Article
Vegetative Structure of an Appalachian Oak Forest in Southwestern Virginia
The American Midland Naturalist
(1980)
Abstract
Structural parameters were used to assess differences among major vegetation types in an Appalachian oak forest in southwestern Virginia. Cluster analysis resulted in ordering stands along a moisture gradient determined from site topographic features. Position along the moisture gradient from mesic to xeric was reflected in a number of vegetative structural variables. For the overstory these included decreased canopy coverage, decreased stand height and decreased stem basal area. Trends in the shrub stratum (1-5m) tended to be the reverse of those in the overstory. The results indicate that vegetative structure is strongly influenced by site relationships reflecting differences in moisture regime.
Disciplines
Publication Date
1980
DOI
10.2307/2425043
Citation Information
Terry L. Sharik. "Vegetative Structure of an Appalachian Oak Forest in Southwestern Virginia" The American Midland Naturalist Vol. 103 Iss. 1 (1980) p. 96 - 105 Available at: http://works.bepress.com/terry_sharik/145/