Organization of the Niagara Escarpment cliff community. II. Characterization of the physical environment

1990 ◽  
Vol 68 (9) ◽  
pp. 1931-1941 ◽  
Author(s):  
R. M. Bartlett ◽  
U. Matthes-Sears ◽  
D. W. Larson
Keyword(s):  
Soil Moisture ◽  
Physical Environment ◽  
Acer Saccharum ◽  
Environmental Gradient ◽  
Deciduous Forest ◽  
Thuja Occidentalis ◽  
Active Radiation ◽  
Niagara Escarpment ◽  
Forest Habitats

In cliff-edge forests along the Niagara Escarpment, an array of species, including Thuja occidentals, is restricted to the cliff edge while different species, including Acer saccharum, are increasingly dominant away from the cliff on the plateau. This paper presents detailed analyses of 13 components of the physical environment, measured over an 18-month period, as they change across the plateau and towards the cliff edge. Statistically significant differences between the cliff-edge habitat and the adjacent deciduous forest were found in most of the 13 variables, and the results indicate a strong environmental gradient between the cliff edge and deciduous forest habitats. Lower and more rapidly fluctuating soil moisture levels combined with low photosynthetically active radiation at the cliff edge suggest that conditions there are frequently more severe for plants than in the deciduous forest in summer. Additionally, the cliff edge was snow free during the winter and the soils were frozen for a more protracted period than the deciduous forest soils. Soil and litter depths decreased significantly from the deciduous forest toward the cliff edge. The effects of these differences are discussed with reference to the characteristics of species that dominate the deciduous and coniferous cliff-edge zones. Key words: cliff, gradient, Thuja occidentalis, Acer saccharum, microclimate, Niagara Escarpment.

Environmental controls of carbon uptake in two woody species with contrasting distributions at the edge of cliffs

1990 ◽  
Vol 68 (11) ◽  
pp. 2371-2380 ◽  
Author(s):  
U. Matthes-Sears ◽  
D. W. Larson
Keyword(s):  
Water Potential ◽  
Acer Saccharum ◽  
Deciduous Forest ◽  
Light Limitation ◽  
Carbon Gain ◽  
Carbon Uptake ◽  
Severe Drought ◽  
Xylem Water Potential ◽  
Thuja Occidentalis ◽  
Environmental Controls

Thuja occidentalis L. and Acer saccharum Marsh, show mutually exclusive distribution patterns along forested cliff edges of the Niagara Escarpment; T. occidentalis occurs at the cliff edge and on the cliff face, whereas A. saccharum occurs with increasing frequency away from the cliff edge. To reveal the controls of such patterns, seasonal and diurnal courses of net photosynthesis (Pn), stomatal conductance (gs), and xylem water potential were measured in situ and related to fluctuations in light, temperature, and moisture. For each species, saplings growing in the cedar zone near the cliff edge were compared with saplings growing in the deciduous forest zone farther from the cliff edge on the plateau. The carbon uptake of both species was most often limited by light; limitation by temperature, atmospheric, or soil moisture was rare. Acer saccharum was slightly better adapted than T. occidentalis to growth at the low light levels in both zones because of a greater light-use efficiency. During severe drought, both species showed reductions in Pn and gs when growing near the cliff edge. In the deciduous forest, in contrast, Pn of T. occidentalis, but not A. saccharum, was significantly reduced, suggesting that A. saccharum may outcompete T. occidentalis for water. In the spring and fall, T. occidentalis had higher Pn and gs in the deciduous forest than at the cliff edge. However, all differences in gas exchange rates between trees in the deciduous forest and at the cliff edge were small and relatively rare. During most of the growing season, Pn and gs differed little between saplings in the two zones. This suggests that the pattern of abundance is not controlled to a substantial degree by carbon gain at the sapling stage. Key words: photosynthesis, water potential, Acer saccharum, Thuja occidentalis, plant zonation, cliff–forest ecotone.

Microsite- and age-specific processes controlling natural populations of Acer saccharum at cliff edges

1991 ◽  
Vol 69 (3) ◽  
pp. 552-559 ◽  
Author(s):  
R. M. Bartlett ◽  
U. Matthes-Sears ◽  
D. W. Larson
Keyword(s):  
Spatial Distribution ◽  
Environmental Conditions ◽  
Acer Saccharum ◽  
Deciduous Forest ◽  
Natural Populations ◽  
Visible Injury ◽  
Niagara Escarpment ◽  
Spatial And Seasonal Variation ◽  
Dependent Processes ◽  
Age Structures

Along cliff edges of the Niagara Escarpment in Ontario, Canada, Acer saccharum Marsh, is rarely found, but within 5 m of the cliff edge it becomes the dominant species of a rich deciduous forest on the plateau. To discover how age-dependent and microsite-dependent processes combine to control the spatial distribution of this species along the environmental gradient, age structures of natural seedlings and saplings between 1 and 25 years old were investigated over a three-year period. Mortality rates over the monitoring period were highest in 1-year-old seedlings and decreased gradually as age approached 10 years. Both spatial and seasonal variation in environmental conditions affected 1-year-old seedlings most, and these effects declined as seedling age increased. The distribution of types of visible injury preceding death in the 1-year-old seedlings suggested that both drought and herbivory influenced survivorship in this species, but to different degrees at different positions on the gradient. Lower seedling heights closer to the cliff edge in 1- to 10-year-old seedlings suggested that environmental conditions constrained productivity and survival. These results clearly demonstrate that variation in age structures along the gradient was determined by both age- and microsite-dependent processes and that these both contribute to the spatial distribution pattern of A. saccharum. Key words: life tables, survivorship, mortality, cliff, distribution, Acer saccharum, Niagara Escarpment.

Statistical characterization of the spatial variability of soil moisture in a cutover peatland

2004 ◽  
Vol 18 (1) ◽  
pp. 41-52 ◽  
Author(s):  
Richard M. Petrone ◽  
J. S. Price ◽  
S. K. Carey ◽  
J. M. Waddington
Keyword(s):  
Soil Moisture ◽  
Spatial Variability ◽  
Statistical Characterization

scholarly journals Tree Change in Nemoral Spruce Forests of the Central Forest Reserve

2021 ◽  
pp. 459-476
Author(s):  
M. Yu. Pukinskaya
Keyword(s):  
Deciduous Forest ◽  
Climatic Conditions ◽  
Spruce Forest ◽  
Forest Reserve ◽  
Spruce Forests ◽  
The Past ◽  
Broad Leaved Forest ◽  
The Russian Federation ◽  
Leaved Forest

The paper discusses changes in forest-forming species in the nemoral spruce forests of the Central Forest Reserve (Tver Region, the Russian Federation). A comparison is made of the characterization of vegetation in the reserve spruce forests, carried out during the first survey of the reserve by Ya. Ya. Alekseev in 1931 (Alekseev, 1935) with the descriptions of vegetation made by the author from 2011 to 2019. It is shown that the coverage of nemoral herbs in the spruce forests of the reserve has increased over the past 90 years. In addition, three types of broadleaf trees (Tilia cordata Mill., Acer platanoides L. and Ulmus scabra Mill.) have greatly increased their abundance in the stand, most notably the linden. In recent decades, the decay of nemoral spruce forests has been taking place in the Central Forest Reserve. The birch-aspenspruce stand is not replenished with spruce renewal but is replaced by linden-maple forests. The vitality of spruce undergrowth is deteriorating. After the decay of a spruce forest, a change of the tree dominants occurs on 74% of the trial plots and the stand continues with a spruce forest on 26%. The largest part of the reserve's nemoral spruce forests arose after major disturbances 100–150 years ago (on the site of burned-out areas, hurricane windblows and cuttings). Old nemoral spruce forests were formed during the period when severe frosts prevented linden and maple from entering the stand. Currently, the coincidence of climate warming with the aging of the spruce stand and the removal of anthropogenic influence contributed to the release of maple and linden from the undergrowth into the stand and change to a spruce-deciduous forest. Under the prevailing climatic conditions, a return to the spruce forest is possible in the event of a burning out or when the climate becomes cold. The nemoral spruce forest is an ecotone type and, depending on conditions, becomes a spruce or broad-leaved forest.

scholarly journals Microarthropod population dynamics in a subtropical deciduous forest of the Eastern-Ghat hill range in India in response to variation in edaphic factors

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Pratik Acharya ◽  
Suryasikha Samal ◽  
C.S.K. Mishra
Keyword(s):  
Soil Moisture ◽  
Deciduous Forest ◽  
Principal Component ◽  
Vital Role ◽  
Population Variation ◽  
Edaphic Factors ◽  
Eastern India ◽  
Wet Season ◽  
Nutrient Pool ◽  
Soil Microarthropods

Abstract Background: Soil microarthropods are considered as major groups of soil fauna which facilitate the decomposition of organics in soil. In forests, the sustenance of nutrient pool is dependent on the density and diversity of these animals. Edaphic factors of habitat play vital role in species distribution of any region. Any changes in population structure of microarthropod may affect the ecosystem adversely. This study reports the seasonal variation of microarthropod population of the orders Collembola, Acari and Hymenoptera in five sampling zones, degraded (DF), dense mixed (DMF), open mixed (OMF), bamboo (BF) and wet land (WL) in a subtropical deciduous forest (Chandaka-Dampara) of Eastern India. Results: Seven species of Collembola and four species each of Acari and Hymenoptera were identified. Ecological indices did not show noticeable species diversity in different sampling zones of the forest. Heatmap analysis indicated high relative abundance of Collembola in WL irrespective of season. The abundance of Acari was high in OMF and DF, Hymenoptera in DMF and OMF for dry and wet season respectively. Wet season indicated significantly higher microarthropod population irrespective of species. The correlation colour matrix and principal component analysis (PCA) showed significant positive correlation of arthropod population with soil moisture and organic carbon. Significant population variation in the animal population were observed between dry and wet seasons. Conclusion: The forest floor was dominated by Collembola order of microarthropod species irrespective of sampling zone and season. Soil moisture and carbon contents in different seasons were found to be most sensitive growth regulators of microarthropod populations In Chandaka forest of Eastern India.

scholarly journals Geotecnologias aplicadas à conservação, divulgação e uso sustentável de atrativos geoturísticos do município de Prudentópolis (PR)

2014 ◽  
Vol 7 (2) ◽  
Author(s):  
Julio Manoel França da Silva ◽  
José Manoel Gonçalves Gândara
Keyword(s):  
Information System ◽  
Geographic Information System ◽  
Literature Review ◽  
Physical Environment ◽  
Sustainable Use ◽  
Natural Areas ◽  
Digital Mapping ◽  
Field Works ◽  
Botucatu Formation

O geoturismo é um segmento da atividade turística em áreas naturais que visa à conservação, a divulgação e o uso sustentável de locais onde os aspectos geológicos, geomorfológicos e paleontológicos do meio físico se destacam por seus valores estéticos, científicos, didáticos, culturais ou econômicos. Buscando contribuir com métodos voltados a esse segmento do turismo, este trabalho objetivou analisar o potencial da cartografia digital na conservação, divulgação e uso sustentável de locais de interesse geológico-geomorfológico (geossítios) de Prudentópolis (PR), tendo como base revisão bibliográfica, trabalhos de campo e processamento de dados cartográficos digitais em Sistema de Informações Geográficas (SIG). Realizou-se caracterização de quatro geossítios, os quais estão inseridos geologicamente na Formação Teresina (Salto/Canyon do rio São João e Salto Barão do rio Branco/Vale do rio dos Patos) e na Formação Serra Geral (Salto São Francisco/Vale do rio São Francisco e Morro do Chapéu/Afloramento da Formação Botucatu). Os dados levantados foram disponibilizados em planos de informação e banco de dados georreferenciados no software de geoprocessamento Arcgis 9.3, o qual se revelou como um importante instrumento de elaboração de produtos cartográficos voltados à atividade geoturística. Geotechnology applied to conservation, disclosure and use of geoturistical attractive in Prudentópolis (PR, Brazil) ABSTRACT The geotourism is a segment of the touristic activity in natural areas which aims the conservation, the disclosure and the sustainable use of places where the geological, geomorpholocical and paleontological aspects of the physical environment stand out by their aesthetic, scientific, instructional, cultural or economic values. Aiming to contribute with methods directed to this tourism’s segment, this paper aimed to analyze the potential of digital mapping in conservation, disclosure and sustainable use of geological-geomorphological interesting places (geosites) in Prudentópolis (PR, Brazil), based on literature review, field works and digital cartographic data’s processing in Geographic Information System (GIS). The characterization of four geosites was verified, which are geologically inserted in Teresina Formation (Fall / São João River’s Canyon and Barão do Rio Branco Fall/ Patos’ River Valley) and in Serra Geral Formation (São Francisco Fall/ São Francisco River’s Valley and Chapéu’s Hill / Outbreak of Botucatu Formation). And the collected data were provided into information plans and georeferenced database in Arcgis 9.3 geoprocessing software, which has proved to be an important tool for developing cartographic products focused on geotourism activity. KEYWORDS: Geotourism; Natural Areas; Geotechnologies; Geoturistical Maps; Prudentópolis.

A NOVEL NMR INSTRUMENT FOR CHARACTERIZATION OF SOIL MOISTURE

2013 ◽  
Author(s):  
David Walsh ◽  
Elliot Grunewald ◽  
Hong Zhang
Keyword(s):  
Soil Moisture
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