Vegetation Diversity in Gap Environments

Darci Schofield and Bob Wagner

Several studies indicate that natural disturbances creating canopy gaps are important to the structural and biological diversity of a forest ecosystem. Location within a gap, available growing space, and the success of gap capture by plant species determine the level of diversity within a disturbed area (Figure 1.2). The purpose of this study is to perform a vegetation analysis within natural gaps (i.e. tree fall gaps), artificial (i.e. harvested), and non-gap (i.e. closed canopy) on the FERP research areas to determine the effects of an expanding gap shelter wood silvicultural system on vascular plant, bryophyte, and terricolous diversity.

	Figure 1.2. Natural gaps should have higher species richness than non-gaps or harvested gaps in the treated units (top). Similarly, species richness is expected to increase with gap size (bottom).

Interactions Among Vegetation, Salamanders and Arthropods.>>