Download or read book A Characterization of Unmanaged Riparian Overstories in the Central Oregon Coast Range written by Tara R. Nierenberg and published by . This book was released on 1996 with total page 268 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Riparian areas that can be used as reference sites on which to base goals of vegetation restoration have not been documented in the Oregon Coast Range. I examined the composition and distribution of unmanaged riparian overstories in the central Oregon Coast Range along nine streams which have experienced minimal disturbance from Native Americans and no detectable disturbance since Euro- American settlement. I systematically located transects along nine streams, alternating sides of the streams. Each transect ran perpendicular to the stream and was subjectively divided into different vegetative and/or topographic units called landscape units (LU's). Rectangular plots were placed in each LU for characterization. LU l's were units that were closest to the stream, and LU2's were farther from the stream. Red alder was the most frequently found tree species on both terraces and slopes, and on all LU1 's. On LU2 terraces, alder was also the most frequently found species, but on LU2 slopes, Douglas-fir had the highest frequency. Red alder, Sitka spruce, and bigleaf maple were most commonly found occupying terrace sites, although bigleaf maple might be best adapted to conditions on terraces towards the base of slopes. Conversely, western hemlock and Douglas-fir were most commonly found occupying slope sites. Western redcedar was infrequently found, likely due to seed source limitations. Age distributions and tree frequencies indicate that near-stream communities (LUI 's) and terraces experience both intense and minor disturbances, and they experience both types of disturbances more frequently than communities farther from the stream (LU2's) or on slopes. According to fire records and reconnaissance, all streams appear to have been burned about 145 years ago. When equating a shade-intolerant tree age that was younger than this last catastrophic fire date with a disturbance, calculations of disturbance frequency using four different approaches indicate that between 2.6 and 4.5 disturbances per km per century large enough to regenerate trees occurred since the last stand-resetting fire along the nine creeks sampled. Fifty-two percent of near-stream communities (LU1's) and 23% of communities farther from the stream (LU2's) contained no trees. This could be due to small plot size and/or high shrub competition. The No Tree overstory type was most similar in topographic conditions to the Pure Hardwood overstory type, suggesting that red alder and/or bigleaf maple might have previously occupied the No Tree sites and have since died leaving no or little evidence. It appears that a large-scale, intense disturbance such as fire is needed to allow the recruitment of trees into the shrub-dominated, No Tree areas, especially shade-intolerant trees such as Douglas-fir. Any single definition of natural riparian vegetation is nearly impossible to construct, mainly because most ecosystems are composed of vegetation mosaics that are always changing in time and space. This change is associated with environmental variability, disturbance, and inter- and intra-specific competition. Also, differences in exogenous environmental conditions between pre-settlement times (circa 1850) and today, suggest that historic vegetation, ecological conditions, and resulting successional pathways might not mirror the vegetation, ecological conditions, and successional pathways of currently unmanaged riparian areas. Instead, results from this study, revealing the existence of mixtures of hardwoods, conifers, and no-tree areas over lengths of a stream, should be perceived as just one of many possibilities for a riparian overstory reference model.
Download or read book Comparison of Stand Development of a Deciduous dominated Riparian Forest and a Coniferous dominated Riparian Forest in the Oregon Coast Range written by Nathan Jeremy Poage and published by . This book was released on 1994 with total page 268 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Riparian forests in the central Oregon Coast Range vary along a coniferous-deciduous compositional continuum. Variations in structure and composition affect water quality, fish and wildlife, biodiversity, timber, and aesthetics. A retrospective approach was taken in this study in order to understand and compare the structure, pattern, and history of an unmanaged, mature, deciduous-dominated riparian forest and an unmanaged, mature, coniferous-dominated riparian forest in the central Oregon Coast Range. Information on forest structure and pattern was acquired by mapping locations of all trees and snags (DBH 5cm) within a 2.0 ha and a 2.25 ha reference stand. The history of each stand was reconstructed through analyses of stand structure and composition, tree ages, spatial patterns of trees and snags, as well as detailed field observations. The structure and composition of the two forests is very different. Non-random patterns of trees and snags were observed at multiple scales. Although it is not possible to infer directly the process(es) responsible for observed patterns, point-pattern analysis is a useful tool to detect and describe intra- and interspecific patterns. Neither forest resulted from a single, stand-replacing fire. Instead, both sites were at least partially burned about 145 years ago, possibly in the same fire(s) which spread across an estimated 500,000 acres between the Siuslaw and Siletz Rivers in the mid-1800's (Morris 1934). There is good evidence to suggest that a second fire occurred at the coniferous-dominated site. One or two other fires may have occurred at the deciduous-dominated site. Evidence of wind, herbivory, flooding, pathogens, mass movement events, and non-stand replacing fire was observed at one or both of the sites. Seed source availability as affected by disturbance history may have played a role in forest development at both sites. The seed source availability of red alder relative to Douglas-fir may have increased with successive disturbance events at the deciduous-dominated, riparian forest. A local source of western hemlock seed may have been a key factor in the development of the coniferous-dominated, riparian forest.
Download or read book Riparian Litter Inputs to Streams in the Central Oregon Coast Range written by Stephanie K. Hart and published by . This book was released on 2006 with total page 204 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Riparian zone vegetation can influence terrestrial and aquatic food webs through variations in the amounts, timing, and nutritional content of leaf and other litter inputs. Differences in vegetation composition and density, as well as riparian topography, may modulate the strength and quality of these inputs. Changes in inputs to small order streams affect the processes and condition of adjacent and downstream reaches based on the amount of particulate organic matter that is intercepted, retained, or exported. The central Oregon Coast Range provides an ideal opportunity to study how deciduous dominated and coniferous dominated riparian forests influence small streams within a matrix of managed riparian forests. In coastal Oregon riparian forests, we investigated lateral and vertical litter inputs to sixteen streams throughout a year and assessed how these inputs were influenced by density of deciduous dominated (mainly red alder (Alnus rubra)) or coniferous dominated (mainly Douglas-fir (Pseudotsuga menziesii)) overstory, understory, and lateral slope. Deciduous site vertical litter inputs (504 g m-2 yr-1 (95% CI: 447-562)) were estimated to exceed those from coniferous sites (394 g m-2 yr-1 (336-452)) by 110 g m-2 (29-192) over the full year. Annual lateral inputs (per meter of stream bank on one side) at deciduous sites (109 g m-1 yr-1 (76-143)) were estimated to be 47 g m-1 (1-95) more than coniferous sites (63 g m-1 yr-1 (29-97)). Annual inputs at coniferous sites were dominated by deciduous leaves, coniferous needles, and twig litter types. Deciduous leaves, deciduous-other, and small unidentifiable litter types dominated the annual inputs at deciduous sites. When evaluated temporally, November was the most pivotal month differentiating coniferous and deciduous site litter inputs. At deciduous sites, lateral litter movement increased with slope, but we did not see the same relationship for coniferous sites except in spring/summer months. Lateral inputs were quantitatively greatest in autumn months for both overstories, but were proportionately greater in winter. Regardless of slope, there was no indication that understory plants were obstructing annual lateral litter inputs or that annual lateral litter inputs were moving more than 5 m down slope. The percent nitrogen of annual total vertical litter was estimated to be 1.9% N (1.5-2.4) at deciduous sites and 1.2% N (0.8-1.7) at coniferous sites. Average % nitrogen of individual litter types were either greater in deciduous sites or not different among overstories, indicating that one can generally expect coniferous sites to have lower % N litter inputs overall. The annual nitrogen flux entering each meter-length (from above and both sides) of standard 4 m-wide streams at a deciduous sites (42 g N m-1 of stream) was twice that of coniferous sites (21 g N m-1 of stream). Annual total litter carbon flux into each meter-length of 4 m-wide streams was estimated to be 1154 g C m-1 of stream at deciduous sites and 880 g C m-1 of stream at coniferous sites. On average, autumn months (October-December) accounted for 46-59% of annual vertical C flux and 56-70% of annual vertical N flux at coniferous and deciduous sites. Our results suggest that red alder dominated riparian zones of the central Oregon Coast Range have significantly different quantity, timing, and quality of leaf litter inputs to streams than conifer dominated forests. Varied topography adjacent to streams with red alder dominated overstory has greater impact on the quantity, quality, and timing of total inputs than at coniferous sites. The cumulative effects from many small red alder dominated streams exporting to downstream reaches include more pronounced seasonality of litter delivery, with greater carbon and nitrogen loading annually, than expected from conifer dominated streams. Differences in overstory and topography in Oregon Coast Range riparian forests directly impact the delivery of nutrients and can affect the structure and composition of food webs in these ecosystems.
Download or read book The Land water Interface written by Mayumi Takahashi and published by . This book was released on 2003 with total page 170 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: This study was conducted to describe variation of riparian vegetation in an Oregon Coast Range system according to geomorphic characteristics and in relation to streamflow. Specific objectives of this study were to: I) examine if the vegetation composition and structure of the riparian forest varied among channel-reach morphologies, 2) examine how the composition and structure of the riparian forest changed with distance from the stream, and 3) extract major underlying environmental gradients explaining riparian forest community from riparian vegetation data. A 30 m x 30 m sample site was randomly located on each side of upper Camp Creek in each of 19 reaches, and within each site three consecutive 30 m x 10 m belt-transects established perpendicular to the stream flow. Overstory and understory vegetation was sampled in each belt transect. Environmental variables sampled included slope, aspect, height above summer low flow, elevation above sea level. Non-metric Multidimensional Scaling and Indicator Species Analysis was used to describe characteristics of riparian plant communities. Distinct riparian vegetation patterns were observed in upper Camp Creek with increasing distance from stream. Both overstory and understory vegetation quickly changed with increasing distance from stream. Areas within ten meters from stream were characterized as mesic riparian environments while areas twenty meters away from stream were characterized as upland conifer forest environments. Vegetation composition was ordered along an inferred moisture gradient from streamside to hillslope, and distance from stream and height above summer low flow were almost equally correlated to the gradient. Tall shrubs including salmonberry, sword fern and vine maple are important component of riparian vegetation. Channel-reach morphology little differentiated riparian vegetation. A few species were significantly abundant in a specific reach of channel morphology. However, results of this study about relationships between channel-reach morphology and riparian vegetation were inconclusive.
Download or read book Problem Analysis on Riparian wildlife Relationships in the Oregon Coast Range written by Kevin McGarigal and published by . This book was released on 1988 with total page 106 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt:
Download or read book General Technical Report NE written by and published by . This book was released on 1980 with total page 496 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt:
Download or read book USDA Forest Service Global Change Research Program Highlights 1991 95 written by Richard A. Birdsey and published by . This book was released on 1997 with total page 394 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt:
Download or read book Communicating the Role of Silviculture in Managing the National Forests written by and published by . This book was released on 1997 with total page 216 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt:
Download or read book Silviculture Practices for Riparian Forests in the Oregon Coast Range written by and published by . This book was released on 2000 with total page 40 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: This publication is aimed at watershed councils, government agencies, and specialists (foresters, wildlife and fisheries biologists) interested in riparian area silviculture or watershed restoration. It contains information on the ecology of riparian forests and a checklist of recommended practices and common mistakes made in restoring conifers to hardwood-dominated riparian forests. Our recommendations are based on 1) an evaluation of 34 riparian restoration projects spanning the Coast Range of Oregon, 2) three case studies of riparian restoration projects, and 3) ongoing research projects aimed at learning how to establish or release conifers in riparian forests. We found that project managers were choosing appropriate conifer species and stock types for planting, but the survival and growth of conifers in the understory were poor. Managers were underestimating the competitive power of shrub and hardwood communities. In some cases, conflicting objectives and lack of priority setting led to the failure of expensive projects. We hope this publication will assist managers in efforts to restore healthy riparian forests and dwindling fish stocks.
Download or read book Plant and Amphibian Assemblages in Zero order Basins in the Oregon Coast Range written by Chris D. Sheridan and published by . This book was released on 2002 with total page 414 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: We have a poor understanding of the biotic communities in zero-order basins, drainages extending from ridgelines to the initiation of first-order streams. This study describes baseline plant and amphibian composition in unmanaged zero-order basins in the Oregon Coast Range. Specifically, I studied: i) the spatial distribution and diversity of species, including riparian-associates; and ii) the dominant environmental, spatial and geomorphic gradients in species composition The results of this research have implications for riparian management in steep, forested landscapes in the Pacific Northwest. The composition of tree and shrub layers in zero-order basins was more similar to upland areas than to larger-order riparian areas. Douglas-fir, western hemlock, and western red cedar had highest basal areas; bigleaf maple had highest hardwood density. Convergent areas (areas collecting surface flow) had significantly lower relative densities than surrounding slopes. I identified 138 forest floor herb, shrub, and seedling tree species in zero-order basins. Gradient analysis and empirical modeling suggested that the composition of forest floor plant assemblages was associated with environmental parameters related to geomorphic position and overstory characteristics, such as distance from basin center, basin aspect and overstory relative density. Vegetation types, developed using classification, followed similar environmental patterns. Vegetation types were useful in clarifying environmental gradients acting on groups of plant species, and in delineating the lateral extent of geomorphic and fluvial influences. Riparian-associated vegetation types were mostly restricted to valley floors and lower slope areas. Geomorphic and lateral surfaces were drivers of environmental gradients in zero-order basins; plant species composition followed these geomorphic gradients. Surfaces close to basin center ("inner gorges"), including valley centers, splash zones, and lower slope areas, supported the highest plant species diversity and most distinct plant assemblages. The spatial distribution patterns of amphibian species and assemblages were characterized along longitudinal and lateral gradients, and relative to three geomorphic surfaces (valleys, headmost areas and slopes), and empirical species-habitat models were developed. I identified eight amphibian species in zero-order basins (865 total captures), and analyzed data for six. Headmost areas supported a distinctive upland amphibian assemblage, while valley floors had the highest riparian amphibian diversity. Captures of three riparian species were higher in valley surfaces, within S m of the center of zero-order basins, while captures of three upland species were highest in areas 2-5 m from center. Upland-associated species were captured two times farther from basin centers than riparian-associated species. The best predictors of amphibian captures in empirical models were geomorphic, stability/ disturbance, moisture and overstory parameters. Ordination and indicator species analysis facilitated characterization of amphibian species assemblages within geomorphic surface zones, and suggested spatial compression of habitats and species in zero-order basins, in comparison to broader spatial extents in larger basins. Plant and amphibian assemblages in unmanaged zero-order basins were most similar to each other in their lateral and geomorphic spatial patterning, including the importance of inner gorge areas for support of diverse communities. Plant species were strongly associated with geomorphic position parameters, while amphibians had stronger ties to discrete microhabitat elements such as moisture levels and large substrate. Amphibians appeared to have a more distinctive assemblage in headmost areas than plant species. Results suggest that assemblages of plants and amphibians in these basins are distinct from both larger-order riparian assemblages and from vegetation in surrounding hillslopes. Riparian management designs could take these spatial patterns and habitat associations into account to maintain the ecological integrity of headwater communities. The longitudinal and lateral extents of landscape areas managed to minimize risk to persistence of zero-order basin plant and amphibian assemblages would need to incorporate both fluvial and hillslope disturbance regimes, and microhabitat features associated with them.
Download or read book Forest Fragmentation written by James Arthur Rochelle and published by BRILL. This book was released on 1999-01-01 with total page 340 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: The book contains 15 chapters and provides an overview and synthesis of forest fragmentation and its influences on key ecological processes and vertebrate productivity. Land use practices and their effects on vertebrate populations and productivity are discussed and examples of several planning approaches to address landscape-level management effects are described.
Download or read book Forest and Stream Management in the Oregon Coast Range written by Stephen D. Hobbs and published by . This book was released on 2002 with total page 336 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: This major volume presents a wealth of fundamental and applied research on managing Coast Range forest and stream ecosystems. Written primarily for managers and resource specialists, the book will also appeal to policymakers, resource scientists, forest landowners, the conservation community, and students interested in forestry, fisheries, and wildlife sciences.
Download or read book Pioneer Mountain to Eddyville US 20 Lincoln County written by and published by . This book was released on 2004 with total page 370 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt:
Download or read book Watershed Stewardship written by and published by . This book was released on 1998 with total page 486 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt:
Download or read book Lewis and Clark Meet Oregon s Forests written by Gail Wells and published by Oregon State University Press. This book was released on 2001 with total page 230 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: A fascinating look at the natural and human-caused influences that have shaped and continue to shape Oregon's forests, using the Lewis and Clark Expedition of two hundred years ago as a backdrop.
Download or read book Canadian Journal of Forest Research Journal Canadien de la Recherche Foresti re written by and published by . This book was released on 2008 with total page 828 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt:
Download or read book Forest Wildlife habitat Relationships written by Stephen DeStefano and published by Society of American Foresters.. This book was released on 2002 with total page 292 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt:
