Impacts of Management on Forest Response to Climate Variability in Oregon's Cascades

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Date

2020-12-08

Authors

Farinacci, Michael

Journal Title

Journal ISSN

Volume Title

Publisher

University of Oregon

Abstract

Climate projections suggest increased droughts for the PNW region in the near-future, which could lead to forest die-offs. Studies indicate that drought stress and competition is reduced by forest thinning, but that effect has yet to be tested in long-term experiments. Here I examine tree rings, soil properties, streamflow, and satellite data to determine sensitivity to climate in 45 forest stands distributed across three watersheds with differing styles of management at the HJ Andrews Experimental. Specifically, I focus on three questions: First, what are the effects of management on the structure and function of Douglas-fir forests? Second, how does ecosystem function scale from dominant Douglas-fir trees to the entire watershed? Third, what are the impacts of management on forest productivity and water-yields of Douglas-fir forests? My goal is to provide mechanistic understanding of how interactions between climate and management affect the overall productivity and water use of PNW forests.

Description

59 page pdf and spreadsheet with supporting data.

Keywords

Climate Change, Drought, Forest Ecohydrology, Forest Management, Remote Sensing

Citation