Digital Commons Network^™

Effects Of Thinning Regimes On Genetic Variation Of White Oak (Quercus Alba L.) In Upland Oak Forests Of Eastern Kentucky, Rachel Gayle Thunder

Theses and Dissertations--Forestry and Natural Resources

This research assesses the effects of silvicultural thinnings, varying in residual basal area and number of thinnings, on genetic diversity and relatedness of white oak (Quercus alba L.). The objectives were to (1) develop microsatellite DNA markers (simple sequence repeats, SSRs) for assessing the genetic diversity of white oak and (2) determine if thinnings significantly change the degree of diversity and relatedness in white oak stands. For objective 1, 84 primer pairs from previously predicted genomic SSRs of white oak were evaluated for consistent PCR amplification and polymorphism. Twenty of the 84 primer pairs amplified consistently and were confirmed …

A Comparison Of Clearcut And Shelterwood Harvesting Effects On Understory Vegetation In Central Virginia Piedmont Forests, Lorelei J. Hartman

Theses & Honors Papers

I compared clearcutting and shelterwood harvesting effects on all understory vegetation (woody and nonwoody) in Piedmont hardwood forests. Clearcutting and shelterwood harvesting are both even.-aged management practices, put in contrast to clearcutting, the shelterwood method retains selected trees as partial canopy. The retained canopy is reported to be beneficial to desired tree species and restrict competition of undesired tree species, grasses and shrubs.·Research comparing the shelterwood method to clearcutting has been limited , particularly in hardwood forests. We collected data on understory plant communities in clearcut, low-leave shelterwood, and mature forest sites (not harvested in

at least 100 years). Percent …