Forest Development Stages Structures

Open Canopy space/ absence of significant tree overstory

DLC

Down woody debris

DLC

Legacy trees (live), dead snags

DLC

open ground/canopy space

PF

Live plant cover present, ground layer vegetation initially dominant

PF

shrub (tree) species dominant

PF

small trees

SI

100% LCR

SI

Greatest species diversity of any stage and complex food webs

SI

Heavily shaded understory

YFS

Tree resumes strong site dominance

YFS

Persistence of significant understory plant diversity and cover in less dense forests

YFS

Full site occupancy

YFS

LCR <100%

YFS

Vertically differentiated canopy

YFS

less continuous, high, single-layered canopy

YFS

Mortality generates small snags and deadwood on the ground with limited habitat value

YFS

Modified microclimate

YFS

Dense forest = full site occupancy

YFS

maximum LAI

YFS

lowest biodiversity of all stages

YFS

some degree of horizontal variation in stand density and tree size develops

YFS

Large tree with large crowns

MFS

standing dead trees

MFS

some large/coarse woody debris

MFS

persistent larger canopy gaps

MFS

some uprooted or snapped trees

MFS

understory herbaceous layer

MFS

bimodal DBH distribution

MFS

shade-tolerant tree cohort mixed species

MFS

multi-age multi-cohort stand

MFS

Development of an intermediate canopy

MFS

Begining of vertically continuous canopy formation

MFS

spatial variability in abundance of biota and conditions

MFS

decadent canopy and bole features more evident

MFS

structural diversity

MFS

multi-layered or continuous canopy

MFS

Large diameter trees

TOFS

standing dead trees

TOFS

continuous vertical profile

TOFS

Diverse mix of live and dead tree sizes and conditions

OFS

Reverse J or sigmoid DBH distribution shapes

OFS

Large old trees

OFS

super-canopy trees

OFS

climax species present (EWP, EH)

OFS

High levels of spatial heterogeneity

OFS

High levels of species diversity due to unique habitat provided by old trees and forests

OFS

Abundant uprooted or snapped trees

OFS

Pit and mound topography

OFS

Abundant logs on the ground

OFS

Largest above-grounf biomass pools of all stages, much of the carbon is in deadwood

OFS

Abundant large cavity trees and dead trees

OFS

Large percentage of heartwood = more durable snags, logs

OFS

Live trees with decadent features highly evident

OFS

Importance of large trees, idiosyncratic features due to numerous injuries and infections

OFS

Older trees with thick, furrowed bark or loose string bark

OFS

Epicormic branches, large branches & secondary branch systems

OFS

Densly regenerating old gaps

OFS

Large and irregular shaped canopy gaps

OFS

Multi-layered, continuous canopies, canopy foliage may be bottom loaded

OFS

horizontal heterogeneity is high (patch forest): clustered or clumped patterns of tree regeneration in gaps

OFS

streams crossed by logs and woody debris

OFS