ENVIRONMENTAL STUDIES: Ecological Notes
April 2006
Canopy in March 2006 |
Since October the forest has changed from a gray and brown landscape to a sea of young green leaves. Due to the change in shape of the forest there is an abundance of green at the eye level caused by herbaceous plants on the forest floor and re-sprouting trees. This process started happening in early November with elderberry filling in the canopy gaps and has continued with the spring refoliation of the trees. Flowering plants such as Ironweed (Vernonia missurica), Yellowtop (Senecio glabellus), White snakeroot (Eupatorium rugosum) and Narrow-leaved Vetch (Vicia angustifolia) and several others quickly flowered under the direct sun; establishing a wide range of color during a time of grays and browns, proving that hurricanes in their awful destruction and heartache bring life.
In the last column I mentioned light gaps and re-sprouting. These two topics go hand in hand to create the growth rates we are seeing now. Light gaps are the term used when a tree goes down in a closed canopy, producing a single location for light to penetrate down to the forest floor. Within these gaps seedlings germinate and trees grow at an accelerated rate to quickly take advantage of the energy needed to fill in the hole of the canopy. Re-sprouting is the term used for trees that have lost their leaves either in winter or from large scale winds that remove leaves before they are ready to be dropped for winter.
Elderberry light-gap |
It is important that you think about these two processes when you think of A Studio in The Woods, because they are at the core of what is happening. 65% of the overstory canopy has been removed creating a seven-acre light gap, which in turn has produced re-sprouting, and flowering that has not been witnessed before at ASITW. Downed, pinned, branched and young trees all have benefited from the elevated sunshine, producing leaves and branches from all sides and heights. Most impressive are the large trees that were tipped-up (blown down with their roots pulled out). Many are now sending out leaves from their trunks, lowering the primary mortality created by Katrina. Another unique happening is the re-sprouting of younger trees from the ground to the crown created by the influx of light from all directions, looking like what botanists call “furry telephone poles.”
There are many other notable happenings in the woods, such as the large seedling crop that has germinated since the hurricane. Black Cherry (Prunus serotina), Hackberry (Celtis laevigata), Sweetgum (Liquidambar styraciflua), Dogwood (Cornus florida), and Grape (Vitas americana) have all been seen in abundance. Vines of all varieties are starting to cover the forest floor producing flowers and berries. New Birds seen at ASITW include the: Scarlet Tanger, Hooded Warbler and Indigo Bunting. Many snakes have been seen now that the weather has warmed up to the mid 80’s jump-starting the mating season.
In the next column, I will talk about the scientific data that has been collected from Hurricane Katrina and what it reveals about survival in dry times and diversity of the forest from the seedbank of new trees.
Dave Baker
Environmental Curator, A Studio in the Woods
Back |
