Pacific Northwest forests from the Cascades to the Coast Range are predominately Douglas-fir (Pseudotsuga menziesii), a long-lived pioneer species. It is the preferential tree for timber harvest. It does not reproduce well in a closed canopy forest so forests tend to eventually (over 1000 years) climax with shade-reproducing species such as western redcedar (Thuja plicata). Interior forests (from the Cascades east to the Rocky Mountains) tend to be ponderosa pine (Pinus ponderosa) which is both the preferential tree for timber harvest and the pioneer and climax species. And, of course, there are many exceptions to these generalities due to factors such as elevation and precipitation.
Warren W. Aney Senior Wildlife Ecologist Tigard, OR -----Original Message----- From: Ecological Society of America: grants, jobs, news [mailto:[email protected]] On Behalf Of Alexandre Fadigas de Souza Sent: Tuesday, 23 December, 2014 10:05 To: [email protected] Subject: [ECOLOG-L] Which kind of species are logged? Dear friends, Sorry for the timing of the posting, right before the hollidays. I would like to ask if any of you have ever read any reference to the successional status of the tree species preferentially cut by the timber logging industry. Are most of them pioneers, long-lived pioneers, of mature-climax species? Any help will do. Sincerely, Alexandre
