Understory Growth
Analyzation of the Diversity of Understory Vegetation from the Hilltop to the Marsh in the Sackville New Brunswick Waterfowl Park
Abstract
In locations such as the Sackville New Brunswick Waterfowl Park, the understory layer of the temperate forest contains a diverse array of vegetation species. The diversity and composition of the understory can vary according to abiotic and biotic factors in the environment. In this experiment, the diversity of the understory between the hilltop and marsh locations in the Waterfowl Park was tested for understory community diversity and variation. This was done using the quadrant sampling method, with three samples taken at each location, with the collected data being used to calculate importance values of species present, Sorenson’s index of similarity, Shannon-Weiner and Simpson’s Diversity index. The importance values and rankings of the species locations were found to be dissimilar, with grass being the most important species at the hilltop and lesser duckweed at the marsh. Only four of nineteen species were similar between the two areas, giving a Sorenson’s index of 0.381. With these results it was concluded that the composition and diversity of the understory vegetation is significantly different between the proximal location of the hilltop and marsh, likely due to differences in abiotic factors and accounting for succession in the marsh. These results may be significant in terms of species conservation and the potential for future disturbances and development within the park.
Introduction
In the temperate biome of New Brunswick, forests are vertically stratified, with different vegetation growing at different levels. The understory layer refers to plants growing beneath the highest canopy layer, usually comprising of shade tolerant seedlings, saplings, shrubs and herbs. The understory layer tends to be moister than exposed areas, as the canopy blocks much solar radiation
Abstract
In locations such as the Sackville New Brunswick Waterfowl Park, the understory layer of the temperate forest contains a diverse array of vegetation species. The diversity and composition of the understory can vary according to abiotic and biotic factors in the environment. In this experiment, the diversity of the understory between the hilltop and marsh locations in the Waterfowl Park was tested for understory community diversity and variation. This was done using the quadrant sampling method, with three samples taken at each location, with the collected data being used to calculate importance values of species present, Sorenson’s index of similarity, Shannon-Weiner and Simpson’s Diversity index. The importance values and rankings of the species locations were found to be dissimilar, with grass being the most important species at the hilltop and lesser duckweed at the marsh. Only four of nineteen species were similar between the two areas, giving a Sorenson’s index of 0.381. With these results it was concluded that the composition and diversity of the understory vegetation is significantly different between the proximal location of the hilltop and marsh, likely due to differences in abiotic factors and accounting for succession in the marsh. These results may be significant in terms of species conservation and the potential for future disturbances and development within the park.
Introduction
In the temperate biome of New Brunswick, forests are vertically stratified, with different vegetation growing at different levels. The understory layer refers to plants growing beneath the highest canopy layer, usually comprising of shade tolerant seedlings, saplings, shrubs and herbs. The understory layer tends to be moister than exposed areas, as the canopy blocks much solar radiation
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