Canopy influence as a factor in determining understory community composition

• Main Author: Wilcox, Richard B.
• Format: Others
• Published: BYU ScholarsArchive 1977
• Subjects: Plant communities
• Online Access: https://scholarsarchive.byu.edu/etd/8001; https://scholarsarchive.byu.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=9001&context=etd

Four tree species (i.e. Pinus ponderosa, Juiperus scopulorum, Quercus Gambelii, and Ceanothus velutinus were chosen for this study. Ten individuals of each species were selected and their associated understory communities and adjacent non-understory communities sampled. Data taken included biotic and abiotic parameters. The data was subjected to similarity index analysis, cluster analysis, discriminant analysis, and x^2 analysis. The results were confirmed by all tests. The forest canopy was shown to directly influence the understory community. The understory community is a shrub-grass dominated type while the non-understory community is an annual-forb dominated type. The different tree species were also shown to differentially influence their associated understory communities.