Effects of drought on the growth of young and mature temperate forests in West Virginia

Recent research suggests that the temperate deciduous forests of the eastern United States may have played a significant role in the sequestration of atmospheric carbon dioxide over the last 100 years. However, little is known about the role of forest management and climatic variability on the productivity of these forests. The purpose of this study was to determine the variation in aboveground production between two different aged forest stands and to evaluate the effect of drought on inter-annual variation in productivity. Aboveground net primary production (ANPP) was compared with precipitation and the Palmer Drought Severity Index to determine the effects of drought on aboveground productivity. I found that: (1) there was a significant difference in rates of ANPP between the two watersheds due to age; (2) drought conditions reduce the rate of aboveground productivity; and (3) the reduction of aboveground productivity was significantly related to species-specific factors; thus the productivity of some temperate species may be affected more by drought than others.

Name thesis:degree_name

MA

Level thesis:degree_level

Thesis

Discipline thesis:degree_discipline

Geology and Geography

Year dc:date.available

2004

Author dc:creator

• Doner, Nicholas R.

Contributors dc:contributor

• Amy E. Hessl.
• William T. Peterjohn
• Timothy A. Warner

• Physical geography
• Ecology
• Forestry

Identifier

https://researchrepository.wvu.edu/etd/877

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:researchrepository.wvu.edu:etd-1880