Abstract
Hurricane Katrina generated substantial impacts on the forests and biological resources of the affected area in Mississippi. This study seeks to use classification tree analysis (CTA) to determine which variables are significant in predicting hurricane damage (shear or windthrow) in the Southeast Mississippi Institute for Forest Inventory District. Logistic regressions were run based on the terminal nodes of the CTA analysis to provide a greater detailed examination of the variables significant to damage. By studying tree species and areas that may be more prone to wind/hurricane damage, foresters and private land owners will have greater knowledge of how to effectively manage their timberlands. Two predominant species groups across the Southeast MIFI Forest District were examined in this analysis, including pine (
Pinus sp.) and oak (
Quercus sp.).
Parent Publication
Citation
Garrigues, Mark W.; Fan, Zhaofei; Evans, David L.; Roberts, Scott D.; Cooke III, William H. 2012. Geospatial relationships of tree species damage caused by Hurricane Katrina in south Mississippi. In: Butnor, John R., ed. 2012. Proceedings of the 16th biennial southern silvicultural research conference. e-Gen. Tech. Rep. SRS-156. Asheville, NC: U.S. Department of Agriculture Forest Service, Southern Research Station. 127-132.