OAK
WOODLAND
I. Distribution
A. Walter: Forest-steppe zonoecotone
B. Whittaker: Temperate woodlands/temperate deciduous forest biome
C. Braun: Oak-hickory, oak-pine-hickory associations
D. Barbour: California oak woodlands
E. Franklin and Dyrness: Oregon interior valleys, Willamette Valley,
Puget Sound and San Juan Islands
II. Losses
A. Packard: Central North America
B. Kavanaugh:Washington
Western Washington conversion to farming
South central Washington, less conversion
Current threat: suburban development
Forest practices
Firewood cutting
Livestock
III. Oak life history
(Jane Kertis 1986. Vegetation
Dynamics and Disturbance History of Oak Patch Natural Area Preserve, Mason
County, Washington. M.S. Thesis, College of Forest
Resources, University of Washington, 93. p).
A. Flowering April-May; acorns mature Sept-Oct
B. Natural reproduction by seeds is low
mast crops
dispersal distance short
no dormancy
germination rates high (75-100%)
filbert weevil, predators
optimum seedbed moist soil with thick litter
seedlings more shade tolerant than adults
C. Vegetative reproduction by root and stump sprouting common
CASE
HISTORIES
IV. Restoration of oak
savanna in Chicago area (S. Packard 1988. Just a few oddball species:
Restoration and rediscovery of the tallgrass savanna.
Restoration and Management Notes 6:13-20)
A. Sites required: any land with older oaks and good soil
need oak and understory species seed sources (on site or adjacent)
B. Brush/weed control
larger than 3" dbh girdled
less than 3" dbh controlled by fire
fire and mowing combined to control weeds
C. Fire regime
burn annually in first years
burn 2 out of 3 years after that
D. Seeding
allow seed banks to germinate, or
collect seed, burn site, broadcast (do not waste seed on inappropriate microsites)
V. South central
Washington land management for wildlife (R. Kavanagh
1991. Washington Oak Habitat: A Plan for Managing the Oak Forests of Washington
State. Columbia Gorge Audubon Society, Hood River, Oregon, 34
p.)
A. Management units 50 acres
B. Cover: 50% cover (75% oak, 25% conifer)
C. Special features
preserve snags, downed trees, seed trees, den trees
3 snags/acre >12" dbh
periodic cold burns of grass and shrubs
VI. Oak nursery
practices (J.Young and C.Young
1992. Seeds of Woody Plants in North America (Biosystematics,
Floristic and Phylogeny Series, Vol. 4. Timber Press, Portland, Oregon,
414 p.)
A. Acorn collection
August to December
from ground or flailed onto plastic tarps
collect soon after falling to retard germination
B. Sorting
discard floaters, defective seeds
remove cups, twigs, debris
C. Weevil treatment
immerse in hot (48° C) water for 40 minutes
D. Storage
no dormancy
do not let seed moisture content drop below 30-50% range
E. Seeding
fall seeding preferable
drill in rows 20-25 cm apart, or broadcast and cover w/ 0.5 cm firmed soil
densities: 105 to 370/m2
mulch fall/sown seeds to protect seeds and seedlings
partial shade may promote germination
usually transplant after 1 yr
F. Root pruning