Short-term effects of silvicultural treatments on microsite heterogeneity and plant diversity in mature Tennessee oak-hickory forests

Published source details Jackson S.W., Harper C.A., Buckley D.S. & Miller B.F. (2006) Short-term effects of silvicultural treatments on microsite heterogeneity and plant diversity in mature Tennessee oak-hickory forests. Northern Journal of Applied Forestry, 23, 197-203.
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This study is summarised as evidence for the following.

	Action	Category
	Use prescribed fire: effects on mature trees Action Link
	Use shelterwood harvesting Action Link

Use prescribed fire: effects on mature trees

A replicated, controlled study in 2001 in temperate broadleaf forest in Tennessee, USA (Jackson et al. 2006) found that prescribed fire increased tree canopy cover but not species diversity. Canopy cover was higher in burned plots (burned: 4%; unburned: <1%), while diversity (Simpson's index) of herbs (burned: 2.6; unburned: 3.1) and woody plants (burned: 3.1-3.3; unburned: 2.3-2.8) was similar between treatments. Data were collected in summer 2001 in two burned (prescribed fire in April 2001) and two control (unburned) treatment plots (0.8 ha) in each of four sites.
Use shelterwood harvesting

A replicated, controlled study in 2000-2001 in temperate broadleaf forest in Tennessee, USA (Jackson et al. 2006) found that shelterwood harvest increased herbaceous species diversity. Diversity of herbaceous species (shelterwood: 4.2; unharvested: 3.1) was higher in shelterwood, while that of woody plants (shelterwood: 2.7-2.9; unharvested: 2.3-2.8) was similar between treatments. In July 2001, shelterwood (leaving high-quality stems, retaining 11.5 m²/ha basal area) and unharvested treatments were applied each to two plots (0.8 ha) in each of four sites (total of 16 plots). Data was collected after treatment in summer 2001. Simpson's index was calculated for 3.6 m radius circular subplot in each plot.