Stand Dynamics in a Longleaf Pine Woodland: a Spatial Analysis

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dc.contributorSteinberg, Michael
dc.contributorBhuta, Arvind
dc.contributor.advisorHart, Justin L.
dc.contributor.authorPhillips, David
dc.contributor.otherUniversity of Alabama Tuscaloosa
dc.date.accessioned2021-11-23T14:33:57Z
dc.date.available2021-11-23T14:33:57Z
dc.date.issued2021
dc.descriptionElectronic Thesis or Dissertationen_US
dc.description.abstractGlobal climate change has put an increased focus on enhancing adaptation potential of forest ecosystems. It is hypothesized that structurally complex stands exhibit greater resistance and resilience to stresses. An underutilized component of structural complexity is the spatial arrangement of trees within a stand. In ecosystems where tree species diversity is low, such as longleaf pine (Pinus palustris Mill.) ecosystems, it is critical to maximize spatial heterogeneity to increase structural complexity. These ecosystems cover less than 1 million ha of their previous 37 million ha range and are among the most endangered in the U.S. To increase the effectiveness of management plans within P. palustris ecosystems, we examined spatial patterns within a P. palustris woodland stand within the Oakmulgee Ranger District of the Talladega National Forest, Hale County, Alabama. We specifically asked (1) how were trees distributed in this stand? (2) Are trees clumped, dispersed, or randomly distributed? (3) What spatial relationships exist between mature trees and P. palustris saplings? Using an individuals, clumps, and openings method, we determined most trees existed in clumps beginning at an intertree distance threshold of 3 m. At an intertree distance of 6 m, half of all trees were in clumps of 10 or more. Trees were significantly (p < 0.05) clustered by age and diameter (up to 20 cm diameter at breast height). Pinus palustris saplings were clustered around canopy P. palustris beginning at a distance of 16 m and around Quercus laevis trees beginning at a distance of 7 m. Managers can increase structural complexity (and therefore ecosystem resistance and resilience) by modeling silvicultural prescriptions after the effects of natural disturbance with concrete reference spatial patterns.en_US
dc.format.mediumelectronic
dc.format.mimetypeapplication/pdf
dc.identifier.otherhttp://purl.lib.ua.edu/181469
dc.identifier.otheru0015_0000001_0003908
dc.identifier.otherPhillips_alatus_0004M_14626
dc.identifier.urihttp://ir.ua.edu/handle/123456789/8140
dc.languageEnglish
dc.language.isoen_US
dc.publisherUniversity of Alabama Libraries
dc.relation.hasversionborn digital
dc.relation.ispartofThe University of Alabama Electronic Theses and Dissertations
dc.relation.ispartofThe University of Alabama Libraries Digital Collections
dc.rightsAll rights reserved by the author unless otherwise indicated.en_US
dc.subjectICO
dc.subjectLongleaf pine
dc.subjectSpatial complexity
dc.titleStand Dynamics in a Longleaf Pine Woodland: a Spatial Analysisen_US
dc.typethesis
dc.typetext
etdms.degree.departmentUniversity of Alabama. Department of Geography
etdms.degree.disciplineEnvironmental science
etdms.degree.grantorThe University of Alabama
etdms.degree.levelmaster's
etdms.degree.nameM.S.
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