ENVIRONMENTAL CONSEQUENCES in rocky mountain coniferous ...

A concerted effort was made to coordinate the variety of sampling and instru-
mentation tasks required to obtain data on studied sites. On the Coram site, for
example, a grid of monumented sampling points was established in each subtreatment
unit. At each point (or at a subsample of points, depending upon the requirements
of the particular study) the necessary installations or reference plots were
established. A typical sampling point (fig. 7) might include insect traps, access
tubes for neutron probe measurement of soil water, a set of soil water sampling
tubes, seed traps, and vegetation measurement sub-plots. Large numbers of soil,
water, and vegetation samples were collected in the field and subsequently analyzed
in the laboratory.
Field data and the data generated in lab analyses were identified and placed in
computerized storage in such a manner that later cross-referencing could be
accomplished. A researcher investigating regeneration success, for example, can
retrieve data describing microclimatic conditions, nutrient availability. soil
moisture, and other site characteristics for specific sub-treatments and sample
points within the subtreatment.
INTERPRETING RESULTS
Defining the environmental consequences of timber harvesting can be approached
from either of two points of view. One approach is to subjectively observe the
vegetative responses and biological events that occur on a site following treatment,
and infer treatment effects from those observations. A second approach is to
develop a basic body of knowledge about how specific treatments affect the physical,
chemical, and biological character and function of the ecosystem. From that know-
ledge, hypotheses that link treatment to response can be developed and tested.
Program research has subscribed to the second approach for three reasons:
--Basic ecosystem effects such as changes in microbiological
activity, nutrient levels, and microclimatic conditions
occur almost immediately foll owing treatment, and can be
measured and quantified within a short post-treatment time
period.
--Developing cause-and-effect relationships between initial
ecosystem responses to treatment and subsequent biological
behavior provides a b,etter basis for extrapolating to
other sites, and for predicting the probable effects of
new or untried treatments.
--Understanding basic cause-and-effect relationships provides
a basis for developing harvesting treatment guidelines and
specifications to meet site management objectives and
amel iorate adverse consequences.
There exists a recognized progression o f effects in response to harvesting and
residue reduction, beginning with basic environmental responses and ultimately
leading to implications for resource management. Program research is heavily