The Ecology and Silviculture of Oaks [Hardcover]

Paul S. Johnson (Author), Stephen R. Shifley (Author), Robert Rogers (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: April 18, 2002 | ISBN-10: 0851995705 | ISBN-13: 978-0851995700 | Edition: 1st

This book is designed and intended as a source of ideas on how to think about oak forests as responsive ecosystems. Divided into two sections the book focuses on oak ecosystems in the United States as well as providing much application to other regions such as Europe and the Mediterranean. The first section includes chapters on the ecological characteristics and distribution of oak species and the various kinds of oak forests in the United States, differences among them and how they have been classified. The second section includes chapters on site productivity, stand development, silviculture, and growth and yield.

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Stephen R. Shifley, both at U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, North Central Research Station, Missouri. Rogers Rogers, College of Natural Resources, University of Wisconsin.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 544 pages
• Publisher: Oxford University Press, USA; 1st edition (April 18, 2002)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0851995705
• ISBN-13: 978-0851995700
• Product Dimensions: 9.7 x 6.9 x 1.3 inches
• Shipping Weight: 2.8 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #3,136,035 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

I am a retired USDA Forest Service scientist, and am the senior author of the book THE ECOLOGY AND SILVICULTURE OF OAKS. I have also authored many other scientific and technical publications about oak forests. My other interests include outdoor photography. Subjects include midwestern landscapes, forests, and the plants and animals that live there.

ABOUT 'THE ECOLOGY AND SILVICULTURE OF OAKS' by Paul S. Johnson, Stephen R. Shifley and Robert Rogers

The second edition of the book was released this fall (2009). Like the first edition,the new edition is directed to forest and wildlife managers, ecologists, silviculturists, environmentalists, students of those fields, and others interested in sustaining oak forests for their many tangible and intangible values. The focus is on the oaks of the USA. Although the approach is fundamentally silvicultural, it is based on the premise that effective and environmentally sound management and protection of oak forests and associated landscapes should be grounded in ecological understanding. Although the subject is inherently scientific and technical, we have striven to make it generally accessible by miminizing the use of technical jargon. Where technical terms are necessary for efficient expression of concepts, we have first defined them.

The new edition includes information published since the first edition (2002). Included are new sections on oak biomass for fuel, carbon sequestration by oaks, and how climate change is expected to affect the distribution of oaks and associated tree species. We have updated many of the topic areas presented in the first edition, but in doing so have retained the approach and focus of the well-received first edition.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

9 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars scholarly, readable, useful, and unique, January 28, 2004

By 

Ronald Lanner (Placerville, CA USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Ecology and Silviculture of Oaks (Hardcover)

Foresters and other land managers usually have to rely on shelves and boxes full of books, reprints, bulletins, and notes for the information they need about the ecosystem they are concerned with. Here, between two hard covers, is a great wealth of carefully selected, clearly organized, and creatively synthesized knowledge dealing with the biology and management of American oak forests and woodlands.Chapter titles will indicate the diversity of subject matter: Ecology, Regeneration Ecology (flowering, fruiting, and reproduction characteristics), Regeneration Ecology (population dynamics),Site Productivity and Stand Development, Development of Natural Stands, Self-Thinning and Stand Density, Even-Aged Silvicultural Methods, Uneven-Aged Silvicultural Methods, Multi-Resource Management, Growth and Yield, plus seven appendices. There are numerous sub-topics within each chapter, greatly amplifying the diversity of information. There are many illustrations, graphs, flow-charts, and photos. Each chapter has its own lit cited, about 90% of which are from 1990 or later. As a tree biologist I read the sections on acorn dispersal, vegetative reproduction, and growth, and found all to be clear, accurate, and current. This excellent technical volume should serve as a model for the digestion of information for all significant forest tree genera.

7 of 16 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Stephen Shifley is a ROCKSTAR!, February 26, 2003

By 

Katie Shifley (Oxford, OH) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Ecology and Silviculture of Oaks (Hardcover)

This book, the Ecology and Silviculture of Oaks, absolutely rocked my world. Never have I read such a moving, overwhelming discussion of oak trees. Wow. I may seem a little biased because author Steve Shifley is my rockstar father (yeah, Dad!), but this coming-of-age tale of oak trees in a changing, oppressive urban culture is truly a tearjerker. Well worth the [$] I paid for it. Buy as many copies as you can, because all the proceeds go to fund my college education. Once again, READ THIS BOOK! It'll alter your worldview- forever.