A study of tree species diversity at an

un-mined and a reclaimed forest on

Frostburg State University campus

Biodiversity Group

Final Presentation August 1, 2008

Biodiversity

The variety of living things in the world

Types of Biodiversity

• Species diversity

• Genetic diversity

• Ecological diversity

Benefits of Biodiversity

Food

Drugs/Medicine

Ecological benefits

Aesthetics

Religious/Culture

Decreasing Biodiversity

1/3- 2/3 of all species to be extinct by the middle of the 21st century

Habitat destruction is the number one cause

Species Diversity

Species Richness (S)- the number of different species in a community

Species Evenness (J’)- the distribution of individuals in a community

Why both measures are needed

Evenness often decreases before richness

Example: • Forest A and B would have the same richness, S = 3.

• Evenness in Forest A is greater than evenness in Forest B.

Forest A Forest B

Species 1 4 1

Species 2 4 1

Species 3 4 10

Coal Mining in Western Maryland

Began in the 1800’s

Two types:

• Underground mining

• Surface mining

Underground Mining

Deep in the earth

Impacts:

• Acid Mine Drainage (AMD)

• Spoils that are brought to the surface

Surface Mining

Topsoil and overburden are removed.

Overburden- rocks and soil that lie over a coal seam

Impacts: • Habitat

• Spoils

• Erosion

• Landslides

• High walls

Reclamation

When mining is complete the mining company must restore the land to its original state.

Maryland laws began in 1955.

Federal laws began in 1977. • Surface Mining Control and Reclamation

Act (SMCRA) “a diverse, effective, and permanent

vegetative cover of the same seasonal variety and native to the area”

Problems with Mine Spoils

Topsoil removed

Mine spoils used as fill

Spoils

• Low organic matter

• Low, acidic pH

• Low nitrogen (N)

• Low phosphorus (P)

• Low potassium (K)

Plant Requirements pH- harmful if below 5.5,

many plants do not grow

Nitrogen- used for energy, growth and overall health

Phosphorus- used for photosynthesis, respiration, growth and other functions

Potassium-used for photosynthesis, energy and other functions

Mining at Frostburg

Campus was built on mines.

A forest was planted on shale spoils.

There are still active mines.

To examine the impacts of mining on tree species diversity

Purpose

Hypotheses

Hypothesis: There will be a difference in tree species diversity between the mined forest and un-mined forest.

Null Hypothesis: There will not be a difference in tree species diversity between the mined forest and un-mined forest.

Methods

Study Sites

July 22, 2008

Two sites

FSU campus

• Un-mined site

• Mined site

- Un-mined Site

- Mined Site

Setting up the site

Circle with a 14-m radius

Center marker

Measuring tape

Flags

14

meter

s

14 m

Tree Identification Identified and

recorded the species

Living trees

3 inch diameter breast height (dbh)

Flagged trees

Soil Sampling

Collected 2 samples from each site

Soil corer

Sampled “A” horizon

Lab testing using the Rapitest® soil test kit

Observations

Other types of life in the area

Aged the forest as even or uneven

Noted dead trees and health of the forest

Data Analysis

Shannon-Weiner Index

• Uses both species richness and species evenness

• Assigns a value for diversity

• Not dependant on sample size

• Compares sites

Shannon-Weiner Index

Hs = -∑ (Pi)(log Pi)

Hs= diversity index value

Pi = relative abundance found

Pi=ni/N

ni = individuals of a species

N = total number of individuals

Hs max is the maximum possible diversity.

• Hs max = log (S)

Maximum Diversity

Species Evenness (J’)

J’= Hs/Hs max

Results

Tree Species at the Two Forested Sites

0

5

10

15

20

25

30

35

40

blac

k ch

erry

suga

r map

le

blac

k gu

m

white

oak

witc

h haz

el

red m

aple

strip

ed m

aple

bass

woo

d

cucu

mber

tree

blac

k birc

h

amer

ican

ash

ironw

ood

redo

ak

spiceb

ush

pitch p

ine

red pin

e

blac

k locu

st

aspe

n

Tree Species

Nu

mb

er

of

Tre

es

Un-mined

Mined

Species Evenness Between the Sites

00.10.20.30.40.50.60.70.80.9

1

Mined Un-mined

Sites

Even

ness (

J')

Shannon-Weiner Index Values for the Sites

0

0.2

0.4

0.6

0.8

1

1.2

1.4

Mined Un-mined

Sites

Sh

an

no

n-W

ein

er

Ind

ex

Valu

e Hs

Hs max

Soil Measurements

pH N P K

Mined

6.0-7.0 Depleted

Deficient-Depleted

Surplus

Un-mined 6.0 Depleted Depleted Surplus

Discussion &

Conclusions

Hypotheses Revisited

Hypothesis: There will be a difference in tree species diversity between the mined forest and un-mined forest.

Null Hypothesis: There will not be a difference in tree species diversity between the mined forest and un-mined forest.

Hypothesis Accepted

Un-mined site had a higher diversity.

Un-mined site had a higher Shannon-Weiner Index Value (Hs).

Un-mined site had a higher species richness (S).

Un-mined site had a higher species evenness (J’).

Maximum diversity (Hs max)

Neither site was at Hs max.

Different reason at the two sites.

Mined Site Hs max

Hs and Hs max were lower at the mined site.

Only 5 tree species at the site

2 main species were planted.

• Red pine

• Pitch pine

Un-mined Site Hs max

2 main species were present.

• Sugar maple

• Witch hazel

Were not planted

It is natural for some species to be more numerous in a forest.

Diversity and Soil Relations

Soil test results were similar, but we believe the sites are different.

Visual observations • Mined Site

Dead trees/unhealthy trees

Little vegetation

Thin O Soil Horizon

• Un-mined Site Healthy trees

Abundant vegetation

Thick O Soil Horizon

Nitrogen and Phosphorus

Low at both sites

Un-mined site • N and P added through decay • Plants use it quickly • Stay at low levels in the soil

Mined site • Not much N and P being added • Plants use the limited amount • Trees are unhealthy or dying

Limitations

Site size was small (28 m diameter).

Only sampled one site per forest

Only sampled one forest of each type

Soil testing method

Season of sampling

Time to conduct the study

Suggestions for Improvement

Larger sites

More sites in each forest

More forest of each type

More advanced soil testing kit

Seasonal testing on soil

Unanswered Questions

How can humans reclaim mines so they closely resemble the surrounding forest?

Does the mined site’s tree species diversity and soil qualities meet the standards of the SMCRA?

Will the trees in the mined site continue to die?

Acknowledgements

Questions