Land-use History: How does the PAST Influence TODAY's Forest?

[@avaclifford1627]

What was the composition of this native (unharvested) uphill stand? Seems maybe that there would have been high canopy cover at some point because now there is the potential for high stocking density because many small diameter trees

[@ecoforesters6521]

The stand up-hill from the one I'm in was more dominated by white oak and hickory with less yellow-poplar. And yes, that may be possible... Even though I thought of pasture then, I've been leaning more towards a high-grade myself just a few months later.

[@avaclifford1627]

@@ecoforesters6521Thanks! Yeah high-grading would make sense. It seems with pasture there are more often large trees left, or that invade, and maintain their large status in the composition. High grading, even when large trees are left seems to have a higher mortality of large trees as the smaller ones are coming in. At least thats what I’ve seen in Maine. I know that high grading here leads to the stand being full poplar/maple instead of native composition of more softwood or spruce fir. Was this stands species composition typical of high grading or pasture moreso? (pastures end up with white pine, willow, and oak here instead of the poplar and maple)

[@ericwanderweg8525]

If it was pasture at one point I’d expect to find remnants of the first cohort of pioneering trees, like eastern red cedars, white pines or common juniper. There should even be grass left over in spots. Harvested for timber makes more sense but if you’re not finding stump remnants or rotten slash piles then I’m as lost as you are on this mystery 🤔