Elijah Meador 1

Selu Vegetation Analysis

Introduction
An analysis of vegetation was executed at Selu Conservancy in Montgomery County,
Virginia. The purpose of this analysis was to show the health of each of the natural communities
found at Selu Conservancy. Researchers collected data in 100 10x10M plots across Selu
Conservancy. Vegetation and site data was summarized in 99 plots and an NMS ordination
analysis was executed on the 99 plots including 220 tree, shrub, and plant species. At Selu
Conservancy a total of six major plant communities or habitat types were found; wetlands and
alluvial floodplain forests, cove and mixed-mesophytic forests, dry mixed forests or acetic oak
forest, xeric pine forests, young successful forests, and fields and shrub thickets.
Methods
Researchers first marked off each 10x10 M plot using a meter tape and chaining pins
creating an enclosed area from which the data would come. Researchers then identified tree,
shrub, and understory plants. Tools like the clinometer, spherical densiometer, compass, and
glass prism were used to establish site conditions and habitat structure such as slope aspect, slope
%, topographic position, groundcover, tree basal area, tree/ seedling richness, invasive cover, and
light availability. Data was collected and a sample of the soil in each plot was taken for further
analyzation for pH, moisture, organic content, and texture. Data was put into an NMS ordination
analysis database, the results and figures were interpreted and included in the results below.

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Results
After analyzing the 99 plots and 220 species of trees, shrubs, and plants and executing an
NMS ordination analysis of the plots and plant species, Selu Conservancy was found to have six
major plant communities/ habitat types. Each habitat type has several different defining factors
such as dominant species found at each site, site conditions, habitat structure, and diversity. The
six habitat types included; wetlands and alluvial floodplain forests, cove and mixed-mesophytic
forests, dry mixed forests or acetic oak forest, xeric pine forests, young successful forests, and
fields and shrub thickets (FIG1).

FIG 1. The figure above shows the six major habitat types in Selu
Conservancy and factors that help classify each habitat type.

The wetland and alluvial floodplain forests habitat type can be described, based on the
ordination analysis, as being dominated by species including trees such as Box Elder (FAC

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wetland status), Sycamore (FACW wetland status), Walnut, and Willow (FACW wetland status).
Herbaceous species that are dominant include; Cattails (OBL wetland status), Clearweed (FACW
wetland status), Cutgrass (OBL wetland status), False Nettle (FACW wetland status), Tear
Thumb (OBL wetland status), and Touch-Me-Not (FACW wetland status). Dominant invasive
species include; Garlic Mustard, Moneywort (FACW wetland status), and Japanese Stilt Grass
(FAC wetland status). Site conditions include; high soil moisture %, basic pH, high fertility, low
to moderate light availability, low slope %, and a wetland depression topographic position.
Habitat structures include; low to moderate tree basal area and tree/ seedling richness, moderate
ground cover and moderate invasive cover %. Diversity is moderate to high in wetland and
alluvial floodplain forest habitat types.
The cove and mixed-mesophytic forest can be described, based on the ordination
analysis, as being dominated by tree species including; Flowering Dogwood, Chinquapin Oak,
and White Oak. Japanese Stilt Grass (FAC wetland status) is the only dominant invasive species.
Site conditions include; high soil moisture %, slightly basic pH, high fertility, low light
availability, low to moderate slope %. Habitat structures include; moderate to high tree basal area
and tree/ seedling richness, low to moderate ground cover and low invasive cover %. Diversity is
moderate in cove and mixed-mesophytic forest habitat types.
The dry mixed forests can be described, based on the ordination analysis, as being
dominated by tree/ shrub species including; Chestnut Oak, Black Oak,Hickory, Slippery Elm,
Red Maple, Sugar Maple, Sourwood, and Blueberry. Site conditions include; low to moderate
soil moisture %, acedic pH, low fertility, low light availability, moderate to high slope %.
Habitat structures include; high tree basal area and tree/ seedling richness, low to moderate
ground cover and low invasive cover %. Diversity is moderate in dry mixed forest habitat types.

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The xeric pine forests can be described, based on the ordination analysis, as being
dominated by tree/ shrub species including; Virginia Pine. Site conditions include; low soil
moisture %, basic pH, low fertility, low to moderate light availability, moderate slope %. Habitat
structures include; moderate tree basal area and tree/ seedling richness, low to moderate ground
cover and low invasive cover %. Diversity is low in xeric pine forests habitat types.
The young successful forest can be described, based on the ordination analysis, as being
dominated by tree/ shrub species including; Redbud, White Ash, Black Cherry, Flowering
Dogwood, Slippery Elm, Hickory, White Oak, Tulip Poplar, and Spicebush (FAC wetland
status). Invasive species include; Multiflora Rose, Japanese Honeysuckle, and Oriental
Bittersweet. Site conditions include; low to moderate soil moisture %, neutral pH, moderate
fertility, moderate light availability, moderate slope %. Habitat structures include; moderate tree
basal area and tree/ seedling richness, moderate ground cover and low invasive cover %.
Diversity is moderate in young successful forests habitat types.
The field and shrub thickets can be described, based on the ordination analysis, as being
dominated by tree/ shrub species including; Walnut and Blackberry. Herbaceous species include;
Big Blue Stem, Clover, Grass, Wingstem (FAC wetland status). Invasive species include; Tree of
Heaven, Multiflora Rose, Japanese Honeysuckle, Wild Carrot, Knapweed, Thistle, and English
Plantain. Site conditions include; low to moderate soil moisture %, slightly basic pH, moderate
fertility, high light availability, low slope %. Habitat structures include; low tree basal area and
tree/ seedling richness, high ground cover and low invasive cover %. Diversity is high in young
successful forests habitat types.

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FIG 2.The figure to the right

shows distribution of
Japanese Honeysuckle
across the different habitat
types at Selu Conservancy.

Most of
the

Japanese

Honeysuckle is located in 2 of the 6 major habitat types; the young successful forests and the
field and shrub thickets (FIG 2). This suggests that Japanese Honeysuckle preferers sites that
include; low to moderate soil moisture %, neutral to slightly basic pH, moderate fertility,
moderate to
light
availability,
low to
moderate
slope %, low
tree basal
area and
tree/
seedling
richness, moderate to high ground cover and low invasive cover %.

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FIG 3 The figure to the right

shows distribution of Multiflora
Rose across the different
habitat types at Selu
Conservancy

Most of the Multiflora Rose is located in 1 of the 6 major habitat types; the young
successful forests (FIG 3). This suggests that Multiflora Rose prefers sit conditions like; low to
moderate soil moisture %, neutral pH, moderate fertility, moderate light availability, moderate
slope %, moderate tree basal area and tree/ seedling richness, moderate ground cover and low
invasive cover %.

FIG 4. The figure to the right

shows distribution of Opossum
across the different habitat
types at Selu Conservancy

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The Opossum is relatively equally distributed across 4 of the 6 habitat types including;
xeric pine forests, field and shrub thickets, wetland and alluvial forests, and young successful
forests (FIG 4). Opossums prefer areas with less trees and more ground cover. Site condition
preferences include; low to high soil moisture %, slightly basic pH, low to high fertility, high
light availability, low slope %. Habitat structures preferences include; low tree basal area and
tree/ seedling richness, moderate to high ground cover and high invasive cover %.

The figure above shows distribution of Raccoons across the different

habitat types at Selu Conservancy.

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The Raccoon is distributed across all 6 habitat types including; xeric pine forests, field
and shrub thickets, wetland and alluvial forests, and young successful forests, cove and mixedmesophytic, and dry mixed forests (FIG 5). Most the Racoon data comes from the dry mixed
forests, suggesting that Raccoons prefer sites that include trees and shrubs like; Chestnut Oak,
Black Oak, Hickory, Slippery Elm, Red Maple, Sugar Maple, Sourwood, and Blueberry.
Raccoons prefer site conditions like; low to moderate soil moisture %, acidic pH, low fertility,
low light availability, moderate to high slope %. Habitat structures preferences include; high tree
basal area and tree/ seedling richness, low to moderate ground cover and low invasive cover %.

Conclusions

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Based on the NMS ordination, each habitat type can be classified based in several factors
such as dominant vegetation and what is known about each species of vegetation such a wetland
status. Another factor that helps classify habitats are site conditions such as soil moisture, pH,
fertility, light availability, and topography. Other factors include habitat structure (tree basal area,
density, and ground cover), and diversity. These factors work together with the ordination to not
only help classify the major habitat types but also help with conservation efforts to keep habitats
healthy. This Research also shows preferences of invasive species and pests at Selu Conservancy
and the NMS ordination helps researchers classify which areas are at risk to invasive species
competition and habitat destruction. If this data is collected on an annual basis the data could
show changes over a larger temporal scale and not only help future conservation efforts but also
show if current efforts are effective or counter-productive.