FOREST MANAGEMENT AND WILDLIFE IN FORESTED WETLANDS OF THE SOUTHERN APPALACHIANS

The southern Appalachian region contains a variety of forested wetland types. Among the more prevalent types are riparian and bottomland har dwood forests. In this paper we discuss the temporal and spatial chang es in wildlife diversity and abundance often associated with forest ma nagement practices within bottomland and riparian forests. Common silv icultural practices within the southern Appalachians are diameter-limi t cutting, clearcutting, single-tree selection, and group selection. T hese practices alter forest composition, structure, and spatial hetere ogeneity, thereby changing the composition, abundance, and diversity o f wildlife communities. They also can impact special habitat features such as snags, den trees, and dead and down woody material. The value of wetland forests as habitat also is affected by characteristics of a djacent habitats. More research is needed to fully understand the impa cts of forest management in wetlands of the southern Appalachians.