Abundance and Production of Berry-producing Plants on the MOFEP Study Sites: The Soft Mast Study Pre-harvest Conditions (1994-1995)

Abstract

We surveyed the permanent Missouri Ozark Forest Ecosystem Project (MOFEP) forest vegetation cluster plots in 1994 and 1995 to determine pre-treatment frequency of occurrence, amount of vegetative cover, and number of berries for plants that produce soft mast. Mean percentage occurrence of selected plants for each site ranged from 0.1 to 33.0 for Vaccinium sp., and from 0 to 8.6 for Rubus sp. Mean percentage vegetative cover (0-1 m) for each site ranged from <0.1 to 1.1 for Vaccinium sp., and from 0 to 0.3 for Rubus sp. Mean numbers of berries for each site ranged from 0 to 20.3 for Vaccinium sp., and from 0 to 1.2 for Rubus sp. Generally, few soft mast plants were found, they provided little vegetative cover, and they rarely produced fruit in the pre-treatment plots. Some significant differences were detected, mainly due to year and block effects.

Parent Publication

• Proceedings of the Missouri Ozark Forest Ecosystem Project Symposium: an experimental approach to landscape research

Citation

Fantz, Debby K.; Hamilton, David A. 1997. Abundance and Production of Berry-producing Plants on the MOFEP Study Sites: The Soft Mast Study Pre-harvest Conditions (1994-1995). In: Brookshire, Brian L. Shifley, Stephen R., eds. Proceedings of the Missouri Ozark Forest Ecosystem Project Symposium: an experimental approach to landscape research; 1997 June 3-5; St. Louis, MO. General Technical Report NC-193. St. Paul, MN: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, North Central Forest Experiment Station: 210-230.