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- Title
Canopy and Understory Composition of Old-Growth Riparian Forest in Zoar Valley New York, USA.
- Authors
Diggins, Thomas P.; Kershner, Bruce
- Abstract
Previous qualitative surveys have suggested the Zoar Valley Canyon of western New York State contains a diverse tract of eastern old-growth forest. In this first quantitative study of the site, we surveyed canopy trees >20 cm diameter at breast height (dbh) in twenty-three 30-m × 30-m quadrats on five prominent streamside terraces. We also catalogued understory trees 1-20 cm dbh in 10-m × 10-m quadrats located within the 30-m × 30-m plots. Nineteen broadleaf and two coniferous species exceeded 20 cm dbh and formed a multi-layered canopy. Four more broadleaf species occurred only in the under- story. Thirteen species reached 80-126 cm dbh. Sugar maple (Acer saccharum Marsh.) accounted for 27.3% of canopy basal area and dominated the understory. Size distributions of all trees pooled and, of shade-tolerant species individually, were uneven and negatively logarithmic. In contrast, shade-intolerant species occurred mostly in >40 cm dbh classes and were rare in the understory. Fourteen species reached 35.0-47.5 m in height in this tallest broadleaf forest yet described in the northeastern United States. Increment cores from seven canopy species revealed ages of 170 to 305 years. The study area meets all objective criteria for eastern old growth.
- Subjects
UNITED States; SURVEYS; FORESTS &; forestry; TREES; CONIFERS; SACCHARUM
- Publication
Natural Areas Journal, 2005, Vol 25, Issue 3, p219
- ISSN
0885-8608
- Publication type
Article