Disturbance, Succession, and Structural Development of an Upland Hardwood Forest on the Interior Low Plateau, Tennessee

Abstract

ABSTRACT: An appreciation for the importance of structural complexity, combined with the acknowledgment that stands with complex structures are uncommon compared to pre-European settlement estimates, has led to a growing interest in restoring late-successional forests. The success of these projects is dependent upon our understanding of the variability of late-successional structure and the disturbance events that produced this structure. We quantified woody species composition, stand structure, canopy disturbance history, and Quercus establishment and canopy accession patterns to document processes that resulted in the structural conditions of an upland hardwood forest in Tennessee. The forest established in the mid-1800s and exhibited structural characteristics that were within the range of what has been reported from other late-successional forests in the region. The forest overstory was dominated by Quercus prinus, but Acer saccharum was the most abundant species. Quercus recruitment was continuous fr...