Vegetative characteristics of oak savannas in the southwestern United States: a comparative analysis with oak woodlands in the region

Abstract

Much has been learned about the oak woodlands of the Southwestern United States in recent years. However, comparable characterizations of the companion oak savannas are needed to help in enhancing the knowledge of all oak ecosystems in the Madrean Archipelago region. Oak savannas differ from oak woodlands in that they are more open in their structure with fewer trees and, as a consequence, a higher level of herbaceous production might be expected. Species compositions and densities of tree overstories and production of herbaceous understories in representative oak savannas are presented in this paper with comparisons of these characterizations to the more densely stocked oak woodlands. Differences observed in the two oak ecosystems suggest that they should not necessarily be considered homogeneous “management units” in terms of their tree overstory characteristics or other natural resources values linked to the characteristics of tree overstories.

Parent Publication

• Connecting mountain islands and desert seas: Biodiversity and management of the Madrean Archipelago II

Citation

Ffolliott, Peter F.; Gottfried, Gerald J. 2005. Vegetative characteristics of oak savannas in the southwestern United States: a comparative analysis with oak woodlands in the region. In: Gottfried, Gerald J.; Gebow, Brooke S.; Eskew, Lane G.; Edminster, Carleton B., comps. Connecting mountain islands and desert seas: biodiversity and management of the Madrean Archipelago II. Proc. RMRS-P-36. Fort Collins, CO: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Rocky Mountain Research Station: 399-402