Bottomland Forests in the Lower Mississippi Alluvial Valley associated with the endangered Lindera melissifolia
| Authors: | Tracy S. Hawkins, Daniel A. Skojac, Brian R. Lockhart, Ted Leininger, Margaret Devall, Nathan Schiff |
| Year: | 2009 |
| Type: | Scientific Journal |
| Station: | Southern Research Station |
| Source: | Castanea 74(2): 105-113 |
Abstract
Forest canopy and subcanopy data were collected from and compared amongfive disjunct bottomland hardwood forests in the Lower Mississippi Alluvial Valley, each withknown occurrence of a population of the federally endangered shrub Lindera melissifolia. Allstudy sites are cut-over forests, underlain by hydric soils, and have a seasonal high water table.Canopy and subcanopy species are similar among sites, but species differ in relativeimportance, and flood tolerant tree species exceed that of flood intolerant species. Distributionof L. melissifolia colonies within each study site was not associated with mean tree density ord.b.h. Forest composition and structure at each study site reflect hydrologic regime,topography, historical disturbance, and an absence of recent disturbance. Results of this studyprovide a quantitative description of bottomland forests that currently sustain L. melissifoliapopulations. This information may be utilized for development of forest management plansaimed at ensuring continued sustainability of existing L. melissifolia populations and assessingother bottomland hardwood forests for potential reintroduction of this endangered species.