FORESTRY STEPS TO SUCCESSION Succession The natural way

FORESTRY

STEPS TO SUCCESSION • Succession - The natural way that an environment changes over time – It is predictable and directional • Prior to succession a health ecosystem will be in equilibrium

STEPS TO SUCCESSION 1. Initial Environment – Equilibrium 2. Disturbance – A specific event that alters the environment disrupting organisms 3. Colonization/Recovery 4. Primary Succession 5. Secondary Succession 6. Climax – Climate reaches equilibrium once again

DISTURBANCES • Natural – – – – Classify these as situations that would lead to Primary or Secondary Succession • Human Induced Mortality Age Density Self-Thinning Tree Fall Wild Fire Volcano Flooding Hurricane/Tornadoes Insects/Disease Wind Throw Tsunami Landslides Glaciers Sea-level Rise or Retreat – Logging – Plowing – Mining – Dam Removal – Fire/Flooding – Nuclear Blast – Warfare (Agent Orange)

3 STAGES OF SUCCESSION – Primary – An environment that is barren (no life or soil) such as a lava flow, newly exposed rock or sand dunes • Pioneer Species – the first organisms to move in (usually microbes or lichens) – Important because they recreate soil/conditions for more complex life forms • Life: Lichens, microbes, seeds that either remain in soil or are brought in by wind – Secondary – After an event that disturbs plant life but not soil (such as fire) or after an environment exits primary succession • Pioneer Plants (Pioneer Species) – first plants to grow, they grow from roots/seeds that remain in the soil or from seeds blow in by wind, or brought in by animals – Climax – When an environment regains equilibrium • This is the end product of succession until another disturbance occurs Video Succession

PRIMARY SUCCESSION

SECONDARY SUCCESSION

CLIMAX

GROUND COVER • Litter – Dead organic material • Bare Soil/Rock • Grasses • Forbes - broad-leafed, non-woody plants with net like veins in the leaves. Their flowers are usually colorful and show. The stems die back to the base of the plant each year. These plants may have fibrous, tap, or bulbous roots. • Shrubs - Shrubs are woody plants with stems that live over winter and branch from near the base. They are like trees, but usually are smaller. The flowers are usually colorful. The leaves have netlike veins, and are shorter and wider than grass leaves. A shrub has a large taproot or strong, branching roots. • Mosses/Lichens • Fungi and Other

4 LAWS OF ECOLOGY 1. Everything is connected to everything else – every species is dependent upon another species, ecosystems are complex and interconnected 2. Everything must go somewhere – waste from one energy cycle is reused in another, nothing is destroyed or unused, matter and energy are preserved 3. Nature knows best 4. Nothing comes from Nothing – In a natural cycle everything gets reused, but humans have developed technologies that take things from nature and chemically transform them into things that can no longer be used by nature (i. e. plastics, exhaust etc. )

FORESTS NEEDS • Biodiversity • Natural Corridors • Symbiotic Relationships • Natural Disturbances • Natural Cycles • Evolution

BIODIVERSITY • Forest Biodiversity – all of the life forms found in the forest. All of these organisms have a role to play which is why it’s important to have genetic variation – 45% of Earth’s forest cover has disappeared • Why is it important? – Each species has an important role to play in the ecosystem • Plants – produce oxygen, anchor down soil, dinner for herbivores, provide habitats for other organisms, recycle nutrients, aide in climate control etc. • Animals – aide in plant fertilization, dinner for other animals, natural herbicide/pesticides, etc.

NATURAL CORRIDORS • Corridors – areas that provide habitat for a group of organisms – They are important to ensure genetic diversity • Natural Corridors – Rivers, mountains, or other geographic features • Human Corridors – Roads, cities etc.

SYMBIOTIC RELATIONSHIPS • When two organisms of different species rely on each other for survival – Mutualism – both benefit – Commensalism – one benefits, doesn’t hurt or help other – Parasitism – one benefits, one is harmed

NATURAL DISTURBANCES & NATURAL CYCLES • Natural Disturbances – Forest Fires, insects etcetera – Necessary for environments to be healthy • Example: Forest fires release valuable nutrients stored in the litter on the forest floor. They open the forest canopy to sunlight, which stimulates new growth. They allow some tree species, like lodgepole and jack pine, to reproduce, opening their cones and freeing their seeds. • Natural Cycles – Energy, Nitrogen, Carbon Cycles all necessary to recycle matter through the ecosystem

EVOLUTION • Species evolve together in the forest habitat in ways that are beneficial to the survival of the forest.

HUMAN DISTURBANCES • Overgrazing • Land Clearing • Logging • Fire • Soil Compaction • Removal of Vegetation • Reduction in aerating organisms • Roadwork • Dams • Trails • Mining

MANAGEMENT • Forest Management – Monitoring • Health of soil • Weeds • Water • Living organisms • Watershed Management – Water quality and quantity – Living organisms • Management – When problems arise, take the proper steps to place the ecosystem back into a natural cycle and try to undo human impacts when possible

4 THREATS TO THE USFS 1. Fire and Fuels 2. Invasive Species (Noxious Weeds) 3. Loss of open space (Corridors) 4. Unmanaged recreation (OHV) 5. Climate change and insect damage

FORESTRY FIELD WORK • Setting up a Plot - 1/10 Acre Forest Plot – create a circle with a 37. 7 ft radius • Slope – use a Clinometer • Aspect – use a Compass • Forest Health – describe the condition of the plot being sure to discuss the effects of animals, insects, fungi, lichens, disease, fire, people, weather etc. • Canopy Cover - use a Densitometer to take 10 Readings randomly throughout the plot, then find the average • Ground Cover – 1 Hoop = 1/25, 000 Acre, use % Cover Categories • Ground Average Temperature – use a thermometer to take two ground temperatures then find the average • For every tree in the plot: – Species – Field guide – Height – Clinometer (feet) – Age – Increment Borer – Board Feet – Chart & Clinometer – DBH & Basal Area – D-Tape & Data Sheet

INVASIVE SPECIES • Invasive Species – a species not native to the area • Why are we worried about them? – Compete for resources with native plants – Increase costs for ranching/farming as they have to use herbicides – They destroy forage for wildlife – They increase fire danger – They spread easily – They are competitive, adaptive and persistent

INVASIVE SPECIES • Invasive Species – a species not native to the area • Examples you might see: – Knapweed – Canada Thistle – Leafy Spurge – Houndstongue – Toadflax

INVASIVE SPECIES ACTIVITY • Grab an Invasive Species Field Guide • Go outside and find as many invasive species as you can (minimum of 3). Identify them, cut off 2 -4 inches of the plant and bring it back to class with you. • On a piece of paper create a MOST WANTED flyer to the invasive plants around CHS by doing the following: – Explanation of what invasive species are – Explanation as to why they are not healthy for our ecosystem – For each plant • Name of plant • Description of plant • Tape plant in place of a picture

TREE INVADERS • Spruce Budworms – Attach Doug Fir and leave them as ghost trees • Pine Beetles – Attack Lodgepoles leaving phloem empty • Blue Fungus – Attacks Lodgepoles after Pine Beetles have invated killing the tree completely • Pine Beetles + Blue Fungus = Dead Trees = Lots of Tree Fall

CLEARCUTTING • Clearcut – Removes all of the trees in an area to simulate wildfire – Pros • Used to remove unhealthy tree stands • Create a more diverse habitat = more species can live there – Cons • Removes canopy cover/habitat • Unattractive

HOW CAN YOU TELL IF A FOREST LOOKS HEALTHY? • # of Species • Spacing • Shade Tolerant Trees – Douglis Fir • Non-Shade Tolerant Trees – Aspen – Lodgepole Pine

STEMPLE PASS • Stemple pass is located near Lincoln about 39 miles Northwest of Helena. • When we are there we will: – Go on a hike and analyze examples of succession and forest health based on diversity and growth. – Collect water data – Collect forestry data • When we get back we will: – Analyze data – Write a research paper on the health of the study site as well as management recommendations

HISTORY OF THE AREA • Gould District – located along Gould Cr. – 1883 -1930 – Jay Gould Mine • Surface ores milled • Started Fool Hen Creek Tunnel, which was extended to 1 mi 600 ft into mountain – 1922 – Standard Silver Lead Company • Mined ore that was 95% gold 5% silver – Total earnings for this mine were around $3, 000 • Stemple Sub-District – Head of VA Cr. North of Gould Cr. – 1878 • Included gold mines such as the Homestake • No clean up was done

FIRE HISTORY OF THE AREA • 2010 – Fire that jumped over clear cuts into our area

GRADY EASMENT • 1997 - FWP purchased 20 square miles of land for $2. 35 Million on the Grady Ranch to protect wildlife habitat. – 53% of elk and 75% of mule dear wintering in Hunting District 343 use the Grady Easment • The easement is important because it: – Provides critidal habitat • winter range hapitrat for melk and mule deer • The sagebrush, grasslands and conifer cover provide important thermal/hiding areas • Other wildlife includes: black bear, red fox, badger, coyote, fisher, marten, wolverine, and occasionally wolf, lynx and grizzlies • Bird species include grouse, curlews, coshawks, merlins, owls and woodpeckers – Presrves Open Space – Hunting and fishing opportunities

WATER QUALITY CALCULATIONS • EPT Ratio (pg. 24) # Stoneflies + Caddisflies + Mayflies Total # of Organisms in Sample • Diversity Index Value (pg. 25) # of organisms = P plogx. P Total # of Org . 301 • Pollution Tolerance Index (pg. 27) – Follow worksheet for Groups 1 -4 – Total group score Total # of Taxa SKIP PG. 26 Add all together