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Abstract
Investigations of the Red Gum Research Natural Area, Overcup Oak Research Natural Area, and Green Ash Research Natural Area since the initial acquisition study in 1935 suggest that the three RNAs are undergoing a change in community structure. Estimates of trees per ha has increased since 1935 in the Red Gum and Overcup Oak RNAs as has estimates of total basal area per ha in all three RNAs. Conversely, the proportion of basal area in the species for which each site is named has apparently declined over the past 50 years. Presently it is not clear whether these changes are real or are artifacts of the different sampling methods employed in these studies. The intent of the present study is to provide a comprehensive analysis of the existing community structure in each of these research natural areas and to identify potential changes in community structure by examining the population structure of key species in the communities.
Keywords
Research natural area,
red gum,
overcup oak,
green ash,
RNA,
Delta National Forest,
Red Gum Research Natural Area,
Overcup Oak Research Natural Area,
Green Ash Research Natural Area,
Liquidambar styraciflua,
Quercus lyrata,
Fraxinus pennsylvanica,
sweetgum,
Alligator soils,
Dowling soils,
importance value,
relative coverage,
relative density,
relative frequency,
Shannon diversity index,
proportion similarity index,
Morisita's index
Citation
Ramp, Paul F. 1990. Ecological assessment of the Red Gum, Overcup Oak and Green Ash Research Natural Areas in the Delta National Forest, Mississippi. Unpublished preliminary report (May 1, 1990), 17 p.
