Abstract Detail

Ecology

Gilland, Keith E. [1], Chapman, Julia I. [2], Dickey, Mallory [3].

Understory plant community response to edge type and Lonicera Mackii removal in an isolated urban woodlot.

Small mature woodlots are common in landscapes dominated by anthropogenic disturbances and may hold great biodiversity conservation potential. However, these areas are highly vulnerable to threats from exotic plant invasion and disturbance from recreational activity. Here, we sought to answer two questions related to the interaction of site characteristics and invasive species presence/removal on the herbaceous diversity of an isolated woodlot in Southwest Ohio. Specifically, we asked: 1) Does herbaceous plant diversity recover following bush honeysuckle removal in these types of forests?, and 2) Does edge type and distance from edge affect patterns of forest herb diversity? A systematic sampling protocol was implemented via a series of 1m² permanent plots at the Armbruster Nature Preserve in Middletown, OH and sampled monthly throughout spring 2015 and 2016 following bush honeysuckle removal efforts in 2014 and 2015. Species richness (S), evenness (J), and Shannon diversity (H) was calculated for each plot at each sampling date, and correlation analysis was used to determine if relationships exist between honeysuckle abundance and plant community diversity. Weak negative correlations existed between honeysuckle abundance, Shannon diversity (r=-.17) and species richness (r=-.34) largely driven by the almost total removal of honeysuckle in many plots. Edge effects were no n-significant (P = 0.46). It appears that even isolated but mature second-growth forests may provide storehouses of biodiversity in the region and that simple invasive species removal may be sufficient to restore spring ephemeral diversity in these forest patches. However, important questions remain to be answered regarding possible legacy effects of longer-established honeysuckle populations on forest herb diversity in these isolated habitats.

1 - Miami University, Statistics, 4200 N. University Blvd., Middletown, OH, 45042, USA
2 - University of dayton, Biology, 300 College Park, Dayton, OH, 45469, USA
3 - Miami University, Biology, 4200 N. University Blvd., Middletown, OH, 45042, USA

Keywords:
restoration
diversity
invasive species.

Presentation Type: Oral Paper
Session: 15, Ecology Section: Forest Ecology
Location: 104/Savannah International Trade and Convention Center
Date: Tuesday, August 2nd, 2016
Time: 8:15 AM
Number: 15002
Abstract ID:667
Candidate for Awards:None