Dynamics of Old-Growth Forests on Wachusett Mountain in Princeton MA 1996-1997

<para>One of the largest old-growth forests in southern New England was recently "discovered" on the exposed upper slopes of Wachusett Mountain, one of the most heavily used recreational areas in Massachusetts, less than 50 miles from urban Boston. Presettlement and early post-settlement data suggest that most of the area's forests were comprised of a mixture of Quercus rubra and northern hardwood species. Individual species abundances and recruitment dynamics in the four stands exhibit highly variable spatial and temporal patterns across sites that differ in aspect and exposure. Three uneven-aged hardwood stands contain Quercus rubra in the largest size classes, various amounts of Fagus grandifolia, Acer and Betula species in the middle size classes and dense thickets of Acer pennsylvanicum, Acer spicatum, and Hamamelis virginiana in the small size classes. Several individuals of Q. rubra, B. lenta, and B. alleghaniensis are at or very near the maximum longevity known for these species. Of particular significance is the presence of Q. rubra exceeding 250 - 300 years of age. A Tsuga canadensis stand contains unimodal size and age distributions, with trees less than 60-cm dbh and 100 to 300 years old. Widespread Quercus rubra recruitment occurred on all sites from the 1600s through the early 1800s, when it dropped precipitously except for scattered individuals on more open talus sites, and was replaced by either Tsuga or Acer and Betula species. The historical change in recruitment from Quercus to more shade-tolerant species evidently was driven by a change in disturbance regime from an early period when fire was a major factor controlling forest dynamics to a period over the last two centuries when hurricanes (1815 and 1938), frequent wind, ice, and snow damage, but no fire, are documented. The asynchronous nature of tree-ring releases and suppression and the relatively low amount of coarse woody debris corroborate this interpretation. Chronic canopy damage through time produced short-statured and unusually gnarled trees through ongoing reiteration of shoots and branches. These historical and structural characteristics gave the forest unusual resistance to occasional, severe winds from hurricanes despite its very exposed nature. In addition, the low quality of the timber and unusual structure of the trees and forest discouraged logging and prevented the recognition of the forest's old-growth status despite its heavy recreational use.</para> </section> </abstract> <keywordSet> <keyword>dendrochronology</keyword> <keyword>land use</keyword> <keyword>old growth forests</keyword> <keyword>vegetation dynamics</keyword> <keywordThesaurus>LTER controlled vocabulary</keywordThesaurus> </keywordSet> <keywordSet> <keyword>disturbance</keyword> <keywordThesaurus>LTER core area</keywordThesaurus> </keywordSet> <keywordSet> <keyword>Harvard Forest</keyword> <keyword>HFR</keyword> <keyword>LTER</keyword> <keyword>USA</keyword> <keywordThesaurus>HFR default</keywordThesaurus> </keywordSet> <intellectualRights> <section> <para>This dataset is released to the public under Creative Commons CC0 1.0 (No Rights Reserved). Please keep the dataset creators informed of any plans to use the dataset. Consultation with the original investigators is strongly encouraged. Publications and data products that make use of the dataset should include proper acknowledgement.</para> </section> </intellectualRights> <licensed> <licenseName>Creative Commons Zero v1.0 Universal</licenseName> <url>https://spdx.org/licenses/CC0-1.0.html</url> <identifier>CC0-1.0</identifier> </licensed> <distribution> <online> <url function="information">https://harvardforest.fas.harvard.edu/exist/apps/datasets/showData.html?id=hf016</url> </online> </distribution> <coverage> <geographicCoverage> <geographicDescription>Wachusett Mountain (Princeton MA). Coordinates based on WGS84 datum.</geographicDescription> <boundingCoordinates> <westBoundingCoordinate>-71.88</westBoundingCoordinate> <eastBoundingCoordinate>-71.88</eastBoundingCoordinate> <northBoundingCoordinate>+42.48</northBoundingCoordinate> <southBoundingCoordinate>+42.48</southBoundingCoordinate> </boundingCoordinates> </geographicCoverage> <temporalCoverage> <rangeOfDates> <beginDate> <calendarDate>1996</calendarDate> </beginDate> <endDate> <calendarDate>1997</calendarDate> </endDate> </rangeOfDates> </temporalCoverage> <taxonomicCoverage> <taxonomicClassification> <taxonRankName>genus</taxonRankName> <taxonRankValue>Acer</taxonRankValue> <taxonomicClassification> <taxonRankName>species</taxonRankName> <taxonRankValue>rubrum</taxonRankValue> <commonName>red maple</commonName> </taxonomicClassification> <taxonomicClassification> <taxonRankName>species</taxonRankName> <taxonRankValue>saccharum</taxonRankValue> <commonName>sugar maple</commonName> </taxonomicClassification> </taxonomicClassification> <taxonomicClassification> <taxonRankName>genus</taxonRankName> <taxonRankValue>Betula</taxonRankValue> <taxonomicClassification> <taxonRankName>species</taxonRankName> <taxonRankValue>alleghaniensis</taxonRankValue> <commonName>yellow birch</commonName> </taxonomicClassification> </taxonomicClassification> <taxonomicClassification> <taxonRankName>genus</taxonRankName> <taxonRankValue>Fagus</taxonRankValue> <taxonomicClassification> <taxonRankName>species</taxonRankName> <taxonRankValue>grandifolia</taxonRankValue> <commonName>beech</commonName> </taxonomicClassification> </taxonomicClassification> <taxonomicClassification> <taxonRankName>genus</taxonRankName> <taxonRankValue>Quercus</taxonRankValue> <taxonomicClassification> <taxonRankName>species</taxonRankName> <taxonRankValue>rubra</taxonRankValue> <commonName>red oak</commonName> </taxonomicClassification> </taxonomicClassification> <taxonomicClassification> <taxonRankName>genus</taxonRankName> <taxonRankValue>Tsuga</taxonRankValue> <taxonomicClassification> <taxonRankName>species</taxonRankName> <taxonRankValue>canadensis</taxonRankValue> <commonName>hemlock</commonName> </taxonomicClassification> </taxonomicClassification> </taxonomicCoverage> </coverage> <maintenance> <description> <para>complete</para> </description> </maintenance> <contact scope="document"> <positionName>Information Manager</positionName> <organizationName>Harvard Forest</organizationName> <address scope="document"> <deliveryPoint>324 North Main Street</deliveryPoint> <city>Petersham</city> <administrativeArea>MA</administrativeArea> <postalCode>01366</postalCode> <country>USA</country> </address> <phone phonetype="voice">(978) 724-3302</phone> <electronicMailAddress>hf-im@lists.fas.harvard.edu</electronicMailAddress> </contact> <publisher scope="document"> <organizationName>Harvard Forest</organizationName> <address scope="document"> <deliveryPoint>324 North Main Street</deliveryPoint> <city>Petersham</city> <administrativeArea>MA</administrativeArea> <postalCode>01366</postalCode> <country>USA</country> </address> <phone phonetype="voice">(978) 724-3302</phone> <phone phonetype="fax">(978) 724-3595</phone> <onlineUrl>https://harvardforest.fas.harvard.edu</onlineUrl> </publisher> <methods> <methodStep> <description> <section> <title/> <para>We analyzed historical records, dendroecological data, vegetation, and coarse woody debris to characterize the dynamics and development of four major old-growth stands on the mountain. In addition, we explored the potential factors enabling these forests to survive the land-use and hurricane history of New England and to elude recognition as old-growth forest for over 150 years.</para> </section> </description> </methodStep> </methods> <project> <title>Harvard Forest Long-Term Ecological Research Harvard Forest

324 North Main Street Petersham MA 01366 USA

(978) 724-3302 (978) 724-3595 https://harvardforest.fas.harvard.edu https://ror.org/059cpzx98 pointOfContact The Harvard Forest Long-Term Ecological Research (LTER) program examines ecological dynamics in the New England region resulting from natural disturbances, environmental change, and human impacts. National Science Foundation LTER grants: DEB-8811764, DEB-9411975, DEB-0080592, DEB-0620443, DEB-1237491, DEB-1832210. hf016-01-trees.csv trees hf016-01-trees.csv 12808 39062e470ddd57d64a13f9bc76c20cf3 1 \r\n column , https://harvardforest.fas.harvard.edu/data/p01/hf016/hf016-01-trees.csv stand 2 letter site abbreviation ET Eastern Talus Slope Area HEM Hemlock Area on Western Slopes OI Old Indian Trail Area ST Southern Talus Slope Area plot 20 x 20 meter plot designation 20 x 20 meter plot designation species species ACPE Acer pennsylvanicum ACRU Acer rubrum ACSA Acer saccharum ACSP Acer spicatum BEAL Betula alleghaniensis BELE Betula lenta CADE Castanea dentata CAGL Carya glabra CAOV Carya ovata Carya Carya spp. FAGR Fagus grandifolia FRAM Fraxinus americana HAVI Hamamelis virginiana OSVI Ostrya virginiana PIRU Picea rubens QURU Quercus rubra SOAM Sorbus americana TSCA Tsuga canadensis crown tree canopy crown class CD codominant tree D dominant tree I intermediate tree OT overtopped tree dbh diameter at breast height centimeter 0.1 real NA missing value age breast height tree age as of 1997 of selected trees number 1 natural NA missing value 529 hf016-02-saplings.csv saplings hf016-02-saplings.csv 1456 29d15c9e4169caf52050034bd8351d7a 1 \r\n column , https://harvardforest.fas.harvard.edu/data/p01/hf016/hf016-02-saplings.csv stand 2 letter site abbreviation ET Eastern Talus Slope Area HEM Hemlock Area on Western Slopes OI Old Indian Trail Area ST Southern Talus Slope Area plot 20 x 20 meter plot designation 20 x 20 meter plot designation species species ACPE Acer pennsylvanicum ACRU Acer rubrum ACSA Acer saccharum ACSP Acer spicatum BEAL Betula alleghaniensis Carya Carya spp. COAL Cornus alternifolia FAGR Fagus grandifolia HAVI Hamamelis virginiana OSVI Ostrya virginiana PRVI Prunus virginiana QURU Quercus rubra SARA Sambucus racemosa SOAM Sorbus americana TIAM Tilia americana TSCA Tsuga canadensis density stem density number 1 natural NA missing value 106 hf016-03-understory.csv understory hf016-03-understory.csv 4050 85952b426fd5c9b638cea4c12d816593 1 \r\n column , https://harvardforest.fas.harvard.edu/data/p01/hf016/hf016-03-understory.csv species species ACPE Acer pennsylvanicum ACRU Acer rubrum ACSA Acer saccharum ACSP Acer spicatum ARME Aronia melanocarpa ARNU Aralia nudicaulis ARTR Arisaema triphyllum ASAC Aster acuminatus ASDI Aster divaricatus BEAL Betula alleghaniensis BELE Betula lenta Carex Carex spp. Carya Carya spp. CLBO Clintonia borealis COAL Cornus alternifolia Crataegus Crateagus spp. DEPU Dennstaedia punctilobula DRMA Dryopteris marginalis DRSP Dryopteris spinulosa FAGR Fagus grandifolia FRAM Fraxinus americana HAVI Hamamelis virginiana Lonicera Lonicera spp. LYLU Lycopodium lucidulum MACA Maianthemum canadense MEVI Medeola virginiana OSCL Osmunda claytonia OSVI Ostrya virginiana OXAC Oxalis acetosella PAQU Parthenocissus quinquefolia POAC Polystichum acrostichoides POBI Polygonatum biflorum POCI Polygonum cilinode Polygonatum Polygonatum spp. POVU Polypodium vulgare POSI Potentilla simplex PRVI Prunus virginiana QURU Quercus rubra RHNU Rhododendron nudiflorum Ribes Ribes spp. Rubus Rubus spp. RUHI Rubus hispidus SARA Sambucus racemosa SMRA Smilacina racemosa SOAM Sorbus americana SORU Solidago rugosa STRO Streptopus roseus SURU Solidago rugosa THNO Thelypteris noveboracensis TIAM Tilia americana TORA Toxicodendron radicans TRBO Trientalis borealis Trillium Trillium spp. TSCA Tsuga canadensis UVSE Uvularia sessifolia VAAN Vaccinium angustifolium VIAL Viburnum alnifolium Viola Viola spp. oi.1 percent cover within 20 x 20 meter plot designated by stand and plot number number 0.1 real NA missing value oi.2 percent cover within 20 x 20 meter plot designated by stand and plot number number 0.1 real NA missing value oi.3 percent cover within 20 x 20 meter plot designated by stand and plot number number 0.1 real NA missing value oi.4 percent cover within 20 x 20 meter plot designated by stand and plot number number 0.1 real NA missing value oi.5 percent cover within 20 x 20 meter plot designated by stand and plot number number 0.1 real NA missing value et.1 percent cover within 20 x 20 meter plot designated by stand and plot number number 0.1 real NA missing value et.2 percent cover within 20 x 20 meter plot designated by stand and plot number number 0.1 real NA missing value et.3 percent cover within 20 x 20 meter plot designated by stand and plot number number 0.1 real NA missing value et.4 percent cover within 20 x 20 meter plot designated by stand and plot number number 0.1 real NA missing value et.5 percent cover within 20 x 20 meter plot designated by stand and plot number number 0.1 real NA missing value st.1 percent cover within 20 x 20 meter plot designated by stand and plot number number 0.1 real NA missing value st.2 percent cover within 20 x 20 meter plot designated by stand and plot number number 0.1 real NA missing value st.3 percent cover within 20 x 20 meter plot designated by stand and plot number number 0.1 real NA missing value st.4 percent cover within 20 x 20 meter plot designated by stand and plot number number 0.1 real NA missing value st.5 percent cover within 20 x 20 meter plot designated by stand and plot number number 0.1 real NA missing value hem.1 percent cover within 20 x 20 meter plot designated by stand and plot number number 0.1 real NA missing value hem.2 percent cover within 20 x 20 meter plot designated by stand and plot number number 0.1 real NA missing value hem.3 percent cover within 20 x 20 meter plot designated by stand and plot number number 0.1 real NA missing value hem.4 percent cover within 20 x 20 meter plot designated by stand and plot number number 0.1 real NA missing value hem.5 percent cover within 20 x 20 meter plot designated by stand and plot number number 0.1 real NA missing value 58 hf016-04-debris.csv coarse woody debris hf016-04-debris.csv 7046 d53f02886ea1766b7419fb6249755277 1 \r\n column , https://harvardforest.fas.harvard.edu/data/p01/hf016/hf016-04-debris.csv stand 2 letter site abbreviation ET Eastern Talus Slope Area HEM Hemlock Area on Western Slopes OI Old Indian Trail Area ST Southern Talus Slope Area plot 20 x 20 meter plot designation 20 x 20 meter plot designation species species ACER Acer spp. ACPE Acer pennsylvanicum ACRU Acer rubrum ACSA Acer saccharum BEAL Betula alleghaniensis BEECH beech BELE Betula lenta CADE Castanea dentata CAOV Carya ovata CARYA Carya spp. FAGR Fagus grandifolia HAVI Hamamelis virginiana OSVI Ostrya virginiana QUERCUS Quercus spp. QURU Quercus rubra TSCA Tsuga canadensis UNK unknown orientation direction of woody material direction of woody material origin origin of woody material LIMB branch SNAP bole snap UNK unknown WT windthrow LOG log length length of woody material meter 0.001 real NA missing value rad.b radius (m) of base of woody material meter 0.001 real NA missing value rad.t radius (m) of top of woody material meter 0.001 real NA missing value avg.rad average of the two woody radii per piece meter 0.001 real NA missing value vol volume of woody piece (m3) cubicMeter 0.001 real NA missing value 149 community regional short-term measurement modeling