Results
The choice of regeneration indicator depends on one's perspective regarding regeneration needs.
For example, one usehl question to ask is: what proportion of stands in Pennsylvania would be
expected to regenerate if current overstory replacement is the objective? The results indicate only
half of the samples in the study had adequate ATSSR assuming high deer densities (Table 1).
Under moderate deer density, 65 percent of the samples had adequate regeneration. The results
are similar using timber management assumptions. The range of results for successful
regeneration of commercial species was from 50 percent to 64 percent. These results indicate
that remedial treatment is required to ensure adequate regeneration following harvest. Deer
fencing is a common prescription.
Examining the results by ecoregion (Bailey 1995) reveals that little difference in regeneration
across the state and poor regeneration is ubiquitous in Pennsylvania and not specific to a
particular region, owner, or forest type. This approach likely underestimates the regenerative
capacity of Pennsylvania's forests because stands with more than 75 percent stocking in the
overstory would have even lower probabilities of successful regeneration when harvested. On
private land, many of the heavier stocked stands are harvested. It is difficult to gauge these
findings in relation to other states or regions because of a general dearth of this kind of
information.