Fleshy fruit is considered a “buffer” food, but may be critical to game and nongame vertebrates.

Fleshy Fruit Production in Mature and Recently Harvested Upland &

Cove Hardwood Forest of the Southern Appalachians

Fleshy fruit is considered a “buffer” food, but may be critical to game and nongame vertebrates.

Here we examine…

Spatial and temporal variation in species Spatial and temporal variation in species composition and fruit production in two composition and fruit production in two forest types and two age classes;forest types and two age classes;

Temporal changes in fruit production as Temporal changes in fruit production as young stands mature;young stands mature;

Species that produce the most fleshy fruit.Species that produce the most fleshy fruit.

We also are studying…

Bird communities during breeding, winter, Bird communities during breeding, winter, and fall and spring migration; and fall and spring migration;

Hard mast (acorns, hickories, etc.) Hard mast (acorns, hickories, etc.) production in the four treatments;production in the four treatments;

Changes in plant diversityChanges in plant diversity The importance of fruit to birdsThe importance of fruit to birds

This is a sister study to one at the Savannah River Site in South Carolina, conducted by D.J. Levey and C.H. Greenberg 1994 – 2003.

Treatments (n = 6 to 9 each)

1)1) Mature Cove HardwoodMature Cove Hardwood2)2) Young Cove Hardwood (~1998 Young Cove Hardwood (~1998

2-age harvest)2-age harvest)3)3) Mature Upland HardwoodMature Upland Hardwood4)4) Young Upland Hardwood (~1998 Young Upland Hardwood (~1998

2-age harvest)2-age harvest)

Methods

20 X 50-m plot (0.1 ha) – trees, nonclonal 20 X 50-m plot (0.1 ha) – trees, nonclonal shrubs, vines.shrubs, vines.

4 X 50-m subtransect – clonal shrubs, 4 X 50-m subtransect – clonal shrubs, herbaceous plants.herbaceous plants.

All fleshy fruit counted monthly starting All fleshy fruit counted monthly starting May 1999.May 1999.

Biomass estimates based on dry pulp (g/ha).Biomass estimates based on dry pulp (g/ha).

A total of 43 species produced fleshy fruit during the first five years. Eight others occurred in plots but never produced fruit. Only a handful of species produced the majority of fruit biomass.

Total fruit biomass was higher in both 2-age forest types, beginning the second year post-harvest.

TREATMENT

Mea

n (

+S

E)

Dry

Ed

ible

Bio

mas

s (k

g/h

a)

0

5

10

15

20

19992000200120022003

Upland Hardwood Forest

Cove Hardwood Forest

Cove Hardwood Two-Age

Upland Hardwood Two-Age

The species producing the majority of fruit differed among the treatments.

2001(Year 3)

Year

Me

an

(+S

E)

Dry

Ed

ible

Bio

ma

ss (

g/h

a)

0

500

1000

1500

2000

2500

3000

3500

4000

4500BlackberryPokeweedDogwoodHuckleberryBlackgum

Upland Hardwood Forest

Cove Hardwood Forest

Upland Hardwood 2-Age

Cove Hardwood 2-Age

Fruit production in young (but not mature) stands was dominated by species that proliferate after disturbance, but species showed different patterns over time.

Pokeweed (Phytolacca americana)

Year

Mea

n (+

SE

) Dry

Edi

ble

Bio

mas

s (k

g/ha

)

0.0

0.5

1.0

1.5

2.0

2.5

3.0

3.5

Upland Hardwood ForestCove Hardwood ForestUpland Hardwood 2-AgeCove Hardwood 2-Age

1999 2000 2001 2002 2003

Blackberry (Rubus spp.)

Year

Mea

n (+

SE) D

ry E

dibl

e B

iom

ass

(kg/

ha)

0

2

4

6

8

10

12

14

16

Upland Hardwood ForestCove Hardwood ForestUpland Hardwood 2-AgeCove Hardwood 2-Age

1999 2000 2001 2002 2003

Several herbaceous species that are not typically associated with disturbance also produced more fruit in young stands, cove hardwood 2-age stands in particular.

Indian Cucumber Root(Medeola virginiana)

YEAR

Mea

n (

+S

E)

Dry

Ed

ible

Bio

mas

s (g

/ha)

0

2

4

6

8

10

12

14

1999 2000 2001 2002 2003

Solomon's Seal(Polygonatum spp.)

YEAR

Me

an

(+

se

) D

ry E

dib

le B

iom

as

s (

g/h

a)

0

100

200

300

400

1999 2000 2001 20032002

False Solomon's Seal(Smilacina racemosa)

YEAR

Mea

n (

+S

E)

Dry

Ed

ible

Bio

mas

s (g

/ha)

0

50

100

150

200

250

300

350

1999 2000 2001 2002 2003

Mandarin(Disporum lanuginosum)

YEAR

Me

an

(+

SE

) D

ry E

dib

le B

iom

as

s (

g/h

a)

0

100

200

300

400

500

Upland Hardwood ForestCove Hardwood ForestUpland Hardwood 2-AgeCove Hardwood 2-Age

1999 2000 2001 2002 2003

Dogwood (and some other tree species) produced more fruit in young upland hardwood stands due to fruiting by stump sprouts, starting two years after harvest.

Dogwood(Cornus florida)

Year

Mea

n (

+S

E)

Dry

Ed

ible

Bio

mas

s (k

g/h

a)

0.0

0.5

1.0

1.5

2.0

Upland Hardwood ForestCove Hardwood ForestUpland Hardwood 2-AgeCove Hardwood 2-Age

1999 2000 2001 2002 2003

Other species were closely associated with forest type as well as stand age.

Huckleberry(Gaylussacia ursina)

YEAR

Mea

n (

+S

E)

Dry

Ed

ible

Bio

ma

ss (

kg/h

a)

0

2

4

6

8

Upland Hardwood ForestCove Hardwood ForestUpland Hardwood 2-AgeCove Hardwood 2-Age

1999 2000 2001 2002 2003

The relative contribution of shrubs to total fruit was high, especially in young stands.

Shrub Fruit Biomass

TREATMENT

Me

an (

+S

E)

Dry

Ed

ible

Bio

mas

s (k

g/h

a)

0

2

4

6

8

10

12

14

16

18

1999 2000 2001 2002 2003

Upland Hardwood Forest

Cove Hardwood Forest

Upland Hardwood 2-Age

Cove Hardwood 2-Age

Tree Fruit Biomass

TREATMENT

Mea

n (

+S

E)

Dry

Ed

ible

Bio

ma

ss (

kg/h

a)

0

2

4

6

8

10

12

14

16

18

Upland Hardwood Forest

Cove Hardwood Forest

Upland Hardwood 2-Age

Cove Hardwood 2-Age

Herbaceous Plant Fruit Biomass

TREATMENT

Mea

n (

+S

E)

Dry

Ed

ible

Bio

mas

s (k

g/h

a)

0

2

4

6

8

10

12

14

16

18

Upland Hardwood Forest

Cove Hardwood Forest

Upland Hardwood 2-Age

Cove Hardwood 2-Age

VINE FRUIT BIOMASS

TREATMENT

Mea

n (

+S

E)

Dry

Ed

ible

Bio

mas

s (k

g/h

a)

0

2

4

6

8

10

12

14

16

18

Upland Hardwood Forest

Cove Hardwood Forest

Upland Hardwood 2-Age

Cove Hardwood 2-Age

Fruit was available June – December, but peak availability differed among treatments due to differences in species composition and fruiting phenology. Small amounts of fruit were retained by some species during the winter.

Month&Year

Me

an

(+

SE

) D

ry E

dib

le B

iom

as

s (

kg

/ha

)

0

5

10

15

20Upland Hardwood ForestUpland Hardwood Two-AgeCove Hardwood ForestCove Hardwood Two-Age

J

Jan'0

0

Jun'9

9

Jun'0

0

Jan'0

1

Jun'0

1

Jan'0

2

Jun'0

2

Jan'0

3

Jun'0

3

Jan'0

4

For example… blackberry and pokeweed peaked during different months (2-age only); huckleberry peaked in June (more in upland hardwood forest types); dogwood peaked in September (more in upland hardwood 2-age).

Upland hardwood 2-age stands

Month&Year

Dry

Ed

ible

Bio

ma

ss

(g

/ha

)

0

2000

4000

6000

8000

10000

BlackberryFlowering dogwoodHuckleberryPokeweedAmerican holly

Jun'9

9

Jun'0

0

Jun'0

2

Jun'0

1

Jun'0

3

Sept'9

9

Sept'0

0

Sept'0

1

Sept'0

2

Sept'0

3

Summary of Important Results Fruit production was higher in young stands than forest

beginning about 2 years post-harvest (2000). Average biomass ranged 0.5 (CHF) – 1.7 kg/ha (UHF) 1999, and

0.6 (CHF) – 16 kg/ha (UH2) in 2003. A few species dominated fruit production, but dominant species

differed among treatments and years. Pokeberry and blackberry dominated fruit production in young

stands. Many herbaceous and tree species also produced more fruit in

young stands than in mature forest. Fruit is abundant from June – December but small amounts

remain on some plants throughout winter and spring. Fruit availability varied spatially and temporally due to

differences in species distribution and fruiting phenology.

Many thanks to:

Jacqui AdamsJacqui Adams Lindsay SmithLindsay Smith Julia MurphyJulia Murphy Gabrielle GraeterGabrielle Graeter Tracy RoofTracy Roof Virginia GibbsVirginia Gibbs Tom HayesTom Hayes Joe TomchoJoe TomchoAnd many others who have volunteered their time.And many others who have volunteered their time.