Semester
Spring
Date of Graduation
2004
Document Type
Thesis
Degree Type
MA
College
Eberly College of Arts and Sciences
Department
Geology and Geography
Committee Chair
Amy E. Hessl.
Committee Co-Chair
William T. Peterjohn
Committee Member
Timothy A. Warner
Abstract
Recent research suggests that the temperate deciduous forests of the eastern United States may have played a significant role in the sequestration of atmospheric carbon dioxide over the last 100 years. However, little is known about the role of forest management and climatic variability on the productivity of these forests. The purpose of this study was to determine the variation in aboveground production between two different aged forest stands and to evaluate the effect of drought on inter-annual variation in productivity. Aboveground net primary production (ANPP) was compared with precipitation and the Palmer Drought Severity Index to determine the effects of drought on aboveground productivity. I found that: (1) there was a significant difference in rates of ANPP between the two watersheds due to age; (2) drought conditions reduce the rate of aboveground productivity; and (3) the reduction of aboveground productivity was significantly related to species-specific factors; thus the productivity of some temperate species may be affected more by drought than others.
Recommended Citation
Doner, Nicholas R., "Effects of drought on the growth of young and mature temperate forests in West Virginia" (2004). Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports. 877.
https://researchrepository.wvu.edu/etd/877