Vegetation-Environment Relationships Among Woody Species in Four Canopy-Layers in an Old-Growth Mixed Mesophytic Forest
Document Type
Article
Publication Date
3-1-2005
Publication Source
Castanea
Abstract
We examined vegetation-environment relationships among woody species in four canopy-strata within an old-growth mixed mesophytic forest. We hypothesized that 1) the most important environmental variables determining vegetation composition would differ among canopy-layers and 2) the maximum abundance of Quercus spp. would occur under different environmental conditions than those of Acer spp. Overstory and mid-story vegetation were arrayed along gradients of soil fertility and elevation. The shrub-layer and the ground-layer were most strongly correlated with soil fertility and pH. Across strata, Quercus spp. were consistently located in ordination space on well-lit upper slopes with low soil pH. Acer rubrum was found across a wide array of environmental conditions and Acer saccharum was found in mesic areas.
Inclusive pages
32-46
ISBN/ISSN
Print ISSN: 0008-7475; Online ISSN: 1938-4386
Publisher
BioOne
Volume
70
Peer Reviewed
yes
Issue
1
eCommons Citation
Ryan W. McEwan, Robert N. Muller, and Brian C. McCarthy "Vegetation-Environment Relationships Among Woody Species in Four Canopy-Layers in an Old-Growth Mixed Mesophytic Forest," Castanea 70(1), 32-46, (1 March 2005). https://doi.org/10.2179/0008-7475(2005)070[0032:VRAWSI]2.0.CO;2
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