One year of monitoring later
We have just completed our first year of monitoring and established some baseline data. In the understory, invasive shrubs and vines are growing throughout our woodlands. In areas of higher native diversity, the dominance of invasive species is lower. In understories thick with honeysuckle there are very few seedlings and saplings. Our canopy data show a rise of red maples is happening across the property. Red maples have physiological properties that make them successful in both early and late successional stages of the forest. Based our surveys, our oak hickory forest is being replaced by other hardwood species such as maple and beech. The large oaks and hickories close the canopy for light, and oak and hickory seedlings are not shade tolerant compared to the other species found in the woods. We will keep documenting this shift.
This diagram represents data from one of our most diverse communities (oak hickory). Twenty six species were observed over the summer and fall seasons and the most frequent species (seen in 4/5 or 5/5 plots) are pictured. The three invasive species observed in high frequency were chickweed, honeysuckle and winter creeper.
