| Post-disturbance, or salvage, logging is a highly debated topic within natural resource science and management as its effects on forest recovery are not well understood. We examine a 25-year forest response to a 1977 severe wind disturbance on the Flambeau River State Forest in Wisconsin, USA, some of which was salvage logged. Our results show salvage logging affects the rate of vegetation recovery, microtopography, and soil composition within this mixed broad-leaved deciduous and conifer forest. Although salvaged and unsalvaged areas are similar in tree species composition, tree biomass is higher and forest microtopography is more pronounced within the unsalvaged area. Disturbance type also had significant impact on the richness and cover of herbaceous species, with disturbance-adapted species showing a higher prevalence within the salvage logged area. This work can assist forest management in making decisions to retain or encourage desired tree species, understory biodiversity, and soil resources after severe disturbance. |
