Successional changes in Pinuselliottii plantations following two regeneration treatments

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Abstract
In the intensively managed forests of the Lower Coastal Plain of the southeastern United States, clear-cutting and intensive regeneration methods may pose a threat to the existing flora. To assess this danger, our objective was to quantify and describe the changes in community structure and composition following conversion of second-growth pine forests in northern Florida to plantations of slash pine (Pinuselliottii Engelm.). Plantations were established by two different regeneration regimes: a minimum regime effecting little dislocation of the forest floor and the soil and a maximum regime effecting severe dislocation of logging slash, the forest floor, and the soil together with much greater destruction of residual understory. Statistically independent surveys of the crown cover and foliage biomass of all plant species were conducted before harvesting and at plantation age 1, 2, 3, and 5 years. Reductions of woody species during regeneration were more pronounced following maximum treatment, but subsequent response in cover and biomass were similar. Herbaceous species generally increased markedly following forest operations, with differences in magnitude and pattern of response attributable to difference in treatment. However, similarity indices indicate that herbs are not regaining pretreatment composition. Plant species richness generally increased following regeneration; forb species were especially numerous after harvests. Shannon diversity, especially foliage biomass diversity also increased substantially after harvests. Twelve scarce species were identified as plants worthy of special concern in managed flat woods forests.