Research Projects

Cascade Head Experimental Forest and Scenic Research Area

 

(excluding The Nature Conservancy Preserve)

Project Title

Duration of Study

 

Describing the cycle of nitrogen in soil microbes, plant tissues and decomposing organic matter (EF)

2000-ongoing

 

Identification of root decomposing fungi causing white- and brown-rot at three locations in Oregon (EF)

2000-ongoing

 

Baseline sampling of disturbed and undisturbed soils (EF)

2000

 

Retranslocation and recyling of nutrients within canopies of Douglas fir and western hemlock as a function of age/height and site nitrogen availability (EF)

2000-2002

 

Seasonal patterns of sapwood temperature; seasonal growth patterns of trees; soil CO2 efflux in different forest types (EF)

2000-ongoing

 

Effect of land use and land cover on movement, form and timing of nitrogen into Salmon River Estuary (EF, SRA)

2000-onging

 

Old-growth forest characteristics across the northern Oregon Coast Range (EF, SRA)

1998

 

Structure and development of late-successional forests across the northern Oregon Coast Range (EF, SRA)

1998

 

Quantifying fine litter production for use in modeling changes in climate, CO2, and nitrogen deposition. (EF)

1998-ongoing

 

Functional status of salt marsh restoration for juvenile salmon rearing habitat in the Salmon River Estuary (SRA)

1997-ongoing

 

Hydrogen and oxygen isotopic composition of tree ring cellulose to determine historical patterns of seasonal water use by trees (EF)

 1996-1997

 

Population dynamics of Sidalcea hirtipes in an abandoned pasture on the Oregon coast (SRA)

 1996-ongoing

 

 Predicting decomposition dynamics of woody detritus of forest ecosystems (EF)

 1996-2006

 

Sampling of decaying logs to create a decay class system (EF)

1996

 

Lithostratigraphic and biostratigraphic study of rapid sea-level change during the past 4000 years in the lower salmon River estuary, Lincoln County, OR (SRA)

 1995-1996

 

 

Microbial assimilation of nitrate controls nitrogen loss from forest ecosystems (EF)

 1995-1996

 

Estimating harvestable moss biomass on hardwood trunks and shrub stems (EF)

 1995

 

Carbon storage potential of various forest types in the Pacific Northwest (EF)

 1995-ongoing

 

Small mammal abundance at the Salmon River estuary, central Oregon Coast (SRA)

 1994

 

Fungal diversity of old-growth forests in the Pacific Northwest (EF)

 1994 ongoing

 

Assessments of biological nitrogen fixation associated with large woody residues of Oregon coastal forests (EF)

1994

 

 

Monitoring distribution  of marbled murrelets (EF)

1989-ongoing

 

Burning to create habitat for the silver spot butterfly (SRA)

1986-ongoing

 

Modeling of individual tree survival (EF)

1986

 

Relationship between density-dependent and density-independent mortality in forest stands (EF)

 1986

 

Crown structure and its relationship to the tolerance of trees (EF)

 1986

 

 Ecological studies of the endangered Oregon silverspot butterfly (SRA)

1986-ongoing

 

Use of AVHRR and TM data for the estimation of key biogeochemical cycling indices of coniferous forests in the western United States

 1986-1990

 

Disturbance and persistence of Picea sitchensis in coastal rain forests of the Pacific Northwest

 1985-1987

 

Sensitivity of forest ecosystems to changes in climate and land use patterns

1985

 

Role of riparian vegetation in retention of small organic debris during flood events

1985-1988

 

Acidification of forest soils

1985-1988

 

Intra and interspecific interactions in red alder and Douglas-fir

1985-ongoing

 

 Pullout resistance of stump anchors

1984

 

 Sapling population change and mortality rates in a 140-year-old spruce-hemlock forest

1983-ongoing

 

Commercial thinning of 30-year old Sitka spruce-western hemlock stands

 1983-ongoing

 

Logging methods and scar damage in 30-year old Sitka spruce-western hemlock stands

1983-ongoing

 

Biomass dynamics, mortality and disturbance, Neskowin Crest Research Natural Area

1979-ongoing

 

Population distribution and nocturnal pollination of Silene douglasii

1983-ongoing

 

 Restoration of diked salt marsh, Salmon River Estuary

1979-ongoing

 

Study of shell polymorphism in Thais emarginata

 1979

 

Phytosociological and dynamic structure of spruce forest in the Oregon Coast Range

1979-1981

 

 Litterfall and foliage chemistry in forests

1979-1981

 

 Mating and foraging characteristics of winter wrens

1979-1981

 

 Role of nurse logs in regeneration of Sitka spruce and western hemlock

1979-1981

 

 Overstory/understory interactions in young Sitka spruce-western hemlock stands

1979-ongoing

 

 Understory and tree reproduction in the Picea sitchesis-Tsuga heterophylla forest of the Neskowin Crest Research Natural Area

1978-1980

 

 Red alder provenance study

1977-1989

 

 Pre- and post-dike removal survey of birds and mammals on the Salmon River

1978-1979

 

Eradication of tansy ragwort using biological control

1978-ongoing

 

Effects of initial spacing on growth of Sitka spruce and western hemlock

1961-ongoing

 

Growth and mortality of Douglas-fir forest 

1935 ongoing

 

Growth and mortality of Sitka spruce-western hemlock forest

1935-ongoing

 

Red alder/Douglas fir interactions

1935-ongoing

 

 

 

 

 

 

DATA  AVAILABILITY

 

  1. Sitka spruce-western hemlock growth plots.  Nine 1-acre plots were established in 1935 in order to follow the growth and yield of then 85-year old forests established after a large forest fire in the late 1840s.  Tree diameters down to 5 cm diameter at breast height (dbh) and a subset of tree heights have been remeasured since 1935 at approximately 5-year intervals.  Causes of tree mortality have been ascribed at the same time.  Data available through 1993.

 

  1. Sitka spruce-western hemlock growth plots soil descriptions. Data describe soil characteristics of the nine 1-acre plots established in 1935 at the Cascade Head Experimental Forest. (see full text)

 

  1. Douglas-fir growth plots. Three 1-acre plots established in 1935 in order to follow the growth and yield of then 85-year old forests established after a large forest fire in the late 1840s. Tree diameters down to 5 cm diameter at breast height (dbh) and a subset of tree heights have been remeasured since 1935 at approximately 5-year intervals.  Causes of tree mortality have been ascribed at the same time.  Data available through 1993/1994.

 

  1. Alder-conifer plots. Five plots established in 1935 to look at the effects of alder grown with conifers.  There are two pure alder plots, one thinned, one not; one pure conifer plot; two alder-conifer mix plots.  Data available through 1980.

 

  1. Neskowin Crest RNA Sitka spruce-western hemlock growth plots.  Forty-four 1000 m2 plots established in 1979 in order to follow growth, yield and mortality of coastal Sitka spruce-western hemlock forest directly adjacent to the Pacific coast.  Tree diameters down to 5 cm diameter at breast height (dbh) and a subset of tree heights have been remeasured since 1979 at approximately 5-year intervals.  Causes of tree mortality have been ascribed at the same time.  Data available through 1994.

 

  1. Neskowin Crest RNA one-ha reference stand.  Stand established 1982 as typical example of Sitka spruce-western hemlock type to be compared with reference stands in similar type of forest in Washington’s Olympic Peninsula.  Tree diameters down to 5 cm diameter at breast height (dbh) and a subset of tree heights have been remeasured since 1982 at approximately 5-year intervals.  Causes of tree mortality have been ascribed at the same time. Data available through 1996.

 

  1. Weather Data from the Otis weather station located within the research area.  Please note that precipitation and temperature data have been recorded since 1948, but only data from 1961 to the present is available online.  Please contact the Oregon Climate service at (541)737-5705 for more information.