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Harvard Forest REU Symposium Abstract 2016

• Title: Evaluating red oak growth patterns across a disturbance gradient
• Author: Melinda A Paduani (University of Central Florida)
• Abstract:

  Forests in New England that are formally considered “old growth” are rare. Living, old growth trees delineate a more extensive history than those at second growth sites. To investigate these differences, I examined four sites that exhibited a gradient of past human and natural disturbance: two old growth forests, one with mixed human and natural impacts, and the human-dominated Prospect Hill tract. The objectives are to determine if disturbance history (1) influences the rate of initial growth or (2) affects the ability of red oak to persist suppressed. Cores taken at approximately breast height (1.3 m) and at ground level were sanded and annual ring widths were measured. Periods of suppression and releases were used to quantify time to reach breast height and to examine growth response to disturbance. Tree ages ranged from 64 to 346 years old; the old growth sites averaged 192 years, the mixed site averaged 196 years, and Prospect Hill averaged 119 years. Time to reach breast height ranged from 1 to 16 years. Sites varied in past disturbance history and no synchrony of disturbance signals was observed across sites. Surprisingly, oak displayed an ability to persist in the understory of dense forests, growing at <0.5 mm/yr for up to 8 decades in some trees. Understanding long-term response to disturbances among various ages of living red oaks gives insight to how they may respond in the future.

• Research Category: Historical and Retrospective Studies