Theses and Dissertations Collection

Western redcedar (Thuja plicata Donn ex. D. Don.) is a conifer with commercial, ecological, and cultural importance in the Pacific Northwest. Reforestation efforts using western redcedar often fall short due to loss through ungulate browse and frost induced mortality. This thesis aims to (1) assess the influence of fertilizer rate and photoperiod manipulation on western redcedar seedling growth in both the nursery and field, (2) examine the relative field growth of sheltered and unsheltered western redcedar seedlings, (3) determine whether levels of terpenes vary with nursery cultural practices, and (4) assess whether these cultural practices in turn affect seedling palatability. Objectives were challenged through morphological measurements taken on both greenhouse and outplanted seedlings, creating a field site with both sheltered and unsheltered seedlings, capturing and measuring volatile organic compound using gas chromatography, and exposing seedlings to captive deer.