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Microclimatic variation associated with dispersed and aggregated retention harvests in western Washington (DEMO).

DB Code: 
MS034
Abstract: 

This study examined microclimatic variation following dispersed- and aggregated- retention harvest of mature coniferous forests in western Washington. We compared light, temperature (air and soil) and soil moisture among treatments representing differing levels and/or patterns of overstory retention 6-7 yr after harvest. Details of this work are presented in Heithecker (2005).

Study date: 
July 23, 2004 to September 10, 2004
Full Data page link: 
https://andlter.forestry.oregonstate.edu/data/abstract.aspx?dbcode=MS034
Researchers: 

Charles B. Halpern, Troy Heithecker

Purpose: 

We addressed the following questions:

  1. How does microclimate vary along a broad gradient of dispersed-retention harvests (0-100% of original basal area)?
  2. How does within-treatment (plot-level) variation in microclimate vary along this gradient?
  3. Are there easily collected/derived structural variables (including overstory attributes and understory conditions) that are strong predictors of microclimate?
  4. How does microclimate vary as a function of distance from the edge of 1-ha circular forest aggregates (retention patches)?
  5. Are gradients in microclimate across forest aggregates influenced by aspect?