Riparian forests in the Oregon Coast Range

We examined the structure and composition of forested buffer strips in the central and northern Coast Range of Oregon and found little botanical evide nce of an effect on plant community composition or dynamics from isolating these forests as buffers. Thus, concerns about microenvironmental changes d ue to extended edge effects appear unfounded in this region for the plant c ommunity. Tree stocking was low, especially on terraces evidence suggests t hat competition, as well as site conditions, limit the regeneration of tree s, including conifers. Understory diversity (richness) was greater under co nifer canopy types; understory cover was greater under hardwood canopy type s. Tree regeneration, especially on terraces and under hardwoods, was limit ed although more abundant than in older, unmanaged riparian forest. In the long term, succession models or this region suggest that many of these ripa rian areas will succeed to a largely treeless community. (C) 2001 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.