Modeling forest growth, yield, and wildlife habitat in the Lake States
2013-05
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Modeling forest growth, yield, and wildlife habitat in the Lake States
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2013-05
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Modeling efforts in the Lake States have produced numerous descriptive and predictive statistical models to assist forest management. However, several needs remain, including representation of (1) intensive forest management, (2) wildlife response to habitat change, and (3) projections of stand mortality for extended rotations. (1) We created a managed and intensively managed stand version of the Lake States variant of the Forest Vegetation Simulator (LS-FVS). This research concentrated on updating the large tree diameter growth model in LS-FVS using data from the Forest Inventory and Analysis (FIA) database. The final model form provides an important tool for describing individual tree level response to various management intensities in LS-FVS. (2) The Wildlife Habitat Indicator for Native Genera and Species (WHINGS) was derived from the Minnesota Generic Environmental Impact Statement and allows forest managers and policy analysts to examine the impacts of proposed management scenarios on forest wildlife habitat. This research recommended several updates to the current habitat suitability index methodology used in the model. A case study for St. Louis County, Minnesota demonstrated an application of the updated model to three 100 year harvest scheduling projections. Results illustrated that any sustainable change in forest habitat will benefit some species and diminish others.(3) This study modified and extended an existing yield curve for the red pine and aspen forest types to encompass the entire life of a forest stand (single cohort). The new model assumed that accumulated mortality eventually equals accumulated growth (i.e., stand mortality eventually reaches 100%). From among several proposed model forms, a symmetric curve based on an underlying basal area model proved superior. Forest managers and planners tasked with estimating yield (or yield loss) from diverse scenarios can now obtain realistic projections for stands beyond the age range of typical yield models.In addition, we compared several datasets from FIA for similar utility when developing empirical yield models and compared several basal area yield models and fitting methods for their applicability and stability over time. Finally, we evaluated the managed and intensively managed stand version of LS-FVS using independent growth observations from the most recently available FIA data.
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University of Minnesota Ph.D. dissertation. May 2013. Major: Natural Resources Science and Management. Advisor: Alan R. Ek. 1 computer file (PDF); xii, 140 pages, appendices 1-4.
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Zobel, John M.. (2013). Modeling forest growth, yield, and wildlife habitat in the Lake States. Retrieved from the University Digital Conservancy, https://hdl.handle.net/11299/163535.
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