Harper, Faculty Advisor, R. Given

Thomas, Jason M

Wrage, Faculty Advisor, Keith

Digital Commons @ Illinois Wesleyan University

Illinois Wesleyan UniversityDigital Commons @ IWUJohn Wesley Powell Student ResearchConference 1997, 8th Annual JWP ConferenceApr 12th, 9:00 AM - 10:30 AMThe Effect of Canopy Direction on PlantDistribution Within an Oak SavannaJason M. ThomasIllinois Wesleyan UniversityKeith Wrage, Faculty AdvisorIllinois Wesleyan UniversityR. Given Harper, Faculty AdvisorIllinois Wesleyan UniversityFollow this and additional works at: http://digitalcommons.iwu.edu/jwprcThis Event is brought to you for free and open access by The Ames Library, the Andrew W. Mellon Center for Curricular and FacultyDevelopment, the Office of the Provost and the Office of the President. It has been accepted for inclusion in Digital Commons @ IWU bythe faculty at Illinois Wesleyan University. For more information, please contact digitalcommons@iwu.edu.©Copyright is owned by the author of this document.Jason M. Thomas; Keith Wrage, Faculty Advisor; and R. Given Harper, Faculty Advisor, "The Effect of Canopy Directionon Plant Distribution Within an Oak Savanna" (April 12, 1997). John Wesley Powell Student Research Conference. Paper40.http://digitalcommons.iwu.edu/jwprc/1997/posters/40Poster Presentation 39 THE EFFECT OF CANOPY DIRECTION ON PLANT DISTRIBUTION WITHIN AN OAK SAVANNA Jason M. Thomas, Keith Wrage* and R. Given Harper* ,  Department of Biology, IWU Oak savannas, which are prairies with scattered oak trees, were common in central North America in the early 1800's. However, they are now one of the most endangered ecosystems in North America. Determining limiting factors in plant distribution is an important aspect in efforts to restore oak savannas. The objective of this study was to determine if there was a relationship between canopy direction (i.e. north and south facing canopies) and plant distribution in oak savannas. Light penetration through canopies is important for agricultural crops by providing stronger lower branches and better fruit quality. Sun-shade gradients have also been demonstrated to be a major factor on plant distribution within oak savannas. The study was conducted in the Cedar Creek Natural History Area near Bethel, Minnesota during July - August, 1996. Nine north-south 200 m transects spaced 25 m apart were established in this oak savanna. Sample sites along these transects occurred every 5 m and were 1 m by .5 m in dimension. The presence of 29 plant species native to oak savannas was determined within the sample boundaries. In addition, two light measurements were taken at sample sites to determine the amount of light penetration from the north and from the south. Plant distributions will be compared in relation to light measurements using linear regression. 

The Effect of Canopy Direction on Plant Distribution Within an Oak Savanna

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The Effect of Canopy Direction on Plant Distribution Within an Oak Savanna

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