C perspectivesO and toolsMPAS to benefit southern forest resources from the southern research stationS issue 12

How do hurricanes affect forest resources? Lessons from Katrina and Rita

Evaluating Chaos...page 3 In the Danger Zone...page 8 Red-Cockaded Woodpeckers and Hurricanes. . . p a g e 1 1 inside... the science

Lessons from Hurricanes are a fact of life in the Southern United 1 States. The Gulf Coast areas of Texas, Louisiana, and Katrina and Mississippi are especially prone to these tropical cyclones, Rita but coastal ecosystems are uniquely adapted to both by John Stanturf periodic hurricanes and fire. You could say they thrive on disturbance.

Evaluating On August 28, 2005, Dennis Jacobs had just arrived at 3 a church dinner in Knoxville, TN, when he heard that Chaos Hurricane Katrina had intensified into a category 5 storm. by Bill Dockery He knew how he would be spending the next few days.

Gulf Coast When Hurricanes Katrina and Rita swept through Gulf 5 Coast forests, the SRS Forest Inventory and Analysis Forests Hit Program provided the damage assessments Federal, State, Hard and local authorities needed to estimate the economic toll by Claire Payne on communities with significant forest resources.

In The Danger Natural resource managers and landowners were 8 overwhelmed by the damage from Hurricanes Katrina and Zone Rita. Many of them didn’t have plans in place to help them by Zoë Hoyle get started on sometimes massive salvage operations, let alone come up with strategies to make their forests more resilient when future storms strike.

11 Red-cockaded Hurricanes have the potential to severely impact red- Woodpeckers cockaded woodpecker populations by damaging habitat. Artificial cavity inserts developed after Hurricane Hugo and Hurricanes make it easier for a unique species to weather major by Zoë Hoyle storms.

compass—october 2008 How Much Forest Hurricane Katrina alone may have caused a loss of 40 21 million metric tons of forest carbon. That’s 20 percent Carbon is Lost of annual forest carbon sequestration capacity. SRS after a Major scientist Steve McNulty has developed new forest carbon Hurricane? sequestration equations that take into account major by Stephanie Worley Firley disturbances such as hurricanes.

Winners and SRS researchers Jeffrey Prestemon and Thomas Holmes 23 have developed an economic model that describes the effects Losers, Depression of catastrophes such as hurricanes on the region’s forest and Rebound resources and the market environment in which timber by Bill Dockery producers and consumers operate.

Last Trees Hundreds of thousands of urban trees were killed or 26 badly damaged by Katrina’s winds and storm surge. Standing Municipalities needed a way to assess how much money it by Zoë Hoyle would take to remove thousands of downed trees, but they also needed to know how to save those left standing.

departments Experimental Forests...... 18 Around the Station...... 31 Research Work Units...... 46 Science You Can Use!...... 29 New Products...... 33 briefs Hurricane Katrina...... 2 Hurricane Rita...... 12 What Gulfport Lost...... 24 The Value of Taking Inventory.....6 Shelter From the Storm...... 14 Strike While the Quick Guide to Salvage...... 10 How Fish Fare...... 17 Harm is Hot...... 28 A Simple Solution, But Not That Why Longleaf?...... 20 Easy...... 11

Cover photo: When Hurricanes Katrina and Rita swept through in fall 2005, they left widespread damage to Gulf Coast forest resources. (Photo by Patrick Hesp, Louisiana State University Hurricane Katrina and Rita Clearinghouse Cooperative)

Email: [email protected], [email protected] Persons with disabilities who require alternative means for Telephone: 828-257-4388 communication of program information (Braille, large print, C OMPASS Editors: Zoë Hoyle, Science Writer, and Claire Payne, audiotape, etc.) should contact USDA’s TARGET Center at Technical Information Specialist (202) 720-2600 (voice and TDD). Art Director: Rodney Kindlund Science You Can Use! Contributing SDG Staff Writers: Carol Whitlock and Stevin To file a complaint of discrimination, write to USDA, Westcott Director, Office of Civil Rights, 1400 Independence Avenue, Station Director: Jim Reaves SW, Washington, D.C. 20250-9410, or call (800) 795- October 2008 — Issue 12 3272 (voice) or (202) 720-6382 (TDD). USDA is an equal The mission of the Southern Research Station is to create opportunity provider and employer. perspectives and tools to benefit southern forest resources the science and technology needed to sustain and enhance southern forest ecosystems and the benefits The use of trade or firm names in this publication is for COMPASS is published by the Science Delivery Group they provide. reader information and does not imply endorsement (SDG) of the Southern Research Station (SRS), Forest by the U.S. Department of Agriculture of any product or Service, U.S. Department of Agriculture. As part of the The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) prohibits service. Nation’s largest forestry research organization—Forest discrimination in all its programs and activities on the basis Service Research and Development—SRS serves 13 of race, color, national origin, age, disability, and where The opinions and recommendations offered by guest Southern States and beyond. The Station’s 130 scientists applicable, sex, marital status, familial status, parental authors and interviewees are not necessarily those of the work at more than 20 units located across the region status, religion, sexual orientation, genetic information, U.S. Department of Agriculture, the Forest Service, or the at Federal laboratories, universities, and experimental political beliefs, reprisal, or because all or part of an Southern Research Station. forests. individual’s income is derived from any public assistance program. (Not all prohibited bases apply to all programs.) ISSN: 1931-4906 Future issues can be obtained by returning the postcard included in this issue. Printed on recycled paper Printed with soy ink www.srs.fs.usda.gov

An American chestnut tree in West Salem, WI, planted outside the chestnut’s natural range in the early 1900s by settlers. Under the tree are, from left: TACF president and CEO Marshal Case, Dr. Cameron Gundersen, and Bruce Gabel. (Photo courtesy of Daphne Van Schaick)

With increased hurricane activity expected for the next 10 to 40 years, yearly damage to forests along the Gulf Coast could become the norm. (Photo by Peter L. Lorio, U.S. Forest Service, Bugwood.org)

compass—october 2008

Lessons From Katrina and Rita

by John Stanturf

urricanes are a fact of life in The estimated wind damage from 2005 hurricanes, or to offer analysis of Hthe Southern United States. The Katrina and Rita to forest resources social systems. Our focus on hurricane Gulf Coast areas of Texas, Louisiana, was between $2 and $3 billion, effects on forest resources may seem and Mississippi are especially prone with more than 5.5 million acres of at first somewhat narrow, but we to these tropical cyclones, but coastal timberland affected in the States of believe that the importance of forests ecosystems are uniquely adapted to Texas, Louisiana, Mississippi, and lies not only in timber values, but both periodic hurricanes and fire. You Alabama. Although financial estimates also in the innumerable “ecosystem could say they thrive on disturbance. of timber losses provide an incomplete services” forests provide—from habitat Unfortunately, cities and towns along estimate of impacts, there is no doubt for myriad species, to places for the Gulf Coast—and the people that effects from the hurricanes people to rest and recreate, to carbon who live in them—have proven to will linger for years to come. Many storage banks to offset climate change, be less resilient when it comes to managers and landowners were to alternative sources of energy. weathering huge storms, as most caught unprepared to salvage timber In this issue, we’ll go into detail recently shown when Hurricane Ike quickly enough to recover value and about the steps landowners and tore through Galveston, TX. The past prevent further damage from insects, homeowners can take to manage 10 hurricane seasons have been the invasive plants, and rot. Managing storm damage to their trees. We’ll look most active on record. The consensus salvage while maintaining or at how Katrina affected a long-term among climatologists is that increased recovering ecological values is another experiment on an experimental forest hurricane activity could persist for issue few land managers had planned in Mississippi, including findings that another 10 to 40 years. When you for. longleaf pine—once the dominant add global climate change predictions Hurricanes Katrina and Rita tree species in coastal areas—is to the mix, yearly damage from provided an opportunity to examine surprisingly hurricane-resistant when hurricanes could become the norm forest management objectives and compared to other pine species. We’ll for the Gulf Coast rather than periodic how they could be used to reduce see how what we’ve learned from occurrences. vulnerability to damage from future previous hurricanes came into play In August and September 2005, storms and to provide managers with when Rita threatened red-cockaded Hurricanes Katrina and Rita caused the basis to make disaster plans. More woodpecker habitat in Texas, and how what has been termed the most resiliency in ecosystems and social arborists across the United States costly natural disaster in U.S. history. systems is the key. A resilient system responded when urban foresters along In addition to wind, storm surge, is one that can absorb recurring the Gulf Coast needed help saving and flooding damage along the Gulf disturbances such as hurricanes their city trees. Coast of Louisiana, Mississippi, and while retaining essential structures, Lessons learned from Katrina and Alabama, the levees that surrounded processes, and functions. Like the old Rita will not only help forest managers metropolitan New Orleans were Timex watch commercial, a resilient prepare for future hurricanes, but undermined. Their collapse caused system can “take a lickin’ and keep more readily adapt to a reality where extensive flooding damage and loss on tickin’.” Southern Research Station constant and often severe natural of life. The human toll from Katrina scientists work with a wide range of disturbance is the norm. The future is inestimable; property damage has partners to provide the information isn’t what it used to be. Managers been estimated in the hundreds of needed to adapt southern forests and need to focus on the extremes rather billions of dollars. The rising cost of landowners to changing conditions, than the averages, and to expect natural disasters is a result of the whether natural disaster, climate abrupt as well as gradual change. increased vulnerability where human conditions, or land use change. development has extended into high In this issue of Compass, we don’t John Stanturf is project leader of the SRS risk areas during periods when there presume to address the depth of were relatively few major hurricanes. Center for Forest Disturbance Science in human suffering associated with the Athens, GA.

www.srs.fs.usda.gov 1

Hurricane Katrina around $81 billion, which would make Katrina the costliest hurricane to hit Natural disturbance brings human tragedy the United States. More than 3 years after the storm pummeled the Gulf Coast, many residents are still trying From a natural resource perspective, As it roared northward, the to rebuild their lives. Hurricane Katrina was a large-scale hurricane brought 10 inches of rain to According to research from the disturbance event. But from the human many areas and cut a wide swath of SRS Forest Inventory and Analysis perspective, the massive storm was destruction that spanned southeastern unit, Hurricane Katrina damaged an catastrophic, killing more than 1,800 Louisiana across southcentral estimated 4.9 million acres of coastal people and displacing almost half a Mississippi and western Alabama. and inland forests. SRS economists million. Katrina weakened to a tropical storm Jeffrey Prestemon and David Wear estimated financial losses from wind On August 29, 2005, Katrina made as it moved inland, but not before damage to timber between $1.4 landfall at Buras, LA, as a category 5 inflicting an enormous amount of and $2.4 billion. About 90 percent hurricane with maximum sustained damage. Compounding the effects of the damage was within 62 miles winds clocked at 126 miles per of Katrina were the more than 40 of the coast. More than 65 percent hour, sending pounding waves and tornadoes the storm spawned. occurred in Mississippi alone. The a mammoth storm surge onto the Americans across the country majority of losses were in pine forests. Gulf Coast of Louisiana, Mississippi, watched as images of human tragedy Loblolly and longleaf pines, as well and Alabama. The largest storm and devastation flashed across their as hardwoods such as oaks, pecans, surge recorded was 28 feet along the television screens. Thousands of and other species were blown over, Mississippi coast, with surges reaching homes and businesses were damaged twisted, snapped, and damaged by salt as high as 20 feet in New Orleans. The or destroyed. The National Weather infusion and other factors. —SW surge pushed 12 miles inland along Service’s National Hurricane Center Mississippi waterways and 6 miles initially estimated total damages at along the coast.

Hurricane Katrina destroyed or damaged thousands of homes and businesses. (Photo by Eric Kuehler, U.S. Forest Service)

2 compass—octobercompass—october 2008 Evaluating Chaos The answers are out there, even before the winds have stilled by Bill Dockery

n August 28, 2005, Dennis information: up-to-date forest Storm Training Jacobs had just arrived at a inventory data and near-real- O Jacobs got a chance to refine his church dinner in Knoxville, TN, when time meteorological details. The methodology in early fall 2004, when he heard that Hurricane Katrina had inventory data that FIA produces four hurricanes hit Florida and the intensified into a category 5 storm. He on an annual basis serves as the Gulf Coast. Hurricane Charley, a knew how he would be spending the benchmark that allows the effects of category 4 storm, came ashore on next few days. catastrophic events to be measured. the west coast of Florida with winds The increasingly sophisticated data Jacobs, research forester with the clocked at 145 miles per hour. A compiled by the National Weather SRS Forest Inventory and Analysis scant 3 weeks later, while Jacobs was Service and the National Hurricane (FIA) unit in Knoxville, has created evaluating Charley’s effects on Florida Center, immediately available on the procedures that allow him to rapidly forests, Hurricane Frances made Internet, enables Jacobs to create his assess damage from major storms on landfall as a category 2 on the other rapid assessment methods. Jacobs the forest lands of the South. side of the State. His office quickly uses data on wind patterns and assessed Frances and was returning “Monday morning I began gathering speeds, rainfall totals, areas of tidal to work on Charley when Hurricane data for making temporary maps and surges, and the path of the hurricane’s Ivan roared ashore on September 15 at tables as the hurricane moved inland, eye as it moves inland. just in case anyone wanted to see data nearby Gulf Shores, AL. “The eye path is particularly immediately. I knew I would be able For Jacobs’ purposes, Ivan proved important because the heaviest to fine tune the report after the winds to be the perfect storm, a model for damage to forests usually occurs tapered off.” future rapid damage assessments. on the windward side of the path, The damage map he produced for Only days later he would be doing where the wind has picked up speed Ivan shows four concentric zones the process again for Hurricane Rita, over bodies of water before it hits the that radiate outward from landfall at which came ashore near Port Arthur, shore,” Jacobs says. “With hurricanes Gulf Shores (see map on page 7). The TX, and affected forests in southwest on the Atlantic and the gulf, that’s the zone of heaviest damage, zone 4, lies Louisiana and east Texas. right side of the eye track.” immediately to the right of the landfall “We’re occasionally called on by Jacobs points out that his rapid site. Each succeeding layer, though States or by the Station for quick assessment procedure is not foolproof, showing less damage, increases in assessments,” Jacobs says. “In the but must take into account variations size, so that even zone 1 (scattered, case of Hurricane Katrina, Washington in geography. For example, his ≥1 percent light damage)—which in officials wanted quick answers.” early assessments of damage from the case of Ivan reached almost to Officials need damage estimates Katrina failed to take into account Huntsville in north Alabama—can to target disaster assistance funds that the path of the hurricane’s represent a considerable economic as well as for budgeting State and eyewall remained over water longer impact on forest resources. Federal funds for firefighting, insect as it moved to its third landfall at the Before September 2004 was over, and disease monitoring, and forest Louisiana-Mississippi border, allowing Hurricane Jeanne had made landfall restoration efforts. Jacobs can provide the wind speed to remain higher as the near Stuart, FL, and followed the them with damage estimates within storm moved into Mississippi. Such path of Frances up the State, crossing 3 days of a disaster. details he takes into account in his forests that Charley had earlier final reports. Jacobs relies heavily on the damaged and eventually covering availability of two key types of (continued) www.srs.fs.usda.gov 3 terrain crossed by Ivan on the Florida themselves do not provide all the And to assess damage, you have to Panhandle. The overlap of the damage information Jacobs needs. Techniques know what was there before the storm zones made Jacobs’ work even more that work well on western forests hit. difficult, but he was able to provide are not so accurate on forests in the “We don’t have prestorm LiDAR data estimates for Florida and Alabama that South. Light detection and ranging on these forests,” says Jacobs. “We were later validated on the ground. (LiDAR) equipment, which measures really depend on the hard numbers tree height, works well with forests Back to Ground Work we get from on-the-ground forest made up of large trees, open canopy, inventory work.” While satellite imaging, aerial and sparse understory. Southern For more information: photography, and other modern forests typically have smaller trees, sensing technologies can provide denser understories, and more rapid Dennis Jacobs at 865–862–2060 or [email protected] important data, the technologies change than those out West. Bill Dockery is a freelance science writer based in Knoxville, TN.

Broken and damaged pines accounted for more than 42 miles of downed power lines in the area near Clinton, LA, surveyed by FIA crews. (Photo by Dennis Jacobs, U.S. Forest Service)

4 compass—octobercompass—october 2008 Gulf Coast Forests Hit Hard by Claire Payne

urricane Katrina blasted into Surveying the Damage factors, including soil characteristics, Louisiana and Mississippi on vegetation structure, and diversity of H Prior to Hurricane Katrina, the August 29, 2005, with wind speeds all vascular plant species—and lichen last inventory of Mississippi’s forests of 140 miles per hour (mph). Less diversity as a measure of climate had been taken in 1994. In the late than a month later, Hurricane Rita change and air quality. For the post- 1990s, the national FIA program hit Sabine Pass, TX, just west of the Katrina inventory, the crews focused started using an annualized inventory Texas-Louisiana border, packing wind solely on basic forest inventory system; Mississippi was one of the speeds up to 120 mph. These category and tree characteristics in order to 5 hurricanes damaged forests establish a new baseline. that serve as sources of timber “As I drove to various study sites farther When the next inventory products, wildlife habitat, and inland in Mississippi, I noticed time and again begins in 2009, the other recreational areas. Federal, State, that although many trees were down, most factors will be measured and local authorities needed forested areas were not nearly as bleak as also. Resource analyst Sonja an assessment of damage to the landscapes of homes and barns and golf Oswalt, who leads FIA efforts mitigate economic effects on courses. Forests evidently resist hurricanes in Mississippi, is completing communities. the Mississippi forest inventory better than our creations.” —Susie Adams The SRS Forest Inventory report, which will include From: Adams, S.B. 2006. Katrina: boon or bust for freshwater and Analysis (FIA) program, led analysis of Katrina’s impacts. fish communities? Watershed. Fall-Winter: 19–21, 23. by Bill Burkman, collaborated Results on the Ground with the Mississippi Institute Mississippi Counties Hancock, for Forest Inventory (MIFI) and the last Southern States to move to that Pearl River, Harrison, Jackson, Stone, Mississippi Forestry Commission to process from the older 5-year cycle. and George took a pummeling from provide those estimates. FIA research “Before Katrina, there had been so Hurricane Katrina. Oswalt and Pat forester Dennis Jacobs had previously many changes with the impacts of the Glass, MIFI director of operations, developed a remote sensing model forest industry’s disposal of their land jointly analyzed and reported data that uses hurricane category, track, and the onset of timber investment for these six counties. Based on a and rainfall amounts to map out management organizations and sample of 1,349 plots, they found hurricane damage zones. After Katrina real estate investment trusts,” says that 83 percent of measured plots hit, Jacobs used FIA data from the last Burkman. “We didn’t really have a sustained damage that ranged from Mississippi survey in 1994 and current very good idea of what we had in minor to intensive. Only 34 percent of data for Louisiana and Alabama and Mississippi. Katrina provided the merchantable live trees (about 50 trees applied the model to the area damaged impetus to get started.” by Katrina. “The model works at a per acre) showed damage. Windthrow As soon as possible after Katrina, very large scale,” Burkman explained, was the most common damage type, the Mississippi inventory began as “but it enabled us to provide a quick and damage levels were highest in a large cooperative effort, with a analysis for policymakers regarding oak-gum-cypress stands, where sample of 5,500 plots. Unique to the extent of the damage. It was close impacts were seen on 40 percent of the Mississippi inventory was the enough to meet their information basal area (the total cross-sectional measurement of downed-woody needs, with the amount and level of area of the trees in a stand). material, which provides data that detail they required.” Sonja Oswalt and FIA resource can be fed into fire fuel models. analyst Christopher Oswalt took a Normally, field crews collect data special interest in how stand-level from 1/16 of the FIA plots on a large factors such as the size, density, and number of additional forest health (continued) www.srs.fs.usda.gov 5

The Value of Taking Inventory Gulf Coast Forests Hit Hard Since the 1930s, the Forest Service States and the U.S. territories of Puerto Forest Inventory and Analysis Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands. species of trees present influence (FIA) program has been surveying Success depends on collaboration with the likelihood of damage. They public and private lands to track State and private forestry agencies, also wanted to compare the initial forest extent, health, vitality, and the forest industry and consultants, estimates made using remote sensing contributions to the national and and universities. Because wood-using to the data they collected on the global timber supply. The program industries play an important role in ground. In an article published earlier is designed to provide data, analysis, shaping the economic future of the this year, the Oswalts state that tree and comprehensible information Southern States, it is essential that the species and diameter at breast height to foresters, wildlife biologists, status and trends in forest resources consistently affected the probability universities, nongovernmental be assessed and information shared in of trees suffering at least some wind- organizations, Federal and State a timely manner. related damage in each zone of agencies, forest industry, and private For more information: damage. landowners. srsfia2.fs.fed.us/ SRS FIA collects data on public and The Oswalts used the hurricane private forest land in the 13 Southern path and damage zones developed by Jacobs in his initial damage Saltwater surges and flooding caused additional damage to forest resources. (Photo assessment. Zone numbers rose courtesy of NOAA) from one to five based on distance from landfall. The percentage of FIA survey plots with damage decreased as distance from landfall increased, with the exception of zone 5, the most western area, which was most likely also impacted by spinoff tornado activity. Analysis revealed that the damage figures Jacobs came up with using remotely sensed data were comparable with the Oswalts’ on-the-ground inventory. Hardwood forests sustained more damage from Hurricane Katrina than softwoods, probably due to the dominance of hardwoods in forest composition rather than susceptibility to damage. The Oswalts found that, in softwoods, stand spacing and tree height were more important than species type for determining potential breakage. The Oswalts caution, however, that trying to reduce the vulnerability of forests to hurricanes using management techniques is complicated by many variables. “We are not attempting to make recommendations for managing for a random wind event like a hurricane or tornado,” says Sonja Oswalt. “While our data show that height and

6 compass—october 2008 diameter play a role in the probability huge effort, “They didn’t have to Oswalt, S.N.; Johnson, T.G.; of damage, we were unable to come, but they came.” That response Coulston, J.; Oswalt, C.M. [In press]. Mississippi’s forests, 2006. Resour. successfully make predictions using contributed significantly to what we Bull. Asheville, NC: U.S. Department those variables.” know and continue to learn about the of Agriculture Forest Service, Southern impacts of hurricanes on forests. Research Station. Partnerships Count For more information: Oswalt, S.N.; Oswalt, C.M. 2008. When storms subside, it helps Relationships between common Bill Burkman at 865–862–2073 or forest metrics and realized impacts to have partners to assess damage, [email protected] of Hurricane Katrina on forest come up with options, and plan for Sonja Oswalt at 865–862–2058 or resources in Mississippi. Forest the future. After Katrina, 97 people [email protected] Ecology and Management. 255: 1692–1700. showed up to survey in Mississippi Recommended reading: over the course of 687 days. FIA field Oswalt, S.N.; Oswalt, C.M.; Turner, Glass, P.A.; Oswalt, S.N. 2007. J. [In press]. Hurricane Katrina crews from SRS and the Northern Initial estimates of Hurricane impacts on Mississippi forests: a Research Station and the States of Katrina impacts on Mississippi Gulf technical note. Southern Journal of Mississippi, South Carolina, Georgia, Coast forest resources. Jackson, Applied Forestry. North Carolina, Texas, and Arkansas MS: Mississippi Institute for Forest Inventory: 1–4. sampled plots. Burkman said of the

Resource damage from major 2004 and 2005 hurricanes with damage zones estimated by SRS research forester Dennis Jacobs.

1 1 2 0 2 3 1 3 2 3 4 4 1

4

Hurricane Rita Hurricane Ivan 2 Sept. 24–25, 2005 Sept. 15–16, 2004 Hurricane Katrina 3 Aug. 29–30, 2005

Potential Damage to Southern Forest Resources 2004–2005 Hurricanes Forest Inventory and Analysis

Zone 4—Severe 20–50 percent Forest cover Hurricane Jeanne Zone 3—Moderate 5–20 percent Sept. 25–27, 2004 Zone 2—Light 1–5 percent 0–100 percent Zone 1—Scattered 0–1 percent www.srs.fs.usda.gov 7 In the Danger Zone How to Manage Forests in Hurricane Impact Zones

by Zoë Hoyle

Coastal forests are well adapted to both fire and wind, but those adaptations only go so far when hurricanes hit. (Photo by Dennis Jacobs, U.S. Forest Service)

n 2005, Hurricanes Katrina and Rita far when major hurricanes like Katrina Can’t Stop the Storm laid waste to over 5.5 million acres and Rita hit. Forest owners and natural I With fellow disturbance center of forest land in Texas, Louisiana, resource managers need to have scientists—research meteorologist Mississippi, and Alabama. Natural strategies in place to deal with that Scott Goodrick and research plant resource managers and landowners level of damage.” ecologist Ken Outcalt—Stanturf were overwhelmed by the damage. In the last decade, hurricane developed a conceptual approach Many of them didn’t have strategies seasons have been among the most that builds the likelihood of major or plans in place to help them get active on record, with climatologists disturbance into forest management. started on sometimes massive salvage predicting that heightened activity They applied their framework to a operations, let alone come up with could continue for at least another case study on the effects of Hurricanes plans to make their forests more 10 to 40 years. The National Oceanic Katrina and Rita on the coastal forests resilient when future storms strike. and Atmospheric Administration of the northern Gulf of Mexico. Their “Coastal areas in the Southern predicted above average activity for work resulted in an adaptive strategy United States are well adapted the 2008 season, with 12 to 16 storms, that owners and managers can use in to disturbance from both fire and 6 to 9 hurricanes, and 2 to 5 major the short term to respond to hurricane wind,” says John Stanturf, project hurricanes. In the Gulf Coast area, damage, and in the long term to leader of the SRS Center for Forest forests are bound to be affected this manage recovery efforts. Disturbance Science based in Athens, year—maybe every year—so why not A hurricane is an unstoppable force; GA. “But those adaptations only go so help landowners and managers plan there’s no way to divert it from its path ahead? or move forests out of its way. But 8 compass—october 2008 there are ways to determine the areas where the damage from hurricanes will be the most severe. The SRS scientists started by developing a threat matrix, an approach that maps out all the potential disturbances in an area, then assesses the risks of severe hurricanes in that context. “If disturbances such as major hurricanes are in the threat matrix, policies and procedures should be in place prior to an event to manage effects,” says Stanturf. “First on the list is communication and access. Preparing and prepositioning equipment will pay dividends once a hurricane makes landfall.” Managers and landowners also need a plan for the actions they take as soon as they have access to their land. After the storm, they’ll need a rapid assessment of damage to guide recovery efforts and mobilize the political and financial support necessary to meet both short-term and long-term needs. They’ll also need a salvage plan to recover value from downed timber and prevent damage from wildfire, insects, and disease. Though most fires in the Southern United States are confined to relatively small areas and suppressed quickly, downed wood in hurricane damaged stands increases the potential for wildfires to burn over large areas. The risk of fire combined with the need to get salvaged timber on the market before prices go down sometimes means rushed salvage decisions that may not take into account damage to sensitive ecosystems or habitat for species of concern. “If managers put a plan together before major disturbance, they can exempt areas where ecological values outweigh potential financial value from salvage logging,” says Stanturf. “Strict guidelines for operating in sensitive Managers need to have a plan in place for timber salvage after major disturbances. (Photo by (continued) Patrick Hesp, Louisiana State University Hurricane Katrina and Rita Clearinghouse Cooperative) www.srs.fs.usda.gov 9 In The Danger Zone scientists drew up nine theoretical pine stands and simulated damage to each areas such as riparian zones and from hurricane-strength winds. endangered species habitat should be “Our simulation of the potential of set in advance.” stems to break under hurricane winds Damaged stands that are not was fairly simple, but we were able salvaged will need to be monitored to show that managers potentially for up to 5 years for delayed mortality could manipulate stand spacing and or insect or disease infestations. tree height to reduce damage. We are “After the initial flurry of cleanup and looking into this further and plan to salvage logging comes the recovery develop guidelines for both public period, which is a good time to look and private forests,” says Stanturf. at long-term risks and restoration,” “Managers should be prepared to says Stanturf. “The 2005 hurricane take advantage of the opportunities season in the northern Gulf of Mexico provided by severe hurricanes to make provided a good opportunity to restore changes in composition, structure, or coastal forest ecosystems to less both.” vulnerable conditions.” For more information: Building Future Resiliency John Stanturf at 706–559–4316 or [email protected] The forests in the Gulf Coastal Plain area of the case study are composed Recommended reading: mostly of pine (in the uplands) and Beatty, S.W.; Owen, B.S. 2005. Incorporating disturbance into hardwoods (in the floodplains of forest restoration. In: Stanturf, J.A.; rivers). Though most of the upland Madsen, P., eds. Restoration of boreal areas were once covered with longleaf and temperate forests. Boca Raton, FL: pine, they’re now dominated by CRC Press: 61–76. loblolly pine, with numerous intensely Haymond, J.L.; Hook, D.D.; Quick Guide to managed industry plantations. Katrina Harms, W.R., eds. 1996. Hurricane Hugo: South Carolina forest land Salvage created an opportunity for landowners research and management related and managers in areas prone to to the storm. Gen. Tech. Rep. SRS–5. destruction by hurricanes to replace Asheville, NC: U.S. Department of Agriculture Forest Service, Southern • Salvage pine stands first: Pines loblolly with the more resilient longleaf Research Station, 552 p. are more susceptible to pest pine. Restoration of the longleaf outbreaks than broadleaves. Meyers, R.K.; van Lear, D.H. pine forest that once dominated the 1998. Hurricane-fire interactions • Salvage promptly, in one southern Coastal Plain is popular in in coastal forests in the South: a review and hypothesis. Forest operation, to reduce the the region; SRS research has developed many of the methods that have Ecology and Management. 103: vulnerability of remaining trees 265–276. made longleaf pine restoration more to bark beetles, borers, and Peterson, C.J. 2000. Catastrophic viable and accessible to owners and fungi. wind damage to North American managers at multiple levels. forests and the potential impact of • Minimize logging damage to climate change. Science of the Total Forests can be made less vulnerable remaining trees, especially Environment. 262: 287–311. to future storms by converting to tree high-value broadleaves. Stanturf, J.A.; Goodrick, S.L.; species such as longleaf that are less Outcalt, K.W. 2007. Disturbance and • Remove twisted trees or those susceptible to wind damage, but also coastal forests: a strategic approach with root damage, as well as all by controlling the structure of stands. to forest management in hurricane trees with major wounds. Using information from their case impact zones. Forest Ecology and Management. 250(1–2): 119–135. For a more detailed guide, see the study on damage from Hurricanes table on page 25. Katrina and Rita, Stanturf and fellow

10 compass—october 2008

A Simple Solution, Red-cockaded But Not That Easy

Woodpeckers and Inserting artificial cavities into mature pine trees has played a major Hurricanes part in the restoration of red-cockaded woodpecker populations. Installation is designed to accommodate the by Zoë Hoyle species’ specialized lifestyle. Each member of a red-cockaded cologists use the term “highly slowly but steadily across its range. woodpecker family group has a Especialized” to describe red- Many of the restoration areas—and roosting cavity in a separate tree; the cockaded woodpeckers. Though the the remaining stands of old longleaf group’s cavity trees are located in “clusters.” Forest technicians install birds will excavate their nesting and pine—lie along the Atlantic and Gulf artificial cavities to supplement roosting cavities in most pines, they Coasts, areas susceptible to damaging existing clusters or to provide cavities prefer old longleaf pines—100 years weather. Strong winds, downbursts in a potentially new cluster site. Red- old or more old. They’re also the associated with thunderstorms, and cockaded woodpeckers may occupy only North American woodpeckers tornadoes frequently uproot cavity these new sites on their own, or that dig their cavities into live trees, a trees or snap them at the weak birds can be translocated to the sites by biologists. The ability to provide process that can take up to 12 years points created by woodpecker nesting cavities in unoccupied habitat is a to complete. If their habitat is removed cavities, so the damage is usually powerful tool in the ongoing recovery or altered significantly, the birds localized. “The good news is that of this species. disappear. By 1970, the red-cockaded it’s rare for these weather events to Artificial cavity inserts are made woodpecker had become scarce happen more than once in many years out of a soft wood such as cedar to enough to be added to the Federal list to a particular patch of red-cockaded minimize swelling and warping. A 10- of endangered species. woodpecker habitat,” says Craig inch tall box is built (4 inches wide, 6 Rudolph, SRS research ecologist with inches deep) with a 1¾ inch entrance The decline of red-cockaded hole angled to prevent rain from the Nacogdoches, TX, team of the woodpecker populations coincided entering the chamber. The outside of SRS Southern Pine Ecology and with the disappearance of their the box is coated with exterior wood Management unit. “In general, wind primary habitat. By the 1920s, the putty to keep pine resin from getting events have a minimal impact on into the cavity. longleaf pine forests that once covered populations—as opposed to individual an estimated 90 million acres across Technicians are lifted up 12 to 22 birds.” feet off the ground to chainsaw a the Southeastern United States were Hugo’s Hard Wind rectangular hole in a living tree; to reduced by logging and clearing to less accommodate the insert, the tree must than 3 million acres patched across Hurricanes, however, have the be at least 15 inches in diameter at the a range that once stretched from potential to severely impact red- installation site. Since red-cockaded Virginia to Texas. Fire suppression cockaded woodpecker populations. In woodpeckers may use a cavity for as long as 20 years, a healthy tree with a has also played a part; red-cockaded 1989, when Hurricane Hugo hit the large crown should be selected. After woodpeckers will typically abandon Francis Marion National Forest in the insert is installed, the top, bottom, a cavity if other trees grow close to South Carolina, the storm’s category and sides of the hole are coated with the cavity entrance. Without periodic 5 winds devastated the second the same wood putty applied to the fires, the historically open midstories largest population of red-cockaded outsides of the box. of southern pine forests soon woodpeckers then in existence. Before When they excavate their cavities, become choked with brush and small the storm, 477 groups of birds had red-cockaded woodpeckers also hardwoods. been counted on the forest. After Hugo dig into the bark of pine trees to create resin wells. The sticky resin came through, an estimated 65 percent Since the 1970s, when natural that streaks their cavity trees keeps resource agencies started restoring of the birds were dead or missing. predators like snakes from reaching red-cockaded woodpecker habitat, (continued) their nests. When an artificial insert the species has made a comeback, has been installed, a technician may cut resin wells to start the flow of sap. with population numbers growing www.srs.fs.usda.gov 11 Red-Cockaded Hooper and his colleagues Rita’s Benefits realized that many of the remaining Woodpeckers and Fortunately, most hurricanes don’t woodpeckers would not survive directly hit red-cockaded woodpecker Hurricanes unless they were quickly provided populations; the storms usually lose The storm uprooted or snapped with cavities. A massive effort was power by the time they make it inland cavity trees; of 1,765 cavities, 87 mounted. More than 300 cavities were to the piney woods. In 2005, Hurricane percent were destroyed. Red-cockaded artificially excavated on the Francis Rita’s path through Texas provided the woodpeckers live in groups of two Marion; within a few short years, more opportunity to assess the “normal” to nine birds, the groups made up than 60 percent of the inserts were impact of hurricanes on red-cockaded of a breeding pair and several male being used for nesting or roosting, woodpeckers. By the time Rita hit the helpers. Each group member roosts in and by 1994, woodpecker populations national forests the winds were fairly a separate cavity; the group’s cavity were back to 75 percent of those low, so there was less damage to trees trees are clustered together. Half of the before Hugo. and fewer birds lost. red-cockaded woodpecker clusters on The experience with Hurricane In Texas, all four of the national the Francis Marion were completely Hugo led Hooper to look more forests—Sam Houston, Davy Crockett, destroyed, as well as hundreds of closely at possible hurricane impacts Angelina, and Sabine—have red- acres of pine forest that served as on red-cockaded woodpecker cockaded woodpecker clusters. After foraging habitat for the species. The populations throughout their range Hurricane Rita came through, Texas loss was stunning, both in its severity in the Southeastern United States. National Forests and Grasslands and extent. Using historical hurricane records, contacted Rudolph and SRS research Bob Hooper, now retired but at that Hooper determined that most existing wildlife biologist Dan Saenz to help time a scientist with the Southeastern populations of the endangered species inventory damage to red-cockaded Forest Experiment Station (SEFES) were located in areas vulnerable to woodpecker habitat. “Craig and I were that preceded SRS, immediately got catastrophic hurricanes. He suggested provided funds to do an assessment of together with colleagues to start that management plans for red- the damage similar to the one Hooper assessing the damage and come up cockaded woodpeckers include did in South Carolina,” says Saenz. with a plan to recover the population. accommodations for the massive Fortunately, a major technological hurricane impacts that were certain Though the eye of Hurricane Rita innovation—the artificial cavity—had to occur in the future. The Red- passed directly between the Angelina recently been developed by biologists Cockaded Woodpecker Recovery and Sabine National Forests, the Carol Copeyon (North Carolina State Plan developed under the direction of impacts of the storm were much less University) and David H. Allen, also the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service than those of Hugo. Because the an SEFES scientist, to help move along mandated additional populations to forests are much farther inland than red-cockaded woodpecker restoration accommodate periodic losses due to the Francis Marion, Rita had lost much efforts. hurricanes. of its strength by the time it reached red-cockaded woodpecker habitat in Texas.

The hurricane charged into east Texas Hurricane Center estimates total damages Hurricane Rita north of Houston, bringing high winds from Hurricane Rita at $10 billion. and heavy rains that ranged from 5 to Before and after the storm, SRS Forest Less than a month after Hurricane 15 inches. Rita generated at least 90 Inventory and Analysis worked with Katrina devastated the Gulf Coast, tornadoes, the most ever recorded from the Texas Forest Service to assess residents, emergency responders, a single weather event in that part of the damage in forested areas. Rita affected volunteers, and others trying to rebuild country. approximately 771,000 acres—about 6 the region faced another category 5 The threat of Rita sparked the percent of the entire timber growing stock hurricane. The most intense part of the evacuation of about 2 million people from in east Texas. The storm caused more second storm—Hurricane Rita—bypassed Houston and other coastal areas. More damage to hardwood stands than pine. the Big Easy and its neighbors. But than 60 people died as a direct or indirect Experts calculated total timber damages residents near the Texas-Louisiana border result of the hurricane, which destroyed to be more than $800 million in Texas weren’t so lucky; it was their turn to numerous homes and businesses. The alone. —SW experience a direct hit on September 24, National Weather Service’s National 2005.

12 compass—october 2008 “The documented woodpecker was only minimally impacted, with the Forests. “Loss of cavity trees is never mortality was less than 10 total birds, loss of approximately 5 percent of the a good thing,” says Saenz. “But we and less than 7 percent of cavity trees pines.” found that the damage caused by were destroyed,” says Rudolph. “In After Rita, Forest Service technicians hurricanes can be absorbed if there contrast to the situation following installed 117 artificial cavities in trees are enough trees left standing to install Hurricane Hugo, the foraging habitat in the Angelina and Sabine National artificial cavities and if action is taken quickly before the birds disperse.” Results from installing the artificial cavities once again demonstrated the genius of a relatively simple technology when applied with the right ecological knowledge. “The populations of red-cockaded woodpeckers actually rose very sharply after Hurricane Rita,” says Saenz. “There were lots of funds available to install artificial cavities all over the forests. The birds responded to the improved habitat, and we’ve seen the sharpest increase in numbers in Texas, probably ever.” For more information: Craig Rudolph at 936–569–7981, x4005 or [email protected] Dan Saenz at 936–569–7981, x4006 or [email protected] Recommended reading: Hooper, R.G.; Taylor, W.E.; Loeb, S.C. 2004. Long-term efficacy of artificial cavities for red-cockaded woodpeckers: lessons learned from Hurricane Hugo. In: Costa, Ralph; Daniels, Susan J., eds. Red-cockaded woodpecker: road to recovery. Blaine, WA: Hancock House Publishers: 430–438. Rudolph, D.C.; Conner, R.N.; Walters, J.R. 2004. Red-cockaded woodpecker recovery: an integrated strategy. In: Costa, Ralph; Daniels, Susan J., eds. Red-cockaded woodpecker: road to recovery. Blaine, WA: Hancock House Publishers: 70–76. Saenz, D.; Schaefer, R.R.; Conner, R.N.; Rudolph, D.C. [and others]. 2004. Influence of artificial cavity age on red-cockaded woodpecker translocation success. In: Costa, Ralph; Daniels, Susan J., eds. Red- cockaded woodpecker: road to recovery. Blaine, WA: Hancock House Publishers: 426–429. The installation of artificial nesting cavities has significantly improved the survival of red- cockaded woodpecker populations in hurricane zones. Photo credit: Dean Elsen

www.srs.fs.usda.gov 13 Shelter From the Storm Coastal wetlands provide essential protection by Carol Whitlock

A recent article published in the journal AMBIO suggested that coastal wetlands provide invaluable protection against hurricane damage, both in terms of dollars saved and in improvements to quality of life. One example showed that the estimated 1.2 million acres of Louisiana wetlands that were lost before Hurricane Katrina represented an annual loss in storm protection of $28.3 billion, and that coastal wetlands impacted by Katrina caused another $1.1 billion in lost protection. Although there is little agreement about specific dollar amounts, there is growing consensus that the best way to reduce the effects of hurricanes in the Gulf Coast area is to preserve and restore coastal wetlands. The most expansive coastal wetlands along the Gulf Coast were formed by the great rivers that drain the midsection of the United States into the Gulf of Mexico. With each flooding of the Mississippi River and its tributaries, sediment-laden water from the North seeped onto the floodplain and filtered through the river delta, rejuvenating the bottomland hardwood forests and coastal swamps and marshes of this great river system. With European settlement came concern that the flooding which nourished the wetlands would endanger lives, destroy homes, and disrupt agricultural and commercial activity. Hence the levees. At first, levees were only used to protect major cities, with areas in The continuing harvest of baldcypress in coastal swamps could hasten the loss of forested wetlands along the Gulf Coast. Photo credit: Bill Lea

14 compass—octobercompass—october 2008 between still subject to the flooding wetlands by adding too much water of Interim Best Management that’s the lifeblood of these wetlands. at the wrong times, producing greater Practices and the identification of But gradually the Mississippi has depths and durations of flooding and research priorities for coastal forest ceased to resemble a leaky garden shortening the dry spells needed for regeneration. Clearly, there will be hose slowly releasing nutrients into seed germination and establishment steep challenges in the effort to surrounding wetlands. Instead, of seedlings that become the next safeguard and restore Gulf Coast it’s turned into a canal that rushes generation of baldcypress and water forested wetlands while maintaining sediments enriched with nutrients tupelo. The concern is that the current the ability to use forest products, from agricultural runoff directly hydrologic trend is transforming protect communities, and extract into the Gulf of Mexico. Diverted cypress-tupelo forests into floating mineral energy. past bottomland forests and coastal marshes and open stretches of water For more information: swamps and marshes they once where no forests can grow. Emile Gardiner at 662–686–3184 or nourished, the nutrient-rich sediments Gardiner and his colleagues [email protected] now feed vast plumes of algae that, completed their work in the spring Recommended reading: when they die and decompose, deplete of 2005. In their final report, they oxygen in the water, forming “dead established three wetland forest Chambers, Jim L.; Conner, William zones” where almost nothing can regeneration condition classes: class H.; Day, John W. [and others]. 2005. live. Meanwhile, coastal swamps and I, sites with potential for natural Conservation, protection and marshes, deprived of their lifeblood, regeneration; class II, sites that utilization of Louisiana’s coastal have become vulnerable to more can only be reforested by artificial wetland forests. [Place of publication degradation and loss from other regeneration; and class III, sites unknown]: [Publisher unknown]; final natural and anthropogenic factors. with no potential for regeneration. report. 102 p. In 2004, recognizing the problem For class I sites, the working group Costanza, R.; Perez-Maqueo, O.; of diminishing wetlands, Louisiana recommended that the State place Martinez, M.L. [and others]. 2008. Governor Kathleen Blanco appointed a priority on maintaining current The value of coastal wetlands for Louisiana State University professor hydrologic conditions. For both class hurricane protection. AMBIO. 37(4): Jim Chambers to assemble natural I and II sites, the working group 241–248. resource experts to develop a set of recommended that the State require recommendations for the utilization, management plans for all harvesting conservation, and protection of the operations. And for class III sites on State’s coastal forest wetlands. Emile State managed lands, the working Gardiner, research forester with group recommended a halt to all the SRS Center for Bottomlands harvesting. Hardwood Research in Stoneville, It’s an understatement to say MS, was among 12 scientists that the efforts of Gardiner and his commissioned by Governor Blanco colleagues were overtaken by events to form the Coastal Wetland Forest on the ground. The double-fisted Conservation and Use Science punch of two major hurricanes a Working Group. few months after the release of their The working group found that the report both underscored the value of harvesting of baldcypress in coastal wetlands and compromised the State’s swamps could exacerbate the loss of ability to carry on the important forested wetlands already severely wetlands work in the face of urgent degraded by other factors such infrastructure needs. as canal dredging for oil and gas Despite enormous recovery In 2000, Emile Gardiner won the Forest production, levee construction for Service Early Career Scientist award and then challenges in the years following urban and agricultural development, went on to win a Presidential Award in the Hurricanes Katrina and Rita, Louisiana same category. The award is the highest honor invasion by exotic plants and animals, bestowed by the U.S. Government on young has continued to place emphasis on rising sea levels, and land subsidence. professionals at the beginning of their Forest finding solutions to the loss of forested Service research careers. These alterations threaten forested wetlands, including the establishment www.srs.fs.usda.gov 15 SRS fisheries research scientist Susie Adams and collaborators surveyed the Pascagoula River area in southeast Mississippi shortly after Hurricane Katrina. Adams shown here with smallmouth buffalo fish Ictiobus( bubalus). (U.S. Forest Service photo)

16 compass—octobercompass—october 2008 How Fish Fare by Zoë Hoyle

Saltwater surges from Hurricane “When we finally returned to the “The long-term impact of the storm in Katrina pushed up into sections of the Leaf and Chickasawhay in October, I smaller streams was from the addition large and medium-size rivers closest to was surprised to find the rivers looking of rootwads and fallen trees—an the Gulf Coast; meanwhile the flooding essentially the same as they did in integral component of stream and river of wetlands may have flushed water August, before the hurricane,” says ecosystems—to streams and smaller low in oxygen into the rivers. Saltwater Adams. “The sand bars had rearranged rivers,” says Adams. “Large dead wood surges, water depleted of oxygen, and a bit, but the channels weren’t choked helps retain sediment and organic large inputs of small organic material with wood, nor the trees toppled. More matter, helps stabilize some stream can have immediate adverse effects on importantly, the fish community was channels, and creates complex habitats fishes and other aquatic organisms in essentially unchanged.” such as pools and side channels.” Fish lowland, coastal areas. Over a longer But when the researchers got to the community data collection is ongoing, timeframe, dramatic increases in large downstream site on the Pascagoula and the researchers expect to assess and small downed wood indirectly affect River, they caught only 10 fish where some longer term results of the storm fishes in small streams by changing the they had normally caught 140, and within the next year. One important habitats and functions of streams and local fishermen and residents reported question that remains unanswered rivers. fish kills all the way up the mainstem is how such a storm affects slow- When Hurricane Katrina came of the river. Similar affects were seen in growing, long-lived species such as Gulf through, Susan Adams, fisheries the Pearl River as well. “The presumed sturgeon. research scientist with the SRS Center cause of fish death on the Pascagoula As a natural disturbance, Katrina is for Bottomland Hardwoods Research, River was a combination of salt water expected to have positive long-term was working on an ongoing research and low oxygen,” says Adams. “The impacts on river and stream habitats project on Alabama shad funded by huge tidal surge forced salt water and their aquatic inhabitants. For the FishAmerica Foundation, NOAA much further up the river than normal. Adams, the more interesting question is Fisheries, the Mississippi Museum Salt water overlaid with anoxic (low how the long-term impacts and recovery of Natural Science, the University of in oxygen) freshwater flushed from processes have played out. “The answer Southern Mississippi (USM), and the wetlands could have killed most of the to that question depends not so much Forest Service. fish in the river.” on the degree of impact which the Adams, with USM cooperators Jake The good news is that most of the hurricanes had on ecosystems as on Schaefer, Paul Mickle, and Brian fish deaths were the result of a short- how humans altered ecosystems prior to Kreiser, had been collecting data on duration “pulse disturbance.” Habitat the storm and how humans respond to fish communities, habitat, and migration and water-quality conditions quickly posthurricane conditions.” —ZH in the Pascagoula River drainage in returned to within a normal range, For more information: southeast Mississippi. The researchers and fish populations began to recover Susan Adams at 662–234–2744, x267 had been surveying at 10 large river immediately. or [email protected] sites: 4 sites each in the Leaf and When they compared poststorm Recommended reading: Chickasawhay Rivers that merge to and prestorm data, the researchers form the Pascagoula, and 2 sites in Adams, S.B. 2006. Katrina: boon or found that short-term effects on the bust for freshwater fish communities? the Pascagoula River itself. Schaefer fish community were greater in areas Watershed. Fall-Winter: 19–21, 23. and graduate students had additional closest to the Gulf of Mexico. Adverse Schaefer, J.F.; Mickle, P.; Spaeth, historic and recent data from small and effects were short-lived for most fish medium streams in the area. J. [and others]. 2006. Effects of species, with species composition Hurricane Katrina on the fish fauna On August 29, 2005, Hurricane recovering within 1 to 2 years, and fish of the Pascagoula River drainage. Katrina made landfall about 70 miles size structure taking longer to recover. Proceedings of the Mississippi Water west of the mouth of the Pascagoula Long-term benefits from the addition of Resources Board. Starkville, MS: River. Adams and her colleagues had downed wood were expected in smaller Mississippi Water Resources Research to delay the sampling trip they had streams and rivers. Institute 36: 62–68. planned for September 2005. www.srs.fs.usda.gov 17 ust 25 miles north of Gulfport, “Extensive damage to loblolly pine JMS, an experiment installed stands from Katrina reduced the value almost 50 years ago in the Harrison of the area’s forests due to initial timber Experimental Forest (HEF) is losses and increased susceptibility to providing resource managers with insects, disease, and fire. Our findings ideas about managing for the hurricanes and storms that regularly suggest that longleaf pine may be visit the Gulf Coast. more resilient than the other two pines, The 4,111-acre experimental forest particularly loblolly pine.” –Kurt Johnsen was established on the Desoto National Forest near Saucier, MS, in 1934. By that time, vast stretches of southern pines, mostly longleaf pine, had been cut from the estimated 31 million acres that once made up the What can Experimental Forests teach us about resiliency to future storms? Harrison Experimental Forest near the Gulf Coast

southern Coastal Plain forest. In many areas, there weren’t enough pine trees left to provide a reliable seed source. More often than not, any seedlings that sprouted naturally were eaten by cattle or feral hogs—or lost out to fire, invasive plants, insects, or disease. Seed for a Barren Land Problems with planting and growing southern pine trees and reestablishing forests soon became the primary focus of research at the HEF. The southern pine seed-source study was started on the experimental forest and other sites throughout the Southeastern United States to match regeneration sites with seed sources and to determine how far seeds could be moved without jeopardizing regeneration. Although longleaf pine had dominated coastal forests before the great timber runs of the 19th and 20th Harrison Experimental Forest plot after Hurricane Katrina. Loblolly pines on left show more centuries, loblolly pine grew back crown damage than longleaf pines on right. (Photo by John Butnor, U.S. Forest Service)

18 compass—october 2008 in greater numbers, and because of Some evidence suggests that longleaf revitalized the pine study on the HEF. its fast growth, became the favored pine may also be more tolerant to This spring, researchers from Research pine species for timber. Though high winds. In August 2005, when Triangle Park drove over to Mississippi industry quickly adopted loblolly Hurricane Katrina hit the HEF as a to map tree roots and measure pine, the Forest Service and others category 3 hurricane, the experimental soil respiration for research on the were still interested in studying how plots took a beating. Trees were differences in carbon storage among to reestablish multiple species of knocked over and uprooted; limbs the pine species. These data will allow southern pine on cutover Coastal Plain broken; and boles twisted, bent, and them to quantify the total amount sites. snapped in two. of above- and below-ground carbon In 1961, researchers set out In 2006, researchers measured sequestered in the plots since 1960. At experimental plots on the HEF to test all the trees left on the experimental the same time they’re designing and responses to fertilization in three plots and rated them in terms of wind preparing a new companion study. Set different southern pine species— damage, using as comparison data out on a nearby site, the new study longleaf, loblolly, and slash. For the measurements taken on all trees in will be replanted with both native experiment, 120 plots were laid out 1999. Results showed that damage seeds harvested from trees in the old in a grid with 100 seedlings planted from Katrina was over 30 percent study and state-of-the-art genetically in each plot. In the second year of the greater in loblolly pine plots than in improved seedlings grown under project, five treatments were applied those of longleaf and slash pines. “We varied fertilization and prescribed fire to the plots including three different found that longleaf pine suffered the treatments. levels of fertilization. Regardless of least damage, although it was only Instruments that measure carbon species, trees in fertilized plots showed significantly less than loblolly,” said efflux will also be installed on the a much greater and more sustained Johnsen. plots, allowing scientists to study how response than expected, with effects “Loblolly pine is still the most the interplay of genetics, fertilizer, persisting over 45 years without planted species along the Gulf Coast,” and fire affect stand productivity and additional applications of fertilizer. says Johnsen. “Extensive damage carbon sequestration—as well as As the experiment moved into its to loblolly pine stands from Katrina forest resilience. These two studies, fourth decade, it yielded new and reduced the value of the area’s forests the old and the new, will provide land unexpected results that have important due to initial timber losses and managers the knowledge they need implications for forest restoration in increased susceptibility to insects, to manage Coastal Plain forests in the 21st century. Though longleaf disease, and fire. Our findings suggest response to climate change and the pine grew slower than both loblolly that longleaf pine may be more more intense storms predicted for the and slash the first 10 years of the resilient than the other two pines, future. experiment, it caught up with both particularly loblolly pine.” In March 2008, researchers from the species by age 25 years. In 1999, at new combined unit met with national age 39, mean timber volume per acre Seed for Change foresters from the FS Southern was actually greatest in the longleaf Since 1956, the HEF has also been Region (Region 8) to get input on pine plots. home to the Southern Institute of the new study. “The national forests “These are surprising results that Forest Genetics (SIFG). For over a half are very interested in coming up with wouldn’t have turned up in 20- or century, the institute’s research on the descriptions for what southern forests even 35-year studies,” says Kurt inheritance of growth, form, and pest should be in the future, and then Johnsen, SRS research physiologist. resistance of forest trees has guided allowing managers to decide how best “These data show that longleaf pine tree improvement programs across to get there,” says Nelson.“Factors to catches up with loblolly as rotation the South. When SRS reorganized into consider for future Gulf Coast forests length increases. We’re also seeing science areas in 2006, the SIFG, now include climate change and longleaf that it’s more resilient to hurricanes.” a team, was joined with the Southern pine restoration. Our new study Institute of Forest Ecosystems is planned to give managers some Katrina: A Test of Pine Mettle Biology team in Research Triangle answers about how to manage for a resilient productive forest.”—ZH Historically, hurricanes and Park, NC, led by Johnsen, to form the wildfires disturbed the ecologies of SRS Forest Genetics and Ecosystems For more information: Biology unit led by research geneticist the Southeastern United States on a Dana Nelson at 228–832–2747, x201 regular basis; longleaf pine, unlike Dana Nelson. or [email protected] loblolly and slash pine, thrives in The new combination of expertise in Kurt Johnsen at 919–549–4012 or areas where there is frequent fire. genetics and productivity research has [email protected] www.srs.fs.usda.gov 19

Why Longleaf? and landowners take advantage of ecosystems, SRS established the the damage caused by hurricanes to Restoring and Managing Longleaf advance conversions on sites that have Pine Ecosystems unit. Directed by Hurricanes and major storms been planted with loblolly pine for project leader Kris Connor, the unit cause billions of dollars of damage to generations. includes scientists with expertise in southern timber resources. If you add Loblolly pine historically grew in plant physiology, ecology, silviculture, the increased risk of wildfire and insect moister areas without much fire, and biometrics. Unit scientists and disease damage that comes with but was widely planted in early contribute long-term research findings downed wood, you have millions of reforestation efforts on drier and more and practical information on both acres of forests vulnerable to major fire-vulnerable sites where longleaf natural and artificial regeneration damage. pine—better adapted to fire—once of longleaf pine and on restoring the understory plants that play One idea for reducing the dominated. Longleaf pine has also an essential role in longleaf pine vulnerability of forests to disturbance been found to be more resistant to ecosystems. involves recreating the ecosystems damage from southern pine beetle, that existed before they were replaced a native insect that has inflicted over To find out more about longleaf by plantation loblolly pine forests. In $1.5 billion in damages over the pine, the unique ecosystems the areas where hurricanes occur, this past decade. One strategy currently species harbors, and the SRS research often means planting longleaf pine, promoted by the Forest Service is to that supports current restoration which once covered over 90 million replant longleaf pine in areas where efforts, see the summer 2005 issue of acres in the Southeastern United southern pine beetle has destroyed Compass, available online at http:// States, but now occupies less than loblolly and other pines. www.srs.fs.usda.gov/compass/ 3 percent of its original range. It has In response to the growing need summer2005/ or in hardcopy by order even been suggested that managers for information about longleaf pine through [email protected].

Replanting longleaf pine within the species’ historical range may help reduce vulnerability to hurricane damage. (Photo by John Butnor, U.S. Forest Service)

20 compass—octobercompass—october 2008 How Much Forest Carbon is Lost after a Major Hurricane? by Stephanie Worley Firley

ear the end of the 20th century, originating from the salvaged wood. of short-term carbon storage in U.S. Nmany scientists began to Additionally, the trees left standing forests,” says McNulty. He concluded realize the importance of forests as may take 5 to 10 years to recover in a 2002 study that a single storm can a sink for storing, or sequestering, the prehurricane growth rates and convert the equivalent of 10 percent of the carbon dioxide that continues to leaf area required for healthy levels the total annual carbon sequestered increase in the Earth’s atmosphere, of photosynthesis and full carbon by forests across the United States into estimating that U.S. forests sequester sequestration capacity. Forest carbon dead and downed biomass. approximately 200 million metric can also be lost over time following “Hurricane Katrina may have caused tons of carbon each year. These a major hurricane as damaged trees a loss of 40 million metric tons of calculations were based on models become more susceptible to insect forest carbon. That’s 20 percent of of forest growth and productivity, but attacks. Dead, dry wood can also annual forest carbon sequestration disturbance effects from hurricanes fuel wildfires that release even more capacity lost,” according to McNulty, such as Katrina were not taken carbon into the atmosphere. whose most recent assessment used into account. Steve McNulty, SRS A New Carbon Source data derived from post-Katrina ground Southern Global Change Program crew measurements of forest damage team leader, saw this omission—and In 2000, McNulty set out to estimate as well as aerial photography available seized a research opportunity. the potential changes in forest carbon from the Alabama and Mississippi sequestration due to these direct and The Damage Done Forestry Commissions. “Forest lost indirect losses of forest carbon. to Hurricane Katrina will be a carbon Intense hurricanes occur often “I began by looking at forest damage source to the atmosphere for years to enough in the Eastern United estimates from hurricanes making come,” he says. States—2 out of 3 years on average— landfall in the United States since the to have significant effects on forest 1920s,” says McNulty, who notes that Add Climate Change to the Mix carbon sequestration. A single storm very little forest damage information is McNulty believes that carbon can do a lot of damage to a forest, available prior to that decade. sequestration in U.S. forests has been but size alone doesn’t determine Many Federal and State agencies overestimated in the past. He has how much live tree mass ends up as now track hurricane-caused forest found that carbon sequestration has debris. High winds and heavy rainfall damage using a variety of methods generally been decreasing in recent followed by flooding are the key factors including field surveys, aerial decades as a result of storms and a responsible for the most severe storm photography, and remote sensing range of other factors: wildfires, forest damage. imaging. Damage estimates are loss due to land use change, increasing These intense hurricanes cause typically expressed in economic terms fuel loads, and climate change effects. direct and immediate forest carbon based on board or cubic feet of timber “Most carbon sequestration models loss. First, because downed wood and cords of wood lost. To determine assume a constant forest mortality resulting from a hurricane is often the impacts on carbon sequestration rate of approximately 0.5 percent difficult or impossible to access— following a storm event, McNulty used each year. This rate is definitely not and the wood’s quality may be timber data to estimate carbon lost constant because it is dependent compromised—relatively little is from tree leaves, roots, and stems. on many disturbance factors,” says salvaged following a catastrophic Carbon losses vary by species, age, McNulty, who has developed new storm. The carbon tied up in those and region. forest carbon sequestration equations trees is released into the atmosphere “Hurricanes are indeed a major incorporating longer term, episodic as the trees decompose rather than source of regional carbon loss as well forest disturbance rates. being stored in wood products as a significant factor in the reduction (continued) www.srs.fs.usda.gov 21 How Much Forest Filling the Carbon Sink hurricanes and other disturbances, we can anticipate and respond to Carbon is Lost after McNulty’s research on disturbance these impacts. In other words, we can effects and forest carbon sequestration a Major Hurricane? manage our forests so that they can in the United States will help land be resilient in the face of disturbance,” Several climate scenarios predict managers develop strategies for says McNulty. that the Southern United States will keeping carbon in forests given a be warmer and dryer in the future. future of changing conditions. McNulty For more information: “Even if the South receives more rain plans to continue examining forest Steve McNulty at 919–515–9489 or in the future than predicted, higher carbon loss scenarios by building his [email protected] air temperatures will probably lead to carbon sequestration equations into Recommended reading: more drying in forests, and, therefore, process models such as those used to McNulty, S.G. 2002. Hurricane greater wildfire risks, more insect examine forest water use and growth. impacts on U.S. forest carbon generations, and ultimately even less sequestration. Environmental “Managing our forests so that they carbon sequestration capacity,” says Pollution. 116 (Suppl. 1): S17–S24. are able to capture and store more McNulty. Higher air temperatures are carbon—and increase the net amount already warming the oceans. Since of carbon sequestered—is going to be Stephanie Worley-Firley is communications hurricanes are born out of warm ocean assistant with the SRS Eastern Forest part of the solution to global climate water, some predict that hurricanes Environmental Threat Assessment Center in change. If we understand how carbon Asheville, NC. will be even more intense in coming sequestration is impacted by major years.

Aerial view of downed trees after Hurricane Katrina. (Photo courtesy of NOAA)

22 compass—octobercompass—october 2008 Winners and Losers, Depression and Rebound Two economists explore the complex impacts of Hurricane Hugo on timber markets by Bill Dockery

he hurricane-rich years of 2004 North Carolina. Hugo damaged some catastrophic events, timber markets Tand 2005 brought into sharp 1.3 billion cubic feet of hardwood and would return to pre-Hugo levels in a focus the destructive power these giant softwood timber worth an estimated little less than 25 years. The rate of storms can throw at the southern part $630 million in 2005 dollars. return to prestorm prices can be as of the United States. Four hurricanes, “What we find is that there is almost short as a decade for pulpwood and notably including Ivan and Frances, always a price depression immediately for softwoods, which regrow more affected Florida and Alabama in 2004; after a major event like a hurricane, quickly, while the effect of the storm and in 2005, New Orleans, as well as because people are salvaging may take more than two decades portions of Mississippi and east Texas, timber,” says Prestemon. “While this to dissipate for larger diameter took the brunt of Katrina and then depression had been familiar to market timber products and slow-growing Rita. analysts and landowners, what we hardwoods. Although there is considerable found—which was new—in looking at Weathering the Economic uncertainty about the reasons, Hugo was that the forest losses that Aftermath hurricanes in the Atlantic Basin have occur can actually lead the market become more frequent and severe over to settle at a higher equilibrium price For owners of forested lands the past decade. More certain is the after the depression dissipates. Higher damaged by storms, Prestemon and devastation these storms can bring to prices can persist over several years.” Holmes suggest harvesting damaged people’s lives and businesses. wood—especially the sawtimber—as The pair’s research indicates a soon as possible, before factors The human toll associated with three-stage pattern. Immediately after like humidity and air temperature hurricanes usually overshadows the the catastrophe, local prices for logs can bring on wood decay. For impact these storms have on the and pulpwood go down as damaged owners whose timberlands have forests of the region. But their effects timber is salvaged and enters the escaped storm damage, they suggest have not been lost on SRS researchers market, offering a surplus of timber. postponing harvest until the damaged Jeffrey Prestemon and Thomas Then, as the salvaged wood clears timber has cleared the market and the Holmes, who have developed an the market, prices rebound, typically rebound has started. economic model that describes the going higher than prestorm prices. effects of such catastrophes on the The price rebound slowly subsides as “Consumer well-being increases region’s forest resources and the timber inventories are replenished by briefly after a hurricane because of market environment in which timber the regeneration and growth of forests. lower prices and greater quantity producers and consumers operate. The model assumes that salvaged consumed,” says Prestemon. “But consumers are harmed over the long From Hugo, A New Perspective timber clears the market in a year and that the best quality of salvage hits the term, and damaged producers lose in To understand how timber market early in that year. the long term. While there are short- markets respond to meteorological term losses for timber producers not Prestemon and Holmes found that, catastrophes, Holmes and Prestemon, affected by the storm, this group can during the price-drop phase, the both research foresters with the SRS ultimately gain over longer periods market value of timber, both pulpwood Forest Economics and Policy unit, because of the persistently higher and sawtimber, fell an average of 30 went back to study the aftermath of prices they may receive.” percent. The price during the rebound Hurricane Hugo, which made landfall phase could exceed prestorm prices by The Hugo study did not examine near Charleston, SC, in 1989 and 10 to 30 percent. storm impacts in terms of the size of affected forests from the coast all the timber holdings, but owners of way up to the mountains of western The model indicated that, (continued) absent other economic forces and www.srs.fs.usda.gov 23

What Gulfport Lost Winners and Losers, The study of the timber market Depression and after Hugo marks the first time that Putting a monetary value on economists have tackled the economic ecosystem services Rebound dynamics of a hurricane. In May 2007, American large forest tracts can minimize their “No one had ever thought of looking Forests released the results of financial risks by diversifying the for this phenomenon,” Prestemon said. a 30,000-square-mile regional locations of their lands across the “We suspected it, but this is the first assessment on the impacts on Southeast. Prestemon and Holmes time it was found.” suggest that owners holding properties tree canopy of Hurricane Katrina. For more information: Sponsored by the Forest Service, farther from the Atlantic and Gulf Coasts may suffer less damage, and Thomas Holmes at 919–549–4031 or the study compared land cover in [email protected] Louisiana and Mississippi from 2001 to owners of softwood timber may face greater economic risks than owners Jeffrey Prestemon at 919–549–4033 2006. or [email protected] of hardwood timber, though these The most evident changes in tree suppositions will need further research canopy could be seen in the city of Bill Dockery is a freelance science writer based for confirmation. in Knoxville, TN. Gulfport, MS, which lost 13 percent of its tree canopy and gained 12 percent Property owners at risk of damage shrub cover—while gaining only 4 from hurricanes should consider Recommended reading: percent urban area. These changes having the value of their timber Holmes, T.P. 1991. Price and indicate that hurricane damage rather assessed periodically so that credible welfare effects of catastrophic casualty losses can be estimated forest damage from southern pine than development caused the majority beetle epidemics. Forest Science. of the land cover changes. after catastrophic events, the study 37(2): 500–516. concludes. American Forests estimated that Prestemon, J.P.; Holmes, T.P. 2000. Timber price dynamics following the loss of tree canopy meant an The methodology used in the Hugo study originated in research Holmes a natural catastrophe. American additional 305,000 cubic feet of Journal of Agricultural Economics. stormwater management for the city of conducted on damages from the 82(1): 145–160. southern pine beetle. “In evaluating Gulfport, valued in 2007 at $610,500. Prestemon, J.P.; Holmes, T.P. 2004. The loss of canopy also resulted in large-scale catastrophic damages, Market dynamics and optimal 28,000 pounds lost in air pollution the methodology up to that point was timber salvage after a natural inadequate,” he said. “I realized that catastrophe. Forest Science. 50(4): control, valued at $68,000; and a 495–511. we had better economic tools available 10,700-ton loss of carbon storage Prestemon, J.P.; Holmes, T.P. 2008. to measure impacts.” annually. Timber salvage economics. In: Impacts of hurricanes prove to be Holmes, T.P.; Prestemon, J.P.; Abt, For more information on the study: distinctly local. Because timber is K.L., eds. The economics of forest disturbances: wildfires, storms, and http://www.urbanforestrysouth.org/ expensive to move very far, most of the resources/press/post-katrina-study- invasive species. For. Sci. Series, XIV. assesses-new-gulf-coast-region2019s- mills and other first-level consumers [Unknown]: Springer. pp. 167–190. ecological-impacts-and-fire-risks/ are located close to the forests where Vol. 79. it is cut, and there’s not a lot of impact Prestemon, J.P.; Pye, J.M.; Holmes, in adjacent market areas. T.P. 2001. Timber economics of American Forests, the nation’s oldest nonprofit natural catastrophes. In: Pelkki, citizens’ conservation organization, is a world “The timber mills are the first-level M., ed. Proceedings of the 2000 leader in planting trees for environmental consumers,” Holmes says. “We really Southern Forest Economics Workshop. restoration, a pioneer in the science and Lexington, KY: [Publisher unknown]: practice of urban forestry, and a primary don’t know how far up the chain 132–141. communicator of the benefits of trees and the price impacts go, whether they forests. actually reach the final consumers. We don’t know much about market For more information: adjustments made above the mill www.amfor.org/ level.”

24 compass—october 2008 Managing hurricane-damaged forests in the Gulf Coastal Plain may require immediate salvage to recover value and control secondary insect and disease problems

Damage type Pines Hardwoods Salvage immediately Monitor 1 year Monitor 1 to 5 years Salvage immediately Monitor 1 year Monitor 1 to 5 years Breakage Salvage if tops are Monitor for bark- Monitor for pest Broken tops and lost Harvest lesser valued Harvest lesser valued gone or three or beetles, sanitation activity: yellow limbs more likely to hardwoods with broken hardwoods with fewer large limbs removal if retained needles, pitch result in value loss tops or large limb broken tops or large remain trees infected tubes on bark, than mortality, salvage (>10 cm) damage limb (>10 cm) damage boring dust around highest value trees now base, bark-beetle infestation

Twisting Salvage if damage Salvage if pitch flow Significant value loss, Harvest damaged trees Harvest damaged obvious or pitch evident or if bark- retain for future harvest for pulpwood, fuelwood trees for pulpwood, flow evident beetle infested fuelwood

Bending Salvage older Salvage if pitch flow Harvest bent trees Trees with sap flow from Trees with sap flow trees or if pitch evident or if bark- over 4 m tall cracks indicating internal from cracks indicating flow evident beetle infested damage (ring shake, internal damage splintering) should be (ring shake, splintering) harvested for pulpwood should be harvested or fuelwood for pulpwood or fuelwood

Root damage Uprooting less Salvage if pitch Windthrow more likely Root sprung trees will Root sprung trees likely for most flow evident or than breakage, salvage decline over several will decline over pines, salvage if if bark-beetle windthrown and root sprung years, harvest as soon several years, harvest root sprung infested trees as soon as possible as possible as soon as possible

Wounds Salvage if major Salvage if pitch Entry sites for stain and Harvest wounded trees Harvest wounded wounds are on flow evident or decay fungi, salvage high- in next scheduled harvest trees in next scheduled lower bole or if bark-beetle value trees as soon as harvest, monitor for large roots infested possible pest activity, yellow leaves, boring dust around base

Salt damage May lose needles, Salvage if retained Defoliated crowns or If new leaves do not form Monitor for pest if no evidence trees do not refoliate burned leaves do not may indicate saltwater activity, yellow of other damage or if bark-beetle infested indicate mortality, crowns intrusion, stressed leaves, boring dust or bark-beetles, should refoliate trees may die around base can be retained Monitoring may be needed for 1 to 5 years, depending on species and damage type. Sources: Barry and others (1993), Conner and Wilkinson (1982), Conner and others (1989, 1997) From: Stanturf, J.A.; Goodrick, S.L.; Outcalt, K.W. 2007. Disturbance and coastal forests: a strategic approach to forest management in hurricane impact zones. Forest Ecology and Management. 250 (1–2): 119–135.

www.srs.fs.usda.gov 25 Last Trees Standing by Zoë Hoyle

urricane Katrina hit the town live trees than to assess or prune providing professional assistance to Hof Gulfport, MS, hard. Winds them. the Gulf Coast. Initially, these included up to 145 miles per hour wrapped What happened to urban trees in the SMA, the International Society trees in debris, while 30-foot storm Gulfport and other communities along of Arboriculture, Davey Resource surges pushed some 400 tractor the Gulf Coast during the cleanup after Group (DRG), and the FS Southern trailers through urban neighborhoods. Katrina caught the attention of Ed Region. Hundreds of trees that had been Macie, director of urban forestry for Hartel and SRS technology transfer planted along Gulfport’s “Emerald the FS Southern Region. Hundreds of specialist Eric Kuehler worked with Coast” were swept away—all but thousands of urban trees were killed or DRG to develop a rapid assessment 24 live oaks. A few days into the protocol for damaged posthurricane cleanup trees. Working with the those live oaks were “When we first arrived, residents were still trying Mississippi Forestry gone, too, bulldozed to get things in order and really didn’t have time Commission, the partners down as part of debris to be concerned about urban trees. Most of the developed and tested removal. Losing these trees we saw were severely damaged except for protocols that winter and survivors just seemed like live oak. At that time, the magnolias hadn’t died, then set off for Biloxi, MS, the final straw to some. though eventually, they were pretty much lost. with an initial six volunteers Ironically, Gulfport Live oak and cypress were the species that best in January 2006. In Biloxi, the Land Trust for the had measures in place to withstood the wind, flooding, and tidal surge evaluate storm damage Mississippi Coastal Plain along the coast.” –Dudley Hartel to urban trees before arranged for volunteer the storm hit. In 2001, housing. the Forest Service (FS) developed the badly damaged by Katrina’s winds and In mid-February, work moved to Initial Storm-Damage Assessment storm surge. Municipalities needed the New Orleans area, and Katie Protocol (SDAP) to help storm a way to assess how much money it Armstrong (FS Northern Area) damaged communities project debris would take to remove thousands of began a 1-month detail to lead cleanup volumes and costs for trees downed trees, but they also needed to additional volunteer teams, with Hartel along public rights-of-way after major know how to save those left standing. and Kuehler rotating training and storms. SDAP is now part of i-Tree, Around the same time, arborists planning over the next 3 months as a suite of Web-based urban forest attending the Society of Municipal they worked their way along the Gulf assessment and management tools Arborists (SMA) meeting in Coast communities of Mississippi and developed by the Forest Service. Windsor, Ontario, expressed interest Louisiana. Gulfport was one of the only in volunteering their services to “When we first arrived, residents communities along the Gulf Coast communities along the Gulf Coast to were still trying to get things in order to implement the protocol; urban help assess damage to urban trees. and really didn’t have time to be foresters had established sample plots “The storm had just happened before concerned about urban trees,” says (street segments) and completed an their annual meeting and they were Hartel. “Most of the trees we saw were inventory of trees. The plots were ready to go,” says Dudley Hartel, severely damaged except for live oak. resurveyed after Katrina and a plan center manager with SRS Urban At that time, the magnolias hadn’t formed to assess still living trees, but Forestry South in Athens, GA. died, though eventually, they were the plan was not carried out by the On the Ground pretty much lost. Live oak and cypress contractors who came in to do debris were the species that best withstood removal. It was simply easier, faster, At the regional office, Macie began the wind, flooding, and tidal surge and more lucrative to bulldoze down assembling a partnership of agencies along the coast.” and organizations interested in 26 compass—october 2008 The main goal of the arborist teams having people on the ground with the “Damage to urban forests threatens was to provide cities with a list of background, training, and experience public safety and, in the short term, priority removals and pruning and to assess trees.” creates economic burdens to local other storm related actions. Between and State governments,” says Hartel. January and May, the teams assessed Urban Forest Recovery “It also means loss of important urban trees in 10 communities The Mississippi Forestry ecosystem services such as energy, affected by Katrina. They trained Commission initially estimated stormwater control, air quality, and and coordinated 35 professional that 200,000 urban trees had habitat. By retaining as many trees as volunteers, and assessed more than been damaged in that State alone, possible, a community can use these 7,500 trees, providing information with foresters estimating an equal trees as the foundation for recovery of for interim plans for tree removal number in Louisiana. Many trees these vital services.” and pruning. Most importantly at the that could have survived the damage For more information: time, they provided the information were cleaned up before they could Dudley Hartel at 706–559–4236 or municipalities needed to request be assessed by arborists or urban [email protected] funding from the Federal Emergency foresters. Eric Kuehler at 706–559–4268 or Management Agency (FEMA) for “This project helped us to [email protected] hazardous tree removal and to provide understand how tree cleanup efforts specifications for contractor work. Urban Forestry South: are handled by FEMA and the Army www.urbanforestrysouth.org “We learned the importance of Corps of Engineers and how these Gulf Coast Tree Assessment: timing right away,” says Hartel. “In impact the urban forest,” says Hartel. www.daveyresourcegroup.com/gcta/ some places, we got there too early, “We’ve since developed an urban tree default.htm before the community was ready for assessment protocol that is flexible Urban Forest Strike Teams: us. In other cases, we got there too enough to be used by communities www.UFST.org late, after everything had been cleaned across the southern region for any i-Tree: www.itreetools.org up. We learned that it’s best to get type of disaster.” there right after the initial emergency But it’s about more than debris clearing has been done.” Cooperators on Gulf Coast Tree removal and lessening the risk of Assessment Project: Davey Resource Group, Even in communities that had damage from falling limbs. The trees Environmental Systems Research Institute, been cleaned up, the teams found that survive are the foundation for International Society of Arboriculture, Mississippi Forestry Commission, Louisiana hazardous trees still standing. “We restoring urban forests and their Department of Agriculture and Forestry, saw many instances where trees that benefits. In spite of the high winds and Mississippi State Cooperative Extension should have been saved were removed saltwater storm surge from Katrina Service, Geospatial Information and Technology Association, Society of Municipal and dangerous ones left standing,” and Rita, many urban trees stayed Arborists, Forest Service Southern Region, SRS says Hartel. “We saw the benefit of alive, or could have been saved by Urban Forestry South. professional management.

After Hurricane Katrina, the Mississippi Forestry Commission initially estimated that 200,000 urban trees were damaged in that State alone. (U.S. Forest Service photo)

www.srs.fs.usda.gov 27 At the request of Mark Bays, recorded—location, genus, diameter, Strike While the Oklahoma U&CF coordinator, and and disaster related assessments— Harm is Hot Oklahoma State Forester John provided enough information for Tulsa Burwell, Hartel and Revell headed out Parks to make recommendations to Tulsa in mid-January 2008 to assess for removal and restoration. The The work done in 2006 by the the damage before sending out a team same system could be easily applied Katrina tree assessment teams of arborists. to street trees.” For Tulsa, this led by Dudley Hartel and Eric information was also the basis for Kuehler sparked interest in urban “I went out thinking there probably the calculating debris contracts with foresters in other States. In 2007, wasn’t that much of a problem,” says FEMA. Urban and Community Forestry Hartel. “I couldn’t have imagined (UC&F) Program coordinators Leslie how bad it was. There were tens of Strike Team Network Spreads Moorman in North Carolina and Paul thousands of trees down or damaged. Revell in Virginia asked Hartel, center We concentrated on the urbanized In July 2008, additional UFST manager for SRS Urban Forestry areas of Bixby, Tulsa, Nichols Hills, arborists and12 team leaders South, to help set up a training and Edmond where assistance had completed a training held in program for State-employed certified been requested.” Providence Forge, VA. For now, the arborists. emphasis is on training certified Working with Oklahoma Forestry arborists who are State forestry Held in August 2007 in Kinston, Services, Hartel and Revell revised agency employees, but trainers are NC, the meeting included training on the assessment and data collection also receiving requests from municipal how to estimate tree debris volume protocol for ice storm damage and arborists. Hartel and Kuehler help following a disaster, assess the risk took teams out to the Tulsa area the develop the trainings and act as associated with trees remaining after first of February. Over the next month, interim leaders of teams, but what initial cleanup, and evaluate tree strike teams provided detailed risk started with a group of arborists after plantings needed to restore the urban assessments and debris estimates to Katrina is quickly gaining support from forest. Arborists attending the training help communities apply to the Federal the State Foresters and spreading to became the first members of a new Emergency Management Agency other regions. At the Virginia training, Urban Forest Strike Team (UFST) (FEMA) under a pilot program that five representatives from theForest designed to provide postdisaster tree provided funding for debris removal Service Northeastern Area attended assessment assistance to State UC&F prior to cleanup rather than after. with the intent of beginning a similar Programs and communities in the Four UFST arborists worked for a program in their region. southern region. week on Mohawk Park in Tulsa. At “Eventually we hope to have a “Training and procedures are 2,806 acres, Mohawk Park is one of whole network of disaster response being developed to be compatible the largest municipal parks in the arborists available to work on strike with the Incident Command System United States. In one day alone, crews teams wherever urban trees are developed by the Forest Service for assessed over 500 trees along trails affected,” says Hartel. “The goal of mobilizing personnel to fight wildfires,” and heavily used areas in the park, the UFST program is to reduce risk says Hartel. “Working within State resulting in recommendations for 217 in communities following a disaster, emergency management programs, tree removals, 254 tree prunings to and to protect viable trees that can be qualified arborists on strike teams remove broken and hanging limbs, and managed to reestablish urban forests will be available to provide assistance restoration pruning for 75 trees. and the environmental services they following disasters that affect urban Because they had taken a recent, provide.” —ZH trees.” predisaster inventory of trees in most For more information: Put to the Test in Tulsa of the city parks, Tulsa Parks and Recreation was able to demonstrate Dudley Hartel at 706–559–4236 or On December 10, 2007, a massive to the FEMA debris management [email protected] ice storm hit eastcentral Oklahoma, team that debris estimates could be knocking out power to hundreds of easily calculated from existing data. Urban and Community Forestry (UCF) is a thousands of homes and businesses. “I refer to this as the ‘Tulsa Model,’ cooperative Forest Service program that focuses The sounds of crashing trees where a city has a recent and accurate on the stewardship of urban natural resources. and snapping limbs reverberated UCF provides technical, financial, research, management inventory that can be and educational services to local government, throughout the neighborhoods of used for reference after a disaster,” nonprofit organizations, community Oklahoma City and Tulsa. People were says Hartel. “UFST arborists helped groups, educational institutions, and tribal advised to stay in their homes to avoid governments. The program is delivered through the City of Tulsa by completing the the State forestry agencies. harm from falling limbs. inventory in the remaining parks, including Mohawk. The data we 28 compass—october 2008 You Can Use! • Major roots severed or broken, tree on your circumstances. To qualify for partially uprooted possible assistance: • Noticeable tree lean attributable to • Photograph damage. the storm • Document estimates, descriptions, • Large limbs broken; most of crown remedial tree maintenance following damaged the storm, and other pertinent information. If one or more of these conditions are present, consult with a • Stay in touch with local, State, and professional arborist as soon as Federal Agency representatives, as possible. Until the tree damage well as insurance companies and relief is addressed, stay clear and keep organizations. vehicles and other moveable assets out Timber Salvage Guidelines Homeowners Guide: of range. Landowners with larger stands of How to Handle Some Tips When Hiring a Tree trees will need to develop a plan for Trees Damaged by Service salvaging damaged timber. Guidelines Hurricanes Beware of scams—unsolicited for conducting surveys, evaluating offers, bargain deals, and out-of- damage, and prioritizing salvage can State companies with offers too good be found online at www.forestpests. Hurricanes bring winds that can to be true. Use a qualified arborist; org/storm/ or in the table on page 25. exceed 125 miles per hour, heavy unqualified workers could get hurt on Recommended reading: rain, and flooding—any or all of which your property or cause irreparable Gilman, E.F.; Duryea, M.L.; Kampf, can damage trees. Although some damage to trees. damage can be seen immediately, E.; Partin, T.J. [and others]. 2006. Ask for certificates and proof of Assessing damage and restoring some effects of structural damage to trees after a hurricane. ENH1036. trees may not become apparent for liability insurance and workmen’s Gainesville, FL: Urban Forest years. On the other hand, what may compensation. Contact the insurance Hurricane Recovery Program, School initially seem like mortal damage—all company to confirm that policies are of Forest Resources and Conservation, current. University of Florida. 13 p. edis.ifas. the leaves blown off—may be just ufl.edu/pdffiles/EP/EP29100.pdf [Date temporary. Leaves saturated with salt Ask for references and check them. accessed: July 1, 2008]. water turn brown and look like they’ve Do not use any company that Stanturf, J.A.; Goodrick, S.L.; been burned. If not hazardous, these recommends topping. Outcalt, K W. 2007. Disturbance and trees should be monitored for 6 to 12 coastal forests: a strategic approach months before deciding to cut them. Sign a written agreement before the to forest management in hurricane work. Never pay in advance. impact zones. Forest Ecology and Hazard Trees Management. 250 (1–2): 119–135. You can find a qualified arborist Downed or weakened trees can be using your local phone directory or on Adapted from: Mississippi Homeowners Guide: hazardous to people, buildings, and the Web at http://www.isa-arbor.com/ Working with Trees Affected by Hurricane power lines. Storm damaged trees findarborist/findarborist.aspx. Katrina. Mississippi Forestry Commission, Mississippi State Extension Service, SRS Urban should be assessed for risk as soon Forestry South. Jackson, MS: Mississippi as possible after a hurricane or other Compensation for Loss of Forestry Association, International Society of major storm. Signs that a tree could be Landscape Value Arborists. 2 p. Available from www.mfc.state. ms.us/publications.htm. a hazard include: Insurance, tax credits, and other • New cracks in the lower trunk or assistance may be available depending large stems split from the tree www.srs.fs.usda.gov 29 On the Bookshelf... multiple risks as they make forest values. Other chapters examine the investment decisions, and efforts to tradeoffs between fuels management, restore forested ecosystems must take suppression and damages, and the Holmes, T. P.; Prestemon, J. P.; Abt, into account disturbance patterns. regulatory environment addressing K. L., eds. 2008. The economics “It’s fair to say that just about wildfire mitigation. Most of the work of forest disturbances: wildfires, every decision made now regarding presented was funded by the National storms, and invasive species. For. forest management or protection Fire Plan. Sci. Series, XIV. 422 p. Vol. 79. must account for forest disturbances,” The book is the culmination of Thomas Holmes, Jeffrey according to Dave Wear, project years of research led by the Forest Prestemon, and Karen Abt, scientists leader for the Forest Economics and Economics and Policy Unit. “Because with the SRS Forest Economics and Policy unit. “This book defines the of its breadth and rigor, this body of Policy unit in Research Triangle Park, state of the science in natural resource work sets the agenda for research in NC, edited this compilation of research economics regarding forest decision this area, including our own, for many that addresses the foundations of the making in the context of all types of years to come,” Wear says.—CP most pressing forest policy questions. disturbances.” Much of today’s forest management The book is divided into sections The Economics of Forest Disturbances: Wildfires, Storms, and Invasive Species is and protection is by necessity that address the structure of available at amazon.com. organized around forest disturbance. disturbance processes, the economic impacts of disturbances, and Public land managers focus on For more information: managing forests to alter fuel loads decisionmaking in response to disturbances. Issues covered include Dave Wear at 919–549–4011 or and reduce damages in the face of [email protected] evolving fire regimes. A national the effects of climate on wildfire, social relationships driving wildland arson, Tom Holmes at 919–549–4031 or debate swirls around funding for fuel [email protected] reductions and fire fighting. Private timber salvage economics, and the forest managers must account for effects of fire on residential property

Hanula Receives entomology. Scientists receive the pollinators in relation to the invasion award only in years when five of the of nonnative plant species such Hopkins Award seven award committee members as Chinese privet. Hanula is also concur. Peers nominated Hanula in developing attractants to trap the recognition of significant and lasting invasive redbay ambrosia beetle, Jim Hanula, entomologist with the contributions to the study of forest which spreads a fungus responsible SRS Insects, Diseases, and Invasive entomology in the Southern United for killing redbay and other trees in the Plants of Southern Forests unit, States and his outstanding career Coastal Plains of northeastern Florida, has been named the 2008 winner conducting practical, service-oriented Georgia, and South Carolina.—SW of the A.D. Hopkins Award, the science. Hanula’s recent contributions most distinguished prize given to to understanding and controlling a forest entomologist in the South. new invasive species are especially The award is one of only two such noteworthy. honors nationwide that recognize During his 16-year career with the contributions of entomologists the Forest Service, Hanula and his studying forest insects. students have conducted a wide Hanula received the award during range of research ranging from the 51st annual Southern Forest analyzing prey of the endangered Insect Work Conference held August red-cockaded woodpecker in various 4–7 in Chattanooga, TN. The group forest conditions to the effects natural presents the A.D. Hopkins Award to and manmade disturbances have an individual with an outstanding on insect communities. Currently, Jim Hanula (U.S. Forest Service photo) record of service to southern forest he is analyzing the decline of insect

30 compass—october 2008 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

The Savannah River Forestry waste products, just to name a few. New Laboratory Sciences Laboratory is 33 percent The facility includes other savings Receives Green more energy efficient than a standard and benefits that are more difficult to Certification building. It incorporates numerous measure, such as increased employee sustainable and energy efficient productivity because of enhanced The U.S. Green Building Council features including a geothermal natural lighting and improved indoor recently awarded the SRS Savannah heating and air conditioning system, air quality. Energy models estimate River Forestry Sciences Laboratory highly efficient light fixtures and that SRS is saving close to $2,000 a with a Leadership in Energy and windows to reduce energy use, and year through sustainable building Environmental Design (LEED) Silver building materials made from recycled practices at the laboratory. certification. The LEED® Green Building Rating System is a third-party certification Savannah River Forestry Sciences Laboratory, New Ellenton, SC (U.S. Forest Service photo) program administered by the nonprofit Green Building Council for the design, construction, and operation of high performance, sustainable buildings. The 4,200-square-foot laboratory and office building is located in New Ellenton, SC, just outside the Savannah River Site on the Warner Savannah River Research Campus. The facility is home to eight SRS scientists and technicians who conduct ecological research on the forests of the Savannah River Site, which is owned by the U.S. Department of Energy. www.srs.fs.usda.gov 31 Honors, Awards, him as a charter member and in Josephine Falcone, a master’s Appreciation of Expert and Steadfast biology student at Western Carolina and More Leadership of the Council, at the University, joins EFETAC as a Student SRS researcher emeritus John Alabama Invasive Plant Council’s 6th Temporary Employment Program Moser has honored fellow Annual Conference, Columbiana, AL. biological science technician working entomologist and project leader Kier Eastern Forest Environmental with SRS ecologist Qinfeng Guo. Klepzig by naming a new mite after Threat Assessment Center (EFETAC) Falcone is helping to develop and him—one of two new mite species ecologist William Hargrove was populate Guo’s invasive and exotic unveiled by Moser and Ukrainian among the scientists who won the plants database, a comprehensive taxonomist Alexander Khaustov People’s Choice Awards gold medal catalog of nonnative plants in North in a paper recently published in the at the 2008 Atmospheric Radiation America used for continent-scale International Journal of Acarology (vol. Measurement (ARM) Science Team ecological analyses of these key 34, no. 2). Moser named Caesarodispus Meeting in Norfolk, VA. The award threats to native ecosystems. klepzigi (Microdispidae) after honored Hargrove and scientific Klepzig; the second mite Petalomium partners for developing the poster, hofstetteri (Neopygmephoridae) A Cluster Analysis Approach to was named in honor of Northern Comparing Atmospheric Radiation Arizona University researcher Measurement Data and Global Climate Rich Hofstetter. Moser named the Model Results. The People’s Choice mites in tribute to the contributions Awards, new to this year’s meeting, Klepzig and Hofstetter have made to were awarded based on votes from understanding the complex symbiotic ARM scientists attending the meeting. interactions among insects, fungi, and The poster, along with the second and mites. third place winners, can be viewed at Moser actually discovered the mites, stm.arm.gov/2008/winning_posters_ pc.stm. EFETAC research hydrologist Ge Sun has been elected president of the Sino-Ecologists Association Overseas (Sino-Eco) for its 2008 to 2010 Josephine Falcone (Photo by Mike Falcone) term. Sun assumed his presidential responsibilities May 1, 2008. Sino-Eco is a nonprofit academic organization Thomas Eberhardt, research established in1988 to encourage the scientist with the SRS Utilization of exchange of ideas and knowledge Southern Forest Resources unit in among Chinese ecologists in China Pineville, LA, was recently honored and around the world. as the third speaker in the Elvin T. Choong Memorial Lecture Series at Louisiana State University School of Renewable Natural Resources. Eberhardt delivered a presentation Caesarodispus klepzigi (Photo by Stacy Blomquist, U.S. Forest Service) on May 13 titled Southern Pine Bark Quality: Impact on the Living Tree and the Utilization of Available Biomass which were attached to flying fire Resources. ants, in his own backyard in Pineville, SRS Center for Forested Wetlands LA. Last year, he discovered three team leader Carl Trettin hosted other new mite species. The “retired” three Chinese researchers as part of entomologist said he may have close a wetland restoration field tour of the to 20 additional new species to United States. During their April trip, describe in the near future. the trio toured SRS wetland research Jim Miller, research ecologist with at the Santee Experimental Forest in the SRS Diseases and Plants Team, South Carolina, Coweeta Hydrologic received an award from the Alabama Laboratory in North Carolina, and Invasive Plant Council recognizing Ge Sun (Photo by Erika Cohen, U.S. Center for Bottomland Hardwoods Forest Service) Research in Mississippi.

32 compass—october 2008 NEW PRODUCTS from the Southern Research Station...

Natural Resources Inventory and Monitoring

1 Bentley, James W.; Cartwright, Walter E.; Hendricks, Brian. 2008. Alabama’s timber industry—an assessment of timber product output and use, 2005. Resour. Bull. SRS–128. Asheville, NC: U.S. Department of Agriculture Forest Service, Southern Research Station. 32 p. In 2005, roundwood output from Alabama’s forests totaled 1.14 billion cubic feet. Mill byproducts generated from primary manufacturers amounted to 432 million cubic feet. Almost all plant residues were used primarily for fuel and fiber products. Pulpwood was the leading roundwood product at 563 million cubic feet; saw logs ranked second at 425 million cubic feet; veneer logs were third at 93 million cubic feet. The number of primary processing plants was 145. Total receipts amounted to 1.18 billion cubic feet.

2 Bentley, James W.; Howell, Michael; Johnson, Tony G. 2008. Arkansas’s timber industry—an assessment of timber product output and use, 2005. Resour. Bull. SRS–132. Asheville, NC: U.S. Department of Agriculture Forest Service, Southern Research Station. 31 p. In 2005, roundwood output from Arkansas’s forests totaled 749 million cubic feet. Mill byproducts generated from primary manufacturers were 354 million cubic feet. Almost all plant residues were used, primarily for fuel and fiber products. Saw logs were the leading roundwood product at 390 million cubic feet; pulpwood ranked second at 235 million cubic feet; and veneer logs were third at 95 million cubic feet. The number of primary processing plants was 156 in 2005. Receipts for those mills totaled 814 million cubic feet.

Southern Research Station headquarters in spring 2007. (Photo by Rodney Kindlund, U.S. Forest Service) www.srs.fs.usda.gov 33 3 Bentley, James W.; Howell, Michael; than in 2003. Mill byproducts generated 8 Oswalt, Sonja N.; Oswalt, Christopher; from primary manufacturers declined to Johnson, Tony G. 2008. Louisiana’s Turner, Jeffrey. 2008. Hurricane Katrina 146 million cubic feet. Almost all plant timber industry—an assessment of impacts on Mississippi forests. Southern residues were used primarily for fuel and timber product output and use, 2005. Journal of Applied Forestry. 32(3): 139-141. Resour. Bull. SRS–130. Asheville, NC: U.S. fiber products. Pulpwood was the leading Hurricane Katrina triggered public interest Department of Agriculture Forest Service, roundwood product at 214 million cubic and concern for forests in Mississippi that Southern Research Station. 32 p. feet; saw logs ranked second at 167 million cubic feet; veneer logs were third at 26 required rapid responses from the scientific In 2005, industrial roundwood output from million cubic feet. Total receipts declined community. A uniform systematic sample Louisiana’s forests totaled 866 million 5 percent to 460 million cubic feet. The of 3,590 ground plots were established cubic feet, 20 percent more than in 2002. number of primary processing plants and measured in 687 days immediately Mill byproducts generated from primary totaled 93 in 2005. after the impact of Hurricane Katrina on manufacturers increased 17 percent to the Gulf Coast. The hurricane damaged an 321 million cubic feet. Almost all plant 6 Johnson, Tony G.; Bentley, James W.; estimated 521 million trees with more than residues were used primarily for fuel and Howell, Michael. 2008. The South’s 2.5-cm d.b.h. and killed approximately 54 fiber products. Saw logs were the leading timber industry—an assessment of million trees statewide. Sixty-nine percent roundwood product at 343 million cubic timber product output and use, 2005. of tree mortality occurred in 17 counties in feet; pulpwood ranked second at 337 Resour. Bull. SRS–135. Asheville, NC: U.S. southeastern Mississippi, and 45 percent million cubic feet; veneer logs were third Department of Agriculture Forest Service, of trees killed were loblolly pine trees. Total at 146 million cubic feet. The number of Southern Research Station. 52 p. tree mortality was less than 1 percent of primary processing plants increased from In 2005, industrial roundwood output the statewide population. 60 in 2002 to 62 in 2005. Total receipts from the South’s forests totaled 8.7 billion 9 Roesch, Francis A. 2008. An alternative increased 18 percent to 936 million cubic cubic feet, 6 percent more than in 2003. view of continuous forest inventories. feet. Mill byproducts generated from primary Forest Science. 54(4): 455-464. manufacturers increased 1 percent to 4 Bentley, James W.; Howell, Michael; 3.2 billion cubic feet. Almost all plant In this publication, continuous forest Johnson, Tony G. 2008. Mississippi’s residues were used primarily for fuel and inventories are conceptualized as being a timber industry—an assessment of fiber products. Saw logs were the leading sample drawn from a population in three timber product output and use, 2005. roundwood product at 3.9 billion cubic dimensions: two dimensions in land area Resour. Bull. SRS–131. Asheville, NC: U.S. feet; pulpwood ranked second at 3.5 billion and the third in time. The sample units Department of Agriculture Forest Service, cubic feet; veneer logs were third at 846 result from carving the three-dimensional Southern Research Station. 32 p. million cubic feet. The number of primary volume into pieces like a three-dimensional In 2005, industrial roundwood output from processing plants declined from 2,281 jigsaw puzzle. Forest inventory is often Mississippi’s forests totaled 1.03 billion in 2003 to 2,028 in 2005. Total receipts described as a random sample drawn cubic feet, 11 percent more than in 2002. increased 5 percent to 8.7 billion cubic from the land area; however, the third Mill byproducts generated from primary feet. dimension becomes necessary when the manufacturers decreased 1 percent to time of observation is also random. As with 385 million cubic feet. Almost all plant 7 Johnson, Tony G.; Steppleton, Carolyn two-dimensional sampling, this three- residues were used primarily for fuel and D. 2008. Southern pulpwood production, dimensional concept results in a finite fiber products. Saw logs were the leading 2006. Resour. Bull. SRS–134. Asheville, number of sample units, each of which roundwood product at 543 million cubic NC: U.S. Department of Agriculture Forest is selected independently with a known feet; pulpwood ranked second at 366 Service, Southern Research Station. 42 p. probability, allowing the formulation of million cubic feet; veneer logs were third The South’s production of pulpwood unbiased estimators. at 78 million cubic feet. The number of increased from 64.0 million cords in 2005 Rose, Anita K. 2007. Virginia’s primary processing plants remained at 116 10 to 64.7 million cords in 2006. Roundwood forests, 2001. Resour. Bull. SRS–120. in 2005. Total receipts increased 2 percent production increased 123,300 cords to 46.3 Asheville, NC: U.S. Department of to 908 million cubic feet. million cords and accounted for 72 percent Agriculture Forest Service, Southern 5 Johnson, Tony G.; Bentley, James of the total pulpwood production. The use Research Station. 140 p. of wood residue increased 3 percent to W.; Howell, Michael. 2008. Florida’s 18.3 million cords. Alabama led the South Between 1997 and 2001, the Forest timber industry—an assessment of in total production at 10.5 million cords. In Service’s Forest Inventory and Analysis timber product output and use, 2005. (FIA) Program conducted the seventh Resour. Bull. SRS–133. Asheville, NC: U.S. 2006, 87 mills were operating and drawing inventory of the forests of Virginia. About Department of Agriculture Forest Service, wood from the 13 Southern States. Pulping 15,844,000 acres, or 62 percent, of Virginia Southern Research Station. 31 p. capacity of southern mills increased from 124,567 tons per day in 2005 to 125,093 was forested. Red maple and loblolly pine In 2005, volume of industrial roundwood tons per day, and still accounts for more dominated in terms of number of live stems output from Florida’s forests totaled than 70 percent of the Nation’s pulping (1.5 billion and .96 billion, respectively). 445 million cubic feet, 13 percent less capacity. Yellow-poplar dominated the live-tree volume with 5.5 billion cubic feet. Loblolly

34 compass—october 2008 pine was second, with 4.7 billion cubic horizontal distance to the subject tree. in Crossett, AR. Born of the axe and saw, feet. FIA is the only program that conducts However, few adjust this method for oxen and steam engines, and nurtured by forest assessments across the United ground slope, tree lean, crown shape, the railroad during its infancy, Crossett was States. Increasing demands on the resource and crown configuration, making errors transformed from a remote and virtually and anthropogenic-related impacts on commonplace. Given documented unknown tract of rolling pine into one of forests have intensified the need to conduct discrepancies exceeding 30 percent with the leading forest products centers in the these ecosystem-based inventories. current methods, a reevaluation of height United States, yielding enormous quantities measurement is in order. The sine method of dimensional lumber, paneling, paper Turner, Jeffrey A.; Oswalt, Christopher 11 is an alternative that measures a real point and related products, and wood-based M.; Chamberlain, James L. [and others]. in the crown. Hence, it is not subject to the chemicals. The story of Crossett through 2008. Kentucky’s forests, 2004. same assumptions as the similar triangle its first 45 years rests almost exclusively on Resour. Bull. SRS–129. Asheville, NC: U.S. and tangent approaches. In addition, the a single institution—the Crossett Lumber Department of Agriculture Forest Service, sine method is insensitive to distance Company—and the cast of characters Southern Research Station.101 p. [Editor’s from tree or observer position and cannot responsible for its founding and survival. note: Southern Research Station scientists overestimate tree height. The advantages of Roger C. Conner, Tony G. Johnson, Sonja Greenberg, Cathryn H.; Waldrop, the sine approach are shown with mature 15 N. Oswalt, and Kadonna C. Randolph co- Thomas A. 2008. Short-term response of southern pines from Arkansas. authored this publication.] reptiles and amphibians to prescribed Bragg, Don C. 2008. The prominence fire and mechanical fuel reduction Forest land area in the Commonwealth of 13 of pine in the Upper Gulf Coastal in a Southern Appalachian upland Kentucky amounted to 11.97 million acres, Plain during historical times. In: Hardy, hardwood forest. Forest Ecology and including 11.6 million acres of timberland. Laurence M., ed. Freeman and Custis Red Management. 255(7): 2883-2893. Over 110 different species, mostly River expedition of 1806: two hundred hardwoods, account for an estimated We compared effects of three fuel years later. Bull. of Museum of Life 21.2 billion cubic feet of all live- tree reduction techniques and a control on Sciences, 13. Shreveport, LA: Louisiana volume. Hardwood forest types occupy relative abundance and richness of reptiles State University: 29-54. 85 percent of Kentucky’s timberland, and and amphibians using drift fence arrays oak-hickory is the dominant forest-type Jeffersonian explorers Thomas Freeman with pitfall and funnel traps. Treatments group, accounting for about 8.4 million and Peter Custis passed through the were prescribed burn (B); mechanical acres. About 78 percent of timberland in Upper West Gulf Coastal Plain (UWGCP) understory reduction (M); mechanical + Kentucky is owned by nonindustrial private during their 1806 Red River expedition, but burn (MB); and controls (C). Hot fires in forest landowners. Forest industry owns provided only rudimentary descriptions MB killed about 25 percent of the trees, about 2 percent of the timberland in the of upland forests. This paper cites dozens increasing canopy openness relative to Commonwealth, while Federal, State, and of references to better account for the controls. Leaf litter depth was reduced in B local government agencies manage about dominance of pine in these forests prior and MB after burning, but increased in M 11 percent or 1.03 million acres. In 2003 to their development. While pine was a due to the addition of dead leaves during more than 21,500 individuals were directly prominent species, it was rarely found understory felling. We captured 1,308 employed at wood processing mills, with in pure stands over much of the study amphibians of 13 species, and 335 reptiles a total annual payroll of over 700 million area. Rather, it appears pine mixed with of 13 species. Relative abundance of total dollars. Many nontimber forest products hardwoods dominated the UWGCP, with salamanders, common salamander species, are harvested in Kentucky, which ranks only localized areas of very high pine and total amphibians was not changed second in the southern region in terms of concentration resulting from factors such by fuel reduction treatments. Total frogs the number of nontimber forest product as soil conditions or disturbances. Over and toads (anurans) and Bufo americanus enterprises. the last two centuries, Euroamericans were most abundant in B and MB; have dramatically impacted most of this however, proximity of breeding sites likely Forest Ecosystem Restoration area, and have noticeably altered the affected results. Total reptile abundance and Management prominence of pine. and Sceloporus undulatus abundance were highest in MB after burning, but differed Darling, O.H. “Doogie”; Bragg, Don 12 Bragg, Don C. 2008. An improved 14 significantly only from B. Results indicate C. 2008. The early mills, railroads, and tree height measurement technique a single application of fuel reduction logging camps of the Crossett Lumber tested on mature southern pines. methods studied will not negatively Company. Arkansas Historical Quarterly. Southern Journal of Applied Forestry. 32(1): affect amphibian or reptile abundance 67(2): 107-140. 38-43. or diversity in Southern Appalachian Virtually all techniques for tree height From the earliest small-scale logging and upland hardwood forest. Our study further determination follow one of two principles: milling operations to the multinational suggests that high-intensity burning with similar triangles or the tangent method. conglomerates of today, the timber heavy tree kill, as in MB, can be used as Most people apply the latter approach, industry has long shaped the social and a management tool to increase reptile which uses the tangents of the angles economic history of the Southern United abundance— particularly lizards—with no to the top and bottom and a true States. Nowhere is this more true than negative impact on amphibians, at least in the short term. www.srs.fs.usda.gov 35 16 King, N.T.; Seiler, J.R.; Fox, T.R.; Factorial combinations of soil compaction Genomics, the study of an organism’s Johnsen, K.H. 2008. Post-fertilization and organic matter removal were replicated complete DNA complement, is opening physiology and growth performance at the long-term site productivity study new opportunities in understanding how of loblolly pine clones. Tree Physiology. in the Croatan National Forest, near a tree grows and how this information can 28(5): 703-711. New Bern, NC, USA. Ten years after be used in silviculture through physiology, planting, 18 preselected loblolly pine genetics, and tree improvement. In this Clones are distinct genotypes whose (Pinus taeda L.) trees were destructively paper, Nelson and Johnsen explore genetic expression results in distinct harvested to quantify treatment effects opportunities afforded by genome science phenotypes. Clones can respond on total above- and belowground tree discoveries and technology advancements differentially to forest management biomass and to detect any changes in forest trees. They apply the ideotype practices. We studied growth and leaf in the absolute and relative allocation concept (i.e., an idealized tree) to loblolly physiology of eight loblolly pine clones patterns. Stem volume at year10 was pine (Pinus taeda) and discuss how this in response to fertilization. The eight not affected by compaction treatments, approach can aid the integration of genotypes displayed diverse responses to even though the ultisols on these sites physiologic and genomic information fertilization. Some grew substantially more continued to have higher bulk densities for improving selection methods in tree with fertilization but did so with varying than noncompacted plots. However, even improvement and process models in performances of a suite of traits, including when site preparation treatments were physiology and silviculture research. growth, leaf photosynthetic traits, crown undetectable aboveground, the treatments Perry, Roger W.; Thill, Ronald size, and crown efficiency. Fast growing significantly altered absolute root growth 21 E.; Leslie, David M., Jr. 2008. Scale- clones can use different strategies for and tree biomass allocation patterns. Soil dependent effects of landscape achieving their fast growth rate, and such compaction decreased taproot production structure and composition on diurnal diversity may be important for making and significantly increased the ratio of roost selection by forest bats. Journal of decisions for deploying them in the field. aboveground to belowground biomass. Wildlife Management. 72(4): 913-925. 17 Loeb, Susan C.; Waldrop, Thomas Decreased root production will decrease A. 2008. Bat activity in relation to carbon and nutrient stores belowground, Forest management affects quality and fire and fire surrogate treatments in which may impact future site productivity. availability of roost sites for forest-dwelling bats, but information on roost selection southern pine stands. Forest Ecology and Marqués, Livia; Payne, Claire. 2008. 19 beyond the scale of individual forest Management. 255: 3185-3192. Hardwood regeneration helps wildlife. stands is limited. We evaluated effects of Forest Landowner. 67(2): 23-25. Bats are important components of forested topography (elevation, slope, and proximity ecosystems, but little is known about This article summarizes two research of roads and streams), forest habitats, and the effects of forest management on projects impacting wildlife habitat. The arrangement of forest patches on selection their populations. We used acoustic bat importance of creating openings in mature of summer roosts for six species of forest- detectors to determine relative bat activity forest stands to enhance fruit production is dwelling bats in the Ouachita Mountains in three replicates of four experimental demonstrated by the work of SRS scientists of Arkansas. We modeled roost selection treatment plots in the Piedmont of South Cathryn Greenberg and David Loftis and at two spatial scales (a 250- and 1,000- Carolina: (1) control, (2) thinned, (3) Douglas J. Levey, University of Florida. m radius around each roost). Small-scale burned, and (4) thinned and burned. Their study showed that by leaving fruit models were generally more powerful than Overall bat activity was greater in the producing trees, openings can be managed large-scale models. Abundance of certain treated stands than in the control stands in to provide a significant source of soft mast forest habitats was included more often both years. Activity of the larger big brown throughout the year. Acorns or hard mast than arrangement of forest patches or bats and red bats was also greater in the are an essential food for numerous species, topography in differentiating roosts from treated stands, whereas the treatments especially during the winter. Greenberg random locations. Roost locations of one did not affect activity of the smallest worked with North Carolina Wildlife species were influenced by elevation, and species, the eastern pipistrelle. Our results Resources Commission scientist Gordon S. roosts of three species were affected by suggest that treatments that reduce Warburton to develop a faster and simpler slope. Two species roosted close to water, clutter, particularly thinning, increase the method to estimate acorn crops. Using 21 two species roosted close to roads, and suitability of pine stands for bats’ foraging years of data, they found the proportion one species roosted away from roads. and commuting activity in the Piedmont of trees bearing acorns is a successful Results suggest that in a completely region. Thus, use of these practices predictor of hard mast index (HMI). Their forested landscape, a variety of stand may help to preserve the biodiversity of method produced similar index values to types, seral stages, and management managed pine forests in the South. those using the traditional Whitehead HMI conditions varying in size and topographic 18 Ludovici, Kim H. 2008. Compacting method. location throughout the landscape would likely provide the components for roosting Coastal Plain soils changes midrotation Nelson, C. Dana; Johnsen, Kurt 20 required to maintain a diverse community loblolly pine allometry by reducing H. 2008. Genomic and physiological of forest bats in the Ouachita Mountains. root biomass. Canadian Journal of Forest approaches to advancing forest tree Research. 38: 2169-2176. improvement. Tree Physiology. 28: 1135- 1143.

36 compass—october 2008 Results will provide managers with a 22 Samuelson, Lisa J.; Butnor, John; 26 Barbour, R. James; Zhou, Xiaoping; better understanding of several options for Maier, Chris [and others]. 2008. Growth Prestemon, Jeffrey P. 2008. Timber reaching this restoration goal. and physiology of loblolly pine in product output implications of a response to long-term resource program of mechanical fuel treatments 24 Xu, Shiqin; Tauer, C.G.; Nelson, C. management: defining growth potential applied on public timberland in the Dana. 2008. Genetic diversity within in the Southern United States. Canadian Western United States. Forest Policy and and among populations of shortleaf Journal of Forest Research. 38: 721-732. Economics. 10(6): 373-385. pine (Pinus echinata Mill.) and loblolly [Editor’s note: Southern Research Station pine (Pinus taeda L.). Tree Genetics & This study reports the results from a 5-year scientist Kurt Johnsen coauthored this Genomes. 4(4): 859-868. simulation of forest thinning intended to publication.] reduce fire hazard on publicly managed Geneticists Shiqin Xu and Chuck Tauer, Eleven years of intensive resource lands in the Western United States. A Oklahoma State University, and Dana management of loblolly pine resulted in simulation model of interrelated timber Nelson, Southern Research Station, d.b.h., basal area, and volume similar markets was used to evaluate timber teamed up to complete a genome-wide to or greater than values reported for product outputs. Approximately 84 million examination evaluating >600 amplification loblolly pine of the same age and planting acres, or 66 percent of total timberland in fragment length polymorphisms of genetic density in Hawaii. These results indicate the West, is publicly managed; 78 million diversity within two related pine species, that loblolly pine grown in the Southern acres are managed by Federal agencies. loblolly pine and shortleaf pine. They United States can produce the high yields We considered three budget scenarios studied seed sources as they existed observed on favorable, exotic locations using a least-expensive, highest hazard prior to widespread pine planting in the when stands are below maximum carrying area first policy. Our intention is not to South and now plan to extend this work capacity. Short-rotation plantations, definitively answer questions about where to present day populations. The early perhaps used to produce biofuels, would or how to conduct treatments to reduce populations showed high genetic diversity, better exploit the genetic potential of fire hazard on public lands, but to begin to with most (~85 percent) of the diversity loblolly pine, because stands would develop tools that can be used to inform being within populations, suggesting be harvested before reaching carrying such a policy debate. Initial simulations a high level of gene exchange between capacity. High basal area and volume provide insight into what might happen if populations even across the Mississippi production in older loblolly pine stands in available funds were allocated to the least- River Valley. Hawaii are likely a result of low mortality expensive, highest hazard areas across the and exceptionally high leaf area index. 25 Xu, Shiqin; Tauer, C.G.; Nelson, C. West. Using assumptions of (1) an annual Interactions between site and climatic Dana. Natural hybridization within seed “subsidy” (payments for treatments), (2) factors and physiological processes that sources of shortleaf pine (Pinus echinata the treatment costs, (3) the priority ranking control mortality require further study. Mill.) and loblolly pine (Pinus taeda L.). by forest type, (4) fire hazard level, and (5) Tree Genetics & Genomes. 4(4): 849-858. the wildland–urban interface (WUI) status, Waldrop, Thomas A.; Yaussy, 23 the simulation suggests that lodgepole Daniel A.; Phillips, Ross J. [and others]. Geneticists Shiqin Xu and Chuck Tauer, pine (Pinus contorta), ponderosa pine 2008. Fuel reduction treatments Oklahoma State University, and Dana (Pinus ponderosa), spruce (Picea spp.)–fir affect stand structure of hardwood Nelson, Southern Research Station, teamed (Abies spp.), and Douglas-fir (Pseudotsuga forests in western North Carolina and up to examine natural hybridization menziesii) are projected to be major forest southern Ohio, USA. Forest Ecology and between shortleaf pine and loblolly types treated in the West. A combination Management. 255: 3117-3129. pine (evaluating 96 shared amplification of treatment-ranking assumptions fragment length polymorphisms genetic Prescribed fire and mechanical treatments and low total treatable WUI acres on markers). Hybridization frequency varied were tested at the two hardwood sites public timberland caused the model to geographically, from 0 percent to 30 of the National Fire and Fire Surrogate concentrate almost exclusively on all WUI percent among seed sources. For both Study (Southern and Central Appalachian stands and non-WUI ponderosa pine species, the hybridization level was higher regions). The primary management forest type at the budget of $150 million in populations west of the Mississippi objective was to reduce severity of and $300 million. With further budget River than east of the river. The results potential wildfires by reducing live and increases, a large proportion of treated clearly show that forest management dead fuels. Secondary objectives were to acres are lodgepole pine and spruce–fir plans need to consider the possibility of increase oak regeneration by reducing forest types using the thin-from-below interspecies hybridization when planting competition from red maple (Acer rubrum approach. recommendations are developed, especially L.) and yellow-poplar (Liriodendron in areas where the species’ native ranges Bowker, J.M.; Lim, Siew Hoon; Cordell, tulipifera L.); and to improve wildlife 27 overlap. H. Ken [and others]. 2008. Wildland habitat by creating early successional habitat, increasing cover of grasses and Forest Values forbs, and improving oak regeneration. Fire and mechanical treatments used at both sites were designed to restore stand structure to an open woodland condition. www.srs.fs.usda.gov 37 fire, risk, and recovery: results of a scale is difficult to quantify. A set of secondary to market constraints and the national survey with regional and racial treatments designed to reduce fire hazard volume of wood harvested. perspectives. Journal of Forestry. 106(5): were simulated on 0.8 million ha of 31 Mitchell, D.; Klepac, J. 2008. 268-276. [Editor’s note: Southern Research timberland in Colorado. Hazard ratings Processing woody biomass with a Station scientist Cassandra Y. Johnson co- based on torching and crowning indices modified horizontal grinder. In: Baker, authored this publication.] were assessed on each stand pre- and S.A.; Bolding, M.C.; Greene, W.D., eds. post treatment. The even-aged treatments We used a national household survey Addressing forest engineering challenges cost more and place more area within our to examine knowledge, attitudes, and for the future: Proceedings of the 31st hazard thresholds, while the uneven-aged preferences pertaining to wildland fire. annual meeting of the Council on Forest treatments yield higher potential revenues. First we present nationwide results and Engineering. Athens, GA: Warnell School of Both higher costs and higher revenues trends. Then we examine opinions across Forestry and Natural Resources, University accrue to the treatments on higher risk region and race. Despite some regional of Georgia: 167-172. stands. Treatments also have differing risk variation, respondents are fairly consistent reductions depending on the initial risk This study documents the production rate in their beliefs about assuming personal category. and cost of producing woody biomass responsibility for living in fire-prone areas chips for use in a power plant. The and believing that residents of such areas Lowell, Eini C.; Becker, Dennis R.; 30 power plant has specific raw material should follow government guidelines Rummer, Robert [and others]. 2008. An handling requirements. Output from a for managing fire risk. However, we find integrated approach to evaluating 3-knife chipper, a tub grinder, and a divergence of opinion on “trusting forest the economic costs of wildfire hazard horizontal grinder was considered. None professionals” between African-American reduction through wood utilization of the samples from these machines met and Caucasian people. Across all survey opportunities in the Southwestern the specifications needed. A horizontal questions related to fire management and United States. Forest Science. 54(3): 273- grinder was modified to replace the teeth public confidence, African-Americans 283. on the drum with chipping blades in appear to be relatively more concerned This research provides an important step order to process whole trees into biomass than Caucasian or Hispanic people. in the conceptualization and development chips that met the power plant’s size 28 Cho, Seong Hoon; Yen, Steven T.; of an integrated wildfire fuels reduction specification. The study was installed on Bowker, J.M.; Newman, David H. 2008. system from silvicultural prescription, the Shoal Creek Ranger District, National Modeling willingness to pay for land through stem selection, harvesting, Forests in Alabama, near Heflin, AL. This conservation easements: treatment of in-woods processing, transport, and biomass removal project was the first step zero and protest bids and application market selection. Decisions made at each in a wildlife habitat improvement treatment and policy implications. Journal of functional step are informed by knowledge to convert a 37-acre stand of off-site Agricultural and Applied Economics. 40(1): about subsequent functions. Data on the planted loblolly pine (Pinus taeda L.) to 267-285. resource characteristics of small-diameter longleaf pine (Pinus palustris M.). The trees ponderosa pine (Pinus ponderosa Dougl. ex were 15 years old with an average dbh of This study compares an ordered probit Laws.), harvest equipment productivity, 4.0 inches and average total height of 30.5 model and a Tobit model with selection lumber recovery, and net profit (loss) by feet. The time and motion study gathered to take into account both true zero and level of fuels reduction achieved were data on whole-tree processing for short protest zero bids while estimating the collected from four 8.1-ha (20 acres) sites fiber chips up to ½-inch long, short fiber willingness to pay (WTP) for conservation in northern Arizona. These data were used chips from trees that had been partially easements in Macon County, NC. By to develop a Windows-based financial delimbed to remove needles, and long comparing the two models, the ordered/ and engineering software program, fiber chips up to ¾-inch long. The average unordered selection issue of the protest the harvest cost-revenue estimator, to production rate ranged from 24.9–38.2 responses is analyzed to demonstrate how identify the economic costs of wildfire fuel green tons/productive machine hour (gt/ the treatment of protest responses can reduction treatments that may be used pmh). A machine rate of $161.20/pmh was significantly influence WTP models. Both to evaluate cost per acre thresholds for calculated, resulting in a cost of $4.22/gt models consistently show that income logging contractors, appraise contract for producing the long fiber biomass chips. and knowledge are positive and significant bid rates, or assess stumpage values for factors, while distance to poorer quality Mitchell, D.L.; Gallagher, T.V.; ponderosa pine stands in the Southwestern 32 streams and duration of residency are Thomas, R.E. 2008. The human factors United States. Application of the model negative and significant factors on WTP. of implementing shift work in logging illustrates variability in fuels reduction operations. Journal of Agricultural Safety 29 Huggett, Robert J., Jr.; Abt, Karen costs owing to the level of fuels reduction and Health. 14(4): 1-14. L.; Shepperd, Wayne. 2008. Efficacy of achieved, the volume of merchantable mechanical fuel treatments for reducing wood removed from different forest stands, A fairly recent development in the forest wildfire hazard. Forest Policy and and the availability of markets for removed industry is the use of shift work in logging Economics. 10(6): 408-414. material. Machine productivity helps in the Southeastern U.S. Logging company predict differences in harvest costs but is owners are implementing shift work as an The efficacy of mechanical fuel treatments opportunity to increase production and for reducing wildfire hazard at a landscape

38 compass—october 2008 environment conducive to high feller- potentially reduce the cost of producing 36 Prestemon, Jeffrey P.; Abt, Karen buncher productivity. This study focused each unit of wood, without consideration L.; Huggett, Robert J., Jr. 2008. Market on using conventional, readily available of the potential impacts on the logging impacts of a multiyear mechanical fuel equipment in a unique application that crew. There are many documented treatment program in the U.S. Forest was not related to short-rotation woody physiological and psychological impacts Policy and Economics. 10: 386-399. on workers from shift work in a variety of crops. The machine tested does not industries, although few address forestry represent a special alternative or technique We describe a two-stage model of global workers in the U.S. Semi-structured for felling smaller trees. log and chip markets that evaluates the interviews were performed to gather spatial and temporal economic effects 34 Poudyal, Neelam; Cho, Seong Hoon; information about how logging company of government-subsidized fire-related Bowker, J.M. 2008. Demand for resident owners were implementing shift work in mechanical fuel treatment programs hunting in the Southeastern United seven Southeastern States. Data collected in the U.S. West and South. The first States. Human Dimensions of Wildlife. 13: during the interviews included employee stage is a goal program that allocates 158-174. turnover, shift hours, shift scheduling, subsidies according to fire risk and safety considerations, and production We modeled hunting demand among location priorities, given a budget and a impacts. Various work schedules were resident hunters in the Southeastern feasible, market-clearing market solution. employed. The majority of the schedules United States. Our model revealed that The second stage is a quadratic welfare encompassed less than 24 hours per day. future hunting demand will likely decline maximization spatial equilibrium model Permanent and rotating shift schedules in this region. Population growth in the of individual State and global product were found. None of the logging company region will increase demand but structural markets, subject to the fuel treatment owners used more than two crews in a 24- change in the region’s demography (e.g., allocation. Results show that the program hour period. Additional safety precautions “browning” and “aging “), along with enhances timber market welfare in regions were implemented as a result of working declining forest land access will decrease where treatments occur and globally but after dark. No in-woods worker accidents hunting demand. The results suggested has an overall negative economic impact, or injuries were reported by any of those that programs encouraging younger and once fuel treatment program costs are interviewed. Results indicate that a variety nonwhite populations to participate in included. The overall cost of a mechanical of work schedules can be successfully hunting could mitigate a forecast hunting fuel treatment program, when considering implemented in the Southeastern U.S. decline in the region. Increasing license timber market welfare, transport costs, logging industry. fees, while politically risky, should increase treatment costs, and timber receipts, agency revenues due to price-inelastic exceeds $1,000 per acre, implying that Mitchell, Dana; Seixas, Fernando; 33 demand. The model developed here can be the long-run fire effects and ecosystem Klepac, John. 2008. Felling small trees applied to understand and project hunting net benefits of a treatment program would with a drive-to-tree feller-buncher. demand in the Southeast and adapted to need to exceed this figure in order to justify Tech. Release 08-R-16. Rockville, MD: other regions. widespread implementation. Forest Resources Association, Inc. 2 p. 35 Prestemon, Jeffrey P.; Abt, Karen; 37 Rummer, Bob. 2008. Assessing Conventional forestry equipment is often Gebert, Krista. 2008. Suppression cost the cost of fuel reduction treatments: used to harvest small diameter trees. The forecasts in advance of wildfire seasons. a critical review. Forest Policy and typical ground-based logging operation is Forest Science. 54(4): 381-396. Economics. 10: 355-362. highly mechanized, with the most common using feller-bunchers, grapple skidders, Forecasts of wildfire suppression costs The basic costs of the operations for and a chipper or grinder. But these are demonstrated for two lead times in implementing fuel reduction treatments are machines may not be economical when advance of a wildfire season: spring and used to evaluate treatment effectiveness, used in precommercial or unmerchantable fall of the current fiscal year. Forecast select among alternatives, estimate thinning operations in which the number equations relate costs by geographical total project costs, and build national of trees to be removed per acre is high region to climate variables and time trends. program strategies. However, a review but volume per tree is low. Published Forecasts are evaluated for their goodness of the literature indicates that there studies commonly find that feller-buncher of fit using cross-validation techniques. is questionable basis for many of the productivity (tons/productive machine Results show that the spring forecast of general estimates used to date. Different hour) is directly proportional to tree suppression costs is statistically no better approaches to estimating cost have been diameter. As tree diameters increase, the than the fall forecast for predicting the used. Four methods are reviewed with tons produced per hour increase, resulting coming season’s costs. However, both the discussion of the appropriate applications in a lower cost per unit of wood produced. spring and fall models reduce forecast to fuel reduction cost analysis. Critical Existing literature often reports low feller- errors by approximately 60 percent gaps identified in the understanding buncher production rates in stands with compared to a 10-year moving average of operations costs include business smaller trees (3-inch d.b.h. or less). The of observed historical costs, which is overhead, repair and maintenance feller-buncher productivity observed in currently used as a budget request formula reserves, and estimates of the cost of risk. this study was higher than expected. by the U.S. Forest Service. Future analyses of fuel treatments should Gentle topography, uniform plantation, be cautious in extrapolating cost numbers and operator experience created an from the existing literature. www.srs.fs.usda.gov 39 38 Shupe, Todd F.; Groom, Leslie H.; 40 Campbell, Joshua W.; Hanula, J.L. 42 Campbell, Joshua W.; Hanula, J.L.; Eberhardt, Thomas L. [and others]. 2008. 2007. Efficiency of Malaise traps Waldrop, Thomas A. 2008. Effects of Selected mechanical and physical and colored pan traps for collecting prescribed fire and fire surrogates on properties of Chinese tallow tree flower visiting insects from three saproxylic Coleoptera in the Southern juvenile wood. Forest Products Journal. forested ecosystems. Journal of Insect Appalachians of North Carolina. Journal 58(4): 90-93. Conservation. 11(4): 399-408. of Entomological Science. 43(1): 57-75. Chinese tallow tree is a noxious, invasive Pollinators provide critical ecosystem We examined the effects of forest plant in the Southeastern United States. It services, but sampling them in forests is management practices (prescribed is generally considered a nuisance and has difficult for a variety of reasons. We tested burning, shrub removal, and prescribed no current commercial use. The objective pan traps constructed from blue, yellow, burn plus shrub removal) on beetles that of this research was to determine the and white Solo7 bowls and compared eat or live in dead or dying trees in the moduli of rupture (MOR) and elasticity them to Malaise traps at three different Southern Appalachian Mountains of North (MOE) of the stem wood of this species at forest locations (Piedmont, Coastal Plain, Carolina. Although a few beetles are pests, different vertical sampling locations. Three and Blue Ridge). Blue pan traps were they are greatly outnumbered by lesser Chinese tallow trees were felled and cut the most effective overall, although some known beetles that are valuable parts of into bolts before sampling along the east pollinator groups preferred certain pan forest ecosystems. Saproxylic beetles are and west radial directions. It was found trap colors. Pan traps generally caught important because they contribute to wood that Chinese tallow tree has sufficient more pollinators than Malaise traps and, decomposition, nutrient cycling, and they bending strength for low to medium because of their low cost and simplicity, are food for other organisms, so we want structural uses. Tree, bolt, and sampling using several colors of pan traps is an to know how these unique Coleoptera direction were all found to be significant effective way to sample relative abundance respond to various forest management sources of variation for the MOR and MOE and species richness of flower-visiting practices so they can be conserved. In data. insects in forests. our study, saproxylic beetle numbers increased greatly from the first year (2003) Campbell, Joshua W.; Hanula, Threats to Forest Health 41 to the second year (2004) in response to J.L.; Outcalt, Kenneth W. 2008. Effects all treatments. Numbers of many species, 39 Achtemeier, Gary L. 2008. Effects of of prescribed fire and other plant including various species of Scolytidae, moisture released during forest burning community restoration treatments on were significantly affected by the on fog formation and implications for tree mortality, bark beetles, and other treatments. We saw no evidence that the visibility. Journal of Applied Meteorology saproxylic Coleoptera of longleaf pine, treatments negatively impacted saproxylic and Climatology. 47(5): 1287-1296. Pinus palustris Mill., on the Coastal species, and in most cases they benefited Plain of Alabama. Forest Ecology and Smoke from wildland burning in from the disturbances. association with fog has been implicated Management. 254: 134-144. Guo, Qinfeng; Symstad, Amy. 2008. A as a visibility hazard over roadways in the Treatments (prescribed burns, thinning 43 two-part measure of degree of invasion United States. Visibilities at accident sites of understory, herbicides) to restore for cross-community comparisons. have been estimated in the range from 1 understory plant communities of mature Conservation Biology. 22(3): 666-672. to 3 m (extinction coefficients between (50-80 years old) longleaf pine and reduce 1000 and 4000). Temperature and relative risks of wildfire were applied to plots in Invasibility is a critical feature of ecological humidity measurements were taken from the Coastal Plain of Alabama that had a communities, especially for management 29 “smokes” during 2002 and 2003. These substantial shrub layer due to lack of fire. decisions. However, measuring invasibility data were converted to a measure of the Some saproxylic beetles (which feed on has been a major challenge, and different mass of water vapor present to the mass dead and dying wood) are considered pests measures such as the richness, survival, of dry air containing the vapor (smoke because they can kill trees and degrade density, or biomass of exotic species have mixing ratio). Smoke temperatures were wood, but the majority are beneficial so far been used, producing inconsistent processed through a simple radiation because they aid in decomposition of wood results and making comparisons among model before smokes were mixed with and serve as food for other invertebrate communities difficult. We propose a ambient air with temperature and moisture and vertebrate animals. From 2002 to measure with the proportions of both observed during the early morning on the 2004, we captured saproxylic beetles on exotic species richness and exotic species days following the burns. Calculations various treated plots. Our results show abundance. By including both of these show supersaturations implying liquid that the restoration treatments tested did components, the new practical measure water contents (LWC) up to 17 times as not cause increased bark beetle-related illustrates the importance of dominance of large as LWC found in natural fog. Simple tree mortality, and they did not negatively exotic species relative to natives, which is models combining fog droplet number affect populations of early successional a primary management concern associated density, droplet size, and LWC show that saproxylic beetle fauna. with exotic species. the supersaturation LWC of smokes is capable of reducing visibility to the ranges observed.

40 compass—october 2008 through time. Our results suggest that key 44 Hanula, James L.; Mayfield, Albert E., 49 Nowak, John; Asaro, Christopher; areas with high redbay levels have not III; Fraedrich, Stephen W.; Rabaglia, Robert Klepzig, Kier; Billings, Ronald. 2008. been invaded, but some are immediately J. 2008. Biology and host associations The southern pine beetle prevention threatened; climatic conditions may of redbay ambrosia beetle, Xyleborus initiative: working for healthier forests. constrain the beetle to the Southeastern glabratus (Coleoptera: Curculionidae: Journal of Forestry. 106(5): 261-267. U.S. coast; if unchecked, the beetle may Scolytinae), exotic vector of laurel wilt spread throughout the range of redbay in The southern pine beetle (SPB) is the killing redbay (Persea borbonia) trees in less than 40 years. Disruption of human- most destructive forest pest in the South. the Southeastern United States. Journal aided, long-distance dispersal could reduce After a recent SPB outbreak, the U.S. of Economic Entomology. 101[Number this possibility. Forest Service [Forest Health Protection unknown]: 1276-1286. and Southern Research Station (SRS)] The redbay ambrosia beetle carries a 47 Lu, Min; Miller, Daniel R.; Sun, Jiang- received SPB Initiative (SPBI) funding to fungus that is killing mature redbay trees Hua. 2007. Cross-attraction between an focus more resources on proactive SPB in South Carolina, Georgia, and Florida. exotic and a native pine bark beetle: prevention work. This funding is being The beetle was recently introduced to the a novel invasion mechanism? Public used for on-the-ground accomplishments, Savannah, GA, area from somewhere in Library of Science (PLoS) ONE. 12: e1302. landowner education, and research and Asia. In 2006 and 2007 we investigated 9 p. development. Since 2003, on-the-ground the seasonal flight activity of redbay We report, for the first time, facilitation accomplishments have totaled over ambrosia beetle, what trees it attacks, and between an exotic and a native bark beetle 500,000 acres of thinning and restoration population levels of the beetle at eight that seems to involve overlap in the use of work on State, private, and national forest locations in South Carolina and Georgia, host attractants and pheromones, resulting land. The SRS Insects, Diseases, and where infestations ranged from very recent in cross-attraction. In China we found that Invasive Plants Research Work Unit, based to at least several years old. These studies 35-40 percent of Pinus tabuliformis attacked in Pineville, LA, has worked, internally and are important first steps in understanding by an exotic bark beetle, Dendroctonus externally, on projects addressing (1) the the biology of this beetle and offer some valens (native to the USA and Canada), risks and costs of SPB, (2) preventing and promise for future control strategies. were also attacked by a native pine bark controlling SPB outbreaks, and (3) recovery beetle, Hylastes paralellus. Antennal and from SPB outbreaks. Much work has been 45 Khaustov, Alexandr A.; Moser, walking responses of H. parallelus to host- accomplished through the SPBI and will John C. 2008. Two new species of and beetle-produced compounds were hopefully have a long-lasting impact. mites of the genera Petalomium Cross similar to those of D. valens in China. This article describes the history, current and Caesarodispus Mahunka (Acari: The phenomenon of semiochemical- practices, and accomplishments for the Heterostigmata: Neopygmephoridae, mediated interspecific facilitation should be first 6 years of the SPBI. Microdispidae) associated with considered as an invasion mechanism for Solenopsis invicta Buren (Hymenoptera: 50 Pernek, Milan; Hrasovec, Boris; other species of exotic bark and ambrosia Formicidae) from the USA. International Matosevic, Dinka [and others]. 2008. beetles. Journal of Acarology. 34(2): 115-122. Phoretic mites of three bark beetles (Pityokteines spp.) on silver fir. Journal Two new species of myrmecophilous 48 Miller, Daniel R.; Duerr, Donald A. of Pest Science. 81: 35-42. [Editor’s note: pygmephoroid mites, Petalomium 2008. Comparison of arboreal beetle Southern Research Station scientist John C. hofstetteri n. sp. (Neopygmephoridae) catches in wet and dry collection Moser coauthored this publication.] and Caesarodispus klepzigi n. sp. cups with Lindgren multiple funnel (Microdispidae), associated with the red traps. Journal of Economic Entomology. The species composition and abundance imported fire ant (Solenopsis invicta Buren) 101[Number unknown]: 107–113. of phoretic mites of the bark beetles Hymenoptera: Formicidae), are described We compared the effectiveness of a dry Pityokteines curvidens, P. spinidens, and P. from Louisiana, U.S.A. collection cup to a wet collection cup for vorontzowi on silver fir (Abies alba) were investigated in 2003 at two locations 46 Koch, F.H.; Smith, W.D. 2008. use with baited Lindgren multiple-funnel traps in catching bark and wood boring (Trakoscan and Litoric) in Croatia. Stem Spatio-temporal analysis of Xyleborus beetles in southern pine forests. In general, sections and branches from A. alba trees glabratus (Coleoptera: Circulionidae: catches of Cerambycidae, Curculionidae, infested by Pityokteines ssp. were collected Scolytinae) invasion in Eastern U.S. and Buprestidae in dry cups were 40 to 97 and incubated in rearing cages. Bark forests. Environmental Entomology. 37(2): beetles emerging from the stem sections 442-452. percent lower than those in wet cups. In contrast, catches of some Scolytidae (Ips and branches were examined for photetic A symbiotic fungus of the beetle has avulsus and Ips grandicollis) were largely mites. A total of 10 mite species were recently caused mortality of redbay unaffected by cup selection. Our results documented for the first time as associates and, occasionally, sassafras trees in the support the use of wet cups with baited of Pityokteines spp. on A. alba. The paper Southeast. No one had done a broad- multiple-funnel traps in areas where discusses the frequency, spectrum, and scale analysis of the threat to the Eastern maximum trap efficiency is required, such relative abundance of the species. None of U.S., so we mapped redbay and sassafras as in the detection of exotic insects at the phoretic mites found in the survey in densities, delineated potential climatic ports-of-entry and within quarantine and Croatia appear to have the potential to be limits for the beetle, and modeled spread containment zones. (continued) www.srs.fs.usda.gov 41 used for biological control of Pityokteines vegetation disturbance measured by on only one occasion. This study was spp., although the feeding habits are Landsat NDVI changes over a 4-year conducted to evaluate how nutrient and unknown for many species recorded. period for 51 conservation areas in the water availability influence above and Apulia region of south Italy. Insights belowground growth in loblolly pine Shepherd, William P.; Huber, Dezene 51 gained from a multiscale assessment of and sweetgum. It was predicted that P.W.; Seybold, Steven J.; Fettig, Christopher disturbance, coupled with information more belowground growth would be J. 2007. Antennal responses of the about land use and habitat mosaics, are observed when resources were limited. western pine beetle, Dendroctonus necessary to understand the distinctive Such a response was observed for brevicomis (Coleoptera: Curculionidae), features of different preserved areas and, individual sampling occasions; however, to stem volatiles of its primary host, thus, to formulate appropriate plans for a this compares developmentally different Pinus ponderosa, and nine sympatric regional conservation network to maintain trees. When developmentally similar nonhost angiosperms and conifers. or enhance biodiversity in the region. trees were evaluated, there was very little Chemoecology. 17: 209-221. difference in the proportion of above and The western pine beetle (Dendroctonus Forest Watershed Science belowground growth. In fact, for loblolly brevicomis), an aggressive killer of pine an extremely consistent ratio of above 53 Buehler, David A.; Giocomo, James J.; ponderosa pine in Western North to belowground growth was observed, and Jones, Jason [and others]. 2008. Cerulean America, may use volatile chemical this consistency was observed among a warbler reproduction, survival, and odors to differentiate between host and wide variety of loblolly pine studies. These models of population decline. Journal nonhost trees (both angiosperms and results aid our understanding growth of Wildlife Management. 72(3): 646-653. conifers) when foraging. Bark extracts processes and carbon cycling in forest [Editor’s note: Southern Research Station from 10 tree species were separated into plantations. scientist Paul B. Hamel coauthored this individual chemical components, using a publication.] De Steven, Diane; Sharitz, Rebecca R. gas chromatograph, and simultaneously 55 2007. Transplanting native dominant introduced to beetle antennae attached Thirteen collaborators combined data plants to facilitate community to electrodes and a signal amplifier. on cerulean warbler breeding into development in restored Coastal Plain Compounds that elicited measurable this first comprehensive analysis of wetlands. Wetlands. 27(4): 972-978. antennal responses, indicating a beetle’s reproduction and survival in this species ability to detect a particular odor, may of intense conservation concern. Results Methods to restore depressional wetlands disrupt host attraction and lead to tree from Arkansas, Tennessee, Indiana, in the Southern U.S. usually involve protection. The beetles were able to detect Michigan, and Ontario suggest potential plugging drainage ditches to raise water over 40 volatile chemicals, underscoring continuing difficulty for cerulean warblers. levels and allowing wetland plants to the complex olfactory environment in Populations in agriculture-dominated colonize naturally from soil seed banks. which they must locate suitable hosts. landscapes are likely not maintaining However, the typical dominant grasses may themselves absent immigration, while not recolonize because they are absent in 52 Zaccarelli, N.; Riitters, K.H.; those in forest-dominated landscapes are the seed banks and cannot disperse easily. Petrosillo, I.; Zurlini, G. 2008. Indicating closer to maintaining themselves. Modeled We experimentally transplanted rooted disturbance content and context for population growth indicates that much sprigs of two vegetative-spreading wetland preserved areas. Ecological Indicators. 8: better survival estimates are needed for grasses (maidencane, southern cutgrass) 841-853. the species, and that efforts to improve into restored depressions that were left An accepted goal of conservation is survival during the nonbreeding season unplanted after hydrology restoration. to build a conservation network that would have the greatest positive effect on The simple transplanting methods were is resilient to environmental change. population growth. successful, as both species attained 15–85 The conceptual patch-corridor-matrix percent cover in 2 years. Planted plots 54 Coyle, David R.; Coleman, Mark model views individual conservation developed greater vegetative cover during D.; Aubrey, Doug P. 2008. Above- and areas as connected components of a early drought conditions and greater cover below-ground biomass accumulation, regional network capable of sustaining of wetland plant species after 4 years. production, and distribution of metapopulations and biodiversity, and Selectively planting dominant species sweetgum and loblolly pine grown with assessment of contextual conditions in can assist restoration by accelerating irrigation and fertilization. Canadian the matrix surrounding conservation plant cover development and creating a Journal of Forest Research. 38(6): 1335- areas is necessary for planning. Context vegetation structure similar to natural 1348. is often assessed in terms of fixed-width wetlands. buffers surrounding conservation areas; Forest plantations grown with various Elliott, Katherine J.; Vose, James M.; but in practice, different locations within levels of nutrient and water availability 56 Knoepp, Jennifer D. [and others]. 2008. the same conservation area experience aid our understanding of optimal Simulated effects of sulfur deposition different contexts. We present an alternate resource requirements. Much of our on nutrient cycling in class I wilderness approach for describing the landscape understanding of resource demand is areas. Journal of Environmental Quality. context of conservation areas, and we based on aboveground parts of the tree 37: 1419-1431. [Editor’s note: Wayne T. illustrate the approach by assessing sampled or on measurements collected Swank, Southern Research Station scientist emeritus, and William Jackson, U.S. Forest 42 compass—october 2008 species losses on catchment water balance. Service, coauthored this publication.] 60 Lemly, A. Dennis. 2007. A procedure As a consequence of human land use, 58 Jelks, Howard L.; Walsh, Stephen J.; for NEPA assessment of selenium population growth, and industrialization, Burkhead, Noel M. [and others]. 2008. hazards associated with mining. wilderness and other natural areas are Conservation status of imperiled North Environmental Monitoring and Assessment. threatened by air pollution, climate American freshwater and diadromous 125: 361-375. change, and exotic diseases or pests. Air fishes. Fisheries. 33(8): 372-407. [Editor’s This paper gives step-by-step instructions pollution in the form of acidic deposition note: Southern Research Station scientist for assessing aquatic selenium hazards is comprised of sulfuric and nitric acids Melvin L. Warren, Jr. coauthored this associated with mining. The procedure and ammonium derived from emissions publication.] was developed to provide the U.S. Forest of sulfur dioxide, nitrogen oxides, and An expert panel of ichthyologists compiled Service with a proactive capability for ammonia. We predicted the effects of a list of imperiled (i.e., endangered, determining the risk of selenium pollution altered sulfate (SO ) deposition on Joyce 4 threatened, vulnerable) freshwater fishes when it reviews mine permit applications Kilmer/Slickrock, Shining Rock, and Linville of North America under the auspices of the in accordance with the National Gorge Wildernesses in western North American Fisheries Society’s Endangered Environmental Policy Act (NEPA). The Carolina using a nutrient cycling model. Species Committee. The panel included procedural framework is constructed in Although the areas range in soil acidity, 700 imperiled fish taxa representing 133 a decision-tree format in order to guide nutrient availability, and soil solution and genera and 36 families. The panel regarded users through the various steps, provide a stream chemistry, all three areas have low about 39 percent of native fish species on logical sequence for completing individual soil calcium/aluminum (Ca/Al) ratios, low the continent as imperiled, including 230 tasks, and identify key decision points. By SO retention, and soils are acidic and low 4 vulnerable taxa, 190 threatened taxa, 280 utilizing the procedure, NEPA workers can in weatherable minerals. Even with large endangered taxa, and 61 taxa presumed be confident in their ability to understand reductions in SO and associated acid 4 extinct or extirpated from nature. Of fishes the risk of aquatic selenium pollution deposition, it may take decades before listed by the committee as imperiled in and take appropriate action. Although these systems recover from depletion 1989, most (89 percent) are the same the procedure was developed for the U.S. of exchangeable Ca, magnesium, and or worse in conservation status; only 6 Forest Service, it should also be useful to potassium. These forests are significantly percent have improved in status, and 5 other Federal land management agencies stressed under current conditions. percent were delisted for various reasons. that conduct NEPA assessments, as well as 57 Ford, Chelcy R.; Hubbard, Robert Habitat degradation and nonindigenous regulatory agencies responsible for issuing M.; Kloeppel, Brian D.; Vose, James species are the main threats to at-risk coal mining permits. Mining companies M. 2007. A comparison of sap flux- fishes, many of which are restricted to will also benefit from the application of based evapotranspiration estimates small ranges. this procedure because priority selenium with catchment-scale water balance. sources can be identified in relation to 59 Knoepp, Jennifer D.; Vose, James Agricultural and Forest Meteorology. 145: specific mine-operating parameters. M.; Swank, Wayne T. 2008. Nitrogen 176-185. The procedure will reveal the point(s) at deposition and cycling across an which there is a need to modify operating Studies evaluating comparability of sap elevation and vegetation gradient conditions to meet environmental flux-based estimates of transpiration in Southern Appalachian forests. quality goals. By recognizing concerns with alternative methods for estimating International Journal of Environmental early in the NEPA process, it may be transpiration at the landscape scale are Studies. 66(3): 389-408. possible for a mining company to match rare. Determining and accounting for We studied nitrogen (N) cycling patterns operational parameters with environmental sources of variation are critical for making in several vegetation types and elevations requirements, thereby increasing the landscape inferences about transpiration. in the Southern Appalachian Mountains to likelihood that the permit application will We monitored sap flux in 40 trees in a 50- understand the potential effects of climate be approved. year old eastern white pine plantation for 2 change and atmospheric deposition on years. We scaled estimates of transpiration 61 Lemly, A. Dennis; Skorupa, Joseph some of the most diverse forests in the and interception to the catchment and P. 2007. Technical issues affecting the US. N inputs from rainfall increased with compared these with water balance implementation of U.S Environmental elevation. In all sites tree canopies retained estimates of evapotranspiration. For both Protection Agency’s proposed fish inorganic N and lost organic N; net canopy years, the two independent estimates tissue-based aquatic criterion for effects varied among forest types. High were similar, differing by an average of 10 selenium. Integrated Environmental elevation sites had the greatest litterfall percent. Results indicate that sap flux- Assessment and Management. 3(4): 552- N, soil N, soil solution N, and stream N based estimates of transpiration may also 558. exports. Low stream N exports from low be useful in mixed-species stands and elevation sites suggest they are N limited. The U.S. Environmental Protection could provide a tool to evaluate impacts of Our study suggests that high elevation Agency is developing a national water watersheds are more sensitive to increased quality criterion for selenium based on N deposition and climate change. concentrations of the element in fish tissue. Although this approach offers

www.srs.fs.usda.gov 43 advantages over the current water- 63 Lockhart, Brian Roy; Gardiner, old-growth forests. Tree species of greatest based regulations, it also presents new Emile S.; Stautz, Theran P. [and others]. importance included sugarberry, sweet challenges with respect to implementation. 2007. Nondestructive estimation of pecan, overcup oak, Nuttall oak, and green A comprehensive protocol that answers leaf area for pondberry. Res. Note ash. Observations indicate that this stand the ‘‘what, where, and when’’ is essential SRS–14. Asheville, NC: U.S. Department is undergoing gap-phase regeneration with the new tissue-based approach in of Agriculture Forest Service, Southern dynamics. Numerous canopy gaps of order to ensure proper acquisition of data Research Station. 5 p. [Editor’s note: various sizes, large coarse woody debris, that apply to the criterion. Dischargers will Southern Research Station scientists and patches of even-aged trees indicate need to understand selenium transport, Theodor D. Leininger, Paul B. Hamel, that this stand may fit criteria of an cycling, and bioaccumulation to effectively Kristina F. Connor, Nathan M. Schiff, A. uneven-aged forest in the old-growth stage monitor for the criterion and, if necessary, Dan Wilson, and Margaret S. Devall co- of stand development. develop site-specific standards. This paper authored this publication.] 65 Meadows, James S.; Skojac, Daniel A., discusses 11 key issues that affect the Jr. 2008. A new tree classification system implementation of a tissue-based criterion, Pondberry [Lindera melissifolia (Walt.) for southern hardwoods. Southern ranging from the selection of fish species to Blume] is a federally listed endangered Journal of Applied Forestry. 32(2): 69-79. the importance of hydrological units in the shrub found as isolated populations in sampling design. It also outlines a strategy seasonally flooded forests across the We describe a new tree classification that incorporates both water column and Southeastern United States. Because system for southern hardwoods. It replaces tissue-based approaches. this shrub is rare, it has received little the old system originally developed by John research attention, and basic knowledge Putnam in 1960. Descriptions of individual Lockhart, Brian Roy; Chambers, Jim 62 of its ecology and physiology is lacking. tree classes within Putnam’s system are L. 2007. Cherrybark oak stump sprout To facilitate future ecological and too broad, too subjective, and are poorly survival and development five years physiological studies on pondberry, we defined, which leads to inconsistency following plantation thinning in the developed and tested a model to predict among users in the field. Our new system Lower Mississippi Alluvial Valley, USA. area of individual leaf blades from consists of five tree classes used only New Forests. 33: 183-192. simple dimensions that are obtained for sawtimber-sized trees: (1) preferred Cherrybark oak (Quercus pagoda Raf.) nondestructively. A linear function, using growing stock, (2) desirable growing stump sprouts were studied for 5 years the product of blade length and width as stock, (3) acceptable growing stock, (4) in a 30-year old plantation thinned to the independent variable, was found to be cutting stock, and (5) cull stock, and two 70–75 percent stocking (light thinning) and the most suitable predictor of pondberry tree classes used only for poletimber- 45–50 percent stocking (heavy thinning). leaf blade area based on correlation sized trees: (1) superior poletimber stock Sprouting success, survival, number of coefficients (r2 = 0.9956), plots of actual and (2) inferior poletimber stock. We use sprouts per stump, and sprout height versus predicted values, and predicted well-defined, objective criteria for the differed little between thinning treatments versus residual values. We demonstrate descriptions of the individual tree classes. throughout the 5-year study period. Pre- that simple dimensions that are obtained Our new tree classification system can be harvest tree d.b.h. also had no influence on nondestructively, such as blade length used as a basis for planning thinnings and sprout survival and development. A 2-year and width, can be used to reliably for developing marking rules in southern drought reduced survival and may have predict leaf blade area of pondberry, but hardwood forests. Tree classes are used to influenced sprout development. Sprout model coefficients should be calibrated identify those trees that should be cut and clump survival dropped from 90 percent for local colonies to improve estimates. those trees that should be retained during one year following thinning to 46 percent Development of this model allows for leaf a hardwood thinning operation. Other uses 3 years after thinning. Although sprout blade area determination at the plant level and adaptations of our new system are height averaged 337 cm 5 years after without the need to destructively harvest also described. thinning, annual sprout growth decreased foliage. Rosen, David J.; De Steven, from 166 cm the first year after thinning 66 64 Lockhart, Brian Roy; Kellum, Jamie Diane; Lange, Michael L. 2008. to 33 cm in each of the last two growing E. 2006. A complex stand on the White Conservation strategies and vegetation seasons. Results indicated that bottomland River National Refuge: implications characterization in the Columbia hardwood regeneration evaluation models for bottomland hardwood old growth. Bottomlands, an under-recognized may underestimate the potential of oak Journal of the Arkansas Academy of southern floodplain forest formation. stump sprouts to contribute to preharvest Science. 60: 181-184. Natural Areas Journal. 28(1): 74-82. regeneration assessments. Further study in the role of stump sprouts to regenerate Tree species composition was sampled The Columbia Bottomlands along the Texas bottomland oak species is needed. in an old, remnant bottomland hardwood Gulf Coast represent the westernmost forest in Desha County, AR. The stand extent of southern floodplain forest. The has 312 trees ha-1 greater than 10 cm forests today represent only 25 percent d.b.h. and a mean basal area of 30.4 of their presettlement extent, and they m2ha-1, values within ranges reported for are threatened by urban and agricultural other bottomland hardwood

44 compass—october 2008 development. Their importance as quite damaging. Sirex noctilio, a species climate fluctuation provides a basis for migratory landbird habitat led to the native to Europe, Asia, and North Africa predicting the long-term effects of climate Columbia Bottomlands Conservation has been very destructive to plantations change. Plan, a multipartner effort to establish a of introduced North American pines in 70 Wilson, A. Dan; Lester, Donald regional network of protected forest sites. several Southern Hemisphere countries. G.; Luckenbill, Brian K. 2008. Control By 2007, approximately 8,100 ha in 26 It was so destructive to Monterey pines of clavicipitaceous anamorphic tracts had been conserved. We found the in Australia and New Zealand that the endophytes with fungicides, aerated forest composition of a typical tract to be a Australians started a research program steam, and supercritical fluid CO -seed mosaic of different tree species influenced in the 1960s to control it. A European 2 extraction. Plant Pathology Journal. 7(1): by floodplain topography, flooding nematode, Deladenus siricidicola, has proven 65-74. pattern, and soil type. Knowledge of forest extremely effective as a classical biological composition will help to guide future land control agent for Sirex noctilio in both A group of fungi known as clavicipitaceous acquisitions and to develop approaches for Australia and New Zealand. In 2005, Sirex anamorphic endophytes (CA-endophytes) management and restoration. noctilio was discovered in New York and are carried within the seeds of numerous Canada. A program is being developed to temperate grasses worldwide. These Samuelson, Lisa J.; Farris, Marianne 67 control it, but there are unique problems fungi are important because some of G.; Stokes, Tom A.; Coleman, Mark D. in North America, the most basic of which them confer beneficial effects (resistance) 2008. Fertilization but not irrigation is identification of this pest. In contrast in their grass hosts to a wide range of influences hydraulic traits in to the Southern Hemisphere countries, insect and disease pests, while others plantation-grown loblolly pine. Forest which have no native siricid species, North produce powerful alkaloids that are toxic Ecology and Management. 255(8–9): 3331- America has many siricids, including to mammalian herbivores. The presence 3339. several that are very similar to Sirex of CA-endophytes in grasses complicates Evaluating water demand of managed noctilio. This guide, including keys and the evaluation of genetic traits. Thus, forest tree plantations is critical for photographic figures, was produced as a endophyte-free cultivars are needed to assessing production requirements for reference to help foresters, land managers, evaluate agronomic characteristics in the bioenergy, pulp and paper, and timber students, and all those concerned with absence of modifying endophytes. Three products. Information is limited on how our native forests identify North American different control methods were evaluated in processes controlling tree water use is Siricidae, including the introduced Sirex this study to determine which treatments influenced by soil water and nutrient noctilio. could provide significant endophyte availability. This study reports on control without causing appreciable seed Stroh, Chrissa L.; De Steven, Diane; measurements of water demand and 69 or seedling mortality. Several potential Guntenspergen, Glenn R. 2008. Effect other hydraulic properties of loblolly pine applications of these new technologies for of climate fluctuations on long-term stands grown with variable irrigation and controlling seed-borne fungal pathogens vegetation dynamics in Carolina bay fertilization. Individual tree water demand are discussed. wetlands. Wetlands. 28(1): 17-27. was largely determined by the amount of leaf area in the tree canopy, although In southeastern depressional wetlands, sap wood area also had some influence. water levels are influenced mainly by Loblolly pine grown with high fertility annual rainfall and are sensitive to maintained more leaf area and therefore droughts. Models suggest that the plant had higher water demand, while irrigation communities will respond to annual had no positive impact on leaf area and hydrologic fluctuation in one of two thus little impact on water use. Results ways: either cyclic change maintaining of this study will aid predictions of water herbaceous vegetation, or succession to requirements for pine plantations and forest. In seven wetlands, we analyzed products produced from them. hydrologic variation and vegetation change over a 15-year period spanning Schiff, Nathan M.; Valley, Steven 68 two drought and reflooding cycles. A.; LaBonte, James R.; Smith, David R. Wetland drying during droughts led to 2006. Guide to the siricid woodwasps increased cover of grass, upland, and of North America. FHTET-2006-15. woody species. Conversely, reflooding Morgantown, WV: U.S. Department of resulted in expansion of aquatic and Agriculture Forest Service, Forest Health emergent species, and reduced the cover Technology Enterprise Team. 102 p. of flood-intolerant woody and upland The Siricidae are a family of large, species. These large semi-permanent colorful, stingless wasps whose larvae wetlands generally exhibited cyclic change, bore into wood. While most species of whereas succession to forest may be siricids are of only minor importance in favored in smaller, shallower depressions. their native forests, exotic species can be Understanding responses to short-time

www.srs.fs.usda.gov 45 Research Work Units Location and project leader Name and 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 Cathryn Greenberg 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 Gainesville, FL Integrating Human and 352-376-3213 Vacant Natural Systems 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. forestthreats.org Athens, GA Center for Forest Disturbance Science 706-559-4316 John Stanturf 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

Longleaf pine on the Harrison Experimental Forest, Saucier, MS. (Photo by John Butnor)

46 compass—october 2008 “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 Environment1

1Printed with permission from The Compass and the Gyroscope, Kai N. Lee, chapter 1. © Kai N. Lee. Next Issue... The Southern Research Station Science You Can Use! maintains 19 experimental forests scattered across the Southeastern U.S. Forest Service United States. Experimental forests Southern Research Station were established to represent a specific Science Delivery Office ecosystem or forest type; many were set 200 W.T. Weaver Boulevard up to collect data over decades, even Asheville, NC 28804-3454 USA centuries. The experimental forests represent the backbone of Forest Service Address Correction Requested research, their baseline data invaluable ______for charting the changes now taking place in the forests of the South. In the OFFICIAL BUSINESS next issue of Compass, we’ll take a Penalty for Private Use $300 closer look at experimental forests, their history, contributions, and future uses.

visit our Web site at: www.srs.fs.usda.gov

STD PRSRT US POSTAGE PAID USDA, FS PERMIT NO. G-40

Margaret Staunton-Abel, the first professional woman forester in the Forest Service. Photo taken at Bent Creek Experimental Forest, Asheville, NC. (U.S. Forest Service Photo)