ENVIRONMENTAL CONSEQUENCES in rocky mountain coniferous ...

MANAGEMENT IMPLICATIONS
If we consider forest floor and forest soil mesofauna to be beneficial organisms
--and we really have no evidence or reason not to--what we have learned so far
suggests that some of our cutting and residue management practices may be more
favorable to some arthropods than others.
Even though no data have been analyzed and only a few general findings have been
presented, some prel iminary recomnendations can be made. These recomnendations are
solely entomological and based on the incompletely analyzed and interpreted data of
this study. Of the four treatments studied, a shelterwood cutting accompanied by a
near-100-percent removal and utilization of nonmerchantable residue and understory
appears to be the most desirable treatment. The second best treatment would be a
she1 terwood cut followed by the burning of residues.
Preliminary data indicate that 1 year following burning under a shelterwood cut,
mesofaunal populations already have recovered to the levels of those in adjacent
undisturbed forests. With this prescription, apparently there are sufficient unburned
refugia to allow recolonization of burned areas fairly rapidly.
Of the four treatments, the least recommended would be clearcutting followed by
burning of residue. Cl earcutting accompanied by 100-percent mechanical residue
removal would be more favorable to soil mesofauna than clearcutting and burning
residues.
In summary, the seemingly insignificant animals of the forest floor and soil
should not be ignored in either the harvesting system or the management of residue.
As noted by Wenz (l976), "Disruptions of soil microarthropods have potential long-
term consequences to decomposition and nutrient cycling processes and should be
weighed carefully when considering forest management options."
We should favor those resource and utilization practlces that satisfy our
increasing needs and demands for wood fiber while minimizing adverse impacts to, and
insuring the continued functioning of, plant and animal forest ecosystems. Insofar
as so4 1-1 i tter animals are concerned, we have acceptable management options,
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
This study benefited from the outstanding collaboration of Drew DePuydt, formerly
bfological technician at the Forestry Sciences Laboratory, Missoula, Mont, From 1975
until late 1979, he was largely responsible for much of the field work and nearly all
of the lqboratory processing of the samples and data.