Oregon: Thinning to eliminate slow growing runts is another cause of mass forest die-off

“These long-lived trees grow slowly — but not too slow,” Black said
in a statement. “It seems to be some kind of balance that the trees
grow at just the right pace for their environment and the conditions
stop just short of causing them to die. The lesson is that there may
be even greater diversity to our forests than we realized.”

Click link for full text/increase funding for writer/producer of these
words: http://www.oregonlive.com/environment/index.ssf/2009/02/ancient_trees_win_the_tortoise.html

The study by Bryan Black, who works out of OSU’s Hatfield Marine
Science Center in Newport, revealed that many ancient trees grow
slowly throughout their lives and mingle with faster growing trees.
Results of the study, published in the recent issue of the journal
“Ecoscience,” could affect forest management, since faster growing
trees are at greater risk of a catastrophic disturbance like flood,
fire and windstorms.

Slower-growing trees tend to channel their energy
into structural support and defense compounds to protect against
disease or infestation. Black looked at tree-ring studies of Douglas
fir, white oak, ponderosa pine and eastern hemlock and found that the
old trees often are stunted, shaded by their faster growing neighbors
and growing in poor soil or on a hillside. The results were the same
for evergreens or hardwoods. The slow growth is evident within the
first 50 years of a tree’s life. Faster growing trees put their energy
into growth and reach sexual maturity earlier. They also die at a
younger age.

Click link for full text/increase funding for writer/producer of these
words: http://www.oregonlive.com/environment/index.ssf/2009/02/ancient_trees_win_the_tortoise.html

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