Succession of tree species in northern lower Michigan following clear-cutting and fire.

Abstract

Forest succession involves species change over time following a disturbance in the environment. This study observes the change in the distribution of shade tolerant species and shade intolerant species in three separate burn plots. Three plots, undisturbed since 1911, 1948, and 1980 respectively, were censused for species diversity and age class. Light was also measured and compared between the three plots. Diversity was quantified and compared between the three plots using the Shannon-Wiener equation. We found 1980 plot was dominated by shade intolerant species such as bigtooth aspen (Populus grandidentata) and the 1911 plot was dominated by a wide diversity of shade tolerant species such as red maple (Acer rubrum) and red pine (Pinus resinosa) while the 1948 plot was not dominated by either group. Species diversity increased in the canopy of the older plots. Succession stages flowed from shade tolerant to shade intolerant and canopy cover increased. Different physiologies and tolerance to light allowed different trees species to occupy different niches in the environment.