Structural differences between precommercially thinned and unthinned conifer stands

摘要: Effects of precommercial thinning (PCT) in young, high-density forest stands on the growth and yield crop trees has been well-studied, but information about response habitat characteristics structural attributes that are related to abundance diversity wildlife populations is deficient. We examined changes structure occurred with PCT stand development commercial spruce-fir within Acadian northern Maine. selected 30 regenerating, herbicide-treated conifer (17 treated PCT) three classes (1, 6, or 11 years post-PCT) measured 27 variables described understory, overstory, woody debris, ground cover these stands. The application accelerated some development, resulting a reduction understory complexity, which conflicts previous studies non-herbicide-treated reported increases complexity after thinning. Near-ground cover, overstory >80% variation vegetation between thinned unthinned Horizontal an contrast, gradient herbaceous >75% as regenerating (thinned unthinned) developed through time. may have negative effects dependent early successional forest, positively affect species use more mature forest.