Intraspecific variation in sapling mortality and growth predicts geographic variation in forest composition
- Univ. of Connecticut, Storrs, CT (United States)
With a view toward understanding variation in species composition among different forest communities, I examined species-specific growth and mortality of juvenile tree (2.3-78 mm diameter at 10cm above the ground) at three contrasting sites. Two sites differing in soil mineralogy and elevation (schists/gneiss uplands vs. calcareous bedrock valley) were situated in northwestern Connecticut, USA. To examine variation over a more extensive geographic scale, I located the third site in central-western Michigan, USA. Among the three sites, the deciduous species (American beech, white ash, and sugar maple) showed little intraspecific variation in models of relative radial growth at the Michigan site could be explained by sapling growth models originally calibrated for the Connecticut sites. in contrast to the deciduous species, the evergreen species (white pine and eastern hemlock) exhibited between the two Connecticut sites. Intraspecific species, mortality processes exhibited more variation among the sites than did growth. I found significant site differences in mortality as a function of recent growth for both sugar maple and white ash on the calcareous soils in comparison to the schist/gneiss soils in Connecticut site were similar, and both differed from the Connecticut calcareous site. 65 refs., 13 figs., 6 tabs.
- Sponsoring Organization:
- USDOE
- OSTI ID:
- 283216
- Journal Information:
- Ecological Monographs, Vol. 66, Issue 2; Other Information: PBD: May 1996
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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