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Harvard Forest REU Symposium Abstract 2010
- Title: The Influence of Overstory Characteristics on Herb-Layer Diversity in New England Forests
- Author: Madelon F Case (Princeton)
- Abstract:
The maintenance of biological diversity is a major focus of conservation projects because of potential effects on ecosystem health and stability. Much of the biodiversity in New England forests resides in the herb layer, so effective conservation management requires a clear understanding of the correlations between forest overstory composition and herbaceous diversity. Though general trends in the influence of overstory characteristics on understory diversity in temperate forests have been observed, few such studies have been done in New England. In this study, we established permanent 20x20 meter vegetation sampling plots at field sites in Petersham, MA; Strafford, NH; Dover-Foxcroft, ME; and Amherst, ME. We surveyed these plots for herbaceous species, tree and shrub species, and evidence of historical disturbance. I examined relationships between overstory characteristics and herb-layer diversity (measured in terms of richness and the Shannon diversity index) with correlation and regression statistics. Positive correlations were found between understory measures of diversity and balsam fir dominance, overstory species richness, overstory species evenness, and a weighted average of overstory shade tolerance. Hemlock dominance showed a negative correlation with understory richness and a positive correlation with understory evenness. The results of these analyses can provide forest managers with a useful tool for large-scale conservation management and biodiversity assessment.
- Research Category: Biodiversity Studies; Conservation and Management; Large Experiments and Permanent Plot Studies
