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Compositional Change of Ground Flora in Forest Ecosystems of Southeastern Ohio over Twenty Years

Andrew, Erin Elizabeth
http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=osu1492709150981169

Abstract Details

2017, Master of Science, Ohio State University, Environment and Natural Resources.
ABSTRACT Ground-flora species (herbaceous plants, vines, shrubs < 1.37 m in height) comprise the most biodiverse stratum of eastern forests, yet are poorly understood compared with the overstory tree community. Only recently have these plants of the understory received recognition for the ecosystem services that they provide, and so research is lacking in many respects, particularly in terms of ground flora species compositional change with forest succession. The dynamics of the ground flora in predominantly Quercus – Carya forests of the Central Hardwoods Forest Region are generally in secondary successional stages, and the dynamics of their ground flora over long periods of time are poorly understood. We sampled 800 2-m2 quadrats on 100 plots across the Athens Unit of the Wayne National Forest (WNF) in southeastern Ohio in May-August 2016, and compared the relative importance of ground flora taxa with data obtained from the same plots during two earlier sampling years (1994 or 1995). Using an existing ecological classification system, we calculated diversity metrics (H’, S, E) for the ground flora and investigated compositional change of ground-flora taxa over time using multi-response permutation procedure (MRPP). Additionally, Canonical Correspondence Analysis (CCA) was used to explore environment and stand factors of influence on our plots and taxa relative ii importance values for 2016 and consider shifts in the environmental conditions in our plots between 1994/1995 – 2016. We found five new non-native invasive species on our plots, with a significant increase in relative importance of Rosa multiflora (p < 0.05). The three most common species from 1994/1994 retained that status in 2016 (Parthenocissus quinquefolia, Viburnum acerifolium, and Smilax rotundifolia, respectively). We found an increase in shade-tolerant ground flora species over time (e.g., Hydrophyllum macrophyllum, Cryptotaenia canadensis, Polygonum virginianum), and increases in some old-growth associate indicator species. There was a decline in Gillenia stipulata, an oak-hickory associate species, as well as an overall decline in graminoid relative importance in our plots in 2016. Species composition differed significantly (p < 0.05) among Ecological Land Types (ELTs) within each dataset by four groups based on an ecological classification system (mesic northeasterly slopes, dry southwesterly slopes, bottomlands and uplands) based on physiographic features. Composition also differed significantly on mesic northeasterly slope ELTs. Time-series CCA (axis 1 explained 30.39% of the variation) suggests a general shift in ordination space towards more mesic, shaded conditions for the 26 plots that exhibited greatest change in ground-flora composition. Percent annual direct radiation had moderate influence on ground flora dispersion (r = 0.480 with axis 1, and r = 0.467 with axis 2), and topographic relative moisture index was strongly negatively correlated with axis 1 (r = - 0.734). iii The increases in non-native invasive and shade-tolerant species, and the observed trend in plots transitioning towards more similar environmental conditions are dynamic changes occurring on the WNF. Northeast-facing slopes are also experiencing significant compositional change for the ground flora (p < 0.05), which is likely related to the increased overstory recruitment of the shade-tolerant beech-maple (Fagus-Acer) species in eastern forests, a process known as “mesophication.” Considering the few long-term studies that exist for ground flora in eastern forests, it will be important to continue longterm monitoring to help elucidate changes in the ground flora over time. This research project contributes an up-to-date compilation of ground flora taxa for forest managers, as well as highlight fluctuations in conspecific presence/absence from over twenty years ago. This information can be useful in terms of identifying and projecting non-native invasive species encroachment patterns, and their subsequent control. We additionally suggest that attention should carefully be drawn to northeast-facing slopes if the restoration aim is to slow mesophication. As these ground-flora species provide a wealth of habitat for many insect, bird, and mammal populations, and represent the most biodiverse layer of eastern forests, monitoring and managing for them is of critical importance.
David M. Hix (Advisor)
P. Charles Goebel (Committee Member)
Stephen N. Matthews (Committee Member)
114 p.
Botany; Ecology; Forestry
Ground-flora, forest succession, mesophication, time-series

Recommended Citations

Citations

  • Andrew, E. E. (2017). Compositional Change of Ground Flora in Forest Ecosystems of Southeastern Ohio over Twenty Years [Master's thesis, Ohio State University]. OhioLINK Electronic Theses and Dissertations Center. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=osu1492709150981169

    APA Style (7th edition)

  • Andrew, Erin. Compositional Change of Ground Flora in Forest Ecosystems of Southeastern Ohio over Twenty Years . 2017. Ohio State University, Master's thesis. OhioLINK Electronic Theses and Dissertations Center, http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=osu1492709150981169.

    MLA Style (8th edition)

  • Andrew, Erin. "Compositional Change of Ground Flora in Forest Ecosystems of Southeastern Ohio over Twenty Years ." Master's thesis, Ohio State University, 2017. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=osu1492709150981169

    Chicago Manual of Style (17th edition)

osu1492709150981169
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This open access ETD is published by The Ohio State University and OhioLINK.