Fate of live trees retained in mixed bottomland hardwood stands during the first decade after harvest

Abstract

The effects of clearcutting with reserves (CCR), basal area retention (BAR), and no-harvest control (CTL) on residual trees in a bottomland hardwood forest in northeastern Missouri were evaluated during the first decade after harvest. Harvesting damaged 15 and 46% of live trees (>4.5 in. dbh) retained in BAR and CCR treatments, respectively. Three years after harvest (2000 –2003), the annual mortality rate was higher in the CCR (6.8%) than in the BAR (3.2%) or the CTL (1.5%). From 2003 to 2010, the annual mortality rate of the BAR remained the same, whereas mortality rates in the CCR declined substantially (2.5%), suggesting a pulse of mortality during the first few years after clearcutting. A thinning effect of harvesting (i.e., growth increase) was observed in both harvest treatments but only during the second time period in the CCR. Basal area growth was greatest in the BAR during the first 3 years, because of low mortality and moderate diameter growth. The results from this study suggest that BAR does not increase mortality of residual trees and improves residual tree growth, including that of desirable oak species. Therefore, BAR is a suitable option for managers interested in managing mixed bottomland hardwoods for wildlife habitat and forest products while potentially mitigating the negative visual impacts of harvesting.