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Jonathan R. McCurry 1 2 3 4 5 6 Department of Forestry, Wildlife and Fisheries University of Tennessee Knoxville, TN 37996-4563 865-974-2635; E-mail [email protected] RH: Bottomland Elevation Influences • McCurry et al. 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 Relationship of Oak Seedling Height and Diameter with Bottomland Elevation Jonathan R. McCurry, Department of Forestry, Wildlife and Fisheries, University of Tennessee 274 Ellington Plant Sciences Building, Knoxville, TN 37996 Matthew J. Gray, Department of Forestry, Wildlife and Fisheries, University of Tennessee 274 Ellington Plant Sciences Building, Knoxville, TN 37996 Jennifer A. Franklin, Department of Forestry, Wildlife and Fisheries, University of Tennessee 274 Ellington Plant Sciences Building, Knoxville, TN 37996 David C. Mercker, West Tennessee Research and Education Center, University of Tennessee, 605 Airways Boulevard, Jackson, TN 38301 Abstract: Hardwood bottomland restoration is an expanding conservation practice in the southeastern United States. Understanding relative flood tolerance of bottomland seedlings is important to restoration success. Thus, we related height and diameter of Quercus phellos , Q . 20 nuttallii , and Q . lyrata to elevation gradient in a 6-ha west Tennessee bottomland. We planted 3,771 seedlings from January–March 2004 in a randomized design such that all species had spatial representation across elevation gradients. Seedling height and root-collar diameter were measured in October and November 2004, and related to bottomland elevation using linear regression. Heights of 21 22 23 24 Q . phellos and Q . nuttallii seedlings were positively related with elevation; no linear relationship was apparent for 25 Q . lyrata . Root-collar diameter also positively correlated with elevation for 26 Q . nuttallii . Our results suggest that Q . lyrata seedlings may be 27 1

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Page 1: Jonathan R. McCurry Department of Forestry, Wildlife and …fwf.ag.utk.edu/mgray/wfs560/JMcCurry_SEAFWA2005_Revision.pdf · Nursery, and maintained them at 4ºC in a walk-in cooler

Jonathan R. McCurry 1 2 3 4 5 6

Department of Forestry, Wildlife and Fisheries University of Tennessee Knoxville, TN 37996-4563 865-974-2635; E-mail [email protected] RH: Bottomland Elevation Influences • McCurry et al.7

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Relationship of Oak Seedling Height and Diameter with Bottomland Elevation

Jonathan R. McCurry, Department of Forestry, Wildlife and Fisheries, University of Tennessee

274 Ellington Plant Sciences Building, Knoxville, TN 37996

Matthew J. Gray, Department of Forestry, Wildlife and Fisheries, University of Tennessee

274 Ellington Plant Sciences Building, Knoxville, TN 37996

Jennifer A. Franklin, Department of Forestry, Wildlife and Fisheries, University of Tennessee

274 Ellington Plant Sciences Building, Knoxville, TN 37996

David C. Mercker, West Tennessee Research and Education Center, University of Tennessee,

605 Airways Boulevard, Jackson, TN 38301

Abstract: Hardwood bottomland restoration is an expanding conservation practice in the

southeastern United States. Understanding relative flood tolerance of bottomland seedlings is

important to restoration success. Thus, we related height and diameter of Quercus phellos, Q. 20

nuttallii, and Q. lyrata to elevation gradient in a 6-ha west Tennessee bottomland. We planted

3,771 seedlings from January–March 2004 in a randomized design such that all species had

spatial representation across elevation gradients. Seedling height and root-collar diameter were

measured in October and November 2004, and related to bottomland elevation using linear

regression. Heights of

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Q. phellos and Q. nuttallii seedlings were positively related with

elevation; no linear relationship was apparent for

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Q. lyrata. Root-collar diameter also positively

correlated with elevation for

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Q. nuttallii. Our results suggest that Q. lyrata seedlings may be 27

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most flood tolerant among these species. Managers may consider planting Q. lyrata in

bottomlands at lower elevations, and

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Q. nuttallii and Q. phellos at intermediate to higher

elevations.

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Key words: Q. lyrata, Q. nuttallii, Q. phellos, flood tolerance, hardwood bottomland, oak

seedlings, restoration, wetlands

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Proc. Annu. Conf. Southeast. Assoc. Fish and Wildl. Agencies 59: in press 33

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Hardwood bottomland ecosystems are forested wetlands adjacent to riverine systems

(Messina and Conner 1998), and are important for timber production and habitat for fish and

wildlife (e.g., Wharton et al. 1981, Kaminski et al. 1993, Young et al. 1995). They also are

critical areas for floodwater storage and nutrient cycling and improve water quality by naturally

filtering sediments and contaminants from runoff (Gosselink and Lee 1989). Trees in hardwood

bottomlands also help stabilize river and stream banks and reduce erosion (Welsch 1991).

Approximately 30% of the hardwood bottomlands in the contiguous United States have

been drained or deforested (Abernathy and Turner 1987, Tulloch 1994). Within the lower

Mississippi Alluvial Valley, only 25% of the original hardwood bottomland acreage remains.

Tennessee has lost almost 60% of its wetlands (Dahl 1990), most of which were hardwood

bottomlands. Drainage of forested and other wetlands was encouraged by various legislative acts

through the 1970s for agriculture and other human land-use developments (Mitsch and Gosselink

2000).

Protection of hardwood bottomlands and other wetlands was authorized by the Clean

Water Act of 1977 (Mitsch and Gosselink 2000). In addition, the Swampbuster Provision of the

Food Security Act of 1985 disqualified farmers from receiving federal subsidies if wetland areas

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were cultivated (Glaser 1986). This legislation, along with the creation of federal conservation

programs (e.g., conservation reserve program, CRP; wetland reserve program, WRP), has

decreased the rate of wetland loss and increased interest in hardwood bottomland restoration

(Stanturf et al. 2001, Haynes 2004). These programs pay landowners to restore erodible

agricultural lands and wetlands to native vegetation.

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In Tennessee, most wetland restoration efforts have focused on forested wetlands. For

example, 89.8% (3,605 ha) of wetlands restored by the Natural Resources Conservation Service

(NRCS) in Tennessee prior to 2005 were forested (M. Zeman, NRCS, pers. commun.). Similarly

as of 2004, Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency (TWRA) acquired almost 21,050 ha of

wetlands via the Tennessee Wetlands Acquisition Act, most of which were hardwood

bottomlands (J. Hopper, TWRA, unpubl. data). Often, these areas are replanted with oak

seedlings (e.g., ca. 70% of Tennessee NRCS easements) to restore native communities.

Interestingly though, very little information exists on suitable oak species to plant given

elevation contours in a candidate bottomland (Stanturf et al. 2004).

Therefore, our objective was to relate height and diameter of 3 oak seedling species

(willow oak, Quercus phellos; Nuttall oak, Q. nuttallii; overcup oak, Q. lyrata) to relative

elevation in a west Tennessee hardwood bottomland that was previously farmed then reforested

in 2004. Because elevation is related to flood depth and frequency in hardwood bottomlands

(Williams 1988, Rosgen 1994), relating seedling height and diameter with elevation provides

wildlife managers and foresters an indication of relative flood tolerance for these species.

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STUDY AREA

We conducted our study in a 6-ha bottomland at the University of Tennessee West

Tennessee Research and Education Center (WTREC) located in Jackson, Tennessee (35º 37′ 37″

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N, 88º 51′ 36″ W, 120 m mean elevation). This bottomland contained 6 1-ha impoundments

(numbered 2–7) with 1-m high levees, which contained drop-board water control structures at

their lower end that connected to a drainage channel (Figure 1). The impoundments differed

predictably in elevation, with the gradient sloping upward from 2 to 7 and northeast to

southwest. Existing surface and groundwater hydrology were a consequence of localized

rainfall, runoff, and water levels in the channelized South Fork of the Forked Deer River. When

water levels in the Forked Deer River exceeded 3.9 m (13 ft) at USGS gage #07027720, the river

backed into the bottomland via the drainage channel and subsequently through the water control

structures, flooding lower elevations in the impoundments. This occurred 13 times for a total

duration of 48 days from January to October 2004 (Figure 2). All elevations in impoundments

were flooded when water exceeded 4.9 m (16 ft) at the gage, which occurred 6 times for a total

duration of 23 days. Thus, the elevation gradient in our bottomland resulted in greater frequency

and duration of flooding in all impoundments near the channel, with probability of inundation

decreasing from impoundments 2–7 (Figure 1).

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METHODS

We planted seedlings in monospecific plots with 3 × 3 m spacing in 6 36 × 36 m

elevation blocks per impoundment (Figure 3). We measured relative elevation in blocks using a

Topcon® electronic total station (Topcon Corporation, Paramus, New Jersey), and ordinally

ranked elevations from 1−36. Block elevations followed the bottomland gradient (Figure 1),

with blocks 1 and 36 lowest and highest, respectively (Figure 3). Water depth in blocks when

the Forked Deer River gage exceeded 4.9 m (i.e., when all impoundments were flooded) was

strongly correlated with elevation, and ranged from 0.01 to 0.69 m from the highest to lowest

block (Figure 4).

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Impoundments were experimentally divided into low and high ends to randomly assign

species to elevation blocks (Figure 3). Within each impoundment and end, we randomly

assigned a seedling species without replacement to each elevation block. This ensured that a

species was not clustered at low or high elevations within impoundments. We planted

approximately 144 seedlings per elevation block, although portions of some blocks in

impoundments 5, 6 and 7 could not be planted because a gas line existed. Thus, there were less

than 144 seedlings per block in these impoundments. Also, we planted water oak (

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Q. nigra)

instead of overcup oak in impoundments 6 and 7; however, the former was not included in

analyses because of limited spatial distribution in the bottomland, and sample size was small (

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n =

4 elevation blocks). We included overcup oak in the analyses, because

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n = 8 elevation blocks

and it was spatially represented throughout the bottomland (Figure 3).

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We acquired all seedlings (1-0 stock) from the Tennessee Division of Forestry State

Nursery, and maintained them at 4ºC in a walk-in cooler at WTREC until planted. To

standardize planting conditions, we sub-soiled 1-m width rows at 36 cm depth along planting

locations. We planted seedlings during January–March 2004 using a Whitfield® Tree Planter

(R.A. Whitfield Manufacturing, Mableton, Georgia), which is specifically designed for

hardwood seedlings. At the time of planting, all seedlings within species appeared in similar

physical condition, and individuals for a species were planted randomly within elevation blocks.

Due to this designed randomization, we assumed that height and diameter of seedlings were not

correlated with elevation at planting. We applied Oust® XP (sulfometuron methyl, DuPont,

Wilmington, Delaware) prior to bud break and Roundup® (glyphosate, Monsanto, St. Louis,

Missouri) in June 2004 uniformly around all seedlings to limit potential herbaceous plant

competition and ensure uniformity in growth responses among impoundments and elevations.

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Other environmental factors that may influence seedling growth, such as soil type and ambient

conditions, likely were similar across the bottom due to its small size and relative flatness

(Brown et al. 1978).

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We measured height and root-collar diameter of all seedlings (n = 3,771) in October and

November 2004. Seedling height was measured to the nearest 0.5 cm from the ground to the

terminal bud using a meter stick. We measured root-collar diameter to the nearest 0.5 mm at

ground-level using calipers. Height and diameter were averaged per elevation block and

regressed linearly against relative ordinal ranking of elevation in the bottomland (Figure 3).

Because mean height and diameter were calculated from least 1,171 individuals, it was

reasonable to assume that mean responses approximately followed a normal distribution and

linear model assumptions were satisfied (Hogg and Craig 1995). We used the SAS® system to

test (α = 0.05) for statistical significance in all relationships (Littell et al. 1991).

RESULTS

Height was positively related to elevation for willow and Nuttall oak seedlings (P <

0.002); no relationship was detected for overcup oak (

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P = 0.27, Figure 5). Approximately 65%

and 70% of the variation in height was explained by elevation for Nuttall and willow oak

seedlings, respectively. Root-collar diameter also was positively related to elevation for Nuttall

oak seedlings (

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P = 0.02, Figure 5). Approximately 46% of the variation in diameter was

explained by elevation for Nuttall oak seedlings.

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DISCUSSION

Seedling height was positively related to elevation for willow and Nuttall oaks. Willow

oak seedling height had the strongest relationship with elevation, indicating its height changed

greatest across elevation gradients. Root-collar diameter also was positively correlated with

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elevation for Nuttall oak. A trend between seedling height and diameter and elevation was not

detected for overcup oak, suggesting that environmental factors associated with elevation may

not influence its growth as much as willow and Nuttall oak seedlings.

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Because elevation in the WTREC bottomland was directly related with flood frequency

and depth (Figures 2, 4), it is reasonable to assume that seedlings at lower elevations experienced

greater hydrologic stress than at higher elevations. Reduced growth is a common physiological

response to hydrologic stress for seedlings, because anaerobic conditions thwart energy storage

and metabolism (Kozlowski 1984, Kozlowski and Pallardy 1997). Species that experience

greater cessation of growth generally are considered less flood tolerant (Kozlowski 1984). The

strong correlations of seedling height with elevation for willow and Nuttall oaks, and root-collar

diameter for Nuttall oak seedlings, suggest these species grew least at lower elevations during

the first year. In contrast, overcup oak height and diameter did not appear to be influenced by

elevation. Thus, our results suggest that overcup oak may be most flood tolerant among these

species.

Previous research in greenhouses and Southeast bottomlands appear to support our

conclusions regarding flood tolerance. Gray and Kaminski (2005) found that overcup oak had

10% greater survival than willow oak seedlings in a Mississippi hardwood bottomland that was

continuously flooded during winter. Overcup oak seedlings also were 13% taller than willow

oak seedlings in this bottomland (M. Gray, unpubl. data). Soil saturation also can reduce growth

and increase secondary root mortality in willow oak seedlings (Hosner and Boyce 1962).

Physiology and growth of Nuttall oak seedlings also may be negatively influenced by flooding.

In controlled experiments, flooding reduced stomatal conductance, net photosynthetic rate and

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height growth of Nuttall oak seedlings (Anderson and Pezeshki 1999, Farmer and Pezeshki

2004).

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MANAGEMENT IMPLICATIONS

Our results suggest that wildlife managers and foresters should not replant hardwood

bottomlands in a random species arrangement. Seedlings of bottomland species differ in flood

tolerance, and flood frequency and depth are typically correlated with elevation. Overcup oak

seedlings appeared to be most flood tolerant among our species. Thus, managers should consider

planting overcup oak at low elevations and willow and Nuttall oak seedlings at intermediate to

high elevations. Alternatively, wildlife biologists may consider managing low elevations in

candidate bottomlands as moist-soil wetlands and only replanting intermediate to high elevations

with willow and Nuttall oak seedlings. Moist-soil wetlands are highly productive (Gray et al.

1999), and important natural habitats for various species including waterfowl and amphibians

(Baldassarre and Bolen 1994, Gray and Smith 2005). Also, overcup oak timber is less valuable

and their acorns are less preferred by some wildlife than red oaks (Young et al. 1995, Barras et

al. 1996), hence this species may not be ideal for bottomland restoration in the Southeast.

Our seedling results included first-year growth only. However, it is reasonable to assume

that first-year growth responses will be magnified in subsequent years as opportunities for

hydrologic stress accumulate and influence survival (King 1995, Gray and Kaminski 2005).

First-year survival rates of our seedlings was >95% and was not correlated with elevation (J.

McCurry, unpubl. data). Nonetheless, shorter seedlings have a greater chance of being

overtopped by floodwaters than taller seedlings, which can negatively influence growth and

survival (Briscoe 1957, Hosner 1960). Shorter seedlings also may not be able to compete for

light and other resources as well as taller seedlings of similar species (Kozlowski and Pallardy

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1997). Therefore, planting unsuitable species at lower elevations in a hardwood bottomland may

decrease success of a restoration project. In our bottomland, the median elevation was 0.75 m

(ca. 2.5 ft) above the permanent water source. Thus, managers may consider planting less flood-

tolerant oak seedlings above the 1-m contour to increase likelihood of restoration success.

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ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

This study was funded by the Department of Forestry, Wildlife and Fisheries and the

WTREC of the University of Tennessee. Funds for seedlings were provided by the Natural

Resources Conservation Service through a Conservation Reserve Program agreement with

WTREC under the Forested Riparian Buffer Practice. We especially thank Bob Hayes, Gordon

Percell, and Ronnie Staggs at WTREC for study assistance and guidance. We also thank B.

Hayes, B. Leopold, A. Pierce, R. Warren, and 1 anonymous referee for comments on our

manuscript.

LITERATURE CITED

Abernathy, Y. and R. E. Turner. 1987. U.S. forested wetlands: 1940–1980. BioScience

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Anderson, P. H. and S. R. Pezeshki. 1999. The effects of intermittent flooding on seedlings of

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ducks. Journal of Wildlife Management 60:592−602.

Briscoe, C. B. 1957. Diameter growth and effects of flooding on certain bottomland forest trees.

Doctoral dissertation. Duke University, Durham, North Carolina.

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survival of oak seedlings in Mississippi greentree reservoirs. Pages 487–493 in L. H.

Fredrickson, S. L. King, and R. M. Kaminski, editors. Ecology and management of

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lake amphibians. Journal of Wildlife Management 69:515−524.

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River Alluvial Valley. Ecological Restoration 22:170−182.

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FIGURE CAPTIONS 280

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Figure 1. Impoundments (2–7), elevation gradient and water flow from the South Fork of the

Forked Deer River in a west Tennessee bottomland, 2004.

Figure 2. U.S. Geological Survey gage (#07027720) levels for the South Fork of the Forked

Deer River, January−October 2005 (http://water.usgs.gov/). Lower and higher elevations in

study impoundments at the West Tennessee Research and Education Center were flooded when

water levels exceeded 3.9 and 4.9 m, bottom and top line, respectively.

Figure 3. Planting and elevation schematic of hardwood bottomland seedlings in 6

impoundments (IMP 2–7) in a west Tennessee bottomland, 2004. Species were randomly

assigned to numbered elevation blocks within impoundments and ends. Elevation increased with

ordinal ranking of blocks. Willow oak (Quercus phellos) were planted in blocks 2, 6, 8, 9, 12,

14, 17, 18, 23, 25, 34, and 36. Nuttall oak (

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Q. nuttallii) were planted in blocks 1, 3, 7, 15, 19, 20,

21, 22, 29, 31, 32, and 35. Overcup oak (

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Q. lyrata) were planted in blocks 4, 5, 10, 11, 13, 16,

28, and 30.

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Figure 4. Linear regression statistics and 95% confidence bands relating water depth and relative

elevation in a west Tennessee bottomland, 2004.

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FIGURE CAPTIONS (continued) 300

301

302

Figure 5. Linear regression statistics and 95% confidence bands relating seedling height (cm)

and diameter (mm) of willow oak (Quercus phellos), Nuttall oak (Q. nuttallii) and overcup oak

(

303

Q. lyrata) to relative elevation in a west Tennessee bottomland, 2004. 304

14

Page 15: Jonathan R. McCurry Department of Forestry, Wildlife and …fwf.ag.utk.edu/mgray/wfs560/JMcCurry_SEAFWA2005_Revision.pdf · Nursery, and maintained them at 4ºC in a walk-in cooler

Figure 1.

15

Page 16: Jonathan R. McCurry Department of Forestry, Wildlife and …fwf.ag.utk.edu/mgray/wfs560/JMcCurry_SEAFWA2005_Revision.pdf · Nursery, and maintained them at 4ºC in a walk-in cooler

Figure 2.

0

1

2

3

4

5

61/

1/20

04

2/1/

2004

3/1/

2004

4/1/

2004

5/1/

2004

6/1/

2004

7/1/

2004

8/1/

2004

9/1/

2004

10/1

/200

4

11/1

/200

4

Mea

n G

auge

Hei

ght (

m)

16

Page 17: Jonathan R. McCurry Department of Forestry, Wildlife and …fwf.ag.utk.edu/mgray/wfs560/JMcCurry_SEAFWA2005_Revision.pdf · Nursery, and maintained them at 4ºC in a walk-in cooler

Figure 3.

1 4 8

2 7 13

3 11 17

5 14 22

6 20 26

9 24 29

10 19 18

12 15 16

21 23 28

25 30 35

27 34 32

31 36 33

NHigh End Low End

IMP 2

IMP 3

IMP 4

IMP 5

IMP 6

IMP 7

Channel Water Control Structure

17

Page 18: Jonathan R. McCurry Department of Forestry, Wildlife and …fwf.ag.utk.edu/mgray/wfs560/JMcCurry_SEAFWA2005_Revision.pdf · Nursery, and maintained them at 4ºC in a walk-in cooler

Figure 4.

R2 = 0.94

F1,10 = 490.3, P < 0.001

R2 = 0.94

F1,10 = 490.3, P < 0.001

18

Page 19: Jonathan R. McCurry Department of Forestry, Wildlife and …fwf.ag.utk.edu/mgray/wfs560/JMcCurry_SEAFWA2005_Revision.pdf · Nursery, and maintained them at 4ºC in a walk-in cooler

Figure 5.

R2 = 0.65 R2 = 0.46

R2 = 0.26 R2 = 0.43

R2 = 0.70 R2 = 0.18

F1,10 = 19.26, P = 0.002 F1,10 = 8.58, P = 0.02

F1,6 = 2.17, P = 0.27F1,6 = 4.56, P = 0.08

F1,10 = 23.49, P < 0.001 F1,10 = 2.31, P = 0.16

R2 = 0.65 R2 = 0.46

R2 = 0.26 R2 = 0.43

R2 = 0.70 R2 = 0.18

F1,10 = 19.26, P = 0.002 F1,10 = 8.58, P = 0.02

F1,6 = 2.17, P = 0.27F1,6 = 4.56, P = 0.08

F1,10 = 23.49, P < 0.001 F1,10 = 2.31, P = 0.16

19