PARENT SESSION
Poster Session 2: Forest Ecology
Monday, August 8, 5:00 PM - 6:30 PM, Exhibit Hall 220 A-E, Level 2, Palais des congrès de Montréal

Effects of disturbance on the herbaceous layer in a northern hardwood forest: Differences in vegetation along trails and unpaved roads.

Smith, Kenneth¹, Livings, Jennifer^*,1, Hane, Elizabeth¹, ¹ Rochester Institute of Technology, Rochester, NY, USA

ABSTRACT- The effects of disturbance along forest edges are often reflected in the species composition and distribution of the herbaceous plant layer. These plants can be heavily impacted by alterations in light availability, wind velocity, soil disturbance, and the introduction of exotic species. We examined the effects of anthropogenic disturbance along nature trails and unpaved roads which occur throughout a seasonal wetland hardwood forest located at the Rochester Institute of Technology, in Henrietta, NY (USA). We hypothesized that herbaceous species diversity would be higher near the disturbance than in the interior forest, and that greater diversity of herbaceous species existed along unpaved roads than along trails. Three trails and three unpaved utility roads were selected, and five transects were set up along each. The herbaceous coverage was recorded at 1, 10, and 30 m from the edge of the disturbance in a 1 x 1 m study plot (n = 87). Results indicated that disturbance type and distance from the disturbance both are important effects on the herbaceous species composition and coverage. In particular, total coverage was impacted by disturbance type (p < 0.0001) as well as distance from disturbance (p < 0.0001), and results reflected that total coverage was greatest closest to the disturbance and unpaved roads. This greater herbaceous abundance may be due to increased resource availability in regions closest to the disturbance. Results for individual species indicated that the greater coverage closer to the disturbances was largely due to the presence of invasive or undesirable species, and that species that are typically more sensitive to disturbance (e.g. Erythronium americanum Ker.) are only found in the least-disturbed areas. Seasonal changes showed important differences (p = 0.0244) with regard to species richness alongside trails, but had no effect on the total coverage.

Key words: anthropogenic disturbance, northern hardwood forest, forested wetland, herbaceous diversity