Burbank, D. H. 1991. Resource quality and recruitment of tree species in plantation forests of southwestern Michigan. Thesis, Michigan State University, East Lansing, Michigan, USA.

Patterns of tree recruitment, soil moisture, potential N mineralization, and light availability were examined for twelve plantations and three oak-hickory forests on similar upland soils in southwestern Michigan.  Levels of all resources varied significantly across stands.  Stands dominated by hardwoods were highest in soil resources, while red pine and Douglas-fir stands were lowest.  Percent light was lowest beneath white pine stands and highest under red pine and scots pine stands.  Principal components analysis produced a stand ordination reflecting a contrast between soil resources and light.  The most abundant seedling and sapling species were red maple and black cherry, while oaks and several mesic-site species were sparsely represented.  Red maple and black cherry showed no relationship to stand type or resource gradients, and were not dispersal-limited.  These two species, by exhibiting wide tolerances for resources and aggressive colonization and dispersal, are likely to dominant those plantations allowed to senesce undisturbed.

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