Forest dynamics after thinning and fuel reduction in Pringle Falls Experimental Forest – bark beetle response data

A set of thinning and fuel reduction treatments were implemented in 2013-2015 as part of the Lookout Mountain Study in Pringle Falls Experimental Forest, Oregon. These data were collected post-treatment implementation in 2014-2016 to investigate the short-term response of bark beetle populations to the treatments. During a complete census of dead and dying trees, measurements recorded include tree species; diameter at breast height; diameter size class; cause of death; crown class; presence/absence of: red turpentine beetle (Dendroctonus valens), woodpeckers, and secondary infestation of beetles; burn severity at two heights; and coordinates.Bark beetles are important disturbances in western forests. Some species cause extensive levels of tree mortality while others are secondary agents that cause only limited amounts of tree mortality that often goes unnoticed. Different types of thinning and fuel reduction treatments and the manner of implementation have different effects on the fuel matrix, which may influence the susceptibility of forests to bark beetles in different ways. These data investigate the short-term responses of bark beetles to thinning and fuel reduction treatments as part of the Lookout Mountain Study, which can inform management decisions in dry conifer forests of the Pacific Northwest, U.S.For more information about this study and these data, see Sherman et al. (2023).2013年至2015年，美国俄勒冈州普林格尔弗斯实验林（Pringle Falls Experimental Forest）的瞭望山研究项目（Lookout Mountain Study）中，实施了一系列疏伐与燃料削减处理（thinning and fuel reduction treatments）。本数据集于2014年至2016年处理实施后采集，用于探究树皮甲虫（bark beetle）种群对该类处理的短期响应。在对枯立木与濒死木开展全面普查期间，记录的测量指标包括：树木种类、胸径（diameter at breast height）、径级、死亡原因、冠层等级、红脂大小蠹（Dendroctonus valens）与啄木鸟的存在情况、甲虫次生侵染情况、两个高度处的火烧烈度（burn severity）以及坐标信息。 树皮甲虫（bark beetle）是北美西部森林的重要干扰因子。部分类群会造成大规模树木死亡，而其余类群仅作为次生因子引发有限的树木死亡，这类影响通常难以被察觉。 不同类型的疏伐与燃料削减处理及其实施方式，会对燃料基质（fuel matrix）产生差异化影响，进而以不同途径影响森林对树皮甲虫的易感性。 本数据集作为瞭望山研究项目的一部分，旨在探究树皮甲虫对疏伐与燃料削减处理的短期响应，其研究结果可为美国太平洋西北地区的干旱针叶林管理决策提供参考。 如需了解本研究与数据集的更多细节，请参阅Sherman等人（2023）的相关文献。