Phenology and recruitment of Ohio buckeye and sugar maple in Illinois forest stands

Abstract

Phenological patterns, light conditions, and photosynthetic activity of Ohio buckeye and sugar maple foliage on trees in the forest understory were monitored and compared over two growing seasons in two mesophytic upland woodlands in central Illinois. Ohio buckeye began leaf expansion three to four weeks earlier than sugar maple, started leaf senescence and shedding in July, and had lost all leaves by September 1. Sugar maple began senescence in September and lost its leaves by the end of October. Thirty percent area inventories of both Ohio buckeye and sugar maple vegetation on both 24-hectare forests were performed to determine recruitment from small size classes to larger size classes. Ohio buckeye had large numbers of seedlings in the 0-2 cm stem diameter class (990 and 1,032 stems/ha), but far fewer saplings and trees. Buckeye distribution was patchy and concentrated in gaps and along the edges of the forest. Sugar maple had more small seedlings than Ohio buckeye (2,767 and 1,311 stems per ha

Citation

Henderson, Michelle; Dawson, Jeffery O.; DeLucia, Evan H. 1993. Phenology and recruitment of Ohio buckeye and sugar maple in Illinois forest stands. In: Gillespie, Andrew R.; Parker, George R.; Pope, Phillip E.; Rink, George: eds. Proceedings of the 9th Central Hardwood Forest Conference; Gen. Tech. Rep. NC-161. St. Paul, MN: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, North Central Forest Experiment Station: 107-118