Date of Award
12-17-2018
Semester of Degree
December
Document Type
Open Access Thesis
Degree Name
M.S. in Forest and Natural Resources Management
Department
Forest and Natural Resources Management
Major Professor
Dr. Christopher Nowak
Steering Committee Member
Eddie Bevilacqua
Steering Committee Member
Russell Briggs
Steering Committee Member
Philip Hofmeyer
Abstract
Sugar maple (Acer saccharum Marsh.) is an important component of northern hardwood forests. Its life history characteristics allow seedlings and saplings to readily develop as advance regeneration. Within a population of overtopped sugar maple saplings in Central New York, 40 were randomly sampled and stem analysis used to describe diameter growth. Saplings averaged 57-yrs-old, ranging from 30 to 87-yrs-old when sampled in 2017/18. The response of cross- sectional growth rate to disturbance was assessed. Analysis of variance was used to test significant difference in growth rates relative to time of disturbance. Saplings closer to a disturbance internal to the plot were observed to have several years of increased rates of radial growth (p=0.0195). Overall, saplings were responsive to release, the most responsive in growth had round-ovoid crown shapes, as compared to saplings with flat crowns. Crown shape is apparently related to sugar maple sapling vigor and may be of use as a nondestructive measure defining vigorous advance regeneration response.
Recommended Citation
Bartholomew, Collin, "Overtopped, Volunteer, 30- to 40-Yr-Old Sugar Maple Saplings Responded to Unplanned Release Events in an Even-Aged, Maturing Sugar Maple/Northern Red Oak Plantation" (2018). Dissertations and Theses. 74.
https://digitalcommons.esf.edu/etds/74