The Effect of the European Wild Boar, Sus scrofa, on Gray Beech Forest in the Great Smoky Mountains

摘要: The European wild boar Sus scrofa L., an exotic species, entered the Great Smoky Mountains National Park during 1940s. Because of their high reproductive potential and adverse impact on native flora fauna, hogs have become a major management problem within park. During summer 1973, quadrat sampling canopy understory Gray Beech Forest was conducted in both hog—free hog—occupied sectors Removal herbaceous other types hog rooting damage showed no direct relationship to importance any individual including beech Fagus grandifolia. Cover reduction related, however, mesic herbs plot. Polynomial Gaussian regressions cover against indirect ordination axes indicate that is most intense portion moisture gradient decreases xeric, south—facing slopes more mesic, north—facing slopes. Understory severely damaged plots between 2% 15%, while same position usually 80% 110%. Hog significantly reduced number species disturbed but had effect H' values largest plot sizes sampled. High for are related lack succession after disturbance without removal canopy.