A VASCULAR FLORA OF BENDABOUT FARM, BRADLEY COUNTY, TENNESSEE AND SURVEY OF NATIVE CASTANEA DENTATA (MARSH) BORKH. (FAGACEAE, AMERICAN CHESTNUT) By Amelia Paige Harris Approved: J. Hill Craddock Joey T. Shaw Professor of Biological Associate Professor of Biological and Environmental Sciences and Environmental Sciences (Co-Chairperson of Committee) (Co-Chairperson of Committee) Thomas P. Wilson Associate Professor of Biological and Environmental Sciences (Committee Member) Jeff Elwell A. Jerald Ainsworth Dean of the College of Arts and Sciences Dean of the Graduate School A VASCULAR FLORA OF BENDABOUT FARM, BRADLEY COUNTY, TENNESSEE AND SURVEY OF NATIVE CASTANEA DENTATA (MARSH) BORKH. (FAGACEAE, AMERICAN CHESTNUT) By Amelia Paige Harris A Thesis Submitted to the Faculty of the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga in Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree of Master of Science in Environmental Science The University of Tennessee at Chattanooga Chattanooga, Tennessee August 2013 ii ABSTRACT The primary goal of this study was to inventory the flora of Bendabout Farm, a 1,467 ha privately-owned farm in Bradley County, Tennessee. A second goal was to conduct a census of the population and distribution of surviving Castanea dentata (Marsh) Borkh. (American chestnut) within the study area. Both natural/semi-natural and altered habitats were described during initial habitat characterization. The study recorded 433 species from 261 genera in 106 families. The study documented 250 new records for Bradley County. Special Concern Species, Panax quinquefolius L., was vouchered, as were 68 non-native species. C. dentata were located using the sweep census method in the dry oak forest. In total, 330 ha were surveyed and 181 sprouts were documented. Maps displaying location data were generated in ArcGIS 10 to assist property managers in making best land management decisions in regard to protecting C. dentata sprouts on the farm. iii ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS I would like to extend my genuine gratitude to my major advisor, Dr. Hill Craddock, for his boundless enthusiasm and for being a constant source of encouragement, motivation, and intellectual stimulation throughout my graduate career. I would like to thank my Co-Advisor, Dr. Joey Shaw, for inviting me into his lab and enriching my graduate experience by encouraging me to share my work with the botanical community, as well as Dr. Thomas Wilson for imparting his vast knowledge of GIS and surveying methodology. I would like to offer a most sincere thanks to Summerfield K. Johnston, Jr. for the extending the opportunity to explore and conduct my research at Bendabout Farm. Matt Bentley was critical in obtaining access, providing knowledge about the farm’s history, and making sure I wasn’t burnt to a crisp or shot while out botanizing. I would like to extend my thanks to him and to all the Bendabout Farm staff. I greatly appreciate Dollywood’s commitment to American chestnut restoration and whole-heartedly thank this organization for providing the funding for my research assistantship at UTC. The Tennessee Chapter of the American Chestnut Foundation welcomed me with open arms and provided inspiration and support throughout the duration of this project. I would like to thank Andy Carroll for providing spatial data, help with printing maps, and for being an excellent GIS guru. The UTC Graduate School was instrumental in providing the funding that allowed me to attend multiple conferences throughout the Southeast where I shared my research with colleagues and leaders in my field. iv Team Chestnut consisted of a dedicated core of individuals, without whom the chestnut census would not have been possible. I would like to express my sincere gratitude to David North, Jim Pfitzer, and William White for their tireless dedication and camaraderie. Many others volunteered their time and keen eyesight to this project including, Ana Metaxas, Carl Absher, Kristen Stanfill, Elijah Reyes, Paola Zannini, Emilio Craddock, Adam Lyon, KJ Minchew, Nicolas Perego, Jessica Jones, and Chris Livera. I have a deep appreciation for my colleagues and labmates at UTC, whose friendship has been valuable and enriching. Lastly, I would like to thank my family for their endless support throughout my journey. v TABLE OF CONTENTS ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS ........................................................................................................... iv LIST OF TABLES ....................................................................................................................... viii LIST OF FIGURES ....................................................................................................................... ix LIST OF ABBREVIATIONS ........................................................................................................ xi LIST OF SYMBOLS ................................................................................................................... xiii CHAPTER I. INTRODUCTION .........................................................................................................1 The Importance of Floras .........................................................................................3 Natural History of Castanea dentata .......................................................................6 Monitoring Threatened Species ...............................................................................7 Objectives ................................................................................................................9 II. STUDY AREA ............................................................................................................10 Geography ..............................................................................................................12 Geology and Hydrology .........................................................................................12 Soils........................................................................................................................16 Climate ...................................................................................................................17 Human History .......................................................................................................18 Current Land Use ...................................................................................................20 Access ....................................................................................................................20 Natural Disturbances ..............................................................................................21 III. METHODS ..................................................................................................................22 Habitat Characterization ........................................................................................22 Flora .......................................................................................................................23 Castanea dentata Census .......................................................................................25 IV. RESULTS & DISCUSSION........................................................................................28 vi Habitat Characterization ........................................................................................28 Floristic Summary ..................................................................................................44 Castanea dentata Census .......................................................................................52 V. CONCLUSION ............................................................................................................56 REFERENCES ..............................................................................................................................59 APPENDIX A. Figures ....................................................................................................................66 B. Species Checklist of Bendabout Farm Flora ..........................................................75 C. List of documented Castanea dentata at Bendabout Farm with field notes ..........92 VITA ............................................................................................................................................100 vii LIST OF TABLES 1. Mean temperature and precipitation of the Cleveland Filter Plant Weather Station, Cleveland, Bradley County, Tennessee ...........................................................................18 2. Spatial data used in ArcGIS and its source of acquisition .....................................................23 3. Area of Habitats at Bendabout Farm .....................................................................................29 4. Floristic Summary of Bendabout Farm..................................................................................44 5. Families with largest percentages of introduced species .......................................................46 6. Listing and rank of the non-native, invasive taxa of Bendabout Farm from the Tennessee Exotic Pest Plant Council (2011) ...................................................................48 7. Six Ridge and Valley Floras ..................................................................................................50 viii LIST OF FIGURES 1. Location of Bendabout Farm .............................................................................................11 2. Level IV Ecoregions. Bendabout Farm in center.