FOREST SYSTEMS OF NORTH CENTRAL TEXAS

1. FOREST SYSTEMS OF NORTH CENTRAL TEXAS With Ranger John (Davis, that is)!

2. Three Forest Types • Cross Timbers • Bottomland Hardwoods • Urban Forests Depending on soil hydrology and topography(and land use, in the case of urban forests).

3. Cross Timbers Upland forest type characterized by the presence of oak species, particularly the post oak (Quercus stellata).

4. Cross Timbers Remember everything is connected! Intergrades with prairies in the form of oak savannas.

5. Range of the Cross Timbers • Regionally, form a broad ecotone between the eastern deciduous forests and the southern Great Plains • Locally, run south from Oklahoma for about 150 miles forming 2 discrete belts divided by the Grand Prairie. Here’s the Grand Prairie

6. Bottomland Hardwoods Remember everything is connected! A forested wetland type characterized by the presence of alluvial soils and water tolerant tree species.

7. We’re over here! • Bottomland Hardwoods • Found along the floodplains of rivers, streams, backwater and headwater swamps, & minor drainages.

8. Urban Forests Comprised of remnants of natural forest systems combined with planted or introduced species.

9. Characteristics of the Forest System • Forests are “deep”, extending from below the ground up to the topmost branches of the canopy. • Forests are shadier than non-forested areas. • Forests exhibit narrower temperature extremes than non-forested areas. • Forests have greater protection form wind than non-forested areas. • Forests tend to be more humid than non-forested areas during dry periods. • Forests contain a huge amount of organic matter on which microbes and insects feed.

10. Forest Soils • Cross Timbers—generally rather loose, often deep sands, often susceptible to erosion. • Bottomland Hardwoods—typically loamy alluvial soils, tend to be darker with higher clay content. • Urban Forests—remnants of naturally occurring soil types, often subjected to mixing and modification.

11. Forest Soils • Exhibit all conceivable variations in their physical and chemical properties. • Most important living component: tree root systems with mycorrhizal fungi. • Forest soil community varies from anaerobic and acid tolerant microbes to a multitude of bacteria, fungi, algae, protozoa, nematodes, worms, arthropods, moles, shrews, and rodents.

12. Forest Tree Root Systems Upland Forests—many shallow roots/rootlets plus large, deep roots Bottomland Forests—shallow roots and buttressing Urban Forests—potluck

14. Forest Succession Intolerant? Can’t we all just try to get along? Tolerant vs. Intolerant Species Succession management = disturbance

15. Natural Disturbances • Insects • Wind • Ice • Root injury • Pollution • Diseases • Tornadoes • Hail • Fire • Drought • Crowding • Flooding • Sun scald • Lightning • Extreme cold • Shading • Landslides • Erosion

16. Natural Cycles Water Cycle Carbon Cycle Nutrient Cycle

17. Tree Life Cycle SNAGS • Definitions • Uses • Feeding • Nesting

18. Tree Life Cycle Dead & Downed Woody Material • Downed snags • Stumps • Root wads • Bark • Slash

19. Vertical Stratification A B C D Uneven-aged forests Even-aged forests SUNLIGHT

20. Temperature & Humidity Temperature Humidity Sunny Day

21. Temperature & Humidity Temperature Humidity Night

22. Temperature & Humidity Temperature Humidity Rainy Day

23. Forest System Management May I have your attention, please! This is a fine example of how everyone makes value judgements based on their own experiences! • Monitoring • Species presence/absence, frequency, density • Tree size (DBH), condition • Differing Goals & Objectives • Wildlife Management • Increase diversity (early successional stages, edge effect, etc.) • Timber/Pulp Production • Decrease diversity (monocultures = better cost:benefit ratio) • Multiple Use Management (wildlife management, forest products & recreation combined) • Often a misguided attempt to make everyone happy by not doing anything right.

24. That’s all folks!