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Oak Savanna in Southeast Wisconsin:
Richard Bong State Recreation Area
 

In an oak savanna landscape, individual oak openings in an oak savanna can very widely in canopy structure, species composition, and spatial distribution depending on management frequency.

As a result, the understory diversity and abundance responds differently to different management regimes.

Methods:

- Identify canopy and understory species
- Collect species composition in plots and transects.
- Determine tree diameters and spatial location.
- Extract tree cores.
- Quantify canopy cover and light intensity.
- Measure tree ring widths

 Objectives:

1. To analyze the differences in age /size structure in oak openings burned every 1-2 years (frequent), 4-6 yrs (moderate), or unburned.


 2. To investigate the spatial distribution of canopy development and subcanopy patches.

 3. To analyze how the canopy affects the understory plant community.
 


Frequent burning versus No burning creates a different age structure and separate cohorts.
Frequently burned site
 

 Unburned site
Closed canopy decreases oak survival.

Unmanaged oak opening with dense woody subcanopy.

Light intensity was quantified to to determine if varying levels of shadiness affect species composition, quality of sun, species tolerance for shade, and species richness in the understory.

Last updated: 03/02/2008