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Type: Journal Article
Author(s): Saskia L. van de Gevel; J. L. Hart; M. D. Spond; P. B. White; M. N. Sutton; Henri D. Grissino-Mayer
Publication Date: December 2012

We analyzed tree species composition and age structure in a rare, old-growth Quercus rubra L. (northern red oak) forest at Bluff Mountain Preserve, North Carolina, to assess potential changes associated with Cryphonectria parasitica (Murrill) M. E. Barr (chestnut blight), selective logging, livestock grazing, ice storms, wind events, and fire history. We established forest inventory plots to determine the forest composition, vertical structure, and age of the high-elevation Q. rubra dominated forest. We developed the longest Q. rubra dendroecological history (1671-2009) in North America. Several living Q. rubra individuals were more than 250 years old. The frequency, magnitude, and spatial extent of canopy disturbance events were shown in radial growth trends in Q. rubra samples. We also examined Q. rubra climate -- radial growth relationships to compare high-elevation Q. rubra climate response patterns with results from lower elevation Quercus dendroclimatological studies. Stand-wide release events corresponded with the loss of Castanea dentata (Marsh.) Borkh. (American chestnut) during the 1930s and frequent ice storms or wind events. Although we observed fire scars on living hardwood trees, we did not find fire scars on the remnant logs. The lack of fire scars on the remnant logs indicates that the observed fires likely occurred during the second half of the 20th century. Quercus rubra were most climatically sensitive to cool March temperatures. Quercus rubra sampled at higher elevations were more sensitive to temperature than lower elevation Quercus spp. trees, which may indicate higher sensitivity to March frosts. Quercus rubra has been a dominant species at Bluff Mountain for the past 300 years; however, our data indicate that the forest will transition to support a much stronger Acer saccharum Marsh. (sugar maple) component during the next 50 years. This study provides a multicentury perspective to guide conservation efforts and forest management in high-elevation Quercus spp. forests in the southern Appalachian Mountains. Published by NRC Research Press. Published by NRC Research Press.

Citation: van de Gevel, S. L., J. L. Hart, M. D. Spond, P. B. White, M. N. Sutton, and H. D. Grissino-Mayer. 2012. American chestnut (Castanea dentata) to northern red oak (Quercus rubra): forest dynamics of an old-growth forest in the Blue Ridge Mountains, USA. Botany-Botanique, v. 90, no. 12, p. 1263-1276. 10.1139/b2012-100.

Cataloging Information

Topics:
Regions:
Keywords:
  • Acer saccharinum
  • American chestnut
  • Appalachian Mountains
  • Blue Ridge Mountains
  • Castanea dentata
  • chestnut blight
  • Cryphonectria parasitica
  • dendrochronology
  • dendroecology
  • elevation
  • fire management
  • fire scar analysis
  • forest management
  • grazing
  • hardwood forests
  • high elevation
  • ice storms
  • livestock
  • logging
  • North Carolina
  • northern red oak
  • old growth forests
  • population density
  • Quercus rubra
  • southern Appalachian Mountains
  • storms
  • succession
  • succession
  • sugar maple
  • wildfires
  • wind
Tall Timbers Record Number: 29196Location Status: Not in fileCall Number: AvailableAbstract Status: Fair use, Okay, Reproduced by permission
Record Last Modified:
Record Maintained By: FRAMES Staff (https://www.frames.gov/contact)
FRAMES Record Number: 52142

This bibliographic record was either created or modified by Tall Timbers and is provided without charge to promote research and education in Fire Ecology. The E.V. Komarek Fire Ecology Database is the intellectual property of Tall Timbers.