response of microstegium vimineum and lonicera japonica to continuous cover forestry practices
DESCRIPTION
Response of Microstegium vimineum and Lonicera japonica to continuous cover forestry practices. N. J. Loewenstein, E.F. Loewenstein, J. M. Lhotka and B.J. Ostrom. Microstegium vimineum Nepalese browntop, Japanese stiltgrass, Mary’s grass. Annual C 4 grass Shade tolerant Shallow roots - PowerPoint PPT PresentationTRANSCRIPT
Response of Response of Microstegium Microstegium vimineumvimineum and and Lonicera japonicaLonicera japonica to to
continuous cover forestry continuous cover forestry practicespractices
N. J. Loewenstein, E.F. Loewenstein, J. M. Lhotka and B.J. Ostrom
Microstegium vimineumMicrostegium vimineumNepalese browntop, Japanese stiltgrass, Mary’s grassNepalese browntop, Japanese stiltgrass, Mary’s grass
Annual CAnnual C44 grass grass Shade tolerantShade tolerant Shallow rootsShallow roots Mesic soilsMesic soils Most of eastern USMost of eastern US Class C noxious weed Class C noxious weed
in Alabamain Alabama
Lonicera japonicaLonicera japonica Japanese honeysuckleJapanese honeysuckle
Semievergreen to Semievergreen to evergreen woody vineevergreen woody vine
Shade tolerantShade tolerant Tolerates a wide range Tolerates a wide range
of site conditionsof site conditions Most of USMost of US Ornamental and deer Ornamental and deer
browsebrowse
BackgroundBackground
Silviculture study looking at forest management Silviculture study looking at forest management options for private landowners at the urban-rural options for private landowners at the urban-rural interfaceinterface
Continuous cover forest managementContinuous cover forest management Promote the continued establishment and Promote the continued establishment and
development of tree reproductiondevelopment of tree reproduction
Silviculture study objectivesSilviculture study objectives
Apply gradient of cutting regimes.Apply gradient of cutting regimes.
Quantify the relationship between residual Quantify the relationship between residual forest structure and understory microclimate forest structure and understory microclimate (especially light).(especially light).
Assess the relationship between the understory Assess the relationship between the understory environment and seedling growth response.environment and seedling growth response.
Quantifying Forest EnvironmentQuantifying Forest Environment Vertical and horizontal structureVertical and horizontal structure Understory microclimateUnderstory microclimate
Assessing Relationships Between:Assessing Relationships Between: Canopy structure and light transmittanceCanopy structure and light transmittance Canopy structure and development of planted Canopy structure and development of planted
cherrybark oak, yellow poplar, and water oak cherrybark oak, yellow poplar, and water oak seedlingsseedlings
Canopy structure, light transmittance and Canopy structure, light transmittance and growth of growth of MicrostegiumMicrostegium and and LoniceraLonicera
Fifty 0.05 ha plots in riparian hardwood Fifty 0.05 ha plots in riparian hardwood forestforest
Structural manipulations:Structural manipulations: Control: No trees cut Control: No trees cut Light cut: 1/3 of all midstory trees cut Light cut: 1/3 of all midstory trees cut Moderate cut: 1/2 of all midstory trees cut Moderate cut: 1/2 of all midstory trees cut Heavy cut: all midstory trees cutHeavy cut: all midstory trees cut
Uncut Heavy cut
Gradient in forest structureGradient in forest structure
Canopy cover (%)
0.40.50.60.70.80.91.0
% fu
ll lig
ht
0
5
10
15
20
25
30
35
Light regimes in four representative plotsLight regimes in four representative plots
Plot 28 - July 31, 2004
time
05:00:00 09:00:00 13:00:00 17:00:00
PA
R ( m
ol m
-2 s
-)
0
500
1000
1500
2000
2500
3000
clear cutplot 28
Plot 20 - 7/31/04
time
05:00:00 09:00:00 13:00:00 17:00:00
PA
R
0
500
1000
1500
2000
2500
3000
clear cutplot 20
Plot 36 - 7/31/04
time
05:00:00 09:00:00 13:00:00 17:00:00
PA
R
0
500
1000
1500
2000
2500
3000
clear cutplot 36
Plot 32 - 6/16/04
time
05:00:00 09:00:00 13:00:00 17:00:00
PA
R
0
500
1000
1500
2000
2500
3000
clearcutplot 32
MethodsMethods
BiomassBiomass Percent cover - 1 mPercent cover - 1 m22 plots (spring and late plots (spring and late
summer)summer) Clip plots (late summer) Clip plots (late summer)
PhotosynthesisPhotosynthesis Photosynthetic light curves Photosynthetic light curves
FecundityFecundity Clip plots (after seed set)Clip plots (after seed set)
Above-ground biomassAbove-ground biomass
Canopy closure (% )
0.40.50.60.70.80.91.0Tota
l dry
wt
(g)
0
2
4
6
8
10
12
14
16
18
20
Microstegium
Canopy closure (% )
0.40.50.60.70.80.91.0
Tota
l dry
wt
(g)
0
2
4
6
8
10
12
14
16
18
20
Lonicera
Canopy cover (% )D
ry w
eig
ht
(g)
0
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
Microstegium
Canopy cover (% )
Dry
weig
ht
(g)
0
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
stemsleavesstd err
Lonicera
PAR (mol m-2 s-1)
0 200 400 600 800 1000 1200 1400 1600Photo
synth
esi
s (
mol m
-2 s
-1)
-2
0
2
4
6
8
10
12
14
16
18
20
Microstegium
Photosynthetic Light CurvesPhotosynthetic Light Curves
PAR (mol m-2 s-1)
0 200 400 600 800 1000 1200 1400 1600
Photo
synth
esi
s (
mol m
-2 s
-1)
-2
0
2
4
6
8
10
12
14
16
18
20
Plot 32Plot 28Plot 23Plot 20Plot 30Plot 36
Lonicera
Chasmogamous flowersChasmogamous flowers - - flowers that open, flowers that open, exposing stamens and styles to the environment exposing stamens and styles to the environment allowing potential cross-pollinationallowing potential cross-pollination
Cleistogomous flowersCleistogomous flowers -- flowers that do not flowers that do not open and are self-pollinatedopen and are self-pollinated
Microstegium fecundityMicrostegium fecundity
Canopy cover (% )
0.40.50.60.70.80.91.0
Num
ber
of flow
ers
0
100
200
300
400
Canopy cover (% )
0.40.50.60.70.80.91.0R
ati
o c
h/c
l flow
ers
0.0
0.2
0.4
0.6
0.8
1.0
1.2
1.4
1.6
ConclusionsConclusions
MicrostegiumMicrostegium was more responsive than was more responsive than LoniceraLonicera to the moderate increase in light. to the moderate increase in light.
First year results may not fully reflect the First year results may not fully reflect the potential impact of potential impact of Lonicera.Lonicera.
Herbicide treatments may be required.Herbicide treatments may be required.
AcknowledgementsAcknowledgements
Field siteField site: Blanton Creek Wildlife Management : Blanton Creek Wildlife Management Area, Area, Georgia Power and Georgia DNRGeorgia Power and Georgia DNR
Field and lab assistanceField and lab assistance: Gayla Trouse: Gayla Trouse
FundingFunding: Center for Forest Sustainability, : Center for Forest Sustainability, Auburn UniversityAuburn University
Questions?Questions?