Graduation Date
Spring 1981
Document Type
Thesis
Program
Other
Program
Master of Science
Committee Chair Name
Dale A. Thornburgh
Committee Chair Affiliation
Cal Poly Humboldt Faculty or Staff
Second Committee Member Name
Gerald M. Allen
Third Committee Member Name
John O. Sawyer
Keywords
x
Abstract
An undisturbed area of a mixed conifer forest was selected to determine the naturally occuring vegetation habitat types. The study area is located on metasedimentary soils in the South Fork Mountain Region of Northern California. Obvious environmental gradients were elevation and topographic position. One hundred releve plots were taken and vegetation cover and abundance was recorded for each plot using the Braun-Blanquet cover-abundance scale. From an agglomerative cluster analysis and a constructed dendrogram, two series, three types and two phases were recognized within the area. The Abies concolor series occupies an approximate elevation range of 3300' to 6000'. Abies concolor is the dominant tree. There are two habitat types within this series; the Abies concolor/Quercus vaccinifolia (Abco/Quva) type and the Abies concolor/Corylus cornuta (Abco/Coco) type. The types are found at elevational ranges of 5400' to 6000' and 3300' to 5400' respectively. Two phases are recognized within the Abco/Coco type; the Chrysolepis chrysophylla phase at 3800' to 5200' and the Arbutus menziesii phase at 3250' to 4100'.
The Pseudotsuga rnenziesii series occupies the area from 3300' to 2300'. The dominant tree is Pseudotsuga menziesii. There is one habitat type within this series; the Pseudotsuga rnenziesii/Arbutus menziesii (Psme/Arme) type. iv The results of this study show a distinct change in vegetative communities with varying elevations.
Recommended Citation
Laidlaw-Holmes, Joanne Marie, "Forest Habitat Types on Metasedimentary Soil of the South Fork Mountain Region of California" (1981). Cal Poly Humboldt theses and projects. 2632.
https://digitalcommons.humboldt.edu/etd/2632