Results of Forest Ecosystem Monitoring Cooperative Funded Research at Holt Research Forest

The 2023 Ecosystem Monitoring Fund was awarded by the Forest Ecosystem Monitoring Cooperative (FEMC) to the Maine TREE Foundation to complete the titled project “Continued long-term ecosystem monitoring in a northern red oak-white pine research forest over five decades.” According to the FEMC, this grant's goals were to provide support for the collection, aggregation, analysis, and utilization of forest ecosystem monitoring information to better understand the current threats, historical trends, and future directions of the forested landscape in the Northeast. 

Continued long-term ecosystem monitoring in a northern red oak-white pine research forest over five decades

Holt Research Forest (HRF) is a red oak-white pine ecosystem on Maine’s coast and has filled a key niche of long-term ecosystem monitoring since its establishment in 1983. While many landowners in Maine steward oak-pine forests, HRF is a rare research generator on this critical forest type. A recent harvest at HRF in the fall of 2020 provided a timely opportunity to monitor and distribute data on the impact of disturbance on oak-pine ecosystems, particularly in the context of climate change. 

Maine TREE Staff posing with the 2024 Holt Research Forest technicians at the beginning of the 2024 field season.

Activities and Results

We proposed collecting, digitizing, and distributing pre- and post-harvest data on overstory composition and regeneration at HRF. We are happy to report that our research technicians collected data for four projects related to regeneration and overstory dynamics at HRF: the Annual Tree Seed Collection, the Regeneration Inventory, the Understory Seedling Releve, and the Complete Timber Inventory. Additionally, our Holt Research Forest Fellow cleaned, digitized, and published a total of six datasets to the FEMC data repository for three projects: the Annual Tree Seed Collection, the Regeneration Inventory, and the Complete Timber Inventory. The comprehensive datasets now include pre- and post-harvest data, with future data collection planned for 2024 and beyond. 

Research technicians measured and recorded tree seedlings by species and height.

To further develop their professional skills, the technicians each conducted independent research projects utilizing publicly available HRF datasets.  These analyses filled critical gaps in understanding the impacts of variable retention harvest on canopy composition and regeneration within a coastal oak-pine forest ecosystem. Overall, the technicians received hands-on experience in applied forestry research and exposure to various career pathways. 

The 2024 Holt Research Forest technicians presented their independent research projects to the Maine TREE Board of Directors and Holt Research Forest Committee at the end of the 2024 field season.

Impacts

Ultimately, these efforts give landowners practical data and tools to inform their management and also provides researchers with long-term foundational datasets for future studies. Furthermore, the data collected and published all contribute to an established body of research from HRF, housed by FEMC, tracking ecosystem change on-site as climate change shifts ecological systems across the region.

Lessons Learned

Lessons learned from this project include a few challenges with data management and data integration. Ensuring data quality and consistency before publication enhances the utility and reliability of the datasets for various stakeholders, including landowners and researchers. However, integrating historical data with newly collected data posed challenges, particularly in maintaining consistency and accuracy across different time periods. Developing standardized data collection and management protocols can help mitigate these issues in future projects. Moving forward, we will create consistent standards and methods to combat any issues related to data management or integration.