The Use of Assisted Succession to Restore the Globally Imperiled Dwarf Pine-Oak
Total Page：16
File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb
The use of assisted succession to restore the globally imperiled dwarf pine-oak forests of the New Jersey Pinelands: An investigation of the functional and structural recovery of an abandoned gravel pit. A Thesis Submitted to the Faculty of Drexel University by Michael Alan Zolkewitz in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy May 2010 © Copyright 2010 Michael Alan Zolkewitz. All Rights Reserved. ii Dedication This work is dedicated to Joshua, Jordan, and Ayla Jiselle. My three amazing children who remind me daily never to take even the simplest of things in life for granted. iii Acknowledgements My academic journey began many years ago and I never would have made it to where I am today without the support, friendship, and love of many people. First and foremost, the success of this doctoral work is a result of the dedication and commitment given to me by my supervising professor Dr. Walter Bien. I am so grateful for the relationship that has developed between the two of us over the years. I have been so fortunate to be trained and mentored by not only an excellent scientist but an extraordinary naturalist. Thank you Walt for sharing your passion for the Pine Barrens with me, I will always treasure our botanical explorations at Warren Grove Range. I am especially grateful that you held my work to the highest of standards and convinced me that my research was worthy of a Ph.D. I am also thankful for the other brilliant scientists on my committee. To Dr. Kilham who was the first Professor to warmly welcome me to the department, and who always showed me support in whatever I did over the last 9 years. To Dr. Lacovara who taught me to separate emotion from science, but not the passion for science. To Dr. Dighton, who welcomed me into his Rutgers Pinelands Field Station, treated me as one of his own students, and showed me that what’s below ground is as important as what’s above ground. An especially heartfelt note of gratitude to Dr. Spotila, who understood and respected the difficulty in balancing family with academic commitments and gave me the freedom and space to conduct my own research, but was always there to see me through. iv I would never have been able to accomplish the sophisticated soil analysis undertaken in this project without the guidance of and oversight by Dr. Dennis Gray. Dennis, I will always be indebted to you for all that you taught me and for dedicating so many hours helping me in the laboratory. I truly value your ongoing assistance and especially our friendship. Many thanks to Dr. Hal Avery, who over the last nine years, always found ways to help me improve my presentations, my research questions, and my study design. My work at the Warren Grove Gunnery Range would not have been possible without the commitment and support of Captain Richard DeFeo, Dr. Doug Ripley and the staff and crew of the United States 177th Fighter Wing. I could never have counted the many trees, measured the many blades of grass, or strung the many plots without the help and loyalty of my friends and peers at Drexel. Thank you, Ron S., Alicia B., Katherine B., Bryan W., Bryan F., Anika M., and Mark M. I must also thank Ashley Olson who helped me to complete the final stages of this project by providing my three children with the best care, the greatest amount of love, and enough distraction to keep them out of my office while I wrote. Finally, I would never have made it to where I am today without the support, devotion, motivation, friendship, and unconditional love of my beautiful and amazing wife Michelle, who continues to inspire me to live my dreams. Thank you for believing in me. v Table of Contents LIST OF TABLES ............................................................................................................ vii LIST OF FIGURES ............................................................................................................ x ABSTRACT ...................................................................................................................... xv 1. CHAPTER 1: Introduction ........................................................................................... 1 Background ................................................................................................................ 1 Thesis Objective and Rationale ................................................................................. 5 Organization of Chapters ........................................................................................... 6 2. CHAPTER 2: An evaluation of reforestation on highly disturbed sites in the New Jersey Pinelands, USA ............................................................................. 11 Abstract .................................................................................................................... 11 Introduction ............................................................................................................. 12 Methods ................................................................................................................... 16 Results ..................................................................................................................... 21 Discussion ................................................................................................................ 24 Implications for Practice .......................................................................................... 30 3. CHAPTER 3: A Case Study of Assisted Succession for the Restoration of an Abandoned Gravel Pit in the New Jersey Pinelands .......................................... 41 Abstract .................................................................................................................... 41 Introduction ............................................................................................................. 42 Methods ................................................................................................................... 49 Results ..................................................................................................................... 55 Discussion ................................................................................................................ 58 Conclusion ............................................................................................................... 70 vi 4. CHAPTER 4: Factors contributing to successful germination and establishment of Schizachyrium scoparium on an Abandoned Gravel Pit in the New Jersey Pinelands .................................................................................. 94 Abstract .................................................................................................................... 94 Introduction ............................................................................................................. 95 Methods ................................................................................................................. 102 Results ................................................................................................................... 107 Discussion .............................................................................................................. 114 Conclusion ............................................................................................................. 124 5. CHAPTER 5: A comparative analysis of below ground function between a restored gravel pit and naturally recovering disturbed pine plains community in the New Jersey Pine Barrens ................................................... 156 Abstract .................................................................................................................. 156 Introduction ........................................................................................................... 157 Methods ................................................................................................................. 165 Results ................................................................................................................... 172 Discussion .............................................................................................................. 176 Conclusion ............................................................................................................. 187 LIST OF REFERENCES ................................................................................................ 206 APPENDIX 1: Location of the Warren Grove Gunnery Range in south central New Jersey U.S.A.................................................................................................................... 238 VITA ............................................................................................................................... 239 vii List of Tables 1. Descriptions of restoration study sites at WGR. (Key refers to location on Figure 1) ................................................................................................................. 31 2. Structural characteristics for each of the restoration sites and the reference site. Values are the means + S.E. Mean values in rows not sharing same letter are significantly different at p = 0.05........................................... 32 3. Complete plant inventory for all study sites. Presence or absence of plant species was conducted at multiple times throughout the growing season ..................................................................................................................