Floristic Diversity in Managed Forests: Demography and Physiology of Understory Plants Following Disturbance in Southern New England Forests

Abstract

Current interest in the conservation of biodiversity is generating a need for forest management and silvicultural techniques designed to maintain the integrity of ecosystems while satisfying society's need for timber resources. The conservation of forest understory plant communities should be a major emphasis of this effort as they contain the majority of plant diversity in most U.S. forests and play a significant role in many ecosystem functions. This article reviews the literature regarding plant responses to disturbance—most importantly changes in light environments—and applies that information to forest management. A comparison of developmental plasticity and rapid acclimation as response pathways is used to discuss plant level responses. At the landscape level, diversity models, silviculture treatments, and site characteristics are used to discuss changes in understory community composition following disturbance. Results of ongoing research on the effects of forest management on floristic patterns for southern New England forests are summarized.