ESTIMATING WILDLIFE BIODIVERSITY OF PINE PLANTATION EDGES OF CONTRASTING ROTATIONAL STAGES: A CASE STUDY
ESTIMATING WILDLIFE BIODIVERSITY OF PINE PLANTATION EDGES OF CONTRASTING ROTATIONAL STAGES: A CASE STUDY By: Joshua Harris, Dr. Daniel Scognamillo, Dr. Gary Kronrad, and Dr. Jeremy Stovall Abstract Wildlife biodiversity was estimated amongst three loblolly pine (Pinus taeda) intra-plantation edge types of contrasting rotational phases in a two-year case study. Three structurally varied rotational phases that occur throughout plantation rotations combine to make three different edges: A= pre-thinned - post-thinned, B= pre-thinned - pre-clearcut, and C= post-thinned - pre-clearcut. For two summer seasons (May-August 2015-2016), invertebrates, birds, medium mammals, and small mammals were sampled in each edge type. Richness, extrapolated richness, two indices for diversity, two measures of species evenness, and two measures of community dominance were estimated. Richness and abundance variation of vertebrate species among edge types was not great enough to separate one from the others. Invertebrate families were disproportionately found more so in edge type B, however sample sizes were too small to discern a significant difference. Each edge type contributed to diversity and abundance of certain wildlife groups and so we conclude that managing for landscape heterogeneity of plantation rotational phases spatially and temporally would benefit wildlife more-so than a disproportionate ratio of one edge type.
biodiversity, edges, plantation, richness, abundance, Forest Management
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