Master of Science, The Ohio State University, 2008, Natural Resources

Oak ecosystems in the Central Hardwoods region are diverse, supporting thousands of species of plants, numerous insects and invertebrates, and hundreds of wildlife species. Oak ecosystems are not only important for wildlife, but are important to the forest product industry, as well as for many recreational activities. This study examines the effects of two intensities of shelterwood harvesting (50 and 70 percent of full stocking). The main goal of this study is to develop and understand the relationships between disturbance levels and the successful release of oak regeneration. The silvicultural treatments were conducted during the fall of 2005 at two Ohio State forests (Richland Furnace and Zaleski), which are located in the heavily forested southeastern portion of the state. Multiple Response Permutation Procedure (MRPP), Analysis of Variance (ANOVA) and Canonical Correspondence Analysis (CCA) procedures were used to analyze the data. Patterns in species densities were used to suggest that the silvicultural treatments were successful in establishing the current regeneration. The results from these silvicultural treatments should remain consistent across similar oak-hickory forests of the central hardwood region.

Committee: Roger Williams PhD (Advisor); David Hix PhD (Committee Member); P. Charles Goebel PhD (Committee Member) Subjects: Environmental Science; Forestry

Master of Science (MS), Ohio University, 2002, Biological Sciences (Arts and Sciences)

Avian community structure is determined by many abiotic and biotic factors such as bird-habitat associations, resource partitioning, and species interactions. Disturbance, such as shelterwood harvesting and prescribed burning, alter these patterns of co-existence. I studied avian forest communities at three sites in Southeast Ohio. Each site consists of four treatment plots: control, burn, thin, and thin + burn. I determined differences in species composition, richness, mean abundance, and nest success at each site. Avian species composition and abundance appear most impacted within the burn plots in 2001. Species richness is highest in the thin only and thin and burn plots. Daily nest survival rates are similar across treatments and years. My results are comparable to other studies that found these management practices provide habitat for both gap associated birds and mature forest birds. Further research is needed to determine the impact of other factors that may mask treatment effects.

Committee: Donald Miles (Advisor) Subjects: Biology, General