The Nature Conservancy: Forest Stand Dynamics of a Natural Area in the Southern Appalachians, Bluff Mountain, North Carolina
Dr. van de Gevel has received funding from The Nature Conservancy to continue to study forest stand dynamics on Bluff Mountain during summer 2009. Dr. van de Gevel will also work closely with Phil White (Geography graduate student) and Jordan Holcomb (undergraduate research assistant) to synthesize results, prepare an abstract and present a poster at the Southeastern Division of the Association of American Geographers which will be held in Knoxville, Tennessee in November 2009.
Bluff Mountain is one of the most ecologically significant natural heritage sites in the southeastern United States. The plant communities present on Bluff Mountain include a Carolina hemlock (Tsuga caroliniana) forest, oak/hickory (Quercus/Carya) dominated forests, and a flat rock plant community. A unique southern Appalachian fen also contributes to the species diversity and importance of this site. The purpose of this project is to assess how tree species composition and age structure have changed as a consequence of chestnut blight (Cryphonectria parasitica) and 20th century fire exclusion in forest communities on Bluff Mountain.
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Photo caption: Dr. Henri Grissino-Mayer (University of Tennessee), Megan Sutton and Doug Sprouse (TNC) examine a chestnut log at Bluff Mountain, NC. June 2009.
