Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Creating landscape patterns by forest cutting: Ecological consequences and principles

  • Published:
Landscape Ecology Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Landscape structural characteristics, such as patch size, edge length, and configuration, are altered markedly when management regimes are imposed on primeval landscapes. The ecological consequences of clearcutting patterns were explored by using a model of the dispersed patch or checkerboard system currently practiced on federal forest lands in the western United States. Thresholds in landscape structure were observed on a gradient of percentages of landscape cutover. Probability of disturbance,e.g., wildfire and windthrow, and biotic components,e.g., species diversity and game populations, are highly sensitive to these structural changes. Altering the spatial configuration and size of clearcuts provides an opportunity to create alternative landscapes that differ significantly in their ecological characteristics. Both ecosystem and heterogeneous landscape perspectives are critical in resource management.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Alaback, P.B. 1984. A comparison of old-growth and second-growth forest structure in the western hemlock-Sitka spruce forests of southeast Alaska.In Fish and Wildlife Relationships in Old-Growth Forests. pp. 219–226. Edited by W.R. Meehan, T.R. Merrell Jr. and T.A. Hanley. American Institute of Fisheries Research Biologists, Morehead City, North Carolina.

    Google Scholar 

  • Bormann, F.H. and Likens, G.E. 1979. Pattern and Process in a Forested Ecosystem. Springer-Verlag, New York.

    Google Scholar 

  • Brandt, J. and Agger, P. (eds.) 1984. Proceedings of the First International Seminar on Methodology in Landscape Ecological Research and Planning. Roskilde Universitetsforlag Geo-Ruc., Roskilde, Denmark.

    Google Scholar 

  • Brown, E.R. (ed.) 1985. Management of Wildlife and Fish Habitats in the Forests of Western Oregon and Washington. Publ. R6-F&WL-192-1985. U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Pacific Northwest Region, Portland, Oregon.

    Google Scholar 

  • Chorley, G.A. and Haggett, R.J. 1970. Social and Economic Models in Geography. Methuen, London.

    Google Scholar 

  • Cubbage, F.W. 1983. Tract size and logging costs in southern pine. J. For. 81: 430–433.

    Google Scholar 

  • DeWalle, D.R. 1983. Wind damage around clearcuts in the ridge and valley province of Pennsylvania. J. For. 81: 158–159.

    Google Scholar 

  • Dierschke, H. 1974. Die naturraumliche Gliederung der Verdener Geest. Forsch. Deutsch. Landeskunde 177: 1–113.

    Google Scholar 

  • Flemming, G. 1968. Die windgeschwindigkeit auf waldumgebenen freiflachen. Arch. Forstwes. 17: 5–16.

    Google Scholar 

  • Forman, R.T.T. (ed.) 1979. Pine Barrens: Ecosystem and Landscape. Academic Press, New York.

    Google Scholar 

  • Forman, R.T.T., Galli, A.E. and Leck, C.F. 1976. Forest size and avian diversity in New Jersey woodlots with some land use implications. Oecologia 26: 1–8.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Forman, R.T.T. and Godron, M. 1981. Patches and structural components for a landscape ecology. BioScience 31: 733–740.

    Google Scholar 

  • Forman, R.T.T. and Godron, M. 1986. Landscape Ecology. John Wiley & Sons, New York.

    Google Scholar 

  • Franklin, J.F. and Dyrness, C.T. 1973. Natural Vegetation of Oregon and Washington. Gen. Tech. Rep. PNW-8. U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Pacific Northwest Forest and Range Experiment Station, Portland, Oregon.

    Google Scholar 

  • Franklin, J.F., Cromack, K., Jr., Denison, W., McKee, A., Maser, C., Sedell, J., Swanson, F. and Juday, G. 1981. Ecological Characteristics of Old-Growth Douglas-Fir Forests. Gen. Tech. Rep. PNW-118. U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Pacific Northwest Forest and Range Experiment Station, Portland, Oregon.

    Google Scholar 

  • Game, M. and Peterken, G.F. 1984. Nature reserve selection strategies in the woodlands of central Lincolnshire, England. Biol. Conserv. 29: 157–181.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Gilbert, L.E. 1980. The equilibrium theory of island biogeography: fact or fiction? J. Biogeogr. 7: 209–235.

    Google Scholar 

  • Gratkowski, H.J. 1956. Windthrow around staggered settings in old-growth Douglas-fir. For. Sci. 2: 60–74.

    Google Scholar 

  • Gutièrrez, R.J. and Carey, A.B. (eds.) 1985. Ecology and Management of the Spotted Owl in the Pacific Northwest. Gen. Tech. Rep. PNW-185. U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Pacific Northwest Forest and Range Experiment Station, Portland, Oregon.

    Google Scholar 

  • Haggett, P., Cliff, A.D. and Frey, A. 1977. Locational Analysis in Human Geography. Wiley, New York.

    Google Scholar 

  • Harmon, M.E., Franklin, J.F., Swanson, F.J., Sollins, P., Gregory, S.V., Lattin, J.D., Anderson, N.H., Cline, S.P., Aumen, N.G., Sedell, J.R., Lienkaemper, G.W., Cromack Jr., K. and Cummins, K.W. 1986. Ecology of coarse woody debris in temperate ecosystems.In Advances in Ecological Research, Vol. 15, pp. 133–302. Academic Press, New York.

    Google Scholar 

  • Harr, R.D. and Berris, S.N. 1983. Snow accumulation and subsequent melt during rainfall in forested and clearcut plots in western Oregon.In Proceedings of Western Snow Conference, 51st Annual Meeting, Vancouver, Washington, 19–21 April 1983, pp. 38–45. Colorado State University, Ft. Collins, Colorado.

    Google Scholar 

  • Harris, L.D. 1984. The Fragmented Forest. University of Chicago Press, Chicago.

    Google Scholar 

  • Holtam, B.W. (ed.) 1971. Windblow of Scottish Forests in January 1968. Bull. 45. [Brit.] Forestry Commission.

  • Leopold, A. 1933. Game Management. Scribners, New York.

    Google Scholar 

  • Lovejoy, T.E., Rankin, J.M., Bierregaard, R.D., Jr., Brown, K.S., Jr., Emmons, L.H. and Van der Voort, M.E., 1984. Ecosystem decay of Amazon forest remnants.In Extinctions. pp. 295–325. Edited by M.H. Nitecki. University of Chicago Press, Chicago.

    Google Scholar 

  • MacArthur, R.H. and Wilson, E.O. 1967. The Theory of Island Biogeography. Princeton University Press, Princeton, New Jersey.

    Google Scholar 

  • Meehan, W.R., Merrell, T.R., Jr. and Hanley, T.A. (eds.) 1984. Fish and Wildlife Relationships in Old-Growth Forests. American Institute of Fisheries Research Biologists, Morehead City, North Carolina.

    Google Scholar 

  • Morgan, K.A. and Gates, J.E. 1982. Bird population patterns in forest edge and strip vegetation at Remington Farms, Maryland. J. Wildl. Manage. 46: 933–944.

    Google Scholar 

  • Naveh, Z. and Liebermann, A.S. 1984. Landscape Ecology, Theory and Application. Springer-Verlag, New York.

    Google Scholar 

  • Neef, E. 1967. Die Theoretischen Grundlagen der Landschaftslehre. Geographisch-Kartographische Anstalt Gotha. Hermann Haack, Leipzig.

    Google Scholar 

  • Odum, E.P. 1959. Fundamentals of Ecology. Saunders, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

    Google Scholar 

  • Pickett, S.T.A. and Thompson, J.N. 1978. Patch dynamics and the design of nature reserves. Biol. Conserv. 13: 27–37.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Pickett, S.T.A. and White, P.S. (eds.) 1985. The Ecology of Natural Disturbance and Patch Dynamics. Academic Press, New York.

    Google Scholar 

  • Ranney, J.W., Bruner, M.C. and Levenson, J.B. 1981. The importance of edge in the structure and dynamics of forest islands.In Forest Island Dynamics in Man-Dominated Landscapes. pp. 67–96. Edited by R.L. Burgess and D.M. Sharpe. Springer-Verlag, New York.

    Google Scholar 

  • Ripley, B.D. 1981. Spatial Statistics. Wiley, New York.

    Google Scholar 

  • Risser, P.G., Karr, J.R. and Forman, R.T.T. 1984. Landscape Ecology: Directions and Approaches. Special Publ. 2. Illinois Natural History Survey, Urbana, Illinois.

    Google Scholar 

  • Robbins, C.S., 1980. Effect of forest fragmentation on bird populations.In Management of North Central and Northeastern Forests for Nongame Birds. pp. 198–212. Edited by R.M. DeGraaf and K.E. Evans. Gen. Tech. Rep. NC-51: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, North Central Experiment Station, St. Paul, Minnesota.

    Google Scholar 

  • Ruediger, W.C. 1985. Implementing a spotted owl management plan: the Gifford Pinchot National Forest experience.In Ecology and Management of the Spotted Owl in the Pacific Northwest. pp. 10–13. Edited by R.J. Gutièrrez and A.B. Carey. Gen. Tech. Rep. PNW-185. U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Pacific Northwest Forest and Range Experiment Station, Portland, Oregon.

    Google Scholar 

  • Ruth, R.H. and Yoder, R.A. 1953. Reducing Wind Damage in the Forests of the Oregon Coast Range. Res. Pap. 7. U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Pacific Northwest Forest and Range Experiment Station, Portland, Oregon.

    Google Scholar 

  • Savill, P.S. 1983. Silviculture in windy climates. For. Abstr. 44: 473–488.

    Google Scholar 

  • Schoen, J.W., Kirchhof, M.D. and Wallmo, O.C. 1984. Sitka black-tailed deer/old-growth forest relationships in southeast Alaska: implications for management.In Fish and Wildlife Relationships in Old-Growth Forests. pp. 315–319. Edited by W.R. Meehan, T.R. Merrell, Jr. and T.A. Hanley. American Institute of Fisheries Research Biologists. Morehead City, North Carolina.

    Google Scholar 

  • Simberloff, D.S. and Wilson, E.O. 1970. Experimental zoogeography of islands: a two-year record of colonization. Ecology 51: 934–937.

    Google Scholar 

  • Smith, D.E. 1985. Principles of Silviculture. 8th ed. John Wiley & Sons, New York.

    Google Scholar 

  • Swanson, F.J. and Dyrness, C.T. 1975. Impact of clear-cutting and road construction on soil erosion by landslides in the western Cascade Range. Geology 3: 393–396.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Thomas, J.W. (ed.) 1979. Wildlife Habitats in Managed Forests: The Blue Mountains of Oregon and Washington. Handbook 553. U.S. Department of Agriculture, Washington, D.C.

    Google Scholar 

  • Wilson, E.O. and Willis, E.O. 1975. Applied biogeography.In Ecology and Evolution of Communities. pp. 522–534. Edited by M.L. Cody and J.M. Diamond. Belknap Press, Cambridge, Massachusetts.

    Google Scholar 

  • Woodwell, G.M. and Whittaker, R.H. 1968. Primary production in terrestrial ecosystems. Amer. Zool. 8: 19–30.

    Google Scholar 

  • Ziemer, R.R. 1981. Roots and the stability of forested slopes.In Proceedings, Erosion and Sediment Transport in Pacific Rim Steeplands Symposium, Christchurch, New Zealand, 1981 January, Publ. 132, pp. 343. International Association for the Advancement of Science, Institute of Hydrology, Washington, D.C.

    Google Scholar 

  • Zobel, D.B., Roth, L.F. and Hawk, G.M. 1985. Ecology, Pathology, and Management of Port-Orford-Cedar (Chamaecyparis lawsoniana). Gen. Tech. Rep. PWN-184. U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Pacific Northwest Forest and Range Experiment Station, Portland, Oregon.

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Pacific Northwest Research Station, USDA Forest Service, 3200 Jefferson Way, 97331, Corvallis, OR, USA

    Jerry F. Franklin

  2. College of Forest Resources, University of Washington, 98195, Seattle, WA, USA

    Jerry F. Franklin

  3. Graduate School of Design, Harvard University, 02138, Cambridge, MA, USA

    Richard T. T. Forman

Authors
  1. Jerry F. Franklin
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Richard T. T. Forman
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Franklin, J.F., Forman, R.T.T. Creating landscape patterns by forest cutting: Ecological consequences and principles. Landscape Ecol 1, 5–18 (1987). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02275261

Download citation

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02275261

Keywords

Search

Navigation