Download (PDF 468 KB): https://research.fs.usda.gov/download/treesearch/19040.pdf
Abstract
The Missouri Ozark Forest Ecosystem Project (MOFEP) is a landscape-scale experiment to test for effects of the following three common forest management practices on upland forests: 1) even-aged management (EAM), 2) uneven-aged management (UAM), and 3) no-harvest management (NHM). The first round of harvesting treatments was applied on the nine MOFEP sites in 1996. One forest component evaluated on MOFEP is the ground layer vegetation. Pretreatment ground flora data were collected from permanent sample plots during the summers of 1994 and 1995; post-treatment data were gathered in 1999 and 2000. We evaluated differences between pre- and post-treatment values for ground flora parameters including species richness, percent ground cover, and relative abundances of several functional plant groups. Tests for treatment effects for each parameter were performed using analysis of variance on the difference between pre- and post-treatment means on each site. Significant treatment effects were observed for species richness, percent ground cover, and the relative abundance of annual/biennial species, woody vines, and legumes. Mean species richness per plot decreased significantly on all control (NHM) sites and increased slightly on both EAM and UAM sites. Total percent ground cover increased on all sites; harvested sites increased more than NHM sites. Annual/biennial species increased slightly on all sites, but most consistently on EAM sites. Woody vines increased on all sites, but most noticeably and consistently on EAM and UAM sites. The relative abundance of legumes decreased significantly on harvested sites and increased slightly on NHM sites.
Parent Publication
Citation
Grabner, Jennifer K.; Zenner, Eric K. 2002. Changes in ground layer vegetation following timber harvests on the Missouri Ozark Forest Ecosystem Project. In: Shifley, S. R.; Kabrick, J. M., eds. Proceedings of the Second Missouri Ozark Forest Ecosystem Project Symposium: Post-treatment Results of the Landscape Experiment. Gen. Tech. Rep. NC-227. St. Paul, MN: U.S. Dept. of Agriculture, Forest Service, North Central Forest Experiment Station. 66-83.
