PARENT SESSION
Contributed Oral Session 106: Restoration and Adaptive Management: Forests; Grasslands
Wednesday, August 10, 1:30 PM - 5:00 PM, Meeting Room 524 A, Level 5, Palais des congrès de Montréal
Edge effects in open habitats: an empirical test with native longleaf pine savannah herbs.
Damschen, Ellen*,1, Orrock, John2, Woolard, Sara 1, Long, Elizabeth1, Gabris, Sarah1, Imm, Don3, 1 North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC2 National Center for Ecological Analysis and Synthesis, Santa Barbara, CA3 U.S. Forest Service, New Ellenton, SC
ABSTRACT- A major consequence of habitat fragmentation is an increase in the amount of edge relative to core habitat in a landscape. Edges are known to have impacts on abiotic conditions and biotic interactions and these effects have been especially well documented for forest-dwelling species along edges created by clearing or disturbing the surrounding habitat. Conversely, edge effects for open-habitat species along edges of newly planted forests have been virtually ignored. This is the case for many native herbaceous species in the southeastern United States that once existed in open longleaf pine savannahs but are now restricted to openings in densely planted pine forests. We empirically tested for edge effects of open habitat species by planting nine species of native longleaf pine savannah herbs (three grasses, two asters, and four legumes) in equal densities at six distances (0, 6, 12, 25, 50, and 100 m) from an edge of a dense forest into an adjacent opening. We measured plant growth and reproduction as well as available light and soil conditions for one growing season. Distance to edge affected the amount of available light as well as plant performance. Most species performed best just beyond the edge boundary (6-12m), while others performed best at the greatest distance from the edge or had no response. Our findings could have important implications for the conservation and restoration of species occurring in open habitats like the longleaf pine savannah.
Key words: edge effects, habitat fragmentation, longleaf pine savannah, open habitat