Invasion of Transition Hardwood Forests by Exotic Rhamnus Frangula: Chronology and Site Requirements
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University of New Hampshire University of New Hampshire Scholars' Repository Master's Theses and Capstones Student Scholarship Spring 2007 Invasion of transition hardwood forests by exotic Rhamnus frangula: Chronology and site requirements Hanna S. Wingard University of New Hampshire, Durham Follow this and additional works at: https://scholars.unh.edu/thesis Recommended Citation Wingard, Hanna S., "Invasion of transition hardwood forests by exotic Rhamnus frangula: Chronology and site requirements" (2007). Master's Theses and Capstones. 286. https://scholars.unh.edu/thesis/286 This Thesis is brought to you for free and open access by the Student Scholarship at University of New Hampshire Scholars' Repository. It has been accepted for inclusion in Master's Theses and Capstones by an authorized administrator of University of New Hampshire Scholars' Repository. For more information, please contact [email protected]. INVASION OF TRANSITION HARDWOOD FORESTS BY EXOTIC RHAMNUS FRANGULA: CHRONOLOGY AND SITE REQUIREMENTS BY HANNA S. WINGARD Baccalaureate Degree, University of Michigan, 2000 THESIS Submitted to the University of New Hampshire in Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree of M aster of Science in Natural Resources May, 2007 Reproduced with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permission. UMI Number: 1443642 INFORMATION TO USERS The quality of this reproduction is dependent upon the quality of the copy submitted. Broken or indistinct print, colored or poor quality illustrations and photographs, print bleed-through, substandard margins, and improper alignment can adversely affect reproduction. In the unlikely event that the author did not send a complete manuscript and there are missing pages, these will be noted. Also, if unauthorized copyright material had to be removed, a note will indicate the deletion. ® UMI UMI Microform 1443642 Copyright 2007 by ProQuest Information and Learning Company. All rights reserved. This microform edition is protected against unauthorized copying under Title 17, United States Code. ProQuest Information and Learning Company 300 North Zeeb Road P.O. Box 1346 Ann Arbor, Ml 48106-1346 Reproduced with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permission. This thesis has been examined and approved. Theses Co-director, Thomas D. Lee, Associate Professor of Forest Ecology Thesis Co-director, Robert T. Eckert, Professor of Environmental Conservation and Forestry Mark J. Ducey, Associate Professor orest Biometrics and Management ^ / /0 / 0 } Date Reproduced with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permission. ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS I sincerely thank Jen Thompson and Reeder Fahnestock for their assistance in the field. Dr. Mark Ducey provided invaluable statistical advice. Dr. Serita Frey generously allowed the use of her soils laboratory. Thanks to Drs. Tom Lee and Robert Eckert for their flexibility and support while developing a new project. Also, thanks to loved ones, family, and friends who have supported me throughout this process. A teaching assistantship and a Summer Teaching Assistant Fellowship from the University of New Hampshire Graduate School provided funding for this project. Additional funding was provided by the New Hampshire Agricultural Experiment Station Mclntire-Stennis Project No. 52. Finally, an additional thank you to Tom Lee for reminding me that there is often humor in science. iii Reproduced with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permission. TABLE OF CONTENTS ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS........................................................................................................ iii TABLE OF CONTENTS............................................................................................................ iv LIST OF TABLES........................................................................................................................ v LIST OF FIGURES..................................................................................................................... vi ABSTRACT................................................................................................................................ vii CHAPTER PAGE I. INTRODUCTION.......................................................................... .........................................1 II. METHODS........................................................................................ 6 III. RESULTS.............................................................................................................................. 16 IV. DISCUSSION...................................................................................................................... 30 V. CONCLUSION...................................................................................................................... 38 LITERATURE CITED...............................................................................................................39 iv Reproduced with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permission. LIST OF TABLES TABLE PAGE 1. Results of principal components analysis...........................................................................16 2. Mean and standard deviation of relative abundances of the 9 most common tree species for all plots within each community type......................................17 3. Results of logistic regressions ofR.frangula presence/absence....................................18 4. Distribution of plots containingRhamnus frangula across sites and topographic positions.................................................................................19 5. Results of linear regressions using plots withR. frangula present................................ 22 6. Comparison of growth patterns ofR.frangula across sites and topographic positions.............................................. 25 v Reproduced with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permission. LIST OF FIGURES FIGURE PAGE 1. Map of Glossy buckthorn study sites in Durham, NH..,....................................................9 2. Example of plot (and subplot) configuration at each site.................................................10 3a. Relationship between stem diameter and stem age.........................................................21 3b. Relationship between stem height and stem age............................................................. 21 4. Age structure of Rhamnus frangula in 63, 78.5m2 plots in Durham, NH...................... 24 5. Mean age and age of oldest individual at each........................................................... site 24 6a. Comparison ofR. frangula >1 m density and time since plots were invaded............26 6b. Comparison ofR.frangula <1 m densityand time since plots were invaded............. 27 vi Reproduced with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permission. ABSTRACT INVASION OF TRANSITION HARDWOOD FORESTS BY EXOTIC RHAMNUSFRANGULA: CHRONOLOGY AND SITE REQUIREMENTS by Hanna S. Wingard University of New Hampshire, May, 2007 The invasion chronology and site requirements of the exotic, invasive shrub, glossy buckthorn ( Rhamnus frangula), were studied within intact transition hardwood - hemlock - white pine forests in Durham, NH. Data were collected from 63 plots (7 sites with 9 plots each). Within sites, plots were arranged over a topographic gradient with 3 plots in each of 3 topographic positions (upper, middle, and lower slope). From each plot, information on soil nutrients and texture, soil moisture, overstory community composition, and canopy openness was collected. DensitiesR. of frangula in two size classes (>1 m in height, <1 m in height) within each plot were calculated. Morphological data (height, diameter at stem base, number of live and dead stems, and age) were collected from each individual >1 m tall.R.frangula invaded these intact, closed-canopy forests over 30 years ago and the invasion has continued, with population density increasing over time. Nominal logistic regression suggested that site, topographic position, and overstory community type played a role in whether or notR. frangula was present in a plot. Plots on upper slopes dominated byTsuga canadensis were less likely to become invaded than other plots. Multiple linear regression showed that densityR. of frangula (>1 m) increased with time since invasion and increasing soil quality. Density vii Reproduced with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permission. of R.frangula (<1 m) was positively influenced by time since invasion, canopy openness, and density ofR. frangula (>1 m). Multiple regressions also showed that mean age and age of oldest R. frangula per plot were higher in plots with higher soil moisture content. Size of R. frangula individuals (i.e. height, diameter) generally increased with mean age of stems. The results show that successional, transition hardwood forests can be invaded by R. frangula and should not be overlooked when managing against this species. Special attention should be given to low topographic positions and areas with rich soils, while upland areas with dense hemlock canopy are much less likely to experience heavy invasion byR. frangula. viii Reproduced with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permission. CHAPTER I