Survey of Audubon Wildlife Sanctuary


E.  Highland Woods/Upland Quadrats and Plots

      An 12 X 19 meter quadrat was set up in the highland woods area. Every tree over ten feet tall and one inch in diameter was plotted and identified (Fig. 6).  The diameter of each tree was measured at chest height. Shrubs in the understory were also identified.  The number of each species and their total cross-sectional area were calculated.  (See Table 4)

1.  Dominant Trees
      The dominant trees in terms of number were Beech (10/27, 37%), dogwood (4/27, 15%) and hackberry (3/27, 11%).  In terms of cross-sectional area however, the three top tree species were white oak (40,094 m2, 62%), black oak (11,304 m2, 17%) and tulip poplar (4,552, 6.9%).  The total number of species was 11.  The highland area had many more species of trees than the lowland woods and except for beeches, there was little overlap in species identified.  The dominant trees were completely different.

2.  Highland Understory Inside the Quadrat
1.  Blueberry
2.  Ferns
3.  Greenbriars
4.  Virginia creeper
5.  Seedlings of beech, dogwood, magnolia, hickory, water oak, white oak and others.

ASSESSMENT:

    Based on the theory of succession, we have determined the approximate age of the lowland area to be around 50-75 years of age since the last clearing, and the upland area to range for 75-100 years since the last clearing.  The lowland area has a much more dense growth pattern and is still heavily covered in under story brush and seedlings.  The upland area has many full -size trees, but the under story area, while containing more seedlings than the lowlands, is still much more sparsely populated.

    The lowland area was determined to be a part of the Southern Riverine Forest.  Indicator plants include the Sweet gum, Box Elder, Poison Ivy and Jack-in-the-Pulpit.

      We determined that the upland area was part of the Southern Mixed Pine-Oak Forest, which is still reaching its climax.  There were several indicator plants on which to base this judgment, including but not limited to a number of White Oaks, Black Oaks and Loblolly and other pines, Persimmons and Hickories.

Table 4.  Upland Tree Quadrat
Fig.6# Species Diameter (Cm)Cross-sect Area Cm2
1 Hackberry 212.56
2 Beech 328.26
3 Dogwood 11379.94
4 Red Maple 212.56
5 White Oak 11340094.66
6 Dogwood 9254.34
7 Hackberry 212.56
8 Loblolly Pine 241808.64
9 Beech 450.24
10 Hickory 3.538.465
11 Hackberry 2.519.625
12 Beech 4.563.585
13 Dogwood 11379.94
14 Loblolly Pine 211384.74
15 Beech 16803.84
16 Tulip Poplar 15706.5
17 Tulip Poplar 353846.5
18 Dogwood 10314
19 Beech 11.5415.265
20 Blue Beech 4.563.585
21 Beech 10.5346.185
22 Persimmon 15.5754.385
23 Beech 7153.86
24 Beech 6113.04
25 Black Oak 6011,304
26 Beech 7153.86
27 Beech 221519.76
Total Wood Area - 65034.895 sq cm
Total Area of the Quadrat: 19m x 12m = 228 sq m or 2,280,000 sq cm
Percent of Quadrat which is wood area = 65035/2,280,000 = 2.85%

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Figure 6.  Highland Tree Plot
Figure 6. Highland Tree Plot

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