MOFEP HARD MAST 2004 Project Update Team members: Randy Jensen, Mark Johanson, Gary Sullivan, Larry Vangilder, Mike Hubbard

Primary Research Questions How does forest management affect hard mast production on the MOFEP study sites? How does forest management affect hard mast production on the MOFEP study sites? How does tree size and density affect mast production? How does tree size and density affect mast production?

Project Overview Mast collections made yearly since 1993 except for 1996 (harvest treatment year). Mast collections made yearly since 1993 except for 1996 (harvest treatment year). 130 plots on 9 sites, covering 4 ELT Groups. 130 plots on 9 sites, covering 4 ELT Groups. Overstory measured and mapped in and Overstory measured and mapped in and significant change in data collection protocol significant change in data collection protocol.

What Have We Learned?

Pretreatment Acorn production is highly variable Acorn production is highly variable ELT’s 17’s and 18’s are similar in production ELT’s 17’s and 18’s are similar in production Ridgetops are always the highest producers Ridgetops are always the highest producers Upland waterways are always worst producers Upland waterways are always worst producers Red oak and white oak groups do not boom and bust together, but they can!! Red oak and white oak groups do not boom and bust together, but they can!!

Post Treatment ?????

Acorns per Plot By Species Groups Collection Year Acorns Per Plot

Acorns per Plot By Species Groups Collection Year Acorns Per Plot

Soundness of Mature Acorns By Species Group Percent Sound Collection Year

Sound, Mature Acorns By ELT Acorns per Plot Collection Year

Sound, Mature Acorns By Year and Treatment Acorns per Plot Collection Year

Sound, Mature Acorns By Cutting Type Even-Age Compartments Acorns per Plot Collection Year

Sound, Mature Acorns By Cutting Type Uneven-Age Compartments Acorns per Plot Collection Year

Past Challenges Several PI changes in the past Several PI changes in the past Logistics Related to the Timber Harvest Logistics Related to the Timber Harvest Plot maintenance Plot maintenance

Hard Mast Project Future Needs

Data Collection Continue yearly mast collections. Continue yearly mast collections. Revisit the overstory trees in the acorn plots. Revisit the overstory trees in the acorn plots.

Data Management FY05 – Error check data and metadata, then update the MOFEP database. FY05 – Error check data and metadata, then update the MOFEP database. Enter new data and metadata into the database the spring after the collections are made. Enter new data and metadata into the database the spring after the collections are made.

Information Transfer FY06 – Analyze data and Report the mast data. FY06 – Analyze data and Report the mast data. Can the hard mast data be linked with any other MOFEP projects? Can the hard mast data be linked with any other MOFEP projects?