VALUE AND USE
SPECIES: Quercus incana | Bluejack Oak 



WOOD PRODUCTS VALUE : 
Bluejack oak wood is close-grained, hard, and strong; the tree is
usually too small to be of much value except for fuel or posts [40].


IMPORTANCE TO LIVESTOCK AND WILDLIFE : 
Bluejack oak acorns are consumed by fox squirrels, including the rare
Sherman's fox squirrel [29]. The acorns are also consumed by
white-tailed deer, wild turkey, and quail.  Bluejack oak is not browsed
by white-tailed deer except in areas where succulent sprouts are
available and where white-tailed deer numbers are high.  Oaks, including
bluejack oak, provide brushy cover for birds in longleaf pine
communities which otherwise do not have midstory cover.  Ground cover is
sparse under the oaks; birds benefit from having areas of exposed
mineral soil [32].

Sherman's fox squirrel is dependent on the longleaf pine-scrub oak
communities in which bluejack oak occurs.  Other rare species that are
associated with these longleaf pine communities include the red-cockaded
woodpecker, a scarab beetle (Ataenius sciurus) which is only found in
Sherman's fox squirrel nests, gopher tortoise, and indigo snake [29,46].


PALATABILITY : 
Bluejack oak acorns were highly preferred by fox squirrels in a study
that included 12 species of oaks [30].


NUTRITIONAL VALUE : 
The ranges of nutritive value of bluejack oak acorns have been reported
as follows [32,34]:

             Percent
protein     5.9 - 7.42
fat        12.66-31.77
N-free
 extract   40.37-67.06


COVER VALUE : 
NO-ENTRY


VALUE FOR REHABILITATION OF DISTURBED SITES : 
NO-ENTRY


OTHER USES AND VALUES : 
NO-ENTRY


MANAGEMENT CONSIDERATIONS : 
Longleaf pine communities (in which bluejack oak occurs) are ranked as
threatened by the Texas Natural Heritage Program [46].  The Florida
Natural Areas Inventory has ranked sandhill (longleaf pine) communities
as secure globally but vulnerable at the state level (G4/G3) [29].

The removal of longleaf pine from thousands of acres of sandhills,
coupled with fire suppression, has resulted in the conversion of former
longleaf pine savanna to oak scrub and hardwood hammock communities.
Many of these areas are being converted to other pines, and very few
acres are being managed to retain the typical longleaf pine physiognomy
[27].  There is a need to preserve longleaf pine habitat, in view of its
ecological importance and diminished distribution.  Loss of this habitat
is identified as a major cause of population declines of gopher tortoise
and indigo snake [29,42].  Bluejack oak is recommended for inclusion in
longleaf pine stands for its wildlife value [29].

Attempts to reforest former longleaf pine forests with longleaf and
other pines have included clearcutting and burning the scrub oaks and
planting pine seedlings.  The oaks are difficult to control because of
their sprouting ability.  Herbicides were reported as effective in
reducing bluejack oak, resulting in an increase in pine seedling growth
[24].  In Florida, successful conversion of scrub oaks to slash pine
(Pinus elliottii) using similar site preparation methods has been
reported [16].  In eastern Texas, however, clearcutting and burning or
clearcutting and scalping scrub oak sites on Typic Quartzipsamments
soils has resulted in the virtually complete removal of organic matter
from approximately 6,000 acres (2,400 ha).  Several attempts at
reforestation were unsuccessful, largely due to droughty site conditions
and related animal or insect predation on seedlings.  In this study
longleaf pine outplanted from containers had the highest survival rate.
Timber production is not recommended as the primary goal for droughty
sands; aesthetics, groundwater protection, and wildlife management
should take a higher priority when developing management plans for such
sites [37].

Related categories for Species: Quercus incana | Bluejack Oak