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Copyright © 1997 Daylighting refers to the cutting and release of vegetation along areas
within forested habitat for the purpose of increasing sunlight on the forest floor. This
encourages growth of shrubs and herbaceous vegetation. Daylighting is primarily used to
open up the edge of trails, roads and fields. In order to understand wildlife benefits that result from daylighting,
the edge concept must be explained. Edge is the place where plant communities meet, or
where various successional stages within plant communities come together. The area
influenced by this transition is called an ecotone. Edges and their ecotones are typically
richer in wildlife than the adjoining plant communities because they provide more of the
needs required by wildlife than a single vegetative or community type. Ideally, brush and
grass form a narrow border along daylighted areas. These vital openings provide an
abundant food source of various seeds and insects for wildlife. Edges are also used by
wildlife as travel lanes. Enhancement Practices Establishing edge along roads and trails is best accomplished when the
actual construction of the road or trail takes place, since equipment is at hand. If
construction has long since been completed, cordwood cutting would be the best method for
creating edge habitat. Vegetation should not be removed from roads or trails where the
existence of excessive slopes or water courses may cause erosion problems. Generally speaking, the following enhancement practices will meet the
requirements for establishing an edge effect:
Maintaining a daylight area is an important concept in habitat
management. This area must be regularly maintained or else wildlife species richness will
decrease as the cut-over area reverts to a less desirable vegetative stage.
Additional wildlife enhancement practices may include creating brush
piles along the edge of forested land and erecting bird nest boxes along the edge of grass
and brush openings. Copyright © 1997 Glossary Forb any herbaceous plant species other than those in the grass, sedge
and rush families; fleshy leaved plants. Herbaceous a plant that grows from seeds or perennial roots rather
than from woody, above-ground parts. Succession the changes in vegetation and in animal life that take
place as the plant community evolves from bare ground to the climax stage (e.g., old
growth forest). Successional stage a stage or recognizable condition of a plant
community which occurs during its development from bare ground to climax. References and Further Reading {Logo} The Technical Assistance
Informational Series is 75 percent funded by Federal Aid to Wildlife Restoration -
Pittman-Robertson (P-R) Program. The P-R Program provides funding through an excise tax on
the sale of sporting firearms, ammunition, and archery equipment. The remaining 25 percent
of the funding is matched by the Connecticut Wildlife Division. (rev. 12/99)
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