Post-harvest regeneration in headwater stream floodplains of North Carolina / by Carol A. Phillips.
| Author/creator | Phillips, Carol A. author. |
| Other author | Brinson, Mark M., degree supervisor. |
| Other author | East Carolina University. Department of Biology. |
| Format | Theses and dissertations |
| Production | 2002. |
| Description | viii, 140 leaves : illustrations, map ; 28 cm |
| Supplemental Content | Access via ScholarShip |
| Subjects |
| Subject | Thirty-three headwater stream wetlands in the early stages of succession were characterized in order to have a better understanding of natural regeneration. Sites were selected that were in the early stages of regeneration (1-15 years) after clearcutting with no evidence of supplemental planting, no evidence of stream channelization, and no ongoing beaver activity. Canopy and subcanopy tree species were characterized by size class. The size-class distribution was then used to represent the probable replacement species during succession. Three general age categories were selected for comparison based on changes in vegetation structure and composition over time: Young-Aged stands (1-4 years after clearcutting), Middle-Aged stands (6-10 years after clearcutting), and Older-Aged stands (11 - 15 years after clearcutting). Site environmental factors such as soil chemistry, soil texture, and site dryness were examined to see how much influence they had on stand composition. Species composition and richness in these stands was then compared to the literature of relatively unaltered mature forested wetlands in the coastal plains of North Carolina, Virginia, and Alabama. Fifteen environmental factors including stand age were studied in this research project. In general, the site environmental variables were found to have little influence on the species present in the early successional stands. However, I did find two relationships that may have somewhat influenced stand composition. In five stands, I found a relationship between high concentrations of calcium in the soil and high importance of Fraxinus species. Based on a weighted average of site dryness I also found that the Older-Aged stands were the wettest sites in my study. Although these stands were structurally very different from the mature stands used in the comparison, species composition encountered in all strata of the forest was very similar. Given sufficient time, it is reasonable to expect that these immature stands will eventually assume the structure of the more mature stands. Successional species found in the regenerating stands were most likely those that occupied the site before logging (stump sprouting was abundant) or represented tree species in close proximity to the site. Information obtained in this study could be used to evaluate sites for preservation in restoration programs that include headwater stream floodplains. The results offer a picture of what one might reasonably expect in terms of species composition and density in the early stages of succession after clearcutting. |
| General note | Presented to the faculty of the Department of Biology. |
| General note | Advisor: Mark M. Brinson |
| Dissertation note | M.S. East Carolina University 2002 |
| Bibliography note | Includes bibliographical references ([80]-84). |
| Genre/form | dissertations. |
| Genre/form | Academic theses. |
| Genre/form | Academic theses. |
| Genre/form | Thèses et écrits académiques. |
Availability
| Library | Location | Call Number | Status | Item Actions |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Joyner | University Archives | ASK AT SPECIAL COLLECTIONS DESK | ✔ Available | Request Material |
| Electronic Resources | Access Content Online | ✔ Available |