The Structure of Hardwood Forest Ecosystems of Prince Edward County, Virginia

Ecology ◽  
1974 ◽  
Vol 55 (3) ◽  
pp. 614-621 ◽  
Author(s):  
Stanley R. Gemborys
Keyword(s):  
Forest Ecosystems ◽  
Hardwood Forest ◽  
Prince Edward County

scholarly journals Łęgi jesionowo-wiązowe w dolinie środkowej Wisły – stan ekosystemów pozbawionych zalewów i wytyczne do działań ochronnych = Riparian hardwood forests in the valley of the middle Vistula – ecosystem condition in the absence of flooding, and guidelines for protection

2019 ◽  
Vol 91 (3) ◽  
pp. 295-323 ◽  
Author(s):  
Anna Kowalska ◽  
Andrzej Affek ◽  
Edyta Regulska ◽  
Jacek Wolski ◽  
Bogusława Kruczkowska ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Forest Ecosystems ◽  
Arable Land ◽  
Hardwood Forests ◽  
Rural Landscape ◽  
Biologically Active ◽  
Hardwood Forest ◽  
Strong Impact ◽  
Forest Patches ◽  
Alien Plant ◽  
Moisture Conditions

Riparian hardwood forests of Quercus robur, Ulmus spp and Fraxinus spp that are present along major rivers are valuable communities protected by the EU Habitat Directive and recommended for monitoring. Part of the reason for that is relative rarity on the scale of Europe as a whole, and also in Poland. This in turn reflects the way in which fertile habitats were, in their majority, deforested long ago, drained and changed into grasslands or arable land. Additionally, the greater part of these habitats have lost their specific features, as a result of river engineering and – primarily – the construction of the river embankments that have acted to limit flooding and alluvial processes, in that way also initiating change in the composition of both soils and plant communities. Specifically, this article presents selected results of the research project: Riparian hardwood forest services in the middle Vistula river valley. One of the main objectives thereof was to assess the condition of forest ecosystems from which flooding has now been absent for at least 50 years, as well as to prepare guidelines for actions necessary to maintain or restore their diversity, and proper ecological and biological functions. Our research questions therefore revolved around components of riparian hardwood forest ecosystems have been most changed … and why? The research was conducted in six riparian hardwood forests (to date unmonitored) located in the valley of the middle Vistula (in Mazowieckie voivodship). Relevant work was carried out using the standard monitoring guidelines – as primarily based on an assessment of vegetation composition and structure together with water conditions. However, in the work in question, these were augmented by additional analyses allowing for detailed characterisations of soil, the topoclimate, and the species diversity achieved by selected groups of invertebrate (Hymenoptera: Apidae: Bombus and Haplotaxida: Lumbricidae). The communities selected represent multi-functional, species-rich forests. Extensive use of the studied riparian mixed forests ensures that deadwood resources are quite considerable. Moreover, the studied forests exert a strong impact when it comes to mitigation of climate locally. The observed soil types indicate fertile and biologically-active habitats, as well as to soil development largely determined by the height of the groundwater table causing the gleyic process in the lower parts of profiles. However, in some forest patches it is possible to note transformations related to habitat drying, with significant canopy gaps and disturbances of topsoil and the undergrowth. There was a great abundance of invasive alien plant species (mainly Impatiens parviflora) in the undergrowth. Moisture conditions have an impact on the occasional occurrence of Lumbricidae associated with wet and flooded areas. In turn, the domination by Bombus of open-habitat species indicates a transformation of forest structure, and the patchy nature of riparian forests located in a rural landscape. The obtained results demonstrate that protective actions should focus on ensuring adequate soil-moisture conditions, and on restoring the natural structure of vegetation with a view to invasions of alien species being hampered. Another important issue is the proper use of land adjacent to forest patches, as fallows prove to be invaded quickly by the kenophytes preferring abandoned and disturbed places.

A novel ice storm manipulation experiment in a northern hardwood forest

2012 ◽  
Vol 42 (10) ◽  
pp. 1810-1818 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lindsey E. Rustad ◽  
John L. Campbell
Keyword(s):  
United States ◽  
Forest Canopy ◽  
Forest Ecosystems ◽  
Hardwood Forest ◽  
Canopy Openness ◽  
Northern Hardwood Forest ◽  
Ice Storm ◽  
Northeastern United States ◽  
Northern Hardwood ◽  
Ice Storms

Ice storms are an important natural disturbance within forest ecosystems of the northeastern United States. Current models suggest that the frequency and severity of ice storms may increase in the coming decades in response to changes in climate. Because of the stochastic nature of ice storms and difficulties in predicting their occurrence, most past investigations of the ecological effects of ice storms across this region have been based on case studies following major storms. Here we report on a novel alternative approach where a glaze ice event was created experimentally under controlled conditions at the Hubbard Brook Experimental Forest, New Hampshire, USA. Water was sprayed over a northern hardwood forest canopy during February 2011, resulting in 7–12 mm radial ice thickness. Although this is below the minimum cutoff for ice storm warnings (13 mm of ice) issued by the US National Weather Service for the northeastern United States, this glaze ice treatment resulted in significant canopy damage, with 142 and 218 g C·m–2 of fine and coarse woody debris (respectively) deposited on the forest floor, a significant increase in leaf-on canopy openness, and increases in qualitative damage assessments following the treatment. This study demonstrates the feasibility of a relatively simple approach to simulating an ice storm and underscores the potency of this type of extreme event in shaping the future structure and function of northern hardwood forest ecosystems.

Symptoms of nitrogen saturation in two central Appalachian hardwood forest ecosystems

1996 ◽  
Vol 35 (3) ◽  
pp. 507-522 ◽  
Author(s):  
William T. Peterjohn ◽  
Mary Beth Adams ◽  
Frank S. Gilliam
Keyword(s):  
Forest Ecosystems ◽  
Nitrogen Saturation ◽  
Hardwood Forest

Multifactor classification and analysis of upland hardwood forest ecosystems of the Kickapoo River watershed, southwestern Wisconsin

1988 ◽  
Vol 18 (11) ◽  
pp. 1405-1415 ◽  
Author(s):  
David M. Hix
Keyword(s):  
Sugar Maple ◽  
Forest Ecosystems ◽  
Parent Material ◽  
Hardwood Forest ◽  
Slope Position ◽  
Red Oak ◽  
Northern Red Oak ◽  
White Oak ◽  
River Watershed

An ecological multifactor approach was used to develop a hierarchical classification of upland hardwood forest ecosystems of the Kickapoo River watershed, southwestern Wisconsin. This method was chosen from among the variety available because of its utility in this area of heavily disturbed forests. Eleven major ecosystem units were distinguished for the 67 plot areas sampled. Each ecosystem unit is characterized by a distinct combination of physiography (aspect and slope position and steepness), soil (parent material depth and type), and vegetation (canopy tree species and groups of ground cover species), and occurs in a unique position in the landscape. The canopies of most units are dominated by combinations of northern red oak (Quercusrubra L.), white oak (Q. alba L.), and sugar maple (Acersaccharum Marsh.). The results of several discriminant analyses indicate a high level of association between plots within some units. A combination of physiographic, soil, and vegetational variables resulted in the highest overall percentage of correct classification of the plots. These 11 ecosystem units ranged in estimated productivity (average site index for northern red oak) from 12 to 21 m, with the two extremes significantly different at the 5% level.

Composition and Productivity in Bottomland Hardwood Forest Ecosystems: The Report of the Vegetation Workgroup

2020 ◽  
pp. 455-479
Author(s):  
William H. Conner ◽  
R. Terry Huffman ◽  
Wiley Kitchens ◽  
W. Harms ◽  
S. Harrison ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Forest Ecosystems ◽  
Hardwood Forest ◽  
Bottomland Hardwood Forest ◽  
Bottomland Hardwood
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