"Quantifying Forest Structure Within Two Managed Units in Rock Cut Stat" by Dustin P. Bergman and David Goldblum
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Abstract

The 1251 ha Rock Cut State Park (RCSP) is the largest state park in northern Illinois . Over the past 56 years, management practices have included prescribed burning, regular mowing, and tree plantings . Specifically, we sought to quantify the species composition, age structure, and light environment in two management units within the park . The first unit (campground) was last burned in 2009 and is comprised of primarily small trees; the second unit (Willow Creek Natural Area – WCNA) is more open and relatively undisturbed with larger trees . To assess these two units we used several methods, including stand structure analysis, tree coring, and hemispherical photographs . Between the months of June-August (2012 and 2013), eight plots were delineated and sampled . Within the campground unit, median tree age was 52 .5 years, with a maximum age of approximately 130 years . This site is mostly dominated by young slippery elm (Ulmus rubra) followed by white oak (Quercus alba) and hickory (Carya spp .) . Elimination of landscape-scale fires has likely led to a conversion from oak savanna to the closed forest found today at RCSP . High densities of shade-tolerant species dominating WCNA suggest management fires have been insuff icient at maintaining white and bur oak regeneration

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