Pinelands Biodiversity Study: Survey of Flora and Fauna in Managed vs. Unmanaged Forests in Two Pinelands Habitats: Research Project Summary
Date
2009-07
Date Removed
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Trenton, N.J. : New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection, Office of Science
Abstract
Past land use and natural history in the New Jersey Pinelands have lead to the unique biodiversity of this ecosystem. Forestry management practices both past and present have shaped preserved State lands, and the specific effects of these practices with respect to changes in flora and fauna temporally have warranted investigation. Surveys by Richard Stockton College of New Jersey were conducted in eight, 20-acre plots located at four sites in Brendan T. Byrne State Forest and in Ocean County during the summer of 2007. Within each site, two plots were examined: a study plot which had undergone recent forest management (e.g. thinning), and a control plot which had not undergone any recent (e.g. at least 10 yrs.) forest management. Sites shown to be the most highly diverse (i.e. highest biodiversity value) with respect to birds and plants were the Woodpecker and Plantation sites (Shannon Indices of 3.01 and 2.92, respectively), where the theoretical maximum (H’ max)is 3.66. These sites have been managed such that habitat complexity has been retained (e.g. creation of open areas with snags). Continual reintroduction of the early successional state through management and disturbance has contributed to the high biodiversity in managed areas. We hypothesize that the habitat type (e.g. a relatively closed canopy in the plantation) and proximity (e.g. adjacent, across the road) of the surrounding areas (the “habitat complexes”) were important factors contributing to the increased biodiversity of these sites.However, areas in close proximity to infrastructure and suburban development can cause the opposite effect. The least diverse site, the Parkway Site, was adjacent to many suburban structures (e.g. the Garden State Parkway, homes, other roads, etc.) and was highly fragmented which may offer some insight. Renewal of open areas for species establishment greatly increases opportunities for colonization. We recommend that future studies focus on the landscape ecology of these habitat complexes on a larger scale (e.g. > 100 acres).
Description
Prepared by Richard Stockton College of New Jersey and NJDEP, Office of Science.
Keywords
New Jersey, New Jersey - Pinelands, Pinelands National Reserve (N.J.)