<p> The global issues of acid deposition and climate change call for a greater understanding of the relative influence of broad gradients of acid deposition, climate, soil, and stand characteristics in montane temperate forests. At each of 30 sites along the Appalachian Trail, I measured overstory composition and density (including snags) using the point-centered quarter method (9 plots) and characterized understory species composition and cover (27 plots, 1 m2 each). Analytical approaches included NMS ordination, multiple linear regression, and beta regression. Spruce-fir sites had lower understory richness, lower understory cover, higher cover of strongly acidophytic understory species, and greater regeneration of canopy trees. Temperature affected understory composition and precipitation increased understory cover. The proportion of snags among canopy trees was highest on cool sites with dense canopies. The impact of nitrogenous deposition was limited, but it may have a fertilizer effect. Sites with acidified (high Al) soil had poor canopy regeneration. </p>
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:PROQUEST/oai:pqdtoai.proquest.com:1560747 |
| Date | 10 September 2014 |
| Creators | Quant, Juliana |
| Publisher | State University of New York Col. of Environmental Science & Forestry |
| Source Sets | ProQuest.com |
| Language | English |
| Detected Language | English |
| Type | thesis |
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