Non-urban Forests Research Articles

Using ordination to analyze the composition and structure of urban forest islands

Ordination is used here to analyze variations in the structure and composition of urban forest islands in St. Paul, Minnesota. Important differences are found between lowland and upland forests and between mown and unmown upland forests. The ordination reveals compositional gradients which vary somewhat from gradients described for non-urban forests in the same region. This suggests that different successional trends are occurring here. Insights into present conditions and future trends in these forests gained from the ordination are used to suggest possible management strategies for a variety of goals.