Table Of Content

Archive Document Historic, Do not assume content reflects current scientific knowledge, policies, or practices. Kane >DA ^'^^ ^ LfSDA *T'L AH'^/c LIBPAny P ^'03 AL'G P I f:- b Experimeni tal Forest JulieSmitKbauer hasbeen a biologicalscience technicianwiththe Northeastern ResearchStation attheKane Experimental Forestsince 1992. ShehasaB.S. fromPennState Universityin AnimalBioscience, with aminorin WildlifeScience. Sheserves as superintendentof theKane Experimented Forestcmd oversees the summer wildlife researchprogram. Welcome to the Kane Experimental Forest SITECLASSIFICATION The 1,737 acres offorest land that comprise the The Kane Experimental Forest is located within Kane Experimental Forest (KEF), were originally the Northern Unglaciated Allegheny Plateau part ofthe Allegheny National Forest. On March Section ofthe Laurentian Mixed Forest Province in 23, 1932, the land was formally dedicated to Bailey's (1994) ecological classification system for research use for the Allegheny Forest Experiment the United States. The Allegheny hardwood or Station (now the Northeastern Research Station). cherry-maple forest is a subtype ofthe northern The KEF was established to promote the study of hardwood or beech-birch-maple forest that spans the unglaciated portion of the beech-birch-maple- the northern portion ofthe eastern United States hemlock forest type that made up such a large part from New England to the Lake States. ofthe Station's territory. Today, the Experimental Forest serves as the field laboratory for the re- The Kane Experimental Forest ranges in eleva- search project "Understanding and Managing tion from approximately 1,800 to 2,100 feet above Forest Ecosystems of the Allegheny Plateau sea level, primarily on flat to gently sloping land. Region," which is headquartered at the Forestry The Mill Creek, WolfRun, and Ackerman Run Sciences Laboratory in Irvine, Pennsylvania. drainages cross the KEF as do the Mill Creek and Twin Lakes trails. The headquarters of the Kane Experimental Forest provide offices for Experimental Forest The climate ofthe Kane Experimental Forest is personnel, a conference building for meetings and humid-temperate. Annual rainfall is about 45 training sessions, and temporary quarters for inches, ofwhich an average of4 inches per month visiting scientists and students working on the falls during the growing season. The average forest. The office facilities are open year-round, annual temperature is 43 degrees Fahrenheit. while living accommodations are generally available May through October. The residential facilities The Kane Experimental Forest soils on the provide rustic accommodations for college classes Plateau are derived from shales and sandstones. for a field trip, or longer term quarters for up to In general, they are extremely stony loams and five residents. sandy loams. They are strongly acidic. The major soils are the well-drained Hazelton series, the moderately well-drained to somewhat poorly- drained Cookport series, and the somewhat poorly- drained Cavode series. COMMUNITIES Most stands on the Experimental Forest are closed during World War II, and after the war, a typical Allegheny Plateau second- and third-growth small silviculture research program was main- forest. They resulted from a series of cuttings tained both here at Kane and at the Pocono made in the original beech-birch-maple-hemlock Experimental Forest, Gouldsboro, Pennsylvania. forest. The first cutting, made in the mid- to late- A long period ofreduced activity followed that 1800s, removed the hemlock and the best hard- lasted until the late 1950s. It was only due to the wood trees to supply local tanneries and sawmills. perseverance ofa few dedicated scientists that Most ofthe remaining hairdwoods were cut be- many studies were maintained and remeasured tween 1890 and 1925, but a few stands were during this lull. In 1959, the Kane Experi- clearcut as late as 1937. These later cuttings were mental Forest was revitalized by combining the complete clearcuts to supply the local chemical staffs ofthe Kane and the Pocono Experimental wood plants with wood of all species and size Forests and the establishment of the Forestry classes. Today, the Kane Experimental Forest Sciences Laboratory in Irvine, PA. The research contains second-growth stands ranging from 50 to staffwas expanded in 1970 and this combined 100 years ofage, a few third-growth stands from with the reopening of 1930s studies provided for 10 to 40 years old, and one tract containing the rapid accumulation of scientific knowledge on remnant old growth. Most stands are even-aged in the ecology and management ofAllegheny hard- character, although they may contain trees of woods. A sampling ofthis research is listed below several age classes because ofthe previous with more detailed descriptions of other active sequence ofcuttings. The most common tree studies found in the Self-Guided Tour section: species are black cherry, sugar and red maple, and American beech; but many other species are 1) Regeneration studies: Studies ofthe envi- present, including yellow and sweet birch, eastern ronmental factors affecting the natural regenera- hemlock, cucumbertree, yellow-poplar, white ash, tion ofAllegheny hardwoods began in 1971. The and others. Several species of ferns, grasses, effects of light, heat, and moisture were investi- goldenrod, and aster occur in abundance as gated to evaluate the contribution ofeach to the ground covers. Common spring ephemerals establishment and growth of tree seedlings, include trout lily, dwarf ginseng, and spring shrubs, ferns, and grasses. Techniques included beauties. The wildlife communities found on the cutting, roto-tilling, irrigation, bending overstory forest are typical ofthose found in managed and trees, trenching, soil heating, fertilization, and unmanaged forests ofthe Allegheny Plateau shading. These studies led to detailed guidelines region. At least 26 species of amphibians and for the use of shelter-wood cutting to develop reptiles, 95 bird species, and 45 mammalian advance regeneration in Allegheny hardwood species have been known to occur in the area forests. Other regeneration studies showed that throughout the year. hay-scented and New York fern interfered with the development of seedlings of desirable hardwood species and led to the development of herbicide/ HISTORYAND PASTRESEARCH shelterwood prescriptions. ONTHEKANEEXPERIMENTALFOREST The main emphasis of research at the time the 2)Regenerationcuttingmethods: Astudyof Kane Experimental Forest was established, was to cutting methods and their effects on the survival develop silvicultural methods for improving quality and growth of advance regeneration and new and yield offorests on the Allegheny Plateau. seedlings was established in 1973. The methods Various timber stand improvement projects set up included a two-cut shelterwood (6 acres), in the 1930s, looked at such things as stump clearcutting alternate strips (66 feet wide), and treatments of black cherry to reduce sprouting block clearcutting (26 acres). The regeneration after clearcutting, pruning of hardwoods to facili- response was evaluated on the number of stems tate growth, and weeding of hardwood stands to per acre by species, the percent stocking, and the improve their value and composition. Four survival and growth ofboth advance-regeneration weather stations were established on the Experi- and new seedlings. mental Forest in 1932, each in a different location. Air temperature, precipitation and other climatic 3) Thinning plots: In 1974, an experiment data were recorded and compared to vegetative designed to test the effects ofboth the density and growth at the same site to determine the influence structure left after thinning in even-aged stands of environmental factors on tree development. was installed on the KEF. Three blocks are Much of the labor for the field work of these located here, containing more than thirty 2-acre studies came from Civilian Conservation Corps treatment plots. From this study, we have learned a (CCC) camps located in the vicinity. The KEF was great deal about how thinning response varies with density, structure and species composition. The responses we have studied include overstory 2 Mowing, atype ofstand improvement cutting, was utilized inthe 1930stoimprovevalueandcompositionofhardwoodstands. complex interrelationships of all the components affecting Allegheny hardwood forests today. To this end, research on the Kane Experimental Forest focuses on three topics: 1)Regenerationandforest renewal: Second-growth forests across the region have high economic value and harvesting rates. However, managers are encountering major problems in establishing a diverse third-growth forest. A key factor is the high density ofwhite- tailed deer in the region, not only now, but for at least 50 years. Deer have altered the species composition offorest understories, changed habitat conditions for forest wildlife, and interfered with the establishment and development oftree regeneration. Studies on the Kane Experi- mental Forest have led to the development oftechniques that allow for successful regeneration of forest stands in spite ofhigh deer densi- ties. These include: control of interfering vegetation, shelterwood seed cutting, fertilization of develop- ing young stands, and fencing to exclude deer. 2)Standdynamicsand silviculture: Forestmanagement goals are a lot more complex than they were in the past. Today, forests are managed for wildlife, recreation, water resources and aesthetic beauty in addition to timber. Studies at Earlyattemptstocontrolblackcherrystumpsproutingincludedgirdling, Kane are designed to integrate all of peeling,andmanualremovalofnewsprouts. these resources and help managers grow forests with the most social and economic benefits. The facilities at Kane serve as the summer base for tree growth as well as regeneration and other wildlife research done in conjunction understoiy responses. with current studies. Data are collected to assess the responses of songbird, small mammal, and 4)Atmospheric monitoring: In 1978, one of amphibian communities to forest management in the first National Atmospheric Deposition Program studies across the Allegheny Plateau. monitoring stations was set up at the Kane Experi- mental Forest. This site (PA29), located near the 3) Sugar maple decline: Since the 1980s, KEF headquarters, has been monitoring atmo- forest health problems have greatly impacted spheric data on a 24-hour-basis up to the present forests across the Plateau. Moderate to severe time. droughts have occurred in 1988, 1991, and 1995, stressing trees across the Allegheny National Forest. Since 1991, native defoliators, PRESENTRESEARCH including elm spanworm, cherry scallop shell Besides continuing with already established moth, and forest tent caterpillar, have produced studies, current research at the Kane Experi- moderate to serious defoliation on 385,000 mental Forest focuses on understanding the acres of the Allegheny National Forest, including the Kane Experimental Forest. Two exotic defoliators, gypsy moth and pear thrips, and one exotic disease complex, beech bark disease, have affected 317,000 acres of the Allegh- eny National Forest since 1985. Finally, sugar maple is suffering a decline across the unglaciated sec- tions ofthe Plateau. In 1992, a forest health monitoring system was imple- mented on the KEF to document insect, disease, and environmental conditions on the forest. A visit to each active study site is conducted annually and observations are taken on stand and tree health. Weather damage, crown dieback, defoliations, seedling mortality, and browsing damage are some ofthe conditions that are recorded. This information is analyzed in conjunction with the study data so that forest health impacts can be separated from treatment impacts. SELF-GUIDED TOUR The following are descriptions of seven current research studies. These sites are set up to facilitate a self- guided 1-day tour. The locations of each are highlighted on the map IcestormshittheKaneExperimentalForestAreain1936and1950. Thesestorms found in the center of the brochure. providedthemeanstostudyhowsuchdamageafiectedtreegrowthandquality. Several sites have trails running through them and include signs that describe the research conducted at that location. Although the marked stops cover only a small portion of the research currently taking place, they are fairly representative of the important studies being conducted throughout the Kane Experi- mental Forest. 1)Clearcuttingofsecondgrowth: This area selected and harvested. At the turn-of-the- shows how today's forest can be influenced by century cut, hemlock was selectively removed seemingly unimportant events ofyears ago. The from throughout the area. In many ofthe places original stand of trees here was partially harvested created by this hemlock removal, we find patches one or more times during the latter half of the 19th of 100-year-old black cherry trees. century, then first clearcut in about 1895. As you walk through the stand, notice the In 1936, the new stand was heavily damaged beech trees. The white "dust" you observe on by an ice storm. Foresters decided to regenerate them is the first stage in the beech bark disease the stand again, rather than allow the ice-damaged complex. A tiny insect, the beech scale, bores trees to continue to grow. Logging was done by into the bark and secretes the wool-like wax teams consisting of two loggers and a horse, each substance. The second stage occurs when the assigned to a strip offorest about 60-feet wide. Nectria fungus, using the holes created by the The loggers would cut the trees so that they fell beech scale, invades the tree. The fungus is with their tops toward the edges of the strip. They characterized by its reddish-orange fruiting would then cut offthe main stems and have the bodies. The fungus kills patches ofthe tree's horse pull them out to the road through the center cambium. As these patches coalesce overtime, ofthe strip. In the center ofthe strip, all trees, the fungus girdles the tree. down to those only an inch or so in diameter, were cut. But near the edges, loggers did not want to Also, notice that many ofthe sugar maple wade through the brush from fallen tree tops to get trees are dying. This tends to happen from the such small trees. Therefore, in these brush piles, top down. You can see how many ofthe trees small trees ofthe slower growing species like sugar have no crowns and some only have a few live maple and American beech were left, while in the branches very low on the tree. Scientists believe center, only stumps and new seedlings were left. that several factors are responsible for this decline, including: drought, insect defoliations, Today, in the center ofthe strips, the only large disease, and mineral deficiencies (magnesium and trees are black cherry, the fastest growing species calcium). in the new stand. The sugar maple and beech trees left in the strip-edge brush piles are the only 3) Thinning plots: Nature handles crowding trees ofthose species that are as large as the among trees in a forest through the death of small largest black cherry trees. Foresters often describe trees and the slow growth oflarge ones. In a stands by the number of complete harvests that crowded forest, there is little food or cover for have occurred since the original forest. Thus, this wildlife near the forest floor, as there is not stand, with two cuttings since the original forest, is enough light for tree seedlings or small plant called third growth. growth. Foresters may want to interrupt nature's handling ofcrowding for a variety of reasons. 2) Older growth tract: This areais approxi- These include growing wood products more mately 74 acres and is dominated by American efficiently, changing the habitat conditions for beech and sugar maple. Two trails, the Twin Lake wildlife, or changing the scenic conditions for and Mill Creek, run through the area. The trails forest recreation. can be followed as they wind through the forest. The stand boundaries are marked with white On this stop, you will walk through an experi- paint, so you will know when you exit the stand. ment to determine the level of crowding that is As you walk along the trails, notice the high per- most efficient for growing high value wood prod- cent oflarge sugar maple and younger black ucts. Crowding is measured as the percent cherry trees. Historically, old-growth tracts on the relative density for a stand. This percent is an Allegheny Plateau did not contain such a high estimate of the crowding in the stand compared to percent of sugar maple or black cherry, but were a 100-percent standard representative of an mostly eastern hemlock and American beech. It is undisturbed stand of the same species composi- believed that this area ofthe Kane Experimental tion and average tree size. Experimental Forest has a unique disturbance history including thinnings were conducted on treatment plots of windstorms, fire, and cutting. Such disturbances, this experiment in the early to mid-1970s and especially over the past 100 years, resulted in the again in the early 1990s. On the south side of the unique characteristics we see today. road, the trail goes through four plots at different crowding levels. Signs are posted at each plot and This area, although never clearcut, has had you can refer to the map in the center of this three partial cuts, the first one early in the 1900s, guide to see their location along the trail. the second between 1941-1951, and the third in 1951-1956. In each cut, individual trees were The first, or 100-percent plot has never been thinned. Notice the number of dead trees in this