PARENT SESSION
Oral Session #75: Plant Communities: Vegetation Analysis. Presiding: J. Fralish.
Friday, August 10, 2001. 8:00 AM to 12:00 PM. Hall of Ideas F.
Tree cavities of Midwestern old-growth forests.
Spetich, Martin1, Shifley, Stephen2, Parker, George3, 1 2 3
ABSTRACT- Cavities in trees serve a wide range of wildlife species in Midwestern old-growth forests. However these cavities have not been quantified on a regional basis. We present the results of a study that examines tree cavities across a four state region. Thirty 0.1 ha permanent plots/site were established at 11 sites. For trees ≥ 2 cm in diameter the number and size of cavities were recorded. The mean number of cavities among sites was 38/ha, 24/ha and 11/ha for cavities 2 to 5 cm, 5 to 10 cm and >10 cm respectively. The mean number of cavities per square m of basal area was 17 cavities/square m for cavities > 2 and < 10 cm and 5 cavities/square m for cavities ≥ 10 cm. The largest number of cavities existed in small diameter trees with 15 cavities/ha for 10 to 20 cm diameter trees, decreasing to < 1/ha in the largest diameters. However, the percent of trees with cavities showed just the opposite trend with only 10 percent of trees in the 10 to 20 cm diameter class, increasing to 100 percent of the trees in the largest diameters. These findings should be useful as baseline data for comparison to earlier stages of succession and in understanding the role and dynamics of Midwestern old-growth forests.
KEY WORDS: old-growth, forest, cavities, midwest