Abstract:
Species diversity and richness is an important gauge of the ecological health of a natural community and is often a driving factor in land conservation projects. Several environmental and historical factors were analyzed to determine which factors have the greatest influence on species richness and diversity in four New England forests. Factors expected to influence species richness and diversity include; slope, aspect, topographic position, overstory composition and both recent and historic disturbances. We set up 20 x 20m plots in Martha’s Vineyard, MA; Groton, VT, Petersham, MA and Strafford NH. Within each plot we recorded all the herbaceous species present, counted all of the overstory and understory trees/shrubs and recorded evidence of natural or anthropogenic disturbances. The influences of environmental factors were analyzed separately for overstory trees, understory trees/shrubs, and herb layer species. The influences of each factor were varied within the three strata; latitude and disturbance (both recent and historic) are related to vegetation diversity and richness in all three strata. Historic disturbances showed a positive correlation to diversity and richness while recent disturbance negatively influenced diversity and richness. Long term monitoring of this disturbance-diversity relationship could help us apply better land management techniques to maintain species richness and diversity in the New England forest.
