Effects of clearcutting on the vegetation and soil of a sugar maple-dominated ecosystem, western upper Michigan

Abstract

The effects 50 years after clearcutting on the vegetation and soil of an ecosystem type dominated by sugar maple ( Acer saccharum) were studied at four locations along the boundaries of the Sylvania Recreation Area (Ottawa National Forest) in western Upper Michigan, U.S.A. Commercially clearcut areas along the boundaries of the undisturbed 8500-ha tract enabled study of vegetation and soil in paired cut and uncut plots. Overstories of the clearcut plots exhibit increased stem densities and decreased basal area and stem diameters compared to those of uncut plots. Both the relative density of understory sugar maple and the total density of all understory trees decreased significantly on the clearcut plots. Groups of herbaceous species characteristic of the ground cover of the clearcut plots were identical to those found on the uncut plots. There was no change in (1) thickness, mass, or total nutrient (K +, Mg 2+, Ca 2+) contents of the forest floor, or (2) acidity of the upper horizons of the mineral soil. The exchangeable potassium levels in the upper horizons of the mineral soil decreased significantly, and also there was a decreasing trend in the levels of exchangeable calcium and magnesium.