Successional Dynamics and Management Implications of a Montane Coniferous Forest in the Central Appalachians

Thomas M. Schuler and William Mark Ford, Northeastern Research Station, USDA Forest Service, and Rachel Collins, Department of Biology, University of Pittsburgh

Abstract: Trees and downed coarse woody debris were inventoried in an isolated montane red spruce forest located at the southern portion of the Westvaco Ecosystem Research Forest, Randolph County, West Virginia, 1999-2000. Stand characteristics were quantified and compared to structural characteristics of other similar Appalachian and Northeastern old growth forest communities. Based on dendroecological analysis, stand initiation occurred in the early 1920's when watershed-wide timber harvesting occurred. Live tree basal area ³ 10 cm DBH (44.5 m2 ha-1), snag density ³ 10 cm DBH (256 ha-1), and total fallen log volume (CWD) (86.2 m3 ha-1) did not differ significantly from old-growth attributes (a = 0.05). However, snag basal area ³ 10 cm DBH (4.6 m2 ha-1), height of dominant and co-dominant spruce (24.7 m), and maximum red spruce DBH (48.0 cm) were significantly less than would be expected in similar old-growth forests types. Red spruce made up over 40% of dominant crown class trees and was often a main canopy emergent. However, the stand was largely eastern hemlock in terms of relative importance (51.7%) with red spruce (18%) and red maple (16.7%) representing about equal lesser fractions. Stocking was 147% of B-line basal area, evidenced by overall slow growth rate for both red spruce and eastern hemlock. Current conditions would support a commercial thinning that would accelerate individual tree growth rates, increase downed CWD, alter composition to favor red spruce, and decrease time required to attain structural and functional characteristics of old-growth montane red spruce forests to improve habitat for the endangered Virginia northern flying squirrel and species of special concern such as the northern goshawk and the saw-whet owl.