1. Applying Density Management to Develop Late Successional Features Klaus J. Puettmann Oregon State University

2. Studies StudyLocation Overstory Species Age at thinning% max SDIRemarks ODF OR Coast RangeD-fir5-20NA Standard plantations Newton ColeCorvallisD-fir5020 – 40 Thinned previously Blodgett W. Hemlock5020 – 35 YSTDSWillamette NFD-fir4020 – 60 WildcatSuislaw NFD-fir3010 – 55 DMSBLMD-fir4520-75 LindhWillamette NFD-fir2015-90PCT

3. Late successional features:  Overstory cover  Canopy layers  Large, dominant trees  Tree species mixtures, including hardwoods  Amount and composition of understory vegetation  Conifer regeneration  Spatial variability

4. Late successional features:  Overstory cover  Canopy layers  Large, dominant trees  Tree species mixtures, including hardwoods  Amount and composition of understory vegetation  Conifer regeneration  Spatial variability

5. Overstory Cover Willamette National Forest: Douglas-firBeggs 2005

6. Overstory cover Newton and Cole 2004 McDonald Forest: Douglas-fir, previously thinned

7. Crown structures Suislaw National Forest: Douglas-fir Chan et al. 2005

8. Foliage Height Diversity Index 0 m 10 m 5 m 30 m 25 m 20 m 15 m 35 m << STAND 1STAND 3STAND 2

9. Foliage Height Diversity Index 3 to 5 years after thinning Beggs 2005

10. Impact of thinning on volume and on growth rate (i.e., slope of volume curve)

11. Acceleration of “dominant old-growth” trees: Diameter growth of largest 6 tpa Growth (cm / yr) Willamette National Forest Beggs 2005

12. Douglas-fir Golden chinquapin Hardwoods Control 14.0 (a)27.1 (a)36.1 (a) (12.3 – 15.8)(19.4 – 34.9)(28.4 – 43.8) Heavy 4.7 (b)7.8 (b)18.0 (b) (0.1 – 9.3)(-1.1 – 16.7)(8.9 – 27.0) Light 5.9 (b)15.1 (a) (b)15.3 (b) (3.1 – 8.8)(1.5 – 28.8)9.0 – 21.6 LtGaps 4.0 (b)4.4 (b)13.4 (b) (0.8 – 7.2)(-3.6 – 12.5)(7.0 – 19.7) Overstory Mortality (%) Mostly competition related Beggs 2005

13. Late successional features:  Overstory cover  Canopy layers  Large, dominant trees  Tree species mixtures, including hardwoods  Amount and composition of understory vegetation  Conifer regeneration  Spatial variability

14. Late successional features:  Overstory cover  Canopy layers  Large, dominant trees  Tree species mixtures, including hardwoods  Amount and composition of understory vegetation  Tree regeneration  Spatial variability

15. Seedling survival 8 growing seasons after thinning Adapted from Maas-Hebner et al. 2005 FEM

16. Seedling survival after 8 growing seasons Adapted from Maas-Hebner et al. 2005 FEM

17. Seedling survival Newton and Cole 2004 McDonald: Douglas-fir

18. Western Red Cedar Douglas-firGrand FirWestern Hemlock Total % Damaged 41463545 Harvesting damage to regeneration McDonald Forest Newton and Cole 2004

19. Impact of light availability on seedling growth Maas-Hebner et al. 2005

20. Western Hemlock Newton and Cole 2004 Impact of overstory density

21. Effects of weed control Western hemlock Newton and Cole 2004 Blodgett

22. Variation in overstory cover when gaps in interspersed in thinned stands Frequency 0102030405060708090100 Overstory Cover (%) 0 5 10 15 20 25 30 35 40 Beggs 2005

23. Conclusions  Different late-successional components require different management strategies  Tradeoffs in terms of stand growth  Overstory and understory conditions before thinning are good indicators of responses  Some flexibility in thinning intensities  Repeated entries likely required

24. Density management needs to be an integral part of managing for late successional habitat, but additional measures, (gaps, snag creation, or remnant trees) are also necessary

25. Questions