Native American influences on the forest composition of the Allegheny Plateau, northwest Pennsylvania

2006 ◽  
Vol 36 (5) ◽  
pp. 1266-1275 ◽  
Author(s):  
Bryan A Black ◽  
Charles M Ruffner ◽  
Marc D Abrams
Keyword(s):  
Native American ◽  
Forest Type ◽  
Detrended Correspondence Analysis ◽  
Forest Composition ◽  
Tree Distribution ◽  
Archaeological Data ◽  
European Settlement ◽  
Tree Data ◽  
Allegheny Plateau ◽  
American Agriculture

We integrate witness tree distribution, Native American archaeological sites, and geological and topographic variables to investigate the relationships between Native American populations and pre-European settlement forest types on the Allegheny Plateau, northwest Pennsylvania. Detrended correspondence analysis of witness tree data separated the presettlement forests into oak–hickory–chestnut and beech–hemlock–maple communities. Oak, hickory, and chestnut forests were centered on Native American village sites. Using archaeological data, an index of Native American influence (NAI) was derived to reflect the intensity of Native American land use across the landscape. In a comparison among species, mean NAI value of oak, hickory, and chestnut trees was significantly higher than that of beech, maple, and hemlock. Logistic regression demonstrated that among geology type, landform, elevation, aspect, slope, and NAI, NAI was by far the most significant predictor of oak, hickory, and chestnut distribution. Although cause and effect of this relationship cannot be tested, we suggest that long-term Native American activity selected for the disturbance-adapted oak, hickory, and chestnut. We contend that Native American agriculture, burning, and resource extraction could have converted maple–beech–hemlock to oak–hickory–chestnut, or at least reinforced the dominance of this forest type.

Physiographic analysis of witness-tree distribution (1765–1798) and present forest cover through north central Pennsylvania

1995 ◽  
Vol 25 (4) ◽  
pp. 659-668 ◽  
Author(s):  
Marc D. Abrams ◽  
Charles M. Ruffner
Keyword(s):  
Forest Cover ◽  
Forest Composition ◽  
North Central ◽  
Tree Distribution ◽  
High Plateau ◽  
European Settlement ◽  
Central Pennsylvania ◽  
Witness Trees ◽  
Allegheny Mountains ◽  
Allegheny Plateau

This study analyzed witness-tree data recorded from 1765 to 1798 with respect to landform in four major physiographic provinces represented through north central Pennsylvania. These data were also compared with present-day forest composition to evaluate broad changes that occurred 200 years after European settlement. In the Allegheny High Plateau, Tsugacanadensis (L.) Carr. represented 40–47% of witness trees in mountain coves and stream valleys, but only 9% on plateau tops, which comprised 45% Fagusgrandifolia Ehrh. Pinusstrobus L. represented ≤4% frequency across all landforms. The original forests of the Allegheny Mountains were dominated by mixed Quercus, Acer, Castaneadentata (Marsh.) Borkh., and Pinus and had significant T. canadensis only in stream valleys. The presettlement forests of the Allegheny Front and the Ridge and Valley provinces had a similar mix of Quercus, Pinus, Castanea, and Carya, with increased P. strobus on the more mesic sites and Pinusrigida Mill, on the xeric ridges. Comparisons of presettlement with present-day forest composition indicate a dramatic reduction of T. canadensis (32% to 4%) and F. grandifolia (33% to 12%) in the High Plateau and increases in Acer (11% to 37%), Quercusrubra L. (0% to 10%), Prunusserotina Ehrh. (1% to 6%), and Betula (5% to 10%). Other units exhibited reductions in P. strobus, P. rigida, Quercusalba L., and Carya spp. and increases in Quercusprinus L., Q. rubra, Acerrubrum L., and P. serotina. Castaneadentata had its greatest abundance on higher elevation sites in each physiographic unit, and the elimination of this species this century apparently facilitated the increase in Q. prinus and Q. rubra on ridge sites. South of the Allegheny Plateau, increases in A. rubrum, P. serotina, and other mixed-mesophytic species may be in response to fire exclusion this century. The results of this study indicate the importance of landform and physiography on presettlement forest composition as well as the dramatic changes that have occurred as a result of altered disturbance regimes following European settlement.

The pre-European settlement forest composition of the Miramichi River watershed, New Brunswick, as reconstructed using witness trees from original land surveys

2008 ◽  
Vol 38 (5) ◽  
pp. 1159-1183 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mélanie Aubé
Keyword(s):  
New Brunswick ◽  
Riparian Forest ◽  
Abies Balsamea ◽  
Forest Composition ◽  
River Watershed ◽  
European Settlement ◽  
Tree Data ◽  
The Difference ◽  
Witness Trees ◽  
Definition Of

The goal of this investigation was to characterize the pre-European settlement forest composition of the Miramichi River watershed using witness trees to contribute to the definition of a baseline for assessing changes over time in the Acadian forest. The witness tree data were stratified by ecoregion and by ecosite, for the portions of the watershed that are in the Northern Uplands, Continental Lowlands, and Eastern Lowlands ecoregions of New Brunswick, as well as by riparian and inland forest; and pre-settlement forest composition (1787–1847) was compared with current forest composition (1998–2000). The witness tree data constitute evidence that a distinctive riparian forest existed before European settlement and that the difference between riparian and inland forest has lessened. They show that the proportions of Betula spp., Tsuga canadensis (L.) Carrière, Ulmus americana L., and Thuja occidentalis L. have decreased; that the proportion of Acer spp. has increased and that Picea spp. and Abies balsamea (L.) Mill. var. balsamea have maintained their overall dominance of the forest in number of individuals, and have increased it on at least 50% of the watershed area.

Asking More than Where: Developing a Site Contextual Model Based on Reconstructing past Environments

1997 ◽  
Vol 17 (4) ◽  
pp. 307-336
Author(s):  
Douglas S. Frink
Keyword(s):  
Native American ◽  
Phase I ◽  
Contextual Model ◽  
Model Based ◽  
European Settlement ◽  
Level Data ◽  
Limited Application ◽  
And Function ◽  
A Site ◽  
Phase Ii And Iii

Contract archaeology accounts for the majority of archaeological studies conducted in Vermont. As these studies serve the development community, the focus of investigation has been to identify and avoid sites, not to research and evaluate the information they contain. Native-American site locational models have limited application because they are based primarily on the landforms' proximity to water. The Archaeology Consulting Team is developing a contextual model based on reconstructing the pre-European settlement environment. Hypotheses comparing expected size and function of Native-American sites in different environments can be posed at the Phase I level of archaeological studies. Furthermore, with Phase I level data, these hypotheses can provide the framework for research designs at Phase II and III levels of archaeological study.

The composition of Amazonian forests: patterns at local and regional scales

1998 ◽  
Vol 14 (5) ◽  
pp. 645-664 ◽  
Author(s):  
John Terborgh ◽  
Ellen Andresen
Keyword(s):  
Detrended Correspondence Analysis ◽  
Forest Composition ◽  
Level Data ◽  
Tree Communities ◽  
Floristic Patterns ◽  
Edaphic Properties ◽  
Number Of Stems ◽  
Amazonian Forests ◽  
Amazonian Region ◽  
The Guianas

An analysis was conducted of floristic patterns contained in 48 1-ha tree plots distributed at 29 sites in seven neotropical countries, with a primary emphasis on the Amazonian region. Analyses were made with family level data, using detrended correspondence analysis and multidimensional scaling to generate two-dimensional ordinations. Dissimilarity values for all pairs of plots were then used to compare forest composition at both local (flooded vs unflooded forests) and regional scales (e.g., western vs central vs eastern Amazonia). The predominate family of trees in a large majority of Amazonian and Guianan forests (by number of stems) is either Palmae or Leguminosae (sensu latu), followed by Moraceae and Euphorbiaceae. The forests of western Amazonia are particularly rich in palms, Moraceae, and Myristicaceae, whereas those of eastern Amazonia and the Guianas are rich in Lecythidaceae and Chrysobalanaceae. Dissimilarity between sites increases with distance for both flooded and unflooded forests. The tree communities of flooded and unflooded forests within a region tended to resemble one another more closely than forests of either type resembled the homologous forests of the adjoining regions. Within Amazonia the edaphic properties of each region and its geological history are tightly interrelated. It is therefore difficult to distinguish between evolutionary and ecological interpretations of the results.

scholarly journals A Virtual Reality Platform for Analyzing Remote Archaeological Sites

2019 ◽  
Vol 31 (2) ◽  
pp. 167-176 ◽  
Author(s):  
Brendan Cassidy ◽  
Gavin Sim ◽  
David Wayne Robinson ◽  
Devlin Gandy
Keyword(s):  
Virtual Reality ◽  
Native American ◽  
Data Visualization ◽  
Archaeological Sites ◽  
Archaeological Data ◽  
Key Stakeholders ◽  
World Class ◽  
Visualization Tools ◽  
Survey Evaluation

Abstract This paper describes a Virtual Reality (VR) prototype developed to help archaeologists and other stakeholders explore and analyse archaeological data in a more immersive context. We describe a VR reconstruction of Pleito Cave, a fragile world class rock-art site with accessibility limitation. Key stakeholders are identified and a prototype is described that provides a VR platform for visualizing and interacting with complex archaeological data (gathered from techniques such as decorrelation stretch and X-ray fluorescence) virtually ‘in situ’, in a way that would not be possible at the real site. The prototype allows multiple remote users to interact with the cave together remotely providing opportunities for collaborative interpretation and analysis of archaeological data. We also present a survey-based evaluation in which both archaeologists and Native American stakeholders indicate positive responses for measures of both engagement and value. Research Highlights An interactive, multi-user, immersive archaeological data visualization tool is described. Survey evaluation elicits insights into where the system provides value and engagement for key stakeholders. Thematic Analysis provides further design insights for future development of immersive archaeological data visualization tools.

Monthly Litterfall Dynamics in Three Different Forest Types in Jeju Island, South Korea

2018 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ji Young An ◽  
Si Ho Han ◽  
Woo Bin Youn ◽  
Sang Ick Lee ◽  
Afroja Rahman ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Nutrient Cycling ◽  
Leaf Litter ◽  
Dominant Species ◽  
Forest Type ◽  
Jeju Island ◽  
Forest Composition ◽  
Forest Types ◽  
Major Pathway ◽  
Litterfall Production ◽  
High Precipitation

In a forest ecosystem, the major pathway for carbon and nutrient cycling is through litterfall, which has been influenced by physical and biological factors. The purpose of this study was to investigate monthly litterfall production in three forests in Jeju Island differentiated based on precipitation and forest composition: Chungsu (<i>Quercus glauca</i> as the dominant species; low precipitation), Seonheul<sub>b</sub> (<i>Q. glauca</i> as the dominant species; high precipitation), and Seonheul<sub>m</sub> (<i>Q. glauca</i> and <i>Pinus thunbergii</i> as the dominant species; high precipitation). Litterfall was collected monthly from April to December 2015 and divided into leaf litter, twig, bark, seeds, and unidentified materials. The amount of leaf litter by species varied by stand, but leaf litter and total litterfall were very similar among stands, ranging from 362 g m<sup>-2</sup> to 375 g m<sup>-2</sup> for leaf litter and 524 g m<sup>-2</sup> to 580 g m<sup>-2</sup> for total litterfall. However, oak leaf litter was the highest in May, but needle litter was the highest in December. Forest type and climate factor had no influence on the amount of litterfall in the studied forests while the litterfall production by species showed considerable seasonal variation, resulting in varying effects on carbon and nutrient cycling in these forests.

Spatial simulation of forest succession and timber harvesting using LANDIS

2000 ◽  
Vol 30 (1) ◽  
pp. 32-43 ◽  
Author(s):  
Eric J Gustafson ◽  
Stephen R Shifley ◽  
David J Mladenoff ◽  
Kevin K Nimerfro ◽  
Hong S He
Keyword(s):  
Forest Management ◽  
Prescribed Burning ◽  
Forest Succession ◽  
Forest Type ◽  
Timber Harvesting ◽  
Forest Edge ◽  
Size Class ◽  
Forest Composition ◽  
Clear Cutting ◽  
Wide Range

The LANDIS model simulates ecological dynamics, including forest succession, disturbance, seed dispersal and establishment, fire and wind disturbance, and their interactions. We describe the addition to LANDIS of capabilities to simulate forest vegetation management, including harvest. Stands (groups of cells) are prioritized for harvest using one of four ranking algorithms that use criteria related to forest management objectives. Cells within a selected stand are harvested according to the species and age cohort removal rules specified in a prescription. These flexible removal rules allow simulation of a wide range of prescriptions such as prescribed burning, thinning, single-tree selection, and clear-cutting. We present a case study of the application of LANDIS to a managed watershed in the Missouri (U.S.A.) Ozark Mountains to illustrate the utility of this approach to simulate succession as a response to forest management and other disturbance. The different cutting practices produced differences in species and size-class composition, average patch sizes (for patches defined by forest type or by size class), and amount of forest edge across the landscape. The capabilities of LANDIS provide a modeling tool to investigate questions of how timber management changes forest composition and spatial pattern, providing insight into ecological response to forest management.

The Archaeology of Southeastern Native American Landscapes of the Colonial Era

2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Charles R. Cobb
Keyword(s):  
Native American ◽  
Native Americans ◽  
Cultural Groups ◽  
Historical Sources ◽  
Colonial Era ◽  
Seeking Safety ◽  
Archaeological Data ◽  
Plantation Slavery ◽  
Deerskin Trade ◽  
Gain Access

This book synthesizes the landscape histories of Native Americans in southeastern North America from the arrival of the Spaniards in the sixteenth century to the first decades of the American Republic. Relying on archaeological data and historical sources, the work outlines the ways in which Native populations accommodated and contested the growing encroachments of colonialism and colonial powers. Traditional landscape practices were greatly transformed by epidemic diseases, chronic warfare, and a widespread slave trade in Indian populations. Research demonstrates that populations adapted to these challenges in two major ways. First, they built on traditional histories of mobility to develop new modes of migration and travel to escape regions of conflict and to gain access to important colonial towns and resources. Second, seeking safety in numbers, Native Americans increasingly formed coalescent communities composed of two or more cultural groups. These coalescent communities evolved into the groups known today as Cherokees, Choctaws, Creeks, Chickasaws, Catawbas, and Seminoles. The study further explores how the evolution of these groups was connected to events and processes of the broader political economy in the Atlantic World, including the rise of plantation slavery, the growth of the deerskin trade, the birth of the consumer revolution, and the emergence of capitalism.

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