Faculty Sponsor(s)
Nancy Broshot
Location
Jereld R. Nicholson Library: Grand Avenue
Subject Area
Environmental Studies: Science Focus
Description
Research in 1993, 2003, and 2013 showed high rates of tree mortality and low rates of recruitment (new trees) in Portland, Oregon’s Forest Park. To determine if the lack of young trees was an urban phenomenon, we added three control sites in the Mount Hood National Forest in 2013. Last summer, seedlings and saplings were measured at all sites in Forest Park, the Ancient Forest Preserve, and at the control sites. Seedlings are trees less than 2 meters tall, and saplings are trees greater than 2 meters tall but having a dbh of less than 10cm. The 2018 data was compared to that collected in 2013. We measured dbh (diameter at breast height) of saplings and the basal area for seedlings, as well as the tree height and the height of the lowest living branch. In 2018, the control sites had significantly more live trees, more coniferous trees, more shade tolerant trees, and more seedlings and saplings. We also found that the seedlings and saplings in 2018 had a greater diameter at the control sites than the urban sites. We found significantly more dead trees in 2018 than 2013 in Forest Park.
Recommended Citation
McCuen, William W.; Bassler, Austen F.; and Broshot, Nancy E., "Survivorship and Growth of Seedlings and Saplings in Urban Forests" (2019). Linfield University Student Symposium: A Celebration of Scholarship and Creative Achievement. Event. Submission 2.
https://digitalcommons.linfield.edu/symposium/2019/all/2
Survivorship and Growth of Seedlings and Saplings in Urban Forests
Jereld R. Nicholson Library: Grand Avenue
Research in 1993, 2003, and 2013 showed high rates of tree mortality and low rates of recruitment (new trees) in Portland, Oregon’s Forest Park. To determine if the lack of young trees was an urban phenomenon, we added three control sites in the Mount Hood National Forest in 2013. Last summer, seedlings and saplings were measured at all sites in Forest Park, the Ancient Forest Preserve, and at the control sites. Seedlings are trees less than 2 meters tall, and saplings are trees greater than 2 meters tall but having a dbh of less than 10cm. The 2018 data was compared to that collected in 2013. We measured dbh (diameter at breast height) of saplings and the basal area for seedlings, as well as the tree height and the height of the lowest living branch. In 2018, the control sites had significantly more live trees, more coniferous trees, more shade tolerant trees, and more seedlings and saplings. We also found that the seedlings and saplings in 2018 had a greater diameter at the control sites than the urban sites. We found significantly more dead trees in 2018 than 2013 in Forest Park.
