Phone: 001-614-688-4061 Address: School of Environment and Natural Resources
367-C Kottman Hall
2021 Coffey Road
The Ohio State University
Columbus, OH 43210 USA
IMPACT. 1: Undergraduate students, along with Dr. Roger Williams, develop and conduct research pr... more IMPACT. 1: Undergraduate students, along with Dr. Roger Williams, develop and conduct research projects in Eucalyptus, Chinese fir, and Masson pine forests. Students participate in the project development, data collection and analysis, and subsequent write up of the results. -- 2. During the spring semester students sign-up for an independent study course in which they learn about the country, region, and forests they are going to work in, and develop research plans to conduct the research. During the May semester session, students travel to Liuzhou, China, where they spend three weeks in the forests and collect research data according to the plans they developed during the spring semester.OSU PARTNERS: School of Environment and Natural Resources; College of Food, Agricultural and Environmental SciencesCOMMUNITY PARTNERS: Guangxi Ecological Engineering Vocational and Technical CollegePRIMARY CONTACT: Roger Williams (williams.1577@osu.edu)The School of Environment and Natural Resourc...
Climate Change and Food Security in West Asia and North Africa, 2013
The region of West Asia and North Africa (WANA) is characterized by hot, dry climates which provi... more The region of West Asia and North Africa (WANA) is characterized by hot, dry climates which provide little support for vast areas of forests. This region currently contains 106.3 million ha of forests, which represents a 4 % decrease since 1990. These forests have suffered from a long history of degradation and over exploitation which has impacted soil quality and in some cases caused desertification to occur. Afforestation has benefits of sequestering C, stabilizing soil, and placing C and other elements into the soil, thus rehabilitating the soil. Many different tree species have been examined for afforestation purposes within the WANA region, and great care needs to be given to match species with site. Early successional and edaphic climax species may be candidates as they are typical of harsh environments. Based on reported species, C sequestration rates will vary from 0.3 to 3.6 tC/ha/year. Afforestation will enhance the sequestering of C in the soil, but only if the plantations exist on the site for relatively long periods. Most C is sequestered in the forest floor and the upper soil layer in the initial years after planting from the litter that begins to accumulate.
Tropical forest loss has been a prominent concern in Madagascar, portrayed by a highly fragmented... more Tropical forest loss has been a prominent concern in Madagascar, portrayed by a highly fragmented landscape of forests surrounded by small-scale agricultural patches along the northwestern and eastern regions. This paper seeks to identify priority areas for forest landscape restoration at a landscape scale using a geospatial land suitability analysis approach. The study area is the watershed of Mahavavy, home to one of the most biodiverse ecosystems in the island but also an important agriculture region. The suitability analysis method comprises five major steps: (1) the identification of a set of restoration criteria, (2) the acquisition of available environmental datasets for each criterion, (3) generating suitability maps for each criterion, (4) the conception of a suitability analysis model, and (5) the design of potential sites for restoration. The specific suitability criteria combine both landscape composition and soil characteristics, including (i) distance from protected si...
Fuel management decisions are made within a larger context of resource management characterized b... more Fuel management decisions are made within a larger context of resource management characterized by multiple objectives including ecosystem restoration, wildlife management, commodity production (from timber to less traditional forest products), and provision of recreation opportunities and amenity values. Implementation of fuel treatments is strongly influenced by their perceived influence on and compatibility with overarching management objectives. In some cases these objectives may be complementary while in others they may involve difficult tradeoffs. Such tradeoffs are only further complicated by institutional mandates, limited availability of information, and complex ownership patterns. Like natural resource managers across the U.S., those in the Great Lakes Region must balance these competing demands as they seek to build their management programs. However, there is limited information available to support these management decisions in the mixed red (Pinus resinosa Ait.) and ea...
A wildfire occurred in Shawnee State Forest located in southern Ohio that consumed 1215 hectares.... more A wildfire occurred in Shawnee State Forest located in southern Ohio that consumed 1215 hectares. Based on earlier forest inventories it was known that paulownia (Paulownia tomentosa), a non-native invasive tree species, occurred in the forest. The objective of this study was to determine if paulownia heavily colonized areas two years after the fire where the burn occurred, and if its presence had a negative impact on the regeneration (<137 cm height) of native species—red and white oaks (Quercus sp.), red maple (Acer rubrum), and yellow-poplar (Liriodendron tulipifera). Two years after the fire, paulownia had invaded the burned areas but not at significantly higher densities than occurred in the unburned areas. Fire significantly reduced the number of regenerating stems of white oak and red maple two years after the fire, whereas the number of regenerating stems of red oak increased slightly and that of yellow-poplar increased significantly. In areas where paulownia occurred tha...
The shortleaf pine/oak-hickory (Pinus echinata Mill, Quercus spp., Carya spp.) forest, once the d... more The shortleaf pine/oak-hickory (Pinus echinata Mill, Quercus spp., Carya spp.) forest, once the dominant forest community across north Louisiana, has slowly disappeared from the landscape, and is being replaced by loblolly pine (P. taeda L.), mixed hardwood/loblolly, and loblolly/shortleaf forests. One of the reasons for the demise of this fire-dependent ecosystem has been effective fire suppression programs. A study was established in three stands of the Kisatchie National Forest in north Louisiana, comprising a loblolly/shortleaf pine overstory, that were prescribed burned. A regeneration survey two growing seasons following fire revealed that 52 percent to 86 percent of the post-fire pine regeneration was from sprouts, and that 92 percent to 100 percent of these sprouts were shortleaf pine. Loblolly pine accounted for 55 percent to 100 percent of the new seedling germinants after fire. Sprout size averaged 11.2 inches in total height and 0.116 inches in groundline diameter, compa...
The effects of fall and spring prescribed fires on large seedlings (0.3 to 1.3 m height) of oak a... more The effects of fall and spring prescribed fires on large seedlings (0.3 to 1.3 m height) of oak and other hardwood species three years after a shelterwood harvest were examined in Richland Furnace and Zaleski State Forests in southern Ohio. Fall and spring burns appeared to be more deleterious to red oaks (Quercus rubra L., Q. velutina Lam., Q. coccinea Muenchh.) than white oaks (Q. alba L., Q. prinus L.). Red oak experienced reductions in numbers and canopy volume after spring burns, and canopy reductions after fall burns. White oak experienced small increases in numbers of stems after both fall and spring burns, and an increase in the canopy volume after fall burns, but a slight decrease after spring burns. Yellow-poplar (Liriodendron tulipifera L.), a major oak competitor prior to fire, experienced dramatic reductions in the number of regenerating stems and canopy volume after both fall and spring burns. On the other hand, red maple (Acer rubrum L.) experienced large increases in...
Oak regeneration failures have been causing a slow decline in the occurrence of oak forest ecosys... more Oak regeneration failures have been causing a slow decline in the occurrence of oak forest ecosystems in eastern North America. Accordingly, our study sought to determine a means of creating more vigorous and competitive oak seedlings by the addition of manganese (Mn) fertilizers. Seeds of northern red oak (Quercus rubra L.), chestnut oak (Quercus prinus L.), and red maple (Acer rubrum L.), one of oak’s major competitors in North America oak forest ecosystems, were sown in 0.7 liter pots that contained a growing medium mixture of peat moss, perlite, and sand in a ratio of 2:1:2, and germinated in a greenhouse. Three different chemical compound Mn fertilizer treatments—manganese chloride (0.16 mg L−1 Mn, MnCl2·4H2O), nanoparticle manganese in the form of manganese hydroxide (0.01 mg/L Mn, nanoparticle Mn(OH)2), and manganese hydroxide (0.01 mg L−1 Mn, Mn(OH)2)—and a treatment of Hoagland solution were applied to the planted seed. These treatments were compared to a control consisting...
Oak regeneration failures have been causing a slow decline in the occurrence of oak forest ecosys... more Oak regeneration failures have been causing a slow decline in the occurrence of oak forest ecosystems in eastern North America. Accordingly, our study sought to determine a means of creating more vigorous and competitive oak seedlings by the addition of manganese (Mn) fertilizers. Seeds of northern red oak (Quercus rubra L.), chestnut oak (Quercus prinus L.), and red maple (Acer rubrum L.), one of oak’s major competitors in North America oak forest ecosystems, were sown in 0.7 liter pots that contained a growing medium mixture of peat moss, perlite, and sand in a ratio of 2:1:2, and germinated in a greenhouse. Three different chemical compound Mn fertilizer treatments—manganese chloride (0.16 mg L−1 Mn, MnCl2·4H2O), nanoparticle manganese in the form of manganese hydroxide (0.01 mg/L Mn, nanoparticle Mn(OH)2), and manganese hydroxide (0.01 mg L−1 Mn, Mn(OH)2)—and a treatment of Hoagland solution were applied to the planted seed. These treatments were compared to a control consisting...
Oak regeneration failures have been causing a slow decline in the occurrence of oak forest ecosys... more Oak regeneration failures have been causing a slow decline in the occurrence of oak forest ecosystems in eastern North America. Accordingly, our study sought to determine a means of creating more vigorous and competitive oak seedlings by the addition of manganese (Mn) fertilizers. Seeds of northern red oak (Quercus rubra L.), chestnut oak (Quercus prinus L.), and red maple (Acer rubrum L.), one of oak’s major competitors in North America oak forest ecosystems, were sown in 0.7 liter pots that contained a growing medium mixture of peat moss, perlite, and sand in a ratio of 2:1:2, and germinated in a greenhouse. Three different chemical compound Mn fertilizer treatments—manganese chloride (0.16 mg L−1 Mn, MnCl2·4H2O), nanoparticle manganese in the form of manganese hydroxide (0.01 mg/L Mn, nanoparticle Mn(OH)2), and manganese hydroxide (0.01 mg L−1 Mn, Mn(OH)2)—and a treatment of Hoagland solution were applied to the planted seed. These treatments were compared to a control consisting...
Five Masson pine (Pinus massoniana Lamb.) plantations near Liuzhou, Guangxi in south China rangin... more Five Masson pine (Pinus massoniana Lamb.) plantations near Liuzhou, Guangxi in south China ranging in age from 14-18 years were selected for this study. Two plantations were tapped for resin production and three plantations had not been tapped. Eight sample trees were selected from each of three sample plots randomly established in each plantation. Tree cores were extracted at 1.3m on each sample tree for the purpose of measuring tree ring width to establish radial growth. Tree cores were sanded with fine grain sandpaper and measured to the nearest 0.5mm with the aid of a 10x magnification scope. Some cores had to be eliminated from the sample due to poor quality, and ultimately 24 cores from tapped trees and 24 cores from untapped trees were used for analysis. The mean radial growth of tapped trees (4.4712mm) and untapped trees (4.3537) were found to be not significantly different (p=0.05). Models were developed to display the cumulative radial growth of trees, and the 95% confidence bounds about the model coefficients suggest there is no significant difference in the cumulative radial growth of tapped and untapped trees. While our results would suggest that there is no impact of tapping trees for resin on diameter radial growth, this might be misleading. We sampled only at 1.3m and it is possible that had we sampled at 3.0m we might have recorded a negative effect. The “non-effect” we recorded at 1.3m may actually have been a positive effect. There could have been an increase in the radial growth due to the wood formation in the uninjured side of the tree, but was not significantly greater than that of untapped trees. Implications of this finding are discussed.
Little is known about the effects that oak forest regeneration treatments consisting of a combina... more Little is known about the effects that oak forest regeneration treatments consisting of a combination of shelterwood harvesting and prescribed fire have on bats, despite increasing use of these treatments. We quantified changes in bat activity levels in relation to oak forest regeneration treatments consisting of harvesting at 50% and 70% retention levels and prescribed fire in two upland Appalachian hardwood forests in Ohio. We monitored bat activity immediately post-harvest, three growing seasons post-harvest, and after application of prescribed fire to harvested stands before the fourth growing season. Total bat activity levels were higher in thinned and thinned and burned treatments than in unthinned controls in all years, but did not differ between harvest treatment levels immediately post-harvest, three growing seasons post-harvest, or between harvest treatment levels within years. Total bat activity post-prescribed fire changed only in the 50% retention harvest treatment blocks, wherein activity decreased. Activity levels of big brown (Eptesicus fuscus) bats were greater in harvested treatment blocks than controls in all years. Activity levels of eastern red (Lasiurus borealis), and Myotis spp. and tri-colored (Perimyotis subflavus) collectively did not differ among treatment blocks post-fire, but were greater in harvested treatment blocks than controls three growing seasons post-harvest. Community composition was strongly related to vegetation volume, with eastern red bats and Myotis and tri-colored bats displaying positive relationships with clutter in low height strata, and big brown bats displaying a negative relationship with clutter in all height strata. The positive relationship between eastern red and Myotis and tri-colored bats and clutter in low height strata may explain why activity levels of these species decreased post-prescribed fire. Our study suggests that the harvesting component of oak forest regeneration treatments may benefit bats for several years, and that while bat activity levels may decline post-prescribed fire, overall activity levels are nonetheless greater than in unthinned areas.
IMPACT. 1: Undergraduate students, along with Dr. Roger Williams, develop and conduct research pr... more IMPACT. 1: Undergraduate students, along with Dr. Roger Williams, develop and conduct research projects in Eucalyptus, Chinese fir, and Masson pine forests. Students participate in the project development, data collection and analysis, and subsequent write up of the results. -- 2. During the spring semester students sign-up for an independent study course in which they learn about the country, region, and forests they are going to work in, and develop research plans to conduct the research. During the May semester session, students travel to Liuzhou, China, where they spend three weeks in the forests and collect research data according to the plans they developed during the spring semester.OSU PARTNERS: School of Environment and Natural Resources; College of Food, Agricultural and Environmental SciencesCOMMUNITY PARTNERS: Guangxi Ecological Engineering Vocational and Technical CollegePRIMARY CONTACT: Roger Williams (williams.1577@osu.edu)The School of Environment and Natural Resourc...
Climate Change and Food Security in West Asia and North Africa, 2013
The region of West Asia and North Africa (WANA) is characterized by hot, dry climates which provi... more The region of West Asia and North Africa (WANA) is characterized by hot, dry climates which provide little support for vast areas of forests. This region currently contains 106.3 million ha of forests, which represents a 4 % decrease since 1990. These forests have suffered from a long history of degradation and over exploitation which has impacted soil quality and in some cases caused desertification to occur. Afforestation has benefits of sequestering C, stabilizing soil, and placing C and other elements into the soil, thus rehabilitating the soil. Many different tree species have been examined for afforestation purposes within the WANA region, and great care needs to be given to match species with site. Early successional and edaphic climax species may be candidates as they are typical of harsh environments. Based on reported species, C sequestration rates will vary from 0.3 to 3.6 tC/ha/year. Afforestation will enhance the sequestering of C in the soil, but only if the plantations exist on the site for relatively long periods. Most C is sequestered in the forest floor and the upper soil layer in the initial years after planting from the litter that begins to accumulate.
Tropical forest loss has been a prominent concern in Madagascar, portrayed by a highly fragmented... more Tropical forest loss has been a prominent concern in Madagascar, portrayed by a highly fragmented landscape of forests surrounded by small-scale agricultural patches along the northwestern and eastern regions. This paper seeks to identify priority areas for forest landscape restoration at a landscape scale using a geospatial land suitability analysis approach. The study area is the watershed of Mahavavy, home to one of the most biodiverse ecosystems in the island but also an important agriculture region. The suitability analysis method comprises five major steps: (1) the identification of a set of restoration criteria, (2) the acquisition of available environmental datasets for each criterion, (3) generating suitability maps for each criterion, (4) the conception of a suitability analysis model, and (5) the design of potential sites for restoration. The specific suitability criteria combine both landscape composition and soil characteristics, including (i) distance from protected si...
Fuel management decisions are made within a larger context of resource management characterized b... more Fuel management decisions are made within a larger context of resource management characterized by multiple objectives including ecosystem restoration, wildlife management, commodity production (from timber to less traditional forest products), and provision of recreation opportunities and amenity values. Implementation of fuel treatments is strongly influenced by their perceived influence on and compatibility with overarching management objectives. In some cases these objectives may be complementary while in others they may involve difficult tradeoffs. Such tradeoffs are only further complicated by institutional mandates, limited availability of information, and complex ownership patterns. Like natural resource managers across the U.S., those in the Great Lakes Region must balance these competing demands as they seek to build their management programs. However, there is limited information available to support these management decisions in the mixed red (Pinus resinosa Ait.) and ea...
A wildfire occurred in Shawnee State Forest located in southern Ohio that consumed 1215 hectares.... more A wildfire occurred in Shawnee State Forest located in southern Ohio that consumed 1215 hectares. Based on earlier forest inventories it was known that paulownia (Paulownia tomentosa), a non-native invasive tree species, occurred in the forest. The objective of this study was to determine if paulownia heavily colonized areas two years after the fire where the burn occurred, and if its presence had a negative impact on the regeneration (<137 cm height) of native species—red and white oaks (Quercus sp.), red maple (Acer rubrum), and yellow-poplar (Liriodendron tulipifera). Two years after the fire, paulownia had invaded the burned areas but not at significantly higher densities than occurred in the unburned areas. Fire significantly reduced the number of regenerating stems of white oak and red maple two years after the fire, whereas the number of regenerating stems of red oak increased slightly and that of yellow-poplar increased significantly. In areas where paulownia occurred tha...
The shortleaf pine/oak-hickory (Pinus echinata Mill, Quercus spp., Carya spp.) forest, once the d... more The shortleaf pine/oak-hickory (Pinus echinata Mill, Quercus spp., Carya spp.) forest, once the dominant forest community across north Louisiana, has slowly disappeared from the landscape, and is being replaced by loblolly pine (P. taeda L.), mixed hardwood/loblolly, and loblolly/shortleaf forests. One of the reasons for the demise of this fire-dependent ecosystem has been effective fire suppression programs. A study was established in three stands of the Kisatchie National Forest in north Louisiana, comprising a loblolly/shortleaf pine overstory, that were prescribed burned. A regeneration survey two growing seasons following fire revealed that 52 percent to 86 percent of the post-fire pine regeneration was from sprouts, and that 92 percent to 100 percent of these sprouts were shortleaf pine. Loblolly pine accounted for 55 percent to 100 percent of the new seedling germinants after fire. Sprout size averaged 11.2 inches in total height and 0.116 inches in groundline diameter, compa...
The effects of fall and spring prescribed fires on large seedlings (0.3 to 1.3 m height) of oak a... more The effects of fall and spring prescribed fires on large seedlings (0.3 to 1.3 m height) of oak and other hardwood species three years after a shelterwood harvest were examined in Richland Furnace and Zaleski State Forests in southern Ohio. Fall and spring burns appeared to be more deleterious to red oaks (Quercus rubra L., Q. velutina Lam., Q. coccinea Muenchh.) than white oaks (Q. alba L., Q. prinus L.). Red oak experienced reductions in numbers and canopy volume after spring burns, and canopy reductions after fall burns. White oak experienced small increases in numbers of stems after both fall and spring burns, and an increase in the canopy volume after fall burns, but a slight decrease after spring burns. Yellow-poplar (Liriodendron tulipifera L.), a major oak competitor prior to fire, experienced dramatic reductions in the number of regenerating stems and canopy volume after both fall and spring burns. On the other hand, red maple (Acer rubrum L.) experienced large increases in...
Oak regeneration failures have been causing a slow decline in the occurrence of oak forest ecosys... more Oak regeneration failures have been causing a slow decline in the occurrence of oak forest ecosystems in eastern North America. Accordingly, our study sought to determine a means of creating more vigorous and competitive oak seedlings by the addition of manganese (Mn) fertilizers. Seeds of northern red oak (Quercus rubra L.), chestnut oak (Quercus prinus L.), and red maple (Acer rubrum L.), one of oak’s major competitors in North America oak forest ecosystems, were sown in 0.7 liter pots that contained a growing medium mixture of peat moss, perlite, and sand in a ratio of 2:1:2, and germinated in a greenhouse. Three different chemical compound Mn fertilizer treatments—manganese chloride (0.16 mg L−1 Mn, MnCl2·4H2O), nanoparticle manganese in the form of manganese hydroxide (0.01 mg/L Mn, nanoparticle Mn(OH)2), and manganese hydroxide (0.01 mg L−1 Mn, Mn(OH)2)—and a treatment of Hoagland solution were applied to the planted seed. These treatments were compared to a control consisting...
Oak regeneration failures have been causing a slow decline in the occurrence of oak forest ecosys... more Oak regeneration failures have been causing a slow decline in the occurrence of oak forest ecosystems in eastern North America. Accordingly, our study sought to determine a means of creating more vigorous and competitive oak seedlings by the addition of manganese (Mn) fertilizers. Seeds of northern red oak (Quercus rubra L.), chestnut oak (Quercus prinus L.), and red maple (Acer rubrum L.), one of oak’s major competitors in North America oak forest ecosystems, were sown in 0.7 liter pots that contained a growing medium mixture of peat moss, perlite, and sand in a ratio of 2:1:2, and germinated in a greenhouse. Three different chemical compound Mn fertilizer treatments—manganese chloride (0.16 mg L−1 Mn, MnCl2·4H2O), nanoparticle manganese in the form of manganese hydroxide (0.01 mg/L Mn, nanoparticle Mn(OH)2), and manganese hydroxide (0.01 mg L−1 Mn, Mn(OH)2)—and a treatment of Hoagland solution were applied to the planted seed. These treatments were compared to a control consisting...
Oak regeneration failures have been causing a slow decline in the occurrence of oak forest ecosys... more Oak regeneration failures have been causing a slow decline in the occurrence of oak forest ecosystems in eastern North America. Accordingly, our study sought to determine a means of creating more vigorous and competitive oak seedlings by the addition of manganese (Mn) fertilizers. Seeds of northern red oak (Quercus rubra L.), chestnut oak (Quercus prinus L.), and red maple (Acer rubrum L.), one of oak’s major competitors in North America oak forest ecosystems, were sown in 0.7 liter pots that contained a growing medium mixture of peat moss, perlite, and sand in a ratio of 2:1:2, and germinated in a greenhouse. Three different chemical compound Mn fertilizer treatments—manganese chloride (0.16 mg L−1 Mn, MnCl2·4H2O), nanoparticle manganese in the form of manganese hydroxide (0.01 mg/L Mn, nanoparticle Mn(OH)2), and manganese hydroxide (0.01 mg L−1 Mn, Mn(OH)2)—and a treatment of Hoagland solution were applied to the planted seed. These treatments were compared to a control consisting...
Five Masson pine (Pinus massoniana Lamb.) plantations near Liuzhou, Guangxi in south China rangin... more Five Masson pine (Pinus massoniana Lamb.) plantations near Liuzhou, Guangxi in south China ranging in age from 14-18 years were selected for this study. Two plantations were tapped for resin production and three plantations had not been tapped. Eight sample trees were selected from each of three sample plots randomly established in each plantation. Tree cores were extracted at 1.3m on each sample tree for the purpose of measuring tree ring width to establish radial growth. Tree cores were sanded with fine grain sandpaper and measured to the nearest 0.5mm with the aid of a 10x magnification scope. Some cores had to be eliminated from the sample due to poor quality, and ultimately 24 cores from tapped trees and 24 cores from untapped trees were used for analysis. The mean radial growth of tapped trees (4.4712mm) and untapped trees (4.3537) were found to be not significantly different (p=0.05). Models were developed to display the cumulative radial growth of trees, and the 95% confidence bounds about the model coefficients suggest there is no significant difference in the cumulative radial growth of tapped and untapped trees. While our results would suggest that there is no impact of tapping trees for resin on diameter radial growth, this might be misleading. We sampled only at 1.3m and it is possible that had we sampled at 3.0m we might have recorded a negative effect. The “non-effect” we recorded at 1.3m may actually have been a positive effect. There could have been an increase in the radial growth due to the wood formation in the uninjured side of the tree, but was not significantly greater than that of untapped trees. Implications of this finding are discussed.
Little is known about the effects that oak forest regeneration treatments consisting of a combina... more Little is known about the effects that oak forest regeneration treatments consisting of a combination of shelterwood harvesting and prescribed fire have on bats, despite increasing use of these treatments. We quantified changes in bat activity levels in relation to oak forest regeneration treatments consisting of harvesting at 50% and 70% retention levels and prescribed fire in two upland Appalachian hardwood forests in Ohio. We monitored bat activity immediately post-harvest, three growing seasons post-harvest, and after application of prescribed fire to harvested stands before the fourth growing season. Total bat activity levels were higher in thinned and thinned and burned treatments than in unthinned controls in all years, but did not differ between harvest treatment levels immediately post-harvest, three growing seasons post-harvest, or between harvest treatment levels within years. Total bat activity post-prescribed fire changed only in the 50% retention harvest treatment blocks, wherein activity decreased. Activity levels of big brown (Eptesicus fuscus) bats were greater in harvested treatment blocks than controls in all years. Activity levels of eastern red (Lasiurus borealis), and Myotis spp. and tri-colored (Perimyotis subflavus) collectively did not differ among treatment blocks post-fire, but were greater in harvested treatment blocks than controls three growing seasons post-harvest. Community composition was strongly related to vegetation volume, with eastern red bats and Myotis and tri-colored bats displaying positive relationships with clutter in low height strata, and big brown bats displaying a negative relationship with clutter in all height strata. The positive relationship between eastern red and Myotis and tri-colored bats and clutter in low height strata may explain why activity levels of these species decreased post-prescribed fire. Our study suggests that the harvesting component of oak forest regeneration treatments may benefit bats for several years, and that while bat activity levels may decline post-prescribed fire, overall activity levels are nonetheless greater than in unthinned areas.
—The use of fire to maintain and restore oak (Quercus spp.) ecosystems is becoming an increasingl... more —The use of fire to maintain and restore oak (Quercus spp.) ecosystems is becoming an increasingly accepted silvicultural tool; however, specific management recommendations have been slow to develop as past studies have shown mixed results. y examining fire temperature in response to landscape position and season of burn, we attempted to offer increased insight into the use of prescribed fire to effectively regenerate oak. Prescribed burns were performed in 2004 in two oak forests that encompassed 96 and 170 ha. One forest was burned late-March and the other was burned early-November. Eight areas that represented the four aspects and two slope positions (upper and lower) were marked out within each forest and replicated. Fire temperature was measured using temperature-sensitive paint applied to aluminum tags (pyrometer) at three different heights above the forest floor. Six pyrometers were placed in each area, providing a total of 192 sets of temperature/height data. Pre-burn fuel conditions were characterized around each temperature gauge. Temperature readings as indicated by temperature-sensitive paint were recorded immediately after each burn. Fall burns were significantly hotter than spring burns at all aspects and slope positions. This same trend was recorded at the different height readings, indicating longer flame lengths during the fall burn. This paper discusses how fire reacts to landscape position and season of burn, and how these factors may be used to more successfully implement prescribed fire for oak management objectives.
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Papers by Roger Williams
for this study. Two plantations were tapped for resin production and three plantations had not been tapped. Eight sample trees were selected
from each of three sample plots randomly established in each plantation. Tree cores were extracted at 1.3m on each sample tree for the purpose of
measuring tree ring width to establish radial growth. Tree cores were sanded with fine grain sandpaper and measured to the nearest 0.5mm with
the aid of a 10x magnification scope. Some cores had to be eliminated from the sample due to poor quality, and ultimately 24 cores from tapped
trees and 24 cores from untapped trees were used for analysis. The mean radial growth of tapped trees (4.4712mm) and untapped trees (4.3537)
were found to be not significantly different (p=0.05). Models were developed to display the cumulative radial growth of trees, and the 95%
confidence bounds about the model coefficients suggest there is no significant difference in the cumulative radial growth of tapped and untapped
trees. While our results would suggest that there is no impact of tapping trees for resin on diameter radial growth, this might be misleading. We
sampled only at 1.3m and it is possible that had we sampled at 3.0m we might have recorded a negative effect. The “non-effect” we recorded at
1.3m may actually have been a positive effect. There could have been an increase in the radial growth due to the wood formation in the uninjured
side of the tree, but was not significantly greater than that of untapped trees. Implications of this finding are discussed.
for this study. Two plantations were tapped for resin production and three plantations had not been tapped. Eight sample trees were selected
from each of three sample plots randomly established in each plantation. Tree cores were extracted at 1.3m on each sample tree for the purpose of
measuring tree ring width to establish radial growth. Tree cores were sanded with fine grain sandpaper and measured to the nearest 0.5mm with
the aid of a 10x magnification scope. Some cores had to be eliminated from the sample due to poor quality, and ultimately 24 cores from tapped
trees and 24 cores from untapped trees were used for analysis. The mean radial growth of tapped trees (4.4712mm) and untapped trees (4.3537)
were found to be not significantly different (p=0.05). Models were developed to display the cumulative radial growth of trees, and the 95%
confidence bounds about the model coefficients suggest there is no significant difference in the cumulative radial growth of tapped and untapped
trees. While our results would suggest that there is no impact of tapping trees for resin on diameter radial growth, this might be misleading. We
sampled only at 1.3m and it is possible that had we sampled at 3.0m we might have recorded a negative effect. The “non-effect” we recorded at
1.3m may actually have been a positive effect. There could have been an increase in the radial growth due to the wood formation in the uninjured
side of the tree, but was not significantly greater than that of untapped trees. Implications of this finding are discussed.