Journal Article

Boundary form effects on woody colonization of reclaimed surface mines

Forman, R.T.T, Hardt, R.A. (Harvard University, Cambridge, MA)

1989

Overview

Woody plants and evidence of browsing were measured on eight reclaimed strip mines in Maryland and West Virginia to see whether revegetation patterns differed adjacent to concave, straight, and convex forest boundaries. Two clonal species predominated (Rubus allegheniensis and Robinia pseudoacacia), followed in abundance by three wind-dispersed species (Fraxinus americana, Acer rubrum, Betula lenta), and a variety of animal-dispersed species. Mine transects adjacent to concave forest boundaries had 2.5 times as many colonizing stems as those next to convex boundaries. Stems of colonizing species extended >61 m from concave boundaries, but rarely > 13 m from convex boundaries. Stem density of all the common animal-dispersed species was correlated with their abundance in the adjacent forest edge, whereas no relationship existed for Robinia or the wind-dispersed species. Evidence of browsing was greater adjacent to concave boundaries than opposite convex boundaries. These strikingly different colonization patterns appear to be primarily the result of the immigration process interacting directly with shape as a spatial characteristic. Through time, a @'concave-convex reversal@' in boundary form is evident. This results from a @'cove concentration effect@' where the greatest boundary expansion rate is in coves being colonized. Almost all patterns next to straight boundaries were intermediate between those opposite concave and convex boundaries. We conclude that boundary form may exert a powerful control over adjacent ecosystems in a landscape. This presents significant opportunities for planning and managing surface mines and other colonizing areas.

• Publisher: The Ecological Society of America,Ecological Society of America,Brooklyn Botanic Garden, etc
• Subject: Acer rubrum / Animal and plant ecology / Animal, plant and microbial ecology / ARBOLES / ARBRE / Betula lenta / Biological and medical sciences / BORDER EFFECT / BOSQUES / BOUNDARIES / Browsing / CONDICIONES AMBIENTALES / CONDITION DE MILIEU / Demecology / ECOLOGIA VEGETAL / Ecological sustainability / Ecology / ECOSISTEMA / ECOSYSTEME / ECOSYSTEMS / Edge effects / ENVIRONMENTAL CONDITIONS / environmental factors / ESSAI / Forest ecology / FORESTS / FORET / Fraxinus americana / Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology / immigration / Inlets / land restoration / Landscape ecology / Landscapes / LIMITE / Locusts / MARYLAND / mined soils / Mines / Mining industry / PHYTOECOLOGIE / planning / PLANT ECOLOGY / Plants and fungi / PRUEBAS / RECLAIMED LAND / REVEGETATION / Robinia pseudoacacia / Rubus allegheniensis / Species / stems / Strip mines / TERRE RECUPEREE / TIERRAS REHABILITADAS / TREES / TRIALS / VEGETACION / VEGETATION / VIRGINIE OCCIDENTALE / WEST VIRGINIA / woody plants