Illinois has no official parameters for old-growth oak-hickory (Quercus-Carya) forests despite oak-hickory being the historically dominant ecosystem in the forested parts of Illinois (Fralish, 1997; Thompson & Dessecker, 1997). The purpose of this study was to better understand the characteristics of old-growth oak-hickory stands, as well as make management recommendations for preserving the integrity of old-growth forests and shifting second-growth stands to old-growth status. Stand structure analysis was conducted in June and July of 2022 on an old-growth oak-hickory stand (Otey-Grisley Nature Preserve) and nearby second-growth oak-hickory stand (Grisley Woods Land and Water Reserve) near Pittsburg, Illinois using dendrochronology, various stand composition analyses, and floristic assessments to compare the two forests across multiple nodes of inquiry from their canopies to their ground layers. White oak (Quercus alba L.) was of higher importance in the more open old-growth canopy than the closed second-growth canopy which had more shagbark hickory (Carya ovata L.). The old-growth stand had higher floristic quality (mean Coefficient of Conservatism and adjusted Floristic Quality Index) and lower frequency of invasive species than the second-growth stand. The dominant white oak appear to have suppressed the hickories (Carya) for over a century on both sites. However, in the sapling and seedling layer, it appears the oaks and hickories are failing to recruit into the canopy on either site. The average age of the old-growth canopy is 67 years greater than that of the second-growth canopy, the majority of which seeded in after a heavy cut in the early 1940s. The second-growth site rapidly gained early successional species after the logging. The second-growth site could come to resemble the open oak dominated character of the old-growth site. However, this will require management with fire, thinning, and invasive species treatments. The old-growth, where sassafras (Sassafras albidum L.) is crowding the understory, will also require invasive species management, prescribed fire, and thinning if it is to remain the open oak-hickory woodland it is today.

No description available.

Forests established through native seedling planting (PL) and the establishment of secondary forests through natural regeneration (SF) are the main outcomes of large scale forest restoration. The decision making process of these approaches is conditioned by resilience. But the different outcomes of these approaches are as important as the decision making. SF are heterogeneous and - although there is a growing literature of the drivers of forest establishment - few works analyzed drivers of attributes of these recently established forests. In this context, our work aims to identify the differences between PL and SF and the local and landscape variables that affect SF attributes. To do so, we sampled the tree community in seasonal semideciduous forests of the Atlantic Forest established naturally (SF) and PL in agricultural landscapes in the Corumbataí Watershed, São Paulo State, Brazil. We observed that PL has similar biomass to SF and higher species richness. However, PL also showed lower abundance of young trees, animal-dispersed trees and lianas. Species composition between PL and SF also differs. SF established in abandoned eucalypt plantings showed species richness and biomass of native species similar to other SF forests. However, SF attributes vary greatly. In this context, SF show a large potential for providing food for fauna and storing carbon in a cost-efficient way. While PL can also provide these benefits, it may have its long-term sustainability compromised by the lack of regenerating trees. We then proceeded to investigate drivers of the heterogeneity observed in SF using generalized linear mixed models to estimate the effect of local and landscape variables on the biomass, species density and basal area of animal-dispersed trees of the SF sampled. SF surrounded by sugarcane plantations had lower biomass and basal area of animal-dispersed trees, while native forest cover in the landscape increased species density of SF. Forest age showed little or no importance in predicting SF attributes. These results highlight the importance of low impact agricultural practices and of strategies that increase native forest cover in agricultural landscapes, in order to increase the potential of SF to provide ecosystem services and conserve taxonomic diversity. The choice between establishing PL or fomenting SF for forest restoration is conditioned to the local and landscape context where restoration actions will be carried out. Although both approaches can potentially fulfill the objectives of restoration projects, special attention must be given to the recruitment of new individuals to maintain PL sustainability, while less impacting agricultural practices and more forested agricultural landscapes may increase the SF potential to provide ecosystem services and conserve biodiversity. / Florestas estabelecidas pelo plantio de mudas de espécies nativas (PL) e por meio do estabelecimento de florestas secundárias pela regeneração natural (FS) são as principais comunidades geradas durante a restauração florestal em larga escala. A escolha dessas estratégias está condicionada potencial de regeneração natural do local, mas tão importante quanto a decisão sobre métodos de restauração, são as diferenças das comunidades que essas escolhas podem gerar. As FS são heterogêneas e, enquanto existe uma literatura crescente dos fatores que afetam a chance do estabelecimento das FS, poucos trabalhos abordam os fatores que influenciam os atributos dessas florestas. Nesse contexto, nosso trabalho busca identificar as diferenças entre PL e FS e as variáveis locais e de paisagem que afetam os atributos das FS. Para tal, amostramos a comunidade arbórea de florestas estacionais semideciduais de Mata Atlântica estabelecidas naturalmente (FS) e por PL em paisagens agrícolas na bacia do Rio Corumbataí, no estado de São Paulo. Observamos que os PL apresentam biomassa semelhante às SF e maior riqueza de espécies. No entanto, as PL também apresentam menor abundância de indivíduos jovens, indivíduos zoocóricos e lianas. A composição de espécies entre essas florestas também difere. As FS estabelecidas em plantios abandonados de eucalipto apresentaram riqueza de espécies e biomassa de espécies nativas semelhantes a outras florestas secundárias. No entanto, os atributos das SF variam consideravelmente. Nesse contexto, as FS apresentam elevado potencial de provimento de alimento para a fauna e estocagem de carbono de maneira custo-eficiente, enquanto que as PL podem ter sua permanência em longo prazo comprometida pela falta de indivíduos jovens. Em seguida, investigamos as variáveis que direcionam a heterogeneidade observada nas FS utilizando modelos mistos lineares generalizados para estimar a influência de variáveis locais e de paisagem na biomassa, densidade de espécies, área basal de árvores zoocóricas e estrutura filogenética das FS amostradas. Plantios de cana-de-açúcar próximos as FS reduzem a biomassa e área basal de indivíduos zoocóricos, enquanto que a cobertura florestal da paisagem aumentou a densidade de espécies e a diversidade filogenética. A idade da floresta apresentou importância secundária ou nula para os atributos estudados. Nossos resultados ressaltam a importância de práticas agrícolas que minimizem os danos em florestas próximas e de mecanismos que favoreçam a cobertura florestal nativa em paisagens agrícolas, a fim de fomentar o potencial dessas florestas em prover serviços ecossistêmicos e conservar a biodiversidade. A escolha entre facilitação do estabelecimento de FS ou PL visando a restauração florestal está condicionada ao contexto local e de paisagem onde serão realizadas as ações de restauração. Apesar de ambas as abordagens apresentarem potencial para cumprir os objetivos dos projetos de restauração, atenção especial deve ser dada ao recrutamento de novos indivíduos para manter a sustentabilidade de PL, enquanto que práticas agrícolas menos impactantes e paisagens agrícolas com maior cobertura florestal nativa podem aumentar o potencial de SF em prover serviços e conservar a biodiversidade.

Forests established through native seedling planting (PL) and the establishment of secondary forests through natural regeneration (SF) are the main outcomes of large scale forest restoration. The decision making process of these approaches is conditioned by resilience. But the different outcomes of these approaches are as important as the decision making. SF are heterogeneous and - although there is a growing literature of the drivers of forest establishment - few works analyzed drivers of attributes of these recently established forests. In this context, our work aims to identify the differences between PL and SF and the local and landscape variables that affect SF attributes. To do so, we sampled the tree community in seasonal semideciduous forests of the Atlantic Forest established naturally (SF) and PL in agricultural landscapes in the Corumbataí Watershed, São Paulo State, Brazil. We observed that PL has similar biomass to SF and higher species richness. However, PL also showed lower abundance of young trees, animal-dispersed trees and lianas. Species composition between PL and SF also differs. SF established in abandoned eucalypt plantings showed species richness and biomass of native species similar to other SF forests. However, SF attributes vary greatly. In this context, SF show a large potential for providing food for fauna and storing carbon in a cost-efficient way. While PL can also provide these benefits, it may have its long-term sustainability compromised by the lack of regenerating trees. We then proceeded to investigate drivers of the heterogeneity observed in SF using generalized linear mixed models to estimate the effect of local and landscape variables on the biomass, species density and basal area of animal-dispersed trees of the SF sampled. SF surrounded by sugarcane plantations had lower biomass and basal area of animal-dispersed trees, while native forest cover in the landscape increased species density of SF. Forest age showed little or no importance in predicting SF attributes. These results highlight the importance of low impact agricultural practices and of strategies that increase native forest cover in agricultural landscapes, in order to increase the potential of SF to provide ecosystem services and conserve taxonomic diversity. The choice between establishing PL or fomenting SF for forest restoration is conditioned to the local and landscape context where restoration actions will be carried out. Although both approaches can potentially fulfill the objectives of restoration projects, special attention must be given to the recruitment of new individuals to maintain PL sustainability, while less impacting agricultural practices and more forested agricultural landscapes may increase the SF potential to provide ecosystem services and conserve biodiversity. / Florestas estabelecidas pelo plantio de mudas de espécies nativas (PL) e por meio do estabelecimento de florestas secundárias pela regeneração natural (FS) são as principais comunidades geradas durante a restauração florestal em larga escala. A escolha dessas estratégias está condicionada potencial de regeneração natural do local, mas tão importante quanto a decisão sobre métodos de restauração, são as diferenças das comunidades que essas escolhas podem gerar. As FS são heterogêneas e, enquanto existe uma literatura crescente dos fatores que afetam a chance do estabelecimento das FS, poucos trabalhos abordam os fatores que influenciam os atributos dessas florestas. Nesse contexto, nosso trabalho busca identificar as diferenças entre PL e FS e as variáveis locais e de paisagem que afetam os atributos das FS. Para tal, amostramos a comunidade arbórea de florestas estacionais semideciduais de Mata Atlântica estabelecidas naturalmente (FS) e por PL em paisagens agrícolas na bacia do Rio Corumbataí, no estado de São Paulo. Observamos que os PL apresentam biomassa semelhante às SF e maior riqueza de espécies. No entanto, as PL também apresentam menor abundância de indivíduos jovens, indivíduos zoocóricos e lianas. A composição de espécies entre essas florestas também difere. As FS estabelecidas em plantios abandonados de eucalipto apresentaram riqueza de espécies e biomassa de espécies nativas semelhantes a outras florestas secundárias. No entanto, os atributos das SF variam consideravelmente. Nesse contexto, as FS apresentam elevado potencial de provimento de alimento para a fauna e estocagem de carbono de maneira custo-eficiente, enquanto que as PL podem ter sua permanência em longo prazo comprometida pela falta de indivíduos jovens. Em seguida, investigamos as variáveis que direcionam a heterogeneidade observada nas FS utilizando modelos mistos lineares generalizados para estimar a influência de variáveis locais e de paisagem na biomassa, densidade de espécies, área basal de árvores zoocóricas e estrutura filogenética das FS amostradas. Plantios de cana-de-açúcar próximos as FS reduzem a biomassa e área basal de indivíduos zoocóricos, enquanto que a cobertura florestal da paisagem aumentou a densidade de espécies e a diversidade filogenética. A idade da floresta apresentou importância secundária ou nula para os atributos estudados. Nossos resultados ressaltam a importância de práticas agrícolas que minimizem os danos em florestas próximas e de mecanismos que favoreçam a cobertura florestal nativa em paisagens agrícolas, a fim de fomentar o potencial dessas florestas em prover serviços ecossistêmicos e conservar a biodiversidade. A escolha entre facilitação do estabelecimento de FS ou PL visando a restauração florestal está condicionada ao contexto local e de paisagem onde serão realizadas as ações de restauração. Apesar de ambas as abordagens apresentarem potencial para cumprir os objetivos dos projetos de restauração, atenção especial deve ser dada ao recrutamento de novos indivíduos para manter a sustentabilidade de PL, enquanto que práticas agrícolas menos impactantes e paisagens agrícolas com maior cobertura florestal nativa podem aumentar o potencial de SF em prover serviços e conservar a biodiversidade.

The American marten (Martes americana) is associated with large tracts of relatively undisturbed, mature coniferous forests. I examined coarse woody debris (CWO) structure and small mammal abundance with respect to forest age and stem structure within second-growth forests, in comparison with old-growth stands in western Newfoundland. Results suggest that a critical change in marten habitat quality may occur at stand senescence, due to decreased tree competition, more complex subcanopy structure, and increased meadow vole (Microtus pennsylvanicus) abundance. Analysis of stem structure within a chronosequence of 19 second-growth stands indicated high intertree competition, with dense canopy closure and active self-thinning, until stand senescence at 80 years. Old-growth stands were less dense, offering more canopy openings. CWD volume observed within the chronosequence demonstrated the typical U-shaped temporal relationship observed in other forested systems. Lowest CWD volumes were observed within semimature to mature second growth. Highest levels of both CWD volume and structural complexity corresponded with stand senescence and old growth. Small mammals were sampled within immature, semimature, mature, and silviculturally overmature coniferous stands in western Newfoundland during 1993 and 1994. Meadow voles were most abundant within overmature stands (P Results from this study suggest that the critical elements of marten foraging habitat currently are found within a senescent forest stand structure. Further review of the literature and Newfoundland harvest records indicated that anthropogenic disturbance transformed a historically heterogeneous forested landscape into a more contiguous, even-aged, second-growth environment. Using the stand density management diagram, I designed a silvicultural approach to marten habitat management that simulates the structure of older forests within younger stages of forest development.

The structure of a forest stand is characterized by: (a) species composition, (b) age, (c) size (diameter and height), and (d) spatial (horizontal and vertical) arrangement of the trees. Depending on the species, site, and disturbance history, the stand structure varies with time, thus providing a snapshot of a particular development stage. Research on growth and stand structure has shown that the spatial distribution of trees is one of the key determinants of stand productivity. Forest inventories and ecological surveys carried out in British Columbia (BC) have shown that the structure of naturally established, unmanaged stands varies from simple (single-species, single-storied, and even-aged) to complex (multi-species, multi-storied, and uneven-aged). Only a few studies have quantitatively characterized this range of structural complexity, with nearly all studies focusing on old-growth stands. BC forest policy requires that harvested areas be regenerated with a mixture of tree species whenever a mixture is suited to the site. This policy is based upon the assumption that under appropriate conditions, increases in stand productivity, reliability, and/or biodiversity can be attained in mixed-species stands. This assumption has not yet been tested for forest ecosystems. One mechanism by which different tree species can reduce crown competition for light is through vertical separation (the development of multiple canopy strata). Canopy stratification is not easily recognized in mixed-species stands, particularly when species have similar shade tolerance and height growth patterns, and no quantitative methods have been developed to detect stratification. The diameter frequency distribution of two-storied stands have been characterized by inverted J-shaped as well as modal curves. Although it would be more appropriate to characterize stand structure by height frequency distributions, these distributions have not been developed. We suggest that (i) a stand is stratified if there are distinct, quantitatifiable modes in the size distribution; either diameter, height, or crown height, and (ii) height or crown height distributions will be the most sensitive measures. To characterize the structure of western hemlock (Tsuga heterophylla (Raf.) Sarg.) (Hw) and western redcedar (Thuja plicata Donn ex D. Don in Lamb.) (Cw) second-growth stands, and to investigate its influence on tree growth, we (1) described and compared size (diameter, height, and crown height) frequency distributions in single- and mixed-species stands, (2) determined whether mixed-species stands develop a stratified canopy, and (3) examined whether interactions between hemlock and redcedar affect tree growth.