TREE SPECIES RICHNESS INCREASED BY CLEARCUTTING OF NORTHERN HARDWOODS IN CENTRAL NEW-YORK

Data collected by periodic remeasurement of permanent plots within five northern hardwood stands in central New York describe changes in species composition of natural regeneration during a 20-year period following clearcutting. Regeneration developed from the upgrowth of advance seedlings, the emergence of new germinants, and stump sprouts. Findings indicate that the species composition of the stand prior to cutting, and of the forest around the site, influenced the relative importance of each source and species. As the regeneration developed, its composition changed to reflect characteristics of each source, and the different species' growth rates. Advance seedlings and stump sprouts helped to maintain shade-tolerant species, and new germinants influenced the proportions of shade-intolerant and intermediate species. The latter groups persisted due to better rates of height growth at the light levels created by clearcutting.