A Study of Natural Replacement of Chestnut in Six Stands in the Highlands of New Jersey

Abstract

A study of replacement of the chestnut (Castanea dentata) in 6 stands in northern New Jersey indicates that mesic species, particularly beech (Fagus grandifolia), black birch (Betula lenta), and red maple (Acer rubrum) are more important at present than they were formerly and that the oak species which are so conspicuous at present have had declining success in reproducing themselves for many years. The elimination of the chestnut is not generally correlated with the trend toward more mesic species with the exception of black birch, which is almost twice as common in old chestnut gaps as elsewhere. The most common age groups of oaks are probably related to the last period of extensive lumbering in these stands. Oaks did not fill in gaps by seeding in. Germination and growth experiments do not generally support the idea that changes in litter due to the absence of chestnut might be important in determining subsequent trends of replacement although there is a hint of allelopathic influence. The effects of chestnut removal are largely quantitative. A temporary mitigation in competition led to a greater survivorship of young trees and release in many older ones. Already established trends of decline or increase of most species seem unaltered.