Vegetation variation among mesic successional forest stands in northern lower Michigan

Successional aspen Populus tremuloides and P. grandidentata stands of different ages (1-90 yr) were examined on a variety of sites. Sandy dry-mesic soils support forests of Acer rubrum, Quercus rubra, Pinus resinosa and P. strobus. On lowland sandy soils with a fluctuating water table, P. strobus, Abies balsamea, Viburnum lentago and V. cassinoides are important. Mesic soils with stratified calcareous layers or clay till substrates support Acer saccharum, Fagus grandifolia, Tilia americana, Fraxinus americana, Ostrya virginiana and Acer pensylvanicum. Canonical correlation analysis (CCA) was used to compare DCA scores with soil variables; first-axis DCA scores were correlated with a suite of soil variables and stand age was correlated with 2nd or 3rd DCA axis scores. DCA ordinations of the dry-mesic and mesic groups revealed successional relations on these sites. On dry-mesic sites, P. resinosa and P. strobus increase in importance with stand age, while Prunus serotina, P. virginiana, P. pensylvanica and the aspens decrease. On mesic sites, early successional species include the aspens, Corylus cornuta, P. serotina and P. pensylvanica. Fagus grandifolia, Acer pensylvanicum, Q. rubra, V. acerifolium, Betula papyrifera, Acer rubrum and T. americana are more abundant in mature mesic-site stands. Ordinations of the herb data were remarkably similar to those for trees and shrubs except on dry-mesic sites. Much of the residual variability in vegetation not accounted for by site conditions and stand age is probably related to historical factors, eg disturbance and variations in seed rain. -from Authors

Duke Scholars

Author Norman L. Christensen Environmental Sciences and Policy