A Multivariate Analysis of Forest Communities in the Western Great Smoky Mountains National Park

Publisher Website
Google Scholar
Abstract
An integrated sequence of multivariate techniques was applied to the vegetation of the western Great Smoky Mountains National Park. Included in the sequence were hierarchial classification, detrended correspondence analysis and multiple discriminant analysis. Based on the importance of landform in previous research, a system of topographical quantification was developed and also used in the classification. Elevation and the topographical index, termed protection, were the most important variables associated with the 12 classified forest types. Drainage area, another topographic measurement, soil pH and water-holding capacity were also significant in the vegetation analysis. Logging and farming disturbances prior to the formation of the national park were probable causal factors for some forest types.