Abstract
Abstract We investigated the processes of oak-savanna redevelopment in an abandoned sand mine site in Indiana Dunes National Lakeshore. Our Detrended Correspondence Analysis (DCA) revealed a divergence of vegetation between the prairie and the woodland portions of the study area. Eastern cottonwood (Populus deltoides) and black oak (Quercus velutina) dominated the woodland canopy. The shallow water table (0.90–1.35 m below ground surface) appeared to support the formation of tree canopy. The prairie, with deeper water table (2.09–2.62 m), was sparsely vegetated by shrubs; mostly choke cherry (Prunus virginiana), sand cherry (P. pumila) and fragrant sumac (Rhus aromatica) without apparent tree canopy. Development of woody vegetation, black oak overstory and sassafras (Sassafras albidum) understory was initiated with the colonization of cottonwoods. No evidence was found to support the ‘facilitation effect’ of cottonwoods for black oak seedling recruitment, survival or growth. The tree canopy formation, pro...
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