Rimrock Pine Communities at the New River Gorge National River
Maxwell SR and Hicks RR. 2007. Rimrock Pine Communities at the New River Gorge National River. Technical Report NPS/NER/NRTR—2007/081. United States Department of the Interior, National Park Service. Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
The goal of this study was to evaluate the current and past condition of a rimrock pine community at the New River Gorge National River through a descriptive analysis of the vegetation, a tree-ring analysis of the age structure and disturbance regime, and the investigation of land use history. It is intended that with this information the NPS will be better able to manage valuable forest resources that are in danger of decline. The management suggestions written above will require modification to meet the multi-faceted goals of preserving the rimrock for future generations. However, the results of the study confirm the need of some type of restoration activity to aid regeneration of rimrock pines and to maintain the historic prevalence of the forest. Without action, the rimrock community will be succeeded by deciduous competitors on all but the poorest sites on the cliff edges and rock outcrops.
- Type
- Published Report
- Authors
- Maxwell, Stockton; Hicks, Ray
- Date of Issue
- 2007-03
- Publisher
- United States Department of the Interior, National Park Service
- Units
- ERMN , NERI
- Keywords
- Dendroecological analysis, Inventory, Land use history, Plants, Rimrock pine communities, Vegetation, Virginia pine
- Subjects
- Ecological Framework: Biological Integrity | Focal Species or Communities | Forest/Woodland Communities , Ecological Framework: Biological Integrity | Focal Species or Communities | Vegetation Complex