Cavity Trees in Sawtimber-Size Oak Stands in Central Massachusetts

Abstract

Abstract Animals that use cavities in trees are an important component of hardwood ecosystems, but reserving cavity trees is often perceived as an impact on timber production. Cavities occurred in 4% of the live trees in even-aged, saw-timber-size oak stands with no previous silvicultural treatment. Cavity trees accounted for 8% of the total live tree basal area and occurred in all tree quality and diameter classes. Dead trees were well distributed by diameter class. On the average, unthinned stands had about 2.9 times as many cavity trees and 1.8 times as many dead trees per ha as thinned stands. It is possible to conduct thinnings that both improve stand quality and retain cavity trees because 89% of the rough cull, and 63% of the rotten cull trees did not contain cavities. North. J. Appl. For. 6:61-65, June 1989.