Canopy-ground Layer Relationships of Oak-pine Forests in the New Jersey Pine Barrens
Collins SL and Good RE. 1987. Canopy-ground Layer Relationships of Oak-pine Forests in the New Jersey Pine Barrens. The American Midland Naturalist. 117(2):280-288
The relative effects of biotic and abiotic factors on the distribution of ground layer species were determined in oak-pine forests in the New Jersey Pine Barrens. Cover of ground layer species and tree-seedling density were measured in three oak-pine stands with different disturbance histories. In addition, soil pH and nutrient levels, light and litter depth measured beneath different canopy species. There were significant differences in amounts of Mg and Ca beneath canopies of different tree species. Few significant relationships were found between canopy type and distribution of ground layer species. The shrubs Gaylussacia baccata and Vaccinium vacillans were consistently randomly distributed. Significant differences were occasionally observed for some herbaceous species (Carex pensylvanica, Melampyrum lineare ), which produced less cover than expected by chance beneath the canopy of Quercus alba .
- Type
- Journal Article
- Authors
- Collins, Scott; Good, Ralph
- Units
- PINE
- Keywords
- Ecology, Forest Canopy, oak-pine forest, Plant Studies, Research Article