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MOFEP Tree Cavity and Snag Study

MOFEP Tree Cavity and Snag Study. Team Members: Randy Jensen, John Kabrick, Eric Zenner, and Mark Johanson. Project Goals . Determine the effects of forest management on the density of cavity trees and snags.

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MOFEP Tree Cavity and Snag Study

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  1. MOFEP Tree Cavity and Snag Study Team Members: Randy Jensen, John Kabrick, Eric Zenner, and Mark Johanson

  2. Project Goals • Determine the effects of forest management on the density of cavity trees and snags. • Report trends in cavity density with respect to tree species, tree diameter, hole diameter, and hole height on the trees. • Verify cavity estimates by dissecting cavity trees after harvest. • Make management recommendations on cavity tree and snag management.

  3. Key findings • Pre-treatment cavity tree and snag densities were near or above optimum recommendations on MOFEP sites according to Missouri’s forest land management guidelines Snags Cavities

  4. Key findings • After timber harvests, cavity tree and snag densities were above above or near optimum recommendations for all harvest treatments Snags Cavities

  5. Key findings • There was a large difference in the frequency of cavities between species. • 5% of the overstory trees were found to have cavities. • Less than 1% of shortleaf pine had cavities but 20% of the blackgums had cavities. • Oaks (2-10%) and hickories (7-11%) were found to be intermediate in cavity occurrence.

  6. Key findings • Large trees have more cavities than small trees. • There are fewer larger diameter than small diameterstrees

  7. Key findings • Increasing cavity occurrence in larger diameter trees ocured in all tree species.

  8. Key findings • The largest proportion of holes leading to tree cavities (44%) was at less than 5 feet height on the tree. • Cavities located high on trees were of the least abundance.

  9. Key findings – Cavity Verification • Only 55% of the holes thought to lead to cavities met our minimum definition. • But 18% of the “pre-cavity” holes did lead to tree cavities. • Overall, cavity density was estimate was 70% of the original estimate.

  10. Key findings • The larger the hole diameter, the more accurate were our cavity estimates • The lower the hole location, the better the cavity estimates

  11. Past Challenges • Difficulty in determining if holes lead to cavities. • Data collection taken with over story data. • Promoting the cavity and snag guidelines to those affecting the resource.

  12. Research Needs • Determine how forest management options affect the long-term availability of useable wildlife cavities. • Information on specific cavity requirements of different cavity using species. • Internal cavity dimensions required? • How many cavities per mated pair? • Seasonal differences in requirements • Determine the variability of crew estimates on the same trees and holes (year to year or crew to crew variation).

  13. Research Needs • Determine the best tree species, sizes, or combinations for cavity using species. • Determine the best tree species, sizes, or combinations for cavity using species. Oak Blackgum Hickory

  14. Research Needs • Determine if there are cavity sizes or locations that are restricting wildlife populations.

  15. Future Plans • Continue with cavity tree data along with overstory data collection • Possibly renew a proposal to study cavity use by wildlife • Explore the importance of basal dens to wildlife • Analyze and publish

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