mofep ground flora study: effects of forest management practices on woodland plant communities susan...

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MOFEP Ground Flora Study: Effects of Forest Management Practices on Woodland Plant Communities Susan Farrington Plant Community Ecologist Missouri Department of Conservation Forest Systems Field Station West Plains, MO

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Page 1: MOFEP Ground Flora Study: Effects of Forest Management Practices on Woodland Plant Communities Susan Farrington Plant Community Ecologist Missouri Department

MOFEP Ground Flora Study:

Effects of Forest Management Practices on Woodland Plant Communities

Susan FarringtonPlant Community EcologistMissouri Department of ConservationForest Systems Field StationWest Plains, MO

Page 2: MOFEP Ground Flora Study: Effects of Forest Management Practices on Woodland Plant Communities Susan Farrington Plant Community Ecologist Missouri Department

Between 70 and 76 vegetation plots are located on each site (compartment) Total: 648 plots

SAMPLING DESIGN AND PROTOCOL:

Page 3: MOFEP Ground Flora Study: Effects of Forest Management Practices on Woodland Plant Communities Susan Farrington Plant Community Ecologist Missouri Department

Each stand contains at least one vegetation plot

Page 4: MOFEP Ground Flora Study: Effects of Forest Management Practices on Woodland Plant Communities Susan Farrington Plant Community Ecologist Missouri Department

Plots are distributed proportionately across Ecological Landtypes

Page 5: MOFEP Ground Flora Study: Effects of Forest Management Practices on Woodland Plant Communities Susan Farrington Plant Community Ecologist Missouri Department

Dry chert woodland

Dry-mesic chert woodland

Dry-mesic dolomite forest

Dolomite glade

7.3

Dry- mesic bottomland forest

25

Dry igneous woodland

Ecological landtypes and natural communities on MOFEP

Dry-mesic chert forest

Site 1 No harvest

Site 2 Uneven-aged Site 3

Even-aged

Site 4 Uneven-aged

Site5 Even-aged

Site 9 Even-aged

Site 6 No harvest

Site 8 No harvest

Site 7 Uneven-aged

1.1

1.2

1.3

2.1

3.1

2.2

2.3

3.2

4.1

5.2

4.2

9.2

11

6.2

10.1 12

13

7.1

Dry dolomite woodland

8.1

Page 6: MOFEP Ground Flora Study: Effects of Forest Management Practices on Woodland Plant Communities Susan Farrington Plant Community Ecologist Missouri Department

½ acre circular plots

4 subplots 1/20 acre

4 1m2 quadrats per subplot

Total of 16 1m2 quadrats per plot

MOFEP Vegetation Plots

Page 7: MOFEP Ground Flora Study: Effects of Forest Management Practices on Woodland Plant Communities Susan Farrington Plant Community Ecologist Missouri Department

At each quadrat:

All herbaceous plants and woody seedlings with foliage less than 1 m are identified and percent cover below 1 m is estimated to nearest 1%.

% cover for each category of ground cover (litter, down dead wood, bare, etc) is estimated.

Canopy closure is estimated at the bottom left corner of each quadrat.

Page 8: MOFEP Ground Flora Study: Effects of Forest Management Practices on Woodland Plant Communities Susan Farrington Plant Community Ecologist Missouri Department

Year Ground flora data collected

1993 Full sample1994 Full sample1995 Full sample1996 HARVEST 1997 Incomplete sample – different protocol19981999 Full sample (original protocol)2000 Full sample2001 Full sample2002 Subsample20032004200520062007 Subsample (same plots as 2002)

Plans for next harvest cycle: Full sample 2009 and 2010Harvest 2011Full sample 2012 and 2013Full sample 2016 and 2017

Page 9: MOFEP Ground Flora Study: Effects of Forest Management Practices on Woodland Plant Communities Susan Farrington Plant Community Ecologist Missouri Department

25

30

35

40

45

50

55

60

Mean species richness per plot before first harvest (1993-95)

No harvest sites

Uneven-agedsites

Even-aged sites

Site 1 Site 6 Site 8 Site 2 Site 4 Site 7 Site 3 Site 5 Site 9

Page 10: MOFEP Ground Flora Study: Effects of Forest Management Practices on Woodland Plant Communities Susan Farrington Plant Community Ecologist Missouri Department

No harvest managementUneven-aged management Even-aged management

MOFEP Site Locations and Treatments

61

2 5

3

78

9

4

Page 11: MOFEP Ground Flora Study: Effects of Forest Management Practices on Woodland Plant Communities Susan Farrington Plant Community Ecologist Missouri Department

1620-1700Depopulated era

1781-1820Cherokee, Delaware,

Shawnee

1701-1780Quapaw and Osage

87

9

1

23

45

6

87

9

1

23

4 5

6

87

9

1

23

4 56

Guyette et al. 2003

Page 12: MOFEP Ground Flora Study: Effects of Forest Management Practices on Woodland Plant Communities Susan Farrington Plant Community Ecologist Missouri Department

Data from 1993-2007:482,755 records!

Page 13: MOFEP Ground Flora Study: Effects of Forest Management Practices on Woodland Plant Communities Susan Farrington Plant Community Ecologist Missouri Department

Woodland

Glade

Forest

Exotic

Generalist

Woody

RuderalNative disturbance species

Common plants found in multiple communities

Woody vines

Page 14: MOFEP Ground Flora Study: Effects of Forest Management Practices on Woodland Plant Communities Susan Farrington Plant Community Ecologist Missouri Department

Ground Flora Study Questions:

1. How is the composition of natural communities affected by management practices?

2. How are species richness, diversity and dominance affected by management practices?

3. What management practices benefit the maximum number of conservative species in each natural community type?

4. How much of a canopy opening do fire-dependent woodland species require to flower and reproduce? How long can such species persist vegetatively after canopy closure?

5. What happens over time? Does a treated plot resemble an untreated plot after a certain period of time? Are treatment effects short-lived or long lasting?

Page 15: MOFEP Ground Flora Study: Effects of Forest Management Practices on Woodland Plant Communities Susan Farrington Plant Community Ecologist Missouri Department

Clearcut Woodland Site 3 Plot 70 October 2008

Page 16: MOFEP Ground Flora Study: Effects of Forest Management Practices on Woodland Plant Communities Susan Farrington Plant Community Ecologist Missouri Department

Site 1 - No Harvest Management

1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002

# o

f sp

eci

es

25

30

35

40

45

50

55

60

65

70

Site 3 - Even Aged Management

1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002

# o

f sp

eci

es

30

35

40

45

50

55

60

65

70

Block 1Mean Species Richness per plot

Site 2 - Uneven Aged Management

1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002

# o

f sp

eci

es

30

35

40

45

50

55

60

65

70

Harvest Harvest

Page 17: MOFEP Ground Flora Study: Effects of Forest Management Practices on Woodland Plant Communities Susan Farrington Plant Community Ecologist Missouri Department

Site 6 - No harvest management

1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002

# o

f sp

eci

es

25

30

35

40

45

50

55

60

65

70

Site 4 - Uneven aged management

1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002

# o

f sp

eci

es

35

40

45

50

55

60

65

70Site 5 - Even aged management

1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002

# o

f sp

eci

es

45

50

55

60

65

70

Block 2 Mean Species Richness per plot

HarvestHarvest

Page 18: MOFEP Ground Flora Study: Effects of Forest Management Practices on Woodland Plant Communities Susan Farrington Plant Community Ecologist Missouri Department

Site 7 - Uneven aged management

1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002

# o

f sp

eci

es

25

30

35

40

45

50

55

60

65

70

Site 8 - No harvest management

1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002

# o

f sp

eci

es

25

30

35

40

45

50

55

60

65

70

Site 9 - Even aged management

1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002

# o

f sp

eci

es

35

40

45

50

55

60

65

70

Block 3 Mean Species Richness per plot

HarvestHarvest

Page 19: MOFEP Ground Flora Study: Effects of Forest Management Practices on Woodland Plant Communities Susan Farrington Plant Community Ecologist Missouri Department

Leave (n = 374 plots)

1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002

# sp

ecie

s

25

30

35

40

45

50

55

60

65

70

Single tree selection (n = 70 plots)

1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002

# sp

ecie

s

25

30

35

40

45

50

55

60

65

70

Group openings (n = 43 plots)

1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002

# sp

ecie

s

25

30

35

40

45

50

55

60

65

70

Mean Species Richness of

woodland plots by prescription

Clearcuts (n = 25 plots)

1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002

# sp

ecie

s

25

30

35

40

45

50

55

60

65

70

Intermediate thin (n = 26 plots)

1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002

# sp

ecie

s

25

30

35

40

45

50

55

60

65

70

Pre-trmtPre-trmt Post-trmt

Post-trmt

Post-trmt

Post-trmt

Post-trmt

Pre-trmt

Pre-trmt

Pre-trmt

Page 20: MOFEP Ground Flora Study: Effects of Forest Management Practices on Woodland Plant Communities Susan Farrington Plant Community Ecologist Missouri Department

Rattlesnake master8

Glade coneflower 7

Poison ivy2

Daisy fleabane1

Poison ivy2

Coefficients of Conservatism

(Ladd 1991)

Page 21: MOFEP Ground Flora Study: Effects of Forest Management Practices on Woodland Plant Communities Susan Farrington Plant Community Ecologist Missouri Department

Single tree selection (n = 70 plots)

1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002

Coe

ffici

ent o

f Co

nse

rva

tism

4.3

4.4

4.5

4.6

4.7

4.8

Leave (n = 374 plots)

1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002

Coe

ffici

ent o

f Co

nse

rva

tism

4.3

4.4

4.5

4.6

4.7

4.8

Group openings (n = 44 plots)

Year

1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002

Coe

ffici

ent o

f Co

nse

rva

tism

4.3

4.4

4.5

4.6

4.7

4.8Clearcuts (n = 25 plots)

Year

1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002

Coe

ffici

ent o

f Co

nse

rva

tism

4.1

4.2

4.3

4.4

4.5

4.6

4.7

4.8

Mean Conservatism of woodland plots by

prescription

Intermediate thin (n = 26 plots)

Year

1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002

Coe

ffici

ent o

f Co

nse

rva

tism

4.3

4.4

4.5

4.6

4.7

4.8

Pre-trmt

Post-trmt

Post-trmt

Post-trmt

Post-trmt Post-trmt

Pre-trmt

Pre-trmt

Pre-trmt

Pre-trmt

Page 22: MOFEP Ground Flora Study: Effects of Forest Management Practices on Woodland Plant Communities Susan Farrington Plant Community Ecologist Missouri Department

Mean Species Richness

1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002

# sp

ecie

s

25

30

35

40

45

50

55

60

65

70

Mean Coefficient of Conservatism

1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002

Coe

ffici

ent o

f Con

serv

atis

m

4.1

4.2

4.3

4.4

4.5

4.6

4.7

4.8

Woodland Clearcut plots (n=25 plots)

Pre-trmt

Post-trmt

Post-trmt

Pre-trmt

Page 23: MOFEP Ground Flora Study: Effects of Forest Management Practices on Woodland Plant Communities Susan Farrington Plant Community Ecologist Missouri Department

Mean Coefficient of Conservatism

1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002

Coe

ffici

ent o

f Con

serv

atis

m

4.3

4.4

4.5

4.6

4.7

4.8

Mean Species Richness

1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002

# sp

ecie

s

25

30

35

40

45

50

55

60

65

70 Intermediate thin plots (n=25 plots)

Pre-trmt

Pre-trmt

Post-trmt

Post-trmt

Page 24: MOFEP Ground Flora Study: Effects of Forest Management Practices on Woodland Plant Communities Susan Farrington Plant Community Ecologist Missouri Department

Clearcuts (n=13 plots)

1992 1994 1996 1998 2000 2002 2004 2006 2008

# o

f spe

cie

s p

er p

lot

30

40

50

60

70Group openings (n=24 plots)

1992 1994 1996 1998 2000 2002 2004 2006 2008

# o

f spe

cie

s p

er p

lot

30

40

50

60

70

Intermediate thin (n=18 plots)

1992 1994 1996 1998 2000 2002 2004 2006 2008

# o

f spe

cie

s p

er p

lot

30

40

50

60

70

Leave (n=34 plots)

1992 1994 1996 1998 2000 2002 2004 2006 2008

# o

f spe

cie

s p

er

plo

t

30

40

50

60

70Single tree selection (n=30 plots)

1992 1994 1996 1998 2000 2002 2004 2006 2008

# o

f sp

eci

es

pe

r pl

ot

30

40

50

60

70Mean Species Richness of

woodland plots by prescription –

subsamplePost-trmt

Post-trmt

Post-trmt

Post-trmt

Post-trmt

Pre-trmt

Pre-trmt

Pre-trmt

Pre-trmtPre-trmt

Page 25: MOFEP Ground Flora Study: Effects of Forest Management Practices on Woodland Plant Communities Susan Farrington Plant Community Ecologist Missouri Department

Clearcuts (n=13 plots)

1992 1994 1996 1998 2000 2002 2004 2006 2008

Co

effi

cie

nt o

f Co

nse

rva

tism

4.1

4.2

4.3

4.4

4.5

4.6

4.7

4.8

4.9

5.0

Leave plots (n=34 plots)

1992 1994 1996 1998 2000 2002 2004 2006 2008

Co

effi

cie

nt o

f Co

nse

rva

tism

4.1

4.2

4.3

4.4

4.5

4.6

4.7

4.8

4.9

5.0

Intermediate thin (n=18 plots)

1992 1994 1996 1998 2000 2002 2004 2006 2008

Co

effi

cie

nt o

f Co

nse

rva

tism

4.1

4.2

4.3

4.4

4.5

4.6

4.7

4.8

4.9

5.0

Single tree selection (n=30 plots)

1992 1994 1996 1998 2000 2002 2004 2006 2008

Co

effi

cie

nt o

f Co

nse

rva

tism

4.1

4.2

4.3

4.4

4.5

4.6

4.7

4.8

4.9

5.0

Group openings (n=23 plots)

1992 1994 1996 1998 2000 2002 2004 2006 2008

Co

effi

cie

nt o

f Co

nse

rva

tism

4.1

4.2

4.3

4.4

4.5

4.6

4.7

4.8

4.9

5.0

Mean Conservatism of woodland plots

by prescription – subsample

Pre-trmt

Pre-trmt

Pre-trmt

Pre-trmt

Pre-trmt

Post-trmt

Post-trmt

Post-trmt

Post-trmt

Post-trmt

Page 26: MOFEP Ground Flora Study: Effects of Forest Management Practices on Woodland Plant Communities Susan Farrington Plant Community Ecologist Missouri Department

Mean percent cover per plot by species type Leave woodlands (n=34 plots)

1992 1994 1996 1998 2000 2002 2004 2006 2008

Per

cent

cov

er

0

10

20

30

40

50

60 WoodlandForestWoodyWoody vineGeneralistRuderalUnknown

Page 27: MOFEP Ground Flora Study: Effects of Forest Management Practices on Woodland Plant Communities Susan Farrington Plant Community Ecologist Missouri Department

Percent Cover - Fourche Creek Control Site (Data from Effects of Prescribed Burn study)

2004 2005 2006 2007 2008

Per

cent

cov

er

0

10

20

30

40

WoodyHerbaceous

Page 28: MOFEP Ground Flora Study: Effects of Forest Management Practices on Woodland Plant Communities Susan Farrington Plant Community Ecologist Missouri Department

Mean percent cover per plot by species typeSingle tree selection woodlands (n=30 plots)

1992 1994 1996 1998 2000 2002 2004 2006 2008

Per

cent

cov

er

0

10

20

30

40

50

60 WoodlandForestWoodyWoody vineGeneralistRuderalUnknown

Page 29: MOFEP Ground Flora Study: Effects of Forest Management Practices on Woodland Plant Communities Susan Farrington Plant Community Ecologist Missouri Department

Mean species richness per plot by species typeIntermediate thinned woodlands (n=18 plots)

1992 1994 1996 1998 2000 2002 2004 2006 2008

Per

cent

cov

er

0

10

20

30

40

50

60 WoodlandForestWoodyWoody vineGeneralistRuderalUnknown

Page 30: MOFEP Ground Flora Study: Effects of Forest Management Practices on Woodland Plant Communities Susan Farrington Plant Community Ecologist Missouri Department

Mean percent cover per plot by species typeGroup opening woodlands (n=23 plots)

1992 1994 1996 1998 2000 2002 2004 2006 2008

Per

cent

cov

er

0

10

20

30

40

50

60 WoodlandForestWoodyWoody vineGeneralistRuderalUnknown

Page 31: MOFEP Ground Flora Study: Effects of Forest Management Practices on Woodland Plant Communities Susan Farrington Plant Community Ecologist Missouri Department

Mean percent cover per plot by species type Clearcut woodlands (n=13 plots)

1992 1994 1996 1998 2000 2002 2004 2006 2008

Per

cent

cov

er

0

10

20

30

40

50

60 WoodlandForestWoodyWoody vineGeneralistRuderalUnknown

Page 32: MOFEP Ground Flora Study: Effects of Forest Management Practices on Woodland Plant Communities Susan Farrington Plant Community Ecologist Missouri Department

Species richness by community typesWoodland clearcuts (n=13 plots)

1992 1994 1996 1998 2000 2002 2004 2006 2008

Me

an n

umb

er o

f sp

ecie

s p

er p

lot

0

10

20

30

40

50

60

70

WoodlandForestWoody vinesGeneralistRuderalGladeFenUnknownExoticWoody

Page 33: MOFEP Ground Flora Study: Effects of Forest Management Practices on Woodland Plant Communities Susan Farrington Plant Community Ecologist Missouri Department

Mean Species Richness of Woodland species by CCClearcut Woodland plots (n=13 plots)

1992 1994 1996 1998 2000 2002 2004 2006 2008

Nu

mb

er o

f sp

ecie

s p

er p

lot

0

5

10

15

20

25

30UnknownCC = 0CC = 1CC = 2CC = 3CC = 4CC = 5CC = 6CC = 7CC = 8

Page 34: MOFEP Ground Flora Study: Effects of Forest Management Practices on Woodland Plant Communities Susan Farrington Plant Community Ecologist Missouri Department

Mean percent cover of Woodland Species by CC Clearcut woodlands (n=13 plots)

1992 1994 1996 1998 2000 2002 2004 2006 2008

Per

cen

t co

ver

per

plo

t

0

2

4

6

8

10

12

14

16

Unknown CCCC = 0CC = 1CC = 2CC = 3CC = 4CC = 5CC = 6CC = 7CC = 8

Page 35: MOFEP Ground Flora Study: Effects of Forest Management Practices on Woodland Plant Communities Susan Farrington Plant Community Ecologist Missouri Department

Clearcut Woodland Site 3 Plot 70 October 2008

Page 36: MOFEP Ground Flora Study: Effects of Forest Management Practices on Woodland Plant Communities Susan Farrington Plant Community Ecologist Missouri Department
Page 37: MOFEP Ground Flora Study: Effects of Forest Management Practices on Woodland Plant Communities Susan Farrington Plant Community Ecologist Missouri Department

Thanks to many people:

Jenny Grabner for overseeing the collection of most of these data, and for sharing her insightsMike Wallendorf and Steve Sheriff for statistical expertiseRandy Jensen for all his MOFEP experience and knowledge Julie Fleming and Carrie Steen for helping me deal with a monstrous databaseAaron Stevenson for serving as a good sounding boardTim Smith, George Yatskievych and Paul McKenzie for botanical expertiseSlews of suffering summer botanists!And especially Dan Drees for sharing his insights and putting up with the long hours I’ve spent on this project