UNDERSTORY SPECIES PATTERNS AND DIVERSITY IN OLD‐GROWTH AND MANAGED NORTHERN HARDWOOD FORESTS

摘要: Forest management can significantly affect both the diversity and spatial patterning of understory vegetation. However, few studies have considered at a stand scale. Our objective was to evaluate effects forest on plant communities in northern hardwood forests assess processes governing differences species composition, diversity, patterns. We sampled vegetation (all ,2 m tall) percentage light transmission levels three types 12 mesic stands Wisconsin Upper Peninsula Michigan, USA: old-growth, undisturbed forests; even-aged resulting from clearcut logging (;65-85 yr old); uneven-aged with recent selective logging. Estimated richness per stand, mean quadrat, percent cover quadrat were lower old-growth than even-aged, second- growth uneven-aged, second-growth forests. Dif- ferences composition among related available coarse woody debris; however, between most groups not significant. The patch size is highly variable could be type. old- smaller community sizes larger compositional heterogeneity. Community correlated debris Each type produces characteristic combination communities. Although harvesting has negligible alpha these forests, structure slower recover recovered even- studied. If objectives include preserving or restoring ecological character forest, may need altered delayed predicated understory.