VEGETATION AND DEER HABITAT RELATIONS IN SOUTHERN ONTARIO: CLASSIFICATION OF THE HABITAT TYPES.
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| Title: | VEGETATION AND DEER HABITAT RELATIONS IN SOUTHERN ONTARIO: CLASSIFICATION OF THE HABITAT TYPES. |
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| Authors: | M. Stocker, R. J.1, Gilbert, F. F., Smith, D. W. |
| Source: | Journal of Applied Ecology. Aug77, Vol. 14 Issue 2, p419-432. 14p. |
| Subjects: | Vegetation & climate, Deer, Habitats |
| Geographic Terms: | Southern Ontario |
| Abstract: | A functional habitat classification was derived using the parametric land classification approach. Construction of a habitat map was based on photo-ecological techniques, vegetation sampling and analysis. Cluster analysis of a similarity matrix derived from stand data summaries in the form of importance values of 580 sampling points in thirty-two stands located throughout the study area produced the habitat classification of nine cluster types at a similarity coefficient of c. forty-four (Ward' method of hierarchical grouping). The indicator species of the overstory, sapling, shrub and groundcover strata defined for each of the nine vegetative cluster types were: Cluster 1, grasses/Phleum pratense/Trifolium spp.; Cluster 2, Myrica gale/Alnus rugosa—Carex spp; Cluster 3, Alnus rugosa/Spiraea spp.—grasses; Cluster 4, Thuja occidentalis/Picea mariana—Alnus rugosa—Sphagnum spp.; Cluster 5, Abies balsamea/Populus spp.—Corylus cornuta—ferns; Cluster 6, Abies balsamea/Picea glauca—Nemopanthus mucronatus—ferns; Cluster 7, Acer saccharum/Betula luteo—Acer saccharum—ferns; Cluster 9, Betual papyrifera/Acer saccharum—Corylus cornuta&mash;ferns. A large proportion of the area (15.1%) was mature forest vegetation, represented by Clusters 7 and 8. The hardwoods (Cluster 9) and mixedwoods (Cluster 5), which represented early successional stages, were well represented (13.4%). Softwoods (Cluster 6), comprised 12.5% of the study area. The lowland softwoods (Cluster 4) occurred in isolated patches throughout the area (7.2%). The remaining cluster types comprised 9.8% of the study area. It is concluded that the classification scheme presented provides a useful framework for habitat evaluation related to wildlife populations, and in this respect would be considered a useful wildlife management tool. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR] |
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| Database: | Engineering Source |
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