1. What are the components of high quality early seral forests? Cheryl Friesen, Science Liaison, Willamette NF (presenter) and and Brenda McComb, Professor, Univ of Mass.

2. The world view of forestry…

3. Notice the naked area in the lower left?

4. I would submit that the emperor has no clothes!

5. The Emperor Has No Clothes Award …presented to you and me for our lack of recognition of a biodiversity rich natural habitat type… The Emperor Has No Clothes Award …presented to you and me for our lack of recognition of a biodiversity rich natural habitat type…

6. What is the best dressed early seral forest wearing these days? (to stretch the metaphor) Snags Snags Large trees Large trees Shrubs Shrubs Down logs Down logs Tree Seedlings Tree Seedlings Hardwoods Hardwoods Grasses and forbs Grasses and forbs

7. Side-bar: WHAT DID I GOOGLE TO FIND PHOTOS OF COMPONENTS OF HIGH QUALITY EARLY SERAL FOREST ? OLD GROWTH FORESTS….

8. MORAL OF THE STORY… LegacyLegacyLegacy Managing for complexity in early successional forests is likely to be most successful if the preceding seral stage is also complex prior to a disturbance. Managing for complexity through a rotation or sere helps to ensure the continuity in habitat elements over time.

9. This habitat is more popular than you might have thought…. Analysis of wildlife on the Willamette National Forest found Analysis of wildlife on the Willamette National Forest found –14 species tied specifically to old growth –0 species tied specifically to mid seral –116 species generalists….use all stages –71 species tied specifically to early seral and edges, but….

10. All of the early seral or generalist species require one or more of the structural components listed previously… For example, 85% need dead wood at some life stage 85% need dead wood at some life stage

11. Standard adornments that come quickly to mind… Deer and elk Deer and elk Red-tailed hawks Red-tailed hawks Mountain bluebirds Mountain bluebirds

12. But theres more! Early seral forest = Truly a rich community

13. Reptiles Western skink Western skink Western fence lizard Western fence lizard Gopher snake Gopher snake Garter snake Garter snake Racer Racer

14. Birds Merlin Merlin Dusky flycatcher Dusky flycatcher Brewers sparrow Brewers sparrow Willow flycatcher Willow flycatcher Mountain quail Mountain quail Great Gray Owl Great Gray Owl White-crowned sparrow White-crowned sparrow Wrentit Wrentit Calliope hummingbird Calliope hummingbird MacGillivrays warbler MacGillivrays warbler

15. Mammals California myotis California myotis Pocket gopher Pocket gopher California ground squirrel California ground squirrel Townsends vole Townsends vole Big Brown Bat Big Brown Bat Badger Badger

16. Elaboration to follow…. Is it more complicated than weve given it credit for? Is it more complicated than weve given it credit for? Can it be human made? Can it be human made? Can we allow it naturally? Can we allow it naturally? Is there a proxy? Is there a proxy? –Food for thought….