C perspectivesO & tools toMPAS benefit southern forest resources from the southern research station S issue 9

THE MIGHTY OAK In Upland Hardwood Forests in the South

Altered Light: Regenerating Oak...page 3 A Burning Question: Can an Old Tool Help?...page 9 www.srs.fs.usda.gov Sudden Oak Death...page 29 1 inside... the science

Upland Hardwood If you live in the mountain and highland areas of the South, you 1 see oaks all around you every day. You may wonder why we would Forests in Transition devote an entire issue of Compass to upland hardwood forests, and by Zoë Hoyle oak regeneration in particular. Surely the mighty oak is not in danger of dying out?

Altered Light: SRS project leader David Loftis has been intrigued by one of the 3 most important questions in hardwood research—how to regenerate Regenerating Oak oak—since 1972, when he started working as a graduate student at by Kim McQueen the Bent Creek Experimental Forest.

A Burning Question Findings from recent studies suggest that humans have used fire 9 to manage southern forests for the last 5,000 years, producing a Can an Old Tool Help large and healthy oak presence in the uplands, relatively sparse and Reshape Upland parklike understory conditions, and abundant game animals. Can an Hardwood Forests? old tool help reshape today’s upland hardwood forests? by Carol Whitlock

The Forest for the Trees On the Cumberland Plateau, which stretches from Kentucky down 12 into Alabama, SRS research foresters and collaborators are making Connecting Silviculture the scientific connection between silviculture treatments and forest and Wildlife inhabitants—whether they’re birds, bats, snakes, frogs, salamanders, or ants. by Zoë Hoyle

It’s All Good Paul Hamel, wildlife biologist with the SRS Center for Bottomland 18 Hardwoods, is an acknowledged expert on the cerulean warbler, An Interview with a bird once common in the hardwood forests of the Eastern United Paul Hamel States, but now in steady decline. Hamel talks with us about how he by Zoë Hoyle got started in research, and about the connection between silviculture and wildlife habitat.

Southern Bats Like SRS researchers located in Clemson, SC, are interested in learning 20 more about the lives of bats in the upland hardwood forests in the Hardwoods South, where four species—gray bat, Indiana bat, Virginia big-eared by Perdita Spriggs bat, and Ozark big-eared bat—are on the Federal endangered species list.

2 compass—august 2007 Of Fire Scars and SRS research forester Martin Spetich used feedback from land 24 managers to put together a keystone study on upland hardwoods Arkansas Oaks that ties together data from 16 integrated projects spanning millions by Kim McQueen of acres and hundreds of years in the Ozark-Ouachita Highlands of Arkansas.

The Gypsy Moth In the Daniel Boone National Forest near Cold Hill, KY, a team of 25 Forest Service and university researchers have started an ambitious Invasion experiment to find out whether manipulating the structure of forest Can Silviculture Save stands before the gypsy moth arrives can reduce damage from the the Day? pest. by Zoë Hoyle

Sudden Oak Death Forest pathologists are closely monitoring the Southeast for 29 vegetation infected with sudden oak death, a nonnative pathogen that In Pursuit of a Plant has already killed a range of oak species in California and Oregon, Destroyer and has made its way to the Southeast on infected nursery stock. So by Susan Andrew far, so good, but continued vigilance is key to protecting oaks in the South.

departments Science You Can Use!...... 32 Recommended Reading...... 34 Experimental Forests...... 36 Around the Station...... 39 New Products from the Southern Research Station...... 42

Cover photo: Spring oak leaves create a mosaic of greens. (Photo by Zoë Hoyle, U.S. Forest Service)

Email: [email protected], [email protected] communication of program information (Braille, large print, Telephone: 828-257-4392 audiotape, etc.) should contact USDA’s TARGET Center at OMPAS Editors: Zoë Hoyle, Science Writer, and Claire Payne, (202) 720-2600 (voice and TDD). C S Technical Information Specialist Science You Can Use! Art Director: Rodney Kindlund To file a complaint of discrimination, write to USDA, Contributing Staff Writers: Carol Whitlock, Livia Marqués Director, Office of Civil Rights, 1400 Independence Avenue, August 2007 — Issue 9 and Perdita Spriggs SW, Washington, D.C. 20250-9410, or call (800) 795- 3272 (voice) or (202) 720-6382 (TDD). USDA is an equal perspectives and tools to benefit southern forest resources The mission of the Southern Research Station is to create opportunity provider and employer. the science and technology needed to sustain and COMPASS is published quarterly by the Science Delivery enhance southern forest ecosystems and the benefits The use of trade or firm names in this publication is for Group of the Southern Research Station (SRS), Forest they provide. reader information and does not imply endorsement Service, U.S. Department of Agriculture. As part of the by the U.S. Department of Agriculture of any product or Nation’s largest forestry research organization—Forest The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) prohibits service. Service Research and Development—SRS serves 13 discrimination in all its programs and activities on the basis Southern States and beyond. The Station’s 130 scientists of race, color, national origin, age, disability, and where The opinions and recommendations offered by guest work at more than 20 units located across the region applicable, sex, marital status, familial status, parental authors and interviewees are not necessarily those of the at Federal laboratories, universities, and experimental status, religion, sexual orientation, genetic information, U.S. Department of Agriculture, the Forest Service, or the forests. political beliefs, reprisal, or because all or part of an Southern Research Station. individual’s income is derived from any public assistance Future issues can be obtained by returning the postcard program. (Not all prohibited bases apply to all programs.) ISSN: 1931-4906 included in this issue. Persons with disabilities who require alternative means for Printed on recycled paper Printed with soy ink www.srs.fs.usda.gov 3 “Today’s mighty oak is just yesterday’s nut that held its ground.”——Anonymous

Oak regeneration plot on the Bent Creek Experimental Forest near Asheville, NC. (Photo by Rod Kindlund, U.S. Forest Service)

4 compass—augustcompass—august 2007 Upland Hardwood Forests in Transition

f only it were that easy. food and shelter to a wide range of in the South, looking at silvicultural I If you live in the mountain and animals and birds as well as producing and wildlife research, as well as highland areas of the South, you high-quality timber—become fewer combinations of the two. We’ll look see oaks all around you every day. and fewer. at a project in Kentucky designed to You may wonder why we would Oak Regeneration Redux reduce the damage of an insect pest devote an entire issue of Compass to before it ever arrives, and catch up on David Loftis, project leader of the the latest news and research about upland hardwood forests, and oak SRS Upland Hardwood Ecology and regeneration in particular. Surely the sudden oak death. We’ll also offer tips Management unit (upland hardwoods about what you as a resource manager mighty oak is not in danger of dying unit), first came to work at theBent out? or private landowner can do to promote Creek Experimental Forest in the oaks on your own property. You might be surprised to find out 1970s. By then, researchers already that upland oak-hickory forests in knew that even though you might have the Southern highlands have declined thousands of new oak seedlings from The Mighty Oak by an estimated 70 percent since a good acorn crop, less then 5 percent European settlement. The forests you would survive under a dense canopy see today are less than a century old, of overstory trees. They also knew that Oaks are members of the larger beech having grown up after widespread if you wanted more oaks you had to family of trees (Fagaceae), with its three logging and other practices that increase the light reaching the forest genera: Fagus (beech trees proper), Castanea radically changed forest structure and floor enough to promote the growth (chestnuts and chinkapins), and Quercus species composition. Until the early of oak seedlings, but not enough to (oaks). There are almost 600 species of 20th century, the American chestnut stimulate sprouting of yellow-poplars Quercus, both deciduous (leaf-shedding) and was very prominent in upland from the seed bank. What they didn’t evergreen trees (such as live oaks) and shrubs. hardwood forests; by the 1950s, know was just how to do this. In the Eastern United States, upland American chestnuts were gone, and Loftis started designing and hardwood stands include scarlet, black, oaks had taken the dominant position. setting out studies to look at this chestnut, red, and white oaks. Scarlet oaks Now in their 70s and 80s, this cohort question in the mid-1970s and are the fastest growing, and dominate many of oaks is aging, becoming more early 1980s, and over time has 100-year-old stands, with white oaks as susceptible to death from insects, become the acknowledged expert intermediaries. When scarlet oaks drop out diseases, and oak decline. in oak regeneration in the Southern after a century or so, red and chestnut oak Meanwhile, there’s also been a Appalachians. In the past few years, dominate for the next century. White oak decline in oak regeneration, due to his unit has expanded across the dominates after 300 years. the inability of seedlings that sprout range of upland hardwood forests The longest lived of oak species in the from acorns to grow large enough into the Cumberland Plateau, and upland hardwood forests of the Southeast, to be competitive with other species even further west into the highlands white oak can live in some settings for 500 or when the overstory on high-quality of Arkansas. The unit has also 600 years. In Germany, white oak is managed (moisture, good soil) upland hardwood expanded into wildlife research as for veneer on a 600-year rotation. sites is removed. The problem is that managing forests to provide habitat In the South, white oak grows in association faster growing trees such as maples for different creatures has become a with many other trees: other upland oaks, from stump sprouts and yellow- major objective for natural resource poplars outgrow the slower growing managers across private, State, and hickories, yellow-poplar, American basswood, small oak seedlings. As time goes on, Federal ownerships. white ash, sweetgum, blackgum, American beech, sugar maple, shortleaf pine, loblolly the overstory of the forest becomes In this issue of Compass, we will pine, eastern white pine, and eastern hemlock. dominated by maples or yellow- explore research studies across the The most frequent associates are other oaks poplars, and the oaks—which provide range of upland hardwood forests and the hickories. www.srs.fs.usda.gov 1

An Oak Regeneration Glossary

advance regeneration: strategy that relies on the presence of an advance regeneration source in the forest understory that persists through a disturbance. advance regeneration source: large seedlings that must be present in a stand before disturbance and persist through it if regeneration is to take place. artificial regeneration: process where oak seedlings are outplanted; for situations where there are not enough seedlings from acorns and no advance regeneration source present. midstory removal: the first phase of a shelterwood cut, when midstory trees and shrubs are killed to allow enough light to promote the growth of oak seedlings—but not enough to promote their competition. natural regeneration: process that relies on the presence of sufficient oak seedlings from acorns. release: in shelterwood treatments, the second cut of overstory trees allows young oak trees to grow towards the canopy. Sometimes forest managers use an additional crown-touching release, where they remove the competition around the crown of an advancing oak. shelterwood cut: a regeneration method that removes the overstory of the stand in two or more operations, spaced in time, to allow for the advance regeneration of oaks.

(right) Research forester David Loftis develops silvicultural methods to promote the regeneration of oak on sites where they must compete with faster growing trees such as yellow-poplar. (Photo by Rod Kindlund, U.S. Forest Service)

2 compass—augustcompass—august 2007 light, while encouraging the growth of oak seedlings, also promote the ALTERED LIGHT: establishment and development of Regenerating Oak In Upland competitors such as yellow-poplar. Hardwood Forests Part of Loftis’ research has involved finding a stand treatment that provides by Kim MacQueen the light necessary for oaks to grow, but retards the establishment and development of yellow-poplar. The SRS project leader David Loftis 2. Development of those treatment resulting from this research, has been intrigued by one of the most seedlings in the existing stand sometimes called an oak shelterwood, important questions in hardwood into regeneration sources that can leaves the main canopy intact but research—how to regenerate oak— compete successfully when released removes much of the vegetation between the main canopy and the since 1972, when he started working 3. Timely and sufficient release ground. After 10 years or so, the as a graduate student at the Bent from overstory competition Creek Experimental Forest. Now his small seedlings that had become For oaks to regenerate, all three research—along with that of many established as a result of a good elements must occur in sequence and others—is informing those interested acorn crop have developed into much within a certain time frame. On many in the same question, whether in the larger seedlings—the regeneration sites in the Southern Appalachians and Southeast or beyond. source—now capable of competing beyond, the lack of oak regeneration after release. “We began to recognize a problem appears to result from the failure of the Cross-Region Ambitions with oak regeneration in the Southern second element—the development of Appalachians almost 50 years ago,” seedlings into competitive regeneration Attendants at a recent SRS All says Loftis. “Stands being harvested sources—to occur. Scientists meeting talked about the that contained an oak component possibility of a future cross-regional “My colleague, retired research (usually northern red oak on moist oak regeneration study. “The objective forester Paul Johnson with the sites), and even stands dominated by of the study we are planning is to test North Central Research Station oaks on many sites, were regenerating oak regeneration prescriptions across (NRS), literally wrote the book on oak to other species, notably yellow- upland hardwood forests in the South, ecology and silviculture,” says Loftis. poplar. Oak was either poorly and to determine which prescriptions “He suggested that on some very dry represented in the new stand or not work and where, with a specific focus sites, development of competitive represented at all.” on the moisture gradient,” says Loftis. oak regeneration sources can occur From an Acorn “Managers need this information to without disturbance, because stand plan appropriate treatments where Now, thanks to studies by Loftis, conditions are typically sparse enough the regeneration and maintenance earlier researchers at the Bent Creek to provide enough light for seedling of oak ecosystems helps meet their Experimental Forest, and many other development. Paul coined the term management objectives.” researchers in the East, we have a accumulator systems to describe this.” Loftis commented that some much better understanding of the oak But on most other sites, oak suggested prescriptions for regeneration process. The first and seedlings will not develop sufficiently regenerating oak include the use of most important point is that upland to be able to compete with yellow- prescribed fire. “Some people suggest oaks, as a group, will only be present poplar and other species after release that merely ‘returning fire to the in a new stand if competitive oak without some sort of stand disturbance ecosystem’ will ultimately restore regeneration sources were present in that alters the light regime in just the and maintain oak ecosystems, or the previous stand and persist through right way and for a sufficient amount ecosystems where oak is an important the disturbance—in this case, harvest. of time prior to release. component. Pat Brose (NRS) and In its simplest form, the process In the Southern Appalachians, Dave Van Lear (Clemson University) involves three elements: very shady conditions under mature developed a much more specific 1. Establishment of new oak stands lead to substantial oak prescription for the use of fire in oak seedlings in an existing stand seedling mortality and little growth regeneration. I developed a method following a good acorn crop of the surviving oak seedlings. (continued on page 4) Treatments that provide too much www.srs.fs.usda.gov 3

Forest Openings Grow More Fruit Altered Light (continued from page 3) that does not include the use of fire Fleshy fruit, or soft mast, is a key similar, but during years 3 to 5 of the and seems to be applicable to higher food resource for wildlife. Unlike many study, the younger stands produced quality sites.” other wildlife foods, fruits are available 5.0 to 19.6 times more fruit. Due to throughout the year, in seasons when the fairly stable conditions in mature REGENerating More Than Oak other food sources may be scarce. stands, fruit production remained Another component of Loftis’ Both fall migratory and resident winter relatively low and constant. research involves the development of birds depend on soft mast because it In contrast, the dynamic process regeneration prediction models. His is easily obtained and high in energy. of colonization and recovery in the early work focused on predicting the Fruit consumption has also been young, recently harvested stands amount of oak that might be expected, linked to the survival and reproductive caused significant changes in fruit if, at a given point in time, an existing success of several mammals. production. Adapted to colonize stand were regenerated, based on the Studies have shown a short-term disturbed sites, pioneer species such oak regeneration sources that already increase in fruit production after as pokeweed and blackberry became existed in that stand. natural disturbances such as storms major fruit producers. Fruit production “The first step in oak regeneration and silvicultural practices such as also increased in huckleberry and is to assess the adequacy of oak regeneration cutting. Both reduce plant stump sprouts of fruit-producing regeneration sources that are present competition and open gaps in the trees. Flowering dogwood, American in the existing mature stand where forest canopy, allowing more sunlight holly, Fraser magnolia, black cherry, regeneration is contemplated,” says to reach the forest floor. To effectively sassafras, and blackgum all produced Loftis. “Only then will we be able to manage forest land to enhance fruit fruit from stump sprouts within 1 to 3 compare the amount of oak desired in the new stand with what we would production, and thus wildlife habitat, years. Overall, researchers found that expect based on the prediction.” we need to understand both the short- young regenerated stands produce and long-term changes in production abundant fruit and are an important In his more recent work, Loftis has after a disturbance. food source for wildlife. attempted to develop a more general regeneration model. Since 1999, SRS scientists have Wildlife habitat can be significantly quantified fruit abundance for 30 enhanced by creating or maintaining “I began to think about a general genera of plants in both young and openings of young stands within forests. regeneration prediction model in the early to mid-1980s. It is, in mature stands of two common forest By selecting and leaving a few fruit- some ways, an extension of my types in the Southern Appalachians— producing trees with different seasonal work in oak regeneration and the drier upland hardwoods and moister availability, these openings could provide model I developed to assess oak cove hardwoods. They found that an ideal food source.—LM regeneration potential in the Southern much more fruit was produced in For more information: Appalachians.” young stands than in mature forests. Cathryn Greenberg at 828–667–5261, “The earlier model predicts the In the first 2 years production was x118 or [email protected] amount of oak to be expected in a new stand given the oak regeneration sources that are present in the existing mature stand. But on moist sites that support many species, we need a model that predicts species composition—not just the amount of a single species group.” The newer model, a hybrid that includes both an expert systems component and inputs from empirical models, was designed Fleshy fruits such as blackberries are a key with regeneration harvests in mind, food resource for wildlife. (Photo by Chris Evans, River to River CWMA, www.bugwood.org) 4 compass—august 2007 but could be applied to other stand New Summer Research at Bent Creek replacing disturbances such as Minigrants Awarded to Local College Students wildfires and major weather events. Known as REGEN, the program that In spring 2007, the SRS upland Brantlee Eisenman, Western implements the model predicts species hardwoods unit sent out a request Carolina University, Cullowhee, NC. composition of a new stand created by for proposals from students and Advisor: Dr. James Costa substantial overstory removal. faculty at western North Carolina Ethology of leaf clipping by caterpillars in While REGEN was developed for colleges and universities for summer Southern Appalachian hardwood forest research projects in the Bent Creek the Southern Appalachian region, it communities Experimental Forest. “Most of the can be adapted for use across most research we do at Bent Creek is long Christopher Fusting, Warren ecosystems and tree species. term and involves manipulations at Wilson College, Asheville, NC. Advisor: Dr. Mark Brenner “The REGEN program is designed the stand level,” says Henry McNab, to be modified or calibrated for other research forester who helped set Prediction of Cantharellus lateritius (an areas or ecosystems—wherever the up the proposal process. “We were edible mushroom) and oriental bittersweet looking for small short-term studies underlying concepts seem to provide a habitat using Global Information Systems that do not require disturbance to (GIS) reasonable model of the process, and answer ecological questions.” where scientists and managers feel Dr. Mark Yates, adjunct faculty, Besides expanding the use of the they have enough information to drive Warren Wilson College, Asheville, experimental forest for research NC. the model,” Loftis says. “Currently, a related to upland hardwood- Habitat occupancy of bat species in version for western Virginia has been dominated ecosystems, the grants Southern Appalachian forests on the Bent calibrated by Tom Fox at Virginia increase collaborations with local Creek Experimental Forest Tech and for the northern Cumberland academic institutions and help support Plateau by Jeff Stringer at the the education of future scientists or Conor McGeehan, Warren Wilson University of Kentucky. Within our research by university faculty. Five College, Asheville, NC. Advisor: Dr. own unit, Callie Schweitzer has been proposals were selected for this year’s Mark Yates collecting research data for several season: Effect of distance from roads on the years that will provide very important Jill Bourdon, Western Carolina consumption rate and preference for information for calibrating and refining University, Cullowhee, NC. Advisor: oriental bittersweet and American holly by small mammals the version for the Cumberland Dr. Beverly Collins Plateau.” Location and simulated harvesting effects on the medicinal herb Chamaelirium In early June, Loftis announced luteum (fairywand) plans to step down from the project leader position to return his focus to (Photo by Rod Kindlund, U.S. Forest Service) regeneration research, effective this fall. “I will be attempting to do a synthesis of our older regeneration studies, then use that synthesis to explain the working hypothesis for my regeneration model implemented by the REGEN program. And I will be using some newer data from plots I installed in the 1990s to test and refine REGEN,” he wrote in a letter to colleagues. For more information: David Loftis at 828–667–5261, x115 or [email protected]

Kim MacQueen is a freelance science writer based in Tallahassee, FL. www.srs.fs.usda.gov 5 DISTRIBUTION OF IA PA UPLAND HARDWOOD MD FORESTS OH IN Upland Hardwoods Ecology and Management WV Research Work Unit, SRS

Upland hardwoods unit researchers cooperate with land management IL VA agencies across North America to continue to build a comprehensive ecoregion approach to site KS classification. Ecoregions are defined based on similarities in plant and animal species, climate, soils, and the MO general topography of the landscape. This method starts with the very broad geographic ecoregions, then focuses on progressively smaller NC areas—subregions, landscapes, and Henry finally land units. A definitive national R. Koen Knoxville ecoregion map was published in 1994. Jasper Asheville TN In 2005, a revised national map was Bent Creek produced of ecological subregions that Sylamore includes digital databases for physical (temperature, precipitation, soils) and Clemson vegetation data for each subregion. Blue Valley SC Upland Hardwoods Research Work AR Unit cooperators include: OK Huntsville • University of Kentucky • Virginia Polytechnic Institute and Hot Springs GA State University MS • Clemson University AL • University of Tennessee • University of Missouri at Columbia • Alabama A&M University TX • North Carolina State University LA • University of the South (Sewanee) • Mississippi State University Eastern Broadleaf Forest Interior Broadleaf Forest • North Carolina Wildlife Resources Continental climate of cold winters and Continental climate with hot summers. Commission warm summers. Annual precipitation is Summer soil moisture deficits are common. • Alabama Wildlife Resources greater during summer, water deficits Vegetation is broadleaf deciduous forests Commission infrequent. Topography is variable, ranging with a somewhat open canopy and greater from plains to low hills along the Atlantic density of species tolerant of drought. • The American Chestnut coast. Interior areas are high hills to Appalachian Broadleaf Forest Foundation semi-mountainous, parts of which were • The Nature Conservancy glaciated. Vegetation is characterized by Temperate climate with cool summers and short, mild winters. Annual precipitation • Missouri Ozark Forest Ecosystem tall, cold-deciduous broadleaf forests. Midwest Broadleaf Forest is plentiful and evenly distributed with Project short periods of water deficit. Landscapes • Stevenson Land Company Continental climate with warm to hot are predominantly mountainous. Forest • MeadWestvaco summers. Frequent growing season vegetation is characterized by a closed water deficits. Flat to hilly terrain with canopy of mainly oaks; broadleaf forests • Daniel Boone National Forest features associated with former glaciation. change to coniferous or shrub lands • Bankhead National Forest Vegetation consists of cold-deciduous, at higher elevations. Ice storms are an hardwood-dominated forests with a high important broad scale disturbance. • Pisgah National Forest proportion of species able to tolerate mild, High-intensity rain storms are associated • Ozark-Ouachita National Forest brief, periodic drought during the late with remnants of occasional hurricanes; summer. lightning-caused fires are uncommon.

6 compass—august 2007 PA IA MD

OH IN WV

IL VA

KS

MO

NC Henry R. Koen Upland hardwoods unit office Jasper Knoxville Asheville locations TN Bent Creek Experimental forests Sylamore FS Northern Research Station Clemson cooperator locations Blue Valley Locations of research sites AR SC OK Huntsville symbol size

indicates the Hot Springs GA relative number of study sites MS AL

TX Approximate boundary of upland hardwoods area LA

Boston Mountains Precipitation occurs throughout year, but Prairie Parkland (Temperate) summers are dry. Vegetation consists of Continental climate with cold winters and Continental climate with cold winters mixed needle leaf and cold-deciduous and hot summers. Moderate amounts of hot summers. Landscape is low mountains broadleaf forests. formed by dissection of sedimentary precipitation that occurs mainly during formations. Forest vegetation is Outer Coastal Plain Mixed growing season. Landform is mainly predominately broadleaf deciduous species Forest plains with areas of low hills. Vegetation that can tolerate brief periods of drought. Humid, maritime climate; winters are mild was once herbaceous with woodland of scattered deciduous broadleaf trees along Southeastern Mixed Forest and summers are warm. Precipitation is abundant with rare periods of summer floodplains of major rivers; almost all has Generally uniform maritime climate with drought. Upland forest vegetation is now been cleared for agriculture. mild winters and hot, humid summers. dominated by conifers, with deciduous Prairie Parkland (Subtropical) Annual precipitation is evenly distributed, hardwoods along major floodplains. but a brief period of mid to late summer Modified maritime subtropical, humid drought occurs in most years. Landscape Lower Mississippi Riverine climate of relatively warm winters and is hilly with increasing relief farther inland. Forest hot summers. Moderate amounts of Forest vegetation is a mixture of deciduous Climate with warm winters and hot precipitation occurring during summer. hardwoods and conifers. summers. Precipitation occurs throughout Landforms are plains with low hills. Vegetation is mainly herbaceous with Ouachita Mixed Forest the year with minimum in fall. Much of this subregion is influenced by periodic flooding areas of deciduous broadleaf woodland, Continental climate, with short, cool of the Mississippi River. particularly along floodplains. winters and long, hot summers.

www.srs.fs.usda.gov 7 McNab and fellow researchers Site Quality: What collect data on more than 500 Will Grow Best? permanent and temporary plots, correlating tree growth to climatic, geological, topographical, soil, and Being able to determine the tree vegetational factors. For a study species that grow best on a particular in North Carolina, the researchers site is a powerful tool for land ranked all tree species in relation to managers. Conventional methods their relative moisture requirements for determining site quality use tree and assigned an index value to each age and height relationships that species, developing a system that can are difficult and time consuming effectively classify site quality as high, medium, or low. to compute—and often result in inaccurate estimates when applied to “Forest managers and private upland hardwood forests. landowners can easily apply the system,” says McNab, “If they can Research forester Henry McNab, identify the tree species present in a project leader David Loftis, and stand, they can calculate a moisture others have developed an alternative index based on the relative moisture method that defines site quality based values we’ve determined for each on the tree species in a stand. “Site species. From that, they can decide quality is defined by where you are which tree species are best suited to on certain gradients, for example, the the stand and estimate their growth gradient of dry to moist,” says McNab. rate.” “There are characteristic sets of For more information: Henry McNab species that grow on different parts of at 828-667-5261, x119 or hmcnab@ Research forester Henry McNab. the moisture gradient.” fs.fed.us (Photo by Rod Kindlund, U.S. Forest Service)

What is Silviculture?

Silviculture is the art and science of controlling the establishment, growth, composition, health, and quality of forests and woodlands to meet the diverse needs and values of landowners and society on a sustainable basis. Silvicultural prescriptions or treatments are specific, science-based steps designed to achieve specific forest management objectives. For example, if the management objective is to maintain an oak component in a mixed stand, the silvicultural prescription may include reducing the midstory to encourage the development of oak seedlings. Removing the overstory to regenerate a new age class of trees is also a silvicultural prescription, as is thinning in an established stand. The combination of all planned silvicultural treatments is called a silvicultural system.

(Photo by Rod Kindlund, U.S. Forest Service) Forest Kindlund, U.S. Rod by (Photo 8 compass—augustcompass—august 2007 www.srs.fs.usda.gov Solutions Needed A Burning Question These changes in upland hardwood ecosystems have also opened Can an Old Tool Help Reshape Upland the way for a host of insects and Hardwood Forests? nonnative invasive plants—and have led to renewed interest in prescribed by Carol Whitlock burning among forestry professionals. Prescribed burning has been used here is a commonly held view In the scramble to rebuild southern even less in the mountains than in Tabout forests in the South. It goes forests after the abusive logging, other areas of the South because fire something like this: Before European grazing, and mining of the late 19th behavior is less predictable and smoke settlement, a squirrel could travel from century, forest owners and managers management is more difficult in highly the Chesapeake Bay to the Mississippi lost sight of the lessons learned from variable topographies. However, the River without having to touch the their native predecessors. The last situation has reached a point where ground even once. What often flows century has seen a rebirth of a very the ecological and wildfire-prevention from this view is the less supportable different forest than the Europeans benefits from prescribed burning, belief that natural processes, not inherited. The once dominant chestnut combined with advances in burning human intervention, were responsible trees have been eliminated by blight. techniques and smoke management, for the dense canopy cover that In some places, fire suppression may cause a shift towards acceptance allowed that squirrel to remain has left large quantities of highly among upland residents—many more airborne. flammable material on forest floors. of whom are moving into wildfire- prone areas. In fact, findings from recent studies Dense thickets of rhododendron and suggest that humans have used mountain laurel block seedling growth Two recent efforts to shift upland fire to manage southern forests for of species, like oak, that are preferred forests toward a state that is less the last 5,000 years, producing a by many types of wildlife. In mixed stressed and better functioning involve large and healthy oak presence in oak-shortleaf pine forests, white pine a return to the use of prescribed the uplands, relatively sparse and is replacing the shortleaf component burning. Both involve research in the parklike understory conditions, and and shading out the oak component. mountains of western North Carolina, abundant game animals. When And reduction of available nitrogen— one at the Coweeta Hydrologic Europeans arrived bringing the released when nitrogen compounds Laboratory near Franklin and the diseases that killed 90 percent of the are exposed to heat—has resulted other further east at the Green native populations, they found thriving both in a decline of overstory trees and River Game Land near the South villages surrounded by fire-adapted in fewer and less diverse understory Carolina border. Together they paint landscapes that supported thousands plants. a comprehensive picture showing the of acres of agricultural lands—all effectiveness of prescribed burning maintained by regular burning. in reducing wildfire risk and the ecological aftereffects of burning on Rhododendron “hells” have become common in southern upland forests, invading stands and water quality, availability of nitrogen blocking oak seedling growth. Prescribed burning can reduce the density of rhododendron and help alter forest composition in uplands. (Photo by Carol Whitlock, U.S. Forest Service) in soils, competing vegetation, and insects, birds, and small mammals. Coweeta Study Since the 1990s, Coweeta scientists have taken a multiple landscape approach to applying prescribed fire of varying sources, intensities, and severity—monitoring the effects on carbon cycling, water quality, and vegetation. Treatments include stand- replacement fire (cutting followed (continued on page 10)

compass—august 2007 www.srs.fs.usda.gov 9 settings across the United States. A Burning Question The purpose of the Green River study (continued from page 9) was to determine the ecological by a prescribed burn that simulates and economic responses of forests wildfire), low-to-moderate intensity to low-intensity prescribed burning understory burning, and wildfire in with and without thinning and other old-growth hardwoods. mechanical treatments that often serve as surrogates for fire. They found that burning successfully reduces invasive white The Green River study is ongoing, pines and evergreen shrubs such but Tom Waldrop, the SRS research as mountain laurel with little or no forester who is leading the effort, says movement of sediments into streams, that the early results are encouraging. provided the forest floor is kept intact They show that burning and and vegetation recovery is rapid. mechanical treatments reduced litter Based on these findings, the scientists and other forest fuels, which reduce monitored the effects of treatments on recommend that fire managers should flammability if a wildfire should occur. breeding birds, frogs, salamanders, limit fire severity and size if the goal is In addition, organic material in soils lizards, snakes, white-footed mice, and to minimize the effects of prescribed increased after prescribed burning. shrews. She found that low-intensity burning on water quality, soil nutrient Although mechanical treatments were fires increased populations of white- loss, vegetation recovery, and other more effective at removing mountain footed mice but had no effect on frogs, ecosystem properties. laurel and rhododendron than fire, salamanders, snakes, and shrews. oak seedlings from sprouts and acorns Among the breeding birds, the only The restoration work at Coweeta increased after prescribed burning. species that decreased in numbers is continuing. In ecosystems that were hooded warblers, which make have fallen into decline, scientists Jim Hanula, SRS research their nests in shrubs, and worm-eating are evaluating combinations of entomologist based in Athens, GA, warblers, which forage and make their treatments such as thinning overstory reports that an increase in herbaceous nests on the ground and in shrubs. trees and midstory shrubs followed plants in the study resulted in by prescribed fire and the planting of increases in a range of insect These studies, while not conclusive, desirable species. pollinators including ground nesting suggest that prescribed burning can Green River Study bees, wasps and other flies, and even have a beneficial effect in upland the rare Diana fritillary butterfly, which hardwood forests and the creatures Ten years after the Coweeta studies has been eradicated from parts of its that inhabit them. began, scientists began new research native habitat in North Carolina. at the Green River Game Land as a For the same study, Katie For more information on the part of the National Fire and Fire Greenberg, research ecologist with Coweeta study: Surrogate Study, a network of 13 the SRS upland hardwoods unit, Jim Vose at 828–524–2128 or long-term experiments in different [email protected] For more information on the Green River study: Tom Waldrop at 864–656–5054 or [email protected] Jim Hanula at 706–559–4253 or [email protected] Katie Greenberg at 828–667–5261 (x118) or [email protected]

(left): If the forest floor is kept intact during a prescribed burn and vegetation recovers rapidly afterward, the movement of sediments into nearby streams is minimal. (Photo by Bill Lea, U.S. Forest Service, retired)

10 compass—august 2007 (left): White-footed mice play important roles in Southeastern forest ecosystems, both as seed dispensers and as prey and predator. Research shows that low-intensity fires lead to increases in their populations in upland hardwoods. (Photo by David Cappaert, Michigan State University, www.bugwood.org)

(right): Research forester Tom Waldrop demonstrates a prescribed burning technique designed to produce predictable and accurate results in the highly variable landscape where upland hardwoods grow. Ping-pong balls filled with combustible chemicals are dropped by a helicopter over the burn site after they’ve been injected with another chemical timed to ignite after the ball reaches the ground. (Photo by Dr. Vic Shelburne, Clemson University)

Can Fire Help forests, data from prescribed burning reduction in stem density and basal area studies show mixed and sometimes leading to increased light, but this change Regenerate Oaks? contradictory results. in light environment was quickly offset by In 2003, Loftis and Arthur, with the increased sprouting by red maples. After It seems as if almost everyone is help of Daniel Boone staff officerRex 5 years, the researchers found that the ready to jump on the prescribed burning Mann, started a large-scale study red maple seedlings had higher mortality bandwagon, with fire as the answer for to support DBNF fire management rates, but showed a larger growth both reducing fuel loads and restoring objectives of reducing white pines and response when compared to oaks. ecosystems on forested land. However, red maples in the midstories of stands It is likely that using fire as a a research collaboration between SRS where oak dominates the overstory—and management tool in the oak-dominated upland hardwoods unit project leader to test the effect of different prescribed forests in this region will require long- David Loftis, University of Kentucky burning frequencies on oak regeneration. term burning coupled with burning forest ecology professor Mary Arthur, Supported by two grants from the Joint during periods in the late spring (or and managers on the Daniel Boone Fire Science Program (JFSP), the research possibly in the fall), when shade-tolerant National Forest (DBNF) suggests that was designed to look at how single and species such as red maple are more fire management will not provide a simple repeated fires affect stand structure, the easily killed by fire. solution for promoting oak regeneration. light environment, and the response of The research is in its final year of There is ample evidence that fire was a seedlings to changes in light environment. support from JFSP. Because managing prominent force in the upland hardwood- Large-scale study areas of 1,000 oak-dominated forests with fire will American chestnut forests of the Southern to 1,200 acres on sites ranging from probably require multiple burns over Appalachian region before Euro- ridgetops to coves were burned both years, if not decades, long-term research American settlement, as well as during frequently and infrequently. The project in this area is needed. Loftis and Arthur the settlement period. The eradication of also included small-scale ridgetop sites hope to continue to follow the sites into the American chestnut shifted hardwood of 70 to 140 acres where researchers the future in collaboration with managers forests towards oak domination; logging charted the long-term survival of on the DBNF. —ZH combined with fire suppression allowed individual chestnut oak, scarlet oak, and the rise of shade-tolerant species such For more information: red maple seedlings to see if repeated as maple and yellow-poplar. Though burning on these dry sites would Mary Arthur at 859–257–2852 or managers are increasingly looking to [email protected]. promote oak regeneration. After single fire as a tool to manage oak-dominated and repeated fires, they found a large David Loftis at 828–667–5261, x115 or [email protected]. www.srs.fs.usda.gov 11 What Do Foresters Mean By...? THE FOREST FOR THE TREES Connecting Silviculture And Wildlife Basal Area Retention by Zoë Hoyle Basal area is the cross-sectional area (in square feet) of the base of the tree measured at breast height orthern Alabama in early summer managers regenerate hardwood forests (4.5 feet above the ground). For Nis hot and buggy. This summer it’s in the Southern Appalachians—for the example, the basal area of a tree also very dry, the steep banks of the Cumberland Plateau. These same plots that measures 14 inches in diameter Cumberland Plateau giving off a subtle host studies on a range of different at breast height (d.b.h.) is about 1 shimmer of dust. Banks, I said, not animals and birds carried out by mountains. students from nearby Alabama A&M square foot. I’m out in the woods with Callie University (AAMU) under funding Basal area can also refer to Schweitzer. One of the first lessons from SRS and the National Science the sum of the basal areas of the she teaches in the field is the Foundation, and under supervision individual trees within an acre of difference between the Appalachian of AAMU associate wildlife professor forest. For example, a well-stocked Mountains and the Plateau. She raises Yong Wang. hardwood stand might have a basal her hands to demonstrate how the A Mantra of Disturbance Appalachians were pushed up and area of 100 to 120 square feet per Clark is also growing hybrid together, the Plateau pushed on out. acre. chestnut seedlings on some of the That’s why you see the tectonic rocks, treatment plots in the Bankhead. When foresters talk about 50 layered like overgrown Aztec temples, One of the things she and Schweitzer percent basal area retention, along the roads. want to make clear from the start is they mean that half the basal area Schweitzer and Stacy Clark, both what they mean when they talk about represented by the standing trees research foresters with the SRS upland restoration and disturbance. will be cut, the other half retained. hardwoods unit, are taking us out to In the case above, this would mean cutting out 50 to 60 square feet per “These are disturbance-dependent systems—whether it’s acre. This rarely means just going the disturbance of early 20th century logging, storms, or insect in and cutting half the trees in an invasion; the animals that have taken up residence here are also disturbance dependent.”—Callie Schweitzer area. Depending on the goal of the treatment, this could mean cutting “Trying to reestablish chestnut is out small diameter trees, large three very different sites where they an example of true restoration,” says diameter trees, or a combination. work with a wide range of cooperators Schweitzer. “We are literally trying to to make the scientific connection For the intermediate stand treatment restore a tree species that has been between silviculture treatments and extirpated to areas where it once on the Bankhead National Forest forest inhabitants—whether they’re grew. Here, we’re trying to restore covered in the following article, basal birds, bats, snakes, frogs, salamanders, this forest to a certain structure, but area retention was calculated in terms or ants. We’re starting at a site on the not to what it may have been at some of residual square feet (square feet Bankhead National Forest, where particular point in time, say, before a total of 180 plots have undergone per acre retained) rather than by European occupation. We have no way 9 different treatments—3 levels of percent. For the regeneration studies of knowing what that was, but we’re thinning, 3 burning frequencies, and in Jackson County, AL the researchers pretty sure it wasn’t static.” combinations of the two. reduced basal area by a gradient of Schweitzer has a mantra of The purpose here is to remove percentages, leaving a residual basal disturbance about the forests of the the loblolly pines planted in the area of 0, 25, 50, 75, or 100 percent. Cumberland Plateau that’s applicable 1970s and move the forest towards to upland hardwood forests across the an oak-hickory upland hardwood South. forest. Schweitzer and Clark are also calibrating the REGEN model— “These are disturbance-dependent developed by David Loftis to help systems—whether it’s the disturbance

12 compass—august 2007 of early 20th century logging, storms, and salamanders towards soft traps worldwide due to habitat alteration or insect invasion,” she says. “The or white plastic buckets buried in the and degradation. Forest management animals that have taken up residence ground. Graduate student Bill Sutton alters habitat, but unlike many other here are also disturbance dependent. attaches radio telemetry devices to land uses, it allows habitat regrowth. We’ll never be able to remove the the snakes he traps here, monitoring Finding out more about these almost disturbance from these ecosystems, their movements during thinning invisible animals can help managers but we can learn to use silviculture operations and fire. This spring, his learn to manage for their future. to manipulate disturbance to achieve bucket traps were filled to the brim “The more we know about actual specific habitat goals. One of the with salamanders, hard to believe on habitat and how different animals missing pieces is detailed research this hot, dry day. “There’s so much we respond to management activities, about animal habitat. That’s where the don’t know,” says Schweitzer. “From the better we can use management to studies by the AAMU students come in.” preliminary data, we’re seeing that provide habitat for multiple species,” “But it’s silviculture that drives the salamanders bury down into the forest says Schweitzer. floor during prescribed burning, which studies on these sites,” she stresses. Oaks and Animals “We create a disturbance and then we’ve found only affects a thin layer of look at the effects on specific animals.” the duff.” The next day we’re on the road Studies on amphibians and reptiles again, driving up towards the One of the plots we visit includes Tennessee border, to research plots in a long aluminum drift fence, really a are particularly important; numbers of these animals have been declining Jackson County, AL. We’re on the top horizontal funnel that herds snakes of the Plateau near the Walls of (continued on page 14) (below): Research foresters Stacy Clark (left) and Callie Schweitzer (right) on an upland hardwoods regeneration site in the Bankhead National Forest. (Photo by Rod Kindlund, U.S. Forest Service)

www.srs.fs.usda.gov 13 Forest for the Trees overstory treatments to create five the midstory competition until, different light levels on the forest years in the future, the seedlings are (continued from page 13) floor.” competitive enough to be released Jericho, a unique formation recently With oak seedlings in the when the overstory is cut. bought by a joint venture between understory, the treatment should have There are also chestnut seedlings the Nature Conservancy and the promoted natural oak regeneration— planted in the understory. Schweitzer Alabama Department of Conservation and would have if it weren’t for sugar and Clark are taking physiological and Natural Resources. The land the maple. “When they did this experiment readings on oak and chestnut plots are on has been passed back and at Bent Creek, they didn’t have to deal seedlings under different levels of light forth between industry owners, and with sugar maple,” says Schweitzer. on the forest floor, trying to find out now belongs to the State of Alabama. “Our objective here was to reduce where the seedlings use light most We drive down into the forest on a efficiently. gravel road the locals call “Callie’s the midstory and allow the small oaks highway,” since it was built to get to grow up into a more competitive Nuthatches and Salamanders Schweitzer back into her research position. What we did was allow the Wang and his students from AAMU sites. On the way down, she points sugar maples to take the place of the have been actively involved on this out roadside demonstration sites set oaks. This brought up the question: site studying birds and herpetofauna. up to show different levels of retention What do you do if you don’t have the They’ve identified 60 different bird cuts. The demonstrations, designed oak seedlings you need for natural species, and over 40 herpetofauna for tours by private landowners and regeneration?” species, including 11 frogs and toads, forest managers, are very effective. Oaks are advance-regeneration 10 salamanders, 5 lizards, 12 snakes, Looking up from a car, you can easily dependent, which means seedlings and 2 turtles. One study by graduate see the difference between 50 percent have to be present on the site before student Lisa Barillas involves using retention and a clearcut. That clearcut, treatment to have a chance of growing radioisotope studies to track the by the way, is in its sixth season and into trees. This is in contrast to origins of birds that stop over in the already grown up. “The trees were yellow-poplars and maples, species area during fall migration. Student 10 feet tall after the first year,” says with a robust seed bank strategy Adrian Lesak analyzes songbird Schweitzer. “A lot of people wouldn’t and lightweight seeds easily spread community variation among the five believe that.” by wind. Schweitzer ended up using levels of overstory retention. For These research sites are artificial regeneration on the site, (continued on page 16) Schweitzer’s pride and joy, and planting oak seedlings and controlling formed the basis for the studies later Aluminum drift fence set up to herd herpetofauna—snakes and salamanders—towards soft installed on the Bankhead National traps, part of the wildlife studies set up by AAMU collaborators on the Bankhead National Forest. The road ends, and we walk Forest. (Photo by Rod Kindlund, U.S. Forest Service) into a 75-percent retention plot, a pleasant, relatively open forest with a diversity of hardwood species—oak, ash, basswood, sassafras. One of the purposes here is find out how to regenerate oak on good quality sites, where the competition from other tree species such as maple and yellow- poplar is fierce. The site has some oak seedlings in the understory. The question is how to use forest management to get them to grow up into the overstory, to get the proportion of oak desired for different or multiple purposes. “Here we left the overstory and took out the midstory, except for oak, ash, or persimmon,” says Schweitzer. “We followed Loftis’ protocol for the midstory treatment, and then installed five different

14 compass—augustcompass—august 2007 www.srs.fs.usda.gov Sewanee campus, started the study in redbud, deciduous holly, spicebush, Rings and Cores the early 1980s. “McGee noticed that blueberries, huckleberries, and many the northern red oaks and hickories in more. the cove were dying at a faster than Clark adds her expertise in Research forester Stacy Clark uses normal rate, so he started surveying all dendrochronology—the study of tree dendrochronology to the mix, looking the dead trees, taking cores to get their at tree rings to take a fresh look at rings—to continue a 23-year old study ages,” says Clark. “Then he put in in Dick’s Cove, in Sewanee, TN. Oaks why oaks and hickories were dying permanent plots to tally regeneration in the 1980s, and how the stands are in the cove regenerated after the Civil and the overstory trees. He confirmed War, probably from harvesting used changing in structure over time. “I’m that the trees were dying, but never basically reconstructing the stand to rebuild the nearby University of the figured out exactly why.” South. The forest, part of the 10,000- history through the tree rings, trying to acre Domain owned by the university, Two decades later Clark relocated determine both what established the hasn’t been actively managed McGee’s original plots, resurveying, stand in the 1880s and what caused since. Clark is working closely with coring, and restructuring the data the decline a century later,” says University of the South forestry faculty to reevaluate the situation on about Clark. “The data contributes to our member Scott Torreano to rebuild the 70 acres of the cove. She’s found overall knowledge of upland hardwood stand’s disturbance history. an incredible diversity of trees and regeneration in the Cumberland shrubs: northern red oak, chinkapin Plateau area.” Gene McGee, project leader for oak, American elm, green and a research unit once housed on the For more information: Stacy Clark at white ash, pawpaw, bladdernuts, 256–372–4251 or [email protected]

Dick’s Cove, a part of the 10,000-acre Domain owned by the University of South, is home to some of the largest hardwood trees left on the Cumberland Plateau—and is the site of a 23-year research disturbance history study started by Gene McGee in the 1980s and recently reinstated by Stacy Clark. (Photo by Rod Kindlund, U.S. Forest Service)

compass—august 2007 www.srs.fs.usda.gov 15 which we know are really A Case in Point: The valuable to wildlife,” says Schweitzer. “So we wanted Cerulean Warbler to know if all those snags we created—about 400 an The cerulean warbler, so named acre, we found out—made for the male’s sky-blue plumage, is any difference to wildlife a neotropical migratory songbird. foraging behaviors. Yong and Migrating to the lower slopes of the his students found that bark- Andes in August, cerulean warblers foraging birds like nuthatches return in April or May to build nests definitely used these sites and breed in the upper canopy of more than any other. It’ll be forests in the Eastern United States. interesting to follow up with Since 1966, populations of the species the salamander work.” have declined an estimated 70 percent, Managing forests for the decline tied to the fragmentation and destruction of habitat in both wildlife depends on learning breeding and winter ranges. enough to predict and model habitat, ideally for whole The northern part of Alabama was suites of species—and on the once considered the southern limit larger landscape, for multiple of the bird’s breeding range, but until very recently, there had been very suites of species. few confirmed sightings since the “No species have 1970s. In 2002, the cerulean warbler gone extinct due to forest was designated a species of highest management,” stresses conservation concern in Alabama. Schweitzer. “With more In 2002, Alabama A&M University research, we can learn how (AAMU) associate wildlife professor to create or maintain good Yong Wang was working with habitat for multiple species. graduate student Adrian Lesak on This means doing different breeding bird studies on the overstory things across a landscape, retention plots SRS researcher Callie creating a very subtle mosaic Schweitzer had established in Jackson of gaps and variations in County, AL, (see story on p. 12). Lesak over-, mid-, and understory had started his drive home one day that support a wide diversity when, to his complete surprise, he heard the song of a cerulean warbler. of plants and animals.” As a result of his observation, the researchers located the first breeding Additional partners and population of cerulean warblers seen cooperators include: in that area since the 1960s. Since MeadWestvaco, Coastal Lumber then, another breeding population Company, Stevenson Land has been found in the Jackson County Research forester Stacy Clark. (Photo by Rod Company, Alabama Department area; AAMU student John Carpenter Kindlund, U.S. Forest Service) of Conservation and Natural Resources, now studies these populations, which USDA Natural Resources Conservation in 2004 numbered almost 30 birds. Further south, in the Service, Jacksonville State University, Bankhead Forest for the Trees National Forest, bird surveys have University of Kentucky, Western Kentucky counted a total of 32 cerulean warblers (continued from page 14) University, University of Tennessee, and between 1999 and 2004, mostly in the another study, Wang monitored bark- University of the South. Sipsey Wilderness Area. foraging and cavity-breeding birds For more information: In addition to detailed maps of on the five treatment sites, looking at Callie Schweitzer at 256–372–4230 or where cerulean warblers have been activity in relation to the presence of [email protected] found, researchers are able to provide the dead trees foresters call snags. Stacy Clark at 256–372–4251 or information on the size of their “When we took out the midstory, [email protected] populations, breeding status, and we created a lot of snags out here, habitat and landscape relationships.

16 compass—august 2007 Wang and his students have also started to develop Geographic Return of the Information System and statistical American Chestnut? models of habitat and landscape characteristics that predict areas where n the same plots in the Bankhead the birds are most likely to be found— information that will help resource ONational Forest where the SRS managers develop strategies to provide upland hardwoods unit tests different or ensure habitat specifically for the treatments to promote hardwood cerulean warbler. Paul Hamel, SRS regeneration, research forester Stacy wildlife biologist and national leader Clark has set out American chestnut of cerulean warbler research profiled and hybrid seedlings to see how in this issue, helped develop this well they will do under the different important research. treatments. The work of Wang and his students on cerulean warbler is part of a large- American chestnut dominated the scale wildlife study associated with SRS forests of the Southeast until most of upland hardwood regeneration research the mature trees were wiped out by in Jackson County, AL. A sister study chestnut blight by the 1950s. Though on the Bankhead National Forest looks a few mature trees remain, efforts to at the wildlife community response reestablish the tree have been stymied to thinning and burning treatments. by the nature of the blight itself. In addition to birds, studies look at Chestnut blight attacks the tree stem; American chestnut (Castanea dentata). snakes, salamanders, bats, frogs, (Photo by David J. Moorhead, University of even ants. Many of these studies are because the roots remain, sprouts can Georgia, www.bugwood.org) the first of their kind for the southern come back year after year. But the research plots in Jackson County, AL, Cumberland Plateau, and invaluable for blight also returns, usually killing the making clear the connection between tree around the time it starts to flower and will plant more in the Daniel silviculture and wildlife habitat. These and before it produces nuts. Boone National Forest in Kentucky research activities have been supported next year. Chestnut breeders have been jointly by SRS, the National Science On the Bankhead, the chestnut Foundation, the U.S. Environmental crossing the American chestnut seedlings out in the sun in a 25- Protection Agency, and the Alabama with Asian and European varieties Department of Conservation and to produce blight-resistant hybrids percent retention plot are doing well. Natural Resources. —ZH that look and act as much like the “We’re finding that chestnut seedlings grow well out in the full sunlight, but For more information: American chestnut as possible. we don’t know whether the tree is Yong Wang at 256–372–4229 or They’ve managed to produce hybrids advance-growth dependent,” says [email protected] that are 94 percent American. The seedlings planted on the Bankhead Clark. “Does it need to be established before disturbance, or can it come Research findings help resource managers plots were grown from a mixture create habitat for wildlife such as the of pure American nuts from The in after? How does it respond Cerulean warbler (Dendroica cerulea), a to competition? We control the neotropical migratory songbird. (Photo © American Chestnut Foundation and Mike S. Nichols.) hybrid nuts containing DNA from four competition now to keep the seedlings other chestnut species. The study alive, but eventually we want to know is part of a cooperative agreement how we can use silviculture to help with Scott Schlarbaum, professor restore this tree to the forests of the and director of the University of Southeast.” ­—ZH Tennessee’s Tree Improvement For more information: Program. Stacy Clark at 256–372–4251 or Clark and other Forest Service [email protected] researchers are planting selections of pure American chestnut and hybrids There is, of course, much more to say about in plots across the Southeast to test American chestnut. Stay tuned to a future their survival. In addition to seedlings issue of Compass devoted entirely to SRS on the Bankhead sites, Clark has research related to the restoration of the planted chestnuts on oak regeneration tree once known as the “king of the forest.” www.srs.fs.usda.gov 17 it’s all good An Interview with Paul Hamel by Zoë Hoyle

aul Hamel, wildlife biologist with around. I was Pthe SRS Center for Bottomland raised in Grand Hardwoods, is an acknowledged Rapids, MI—not expert on the cerulean warbler, a bird a big city, but once common in the hardwood forests certainly an urban of the Eastern United States—now in area, with mass steady decline. Hamel is a founding transit. When I Wildlife biologist Paul Hamel in Stoneville, member of the Cerulean Warbler was in high school, MS. (Photo by Nathan Schiff, U.S. Forest Service) Technical Group, and is very active I joined the Grand Rapids Audubon in El Grupo Cerúleo, a subcommittee Club. That’s where the first mentors concerned with the activities of the that I remember were. They were local bird in its wintering range in South people who birdwatched, and who What led you towards your current America . took me under their wing. work? How did you get interested in How did you get started in In 1984, I got a job as the zoologist birds? research? for the Tennessee Natural Heritage Program maintaining a database of I had to do a book report in the I went to a residential high school records of rare animals throughout fourth grade, so I picked out the in upstate New York. During my the State. We looked at where these skinniest book I could find in the sophomore year, I found a book in animals might be, the habitat they library, the Golden Field Guide to Birds. the library called An Introduction might use, the kind of environmental Around the same time, our local to Ornithology written by George features that might indicate where dentist was giving out little cards Wallace, the ornithologist at Michigan to find them. We were interested featuring different kinds of birds for State University. They let me check it in how we could gather those data good behavior. It all came together out for the summer, and I actually read quickly, and then translate them into when I was walking home from it all over that summer. My senior year useable information for environmental school one day in that same year. It I did a breeding bird census project protection. Part of the job was was a warm day—in Michigan in late on the grounds of the school and got verifying records. I have a predilection winter, that’s hard to come by—and those data published. It was really fun. for survey work, and I got involved cedar waxwings were feeding in the When I started college at Michigan in cooperative projects with other multiflora rose bushes in the park. I State, there wasn’t much doubt in agencies doing what we called natural knew what they were, from having my mind that I was going to be a area surveys, looking in different done that little bit with the bird book. biologist, but I didn’t exactly know parts of the State to identify areas That was 1959, and I have been what I was going to do. I latched on to valuable for rare species protection watching birds ever since. different professors, but my curiosity that we didn’t already recognize or You seem to have gone from books always went towards birds. When I about which we could improve our to nature, rather than vice versa . . . graduated, I had a choice between knowledge. working with that same professor, I was a city kid. Historically, people How did you get into cerulean George Wallace, or the herpetologist. who end up in this field were often warbler research with the Forest Southern Michigan is a better place for raised on a farm or from families Service? somebody who studies birds than for where there was hunting and fishing. somebody who studies salamanders, In February 1993, Winston Smith For me, it was kind of the other way so I ended up working on birds. hired me to work for the Forest

18 compass—august 2007 Service at the same place where I and untouched, so old-growth forest those of us who are interested am right now—Stoneville, MS. The would be the best place to look for in birds have learned something cerulean warbler project was already them. And because I believed that about silviculture, we can have that in existence before the job came to be the case, I was convinced interaction. I think it’s been beneficial open, and I had been cooperating that any sort of forest management in both directions. The role of forest on it while I was in Tennessee. I had would have a negative effect on their management with respect to cerulean encountered cerulean warblers, in environment. That’s just wrong. I warbler is to maintain the diverse small numbers, in the surveys we did didn’t have enough experience, and I physical vegetation structure that is in both middle and west Tennessee. didn’t know enough about silviculture. preferred by the birds. Two people involved in a conference in It’s been a rich education to be the What’s your favorite project? 1989 in Massachusetts on migratory wildlife biologist in a silviculture unit, Whatever I’m doing today ends up birds, Chan Robbins and John where I’m surrounded by people who being my favorite project. It really is Fitzpatrick, had started writing a understand the biology and economics true: I’m fascinated by the work on paper on cerulean warbler because of trees—and to learn things that as small mammals while we’re doing they recognized that the birds were a city boy and as an environmental that, and I’m fascinated by the work in trouble, and that we didn’t know protection specialist I missed out on on winter bird populations while we’re very much about them. I had some in terms of the dynamics of forests. doing that. I’m equally fascinated by data from our work in Tennessee that Through working with some very the work on rusty blackbirds, cerulean I could add, so we wrote a paper that smart people in different areas of warbler, and on pondberry. It’s all was published in 1992. expertise, I’ve realized that it’s just not good. What inspires you about the true that forest management is bad for What gives you hope? research you do? cerulean warblers, and in fact, forest management has an important role Two things: One is the interactions I don’t know, except that it’s really to play in maintaining habitat on the possible among diverse groups fascinating. What immediately popped landscape. of people. The Cerulean Warbler into my mind when you asked the Technical Group is an absolutely question is that it seems like Murphy What is that role and how does it wonderful example of people working (of Murphy’s law) is in charge. In play out? together, with interaction from forest any extended field project, what we It’s really about the interaction industry, from nongovernmental thought we understood at the end of between silviculturists and bird organizations, from the coal mining the last iteration of activity in some biologists. What silviculturists bring is industry, from numerous State and respect no longer applies in the next a knowledge of forest growth patterns Federal agencies, and from universities one. It’s fascinating to keep going, and and ability to manipulate stands in North America and South America. try to understand what may have been of trees from a current condition That’s really hopeful. underneath the change in perception in terms of species composition that occurred. What was it that led and vegetation structure to a more The other is the really intense to the assumption I had last time that desirable condition that meets specific and high-quality interest of Latin now needs to be changed in light of management objectives, for example, Americans in bird study. I see the what I have just observed? In some habitat for cerulean warbler. What quality of the science that’s being done situations, it just takes time to amass the bird and salamander people and by colleagues across South America. enough information to be able credibly those interested in other inhabitants of There are wonderful scientists, young to address questions that may seem so the forest bring is information about scientists, in these countries, and obvious in the early stages that they how to specify what that desired that’s exciting as we watch human don’t get evaluated carefully. condition is. Once it’s defined, there’s population go up and the proportion Can you give me an example? the opportunity to work with the of landscape in forest go down. It’s not silviculturist to devise ways to groom an entirely hopeless situation. There is When I was in Tennessee, I the forest from the current condition a future. assumed that cerulean warblers had to the desired condition. Now, because to be in woods that were pristine www.srs.fs.usda.gov 19 Southern How Do You Track a Bat? Researchers at the SRS upland Bats Like hardwoods unit located in Clemson, Hardwoods SC, are particularly interested in learning more about the lives of bats by Perdita Spriggs in the South, where four species—gray bat, Indiana bat, Virginia big-eared ats are one of the most bat, and Ozark big-eared bat—are on Bnumerous and diverse the Federal endangered species list. groups of mammals, existing Four additional species—Rafinesque’s on every continent except big-eared bat, southeastern myotis, Antarctica. The world’s current small-footed bat, and Florida bonneted bat fauna represents over 50 bat—are considered species of special million years of adaptation concern. to a variety of environmental “Because bats are small, nocturnal, conditions and unique niches. and fly over large distances, they can The only true flying mammals, be very difficult to study,” saysSusan bats are fascinating for a variety Loeb, research ecologist who initiated of reasons, including the ways SRS bat research in 2000. “However, their bodies have evolved for technological advances over the past flight. Millions of years ago, bat 10 to 15 years have opened a new forelimbs evolved into wings and window on their ecology and habitat their hips rotated 180 degrees, relationships.” allowing the animals to hang by This technology includes very small their feet. Bats also developed radio transmitters and field-hardy bat the ability to echolocate, or use detectors. The tiny transmitters, which sound to locate objects and orient are literally glued onto the body of themselves in their environment, the bat, give researchers the ability to which helps them navigate track foraging and roosting patterns. through caves and forests as well Because bat echolocation calls are as locate prey. species-distinct, researchers can use There are over 1,000 species of detectors to identify which bat species bats, each playing an essential are foraging in a particular area. These role in their environment— tools help researchers look at how the including consuming vast landscape affects habitat use, whether quantities of insects. As an bats prefer certain forest types or additional perk, bats redistribute age classes over others, or if they are nutrients throughout the forest affected by silvicultural treatments in their guano. Many bat species such as thinning and prescribed fire. also feed on pollen and fruit, Picky About Habitat serving as pollinators and seed dispersers. Though abundant in Loeb and her Clemson research the United States before 1900, team collaborate with other SRS units, 13 percent of bat species are universities, and Federal and State now at risk of extinction due to agencies to discover more about bat human disturbance. Studying behavior in hardwood forests. Studies and understanding the lifestyle in the upper Piedmont and South Carolina mountains have shown Indiana bat (Myotis sodalis). (Photo by patterns of these animals is Jerry A. Payne, USDA Agricultural Research essential to reversing species that bats use habitats with an open Service, www.bugwood.org) decline. structure, such as early succession or 20 compass—august 2007 mature forests, more than forests with cluttered structures. Collaboration with Clemson University on roosting habits of red bats and eastern pipistrelles on the Clemson Experimental Forest have confirmed that both species roost exclusively in hardwoods, primarily oaks and hickories. Another cooperative study with Clemson University examines the importance of riparian zones and effects of riparian zone management on bat foraging and roosting ecology in upland hardwoods in the Nantahala National Forest. Additional research on the effects of silvicultural practices associated with gypsy moth suppression and oak decline on habitat use are being conducted in conjunction with Eastern Kentucky University, Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources, and several other research work units. Bats can be pretty particular when choosing their habitats, especially when selecting roost sites. However, little is known about how forest management affects bat habitat use or selection, particularly in hardwood forests. Some studies in the Midwest suggest that bats prefer to roost in hardwood areas after a prescribed burn. “Bats usually prefer to roost in trees that get a lot of sunlight,” says Loeb. “Burning increases light while decreasing clutter in the forest, resulting in more solar exposure and greater access to potential roost trees.” Many more studies are needed to determine how forest management activities affect roost site availability, insect abundance, and foraging. Researchers are also trying to determine whether the decline in some bat populations is due to factors in their summer or winter habitats. Many bats migrate in the spring and fall; some fly less than 50 miles, others Research ecologist Susan Loeb takes measurements on a bat captured as part of a night-time “bat blitz” sponsored by the Southeastern Bat Diversity Network. (continued on page 22) (U.S. Forest Service photo) www.srs.fs.usda.govwww.srs.fs.usda.gov 21 Southern Bats Avian Expertise (continued from page 21) over 500. Migration can be very risky; SRS research wildlife biologist Kay something that could impact how bats go into unfamiliar territory with Franzreb has spent almost her entire the Nation conserves and protects unpredictable weather and predators— professional working career working its endangered and threatened bird all factors that could significantly on endangered and threatened species and its neotropical migratory reduce their populations. Very little bird species. When recently asked birds.” is really known about the migratory what inspires her in her work, she patterns of bats; linking summer and answered, “the opportunity to do (Photo by Rod Kindlund, U.S. Forest Service) winter habitats could help scientists determine factors in each seasonal environment, and potentially both, responsible for population declines. Loeb and colleagues at several universities are currently testing whether a technique called stable isotope analysis can provide more specific information on migratory patterns. Bat Blitz Loeb is always on the lookout for new and interesting opportunities to study bats and to open their nocturnal world to natural resource managers, students, and the public. In 2002, she took part in the first annual bat blitz sponsored by the Southeastern Bat Diversity Network. Held in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park, the blitz brought together bat enthusiasts from State and Federal agencies, universities, and private industry to exchange information, ideas, and share techniques for studying bats. “The blitz is an excellent way to inventory the bat community of a specific area,” says Loeb. “During a 3-night intensive survey, biologists from around the country network, receive training, and share current research methods.” SRS jointly hosted the 2006 blitz with the Francis Marion and Sumter National Forests, the Chattahoochee National Forest, and the South Carolina and Georgia Departments of Natural Resources. The 2007 blitz was held in late summer on the Cherokee National Forest in Tennessee. For more information: Susan Loeb at 864–656–4865 or [email protected] 22 compass—augustcompass—august 2007 Of Fire Scars and Arkansas Oaks Oaks, People, and Fire by Kim MacQueen

rkansas oaks have been under learn more, Spetich teamed up with Natural fire regimes vary significantly Aattack for years, on several fronts. Richard Guyette at the University of across the range of upland hardwood Thanks to a 3-year drought from 1998 Missouri to document fire history in forests in the Southeast. In the Southern Appalachians, fire started to 2000 that incited a widespread oak the Boston Mountains of Arkansas. by lightning is very infrequent. As decline event, a lack of periodic fire Together, they have examined fire we move across the map west into that has encouraged lesser quality history back to the early 1600s, and Tennessee, natural fire becomes more competitors—as well as myriad other have been able to identify trends in frequent—and more frequent still as causes such as armillaria root fungi, historic fire frequencies associated we move into Arkansas and Missouri. hypoxylon canker (a killing fungus with such things as human population In all of these oak systems, fire is often that enters oaks through injuries to fluctuations and long-term climate tied to human activity. the trunk), and a brief but sizeable variability. Martin Spetich, upland hardwoods unit research forester and vegetation increase in the native oak borer An Over-Arching View population—researchers in the areas research team leader based in Hot Part of the problem with studying Springs, AR, is working with Rich surrounding the Ozark National Arkansas oak forests is that, like most Guyette (University of Missouri), Forest have documented years of oak Mike Stambaugh (University of if not all forests, they’re constantly distress. Missouri), and Dan Dey (FS Northern evolving, complex systems. The same Answers about why that’s Research Station) to develop fire can be said, though, of Spetich’s histories using the scars that show up happening and how to reverse the method of studying them. When in the growth rings of trees that have trend have begun to come in over the he first began working with the Hot survived fire. past several years. Martin Spetich, Springs unit in 1998, he inherited a Guyette and other researchers SRS upland hardwoods research number of forest research studies. examined fire scar data from more forester based in Hot Springs, AR, is Spetich calls these studies his orphans. than 40 different sites in Eastern North at work tying together a network of 16 America to document fire regimes in “They were excellent research studies centering on upland oak forest forests with oak. They found that fire studies, but there was really no way dynamics in Arkansas. However, some frequency was highly variable across to comprehensively tie them together. of the best information comes from the region and from site to site. Sites Without someone to care for them, that burned as frequently as every 2 two centuries in the past, when Native they could have gone by the wayside or 3 years could be found near others American populations were prevalent like so many other orphaned studies,” that burned once in 20 years. The fire and periodic low-intensity forest fires scar data study showed that the major Spetich said. were a regular occurrence. factors controlling fire frequency were Spetich took the orphans under There are oaks still standing along human population density, culture, his wing, then started interviewing and drought. the Arkansas River that started land managers and others to see growing there between 1719 and 1857, A study Spetich and Guyette what they needed from existing and conducted on the fire history of the during the time the area was inhabited future studies. The end result was Boston Mountains in Arkansas made by the Quapaw Indians. Centuries an overarching keystone study that the human connection more explicit. old, the trees sport scars that show In general, the researchers found that ties together data from 16 integrated they lived through multiple fires, while fire was more frequent during the projects that span millions of acres their competitors burned away. The period when Native Americans and and hundreds of years. lack of fire over the last century of fire early settlers were in the area, with suppression may help to explain the “One of the first things I did, back large fire years strongly tied to climate conditions, especially drought. Once decline of oaks in the Ozarks and other in 1998, was talk to researchers a certain population density was and resource managers around the areas of Arkansas. reached in the 1880s, fire became State, as well as others involved with Understanding the role of historic less frequent, with fire suppression management of forests, to find out fires in these forests is key to becoming the norm in the following decades. A second study by Spetich, understanding how they developed. To (continued on page 24) Guyette, and Stambaugh over a larger (continued on page 24) www.srs.fs.usda.gov 23 Oaks, People, and Fire Forest established in 1948. “They both Of Fire Scars And grew up here and they really have a (continued from page 23) Arkansas Oaks thorough understanding of the area. portion of the Boston Mountains They can describe the oak projects in further implicated humans as well (continued from page 23) a way that relates to local culture,” as short- and long-term climate what their real needs were in terms of Spetich said. variability. This may be the first fire research information,” Spetich says. history study to directly link a known While final results from the keystone “There were areas where there was Native American population to historic study will take, in Spetich’s words, “as a significant amount of research as fire. long as it takes the trees to grow,” one well as areas where the data didn’t A third study now underway by thing he’s got up and running now is really exist. So I used that information Guyette, Stambaugh, Spetich, and the Oak Understory Success Program, Dey examines fire in upland forests to address their needs by filling in or OAKUS. The interactive, online throughout the Southeast. In this research gaps.” study, the researchers use fire scars tool helps foresters better evaluate The resulting keystone study to reconstruct historic fire intervals alternative silvicultural treatments examines the effect of fire on species in deciduous and subtropical forests. before shelterwood creation and They can then use the data to develop dynamics in the Ozark-Ouachita underplanting. (For more about OAKUS, models to provide information for Highlands, analyzing both burned and see page 32.) areas where fire scar data are not unburned areas in combination with a “I kept running into people who available. This project will help fill number of treatments. When combined were asking for something like this,” both spatial and temporal gaps with his other, smaller studies, the in the fire scar record and provide Spetich said. “It goes back to when I keystone study will provide both the information to better estimate mean was in school, looking at publications bug’s-eye view (the opportunity to fire intervals at the national level.—ZH that were coming out, nearly all of pinpoint specific stand dynamics and For more information: them designed for other researchers. understand interactions with other There really weren’t many publications Martin Spetich at 501–623–1180, x105 species) and the bird’s-eye view or tools out there that were written or [email protected]. (insight into creating sustainability by scientists specifically for land in Arkansas oaks not only now managers.” but across time). It encompasses everything from spatial modeling of He said the original idea for all of large forested landscapes hundreds of this goes back much further than 1998 years into the future to looking at the to the early 1960s when he was a kid ability of a single seedling to survive. fishing in Amish country—and to the gratitude he felt for the experiences he “I wanted to look at the whole had there. Ozark-Ouachita Highlands area across both space and time. There “We would rent a rowboat, and are a number of study sites, and we after several hours of fishing out on can work on a portion of them each the lake I would hike through the year. The first part is getting initial surrounding forest, finally stopping measurements; the second part is to sit and just watch the activity of getting the treatments done. And the forest around me. Recognizing the then there are all of the followup interconnectedness of that activity

(Photo by Dave Powell, U.S. Forest Service, www.bugwood.org) Service, Forest U.S. Powell, Dave by (Photo measurements. So each year we get to led to a need to do something with do something new,” Spetich says. “I my life that benefited society in an expect to have preliminary information equally meaningful way,” he said. “I out in the next 4 years, and then about really wanted to develop this idea of every 5 years for the next 15 years, doing research that would benefit both when all of this will come together in a people and the environment in an comprehensive, integrated way.” integrated way. Now I can do that.” SRS technicians Richard Chaney For more information: Martin and Jim Whiteside work throughout Spetich at 501–623–1180, x105 or northern Arkansas forests, with their [email protected] home base at the Koen Experimental 24 compass—august 2007 The Gypsy Moth Invasion Can Silviculture Save the Day? by Zoë Hoyle

here’s an enemy making its way Tinto Kentucky. The gypsy moth, originally imported into Boston in 1869 as part of a failed silkmaking experiment, has moved slowly but steadily south and west towards the Southern Appalachians, sapping the strength of its preferred hosts—red and white oaks—leaving them more susceptible to death from oak decline. Gypsy moth infestations currently cover more than 386,000 square miles, with populations found from Maine to North Carolina and west to Wisconsin. Gypsy moths are expected to arrive in Kentucky in 2010 or later, moving into oak-dominated forests already weakened by oak decline, a “disease complex” that results when tree age, adverse climate, and site conditions combine with stress from disease or insects to push oaks toward untimely death. In the Daniel Boone National Forest near Cold Hill, KY, a team of Forest Service (FS) and university researchers and national forest technicians have started an ambitious experiment to find out whether manipulating the structure of forest stands before the gypsy moth arrives can reduce damage from the pest. Set up as a silvicultural assessment under Title IV of the Healthy Forests Restoration Act (HFRA) of 2003, the project will test the ability of four different silvicultural treatments to improve the health of existing hardwood stands and reduce oak mortality. (continued on page 26) Infestations by the gypsy moth now cover over 386,000 square miles, with populations found from Maine to North Carolina. (U.S. Forest Service photo, www.bugwood.org) www.srs.fs.usda.gov 25 Gypsy Moth Invasion Gottschalk worked extensively treatment, shelterwood harvest with Schweitzer and others on the with reserves, removes all but the (continued from page 25) Daniel Boone project. “We used largest trees to eventually create Callie Schweitzer, research forester some of Kurt’s criteria for our two-aged stands. A second option, with the SRS uplands hardwood unit, initial evaluations of stand health,” oak shelterwood, retains more of the coordinates the work among research says Schweitzer. “He also sent his overstory. A third option involves and national forest personnel setting technical staff to the Daniel Boone thinning to simply reduce stand up the silviculture assessment. This to help with data collection, and his density with no special attention given has meant collecting data, selecting forester Dave Feicht helped develop to oak regeneration, while the fourth stands for the treatments, and keeping marking guidelines for several of the treatment combines thinning to create the communication going among treatments.” a grassy, open woodland habitat partners. “Within the next year, the The situation at the Daniel Boone with prescribed burning to maintain majority of the treatments will be is complicated by a high level of oak this condition. Control plots with no implemented,” says Schweitzer. “Then decline, a naturally occurring process treatments, the “do nothing” option, we’ll start collecting data on how that defoliation by gypsy moths speeds will provide data for comparison. each treatment affects the structure up. One round of defoliation will not With over 600 acres of experimental and species composition of the forest, usually kill a tree, but trees already plots mapped out, the silvicultural the ability of oaks to regenerate, and weakened by age or drought and then assessment is one of the largest wildlife habitat.” stripped of their leaves can be taken experiments of its kind and includes Early Into the Fray down more easily by other organisms multidisciplinary studies on wildlife, Kurt Gottschalk is all for getting such as shoestring root rot or the stand dynamics using tree-ring data, the drop on gypsy moth. Research twolined chestnut borer. forest harvesting operations, and the forester with the FS Northern “You can see gypsy moth as potential of using the wood thinned Research Station, Gottschalk has a special case, or subset, of oak from plots as biofuel. spent over 25 years developing decline,” says Gottschalk. “In some “We want to come up with specific methods to minimize the effects of cases, defoliation by the insect recommendations for improving oak gypsy moth on oak-dominated forests collapses mortality that would occur regeneration under these situations,” and to regenerate and rehabilitate over 10 years into as little as 2 years.” says Schweitzer. “We also want to them after attacks. He is currently Data from the Northeast and Mid- be able to specify the harvesting in charge of a Title IV HFRA project Atlantic show that about 20 to 25 operations needed to reduce impacts on the Monongahela and Wayne percent of the areas defoliated will to soil, and the prescribed burning National Forests in Ohio, an area have 50 percent or greater mortality. prescriptions that will sustain open where the gypsy moth is already Treatment Options oak woodland conditions on these resident or expected within the sites.” next couple of years. In an ideal Gottschalk and others have outlined The experimental plots will also be world, Gottschalk would like to see three basic options for dealing with set up as demonstrations areas, where treatments in place 4 to 10 years—or impending gypsy moth infestation: land managers and private landowners even longer—before infestation. do nothing (the most frequently chosen option); alter the susceptibility can actually see the effects of different “Preoutbreak treatments focus on of the forest by changing species silvicultural approaches on oak- reducing the vulnerability of stands by composition; or alter vulnerability by dominated forests. Jeff Stringer, removing the trees most likely to die removing dead and dying trees and associate Extension professor at and regenerating stands that are close improving the vigor of remaining trees the University of Kentucky, who has to maturity or understocked,” says by altering stand structure. already provided funding for data Gottschalk. “The most effective control collection and plot preparation, will The Daniel Boone experiment is active forest management before the provide his expertise in technology uses four levels of treatments to gypsy moth arrives. Everything you do transfer when the demonstration plots both improve vigor and promote oak after infestation is reactionary.” have been installed. regeneration. The most intensive

26 compass—august 2007 The enemy is still on the way, but the experiments underway will provide new understanding about how managers can help oak-dominated forests weather the storm. “Compared to other invasive insects, gypsy moth is extremely manageable,” says Gottschalk. “If we increase the vigor and regeneration capacity of our forests, they can weather the initial attack with relatively little long-term damage.”

Other cooperators include: The National Wild Turkey Federation, Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation, Kentucky Forest Industries Association, Eastern Kentucky University, and the University of Tennessee. For more information: Callie Schweitzer at 256–372–4230 or [email protected] Kurt Gottschalk at 304–285–1598 or [email protected]

Gypsy moth adults, male (left) and female (right). (Photo by John Ghent, U.S. Forest Service, www.forestryimages.org)

Gypsy Moths Balloonists and Hitchhikers

Gypsy moth (Lymantria dispar L.) is lay their eggs on portable objects— moth outbreaks come in cycles which a nonnative insect introduced in 1869 vehicles, plant stock, campers, or can last 1 to 5 years in oak-dominated into the Boston area, where some lawn furniture—which carry them to stands. After that, gypsy moth of the larvae escaped and spread new locations, sometimes hundreds of populations decline due to buildup into New England. The moth has miles away. of disease, natural enemies, and since spread west and south to Ohio, Gypsy moth caterpillars feed on the starvation; populations can remain Michigan, and Wisconsin, into the leaves of many woody plants; a large low for 4 to 12 years before building Mid-Atlantic States and south into buildup of the insects can defoliate up again. Virginia and North Carolina. whole stands, especially hardwood The Cumberland Plateau and the Female gypsy moths are flightless, stands with many of the species the Southern Appalachians are considered so the insects spread slowly. Newly moth prefers. White oaks, followed favorable for supporting large gypsy hatched gypsy moth larvae crawl by other oaks, are generally the moth populations; the forests contain to the tops of trees, where they species most preferred. Older stands many of the species the insect favors. spin strands of silk they can hang suffer more damage; there is a strong Damage from defoliation could be from until the wind “balloons” relationship between age, drought, oak significant; a majority of the oaks them to other trees. If this were decline, and gypsy moth defoliation. grow on ridgetops and steep south- the only way gypsy moths spread, One defoliation will not usually kill and west-facing slopes with the advancing infestation would be a tree, but even healthy trees may infertile soils and low moisture that glacial; unfortunately, the insects are become stressed and die if defoliation further stress trees, making them also great hitchhikers. Females often is repeated for several years. Gypsy more susceptible to damage from defoliation.—ZH www.srs.fs.usda.gov 27 path of every machine so that they Gypsy Moth Host Energy Efficiency can analyze how biomass is collected in relation to traffic on the stand. “We Preferences Most experts agree that forest know there will be less traffic in the treatments designed to improve tree denser treatments and that it will be Favored: Species preferred or health in advance of gypsy moth concentrated on a few skid trails, but readily eaten by gypsy moth during should be done 1 to 3 (ideally 4 to 10) we don’t know the cost of getting the all larval stages—most oak species, years before the arrival of the pest. wood out to the road,” says Rummer. apple, basswood, river and white Stands not completely recovered from “I suspect that the shelterwood cutting operations may rebound more treatment, as the most open, will be birch, hawthorn, hazelnut, hornbeam, slowly from gypsy moth infestations. the easiest, maybe the most cost- serviceberry, sweetgum, willows, and Damage from logging can also attract effective, to operate in.” witch-hazel other insect pests, while dead stumps “Operators often chip the wood at Not favored: Species eaten by some and root systems attract the organisms road side, which makes it more cost- larval stages when favored species that cause root rot. effective to truck it out as fuel,” says not available—American beech, In May 2007, work started on Rummer. “In this case, the contractor sweet and yellow birch, blackgum, the treatments for the silvicultural is taking the wood out to a chipping boxelder, buckeyes, butternut, black assessment in the Daniel Boone yard. We’re trying to find out what the cherry, chestnut, elms, cottonwood, National Forest featured on page 25, net energy recovery would be for this cucumbertree, hackberry, hemlock, with a single contractor performing all type of operation. One of the main hickories, red and sugar maples, pear, the prescriptions designed by Forest obstacles to using wood for energy persimmon, most spruces, most pines, Service researchers and cooperators. is transportation costs, generally 50 redbud, sassafras, sourwood, and Callie Schweitzer and a research percent of the total wood cost. That may black walnut team from Huntsville, AL, measured climb higher this summer.” —ZH trees and understory vegetation in For more information: Avoided: Species rarely eaten each area before any harvesting. Bob Rummer at 334–826–8700 x 22 or by gypsy moth larvae—most ash, As part of the assessment, Bob [email protected] most azaleas, baldcypress, catalpa, Rummer, project leader of the SRS dogwood, eastern redcedar, American forest operations unit in Auburn, holly, horsechestnut, black and honey For more on the biomass challenge, see AL, and his team are analyzing traffic locust, mountain laurel, mulberry, patterns of operators in the plots to Compass, Winter 2005, available online rhododendrons, sycamore, and yellow- measure soil disturbance from skid in PDF format from the Compass archives poplar trails. They will also look at residual at http://www.srs.fs.usda.gov/compass/ stand damage such as stem damage archives.htm. from skidders and root damage from operators driving too close to trees. But Rummer is equally interested in finding out if it’s cost-effective to truck out the wood harvested from treatments to facilities that can use them for energy production. The basic system the operators are using to collect biomass is different from the conventional, more mechanized systems routinely used for timber management. Rummer’s team has installed Global Positioning System (GPS) monitors to track the movement of machines within plots. The GPS monitors will allow researchers to visually trace the Biomass collected as part of the silvicultural assessment project on the Daniel Boone National Forest. (Photo by Jason Thompson, U.S. Forest Service) 28 compass—augustcompass—august 20072007 Revealing the Genetics of a sudden oak death Pathogen in pursuit of a plant destroyer If you’ve ever considered how By Susan Andrew you’d design a pathogen, consider Phytophthora ramorum, the cause of sudden oak death. According to SRS nce upon a time in the East, PathoProfile geneticist Tom Kubisiak, from the SRS before the arrival of Europeans, O The organism that causes sudden Southern Institute of Forest Genetics, an immense forest stood, its leafy oak death belongs to a class known DNA markers show that it reproduces canopy dominated by the American as the Oomycetes or water molds, a clonally (by making identical copies of chestnut tree. That so-called “climax group which includes the potato late itself), not sexually. “With a disease forest” was changed forever by the blight, the disease responsible for the organism, that’s good news—if there were two mating types, you’d have introduction of chestnut blight, a Irish potato famine in the mid-1800s. sexual reproduction and the kind of fungal pathogen first found in New Phytophthora ramorum, or Pr for short, genetic shuffling that could permit the York City in 1904, having arrived with gets its genus name from the Greek evolution of increased virulence.” infected nursery stock from overseas. word for “plant destroyer,” and is not Kubisiak’s genetics work includes Once established, the disease wiped to be confused with oak decline, a testing a new detection tool, a rapid out one of the region’s most important disease that also affects oak forests hardwood species in just a few diagnostic that can uniquely identify in our region. Pr’s life cycle includes most Phytophthora species including P. decades, removing a major food source an airborne phase, where spores float ramorum. From among 10 diagnostic for countless wildlife species. aloft until they land on susceptible techniques being tested by various The gap created by the hosts, particularly where water is labs on a collection of blind samples disappearance of the American available, perhaps where dew has featuring most of the currently named chestnut was soon exploited by oaks. collected in droplets on a leaf surface Phytophthora species, the technique was By the middle of the last century, oak or shoot. Pr apparently survives in the only one that produced no false species had replaced chestnut as the soil for long periods, probably an negatives and no false positives. dominant species in vast areas of the adaptation to survive those times “The technique was able to eastern forest, with creatures who when a host isn’t present. After distinguish P. ramorum from every other had feasted on chestnuts consuming penetrating the leaf surface or bark Phytophthora species—and there are many,” says Kubisiak. “But there is a acorns instead. of its host, Pr spreads through host caveat. Although it seems to work very tissue, producing leaf spots, dying History has a way of repeating well on DNA extracted from cultured itself. Forest pathologists in the East twigs, and bleeding cankers on the Phytophthorans, we don’t know if it have reacted with alarm to the threat tree’s trunk. will perform as well on tissue taken of a new blight, another nonnative The pathogen was introduced into from plant hosts showing symptoms pathogen introduced via nursery stock, numerous States in plant nursery of sudden oak death. That’s a big difference—a sample full of host DNA this time affecting oaks. The new shipments, mostly on camellias and and possibly other disease organisms, disease, known as sudden oak death, rhododendrons, which can serve even other Phytophthora species.” manifests as bleeding stem cankers, as sporulators—plants that aren’t blighted leaves, and twig dieback, and killed but are sources of reproductive Even so, a reliable diagnostic is essential to keep P. ramorum from can kill a mature tree in just a few spores. In one of the first known and spreading further, and nursery stock growing seasons. The disease has largest introductions in 2004, 1.5 from being quarantined. “We don’t killed a range of species, including million potentially infected plants want nurseries to ship infected tan oaks and live oaks in California were shipped from a single nursery in material, nor do we want to shut down and Oregon. There is no treatment yet California; every State in the United nurseries on the basis of false test available for infected trees; just how States received potentially infected results.”—SA the disease unfolds is not completely stock. For more information: understood. (continued on page 30) Tom Kubisiak at 228–832–2747, x213 or [email protected]. www.srs.fs.usda.gov 29 Sudden Oak Death eastern oak species to be tested with Smith, coordinator with the SRS the pathogen at a USDA Agriculture Eastern Forest Threat Assessment (continued from page 29) Research Station containment Center, Frank Koch from North Steve Oak, plant pathologist with greenhouse at Fort Detrick, MD, Carolina State University, and the Forest Service, Southern Region by research plant pathologist Paul members of the National Forest Forest Health Protection unit and Tooley. The results showed that all Health Monitoring Risk Mapping technical coordinator for the sudden nine eastern oak species tested could Team have produced a map of areas oak death early detection survey be infected under optimal conditions— where all three factors are present: in U.S. forests, cites his informal with the caution that those conditions potential hosts, favorable environment, scratch-pad estimation that perhaps may be hard to find in nature. The and pathways—in this case, nurseries 2,000 to 5,000 infected plants pathogen needs a host to support the that may have received infected plants. ended up in people’s backyards and production of spores; rhododendron The map provides a set of target gardens nationwide. His nightmare (and perhaps other species) will do, areas for field monitoring by a team scenario: an infected rhododendron while oaks will not. of State forestry agencies trained by planted in a backyard with a stream Location and Opportunity Oak in disease recognition and survey nearby, a mature oak forest with a protocols. Smith’s data show the For the disease to infect and rhododendron understory upwind. Southern Appalachians at high risk establish, three conditions must for infection, along with a small area “If eastern oaks are susceptible, be present: (1) hosts, (2) pathways on the western part of the Mississippi we’ll have a problem,” he says, and for introduction, and (3) the right coast. so he supplied seedlings of nine environment. Oak, along with Bill

Steve Oak, forest health plant pathologist, is technical coordinator for the sudden oak death early detection survey in U.S. forests. (Photo by Rod Kindlund, U.S. Forest Service)

30 compass—augustcompass—august 2007 In addition, Pauline Spaine and strengthened, but it’s still leaky. There Bill Otrosina of the SRS Insects, are two confirmed cases of Pr identified Diseases, and Invasive Plants unit in nurseries in Florida and Mississippi in Athens, GA, have come up with this year so far, but still none found a descriptive index of some of the in wild forests anywhere outside of microclimate features believed to be California and Oregon. Still, the take- critical to an outbreak—a Sudden Oak home message for homeowners and Death Infection Index—to estimate landscapers who want to minimize the when and where natural forests could risk of introducing Pr is to buy locally be susceptible to infection. They propagated plants.” collected hourly temperature and If the disease is found through humidity values in natural forests, monitoring, current eradication choosing sites where previously measures call for ringing the affected published data suggested that area with a 100-foot buffer, then temperature and humidity values cutting and burning all plant material indicated a level of risk for Pr infection. within the ring. “If it shows up The index can be used to highlight simultaneously in 10 States in 100- times when the dew point occurs at acre blocks, there’s not much that can the optimum temperature for infection be done,” says Oak. “There are some for at least 6 hours—times when water key questions still to be answered. would be collecting on leaf surfaces What is the latent period between where spores land. Based on their introduction and establishment and data, Spaine and Otrosina predict between establishment and detectable that certain areas in western South infestation? How much response time Carolina and along the Georgia coast, do we have between detection and where humidity is high, may be at action?” the greatest risk for Pr infection in the Though the disease hasn’t been future. detected in eastern oaks, forest Early Detection is Essential pathologists remain vigilant. This spring in Mississippi, “Are we out of the woods yet? No, rhododendron leaves deployed as the resource at risk is too great to let Pr bait downstream from a nursery down our guard,” says Oak. “Our only that received infected nursery stock hope is early detection, and it would tested positive for the pathogen. The be irresponsible to assume less than presence of the pathogen is not the the worst-case scenario—another same as a disease outbreak. No such chestnut blight—until we can get more outbreak has yet occurred in wild information about the epidemiology in forests in the Eastern United States. eastern hosts.” While infected vegetation has not been For more information: found in the natural environment, Steve Oak at 828–257–4322 or State and Federal forest health [email protected] professionals continue to intensively Bill Otrosina at 706–559–4295 or monitor this site and other areas in the [email protected] Southeast that might be vulnerable to Pauline Spaine at 706–559–4278 or sudden oak death. [email protected] “The State forestry and agriculture agencies are doing a tremendous job Susan Andrew is a freelance science writer based in Asheville, NC. with survey and monitoring,” says Oak. “Regulation has been improved and Tanoak showing sudden oak death symptoms. (Photo by Joseph O’Brien, U.S. Forest Service, www.bugwood.org) www.srs.fs.usda.gov 31 You Can Use!

other environmental variables. The that the reciprocal of this value could probability of seedling success is be used to determine the number of based on the results of an 11-year trees to plant to achieve the desired study conducted by Martin Spetich, future stocking level (the number of research forester with the SRS upland successful planted oaks per acre). hardwoods unit. Spetich found that the To take maximum advantage of your probability of success is most impacted investment and meet your management by the percent of shelterwood goals, take a look at OAKUS before stocking (canopy cover), the control of you underplant. A CD containing the competing woody vegetation, and the OAKUS program, instructions and initial diameter of the seedlings. examples, as well as a summary of the The likely success of a planted research is available. To order copies, If You’re Ready to tree, or dominance probability, was contact Pearley Simmons at 828-257- Restore Oaks to Your determined using a logistic model that 4830 or [email protected]. —LM Forest, Check Out integrated the combined effects of For more information: the environmental and management OAKUS Martin Spetich at 501–623–1180, x105 variables. Perhaps more significant or [email protected]. to resource managers, Spetich found by Livia Marqués

Wouldn’t it be great to know how many trees you need to plant to get just one successful tree for your site conditions? Would planting larger diameter seedlings pay off in the end? How much of a difference will controlling competing vegetation really make? If you’re ready to underplant oaks but still have questions, the Oak Understory Success Program

(OAKUS), can help provide answers. Service) Forest Kindlund, Rod U.S. by (Illustration A collaborative effort of the Southern and Northern Research Stations, OAKUS allows you to evaluate alternative oak planting and restoration strategies by predicting the future success of various treatment options based on your forest site quality (site index) and

32 compass—augustcompass—august 20072007

How to Start HMIs can also be labor intensive and New Method to time consuming. There has long been Regenerating Oak Predict Acorn a need to simplify HMI methods and coordinate them regionally, in this 10 Acres at a Time Crop Sizes case, among the Eastern States. A Faster, Simpler Method SRS research ecologist Cathryn Callie Schweitzer encourages he annual production of acorns in Greenberg and Gordon Warburton, private landowners to come out to Ta forest ecosystem directly impacts wildlife biologist with the North the demonstrations set up on State the regeneration of oak species—as Carolina Wildlife Resources land in Jackson County, AL. If you well as the reproduction, survival, Commission, have developed a faster, like what you see on the 75-percent and body condition of many wildlife simpler method to estimate acorn retention plot where researchers species. Black bears, wild turkeys, crop sizes based on their finding that are experimenting with overstory ruffed grouse, white-tailed deer, and the proportion of trees bearing acorns treatments, here’s what you can do: several small mammals all depend on alone is a successful predictor of HMIs. acorns for food. It’s no wonder that Their method, based on 21 years • Take everything out of the midstory State and Federal resource agencies of data from visual acorn surveys, except the oaks. make such a tremendous effort each produced similar index values to those • Don’t create any gaps in the canopy. year to estimate the size of acorn generated using the Whitehead HMI • To kill midstory trees, make one crops, or hard mast production. method. This similarity allows for continuity between the historic HMI hack in the stem for every 3 inches Estimates are made using one of data collected by States and the new of diameter and spray one small several hard mast index methods Greenberg and Warburton method. squirt of Roundup™ in the cut. (HMI) that have been developed by If adopted by State and Federal researchers to rate acorn crops on a • Remember, don’t kill your midstory agencies as a standard stand alone relative scale. HMIs effectively track oaks! index of acorn production, the new patterns of acorn production because • Do this little by little all summer method would allow acorn data to they allow for comparisons of crop long; by the end of the summer, be compared and tracked across the sizes among years and areas, given you can have 10 acres treated and Eastern United States. —LM the same method is used. Because give your oak seedlings a chance to different agencies use different HMIs, For more information: make it into the midstory. it’s difficult to compare acorn crop Cathryn Greenberg at 828–667–5261, production among States and regions. x118 or [email protected].

(U.S. Forest Service photo) www.srs.fs.usda.govwww.srs.fs.usda.gov 33 recommended reading

These publications are available in full- Hamel, P.B.; Buckner, E.R. 1998. It’s All Good text format from the SRS publications How far could a squirrel travel in database at http://www.srs.fs.usda. the treetops? A prehistory of the Hamel, P.B. 2006. Adaptive forest gov/pubs/. southern forest. In: Wadsworth, K.G., management to improve habitats ed. Transactions of the sixty-third for cerulean warbler. In: Proceedings North American wildlife and natural of Society of American Foresters Altered Light resources conferences. Washington, National Convention 2006: 1-25. Loftis, D.L. 1990. A shelterwood DC: Wildlife Management Institute: Hamel, P.B.; Dawson, D.K.; Keyser, method for regenerating red oak in 309-315. P.D. 2004. How can we learn the Southern Appalachians. Forest Vose, J.M. 2000. Perspectives on more about the cerulean warbler Science. 36(4): 917-929. using prescribed fire to achieve (Dendroica cerulea)? The Auk. 121(1): 7-14. Loftis, D.L. 2004. Upland oak desired ecosystem conditions. regeneration and management. In: Moser, W.K.; Moser, C.F., eds. Robbins, C.S.; Fitzpatrick, J.W.; In: Spetich, M.A. Upland oak Proceedings, 15th annual Tall Timbers Hamel, P.B. 1992. A warbler in ecology symposium: history, current fire ecology conference. Tallahassee, trouble: Dendroica cerulea. In: Hagan, conditions, and sustainability. Gen. FL: Tall Timbers Research Station. 15: J.M.; Johnston, D.W., eds. Ecology Tech. Rep. SRS–73. Asheville, NC: 12-17. and management of neotropical U.S. Department of Agriculture Forest migrant landbirds. Washington, DC: Service, Southern Research Station: Smithsonian Institution Press: 549-562. 163-167. The Forest For the Trees Loftis, D.L.; McGee, C.E., eds. 1993. Schweitzer, C.J. 2004. First-year Southern Bats Like Oak regeneration: serious problems response on an upland hardwood practical recommendations. Gen. forest to five levels of overstory Hardwoods tree retention. In: Connor, K.F., ed. Tech. Rep. SE–84. Asheville, NC: Ford, W.M.; Menzel, J.M.; Menzel, Proceedings of the 12th biennial U.S. Department of Agriculture M.A. [and others]. 2006. Presence southern silvicultural research Forest Service, Southeastern Forest and absence of bats across habitat conference. Gen. Tech. Rep. SRS–71. Experiment Station. 319 p. scales in the Upper Coastal Plain Asheville, NC: U.S. Department of of South Carolina. Journal of Wildlife Agriculture Forest Service, Southern Management. 70(5): 1200-1209. Forest Openings Grow More Research Station: 287-291. Loeb, S.C.; O’Keefe, J.M. 2006. Schweitzer, C.J.; Gardiner, E.S.; Fruit Habitat use by forest bats in South Loftis, D.L. 2006. Response of sun- Carolina in relation to local, stand, Greenberg, C.H.; Levey, D.J.; Loftis, grown and shade-grown northern and landscape characteristics. D.L. 2007. Fruit production in red oak seedlings to outplanting Journal of Wildlife Management. 70(5): mature and recently regenerated in clearcuts and shelterwoods in 1210-1218. forests of the Appalachians. Journal northern Alabama. In: Connor, K.F., of Wildlife Management. 71(2): 321-335. ed. Proceedings of the 13th biennial Menzel, J.M.; Menzel, M.A.; Kilgo, southern silvicultural research J.C. [and others]. 2005. Effect of A Burning Question conference. Gen. Tech. Rep. SRS–92. habitat and foraging height on Asheville, NC: U.S. Department of bat activity in the Coastal Plain of Campbell, J.W.; Hanula, J.L.; Agriculture Forest Service, Southern South Carolina. Journal of Wildlife Waldrop, T.A. 2007. Effects of Research Station: 269-274. Management. 69(1): 235-245. prescribed fire and fire surrogates on floral visiting insects of the Blue Schweitzer, C.J.; Loftis, D.L.; Wang, Ridge Province in North Carolina. Y.; Janzen, G.C. 2004. Regeneration Southeastern Naturalist. 6(1): 179-182. potential of selected forested stands on the Cumberland Plateau of north Alabama. In: Spetich, M.A. Upland oak ecology symposium: history, current conditions, and sustainability. Gen. Tech. Rep. SRS–73. Asheville, NC: U.S. Department of Agriculture Forest Service, Southern Research Station: 269-274. 34www.srs.fs.usda.gov compass—august 2007 Of Fire Scars and Arkansas Oaks Guyette, R.P.; Spetich, M.A.; Stambaugh, M.C. 2006. Historic fire regime dynamics and forcing factors in the Boston Mountains, Arkansas, USA. Forest Ecology and Management. 234: 293-304. Soucy, R.D.; Heitzman, E.; Spetich, M.A. 2005. The establishment and development of oak forests in the Ozark Mountains of Arkansas. Canadian Journal of Forest Research. 35: 1790-1797. Spetich, M. 2004. Upland oak ecology symposium: history, current conditions, and sustainability. Gen. Tech. Rep. SRS–73. Asheville, NC: U.S. Department of Agriculture Forest Service, Southern Research Station. 311 p.

The Gypsy Moth Invasion Gottschalk, K. 1993. Silvicultural guidelines for forest stands threatened by the gypsy moth. Gen. Tech. Rep. NE–171. Radnor, PA: U.S. Department of Agriculture Forest Service, Northeastern Forest Experiment Station. 50+p. Kauffman, B.W.; Clatterbuck, W. [Date unknown]. Forest management strategies to minimize the impact of gypsy moth. SP678. Knoxville, TN: University of Tennessee Extension. 8 p. Liebhold, A.M.; Gottschalk, K.W.; Muzika, R.-M. [and others]. 1995. Suitability of North American tree species to gypsy moth: a summary of field and laboratory tests. Gen. Tech. Rep. NE–211. Radnor, PA: U.S. Department of Agriculture Forest Service, Northeastern Forest Experiment Station. 34 p.

Sudden Oak Death Oak, S.W.; Smith, W.D.; Tkacz, B.M. 2006. Phyophthora ramorum detection surveys for forests in the United States. In: Brasier, C.; Jung, T.; Oswald, W., eds. Progress in research on Phytophthera diseases of forest trees. Farnham, Surrey, UK: Forest Research: 28-30.

(Photo by Rod Kindlund, U.S. Forest Service) www.srs.fs.usda.gov 35 School in the Woods

ulia Murphy is a busy woman. As Jforestry technician and certified interpretive guide for the SRS upland hardwoods unit, she works full time on science delivery at the Bent Creek Experimental Forest in Asheville, NC, leading tours, setting up workshops and training sessions, and teaching in both the classroom and the field. The experimental forest consists of over 6,300 acres and includes a demonstration forest, where side-by- side silvicultural treatments are set up to show visitors the results of research on upland hardwood ecosystems. Murphy also takes visitors to research sites dedicated to oak regeneration, invasive plants, wildlife habitat, fire, or other natural and human-caused disturbances. As a project for her master’s in forestry from Clemson University, Murphy produced a 15- minute film used to welcome visitors to Bent Creek. EXPERIMENTAL FORESTS delivering the science, east to west

Although much of Murphy’s work is with forestry professionals and college students, she likes to focus on younger students. She enjoys teaching them Julia Murphy (right) conducts a teacher’s workshop at Bent Creek Experimental Forest. forestry techniques like measuring and (Photo by Rod Kindlund, U.S. Forest Service) boring trees, and talking about the importance of forestry management in Since the 1920s, the Forest Service has maintained a system of experimental producing healthy, productive forests forests to test hypotheses and collect long-term data about the ecological to enhance air and water quality. effects of fire, grazing, insect infestations, air pollution, and other disturbances. In the South, researchers from Federal agencies and universities use 15 active “So many kids have not stepped experimental forests for studies ranging from the practices needed to maintain foot in a forest. I try to teach them healthy forests, to the water filtration functions of forests, to habitat restoration about local native trees so they can for endangered species. identify them in their backyards,” Experimental forests are some of the few places in the United States where Murphy says. “I hope to spark an long-term data are collected about forests and how they change over time. interest, to make them aware of their These living laboratories also serve as demonstration sites where cooperators natural surroundings. Tree cookies are and landowners can see the results of different forest management options. always a big favorite, and they give me

36 compass—august 2007

an opportunity to talk about how big to her research plots, Schweitzer, who trees grow and the age of forests.” is based in Huntsville, AL, developed What are Tree Cookies? a strong partnership with forest Murphy helps the North Carolina Tree cookies are not baked goods, Forestry Association teach a 4-day industry. Greg Janzen, employed by Stevenson Land Company and formerly not something you want to eat unless environmental camp for 250 middle you’re an insect. school students at Lake Julian in south with MeadWestvaco, has helped Tree cookies are cross sections Asheville. Working with the North facilitate field tours so Schweitzer of tree trunks that educators use to Carolina Forestry Association, she can educate representatives from show how trees grow. Tree cookies leads a Bent Creek tour for 40 K–12 the new owners about why research are great teaching aids; they show the teachers who visit Federal, State, and matters. She developed handouts functions of the different layers of the private forests. about avian, reptile, and amphibian habitat; artificial regeneration of red tree, its age, and health. How the rings Summer brings intense use of the oak and American chestnut (which have grown can even reveal what the experimental forest, including this gets everyone’s attention); and insect weather was like in a particular year, year’s 16th annual upland hardwood research. She stresses the importance whether there was drought or a major silviculture training, geared for State of a mosaic of habitats across fire. foresters. Course instructors include landscapes and the use of different Forest Service scientists from the forest management strategies— Southern and Northern Research clearcuts, shelterwoods, artificial Stations and the Southern Region’s regeneration—to maintain forest Forest Health Protection unit. ecosystems. Forest Service professionals from the National Forests in North Carolina Schweitzer’s collaboration with provide valuable on-the-ground Yong Wang, an avian ecologist perspective. Craig Harper, University and biometrician at Alabama A&M of Tennessee, and Jeff Stringer, University, has provided additional University of Kentucky, bring science opportunities to connect with partners into practical focus through their who might “fear the timber beast,” expertise in Cooperative Extension and to talk about forest management forestry. Bill Alexander, landscape as good for the health of the land and and forest historian, leads a tour animals as well as for the landowner’s that combines past and active forest pocketbook. “Timber will pay for itself. management activities at the nearby You can manage for wildlife habitat, Biltmore Estate. medicinal plants, and other forest products, but those things won’t pay The Cumberland their way out of the woods,” says Plateau: Partnerships Schweitzer. “Our message is that you can use timber management to get to Are the Way to Connect other desired results.” s a scientist with the upland Schweitzer’s focus on upland Ahardwoods unit, Callie hardwoods leads her to work Schweitzer combines her expertise frequently with Wayne Clatterbuck in forest management, her passion for at the University of Tennessee and Jeff public involvement, and her ability to Stringer, University of Kentucky, both work with partners who range from professors of Extension Forestry and academics to forest practitioners. leaders in the field of hardwood forest Collaboration is essential in the regeneration. She and Stringer are Cumberland Plateau area, where rapid researching silvicultural management changes in land ownership are the alternatives on the Daniel Boone rule. The ownership of two Jackson National Forest in Kentucky, County, AL, sites where Schweitzer collaborating with Paul Finke from conducts experiments changed five the Daniel Boone National Forest. times in 2 years. To maintain access (continued on page 38) (Photo by Rod Kindlund, U.S. Forest Service) www.srs.fs.usda.gov 37 Extending the Reach Cumberland Plateau Domain owned by the University of the South—one on old-growth dynamics (continued from page 37) of Forest Service and another on artificial regeneration Science Schweitzer will participate as an of oak. instructor for a professional forestry course Stringer is organizing. A Walk in the Woods As an Extension forester for the Schweitzer counts John Hodges, ive years ago, Schweitzer started University of Kentucky, Jeff Stringer emeritus professor of silviculture Fthe Cumberland Plateau Walk in knows what matters in his State. from Mississippi State University, as the Woods in Jackson County, AL, as Using Forest Service research, he another key collaborator. a way to foster conversations about develops site-specific programs that When Schweitzer moved to Alabama natural resources, silviculture, and Kentucky foresters can use more in 2001, she contacted Gene McGee Forest Service research. “During one effectively and efficiently. Stringer and Glendon Smalley, scientists tour, I noticed all the birders going takes regional information and factors with the former Southeastern Forest nuts about the numbers and varieties in local species, stand structure, and Experiment Station, which operated of birds,” she recalls. “We were in markets to deliver science that is a laboratory in Sewanee, TN. Since a 3-year-old clearcut with 15-foot more directly applicable to foresters the Sewanee laboratory closed in vegetation regrowth. So I realized this in his area. He organizes professional 1989, Forest Service research hasn’t was a great opportunity to talk about forestry courses—often distributing had a formal presence in the area, the importance of different habitats for different species. The birds and publications written by Forest Service although Smalley continues his work the bugs really like the open spaces. scientists—develops training materials, as an SRS emeritus scientist. Now I wanted them to see that, hey, there and adds field exercises. He also Schweitzer and research forester Stacy Clark teach several classes a might be a role for harvesting. It was a offers programs targeted for private year at the University of the South in great teachable moment.”—CP landowners. As Stringer says, “that’s Sewanee for forestry professor Karen where Extension comes in, addressing For more information: Kuer; Sewanee students participate local needs.” Julia Murphy at 828–667–5261, x104 in field tours on SRS research plots, or [email protected] Stringer also increases the the only access they have to large- Callie Schweitzer at 256–372–4230 or knowledge base available to the Forest scale replicated studies. SRS has two [email protected] Service as an instructor for the upland research sites on the 10,000-acre hardwood silviculture course offered at the Bent Creek Experimental Forest. Researcher forester Callie Schweitzer explains how silviculture can be used to create a range of different habitats across a forest stand. (Photo by Rod Kindlund, U.S. Forest Service) “The expertise of David Loftis and Henry McNab is working with high- quality stands of timber. That’s difficult to apply on low-quality stands, and I have a lot of experience in that area,” Stringer says. His involvement with the upland hardwoods course, where he is a perennial favorite among State foresters and other participants, is in response to Loftis’ reaching out for a needed expertise. As an offshoot of his work with Bent Creek, Stringer is working with the Northern Research Station to develop management materials and workshops for degraded stands. —CP For more information: Jeff Stringer at 859–257–5994 or [email protected].

38 compass—augustcompass—august 2007 www.srs.fs.usda.gov Experimental Forests he STATION... 1 Bent Creek NC t d 2 Blue Valley NC 3 Coweeta NC n 4 John C. Calhoun SC

u 5 Santee SC o

r 6 Scull Shoals GA a 7 Hitchiti GA 8 Olustee FL 9 Chipola FL 10 Escambia AL 11 Tallahatchee MS 12 Delta MS 13 Harrison MS 14 Palustris LA 15 Stephen F. Austin TX 16 Crossett AR 17 Alum Creek AR 18 Sylamore AR 19 Henry F. Koen AR

Grace Receives research and is located at the and Dynamics of Crop Tree International Award G.W. Andrews Forestry Science Competition by Neighboring Laboratory in Auburn, AL. Vegetation,” includes an overview of how forest vegetation management SRS research engineer Johnny practices influence these components; Grace has received the 2007 Most Forest Vegetation a synthesis of the literature provides Distinguished Technical Paper award Management Article the basis for guidelines for managing from the International Erosion Wins Silvicultural Prize forest vegetation to optimize tree Control Association for his research crop performance while safeguarding report, Modeling Erosion from Forest An article coedited by Jim Miller, diversity. The article is the result of Roads with WEPP. The paper reports research ecologist also based in one of five synthesis projects Miller results from an 8-year study which Auburn, AL, has won the Silvicultural organized for the forest vegetation evaluated the ability of the Water Prize awarded by Forestry: An management session at the 5th Erosion Prediction Project (WEPP), International Journal of Forest Research International Weed Science Society originally developed for agricultural published by Oxford University Press. Congress held in South Africa in 2004. applications, to model erosion The Silviculture Prize is awarded and stormwater runoff from forest annually to the authors of the best roads under different management silviculture paper published in Forestry International Workshop practices. Grace’s research compared during the previous 3 years. Coeditor on Rusty Blackbird the amount of erosion estimated by Phillippe Balandier from the Team of the WEPP to actual erosion rates on Applied Ecology of Woodlands based On behalf of the International Rusty 24 roadside slopes in the Talladega in Clermont-Ferrand, France, accepted Blackbird Technical Group (IRBTG), National Forest in eastcentral the prize in London in April. the SRS Center for Bottomland Alabama and three road sections Hardwoods hosted the Rusty in the Chattahoochee National The winning paper, “Designing Blackbird Workshop Forest in northeastern Georgia. Forest Vegetation Management Grace specializes in forest operations Strategies Based on the Mechanisms (continued on page 40) compass—august 2007 www.srs.fs.usda.gov 39 Rusty Blackbird (continued from page 39) held April 12–13, 2007, at the Delta Research and Extension Center in Stoneville, MS. The 2-day planning session brought together experts to assess research needed to address declines in populations of rusty blackbirds.

The IRBTG, an ad hoc group of Service) Forest Kindlund, U.S. Rod by (Photo biologists from Canada, Germany, and the United States, is interested in understanding the biology and status of the rusty blackbird, whose populations have declined by about 95 the upland to is new Keyser Tara Forester Research unit. hardwoods percent since the 1960s. The species depends on wetland habitats in of pollinators. Hanula received the showing that both methods resulted in Alaska, Canada, and the northeastern award from Forest Service Deputy a greater abundance and diversity of lower 48 States for breeding, and Chief Joel Holtrop at a ceremony in pollinators. winters primarily in bottomland Washington, DC. Pollinators are essential for hardwood forests. Hanula was recognized for reproduction for over 80 percent of two projects that contributed to flowering plants and include species greater awareness of and better of birds, bats, butterflies, moths, flies, Hanula Recognized for management for pollinators. As part beetles, ants, and bees. Pollinator Research of a larger national study on the effects of prescribed burning on forest In May 2007, Jim Hanula, research ecosystems, Hanula and collaborators New to the Station: entomologist at the SRS Insects, looked at the effects of prescribed Research Forester Tara Diseases, and Invasive Plants unit burning on pollinators in sites in Keyser at Athens, GA, received the 2007 western North Carolina and the Karner Blue Excellence in Pollinator Alabama Coastal Plain. For a second This June, Tara Keyser, who Management award, a national project, Hanula tested two methods recently received her Ph.D. in forestry honor for outstanding leadership in of removing the nonnative invasive from Colorado State University, arrived the management and conservation Chinese privet from riparian forests, at the Bent Creek Experimental Forest in Asheville, NC, to take a position as research forester for the upland hardwoods unit. As part of her graduate studies,

(U.S. Forest Forest (U.S. Keyser looked at the changes in forest structure and composition in ponderosa pine forests following a large, mixed-severity wildfire in the Black Hills of South Dakota. Her experience with disturbance dynamics will fit in well with the work at Bent Creek, and she will take the lead in several parts of a new oak regeneration study that will involve sites across the SRS region. (continued on page 41)

Research entomologist Jim Hanula’s studies on forest on forest Jim Hanula’s studies entomologist Research attention. national has received pollinators photo) Service 40 compass—august 2007 www.srs.fs.usda.gov Tara Keyser that addresses the Chief’s unmanaged Multicultural Organization recreation threat, in support of the Final (continued from page 40) Award Rule on Routes and Areas for Motorized “I identify myself as an applied Bernard Parresol, Mathematical National Forest Use ecologist who combines perspectives Statistician, Asheville, NC from disturbance ecology and forest Global Stewardship Award For leadership in providing support to the management to answer practical Station’s diversity goals through outreach questions about managing resources Carl Trettin, Supervisory Soil activities and bringing cultural awareness for multiple goals,” she says. “The Scientist, Charleston, SC to the workplace Southern Appalachian forests, with For advancing research and education on their complex species composition the sustainability of managed and restored Partnership Award and history of disturbance, will be a wetlands good place for me to continue to look Devendra Amatya, Research at how different species grow and Distinguished Science Award Hydrologist, Charleston, SC respond in response to various natural For vision, initiative, and effectiveness in and human-caused disturbances.” Kurt Johnsen, Team Leader, Research Triangle Park, NC establishing the Turkey Creek research Chad Keyser, a forester/ partnership, an important foundation of For exceptional contributions to the field of biometrician with the Forest Service the Station’s watershed sciences program Forest Management Service Center forest physiology, with particular attention in Fort Collins, CO, and Tara’s to carbon accumulations, allocation, and Excellence in Providing Business husband, arrived with her. While sequestration under ambient and increased Operations Support Award his duty station is now in Asheville, levels of carbon dioxide NC, he will continue to work with The Administrative Realignment his Colorado-based unit on the Early Career Scientist Award Team Forest Vegetation Simulator (FVS), Wendell Haag, Fishery Research For successfully achieving the team goals an individual-tree forest growth Biologist, Oxford, MS of bringing together functions that required model widely used to support forest collaboration and related skills, clarifying management decisionmaking. He For high productivity of quality research roles and responsibilities, and creating is part of a specialized staff that on freshwater mussels as an early-career clear accountability and continuity for focuses on model development and scientist with the Aquatic and Terrestrial delivering administrative services maintenance as well as provides Fauna Team, Center for Bottomland FVS technical support and training Hardwoods Research Research Technical and throughout the United States. Technology Transfer Award Professional Support Award H. Michael Rauscher, Retired Julia Murphy, Forestry Technician, Asheville, NC Station Director’s For innovation, vision, and persistence Awards Presented in the conception, design, and For extraordinary efforts in implementing implementation of the Forest Encyclopedia the recreation visitor use study on the Bent SRS Director Pete Roussopoulos Network Creek Experimental Forest recognized outstanding contributions from SRS groups and individuals Natural Resource Leadership Customer Service Award during a ceremony in Asheville on May Award Mark McDonough, Assistant Station 18, 2007. Craig Roghair, Fishery Biologist, Engineer, Asheville, NC Natural Resource Stewardship Blacksburg, VA For providing exceptional customer Award For leadership in creating and delivering service to the Southern Research Station, solutions to aquatic management problems technical support to the Management Ken Cordell, Pioneering Scientist, through the Center for Aquatic Technology Team, and reengineering efficiencies Athens, GA Transfer For providing and continuing national research on off-highway vehicle recreation compass—august 2007 www.srs.fs.usda.gov 41 NEW PRODUCTS

natural resources inventory and monitoring 1 Brown, Mark J.; New, Barry D.; Oswalt, Sonja N. [and others]. 2006. North Carolina’s forests, 2002. Resour. Bull. SRS-113. Asheville, NC: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Southern Research Station. 63 p. In 2002, forests covered 18.3 million acres in North Carolina, of which 17.7 million were classified as timberland. Hardwood forest types prevailed on 72 percent of timberland; planted pine stands occupied 15 percent. Nonindustrial private forest landowners controlled 78 percent of timberland, forest industry holdings declined to 8 percent, and publicly owned timberland totaled 13 percent. Volume of live trees totaled 33 billion cubic feet, 66 percent of which was hardwood. Planted pines made up 3.1 billion cubic feet. Loblolly pine dominated, with 6.7 billion cubic feet. Net annual growth of live trees averaged 1.2 billion cubic feet, and annual removals averaged 1.2 billion cubic feet. Softwoods made up 51 percent of growth and 59 percent of removals. Softwood removals exceeded growth by 105 million cubic feet, whereas hardwood growth exceeded removals by 104 million cubic feet. There were 249 sawmills, pulpwood mills, and other primary wood-processing plants across the State. The Coastal Plain accumulated more fuels than other regions of the State due to hurricane impacts on coastal forests.

2 Conner, Roger C.; Sheffield, Raymond M. 2005. Analysis of the timber situation in Florida, 1995 to 2025. Res. Pap. SRS-42. Asheville, NC: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Southern Research Station. 17 p.

(Photo by Rod Kindlund, U.S. Forest Service) Forest Kindlund, U.S. Rod by (Photo Demand for wood fiber nationwide is expected to increase in the foreseeable future. Harvesting restrictions on forest lands in the West have increased pressure on the South’s forest resources to provide more wood. The ability of Florida and other Southern States to respond is uncertain. The authors describe the

Early summer at SRS Headquarters SRS Headquarters Early summer at 42 compass—august 2007 www.srs.fs.usda.gov from the Southern Research Station...

current extent, condition, and availability Analysis unit and the University of forest ecosystem of Florida’s timber resource and project Tennessee, researchers noted that the restoration and levels of growing-stock volume, net annual invasive non-native grass, Nepalese management growth, and annual removals to the year browntop (Microstegium vimineum) may 2025. They base projections on future significantly impact tree regeneration 6 Bridgwater, F.E.; Nelson, C.D. 2006. timber demand, as represented by harvest and woody seedling diversity following Biotechnology in the Southern Research requests. Overall, projections suggest that disturbance. The study, conducted on the Station: A problem analysis. Gen. Florida is well positioned to meet increased Ames Plantation in Tennessee, examined Tech. Rep. SRS-96. Asheville, NC: U.S. demand for wood, in spite of an expected the response of the grass to three levels of Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, shortfall of available southern yellow pine canopy disturbance associated with tree Southern Research Station. 35 p. volume on forest-industry timberland by harvests. High levels of soil and canopy We provide an analysis of opportunities 2010. However, crucial factors influencing disturbance resulted in the formation of and challenges for biotechnology in future timber availability in Florida grass “mats” that negatively impacted the forest research in the Southern United include retaining the current timber base successful establishment of tree seedlings, States. Major areas of biotechnology and working with ever-changing public consequently reducing regeneration were identified, described, and rated sentiments about forest-management success and woody seedling diversity. for priority among three groups of practices. Additional studies continue to investigate researchers—private sector, public sector, the impacts and mechanisms of Nepalese and the U.S. Forest Service, Southern 3 Johnson, Tony G.; Bentley, James W.; browntop establishment and spread. Research Station (SRS). We concluded Howell, Michael. 2006. The South’s that these groups have different research timber industry—an assessment of 5 Pollard, James E.; Westfall, James A.; priorities with respect to biotechnology timber product output and use, 2003. Patterson, Paul L. [and others]. 2006. and that these differences complement Resour. Bull. SRS-114. Asheville, NC: U.S. Forest Inventory and Analysis national each other. In particular, the SRS should Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, data quality assessment report continue its work in molecular marker Southern Research Station. 52 p. for 2000 to 2003. Gen. Tech. Rep. technology development for applications in In 2003, industrial roundwood output RMRS-GTR 181. Fort Collins, CO: U.S. tree improvement, conservation genetics, from the South’s forests totaled 8.2 billion Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, forest health, and basic science. Also, cubic feet, 6 percent less than in 1999. Rocky Mountain Research Station. 43 p. the SRS should increase its efforts in Mill byproducts generated from primary [Editor’s note: David L. Gartner, Southern genomics/bioinformatics, while decreasing manufacturers increased 1 percent to Research Station scientist, co-authored this its research on vegetative propagation. 3.2 billion cubic feet. Almost all plant publication.] Finally, the SRS should work on assessing residues were used primarily for fuel and The Forest Inventory and Analysis’s potential risks and impacts of planting fiber products. Saw logs were the leading quality assurance program includes and managing clones and/or genetically roundwood product at 3.7 billion cubic measurement quality objectives (MQO) modified trees. feet; pulpwood ranked second at 3.3 billion for each measured variable. These MQOs cubic feet; veneer logs were third at 830 consist of a measurement tolerance and a 7 Buckley, David S.; Clatterbuck, Wayne th million cubic feet. The number of primary requirement compliance rate. The efficacy K. (eds.) 2007. Proceedings, 15 central processing plants declined from 2,551 of these MQOs was tested by comparing hardwood forest conference [CD-ROM]. in 1999 to 2,281 in 2003. Total receipts data from blind check plots where a e-Gen. Tech. Rep. SRS–101. Asheville, NC: declined 5 percent to 8.3 billion cubic feet. quality assurance crew measured the plot U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest without knowledge of the first field crew’s Service, Southern Research Station. 770 p. 4 Oswalt, Christopher M.; Oswalt, Sonja results. These QA data were collected This proceedings of the 15th central N.; Clatterbuck, Wayne K. 2007. Effects between 2000 and 2003 and analyzed for hardwood forest conference held February of Mictostegium vimineum (Trin.) A. measurement precision between FIA crews. 27–March 1, 2006, in Knoxville, TN, Camus on native woody species density This report is a national summary of MQO includes 86 papers and 30 posters and diversity in a productive mixed- analyses. Results for each regional analysis pertaining to forest health and protection, hardwood forest in Tennessee. Forest are presented in appendix tables. ecology and forest dynamics, natural and Ecology and Management. 242: 727-732. artificial regeneration, forest products, In a recent study conducted by scientists wildlife, site classification, management at the U.S. Forest Service, Southern and forest resources, mensuration and Research Station, Forest Inventory and models, soil and water, agroforestry, and fire. compass—august 2007 www.srs.fs.usda.gov 43 8 ECOMAP. 2007. Delineation, peer in both mature forest types. In contrast, review, and refinement of subregions fruit production was initially low but of the conterminous United States increased each year in young stands, [CD-ROM]. Gen. Tech. Report WO-76A. and was 5-19.6 times greater in young Washington, DC: U.S. Department of than mature stands beginning 3-5 years Agriculture, Forest Service. 11 p. [Editor’s postharvest. In the Southern Appalachians, note: Station scientist W. Henry McNab co- young, recently regenerated stands provide authored this report.] abundant fruit compared to mature forest stands and represent an important source This work briefly describes the background of food for wildlife for several years after of the U.S. Forest Service National harvest. Hierarchical Framework of Ecological Units and the methods used for delineating 11 Greenberg, Cathryn H.; Miller, Stanlee; map units at the subregion planning Waldrop, Thomas A. 2007. Short-term and analysis scale. Also presented is response of shrews to prescribed the process for scientific review and fire and mechanical fuel reduction continuous refinement of ecological units in a Southern Appalachian upland and associated data of subregions. hardwood forest. Forest Ecology and Management. 243: 231-236. 9 Franzreb, Kathleen E. 2007. Reproductive success and nest Shrews are important as both predators depredation of the Florida scrub-jay. and prey, and some species are rare. Wilson Journal of Ornithology. 119(2): 162- Because they are secretive, we know 169. little about their habitat requirements. We trapped shrews to determine how The Florida scrub-jay (Aphelocoma prescribed fire and other fuel reduction coerulescens) is listed as a threatened methods affect them and their arthropod species. I studied nest predation on the prey in the Southern Appalachians. Ocala National Forest in 2002 and 2003 Treatments were (1) prescribed burning; and found that snakes were responsible (2) mechanical felling of shrubs and small for more losses that were either birds or trees; (3) mechanical felling + burning; mammals. I examined reproductive success and (4) forested controls. Compared to by monitoring nests. Groups with helpers other treatments, high-intensity fires and produced significantly more fledglings (0.5 high tree mortality increased canopy more per breeding pair) and had higher openness in the mechanical felling + daily survival rates of nests than groups burn treatment. Burning reduced leaf lacking helpers. Population management litter depth in both burned treatments. on the Ocala National Forest will likely Arthropod dry biomass was similar among require habitat management to increase all four treatments. Low-intensity fuel the number of breeding territories and reduction treatments, with minimal change reduce the effectiveness of predator to canopy cover or leaf litter depth, had communities. little detectable impact on shrews. High- intensity disturbance, such as prescribed Greenberg, Cathryn H.; Levey, Douglas 10 burning that killed trees and dramatically J.; Loftis, David L. 2007. Fruit production reduced shade and leaf litter depth, in mature and recently regenerated reduced abundance of pygmy shrews and forests of the Appalachians. Journal of all shrews combined, at least in the short Wildlife Management. 71(2): 321-335. term. Fleshy fruit is a key food resource for both game and nongame wildlife. Land 12 Islam-Faridi, M. Nurul; Nelson, managers need to know how land uses C. Dana; Kubisiak, Thomas L. 2007. affect fruit production, and how it changes Reference karotype and cytomolecular over time. We quantified fleshy fruit map for loblolly pine (Pinus taeda L.). abundance for 5 years in both young, Genome. 50: 241-251. recently harvested, and mature forest The genus Pinus includes many stands of 2 forest types—drier upland commercially and ecologically important hardwoods and moister cove hardwood species. Detailed information about forest types. Total dry pulp biomass individual Pinus chromosomes has been production was low and relatively constant limited due to their uniform size and shape. Identification of individual chromosomes

(Photo by Rod Kindlund, U.S. Forest Service) Forest Kindlund, U.S. Rod by (Photo 44 compass—augustcompass—august 2007 in Pinus is a prerequisite for advancing and North America. Results are consistent 17 Mitchell, R.J.; Hiers, J.K.; O’Brien, genome research. The hybridization with C. parasitica originating in Asia with a J.J. [and others]. 2007. Silviculture pattern observed for various repetitive recent introduction into Europe and North that sustains: the nexus between DNA probes was used to unambiguously America. silviculture, frequent prescribed fire, identify all 12 chromosomes of loblolly and conservation of biodiversity 15 Lang, Ping; Dane, Fenny; Kubisiak, pine, a model species for pine genomics. in longleaf pine forests of the Thomas L.; Huang, Hongwen. 2007. A genome map consisting of unique Southeastern United States. Canadian Molecular evidence for an Asian origin chromosomal regions was developed Journal of Forest Research. 36: 2724-2736. and will serve as a reference for placing and a unique westward migration markers and genes on the pine genome for of species in the genus Castanea via Frequent surface fires are a hallmark years to come. This map has the potential Europe to North America. Molecular of the biologically diverse longleaf to significantly increase our understanding Phylogenetics and Evolution. 43: 49-59. pine ecosystem. High fire frequency is correlated to high biodiversity, and these of genome evolution, species conservation, In this study we used sequence data from frequent fires are carried by fine fuels, and to help improve marker-based different regions of the chloroplast genome made up in a large part by pine needle selection in pine breeding programs. to reconstruct phylogenetic relationships litter. Much of the focus on silvicultural and infer the biogeographical history management of longleaf forests has 13 Kremer, Antoine; Casasoli, Manuela; among species within the genus Castanea. focused on maximizing timber production Barreneche, Teresa [and others]. 2007. A unique westward expansion of extant and pine regeneration. In forest lands Fagaceae trees. In: Kole, C., ed. Genome Castanea species is hypothesized, with where there is a focus on conservation of mapping and molecular breeding in plants, Castanea originating in eastern Asia, an biodiversity, timber exploitation can still vol. 7; Forest trees. Berlin, Germany: initial diversification within Asia during be a compatible activity, but the impact of Springer-Verlag: 161-187. Chapter 5. the Eocene, followed by intercontinental silviculture on fine fuels and subsequent [Editor’s note: SRS scientist Thomas L. dispersion and divergence between the fire behavior becomes paramount. We Kubisiak co-authored this publication.] Chinese and the European/North American summarize and synthesize the scientific This book chapter provides an overview species during the middle Eocene, and a literature to compare the impacts of of the current status of genome analysis split between the European and the North various silvicultural treatments on fine on members of the family Fagaceae. The American species in the late Eocene. fuels and subsequent fire effects in longleaf chapter synthesizes information regarding Morphological evolution of one nut per forests. ploidy, karyotypes, genome sizes, genetic bur in the genus may have occurred maps, comparative maps, and the genetic independently on two continents. 18 Plomion, C.; Chagné, D.; Pot, D. [and mapping of economic and ecologic traits others]. 2007. Pines. In: Kole, C., ed. 16 Mehlenbacher, Shawn A.; Brown, of interest within relevant species. This Genome mapping and molecular breeding Rebecca N.; Nouhra, Eduardo R. [and chapter will serve as a comprehensive in plants, vol. 7; Forest trees. Berlin, others]. 2006. A genetic linkage map basis for further studies of genomes within Germany: Springer-Verlag: 29-92. Chapter for hazelnut (Corylus avellana L.) based this family, helping to aid improvement and 2. [Editor’s note: SRS scientists C. Dana on RAPD and SSR markers. Genome conservation. Nelson, Craig Echt, Thomas L. Kubisiak, 49:122-133. [Editor’s note: SRS scientist and M. Nurul Islam-Faridi co-authored this 14 Kubisiak, T.L.; Dutech, C.; Milgroom, Thomas L. Kubisiak co-authored this publication.] M.G. 2007. Fifty-three polymorphic publication.] This book chapter provides an overview microsatellite loci in the chestnut Genetic linkage maps are a prerequisite of the current status of genome analysis blight fungus, Cryphonectria parasitica. for map-based cloning of individual genes. on members of the family Pinaceae. The Molecular Ecology Notes. 7: 428-432. In this study, linkage maps of European chapter synthesizes information regarding This paper reports on the development hazelnut were constructed using RAPD systematics and phylogeny, hybridization, and screening of microsatellite marker and SSR markers. Eleven groups were cytogenetics, DNA content, genome loci in Cryphonectria parasitica. Most of the identified for each parent, corresponding composition, molecular diversity, genetic markers (48 of 53) were developed from to the haploid chromosome number of maps, comparative maps, and the genetic an expressed sequence tag library and, hazelnut. The maps are quite dense and mapping of economic and ecologic traits hence, offer the opportunity to examine markers tightly linked to two different of interest within relevant species. This population structure or provide genome genes of interest. We identified the chapter will serve as a comprehensive location information for specific expressed S-locus, which controls pollen-stigma basis for further studies of genomes within genes versus anonymous genomic regions. incompatibility, and a locus for resistance this family, helping to aid improvement and In 40 isolates collected throughout the to eastern filbert blight (EFB) caused by conservation. Northern Hemisphere, the number of Anisogramma anomala. These maps will alleles per locus ranged from 2 to 14 serve as a starting point for future studies (mean 5.17), with gene diversity values of the hazelnut genome, including map- ranging from 0.049 to 0.859 (mean 0.437). based cloning of the S-locus and the EFB The sample from Asia was found to be resistance locus. more diverse than the sample from Europe www.srs.fs.usda.gov 45 19 Saenz, Daniel; Fitzgerald, Lee A.; 21 Selgrade, James F.; Roberds, James forest values, uses, Baum, Kristen A.; Conner, Richard N. 2006. H. 2007. Global attractors for a and policies Abiotic correlates of anuran calling discrete selection model with periodic phenology: the importance of rain, immigration. Journal of Difference 23 Bowker, J.M.; Bergstrom, John C.; Gill, temperature, and season. Herpetological Equations and Applications. 13(4): 275- Joshua. 2007. Estimating the economic Monographs. 20: 64-82. 287. value and impacts of recreational trails: a case study of the Virginia Creeper We surveyed anuran calls nightly at The one-island selection-migration model Rail Trail. Tourism Economics. 13(2): 241- eight ponds in eastern Texas from provides a useful paradigm for studying 260. January 2001 through December 2002. the genetic and demographic properties Air temperatures and daily rainfall also of populations subjected to immigration Many communities are interested in were recorded for each site. Given the but for which out-migration is not a factor. developing and maintaining recreational level of anuran diversity and the amount This model can be used to approximate trails to benefit trail users and as tourist of seasonal variation in temperature and the behavior of transgenes that have attractions to stimulate economic rainfall, we expected to find a variety of escaped into a natural population of forest growth. In this paper we describe a study breeding strategies. Analyses suggested trees from a genetically modified planted which estimates the net economic value five basic strategies: (1) breeding within a population of the same species. We report to trail users and the local economic predictable season (summer) independent results pertaining to the long-term fate of impacts of the Virginia Creeper Rail of local weather patterns; (2) breeding transgenes in such a model. We consider Trail in southwestern Virginia, USA. The opportunistically within a predictable cases in which fitnesses associated with monetary valuation results suggest that season (summer) dependent on local the transgenic loci are controlled by the trail is a highly valuable asset to the rainfall; (3) breeding opportunistically two different levels of dominance. In the people who enjoy using it and to local within a predictable season (winter) context of our model, levels of dominance businesses that benefit from trail-related dependent on local temperature; (4) indicate the relationship between tourist expenditures. The integrated breeding opportunistically dependent on homozygous and heterozygous genotypes valuation methodology and results can local flood level rainfall events; (5) breeding with reference to trait expression, whereas facilitate quantification of recreational trail opportunistically year round dependent on fitness is a measure of the ability of economic benefits in other locations. local temperature in the winter and local individuals to transmit genes to the next rainfall in the summer. generation. 24 Grace, J.M., III; Skaggs, R.W.; Cassel, D.K. 2007. Influence of thinning 20 Schaefer, Richard R.; Fagan, Jesse F.; 22 Stover, Daniel B.; Day, Frank P.; loblolly pine (Pinus taeda L.) on 2006. Commensal foraging by a fan- Butnor, John R.; Drake, Bert G. 2007. Effect hydraulic properties of an organic soil. Transactions of American Society tailed warbler (Euthlypis lachrymosa) of elevated CO2 on coarse-root biomass with a nine-banded armadillo (Dasypus in Florida scrub detected by ground- of Agricultural and Biological Engineers. novemcinctus) in southwestern Mexico. penetrating radar. Ecology. 88(5): 1328- 50(2): 517-522. Southwestern Naturalist. 51(4): 560-562. 1334. The objective of this study was to Occasionally a serendipitous encounter A joint effort between Old Dominion evaluate the impact of forest thinning with wildlife makes for a noteworthy University, the Southern Research Station, operations on soil hydraulic properties publication. This happened during a few and the Smithsonian Institute used ground- of a shallow organic (Belhaven series) days of bird observations in southwestern penetrating radar (GPR) to study roots soil in the Tidewater region of North Mexico during January 2005. While nondestructively in a shrub-oak ecosystem Carolina. Soil physical properties were in the Pacific lowlands of the state of at the Kennedy Space Center. To simulate evaluated in a nested design by collecting soil cores from an unthinned control and Guerrero, we observed a fan-tailed warbler the effect of rising atmospheric CO2, plots following a 40-ha fifth-row thinning with (Euthlypis lachrymosa) closely following a were fumigated with CO2-enriched air foraging nine-banded armadillo (Dasypus using open-top chambers. After 9 years of selection performed on a 14-year-old novemcinctus). The warbler searched for fumigation, it was discovered that coarse loblolly pine plantation in April 2001. prey, probably various invertebrates, in root mass increased 27 percent relative to Thinning decreased saturated hydraulic the leaf-litter disturbed by the armadillo. controls, and 85 percent of the biomass in conductivity and drained volumes for This association between these two this system is stored belowground. These a given water table depth; however, species had previously been reported from findings demonstrate the importance changes in bulk density were not detected. one site in El Salvador. Our observation of belowground carbon storage in fire- Thinning resulted in a 3-fold decrease now shows the described behavior to adapted ecosystems, how they will be (from 100 to 32 cm hr-1) in saturated hydraulic conductivity. be more widespread, and contributes to affected by rising CO2, and the feasibility of the ecological knowledge of the species using GPR. involved. 25 Klepac, John; Rummer, Robert B.; Hanula, James L.; Horn, Scott. 2007. Mechanical removal of Chinese privet. Res. Pap. SRS-43. Asheville, NC: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Southern Research Station. 5 p. 46 compass—august 2007 www.srs.fs.usda.gov Chinese privet (Ligustrum sinense Lour.), was significantly higher than EPA’s a highly invasive nonnative plant, is recommended level, especially during prevalent in the Southern United States. rainstorm events and warmer months. Chinese privet infestations can hinder Total phosphorus varied from 0.028 to regeneration of desirable species, reduce 0.104 mg L-1, which were within the EPA stand productivity, and have other recommendation levels. undesirable consequences. A combined mechanical (mulching) and chemical 28 Mason, A.; Xu, Y.J.; Saksa, P. [and (triclopyr) treatment was applied to others]. 2007. Stream flow and nutrient Chinese privet in forest stands in Georgia dependence of temperature effects on an experimental basis. The cost of on dissolved oxygen in low-order removing Chinese privet was estimated forest streams. In: ASABE 2007 TMDL to be $737 per acre when a tracked 110- conference. St. Joseph, MI: American horsepower mulching machine and a Society of Agricultural and Biological two-person herbicide application crew are Engineers: 374-380. [Editor’s note: Station employed. scientist J.M. Grace III co-authored this publication.] 26 Leduc, Daniel J. 2006. PINEVOL: A In Louisiana, natural stream conditions user’s guide to a volume calculator such as low flow, high temperature, for southern pines. Gen. Tech. Rep. and high organic content often result in SRS-95. Asheville, NC: U.S. Department dissolved oxygen (DO) levels already below of Agriculture, Forest Service, Southern current water quality criteria, making it Research Station. 12 p. difficult to develop standards for BMPs. Taper functions describe a model of the Along three low-order streams within actual geometric shape of a tree. When a West Gulf Coastal Plain watershed in this shape is assumed to be known, volume central Louisiana, stream flow conditions, by any log rule and to any merchantability temperature, organic carbon, and DO were standard can be calculated. PINEVOL is measured for one year. The results show a computer program for calculating the overall oxygen depletion in most of the volume of the major southern pines using sampled streams. There was a wide range species-specific bole taper functions. It can of monthly DO levels, with the lowest use the Doyle, Scribner, or International levels generally occurring from May to July. _-inch log rules or calculate solid wood There was a close relationship between volume inside or outside of bark. This organic carbon and DO, which appeared document describes the methods used in to be further affected by stream hydrologic volume calculation in PINEVOL and is a conditions. program user’s guide. 29 Wear, David N.; Carter, Douglas R.; 27 Mason, A.; Xu, Y.J; Grace, J.M., III. Prestemon, Jeffrey. 2007. The U.S. South’s 2007. Comparison of stream nutrient timber sector in 2005: a prospective conditions in a subtropical lowland analysis of recent change. Gen.Tech. Rep. watershed to EPA suggested criteria. In: SRS-99. Asheville, N.C.: U.S. Department ASABE 2007 TMDL conference. St. Joseph, of Agriculture, Forest Service, Southern MI: American Society of Agricultural and Research Station. 29 p. Biological Engineers: 271-276. Our findings suggest demand for A paired watershed study was initiated in domestically produced timber products has a subtropical forested watershed within declined somewhat in the United States, as the Ouachita River Basin in Louisiana domestic demands as well as exports have to identify stream nutrient conditions fallen. Supply of domestically produced with respect to the U.S. Environmental timber products has continued to expand Protection Agency (EPA) suggested criteria, since the late 1990s. The net result may be and to examine changes in nutrient levels (a) a decline in timber product output and following timber harvesting operations (b) a disproportionately strong decline in with and without BMP implementation. associated prices. Evaluation of investment The preliminary results show that the of wood products firms in manufacturing low-order streams in these watersheds capacity within the Southern U.S. provides frequently exceeded the suggested insights into future production potential. criteria before any harvesting activities Indications are that demand for pulpwood were initiated. Average nitrite/nitrate to produce paper may not rebound

(Photo by Rod Kindlund, U.S. Forest Service) Forest Kindlund, U.S. Rod by (Photo compass—august 2007 www.srs.fs.usda.gov 47 to late 1990s levels in the foreseeable butterflies feeding on flowering sourwood future. However, persistent low prices for (Oxydendrum arboretum) within plots that softwood pulpwood could indicate long- had been mechanically thinned and term opportunities for manufacture of burned. These plots also had the greatest other products from this product class. herbaceous plant cover. Our observations Long-term demand for solid wood products suggest that some forest management appears strong, signaling that a relatively related disturbances may improve habitat favorable investment climate should exist for this species. in this part of the forest sector. 32 Eberhardt, Thomas L. 2007. A 30 Winn, Matthew F.; Araman, Philip reassessment of the compressive A.; Wynne, Randolph H. 2005. ALOG strength properties of southern yellow user’s manual: A guide to using pine bark. Forest Products Journal. 57(4): the spreadsheet-based Artificial 95-97. Log Generator. Gen. Tech. Rep. SRS- Few studies have focused on the 79. Asheville, NC: U.S. Department of mechanical properties of bark. Although Agriculture, Forest Service, Southern the stiffness of bark is significantly lower Research Station. 13 p. than that for wood, bark contributes Computer programs that simulate log significantly to the resistance of stem sawing can be valuable training tools for segments to bending forces. The sawyers, as well as a means of testing mechanical properties of bark are also different sawing patterns. Most available important for practical reasons since bark simulation programs rely on diagrammed- can be found in wood-based composites. log databases, which can be very costly Samples of southern yellow pine outer and time consuming to develop. Artificial bark and wood were tested in compression Log Generator (ALOG) is a user friendly to determine the mechanical properties of Microsoft® Excel®-based program that interest. Results resolved inconsistencies in accurately generates random, artificial-log data previously reported by others. Testing data. The program’s design is based on of solvent-treated bark blocks suggests information from an analysis of real red that although extractives are present in oak (Quercus rubra L.) logs, which ensures significant amounts, their contribution to the validity of the data. The program the mechanical properties is minimal. provides information about generated- log features, and external and internal 33 Eberhardt, Thomas L.; Elder, Thomas; defects. An incorporated algorithm checks Labbé. 2007. Analysis of ethanol-soluble the grade of the generated log. This extractives in southern pine wood by user’s guide provides all the information low-field proton NMR. Journal of Wood necessary to install and run ALOG, and to Chemistry and Technology. 27(1): 35-47. interpret program output. Wood extractives can have a significant influence over wood processing threats to forest health parameters, as well as the performance of wood-based products. Extractives’ contents 31 Campbell, Josh W.; Hanula, James L.; are typically determined by solvent Waldrop, Thomas A. 2007. Observations extractions that are both time consuming of Speyeria diana (Diana fritillary) and involve the handling/disposal of utilizing forested areas in North organic solvents. Low-field proton nuclear Carolina that have been mechanically magnetic resonance (NMR) was evaluated thinned and burned. Southeastern as a nondestructive and rapid technique Naturalist. 6(1): 179-182. for measuring the extractives’ contents of The Diana fritillary (Speyeria diana) is southern pine wood specimens. Data from a forest dwelling butterfly considered the analysis were positively correlated very rare throughout much of its native with the extractives’ contents of the habitat in North Carolina. In 2003 and matchstick-sized wood specimens when in 2004, we conducted butterfly surveys the oven-dry state. A novel pretreatment on forested, 10 ha plots in the Southern with dichloromethane-d2 allowed the Appalachians of North Carolina to which determination of the extractives’ contents various forest management practices had without prior drying. been applied. During one survey (June 2004) we observed male Diana fritillary

(Photo by Rod Kindflund, U.S. Forest Service) Forest U.S. Kindflund, Rod by (Photo 48 compass—augustcompass—august 2007 www.srs.fs.usda.gov 34 Gao, Heng; Shupe, Todd F.; Hse, 36 Miller, D.R.; Asaro, C. 2005. Ipsenol 39 Miller, Daniel R.; Borden, John Chung Y.; Eberhardt, Thomas L. 2006. and ipsdienol attract Monochamus H.; Lindgren, B. Staffan. 2005. Dose- Antioxidant activity of extracts from titillator (Coleoptera: Cerambycidae) dependent pheromone responses of Ips the bark of Chamaecyparis lawsoniana and associated large pine woodborers pini, Orthotomicus latidens (Coleoptera: (A. Murray) Parl. Holzforschung. 60: 459- in Southeastern United States. Journal of Scolytidae), and associates in stands 462. Economic Entomology. 98(6): 2033-2040. of lodgepole pine. Environmental Chemicals present in Port-Orford cedar We found that the bark beetle pheromones Entomology. 34(3): 591-597. (Chamaecyparis lawsoniana (A. Murray) (±)-ipsenol and (±)-ipsdienol were We found that the pine engraver, Ips pini, Parl.) bark are of interest for their attractive to the southern sawyer beetle, exhibited dose-dependent increases in trap antioxidant activities. One mechanism Monochamus titillator, in Florida, Louisiana, catches to its pheromones, ipsdienol and of activity exhibited by antioxidants Georgia, and North Carolina. These two lanierone, whereas a sympatric species involves the scavenging of free radicals compounds had varying effects on three of bark beetle, Orthotomicus latidens, did which have known damaging effects. Free other common species of wood-boring not exhibit a dose-dependent response radical-scavenging assays were used to beetles in the South: Acanthocinus obsoletus, to its pheromone, ipsenol. The predator, determine the antioxidant activities for Pachylobius picivorus, and Chalcophora Thanasimus undatulus, exhibited dose- fractions obtained from a crude bark virginiensis. dependent increase in attraction to traps extract after solvent partitioning. This baited with ipsenol, whereas another provided extraction and partitioning 37 Miller, D.R.; Asaro, C.; Berisford, species, Enoclerus sphegeus, exhibited dose- processes for the isolation of antioxidants C.W. 2005. Attraction of southern dependent increases to traps baited with of interest. Results showed that the pine engravers and associated bark lanierone. antioxidant activity of each fraction beetles (Coleoptera: Scolytidae) to could be correlated with the presence of ipsenol, ipsdienol, and lanierone in 40 Miller, Daniel R.; Lindgren, B. Staffan; phenolic compounds. Applications for Southeastern United States. Journal of Borden, John H. 2005. Dose-dependent these phenolic antioxidants range from Economic Entomology 98(6): 2058-2066. pheromone responses of mountain direct consumption as nutraceuticals to the We found that the smaller southern pine pine beetle in stands of lodgepole pine. incorporation into packaging materials for engraver, Ips avulsus, and the eastern Environmental Entomology. 34(5): 1019- the protection of products from oxidation. fivespined ips, I. grandicollis, were 1027. significantly attracted to traps baited with We examined the effect of pheromone 35 Horn, Scott; Hanula, James L. 2006. (±)-ipsenol and (±)-ipsdienol in Florida, release rates on attraction of the mountain Burlap bands as a sampling technique Georgia, Louisiana, and North Carolina. pine beetle (Dendroctonus ponderosae), a for green anoles (Anolis carolinensis) (±)-Ipsdienol was the only consistent major pest of lodgepole pine in Western and other reptiles commonly found on attractant for the pine engraver, I. pini, North America. We found that beetles tree boles. Herpetological Review. 37(4): and the sixspined ips, I. calligraphus. exhibited a multi-functional dose response 427-428. The interruptive effect of (±)-ipsenol on to funnel traps baited with a mixture of A variety of methods have been used to attraction of I. pini to (±)-ipsdienol was cis- and trans-verbenol in areas with study lizard populations, including rubber negated by lanierone, which synergized low population levels, whereas response bands, active searching and noosing, pitfall attraction of I. pini to (±)-ipsdienol. was directly proportional to release rate traps, glue boards, and hook extraction. in areas with high population levels. The In some cases, these techniques result 38 Miller, Daniel R. 2007. Limonene: multi-functional response is consistent in lizard mortality or stress. We were Attractant kairomone for white pine with an optimal attack density hypothesis. interested in developing a technique that cone beetles (Coleoptera: Scolytidae) successfully monitored arboreal lizards in an eastern white pine seed orchard 41 Mulrooney, J.E.; Wagner, T.L.; Shelton, while limiting stress. We compared burlap in western North Carolina. Journal of T.G. [and others]. 2007. Historical review bands wrapped around tree boles to three Economic Entomology. 100(3): 815-822. of termite activity at Forest Service methods commonly used to sample lizards. We found that traps baited with the pine termiticide test sites from 1971 to 2004. We found that burlap bands provided the monoterpene limonene were attractive to Journal of Economic Entomology. 100(2): largest number of green anole observations the white pine cone beetle, a destructive 488-494. in the shortest amount of time. Our results insect pest of eastern white pine cones. The U.S. Forest Service has a long history suggest that burlap bands are a simple, Further, we found that limonene increased of providing termiticide efficacy data used inexpensive, and effective way to catch catches of beetles to traps baited with the for product registration and labeling. or monitor bole-active lizards, and this cone beetle pheromone pityol. Our results Four primary test sites (Arizona, Florida, method causes no harm to the animal or and those of others suggest promise in Mississippi, and South Carolina) have been environment. developing a semiochemical-based control used for this purpose. Various parameters program for white pine cone beetles in of termite attack at water-only control eastern white pine seed orchards. plots in termiticide studies installed between 1971 and 2001 were examined in

compass—august 2007 www.srs.fs.usda.gov 49 this study to assess the relative pressures responses, while one increased beetle Although the importance of canopy of termites at each site. Termite pressure attraction. Analyses of volatiles from research is now widely recognized, was greater in the Southeast. Plots were individual D. frontalis indicated that almost nothing is known about the attacked sooner and at a higher percentage the majority of the eight compounds vertical distribution patterns of insects than those in Arizona. In addition, damage were produced in greater quantities in Southeastern forests. During a recent to wooden blocks was greater in the by newly-emerged beetles than ones comparison of beetles captured in Southeast. initiating attacks on pine bolts. Five of the the canopy and near the ground in a compounds were associated predominantly bottomland hardwood forest, we found 42 Peterson, Chris J.; Wagner, Terence with one sex. Possible ecological roles evidence of stratification of the burying L.; Shelton, Thomas G.; Mulrooney, Joe of these compounds in the biology of D. beetle community. Nicrophorus pustulatus, E. 2007. New termiticides necessitate frontalis are discussed. The seven newly- a rarely collected and poorly understood changes in efficacy testing: A case study discovered aggregation inhibitors for D. burying beetle, was significantly more of fipronil. In: Lyga, John W.; Theodoridis, frontalis may prove effective in protecting abundant in the canopy than near the George, eds. Synthesis and Chemistry of individual trees from beetle attack or ground. Ongoing research suggests that Agrochemicals VII. ACS symposium series suppressing beetle infestations. the canopy is more important for many 948. Washington, DC: American Chemical insect groups than previously believed. A Society: 179-193. 44 Sullivan, Brian T.; Dalusky, Mark J.; better understanding of canopy processes Without accurate product testing methods, Wakarchuk, David; Berisford, C. Wayne. is essential for protecting biodiversity. inferior products can enter the marketplace 2007. Field evaluations of potential and put the consumer at risk. In efficacy aggregation inhibitors for the southern 46 Wickham, J.D.; Riitters, K.H.; Wade, tests conducted with the termiticide pine beetle, Dendroctonus frontalis T.G.; Coulston, J.W. 2007. Temporal Termidor®, termites were absent from (Coleoptera: Curculionidae). Journal of change in forest fragmentation at untreated plots near the treated plots. Two Entomological Science. 42(2): 139-149. multiple scales. Landscape Ecology. reasons for this were proposed: one, the Semiochemicals that inhibit response 22:481-489. high levels of insecticide used in the study of southern pine beetle, Dendroctonus Studies of temporal changes in area suppressed the local population or frontalis Zimmermann, to its aggregation fragmentation focus on patch and two, the active ingredient was transferred pheromone have been used with varying edge statistics, which might not detect between termites and the local population degrees of success to protect individual changes in the spatial scale at which was suppressed that way. Either reason trees from attack and to stop infestation forest dominates the landscape. In the removes our ability to determine if the growth. However, semiochemical Chesapeake Bay region, forest patch termites were killed because of the disruptants have not experienced wide statistics changed very little between insecticide, or if the termites were not there use in management of D. frontalis, due 1991 and 2001, while at the same time, in the first place. A new testing method in part to the normally prohibitive the loss rate of dominant forest was two was developed that provided satisfactory expense associated with treatments using to 10 times larger than the loss rate of results. verbenone and 4-allylanisole, the two EPA- forest area. The trend probably indicates a registered semiochemicals for this species. regional transition from a forest-dominated 43 Sullivan, Brian T. 2005. We conducted initial trap-based screenings landscape to a landscape dominated by Electrophysiological and behavioral of candidate compounds with the aim of developed land uses, which could trigger responses of Dendroctonus frontalis discovering alternatives. Baits containing other changes in the ecological function of (Coleoptera: Curculionidae) to volatiles either 2-phenylethanol or myrtenol forest land in the region. isolated from conspecifics. Journal of significantly reduced attraction of one or Economic Entomology. 98(6): 2067-2078. both sexes of D. frontalis to traps baited 47 Zurlini, Giovanni; Riitters, Kurt H.; Olfactory sensitivity of the southern pine with a standard attractant. In combination, Zaccarelli, Nicola; Petrosillo, Irene. 2007. beetle, Dendroctonus frontalis Zimmermann, the two compounds caused a 92 percent Patterns of disturbance at multiple to compounds isolated from the mid/ decrease in total beetle response, although scales in real and simulated landscapes. hindguts of newly emerged conspecific reduction was not significantly greater than Landscape Ecology. 22:705-721. adults was assayed with coupled gas that produced by 2-phenylethanol alone. Previous national assessments of forest chromatography-electoantennographic At specific doses, we failed to observe fragmentation identified the need for detection. All previously reported reduction in D. frontalis attraction by the better indicators of fragmentation and pheromones for D. frontalis, plus eight following compounds presented singly: more efficient computational approaches. additional compounds, consistently elicited benzaldehyde, guaiacol, 3-methylcyclohex- This paper develops a framework to antennal responses from at least one sex. 2-en-1-one (3,2-MCH), myrtenal, and characterize and interpret the spatial The eight additional compounds were verbenone. patterns of disturbances at multiple bioassayed individually at three release scales. Domains of scale are defined in rates for the ability to alter D. frontalis 45 Ulyshen, Michael D.; Hanula, pattern metric space and mapped in responses to traps baited with D. frontalis James L.; Horn, Scott. 2007. Burying geographic space, which identifies the aggregation pheromone. Seven of the eight beetles (Coleoptera: Silphidae) in scale of fragmentation in different places. compounds reduced beetle aggregation the forest canopy: The unusual case of Nicrophorus pustulatus Herschel. Coleopterists Bulletin. 61(1): 121-123. 50 compass—august 2007 www.srs.fs.usda.gov The conceptual model is illustrated with using ESRI software, ArcGIS. We developed 52 Ford, Chelcy R.; Vose, James M. 2007. simulated maps and real disturbance five hypothetical distributions. Combining Tsuga canadensis (L.) Carr. mortality maps from satellite imagery in south Italy. results of the different models on the will impact hydrologic processes The new technique will be used in the same map allowed us to design a rigorous in Southern Appalachian forest future US national assessments of forest strategy to ground-truth the map and thus ecosystems. Ecological Applications. disturbance and fragmentation. identify sites for protection of the species 17(4): 1156-1167. in South America. forest watershed science Eastern hemlock, an important streamside and cove species in Southern Appalachian 48 Adams, Susan B. 2006. Dainties 50 Bowen, Liessa T.; Moorman, forests, is facing widespread mortality of the first order. Wings: Essays on Christopher E.; Kilgo, John C. 2007. from hemlock woolly adelgid (HWA), an Invertebrate Conservation. 29(2): 4-7. Seasonal bird use of canopy gaps in a bottomland forest. Wilson Journal of exotic invasive insect. To estimate the Scientists have learned a great deal about Ornithology. 119(1): 77-88. impact that the loss of hemlock will have crayfish in the past 100 years, including on forest water balance, we measured We studied the relative use of mature forest that hundreds of crayfish species are hemlock water use (transpiration) over versus small gaps in the forest canopy native to the U.S. Over 75 percent of the a range of tree sizes for 2 years. Daily (0.33-1.25-ac harvest openings) by birds world’s crayfish species are native to tree transpiration was substantial; large from spring through fall in a bottomland North America. Cambaridae is the largest trees transpired as much as 186 kg (or 49 hardwood forest in South Carolina. We family, and 80 percent of those species are gal) water tree-1 day-1. With increasing documented more birds, including species native to the Southeastern U.S. Crayfish HWA infestation and progressive loss typically associated with the forest interior, are surprisingly variable in size, color, of leaf area, we expect further declines in canopy gaps than in surrounding mature behavior, and habitats occupied, and serve in transpiration rates. For Southern forest during all seasons. Birds used complex and important roles in aquatic Appalachian forests specifically, we mature forest more during the breeding and terrestrial ecology. As with many estimate that eastern hemlock mortality season than other periods, but most aquatic organisms, conservation threats could reduce annual and winter and spring species selectively chose gap habitat over come in many forms, one of which is forest transpiration by 10 and 30 percent, surrounding mature forest during the non- invasion by nonnative crayfish introduced respectively. We also expect that the loss breeding periods. The creation of small via live food, fish bait, and pet trades. of eastern hemlock from streamside areas canopy gaps within a mature forest may and coves will alter stream flow quantity increase local bird species richness. 49 Barker, S.; Benítez, S.; Baldy, J. [and and timing. others]. 2006. Modeling the South 51 Coyle, D.R.; Coleman, M.D.; Durant, American range of the cerulean 53 Ford, Chelcy R.; Wurzburger, Nina; J.A.; Newman, L.A. 2006. Survival and warbler. Paper UC-1656. In: Proceedings Hendrick, Ronald L.; Teskey, Robert O. growth of 31 Populus clones in South of 26th ESRI International User Conference. 2007. Soil DIC uptake and fixation Carolina. Biomass & Bioenergy. 30(8-9): http://gis2.esri.com/library/userconf/ in Pinus taeda seedlings and its C 750-758. proc06/papers/papers/pap_1656.pdf. contribution to plant tissue and [Date accessed: May 3, 2007]. [Editor’s Populus species and hybrids have ectomycorrhizal fungi. Tree Physiology. note: Southern Station scientist Paul B. many practical applications, but clonal 27(3): 375-384. Hamel co-authored this publication.] performance is relatively undocumented Plants can acquire carbon (C) from sources in the Southeastern United States outside Successful conservation of rare species other than atmospheric carbon dioxide of the Mississippi River alluvial floodplain. requires detailed knowledge of distribution. (CO ), including soil-dissolved inorganic In spring 2001, 31 Populus clones were 2 Modeling spatial distribution is an efficient carbon (DIC). Soil DIC can be taken up by planted on two sites in South Carolina, means of locating potential habitats. the roots, transported within the plant, and USA. The sandy, upland site received Cerulean Warbler (Dendroica cerulea, fixed through both light and dark reactions. irrigation and fertilization throughout the Parulidae) was listed as a Vulnerable We exposed loblolly pine seedlings to growing season, while the bottomland Species by the International Union for a 13C-enriched soil DIC solution with site received granular fertilizer yearly the Conservation of Nature and Natural two levels of ammonium (NH4+) and and irrigation in the first two years only. Resources in 2004. These Neotropical measured the amount of C acquired from Over three growing seasons, tree survival migratory birds breed in Eastern North soil DIC in plant tissues. Our results and growth differed significantly among America. The entire population migrates indicate the potential for uptake and clones at both sites. We emphasize that to the northern Andes in South America fixation of exogenous soil CO and the re- information presented is preliminary, and 2 to spend the nonbreeding period. We incorporation of root-respired CO in forest that clones should be followed through 2 developed spatial hypotheses of the trees. While soil DIC only contributes a an entire rotation before large-scale bird’s occurrence in South America. We small amount to C gain in forest trees, it deployment. summarized physical, climatic, and recent may be important in C fixation processes land-cover data for the northern Andes of specific tissues, such as newly formed stems and fine roots, and ectomycorrhizal roots assimilating NH4+.

compass—august 2007 www.srs.fs.usda.gov 51 54 Haag, Wendell R.; Warren, Melvin L. the south slope of Pine Mountain, Harlan than in harvest openings, yet birds were 2007. Freshwater mussel assemblage County, Kentucky. Four forest types were more abundant in openings. Thus, birds structure in a regulated river in the identified: Liriodendron-Acer, Quercus-Tsuga, did not simply use areas with the greatest Lower Mississippi River Alluvial Basin, mixed Quercus, and Pinus-Quercus. Percent food abundance. They were likely attracted USA. Aquatic Conservation: Marine and canopy compositions were compared with to the openings by the protective cover Freshwater Ecosystems. 17(1): 25-36. those reported by Dr. E. Lucy Braun prior provided by dense understory vegetation. to the peak of chestnut blight. Chestnut We document a diverse freshwater mussel remains an important component in 59 National Agroforestry Center. 2007. community (20 species) in Lower Lake, the subcanopy and is present in the Buffer$—An economic analysis an impounded, regulated portion of the groundcover in three types. Except for its tool [CD-ROM]. Gen. Tech. Rep. SRS- Little Tallahatchie River below Sardis absence, species composition of Braun’s e100. Asheville, NC: U.S. Department Dam in Panola County, MS. Lower Lake forest types has remained relatively of Agriculture, Forest Service, Southern represents one of the few areas of stable unchanged during the past 70 years; Research Station. large stream habitat in the region. The however, loss of chestnut initiated changes Buffer$ is an economic spreadsheet tool for diverse mussel community present in this in the relative importance of these species, analyzing the cost-benefits of conservation highly modified habitat suggests that a resulting in varying degrees of transition to buffers by resource professionals. large component of the regional mussel post-blight forest types. Conservation buffers are linear strips of fauna is relatively resilient and adaptable vegetation managed for multiple landowner and is limited primarily by the absence of 57 Lockhart, Brian Roy; Weih, Robert and societal objectives. The Microsoft® stable river reaches. Management actions C., Jr.; Smith, Keith M. 2005. Crown Excel™-based product can calculate that increase stream stability are likely to radius and diameter at breast height potential income derived from a buffer, result in expansion of the mussel fauna relationships for six bottomland including income from cost-share/incentive and restoration of a valuable component of hardwood species. Journal of Arkansas programs, agroforestry specialty products, ecosystem function. Academy of Sciences. 59: 110-115. leases, and other enterprise sources. The 55 Haag, Wendell R.; Warren, Melvin L., The relationship between a tree’s crown program can compare a proposed buffer Jr. 2006. Seasonal feeding specialization radius and diameter at breast height income stream to that of various cropping on snails by river darters (Percina (d.b.h.) has a variety of uses, including alternatives. The tool can also be used to shumardi) with a review of snail feeding stocking relationships and tree volume evaluate the economic impacts of removing by other darter species. Copeia. 4: 604- estimations. Estimating d.b.h. from mean an existing buffer. 612. crown radius (MCR) is of interest to managers because MCR can be estimated 60 Predny, Mary L.; DeAngelis, Patricia; We report food habits of river darters from digital imagery using remote sensing Chamberlain, James L. 2006. Black (Percina shumardi) in Brushy Creek and techniques. D.B.H. is a common tree cohosh (Actaea racemosa): an annotated the Sipsey Fork, Black Warrior River, AL. dimensional characteristic that is used bibliography. Gen. Tech. Rep. SRS- River darters preyed heavily on pleurocerid to quantify tree and stand structure. This 97. Asheville, NC: U.S. Department of snails in both streams. Snail feeding was research presents MCR/d.b.h. and d.b.h./ Agriculture, Forest Service, Southern highest in October when snails represented MCR relationships for boxelder, sweet Research Station. 99 p. nearly 100 percent of darter food items. pecan, sugarberry, green ash, Nuttall oak, Black cohosh (Actaea racemosa, Syn.: Snail feeding declined through the spring, and American elm. The linear model, y=a Cimicifuga racemosa), a member of the but increased to high levels in July when + b * x, provided the best model fit with buttercup family (Ranunculaceae), is an hatchling snails composed about 80 2 adjusted r values of 0.567 to 0.855. erect perennial found in rich cove forests of percent of darter food items. Non-snail Eastern North America. Native Americans food items were dominated by insect 58 Moorman, Christopher E.; Bowen, used black cohosh to treat rheumatism, larvae, most commonly eaten during Liessa T.; Kilgo, John C. [and others]. 2007. malaria, sore throats, and complications periods of low snail feeding or feeding on Seasonal diets of insectivorous birds associated with childbirth. Europeans have hatchling snails. Few other fish species using canopy gaps in a bottomland used this important medicinal plant to treat prey heavily on riverine snails. Percina forest. Journal of Field Ornithology. 78(1): menopausal symptoms for over 40 years. shumardi and P. tanasi represent two of the 11-20. Clinical evidence supports the efficacy and few native fishes that exploit the abundant Little is known about how insectivorous safety of black cohosh for these symptoms. and diverse pleurocerid snail fauna of bird diets are influenced by arthropod Decisions by the U.S. Food and Drug Eastern North America. availability in timber harvest openings, Administration on hormone replacement 56 Hawkins, Tracy S. 2006. A forest and less about how diets vary seasonally. therapy have resulted in increased demand. transect of Pine Mountain, Kentucky: We assessed bird diet composition from Nearly 100 percent of black cohosh raw Changes since E. Lucy Braun and spring through fall in relation to arthropod materials are wild harvested. Conservation chestnut blight. Journal of Kentucky availability in mature forest and in small groups list the species as “at risk” in the Academy of Sciences. 67(2): 73-80. timber harvest openings. Birds primarily United States and “endangered” in Illinois consumed arthropods of eight orders, and Massachusetts. Research is underway Forest composition and structure were with no apparent seasonal shifts among to determine sustainable harvest levels and determined for Hi Lewis Pine Barrens orders. The more heavily used orders were to establish suitable cultivation methods. State Nature Preserve, a 68-ha tract on slightly more abundant in mature forest 52 compass—august 2007 www.srs.fs.usda.gov 61 Samuelson, Lisa J.; Stokes, Thomas Effects of stream size and flow regime A.; Coleman, Mark D. 2007. Influence on spatial and temporal variability of of irrigation and fertilization on stream fish distribution, abundance, and transpiration and hydraulic properties diversity patterns were investigated in of Populus deltoides. Tree Physiology. streams in forested watersheds in the 27(5): 765-774. Ouachita Mountains, AR. Assemblage variability and species richness were Water used by forest trees is known as significantly associated with a complex transpiration, necessary for vigorous and environmental gradient contrasting smaller, healthy forests. Transpiration is measured hydrologically variable stream localities to understand growth requirements and to with larger localities characterized by estimate how much water will drain from more stable flow regimes. Assemblages forest landscapes. Ability to predict water showing least variability were the most yield will become increasingly important species rich and occurred in relatively as we study impacts of environmental large, stable environments. We suggest change. There is only limited information that spatial and temporal heterogeneity on how different rates of growth may in the environment largely determines control water use. This study monitored both assemblage richness and variability. water use in fast growing trees that had Changes in species richness of local been fertilized and irrigated, and compared assemblages across time were coordinated results to water use in slower growing trees across the landscape. These results that had not been fertilized and irrigated. suggest an important link between local Greater transpiration in fast growing trees community dynamics and community-wide was partially due to the fact that they occurrence. At the species level, mean local had more leaves. However, leaves did not persistence was significantly associated explain all the increase. They also had a with regional occurrence. Thus, the more larger amount of wood for each square widespread a species was, the greater its meter of leaf surface. The balance between local persistence. Results illustrate how leaf and sap wood area was important in integrity of local stream fish assemblages understanding differences in water use of is dependent on local environmental forest trees. conditions, regional patterns of species distribution, and landscape continuity. 62 Smith, David R.; Schiff, Nathan M. 2005. A new western Nearctic species 64 Wilson, A. Dan. 2007. of Calameuta Konow (Hymenoptera: Clavicipitaceous anamorphic Cephidae). Proceedings of Entomological endophytes in Hordeum germplasm. Society of Washington. 107(4): 864-868. Plant Pathology Journal. 6(1): 1-13. We describe Calameuta middlekauffi, a This article provides final results of a study new species, from southern Oregon initiated over 10 years ago to investigate and California. It is the second species occurrence of a specialized group of fungi of Calameuta in North America and is in wild grasses stored within a seed bank differentiated from C. clavata (Norton) by of the U.S. National Plant Germplasm head shape and coloration. Illustrations, System. These important and unique fungi descriptions, and a key are given to known as clavicipitaceous endophytes separate the two species. The food plant form perpetual symbiotic (mutually is unknown, but Palearctic species of beneficial) relationships with their grass Calameuta are known to feed in grass hosts. Incidence of these fungi was stems. determined in 17 species of wild barley (Hordeum species) from many countries 63 Taylor, Christopher M.; Holder, and regions throughout the world. This Thomas L.; Fiorillo, Riccardo A. [and discovery has great potential significance others]. 2006. Distribution, abundance, because these fungi are known to be very and diversity of stream fishes under effective biological agents useful for control variable environmental conditions. of numerous major insect and disease Canadian Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic pests in cultivated barley and other cereal Sciences. 63: 43-54. [Editor’s note: Station grasses. scientist Melvin L. Warren, Jr. co-authored this publication.]

(Photo by Zoë Hoyle, U.S. Forest Service) Forest U.S. Hoyle, Zoë by (Photo compass—august 2007 www.srs.fs.usda.gov 53 Research Work Units Location & Project Leader Name & Web Site Phone Athens, GA Pioneering Forestry Research on 706-559-4263 Ken Cordell Emerging Societal Changes Forest Ecosystem Restoration and Management Asheville, NC Upland Hardwood Ecology and 828-667-5261 David Loftis Management www.srs.fs.usda.gov/bentcreek Auburn, AL Restoring and Managing Longleaf 334-826-8700 Kris Connor Pine Ecosystems www.srs.fs.usda.gov/4111 Monticello, AR Southern Pine Ecology and Management 870-367-3464 James Guldin www.srs.fs.usda.gov/4106

Saucier, MS Forest Genetics and Ecosystems 228-832-2747 Dana Nelson Biology www.srs.fs.usda.gov/organization/ unit/mississippi.htm#SRS-4153 Forest Values, Uses, and Policies Athens, GA Integrating Human and 706-559-4222 Cassandra Johnson, Natural Systems Acting www.srs.fs.usda.gov/trends Auburn, AL Forest Operations 334-826-8700 Bob Rummer www.srs.fs.usda.gov/forestops/ Pineville, LA Utilization of Southern Forest 318-473-7268 Les Groom Resources www.srs.fs.usda.gov/4701 Research Triangle Forest Economics and Policy 919-549-4093 Park, NC www.srs.fs.usda.gov/econ David Wear Threats to Forest Health Asheville, NC Eastern Forest Environmental 828-257-4854 Danny Lee Threat Assessment Center www.srs.fs.usda.gov/cc /threatassessment.htm Athens, GA Center for Forest Disturbance Science 706-559-4316 Tom Waldrop, Acting www.srs.fs.usda.gov/disturbance Pineville, LA Insects, Diseases, and Invasive 318-473-7232 Kier Klepzig Plants of Southern Forests www.srs.fs.usda.gov/4501 Forest Watershed Science Franklin, NC Center for Forest Watershed Research 828-524-2128 Jim Vose www.srs.fs.usda.gov/coweeta

Lincoln, NE National Agroforestry Center - Research 402-437-5178 Michele Schoeneberger www.nac.gov

Stoneville, MS Center for Bottomland 662-686-3154 Ted Leininger Hardwoods Research www.srs.fs.usda.gov/cbhr

Natural Resources Inventory and Monitoring Knoxville, TN Forest Inventory and Analysis 865-862-2000 Bill Burkman www.srsfia2.fs.fed.us

(Photo by Rod Kindlund, U.S. Forest Service) Forest Kindlund, U.S. Rod by (Photo 5454 compass—august 2007 “Linking science and human purpose, adaptive management serves as a compass for us to use in searching for a sustainable future.”

—Kai N. Lee, The Compass and the Gyroscope—Integrating Science and Politics for the Environment*

*Printed with permission from The Compass and the Gyroscope, Kai N. Lee, chapter 1, © Kai N. Lee, 1993. Published by Island Press, Washington, DC, and Covelo, CA. OMPAS Next Issue... C S What do forests have to do with global Science You Can Use! climate change? How will forests and the habitats they provide be changed as U.S. Forest Service temperatures rise across the Southeast? Southern Research Station Can planting trees really affect the Science Delivery Office rising levels of carbon dioxide in the 200 W.T. Weaver Boulevard atmosphere that contribute to rising Asheville, NC 28804-3454 USA temperatures? In the next issue of Compass, we will focus on research Address Correction Requested related to these pressing questions, and ______introduce you to some new initiatives in this area. OFFICIAL BUSINESS Penalty for Private Use $300

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