Pacific Southwest

Title: Diversity, density, and development of early vegetation in a small clear-cut environment

Author: McDonald, Philip M.

Date: 1999

Source: Res. Paper PSW-RP-239. Albany, CA: Pacific Southwest Research Station, Forest Service, U.S. Department of Agriculture; 22 p

Station ID: RP-PSW-239

Description: On a high quality site in northern California, frequency, density, foliar cover, and height were measured on every plant species present in an 8-acre clear-cut opening each year from 1976 through 1980. Plant species numbered 71, although no more than 62 were present during a given year. Categories of vegetation with the most plants per acre initially were shrubs, annuals and biennials, and ferns; at the end of the study the categories were annuals and biennials, graminoids, and shrubs. At the beginning of the study, bracken fern provided the highest amount of foliar cover, whereas 5 years later shrubs and annuals and biennials provided the most cover. Hardwoods and graminoids were the tallest categories of vegetation. At the study's end density was 112,408 plants per acre, foliar cover was 17,433 ft² per acre and the tallest plants were 3.5 to 4.9 feet tall. Implications for future species development, plant succession, and community composition are presented.

Keywords: natural vegetation, northern California, plant community, plant species development, small forest opening

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Citation

McDonald, Philip M.  1999.  Diversity, density, and development of early vegetation in a small clear-cut environment.   Res. Paper PSW-RP-239. Albany, CA: Pacific Southwest Research Station, Forest Service, U.S. Department of Agriculture; 22 p.