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Gap-Scale Disturbance Patterns and Processes in a Montane Pinus palustris Woodland
| Content Provider | MDPI |
|---|---|
| Author | Mueller, Helena L. Goode, J. Davis Hart, Justin L. |
| Copyright Year | 2022 |
| Description | Gap-scale disturbances drive successional and structural development patterns in most forest ecosystems. Although fire-maintained Pinus palustris woodlands are less light limited than closed canopy forests, gap-scale disturbance processes may still influence successional and developmental pathways. We quantified biophysical characteristics of 50 canopy gaps in a montane Pinus palustris woodland to analyze gap-scale disturbance patterns and processes. We found most gaps (64%) were caused by the death of a single tree. Snag-formed gaps were most common (38%) followed by snapped stems (32%). We hypothesized that insect-induced mortality, perhaps in combination with drought periods, resulted in the high frequency of snag- and snapped stem-formed gaps. We did not find significant differences in gap size or shape based on gap formation or closure mechanisms. Most gaps (74%) were projected to close by lateral crown expansion of gap perimeter trees. We hypothesized most gaps projected to close via subcanopy recruitment would be captured by a P. palustris stem. The majority of gaps were small and gap frequency declined with increased gap size. We found gaps were significantly clustered through the woodland at distances of 8–36 m from gap edge to gap edge but were randomly distributed beyond 36 m. |
| Starting Page | 1169 |
| e-ISSN | 19994907 |
| DOI | 10.3390/f13081169 |
| Journal | Forests |
| Issue Number | 8 |
| Volume Number | 13 |
| Language | English |
| Publisher | MDPI |
| Publisher Date | 2022-07-23 |
| Access Restriction | Open |
| Subject Keyword | Forests Forestry Canopy Gap Lidar Longleaf Pine Regeneration Succession Stand Structure |
| Content Type | Text |
| Resource Type | Article |
