Aspen age thresholds for cavity-nesting wildlife

Keywords: aspen, cavity-nesting wildlife, age-to-diameter relationships, dendrochronology
Abstract Type: Virtual Poster Abstract

Abstract

Large-diameter aspen trees provide essential habitat for cavity-nesting species, but determining accurate ages in the field to inform forest management activities is difficult. This study sought to develop baseline information of aspen age-to-diameter relationships using dendrochronology. Increment core samples extracted from aspen trees representing a range of diameter classes corresponding to tree size thresholds for various cavity-nesting species were processed in a lab to determine accurate ages. Age-to-diameter regression analyses revealed insights into the rotation ages necessary for aspen to attain suitable nest-tree sizes for wildlife species. Study results suggest that current rotation ages would need to be extended in order to provide nesting habitat for some species, including hairy and pileated woodpeckers, wood ducks, pine martens, and fishers.