Identifier	Thesis 1789
Author	Smith, Carolyn, 1960-
Title	Resistance of five Connecticut tree stands to woody invasive plants / Carolyn Smith
Publisher	Central Connecticut State University
Date of Publication	2005
Resource Type	Master's Thesis
Abstract	Habitat loss and invasive species are the biggest threats to biodiversity at a local and global level. This study addresses the effects of woody invasive species in Litchfield County, Connecticut. An edge to interior vascular plant study was done to determine how invasive species are affected by: distance into the forest interior, light intensity, canopy coverage, and basal area. Five tree stands in Litchfield County, CT were chosen for this study; each having canopy cover of over 90%, some large trees over 75 years of age, relatively low disturbance levels in the last 50 years, and similar soil types. Each stand was adjacent to an open field. Three 200 m belt transects were established at each site. Seedlings, saplings and trees were identified using a variable width transect. Importance values of small and large trees and relative frequency of saplings and seedlings were determined. Spherical densiometer readings and light readings were taken at 50 m intervals. A seed bank study was done to determine whether invasives were present. Seven woody invasives were found, including: Berberis thunbergii, Celastrus orbiculatus, Elaeagnus umbellata, Euonymus alatus, Lonicera japonica, Rhamnus frangula, and Rosa multiflora.Many invasives were found near the open edge of the stands, but in the most disturbed stand seedlings of Rhamnus frangula were found growing throughout the stand. One stand had no woody invasives. The seed bank study did not show any viable woody invasives. Ninety six percent of the invasive seedlings found in the five stands were growing in 25 m2 quadrats with basal areas of < 24 m2 per ha. There was a significant positive relationship between light and the growth of invasive trees (> 2.5 cm dbh). Four of the stands show a resistance to invasive woody species. The fifth stand had some openings and trails, which permitted invasion of Rhamnus frangula. According to this study it may be possible to keep invasive woody plant presence to a minimum in Connecticut tree stands, by keeping basal area over 24 m2 per ha and minimizing anthropogenic disturbances.
Subject	Invasive plants -- Connecticut -- Litchfield County
Department	Department of Biological Sciences
Advisor	Tessier, Jack T., 1971-
Type	Text
Digital Format	application/pdf
Language	eng
OCLC number	61661353
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Resistance of five Connecticut tree stands to woody invasive plants / Carolyn Smith

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