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Sugar maple: abundance and site relationships in the pre- and post- settlement forest

Informally Refereed

Abstract

A review of the available historical evidence provides a picture of sugar maple's site relationstiips in the presettlement forest and its changing statis over the last 300 years. Sugar maple was widely distributed throughout the Northeast during the presettlerment period. it was particularly abundant on the richer, better drained, silt-rich sites. A comparison of the eariy land survey records and more recent forest inventory data suggests that sugar maple has increased its abundance on a variety of sites, including a number of more marginal sites. The resulting off-site conditions may partially explain sugar maple's recent decline and its inability to exploit some old field sites.

Parent Publication

Citation

Whitney, Gordon G. 1999. Sugar maple: abundance and site relationships in the pre- and post- settlement forest. In: Horsley, Stephen B.; Long, Robert P., eds. Sugar maple ecology and health: proceedings of an international symposium; 1998 June 2-4; Warren, PA. Gen. Tech. Rep. NE-261. Radnor, PA: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Northeastern Research Station: 14-18.
https://www.fs.usda.gov/research/treesearch/13133