INFLUENCES OF PIN CHERRY (PRUNUS-PENSYLVANICA LF) ON GROWTH AND DEVELOPMENT OF YOUNG EVEN-AGED NORTHERN HARDWOODS

Data collected from a young, even-aged northern hardwood stand in cent ral New York revealed differences in species composition and patterns of development between permanent plots having a high and low stem dens ity of pin cherry (Prunus pensylvanica L. f.). Twenty years after clea rcutting, pin cherry dominated the high density plots. It persisted on ly as large, scattered individuals among low density plots. Low densit y plots had about three times more dominant and codominant stems of sp ecies other than pin cherry, including over five times more dominant b lack cherry (Prunus serotina Ehrh.), and dominant and codominant sugar maple (Acer saccharum Marsh.). Dense patches of pin cherry appeared t o inhibit other trees from growing into the general level of the main crown canopy. After pin cherry dies, all plots will contain a mixture of shade-tolerant and shade-intolerant species. However, high density areas will have fewer sugar maple and black cherry, and an overall low density of surviving stems.