Seed Bank Variation under Contrasting Site Quality Conditions in Mixed Oak Forests of Southeastern Ohio, USA
Seed bank composition was sampled in 192–2.5 m2 quadrats, established in six regenerating clearcut (∼7 years) and six second-growth (∼125 years) mixed-oak forest stands in southeastern Ohio. Seed bank and aboveground composition diverged markedly (Sørensen's coefficient <10%), emphasizing th...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Wiley
2010-01-01
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| Series: | International Journal of Forestry Research |
| Online Access: | http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2010/419482 |
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| author | Christine J. Small Brian C. McCarthy |
| author_facet | Christine J. Small Brian C. McCarthy |
| author_sort | Christine J. Small |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Seed bank composition was sampled in 192–2.5 m2 quadrats, established in six regenerating clearcut (∼7 years) and six second-growth (∼125 years) mixed-oak forest stands in southeastern Ohio. Seed bank and aboveground composition diverged markedly (Sørensen's coefficient <10%), emphasizing the importance of fast-growing, early-successional germinants to early ecosystem recovery. Seed richness was significantly (P<.01) higher in clearcut stands, suggesting declining richness with stand age. Richness estimations 28%–60% higher than observed values demonstrated high seed bank heterogeneity, emphasizing the need for intensive sampling to assess temperate forest seed bank variation. Site quality (topographic aspect) strongly influenced seed bank composition, with greater importance of early-successional trees, thicket-forming shrubs, and nonnative species on mesic sites. Thus, forest seed banks are likely to play an important, site-dependent role in shaping competitive environments for commercially important timber species after harvesting and soil disturbance and have the potential for marked influence on postharvest forest development. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-19122930ad3b4cf7b30ca3906fe8df0e |
| institution | OA Journals |
| issn | 1687-9368 1687-9376 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2010-01-01 |
| publisher | Wiley |
| record_format | Article |
| series | International Journal of Forestry Research |
| spelling | doaj-art-19122930ad3b4cf7b30ca3906fe8df0e2025-08-20T02:02:09ZengWileyInternational Journal of Forestry Research1687-93681687-93762010-01-01201010.1155/2010/419482419482Seed Bank Variation under Contrasting Site Quality Conditions in Mixed Oak Forests of Southeastern Ohio, USAChristine J. Small0Brian C. McCarthy1Department of Biology, Radford University, Radford, P.O. Box 6931, VA 24142, USADepartment of Environmental and Plant Biology, Ohio University, Athens, OH 45701, USASeed bank composition was sampled in 192–2.5 m2 quadrats, established in six regenerating clearcut (∼7 years) and six second-growth (∼125 years) mixed-oak forest stands in southeastern Ohio. Seed bank and aboveground composition diverged markedly (Sørensen's coefficient <10%), emphasizing the importance of fast-growing, early-successional germinants to early ecosystem recovery. Seed richness was significantly (P<.01) higher in clearcut stands, suggesting declining richness with stand age. Richness estimations 28%–60% higher than observed values demonstrated high seed bank heterogeneity, emphasizing the need for intensive sampling to assess temperate forest seed bank variation. Site quality (topographic aspect) strongly influenced seed bank composition, with greater importance of early-successional trees, thicket-forming shrubs, and nonnative species on mesic sites. Thus, forest seed banks are likely to play an important, site-dependent role in shaping competitive environments for commercially important timber species after harvesting and soil disturbance and have the potential for marked influence on postharvest forest development.http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2010/419482 |
| spellingShingle | Christine J. Small Brian C. McCarthy Seed Bank Variation under Contrasting Site Quality Conditions in Mixed Oak Forests of Southeastern Ohio, USA International Journal of Forestry Research |
| title | Seed Bank Variation under Contrasting Site Quality Conditions in Mixed Oak Forests of Southeastern Ohio, USA |
| title_full | Seed Bank Variation under Contrasting Site Quality Conditions in Mixed Oak Forests of Southeastern Ohio, USA |
| title_fullStr | Seed Bank Variation under Contrasting Site Quality Conditions in Mixed Oak Forests of Southeastern Ohio, USA |
| title_full_unstemmed | Seed Bank Variation under Contrasting Site Quality Conditions in Mixed Oak Forests of Southeastern Ohio, USA |
| title_short | Seed Bank Variation under Contrasting Site Quality Conditions in Mixed Oak Forests of Southeastern Ohio, USA |
| title_sort | seed bank variation under contrasting site quality conditions in mixed oak forests of southeastern ohio usa |
| url | http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2010/419482 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT christinejsmall seedbankvariationundercontrastingsitequalityconditionsinmixedoakforestsofsoutheasternohiousa AT briancmccarthy seedbankvariationundercontrastingsitequalityconditionsinmixedoakforestsofsoutheasternohiousa |