presence of new growth not previously mapped. affected the understorey canopy.
Springpool Wood offers a study site with different
regions impacted by Japanese larch removal and
rhododendron at different intensities. Previous
research shows the impact of rhododendron on
biotic and abiotic factors, but no research has been
conducted regarding the impact of their removal and
the felling of Japanese larch on the site’s biodiversity.
Keele Springpool Wood can be seen as a small,
but useful case study in the analysis of forestry
management’s potential damage to native woodlands
in the UK in the face of exotic plant diseases. 2x2m quadrates were formed from four 1x1m
quadrats (“microquadrates”) centred on the sample
point (see Fig. 1) designated by the random GPS
coordinate generated. The percent coverage of
each species’ living vegetative material (leaves and
flowers) present in the quadrat were observed and
recorded by eye. Values given were kept to multiples
of 5%, except those of particularly small coverages
(visibly less than 5%) which were attributed the
percent coverage of 1%. Each site’s 2x2m quadrat
was subdivided into four 1x1m sectors for ease of
observation and increased precision. Living plant
percentage coverages were also converted to domin
values in compliance with practices that simplify
categorical analysis (Rodwell, 2006). Measuring
species richness is key for gaging an ecosystem’s
health, diversity, and capacity for supporting
organisms.
Aims and Objectives
This study aims to investigate the impacts of P.
ramorum biosanitation measures on ground flora
biodiversity and natural regeneration in Springpool
Wood. This was achieved with the following
objectives:
1) Determine whether P. ramorum biosanitation
has led to the homogenisation of understorey
plant species diversity between areas of different
management regimes
2) Analyse the effect of increasing canopy openness
through Japanese larch removal and rhododendron
removal on natural regenerative tree recruitment
Methods
From the 30th of August to the 31st of October
2018, 36 2x2m nested quadrats were taken along a
rhododendron disturbance gradient. Lower Springpool
Wood was stratified into 3 areas of differing R.
ponticum and L. kaempferi regimes of removal (see
Table 1). This form of biosanitation regime segregation
allows the effects of differing forms of P. ramorum
management disturbance to be compared against
one another and examine their separate effects on
ground flora biodiversity. These regimes focused on
the intensities of larch felling, which affected the
overstorey canopy, and rhododendron removal, which
Overhead canopy openness was measured by 5
canopy-scope readings taken at the centre of the
quadrat and 10m away in the cardinal directions,
as multiple observations from significant distances
apart are needed to grant canopy scopes sufficient
statistical validity without committing pseudo-
sampling (Hale and Brown, 2005). Canopy scope
readings are achieved by counting the number of dots
aligned with open sky and multiplied by 4, supplying a
canopy openness measurement with an error of ±4%.
If dominating trees less than 5cm DBH (diameter
at breast height) contributed to the canopy, their
addition to the canopy was ignored. The subsequent
canopy openness was then measured as 100% since
such saplings were classed as understorey species.
Using a tape measure, 5m sweeps were taken around
the centre quadrat point to record surrounding small
trees (including rhododendron, larch stumps, and
trees of less than 5cm DBH within the catchment.
The diameters of the larch stumps and number of
rhododendron stumps were also recorded to gain
insight on the state of post-disturbance regrowth;
5 of the nearest living rhododendron bushes were
assessed in further detail in the survey sheet.
Article #10
71