Apparent changes in the forests of Mammoth Cave National Park from park formation (1930s) to recent observations (1990s)

Campbell, Julian

Abstract by author: "This paper presents changes that appear to have occurred in forests of Mammoth Cave National Park since park formation. The 1930s vegetation mapping by Ellsworth et al. provides an important reference point, and various vegetation surveys have occurred more recently, especially in the 1990s. The existing data cannot be used to make definitive statistical statements, but there are strong indications of some major trends within some of the 1930s types, especially in more open or xeric vegetation. There appears to have been little change in early to mid-successional subxeric types, there have been large increases in Quercus alba(now dominant) and perhaps minor increases in Fagus, Liriodendron, and Q.prinus. In subxeric to xeric forest types that are thought to have been associated with fire, it appears that Q.stellata,Q.velutina, Q.falcata, Q.alba, and perhaps Juniperus virginia, which probably filled more open woods. Juniperus virginiana and Pinus virginiana types in the 1930s now appear to have much Quercus spp. and Acer spp., and these types may be partly successional. However, much of the Juniperus type remains dominated by that species on xeric calcareous slopes. Old fields and young thickets of the 1930s have now become dominated by Juniperus on calcareous uplands and by Pinus on non-calcareous uplands, but there is much intermixing of these two species. Variation in these young forest types and more mature forest types is related to landtype." The paper lists 33 dominant species appearing on the 1930's vegetation map by Ellsworth. The data from this map is compared to data collected by more recient samplings of various sites. The sites are compared with changes noted. The number of acres in each comparison, the species mix, narratives from Ellsworth and comments are offered.