Vegetation Ecology and Fire Effects on Community Structure, Composition, and Diversity in a Barrens Remnant and a Flatwoods in Southern Illinois

Fire effects on composition and diversity at both sites were greatest in the ground-layer vegetation as there were significant increases in species diversity and cover and dramatic changes among dominant species. Most increase in species diversity appears to be from soil seed banks. At GCB the increase was among species typical for the habitat while at MVF increase in diversity included typical flatwoods species and ruderal taxa. Changes among species at GCB included a trend towards greater dominance of C3 graminoid species compared to the former dominance of C4 species. Decline in C4 grasses occurred at both the fire-treatment and control areas. At MVF, numerous flatwoods sedges not recorded in baseline samples emerged from the seed bank; however, several typical flatwoods grass and forb species remain absent.

Name thesis:degree_name

Ph.D.

Level thesis:degree_level

Dissertation

Discipline thesis:degree_discipline

Natural Resrouces and Environmental Sciences

Grantor

University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

Year dc:date

2015

Author dc:creator

• Taft, John Beauman

Contributors dc:contributor

• Dawson, Jeffrey O.

• Biology, Botany

Language dc:language

eng

Identifier

(MiAaPQ)AAI9921745

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:www.ideals.illinois.edu:2142/83142