| Forest
Ecology question re Logging and Haul Roads |
Raymond
Caron |
|
Oct
16, 2006 04:39 PDT |
I've been interested in learning more about logging roads and
dugways I
see on many mountain sides in the White Mountains of New
Hampshire where
I do most of my hiking. Last Saturday from Carter-Moriah Trail
on ascent
and descent to Mt Moriah I saw the most numerous concentration
I've ever
seen of these. On account of the leaves falling off trees in the
surrounding canopy and tree species in the logging roads
retaining
theirs they really stood out tremendously. It really looks like
a
different species of tree populated logging and haul road from
what grew
up in the surrounding forest. Of course this area was totally
burned in
the huge fire that struck the Wild River region in 1903. The
color of
the leaves in the logging roads is yellow. I used to think
reason these
stood out was the roads were sidehills that showed up in canopy
as
difference in elevation, but now it appears they stand out
mainly
because they are different species of tree from surroundings. In
addition this is primarily lowland environment so sidehills are
not
applicable here. For this to occur over such a large area is
really
notable. I'd appreciate helpful comments or speculations from
the many
botanists/ecologists who lurk VFTT. Refer to attached link to
see
picture of this remarkable phenomena.
http://outdoors.webshots.com/photo/2083625990088087945qlxIxW
After further reflection on this interesting question I'm going
to reply
to my own question. I bet the trees in the pictures are aspens.
On this
same hike when we were on our way out and passed through
bottomlands of
Stony Brook that are at similar elevation and aspect to the Wild
River
bottomlands. I recall pointing out to my companion the aspens
that were
nice yellow color and were still holding on to their leaves
while other
hardwoods had lost them. I checked Francis Belcher's book on
logging
railroads and his narrative in the chapter on Wild River logging
indicates the big fire that hit the Lost River region occurred
in late
May. The area had been logged intensively for during preceding
decade
and ths slash undoubtly contributed to the fire. I bet aspens
produced
their floaty seeds shortly after this event and were wafted into
the
area by the winds and they populated the road beds pretty
quickly and
surrounding areas taken up with slash etc were populated later
by other
early colonizer species such as birch. Any comments by those
more
familiar with tree succession dynamics?
Ray Caron
Waltham MA |
| Re:
Forest Ecology question re Logging and Haul Roads |
wad-@comcast.net |
| Oct
16, 2006 05:27 PDT |
Ray
The only other species I can think of would be Norway maple?
They hold their leaves longer than other species and have a
yellow fall color. I hope they are aspens though. At least theya
re native.
Scott
|
| Re:
Forest Ecology question re Logging and Haul Roads |
Fores-@aol.com |
| Oct
17, 2006 16:12 PDT |
|