Floristics of a chronosequence corresponding to old field-deciduous forest succession in southwestern Ohio. III. Post-disturbance vegetation

• Published in: Bulletin of the Torrey Botanical Club 1991-10, Vol.118 (4), p.385-391
• Main Authors: Vankat, J.L. (Miami University, Oxford, OH), Carson, W.P
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Animal and plant ecology; Animal, plant and microbial ecology; Annuals; ANTHROPOGENIC SOIL TYPES; Biological and medical sciences; CHECKLISTS; COMMUNAUTE VEGETALE; COMUNIDADES VEGETALES; DISTURBED SOILS; ECOLOGIA FORESTAL; ECOLOGICAL SUCCESSION; ECOLOGIE FORESTIERE; ESPECE; ESPECIES; FLORA; FLORE; FOREST ECOLOGY; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; Herbs; OHIO; Old fields; Perennials; PLANT COMMUNITIES; PLANT SUCCESSION; Plants; Seed banks; SINECOLOGIA; SOL ANTHROPOGENE; SPECIES; SPECIES DIVERSITY; SUCCESSION ECOLOGIQUE; SUCESION ECOLOGICA; SYNECOLOGIE; SYNECOLOGY; Taxa; Terrestrial ecosystems; TIPOS ANTROPOGENICOS DE SUELOS; VEGETACION; VEGETATION; Woody plants
• ISSN: 0040-9618; 2325-8055
• DOI: 10.2307/2997090

Revegetation of 1.5 x 1.5 m plots disturbed by severing roots and rhizomes and turning the topsoil was examined during the first growing season for a chronosequence of five stands. The objective was to compare the disturbance responses of communities of different successional stages. Species richness of post-disturbance vegetation was highest in the 50-year, savanna-like old field, but otherwise was generally lower in later successional stages. Species diversity was largely constant, but was low when one or two species dominated by reproducing vegetatively. Cover was high in the disturbed plots in old fields and low in forests. In general, both annuals and biennials (including short-lived perennials) were lower and woody plants higher as percentages of the flora and in relative cover in later successional stages. Perennial herbs were most important in the two mid-seral old fields. Floristic comparisons with the undisturbed vegetation and seed banks indicate that the seed bank was important in revegetation following disturbance in early-successional stages, as it determines the number and abundance of annuals and biennials. In contrast, remnants of the undisturbed vegetation persisting in the disturbed plots were more important in mid- and late-successional stages through vegetative reproduction of perennial herbs and woody plants.