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Harvard Forest Symposium Abstract 2005

• Title: The structure, composition, and dynamics of old-growth forests in the Berkshire Hills and Taconic Mountains, western Massachusetts
• Primary Author: Tony D'Amato (University of Massachusetts )
• Additional Authors: David Orwig (Harvard Forest)
• Abstract:

  The recent discovery of 18 remnant, old-growth forests in the Berkshire Hills and Taconic Mountains of western Massachusetts has provided an unprecedented opportunity to document the composition, structure, dynamics, and ecosystem properties of these rare ecosystems. In particular, we are interested in quantifying structural attributes, such as coarse woody debris (CWD), the composition of understory plant communities, ecosystem properties such as nitrogen retention and nutrient stores, and the stand and landscape-level dendroecological dynamics. In addition, direct comparisons of these attributes with second-growth stands will allow us to develop critical databases for conservation and management strategies aimed at creating old-growth structures in second-growth forests as well as old-growth conservation efforts.
  
  
  We are currently analyzing data from eighteen old-growth sites scattered throughout the Berkshire Hills and Taconic Mountains of western Massachusetts. All sites are characterized by extremely steep slopes (mean = 81.3 %) and range in elevation from 330 to 710 m.a.s.l. Composition in these areas ranges from mixed Tsuga canadensis/Picea rubens forests to northern hardwood forests containing mixtures of Acer saccharum, Fagus grandifolia, and Betula alleghaniensis. Eastern hemlock (Tsuga canadensis) is a dominant overstory species in a majority (16 out of 18) of these stands making this a critical time to be documenting these unique ecosystems, as they are currently not infested by the hemlock woolly adelgid.
  
  
  Extensive dendroecological analyses revealed these sites are characterized by uneven-aged forests with a range of tree sizes and ages (Figure 1). Within these areas, T. canadensis ranges in age from 289- 488 years old, P. rubens from 220- 327 years old, and F. grandifolia from 150-225 years old. Preliminary analyses of tree ring chronologies from several old-growth sites indicate synchronous and asynchronous tree-ring releases within and among sites suggesting that the development of these stands has been affected by both localized disturbance events as well as more regional disturbances. However, discrepancies in the distribution of age-classes between plots, stands, and topographic positions suggest that the disturbance history of these sites has been dominated predominantly by small-scale disturbances such as windthrow and may indicate differential susceptibility to disturbance based on forest composition as well as topographic and physiographic setting.
  
  
  

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