Understory Vegetative Diversity of Post-Thinned Pine Plantations Treated with Fertilizer, Fire and Herbicide in East Texas

This study assessed biodiversity in the understory of two pine plantations where different management tools (fertilizer, prescribed burning, and herbicide application) were utilized. During three growing seasons, species, percent cover, and number of individuals, and physical characteristics were re...

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Main Authors: Brian P. Oswald, Betsy Ott, Hans M. Williams, Kenneth W. Farrish, James E. Van Kley
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Wiley 2009-01-01
Series:International Journal of Forestry Research
Online Access:http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2009/572480
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author Brian P. Oswald
Betsy Ott
Hans M. Williams
Kenneth W. Farrish
James E. Van Kley
author_facet Brian P. Oswald
Betsy Ott
Hans M. Williams
Kenneth W. Farrish
James E. Van Kley
author_sort Brian P. Oswald
collection DOAJ
description This study assessed biodiversity in the understory of two pine plantations where different management tools (fertilizer, prescribed burning, and herbicide application) were utilized. During three growing seasons, species, percent cover, and number of individuals, and physical characteristics were recorded. Responses to treatment were examined based on comparison of species richness, evenness, diversity, and importance. Two years after treatment, fertilized plots showed a decline in species richness, evenness, and diversity. Prescribed burning and herbicide treatments increased species richness but decreased species evenness, resulting in no change in diversity index. Herbicide treatment reduced the importance of dominant shrubs and increased the importance of disturbance-adapted species.
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publishDate 2009-01-01
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series International Journal of Forestry Research
spelling doaj-art-8df76bab68f54e41af9242e6778e8bd02025-02-03T05:59:01ZengWileyInternational Journal of Forestry Research1687-93681687-93762009-01-01200910.1155/2009/572480572480Understory Vegetative Diversity of Post-Thinned Pine Plantations Treated with Fertilizer, Fire and Herbicide in East TexasBrian P. Oswald0Betsy Ott1Hans M. Williams2Kenneth W. Farrish3James E. Van Kley4Arthur Temple College of Forestry and Agriculture, Stephen F. Austin State University, Nacogdoches, TX 75962-6109, USALife Sciences Department, Tyler Junior College, TX 75707, USAArthur Temple College of Forestry and Agriculture, Stephen F. Austin State University, Nacogdoches, TX 75962-6109, USAArthur Temple College of Forestry and Agriculture, Stephen F. Austin State University, Nacogdoches, TX 75962-6109, USADepartment of Biology, Stephen F. Austin State University, Nacogdoches, TX 75962-6109, USAThis study assessed biodiversity in the understory of two pine plantations where different management tools (fertilizer, prescribed burning, and herbicide application) were utilized. During three growing seasons, species, percent cover, and number of individuals, and physical characteristics were recorded. Responses to treatment were examined based on comparison of species richness, evenness, diversity, and importance. Two years after treatment, fertilized plots showed a decline in species richness, evenness, and diversity. Prescribed burning and herbicide treatments increased species richness but decreased species evenness, resulting in no change in diversity index. Herbicide treatment reduced the importance of dominant shrubs and increased the importance of disturbance-adapted species.http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2009/572480
spellingShingle Brian P. Oswald
Betsy Ott
Hans M. Williams
Kenneth W. Farrish
James E. Van Kley
Understory Vegetative Diversity of Post-Thinned Pine Plantations Treated with Fertilizer, Fire and Herbicide in East Texas
International Journal of Forestry Research
title Understory Vegetative Diversity of Post-Thinned Pine Plantations Treated with Fertilizer, Fire and Herbicide in East Texas
title_full Understory Vegetative Diversity of Post-Thinned Pine Plantations Treated with Fertilizer, Fire and Herbicide in East Texas
title_fullStr Understory Vegetative Diversity of Post-Thinned Pine Plantations Treated with Fertilizer, Fire and Herbicide in East Texas
title_full_unstemmed Understory Vegetative Diversity of Post-Thinned Pine Plantations Treated with Fertilizer, Fire and Herbicide in East Texas
title_short Understory Vegetative Diversity of Post-Thinned Pine Plantations Treated with Fertilizer, Fire and Herbicide in East Texas
title_sort understory vegetative diversity of post thinned pine plantations treated with fertilizer fire and herbicide in east texas
url http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2009/572480
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