Date Available
7-23-2013
Year of Publication
2013
Document Type
Master's Thesis
Degree Name
Master of Science (MS)
College
Arts and Sciences
Department/School/Program
Biology
Advisor
Dr. Scott K. Gleeson
Abstract
Historically, the Kentucky Inner Bluegrass blue ash-oak savanna-woodland was the primary ecosystem of the Inner Bluegrass Region (IBR) of Kentucky. After European settlement, the majority (>99%) of Bluegrass savanna was converted to agricultural and urban land uses. Currently remnant savanna tree species are failing to recruit. Therefore, a long-term restoration ecology project researching competition and disturbance on seedling establishment, survival, and growth has been established at Griffith Woods (the largest remaining savanna in Kentucky) in Harrison Co., KY. Fourteen native hardwood tree species (a total of 6,168 seedlings) have been experimentally planted. Light, soil, surrounding vegetation, and herbivory, factors thought to influence seedling survival, have been initially assessed. Results show that soils differed spatially in P, Ca, Mg, Zn, pH, N percent and soil organic matter percent. Light was significantly reduced by diffusive filtering through vegetation. Vegetation biomass was influenced by pH and Mg. Initial seedling survival was high, but significantly differed by species type, location, and soil pH, Mg, and Zn. This research demonstrates that under a similar range of conditions, native hardwood tree seedling establishment is possible. Therefore, the potential exists to restore Bluegrass savanna-woodland in order to return proper ecological functioning into a degraded landscape.
Recommended Citation
Shaffer, James D., "FACTORS INFLUENCING THE ESTABLISHMENT AND SURVIVAL OF NATIVE HARDWOOD TREE SEEDLINGS OF THE KENTUCKY INNER BLUEGRASS BLUE ASH-OAK SAVANNA-WOODLAND" (2013). Theses and Dissertations--Biology. 15.
https://uknowledge.uky.edu/biology_etds/15
Included in
Biology Commons, Botany Commons, Forest Biology Commons, Natural Resources and Conservation Commons, Other Ecology and Evolutionary Biology Commons, Other Environmental Sciences Commons, Other Forestry and Forest Sciences Commons, Other Plant Sciences Commons, Plant Biology Commons, Soil Science Commons