Sustaining Cross-Timbers Forest Resources: Current Knowledge and Future Research Needs

Joshi, Omkar; Will, Rodney E.; Zou, Chris B.; Kharel, Gehendra

doi:10.3390/su11174703

Cited by 17 publications

(17 citation statements)

References 37 publications

Supporting

Mentioning

Contrasting

Order By: Relevance

“…and blackjack oak (Q. marilandica Münchh.). However, fire exclusion has increased woody species density and richness and allowed eastern redcedar (Juniperus virginiana L., redcedar), a native, evergreen conifer, to encroach the prairie and infill the oak-dominated areas [5][6][7], which affects a large number of ecosystem services [8][9][10]. Encroachment of redcedar into grasslands increases ecosystem-level water use, resulting in a reduction of runoff and groundwater recharge potential [1,[11][12][13].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Stand-Level Transpiration Increases after Eastern Redcedar (Juniperus virginiana L.) Encroachment into the Midstory of Oak Forests

Torquato

Will

Zhang

et al. 2020

Forests

Self Cite

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Eastern redcedar (Juniperus virginiana L., redcedar) encroachment is transitioning the oak-dominated Cross-Timbers of the southern Great Plain of the USA into mixed-species forests. However, it remains unknown how the re-assemblage of tree species in a semiarid to sub-humid climate affects species-specific water use and competition, and ultimately the ecosystem-level water budget. We selected three sites representative of oak, redcedar, and oak and redcedar mixed stands with a similar total basal area (BA) in a Cross-Timbers forest near Stillwater, Oklahoma. Sap flow sensors were installed in a subset of trees in each stand representing the distribution of diameter at breast height (DBH). Sap flow of each selected tree was continuously monitored over a period of 20 months, encompassing two growing seasons between May 2017 and December 2018. Results showed that the mean sap flow density (Sd) of redcedar was usually higher than post oaks (Quercus stellata Wangenh.). A structural equation model showed a significant correlation between Sd and shallow soil moisture for redcedar but not for post oak. At the stand level, the annual water use of the mixed species stand was greater than the redcedar or oak stand of similar total BA. The transition of oak-dominated Cross-Timbers to redcedar and oak mixed forest will increase stand-level transpiration, potentially reducing the water available for runoff or recharge to groundwater.

show abstract

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Stand-Level Transpiration Increases after Eastern Redcedar (Juniperus virginiana L.) Encroachment into the Midstory of Oak Forests

Torquato

Will

Zhang

et al. 2020

Forests

Self Cite

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…The oak‐dominated Cross Timbers forest historically occurred throughout the region, but at lower stand densities and more open canopy structure (DeSantis et al, 2010, 2011; Hoff, Will, Zou, Weir, et al, 2018). Harvest of the oaks as part of thinning or forest regeneration operations could capture a source of biofuel feedstock while enhancing important ecosystem services related to wildlife, wildfire fuels reduction, recreation, and water yield (Joshi et al, 2019).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…(Hoff, Will, Zou & Lillie, 2018) into the oak forest. These changes have degraded wildlife habitat, increased fuels for wildfire, reduced the quality of recreational activities (Joshi et al, 2019) and reduced biodiversity (van Els et al, 2010). Thinning operations to reduce stand density or harvests to regenerate the oak forest could improve and restore ecosystem services (Joshi et al, 2019).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…These changes have degraded wildlife habitat, increased fuels for wildfire, reduced the quality of recreational activities (Joshi et al, 2019) and reduced biodiversity (van Els et al, 2010). Thinning operations to reduce stand density or harvests to regenerate the oak forest could improve and restore ecosystem services (Joshi et al, 2019). Given the lack of forest product markets in the region, use of Cross Timbers forests as a biofuel feedstock would not compete with traditional markets for pulpwood or fiber.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

See 1 more Smart Citation

Improved productivity, water yield, and water use efficiency by incorporating switchgrass cultivation and native ecosystems in an integrated biofuel feedstock system

et al. 2020

Self Cite

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

The southern Great Plains of the USA has great potential to produce biofuel feedstock while minimizing the dual stresses of woody plant encroachment and climate change. Switchgrass (Panicum virgatum) cultivation, woody biomass captured during removal of the encroaching eastern redcedar (Juniperus virginiana) to restore grasslands and thinning of the native oak forest can provide an integrated source of feedstock and improve ecosystem services. In north‐central Oklahoma, we quantified productivity and ecosystem water use of switchgrass stands and degraded ecosystems encroached by eastern redcedar and compared these to native oak forest and tallgrass prairie ecosystems. We measured aboveground net primary productivity (ANPP) using allometric equations (trees) and clip plots (herbaceous), and evapotranspiration (ET) using a water balance approach from gauged watersheds, and calculated water use efficiency (WUE = ANPP/ET) from 2016 to 2019. Among vegetation cover types, ANPP averaged 5.1, 5.4, 6.0, and 7.8 Mg ha−1 year−1 for the prairie, oak, eastern redcedar, and switchgrass watersheds and was significantly greater for switchgrass in 2018 and 2019 (2 and 3 years post establishment) when it reached 8.6 Mg ha−1 year−1. Averaged across 2017–2019, ET was significantly greater in the forested watersheds than the grassland watersheds (1022 mm year−1 for eastern redcedar, 1025 mm year−1 for oak, 874 mm year−1 for prairie, and 828 mm year−1 for switchgrass). The mean WUE was significantly greater (9.47 kg ha−1 mm−1) for switchgrass than for the prairie, eastern redcedar, and oak cover types (6.03, 6.02, and 5.31 kg ha−1 mm−1). Switchgrass offered benefits of greater ANPP, less ET, and greater WUE. Our findings indicate that an integrated biofuel feedstock system that includes converting eastern redcedar encroached areas to switchgrass and thinning the oak forest can increase productivity, increase runoff to streams, and improve ecosystem services.

show abstract

“…Therefore, the economic impact analysis of timber loss-the method used in our research-is readily applicable to other invasive species of interest. Second, the timber industry in Oklahoma is dominated by the pine forests [46], which are the most economically important forest types in the southern United States [47]. As such, social accounting multipliers capturing the relationship between total and direct economic losses (jobs, value-added, output, labor income) from this study are applicable to other kudzuimpacted pine forests having similar economic realities.…”

Section: Plos Onementioning

confidence: 99%

Predicting Kudzu (Pueraria montana) spread and its economic impacts in timber industry: A case study from Oklahoma

et al. 2020

Self Cite

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Quantifying the economic impacts of invasive species is an essential step in developing and prioritizing invasive species management. In particular, kudzu, Pueraria montana (Lour.) Merr. is an aggressive and non-native vine that not only causes ecological damage and reduces biodiversity, but can have multiple economic consequences such as loss of timber value and volume. Using current infestation locations in Oklahoma, southcentral USA, a Monte Carlo simulation was run to estimate the natural as well as anthropogenic spread rate of kudzu in the next five years. Simulations were supplemented with an economic impact analysis within the Impact Analysis for PLANing (IMPLAN) platform. To account for economic loss in the forest product industry, a replacement cost approach with a sensitivity analysis was conducted. Occurrence data collections revealed that current kudzu populations are already established in Oklahoma forests. The results demonstrate that by year five, total industry output could be reduced by $167.9 million, which will influence 780 jobs in the most extreme case scenario. The predicted economic loss due to kudzu expansion could act as an incentive for appropriate management practices and plans to be implemented. OPEN ACCESSCitation: Harron P, Joshi O, Edgar CB, Paudel S, Adhikari A (2020) Predicting Kudzu (Pueraria montana) spread and its economic impacts in timber industry: A case study from Oklahoma. PLoS ONE 15(3): e0229835. https://doi.org/ 10.

show abstract

Sustaining Cross-Timbers Forest Resources: Current Knowledge and Future Research Needs

Cited by 17 publications

References 37 publications

Stand-Level Transpiration Increases after Eastern Redcedar (Juniperus virginiana L.) Encroachment into the Midstory of Oak Forests

Stand-Level Transpiration Increases after Eastern Redcedar (Juniperus virginiana L.) Encroachment into the Midstory of Oak Forests

Improved productivity, water yield, and water use efficiency by incorporating switchgrass cultivation and native ecosystems in an integrated biofuel feedstock system

Predicting Kudzu (Pueraria montana) spread and its economic impacts in timber industry: A case study from Oklahoma

Contact Info

Product

Resources

About