suggested, however, that stochastic processes can frequently alter successional pathways. In particular, the colonization phase is thought to be very stochastic. This study utilizes a unique series of 6 naturally replicated sites on Brush Mountain (Montgomery Co., VA) to determine whether forest structure and species composition is primarily deterministic or stochastic in nature. Although the canopy stratum of the mature forest at these environmentally similar sites was very Similar in structure and species composition (p>0.05), the composition of the subcanopy strata vegetation differed Significantly among sites (p<0.05). This indicated that stochastic events (e.g. low intensity ground fires, deer browsing, cattle grazing) were were important factors during the development of understory and ground layer vegetation. Site-to-site differences in subcanopy species composition remained apparent during the first 2 years following disturbance (removal of canopy cover) of 4 sites. Brush Mountain lacked a significant seed bank (< 1 seed/m²), and the dominant sub canopy species reproduced largely by vegetative sprouting. Post-disturbance colonization of the sites was very stochastic, but had relatively little immediate effect on vegetation structure and composition. In the future, however, as colonist species reproduce and increase in density, stochastic colonization events may become an important aspect of forest development at some of the sites. / Ph. D.

Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of Washington, 2000. / Vita. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 107-124).

published_or_final_version / Politics and Public Administration / Doctoral / Doctor of Philosophy

Thesis (M.S.)--Oregon State University, 2008. / Printout. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 104-113). Also available on the World Wide Web.

published_or_final_version / abstract / Ecology and Biodiversity / Doctoral / Doctor of Philosophy

No description available.

Thesis (M.S.)--University of Nevada, Reno, 2005. / "(December 2005)." Includes bibliographical references (leaves 36-42). Online version available on the World Wide Web.