Eighty-three years of vascular plant change at Alley Pond Park, Queens County, New York

Abstract

The objective of the present study was to document change in arborescent vegetation at Alley Pond Park, Queens County, New York over 83 yr. We compared data generated from a Works Progress Administration (WPA) study map in 1936, with data generated at the same points on the map in 1975 by Stalter, and again at the same points in 2018. Quercus rubra L. was dominant in 1936, 1975, and 2018. There was little change in important overstory trees over 83 yr. Cornus florida L., the dominant subcanopy tree in 1936 and 1975, was nearly eliminated by dogwood anthracnose in 2018. Parsimony analysis reveals a branching break in 2018 and the early samples; this is best explained by community development, succession, and the presence of invasive taxa, Acer platanoides L., Morus alba L., and Prunus avium (L.) L.