Forest Vegetation and Development Patterns in Secondary Stands on the Alabama Highland Rim: An Examination of the Largest Landholding in the Region

• DOI: 10.3375/043.031.0308
• Publication Date: 2011-08-11T16:12:58Z
• Authors: Arvind A. R. Bhuta; Justin L. Hart; Rebecca M. Schneider
• Keywords: Basal area; Old-growth forest; Seral community; Secondary forest

Redstone Arsenal (RA) is a large federal landholding (15,050 ha) managed by the U.S. Department of Army located on Highland Rim north Alabama. This provided unique opportunity to document forest vegetation and development patterns in region with paucity quantitative information. In this study, we quantified land cover types, delineated stands reserve using GIS, assessed composition structural measures. Stands were classed into Pinus, hardwood, mixed Pinus-hardwood, forested wetland types. The majority area ≥ 2 ha was hardwood dominated, while < Pinus dominated. We used stratified random scheme establish sampling points (n = 684) within through RA. taeda, Liquidambar styraciflua, Quercus phellos three most important tree species RA forest. Biodiversity for relatively high richness 56 diversity (H') 2.50. Total evenness (J) 0.62, but value lowered abundance plantation management. Average stand age 38 years range from 7 90 years. Basal 22.6 m2 ha-1 expect increase age. Significant differences noted between height across surveyed Our results provide information conditions an understudied region.