Analysis of down wood volme and percent ground cover for the Missouri Ozark forest ecosystem project

Abstract

Volume and percent ground cover of down wood were estimated on the MOFEP sites from two separate sampling inventories, line transects and fixed-area plots. Line transects were used to sample down wood in the 1990-91 and 1994-95 inventories and fixed-area plots were used in an additional inventory in 1995. Line transect inventories estimated a range in ground cover from 1.2 to 2.9 percent in 1990-91 and from 1.0 to 2.2 percent in 1994-95. Fixed-area plots estimated a range in ground cover from 0.6 to 1.7 percent. Percent ground cover estimated by line transects was significantly higher than estimates based on fixed-area plots. Down wood volume estimates ranged from 190 to 423 ft³ ac^-1 for line transect inventories in 1994-95 and from 114 to 463 ft³ ac^-1 for fixed-area plots. No significant difference was found for down wood volume estimated by line transects and fixed-area plots.

Citation

Herbeck, Laura A. 2000. Analysis of down wood volme and percent ground cover for the Missouri Ozark forest ecosystem project. In; shifley, Stephen R,; Brookshire, Brian L., eds. Missouri Ozark Forest Ecosystem Project: site history, soils, landforms, woody and herbaceous vegetation, down wood, and inventory methods for the landscape experiment. General techincal Report NC-208. St. Paul, MN: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, North Central Research Station: 124-131