Browsing by Author "Murdoff, Marc Thomas"

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    The Interactions of Early-Fall Prescribed Burning, Different Cutting Techniques and Whitetailed Deer Browsing on Bur Oak Regeneration in Eastern North Dakota: Phase II
    (North Dakota State University, 2010) Murdoff, Marc Thomas
    This study was developed to determine the interaction of white-tailed deer browsing with effects of clear and selective cutting, and prescribed burning on bur oak (Quercus macrocarpa) regeneration in northeastern North Dakota. The study was conducted on Camp Grafton North (CGN) near Devils Lake, North Dakota, using four treatments: 1) dormant season clear-cut of all trees and shrubs (CC), 2) growing season selective cut of all trees and shrubs except bur oak (SC), 3) early fall prescribed bum (PB) and 4) nonmanipulated control (CO). The study consisted of four blocks (replicates) using a randomized complete block design. The interaction of white-tailed deer ( Odocoileus virginianus) browsing was determined using a split-plot design, creating browsed and nonbrowsed plots. Bur oak seedling, sprout, sapling, and mature tree production was measured pre-treatment in 2006 and post-treatment in 2007, 2008 and 2009 on two 25 m transects per plot. Herbaceous vegetation was measured using these two transects. An aerial survey conducted 12 March 2007 reported 45 deer per km2 on CGN. Bur oak seedling density increased (P ::S 0.05) 36 Months After Treatment (MAFT). Bur oak saplings decreased (P::S 0.05) at 36 MAFT. Bur oak sprouts were greatest (P ::S 0.05) on the CC treatment, while the CO, PB, and SC did not differ (P > 0.05). Deer browsing reduced bur oak sprout height, irrelevant of treatment. Clear-cutting increased bur oak sprouts 36 MAFT. Selective cutting to retain bur oak trees did not enhance seedling or sprout development compared to the control.