Regeneration patterns of northern white cedar, an old-growth forest dominant
American Midland Naturalist
By: Michael L. Scott and Peter G. Murphy
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Abstract
Regeneration of Thuja occidentalis L. was examined in an old-growth dune forest on South Manitou Island, Michigan. To estimate the current status of cedar regeneration, we determined size structure of seedlings and stems and analyzed present patterns of establishment and persistence relative to substrate type. There has been a shift in the pattern of cedar establishment from soil to log substrates. While 97% of all stems ≥15 cm dbh are associated with a soil substrate, 81% of stems ≥2.5cm-<15 cm dbh, and 98% of all cedar seedlings are confined to log substrates. However, few cedar seedlings survive; only 1% of all seedlings on logs are >25 cm tall. There was no significant relationship between the state of log decay and the density of seedlings >25 cm in height, indicating that long-term survival is not dependent on the degree of log decomposition. However, survival on logs is associated with canopy openings. Seedlings >25 cm tall were associated with gaps, and 78% of cedar stems (≥2.5 cm dbh) on logs were associated with a single windthrow gap. Thus, current cedar regeneration in this old-growth forest depends on logs and the canopy openings associated with them.
Suggested Citation
Scott, M.L., Murphy, P.G., 1987, Regeneration patterns of northern white cedar, an old-growth forest dominant: American Midland Naturalist, v. 117, no. 1, p. 10-16, https://doi.org/10.2307/2425702.
| Publication type | Article |
|---|---|
| Publication Subtype | Journal Article |
| Title | Regeneration patterns of northern white cedar, an old-growth forest dominant |
| Series title | American Midland Naturalist |
| DOI | 10.2307/2425702 |
| Volume | 117 |
| Issue | 1 |
| Year Published | 1987 |
| Language | English |
| Publisher | University of Notre Dame |
| Publisher location | Notre Dame, IN |
| Description | 7 p. |
| Larger Work Type | Article |
| Larger Work Subtype | Journal Article |
| Larger Work Title | American Midland Naturalist |
| First page | 10 |
| Last page | 16 |