118 THE MICHIGAN BOTANIST Vol. 49 TREE COMPOSITION AND DEMOGRAPHY OF A SECOND GROWTH HARDWOOD FOREST IN BERRIEN COUNTY, MICHIGAN Robert Tatina Dakota Wesleyan University Biology Department Mitchell, SD 57301
[email protected] ABSTRACT The tree species composition of a small, second growth forest in Berrien County, Michigan, about one-half mile east of Lake Michigan, was determined from tree numbers and diameters gath - ered using the T-square method. The forest is dominated by northern red oak ( Quercus rubra ), east - ern white pine ( Pinus strobus ) and red maple ( Acer rubrum ). When compared to upland sites, low - land sites had greater species diversity (14 compared to 11) and a greater basal area (57.84 compared to 39.16 m 2 . ha –1 ), but had a lower density (317.89 compared to 357.05 trees . ha –1 ) of trees. Size class structure of the tree species generally showed that they were replacing themselves and will con - tinue for some time into the future. KEY WORDS: Berrien County, Michigan, Southern Mesic Hardwood Forest, Species Compo - sition, Tree Size Classes INTRODUCTION According to original land survey records, the vegetation of Berrien County, Michigan, prior to settlement by non-native people was hardwood forest with dominance shared by American beech ( Fagus grandifolia ) and sugar maple (Acer saccharum ) (Brewer et al. 1984). Since then much of the county has been logged (Coolidge 1906) and some of it burned (Ellis 1880), leaving a mosaic of agricultural land, forests and commercial and residential developments. Over time, the once grand forests of Michigan have become reduced in area, and today represent about half of their former extent (Dickmann and Leefers 2003).