Factors Affecting Hardwoods

Factors Affecting regeneration of hard mast species in the central hardwood region

Factors Affecting Regeneration of Hard Mast Species in the Central Hardwood Region project, photo of forest groundcover.Forests in the eastern United States is in danger of widespread conversion from oak, a foundational species group, to more shade tolerant trees due to fire suppression, poor harvesting practices, and a variety of other factors. This shift would reduce ecological resilience and significantly change the ecological and economic services provided by these forests.

This project gained in-depth knowledge of the regeneration dynamics of both oak (Quercus) and American chestnut (Castanea dentata), a former foundational species in eastern forests. Using both the Hardwood Ecosystem Experiment and the Crane Expanding Gap studies, researchers are monitoring regeneration survival and growth after many management practices.

This research demonstrated that the blight-resistant American chestnut can be successfully reintroduced to understories in eastern deciduous forests due to its ability to thrive in shady environments. Oak, on the other hand, requires more disturbance and germinates better with assistance of scatter hoarding small mammals.

Collaboration, research was presented at 5 conferences or educational meetings.
The three scientific publications that came from this project included contributors from seven universities as well as the USDA Forest Service and the Canadian Ministry of Forest and Wildlife.
In this project’s final year, research was presented at five conferences or educational meetings
 
 
Project Director: Dr. Michael Saunders
10/01/2012 - 09/30/2017

Print/Research
Impact, 180 species of birds and ammals use oak acorns for food, 35% oak species timber sales nationally, 50 to 100 year studies.
 
Over the last 100 years, forests in the Eastern U.S. have lost or are in danger of losing several foundational tree species, including American chestnut and oak.
Species of birds and mammals that use oak acorns as food
Oak species provided 35% of the timber sales nationally from 2013-2017
The Hardwood Ecosystem Experiment and Crane Expanding Gap studies are intended to last 50-100 years to monitor regeneration dynamics

Learn More About Us

Brady Hardiman
Purdue researchers find new ways to track invasive species

We tend to think of green landscapes as healthy ones. But Brady Hardiman, an associate professor...

Read More
Dr. Nicole Widmar & Dr. Tomas Höök
Purdue Agriculture announces new department leaders

Bernie Engel, Purdue University’s Glenn W. Sample Dean of Agriculture, has appointed new...

Read More
Emma Johnson in an airplane, holding a pronghorn and standing next to a drone.
Meet FNR Outstanding Transfer Student Emma Johnson

Emma Johnson transferred to Purdue after earning her associate’s degree and graduating with...

Read More
Douglass Jacobs stands next to a tree in Sweden.
Piecing together a forest puzzle

It made perfect sense for Douglass Jacobs, Fred M. van Eck Professor of Forest Biology and member...

Read More
Penguin in Antarctica
Contaminants in the cold: How everyday chemicals are affecting Antarctic fish

Antarctica, once seen as a pristine wilderness, has trouble brewing in its waters. As...

Read More
Purdue College of Agriculture professors Stephen Cameron and  Bryan Pijanowski
Agriculture professors elected to rank of AAAS Fellow

Purdue College of Agriculture professors Stephen Cameron and Bryan Pijanowski have been elected...

Read More