PARENT SESSION
Poster Session # 14: Forest Ecology.
Wednesday, August 6 Presentation from 5:00 PM to 6:30 PM. SITCC Exhibit Hall B.
Composition, structure, and diversity of a chestnut-dominated hardwood forest in southwestern Wisconsin, USA.
McCarthy, Brian*,1, Keiffer, Carolyn2, Rogstad, Steven3, 1 Ohio University, Athens, OH, USA2 Miami University - Middletown, Middletown, OH, USA3 University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, OH, USA
ABSTRACT- American chestnut (Castanea dentata (Marshall) Borkh.; Fagaceae) was virtually extirpated as a dominant tree species throughout the Appalachian forest region by the 1930s due to the chestnut blight (Cryphonectria parasitica; Ascomycota). Fortunately, a small number of disjunct chestnut populations escaped infection throughout the Midwest. One such stand, believed to be the largest, exists near La Crosse, Wisconsin. A settler reportedly planted 12 chestnut trees in the early 1900s, from which 11 exist today (the largest being 127 cm in diameter). Since this initial introduction, American chestnut has naturalized—more than 6,000 individuals now dominate this mixed oak forest. The purpose of our project was to establish a long-term study of forest dynamics, conduct a detailed study of the current composition and structure of the vegetation, and assess the regeneration ecology of chestnut, which was largely extirpated in Appalachian forests before it could be studied. In the summer of 2001, we established 30 permanent plots, 500 m2 throughout the stand. Mature trees, saplings, seedlings, shrubs, herbs and groundcover were sampled in each plot. In addition, hemispherical canopy photos and soil samples were taken to describe the microenvironment and regeneration conditions. A total of 27 species were found in the overstory. The total basal area of the stand was 35 m2⋅ha-1, of which chestnut accounted for 43%. Chestnut has acted almost as an invasive species in colonizing this oak-hickory forest. This occurrence provides considerable hope for restoration ecologists considering the re-introduction of chestnut into oak forest ecosystems, as disease resistant varieties become available.
Key words: community, Castanea dentata, forest, diversity