California-Oregon border. Regression analysis showed canopy openness was positively

correlated with total understory cover, species richness, diversity, and composition. Surprisingly,

no correlations were observed between any of the measured stand attributes. Shrub and

graminoid species were negatively correlated, and forbs were positively correlated, with stand

age (Jules et al. 2008). Another study used detailed forest inventory and climatic data from 43

stands along a 250-year chronosequence to assess the effects of disturbance and climate on

biomass accumulation patterns across Russia. Regression analysis indicated as expected the

highest biomass increments in the warmest regions and the lowest in the coldest regions. Spruce

(Picea spp.) and birch (Betula spp.) forests had the highest biomass increments while larch

(Larix spp.) and aspen (Populus spp.) forests had the lowest biomass accumulation. The faster

growing spruce and birch forests had declines in biomass accumulation rates after 150 years

whereas the slower growing larch and aspen never showed declines during the 250-year

chronosequence (Krankina et al. 2005).

 Monitoring Soil Characteristics

 In addition to vegetative characteristics, mineral pools, and the mineralization of key

elements have been identified as important attributes for evaluating restoration success in recent

years (Muiller et al. 2000; Muiller and Lenz, 2006). During the last decade there has been a maj or

effort at assessing the effects of different forest management practices on the long-term soil

productivity of southern pine forests (Burger and Kelting, 1999), including coastal wet pine flats

(Lockaby and Walbridge, 1998; Lister, 1999; Burger and Xu, 2001; Burdt, 2003). These studies

have assessed treatment effects utilizing a set of soil indicators (Kelting et al. 1999) including

soil pH, soil organic matter content, soil moisture content, and the mineralization levels of

nitrogen, and phosphorus (Reynolds et al. 2000; Redding et al. 2004). For example, a recent

chronosequence study examined the relationship between biomass accumulation and nitrogen