Hardwood snag fragmentation in a pine-oak forest of southeastern Arkansas
Because snags are importnat for forest wildlife as breeding, roosting and foraging sites, resource managers who wish to maintain this component in forest stands need to be aware of snag fragmentation rates. Measurements were taken in uneven-aged pine-hardwood standards in southeastern Arkansas to determine fragmentation rates for hardwood snags 2 to 6 yr after stem injection with herbicides. Crown and bole condition of snags were also assessed. Pinus eschinata Mill. and P. taeda L. were the dominant overstory components and were udisturbed. Quercus spp. accounted for 91% of hardwoods greater than 25 cm dbh. Since small diameter snags deteriorated first, snag diameter distributions changed from uneven-sized to even-sized structure as time since mortality increased. Within 3 yr of injection, 57% of snag boles had broken below crown height. Number of wildlife cavities per snag increased with time since mortality. At 6 yr after injection, 44% of residual snags had evidence of wildlife cavities. Less than 50% of hardwoods less then 25 cm dbh were still standing 5 yr after herbicide injection.
- Research Organization:
- Forest Service, Monticello, AR (United States). Forestry Sciences Lab.
- OSTI ID:
- 422104
- Report Number(s):
- PB--97-123459/XAB
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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