Intensive Forest Management (IFM) Avian point count and vegetation
Principal Investigator: Jake Verschuyl, PhD, NCASI / Director of Forestry Research, Western U.S. & B.C.
Collaborator: Oregon State University
Supported by: Western Trade Association Member Companies
Project Summary: To develop and disseminate scientific information on managing forested landscapes for biodiversity conservation while sustaining high levels of timber production. Cooperators are studying the effects of IFM on songbird and arthropod abundance and diversity, as well as songbird populations on 32 study plots, ~20 ha each, in the Coast Range of Oregon. These sites were clear-cut in fall 2009 or spring 2010 and were planted with Douglas-fir in spring 2011. In a randomized design, one of four treatments were studied, ranging from a control (no chemicals applied) stand, 2 intermediate treatments, to an intensively managed stand with 5 successive years of herbicide broadleaf and shrub control. The study is entering the 10th year and operational treatments are high in species diversity.
Publications:
- Kroll et al 2020 Ecological bulletin: Conservation and Production Responses Vary by Disturbance Intensity in a Long‐Term Forest Management Experiment – Kroll – 2020 – The Bulletin of the Ecological Society of America – Wiley Online Library
- Harris et al 2020 Do birds help trees go: Do birds help trees grow? An experimental study of the effects of land‐use intensification on avian trophic cascades – Harris – 2020 – Ecology – Wiley Online Library
- Kroll et al 2020 Conservation and production responses: Conservation and production responses vary by disturbance intensity in a long‐term forest management experiment – Kroll – 2020 – Ecological Applications – Wiley Online Library
Project Reports:
Final Report May 2021
Contact Jake Verschuyl at jverschuyl@ncasi.org