Document: ELI-3-82-20

Abundance and frequency of Lycopodium species under various forest management regimes in northern hardwood forests.

NAUERTZ, E.A.* ¹, M.R.GALE ², J.C.ZASADA ³ and T.R.CROW ⁴

USDA Forest Service, Rhinelander, WI 54501 USA ¹
Michigan Technological University, Houghton, MI 49931 USA ²
USDA Forest Service, Grand Rapids, MN 55744 USA ³
University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109 USA ⁴

Abstract:
Several Lycopodium or club moss species are extensively collected as non-timber forest products, are marketed for production of traditional and seasonal decorations, and are used in the floral and horticulture industries. Impacts of forest management practices on populations of Lycopodium species are not well understood. Our objective was to use analysis of variance and regression analysis to describe the relationships between treatment regimes and percent cover and frequency of occurrence of Lycopodium species in northern hardwood forests. Correlation analysis was used to determine the relationship between basal area and Lycopodium cover. Three managed (old growth, even-age, uneven-age) and two unmanaged (old growth and second growth) forest management regimes were used in this study. Ten, 5 by 5 m² plots were randomly located within each replicate stand of each management regime, for a total of 130 plots. Two-thirds of the Lycopodium present was found in the managed even-age and unmanaged old growth stands. Highest frequency of occurrence and percent cover values existed in the unmanaged old growth, managed even-age, and unmanaged second growth, respectively, with no statistical difference among them. Highest frequency and percent cover occurred under the management regimes with highest measured basal area. Individual growth form, reproduction method, soil compaction and surface disturbance, and evergreen nature of Lycopodium species may help explain the patterns of individual species frequency and cover found in this study.

Keywords: Lycopodium, clubmoss, forest management

This abstract is being presented at: 11:30 AM in session:
Oral Session #2: Conservation Ecology.