Changes in the Woody Vegetation of a Bur Oak Savanna Remnant in Central Illinois

An inventory of the woody vegetation was completed for Barton Woods, located on low and high terraces associated with Salt Creek in Mason County, Illinois. Both terraces were dominated by hackberry (Celtis occidentalis L.) and bur oak (Quercus macrocarpa Michx.). Honey locust (Gleditsia triacanthos...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Natural areas journal 1993-04, Vol.13 (2), p.108-114
Main Authors: McClain, William E., Jenkins, Michael A., Jenkins, Sean E., Ebinger, John E.
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Branches
Forest canopy
Forest conservation
Forest soils
Prairies
Saplings
Savannas
Terraces
Trees
Vegetation
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Summary:An inventory of the woody vegetation was completed for Barton Woods, located on low and high terraces associated with Salt Creek in Mason County, Illinois. Both terraces were dominated by hackberry (Celtis occidentalis L.) and bur oak (Quercus macrocarpa Michx.). Honey locust (Gleditsia triacanthos L.), American elm (Ulmus americana L.), and sycamore (Platanus occidentalis L.) were subdominants on the low terrace, while slippery elm (Ulmus rubra Muhl.), and black walnut (Juglans nigra L.) were subdominants on the high terrace. Densities ranged from 280 to 301 stems/ha, and basal area from 21 to 25 m²/ha. Tree size classes suggest that some of the bur oaks were present prior to European settlement, and the Public Land Office survey notes indicate that the structure of vegetation at this site was at one time characteristic of savanna. Other woody species became abundant in the past 60 years, creating a closed-canopy forest. A management strategy is suggested for restoration of a savanna community on the site.
ISSN:0885-8608
2162-4399