Forest Sciences Commons^™

Evaluating Current And Future Potential Distribution Of Epiphytic Orchids In The Congo Basin With Ecological Niche Models, Michael L. Ngoh

Masters Theses

The Congo Basin Forest harbors a rich diversity of epiphytic communities, with the Orchidaceae alone making up more than 50% of all epiphytes in the region. Despite the huge diversity of epiphytes, many species, including epiphytic orchids, are at risk to a diverse array of threats. Climate change for instance poses severe threats to epiphytic orchids due to elevated temperatures, prolonged periods of droughts, as well as reduced rainfall across the Congo Basin Forest. In this study, we used ecological niche modeling and GIS techniques to identify spatial patterns of species richness, potential future climate refugia, and novel climatic suitability …

Testing The Temporal Stability Of The Climate Response Of Tree Species At Norris Dam State Park, Tennessee, U.S.A., Allison Elizabeth Ingram

Masters Theses

Temporal stability of the climate-tree growth relationship means that over time, tree species were responding to a specific climate variable and continue to respond to that variable into the present. The stability of this response is important to test prior to attempting to reconstruct past climate. In this study, I sampled oaks (white oak = Quercus alba L. and chestnut oak = Quercus montana Willd.) and pines (Virginia pine = Pinus virginiana Mill. and shortleaf pine = Pinus echinata Mill.) growing in Norris Dam State Park in eastern Tennessee and tested the temporal stability of these species and their potential …

Comparison Of Oak And Sugar Maple Distribution And Regeneration In Central Illinois Upland Oak Forests, Peter J. Frey

Masters Theses

Although white oak (Quercus alba) dominated much of the mid-west and eastern US hardwood forests prior to European settlement, changes in disturbance frequencies and habitat fragmentation, coupled with other biotic pressures, are allowing sugar maple (Acer saccharum Marshall) to displace oak in the upland forest understory. Since our understanding of how disturbance mechanisms influence oak regeneration is not fully clear, there is lack of consensus on how to employ management practices. We collected seedling microhabitat data from 5 upland oak forest sites in central Illinois, each differing in age class and/or silvicultural treatment to determine: 1) Whether …

Comparative Ecophysiology Of American Chestnut Under Different Planting Treatments On Reclaimed Mine Sites, Christopher Ryan Miller

Masters Theses

American chestnut was once an abundant species that dominated the Eastern U.S. deciduous forests. Although this species is currently functionally extinct due to the chestnut blight, researchers are working on blight-resistant hybrids in hopes of restoring the species. As one potential vector for chestnut reintroduction and dispersal, the reclamation of mine sites are being considered. Recent research has found that reforestation efforts on these reclaimed mine sites provide productive tree growth while also complying with mine-reclamation laws. Understanding how American chestnut performs physiologically on mine sites will aid in the restoration of this species and reclamation of mine sites.

The …

Lichen Communities On White Oaks In East-Central Illinois, Michael R. Thon

Masters Theses

This study was conducted as a survey of epiphytic lichen communities occurring on white oak trees at Walnut Point State Park (Douglas Co.) and Fox Ridge State Park (Coles Co.). Using a system of cover classes to estimate lichen cover, quantitative data on the distribution and abundance of epiphytic lichens was obtained. These data were used to calculate summary statistics of each community including total cover, species richness, and Shannon diversity. A total of ten taxa representing six genera were found. The foliose lichen Physcia millegrana had the highest cover in the open canopy habitats while all other taxa had …

River Birch (Betula Nigra L.) Forest Communities In Cass And Mason Counties, Illinois, Charles Anthony Uhlarik

Masters Theses

During the fall of 1988 and the spring of 1989, four stands of river birch (Betula nigra L.) were surveyed in Cass and Mason Counties, Illinois. All study areas were divided into quadrats 25 m on a side (0.154 acres) and the maximum number of quadrats were placed to completely survey each forest. The relative density, relative dominance, and importance value was calculated for each species (dbh greater than 10 cm) in each forest area. Also, seedlings (less than 2.5 cm dbh) and saplings (2.5-10.0 cm dbh) were recorded in each area. River birch is the dominant overstory …

An Understory Survey Of Baber Woods, Edgar County, Illinois, Amy Jo Burns

Masters Theses

Several vegetation studies have been undertaken in Baber Woods, Edgar County, Illinois, in the past 20 years. After looking at the data of these studies it was decided that an additional study was needed to determine if the increasing importance value (IV) of Acer saccharum was indeed important. It appears that this species is starting to take over the native oak-hickory woods as well as decreasing the diversity of the herbaceous understory (Ebinger, 1986). The present study was undertaken to determine of Acer saccharum has increased enough to justify implementation of some type of forest management.

Environmental parameters at the …

Woody Vegetation Of Baber Woods: Composition And Changes Since 1964, James Alvin Newman Jr.

Masters Theses

A comparative study of the woody vegetation changes at Baber Woods, Edgar County, Illinois, since 1964 was completed in 1983. This 51 acre woodlot is a remnant of a much larger forest which once occuppied the Shelbyville Moraine.

An inventory of the woody vegetation shows that the present stand consists of 109 stems per acre with a basal area of 113 sq. ft. per acre. In this survey, 33 woody species were found. Sugar maple had the highest Importance Value (IV) of all woody species present, having the highest density in both the 4-6 and 7-12 inch diameter classes, as …

Woody Vegetation At Burgner Acres, East-Central Illinois: Composition And Changes Since 1964, Larry Philip Lehnen Jr.

Masters Theses

A comparative study was undertaken of the changes in woody vegetation of Burgner Acres during the past 18 years. This ten acre woodlot, located in east-central Illinois was surveyed using a method identical to that of a previous study. A literature review describing the composition of three general types of forests in the Grand Prairie Division of Illinois is included.

Twenty-five arborescent species are present on the study site with white ash (Fraxinus americana L.) maintaining its position as first in importance value (I.V. = relative frequency + relative density + relative dominance). Hackberry (Celtis occidentalis L.) has …

Vegetation Study Of A Terrace Forest In Clark County, Illinois, Randy Warren Nyboer

Masters Theses

No abstract provided.

Woody Vegetation Survey Of Rocky Branch Nature Preserve, Clark County, Illinois, James T. Hughes

Masters Theses

No abstract provided.

Vegetation Survey Of Floodplain Forests Along The Wabash River, Philip E. Phillippe

Masters Theses

No abstract provided.

Vegetation Survey Of Floodplain Forests In East-Central Illinois, Richard W. Crites

Masters Theses

No abstract provided.