fleshy fruit is considered a “buffer” food, but may be critical to game and nongame vertebrates
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Fleshy Fruit Production in Mature and Recently Harvested Upland & Cove Hardwood Forest of the Southern Appalachians. Fleshy fruit is considered a “buffer” food, but may be critical to game and nongame vertebrates. Here we examine…. - PowerPoint PPT PresentationTRANSCRIPT
Fleshy Fruit Production in Mature and Recently Harvested Upland &
Cove Hardwood Forest of the Southern Appalachians
Fleshy fruit is considered a “buffer” food, but may be critical to game and nongame vertebrates.
Here we examine…
Spatial and temporal variation in species Spatial and temporal variation in species composition and fruit production in two composition and fruit production in two forest types and two age classes;forest types and two age classes;
Temporal changes in fruit production as Temporal changes in fruit production as young stands mature;young stands mature;
Species that produce the most fleshy fruit.Species that produce the most fleshy fruit.
We also are studying…
Bird communities during breeding, winter, Bird communities during breeding, winter, and fall and spring migration; and fall and spring migration;
Hard mast (acorns, hickories, etc.) Hard mast (acorns, hickories, etc.) production in the four treatments;production in the four treatments;
Changes in plant diversityChanges in plant diversity The importance of fruit to birdsThe importance of fruit to birds
This is a sister study to one at the Savannah River Site in South Carolina, conducted by D.J. Levey and C.H. Greenberg 1994 – 2003.
Treatments (n = 6 to 9 each)
1)1) Mature Cove HardwoodMature Cove Hardwood2)2) Young Cove Hardwood (~1998 Young Cove Hardwood (~1998
2-age harvest)2-age harvest)3)3) Mature Upland HardwoodMature Upland Hardwood4)4) Young Upland Hardwood (~1998 Young Upland Hardwood (~1998
2-age harvest)2-age harvest)
Methods
20 X 50-m plot (0.1 ha) – trees, nonclonal 20 X 50-m plot (0.1 ha) – trees, nonclonal shrubs, vines.shrubs, vines.
4 X 50-m subtransect – clonal shrubs, 4 X 50-m subtransect – clonal shrubs, herbaceous plants.herbaceous plants.
All fleshy fruit counted monthly starting All fleshy fruit counted monthly starting May 1999.May 1999.
Biomass estimates based on dry pulp (g/ha).Biomass estimates based on dry pulp (g/ha).
A total of 43 species produced fleshy fruit during the first five years. Eight others occurred in plots but never produced fruit. Only a handful of species produced the majority of fruit biomass.
Total fruit biomass was higher in both 2-age forest types, beginning the second year post-harvest.
TREATMENT
Mea
n (
+S
E)
Dry
Ed
ible
Bio
mas
s (k
g/h
a)
0
5
10
15
20
19992000200120022003
Upland Hardwood Forest
Cove Hardwood Forest
Cove Hardwood Two-Age
Upland Hardwood Two-Age
The species producing the majority of fruit differed among the treatments.
2001(Year 3)
Year
Me
an
(+S
E)
Dry
Ed
ible
Bio
ma
ss (
g/h
a)
0
500
1000
1500
2000
2500
3000
3500
4000
4500BlackberryPokeweedDogwoodHuckleberryBlackgum
Upland Hardwood Forest
Cove Hardwood Forest
Upland Hardwood 2-Age
Cove Hardwood 2-Age
Fruit production in young (but not mature) stands was dominated by species that proliferate after disturbance, but species showed different patterns over time.
Pokeweed (Phytolacca americana)
Year
Mea
n (+
SE
) Dry
Edi
ble
Bio
mas
s (k
g/ha
)
0.0
0.5
1.0
1.5
2.0
2.5
3.0
3.5
Upland Hardwood ForestCove Hardwood ForestUpland Hardwood 2-AgeCove Hardwood 2-Age
1999 2000 2001 2002 2003
Blackberry (Rubus spp.)
Year
Mea
n (+
SE) D
ry E
dibl
e B
iom
ass
(kg/
ha)
0
2
4
6
8
10
12
14
16
Upland Hardwood ForestCove Hardwood ForestUpland Hardwood 2-AgeCove Hardwood 2-Age
1999 2000 2001 2002 2003
Several herbaceous species that are not typically associated with disturbance also produced more fruit in young stands, cove hardwood 2-age stands in particular.
Indian Cucumber Root(Medeola virginiana)
YEAR
Mea
n (
+S
E)
Dry
Ed
ible
Bio
mas
s (g
/ha)
0
2
4
6
8
10
12
14
1999 2000 2001 2002 2003
Solomon's Seal(Polygonatum spp.)
YEAR
Me
an
(+
se
) D
ry E
dib
le B
iom
as
s (
g/h
a)
0
100
200
300
400
1999 2000 2001 20032002
False Solomon's Seal(Smilacina racemosa)
YEAR
Mea
n (
+S
E)
Dry
Ed
ible
Bio
mas
s (g
/ha)
0
50
100
150
200
250
300
350
1999 2000 2001 2002 2003
Mandarin(Disporum lanuginosum)
YEAR
Me
an
(+
SE
) D
ry E
dib
le B
iom
as
s (
g/h
a)
0
100
200
300
400
500
Upland Hardwood ForestCove Hardwood ForestUpland Hardwood 2-AgeCove Hardwood 2-Age
1999 2000 2001 2002 2003
Dogwood (and some other tree species) produced more fruit in young upland hardwood stands due to fruiting by stump sprouts, starting two years after harvest.
Dogwood(Cornus florida)
Year
Mea
n (
+S
E)
Dry
Ed
ible
Bio
mas
s (k
g/h
a)
0.0
0.5
1.0
1.5
2.0
Upland Hardwood ForestCove Hardwood ForestUpland Hardwood 2-AgeCove Hardwood 2-Age
1999 2000 2001 2002 2003
Other species were closely associated with forest type as well as stand age.
Huckleberry(Gaylussacia ursina)
YEAR
Mea
n (
+S
E)
Dry
Ed
ible
Bio
ma
ss (
kg/h
a)
0
2
4
6
8
Upland Hardwood ForestCove Hardwood ForestUpland Hardwood 2-AgeCove Hardwood 2-Age
1999 2000 2001 2002 2003
The relative contribution of shrubs to total fruit was high, especially in young stands.
Shrub Fruit Biomass
TREATMENT
Me
an (
+S
E)
Dry
Ed
ible
Bio
mas
s (k
g/h
a)
0
2
4
6
8
10
12
14
16
18
1999 2000 2001 2002 2003
Upland Hardwood Forest
Cove Hardwood Forest
Upland Hardwood 2-Age
Cove Hardwood 2-Age
Tree Fruit Biomass
TREATMENT
Mea
n (
+S
E)
Dry
Ed
ible
Bio
ma
ss (
kg/h
a)
0
2
4
6
8
10
12
14
16
18
Upland Hardwood Forest
Cove Hardwood Forest
Upland Hardwood 2-Age
Cove Hardwood 2-Age
Herbaceous Plant Fruit Biomass
TREATMENT
Mea
n (
+S
E)
Dry
Ed
ible
Bio
mas
s (k
g/h
a)
0
2
4
6
8
10
12
14
16
18
Upland Hardwood Forest
Cove Hardwood Forest
Upland Hardwood 2-Age
Cove Hardwood 2-Age
VINE FRUIT BIOMASS
TREATMENT
Mea
n (
+S
E)
Dry
Ed
ible
Bio
mas
s (k
g/h
a)
0
2
4
6
8
10
12
14
16
18
Upland Hardwood Forest
Cove Hardwood Forest
Upland Hardwood 2-Age
Cove Hardwood 2-Age
Fruit was available June – December, but peak availability differed among treatments due to differences in species composition and fruiting phenology. Small amounts of fruit were retained by some species during the winter.
Month&Year
Me
an
(+
SE
) D
ry E
dib
le B
iom
as
s (
kg
/ha
)
0
5
10
15
20Upland Hardwood ForestUpland Hardwood Two-AgeCove Hardwood ForestCove Hardwood Two-Age
J
Jan'0
0
Jun'9
9
Jun'0
0
Jan'0
1
Jun'0
1
Jan'0
2
Jun'0
2
Jan'0
3
Jun'0
3
Jan'0
4
For example… blackberry and pokeweed peaked during different months (2-age only); huckleberry peaked in June (more in upland hardwood forest types); dogwood peaked in September (more in upland hardwood 2-age).
Upland hardwood 2-age stands
Month&Year
Dry
Ed
ible
Bio
ma
ss
(g
/ha
)
0
2000
4000
6000
8000
10000
BlackberryFlowering dogwoodHuckleberryPokeweedAmerican holly
Jun'9
9
Jun'0
0
Jun'0
2
Jun'0
1
Jun'0
3
Sept'9
9
Sept'0
0
Sept'0
1
Sept'0
2
Sept'0
3
Summary of Important Results Fruit production was higher in young stands than forest
beginning about 2 years post-harvest (2000). Average biomass ranged 0.5 (CHF) – 1.7 kg/ha (UHF) 1999, and
0.6 (CHF) – 16 kg/ha (UH2) in 2003. A few species dominated fruit production, but dominant species
differed among treatments and years. Pokeberry and blackberry dominated fruit production in young
stands. Many herbaceous and tree species also produced more fruit in
young stands than in mature forest. Fruit is abundant from June – December but small amounts
remain on some plants throughout winter and spring. Fruit availability varied spatially and temporally due to
differences in species distribution and fruiting phenology.
Many thanks to:
Jacqui AdamsJacqui Adams Lindsay SmithLindsay Smith Julia MurphyJulia Murphy Gabrielle GraeterGabrielle Graeter Tracy RoofTracy Roof Virginia GibbsVirginia Gibbs Tom HayesTom Hayes Joe TomchoJoe TomchoAnd many others who have volunteered their time.And many others who have volunteered their time.