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ABSTRACT |
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TITLE: |
Tree, Shrub, and Herb Succession and Five Years of Management Following the Establishment of a New Electric Transmission Right-of-Way through a Mixed Wodland |
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AUTHOR(S): |
Michael R. Haggie
- info@cheswildlife.org Hubert A. Allen, Jr. - hubertaallen@compuserve.com |
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A five-year study on vegetation succession
was undertaken following the construction of a new electric transmission
right-of-way (ROW) in Delaware, USA, that utilized both clear and selective
cutting methods. Integrated vegetation management (IVM) methods were used as
secondary interventions and compared against control sites. Restrictions have
been imposed by regulatory agencies declaring that only selective clearing of
targeted incompatible tall-growing trees and retention of existing compatible
low-growing trees and shrubs is permitted for new ROW construction. Permanent
upland quadrants were established for this study that compared tree, shrub,
and herb populations following clear-cut and select-cut tree removal, and
integrated vegetation management and no treatment interventions. Baseline
data were gathered prior to construction and changes were documented for
species numbers, diversity, stem count, and relative density. The management
of desirable species and their relative value to wildlife are considered.
Results show that IVM interventions triggered vegetation succession from
mature woodland trees to low shrub/herbaceous communities as successfully in
the clear-cut as in the select-cut quadrants. Total species numbers remained
relatively stable but reflect a substitution of trees for herbaceous species
while shrub species numbers remained relatively constant. The environmental
effects of electric transmission ROW establishment and various vegetation
management techniques upon plant species succession are discussed. Keywords: Relative dominance index (RDI), wildlife use index
(WUI), upland, Delaware, clear-cut (CC), select-cut (SC), integrated
vegetation management (IVM), selective treatment |
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