Thomas Schuler - Academia.edu (original) (raw)

Papers by Thomas Schuler

A long-term study on the Fernow Experimental Forest (FEF) in West Virginia provided an opportunit... more A long-term study on the Fernow Experimental Forest (FEF) in West Virginia provided an opportunity to test for differences in the timber quality of trees harvested from three silvicultural practices (HarvestType): diameter-limit, patch cutting, and single-tree selection. The effects of HarvestType and site index (SI) over time on the harvested proportion of trees with grade 1 butt logs within a compartment were tested using a repeated-measures linear mixed model. HarvestType*Time was a significant interaction (P = 0.0018) and SI had a slight positive effect (P = 0.0036). When examining the harvested proportion of grade 1 butt logs on a volume basis, the two terms were again significant (P = 0.0003 and P = 0.0208, respectively). The diameter-limit proportion of grade 1 butt logs consistently decreased while patch cutting and single-tree selection proportions consistently increase over time. Recent preharvest cruise data show a significantly greater residual proportion of grade 1 butt...

Forest Science, 2004

On high quality growing sites in West Virginia, shade intolerant tree species have increased in i... more On high quality growing sites in West Virginia, shade intolerant tree species have increased in importance in third-generation forests following clearcutting. We investi- gated the effect of tree species canopy position on the Shannon-Weiner Diversity Index (H'), Pielou's evenness index (0, and species richness (S) using a chronosequence of 13 clearcuts. Two to 26 yr after clearcutting, tree species diversity significantly decreased from 2.07 to 1.83, and evenness decreased from 0.80 to 0.71 while species richness was maintained. As the number of years since harvesting increased, the importance value of oaks (Quercus L.), hickories (Carya Nutt.), American beech (Fagus grandifolia Ehrh.), sugar maple (Acersaccha- . rum Marsh.), and black birch (Betula lenta L.) decreased while the importance of yellow-poplar (Liriodendron tulipifera L.) increased. In these mixed-species stands with stratified canopies, species importance in overstory versus understory canopy layers was the be...

Western Journal of Applied Forestry, 1988

Site quality and growth-growing stock relations were developed for southwestern woodlands of piny... more Site quality and growth-growing stock relations were developed for southwestern woodlands of pinyon (Pinus edulis) and one-seed juniper (Juniperus monosperma) or Utah juniper (J. osteosperma). Anamorphic height-age site index curves for pinyon were developed from a regional sample of 60 woodlands. Site index was unaffected by variation in stocking and was correlated with woodland yield when used in conjunction with density. Pinyon and juniper PAI, when taken separately, were highly correlated with stand density and pinyon site index. Pinyon was twice as productive as juniper at similar stand densities. Pinyon and juniper yields in woodlands of average density and site index were estimated at 0.29 and 0.15 m3ha-1y-1. At high densities pinyon and juniper yields increased to 0.61 and 0.31 m3ha-1y-1 Pinyon and juniper yields appeared independent of the density of the other species in an individual woodland. Maximum yield of dense mixed species woodlands on average sites was 0.78 m3ha-1y...

Forest Ecology and Management, 2017

120 Natural Areas journal ABSTRACT: Running buffalo clover (Trifolium stoloniferum Muhl. ex. A. E... more 120 Natural Areas journal ABSTRACT: Running buffalo clover (Trifolium stoloniferum Muhl. ex. A. Eaton), a federally endangered plant species, often occurs in habitats affected by periodic disturbance such as mowing or grazing. At the Femow Experimental Forest in West Virginia, USA, it is most often associated with skid roads where uneven-aged silvicultural techniques are being tested. We monitored running buffalo clover population trends for seven years in two research compartments before and after scheduled silvicultural operations. Stem density (stems/m2) was declining in both compartments prior to planned silvicultural operations, and ground-based skidding caused a further reduction in the number of running buffalo clover locations and stems. Running buffalo clover began to increase in density two years after the logging. Running buffalo clover excluded from ground disturbance increased in the second growing season following tree removal, but had declined by the third season. Run...

In 2009, a mesic mixed-oak forest in West Virginia treated with two prescribed fires (2002-2003 a... more In 2009, a mesic mixed-oak forest in West Virginia treated with two prescribed fires (2002-2003 and 2005) to eliminate a shade-tolerant understory was characterized by 7,500 seedlings/acre ≥1.0 foot tall of oak (Quercus spp.), maple (Acer spp.), black birch (Betula lenta), and yellow-poplar (Liriodendron tulipifera) combined. Maple was the most abundant group before burning but thereafter, maple (1,192/acre), oak (1,557/acre), and yellow-poplar (1,597/acre) seedlings ≥1.0 foot were approximately equally represented. Black birch was the single most abundant species (3,337/acre). Following the prescribed fire treatments, sapling density was reduced by about 90 percent and has not recovered. Fire effects to the overstory, canopy, and subsequent understory light environment were not significant, but a shelterwood harvest in 2009-2010 reduced overstory basal area from 145 to 62 feet2/acre and from 108 to 44 stems/acre (diameter at breast height ≥5.0 inches). A post-shelterwood prescribed...

Forest Ecology and Management

Southern Journal of Applied Forestry

Fallen or down dead wood is a key element in healthy forest ecosystems. Although the amount of do... more Fallen or down dead wood is a key element in healthy forest ecosystems. Although the amount of down wood and shrubs can provide critical information to forest resource managers for assessing fire fuel build up, data on biomass of down woody materials (DWM) are not readily accessible using existing databases. We summarized data collected by the USDA Forest Service's Forest Inventory and Analysis (FIA) program into biomass for mixed-oak forest types in Kentucky, Virginia, Tennessee, and North Carolina to obtain a baseline average for Appalachian mixed-oak forests. We sampled a subset of 76 plots from 16 oak forest types and computed biomass for each DWM component, using slightly different equations for each. Biomass of DWM components was summarized using simple statistics. The mean of all DWM components combined was 32 Mg/ha, and the median was 29 Mg/ha. Over half the mean DWM was duff and litter (18 Mg/ha combined); coarse woody material (CWM) was less than 15% of mean DWM; and f...

Northern Journal of Applied Forestry

In 1993, a crop tree study was established in a pole-sized stand consisting of black cherry (Prun... more In 1993, a crop tree study was established in a pole-sized stand consisting of black cherry (Prunus serotina Ehrh.) and northern red oak (Quercus rubra L.). Black cherry was the predominant species in the stand and appeared to be on the verge of virtually eliminating northern red oak based on its greater height growth potential. To assess crop tree management for maintaining the competitiveness of oak in this situation, the stand was compartmentalized into treated and untreated areas and crop trees were selected. In the treated areas, crop trees received a three- or four-sided crown-touching release. Individual tree characteristics were measured following the growing seasons of 1993 and 10 years later. Crop tree release resulted in slowing the height growth of codominant black cherry, but not northern red oak. Ten-year mean height growth of northern red oak exceeded that of released black cherry, but not that of unreleased black cherry crop trees. Crown expansion and diameter at bre...