Abstract
The forest communities of Crowley's Ridge in Arkansas were surveyed by sampling 22 selected stands which met predetermined criteria. The Importance Value (I.V.) for each woody species over one decimeter, diameter breast height (dbh), was derived from the combined values of relative density, relative dominance by basal area (B.A.), and relative frequency. Young trees under one decimeter, dbh, were assigned to three height classes from which frequency, density, and stratification data were derived. White Oak-Red Oak-Hickory is the general forest type. Its subdivisions: Oak-Hickory-Pine Forest, Mixed Oak-Hickory Forest, and White Oak-Beech Forest are advocated for practical field references. They are defined by these quantitative values: Density (trees/ha), mean distance (M), mean area occupied (M1), and mean basal area (M1/ha). The forest subdivisions correlate with contrasts in topography and soils. A level of importance of tree species was based on the number of times each ranked in the top five within a stand, according to I.V. and B.A. Quercus alba, Fagus grandifolia, Pinus echinata, Quercus stellata, Liriodendron tulipifera, Quercus velutina, and Ulmus rubra were top level species. Reproductive vitality, habitat tolerances, and successional patterns are suggested from analyses of important tree species and forest community types.
Recommended Citation
Clark, G. Thomas
(1977)
"Forest Communities of Crowley's Ridge,"
Journal of the Arkansas Academy of Science: Vol. 31, Article 12.
Available at:
https://scholarworks.uark.edu/jaas/vol31/iss1/12
