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Harvard Forest REU Symposium Abstract 2010

  • Title: Sprouting Enables Long-Term Persistence of Trees Damaged in a Simulated Hurricane
  • Author: Lianna M Lee (Mount Holyoke College)
  • Abstract:

    This study evaluates the long-term survival and growth capacities of Acer rubrum and other tree species by sprouting in response to a simulated hurricane blowdown. Severe wind disturbance plays an important role in shaping New England forest structure and species composition. The Harvard Forest carried out an experimental blowdown treatment within a Qurcus rubra – Acer rubrum forest to replicate severe wind damage from the hurricane of 1938, and has evaluated ecosystem responses over 20 years. Selected trees were pulled over with a winch in the 0.8 ha experimental site that was paired with a 0.6 ha control site. Sprouting of hardwood trees was critical in the initial stabilization of ecosystem processes. Using the extensive datasets available in the twentieth year of this LTER study, I selected trees that had been damaged in 1990, had either basal, trunk or both types of sprouts in the following year, and continued to sprout in 2010. The total sample of 67 trees included 46 A. rubrum and 21 other hardwood trees. I recorded diameter at breast height (DBH) for each individual sprout. Basal area was calculated for each tree’s sprouts, from the DBH measurements. Summed basal area in 2010 was used to calculate the mean change in basal area between 1990 and 2010. A mean change basal area change of >25% from 1990 to 2010 was considered meaningful. Sixteen of the 67 trees experienced basal area gain of 50% or greater, and eleven of the trees were A. rubrum. Overall, mean basal area declined between 1990 and 2010 for non-A. rubrum species. In contrast, mean basal area for A. rubrum did not change significantly between 1990 and 2010. Sprouting has been a moderately successful form of persistence among the original damaged A. rubrum trees within the blowdown site, whereas other species have persisted but no recovered pre-manipulation basal area. Studies with an emphasis on the ecological significance of sprouting are still relatively new and further research about sprouting across varying damage regimes and geographical areas will provide new insights.

  • Research Category: Large Experiments and Permanent Plot Studies