Plant Ecology

The following data was taken from the Red Gum Research Natural Area. This area is 40-acres and is located in Section 9, TI2N, R5W, Sharkey County, Mississippi. The site is about 4.5 km from the present course of the Big Sunflower River. Site elevation is between 27.4 and 28.9 m above mean sea level, sloping less than 2% to the south. The sweetgum trees located in the Red Gum Research Natural Area are 250 to 300 years old.

These data were obtained by the Spring Plant Ecology class of Mississippi College. Data collected were 2M x 50M transects, were every tree or liana with a DBH exceeding 2cm was recorded. DBH and distance from the start point of the 50M transect were recorded. On April 4, 2005, we visited the Red Gum RNA and surveyed 5 different transects (50m x 2m). Two of the GPS 32°54.362’ N, 90°42.437’ W and 30°9.69’ N, 90°44.76’. Unfortunately, our visit was cut short due to the sighting of a rattlesnake, after which we quickly returned to our vehicle and left. The dominant species observed were sweetgum, Hackberry, and the water hickory.

Transect 1

Species	Location (m)	Diameter (cm)
Carya Aquatica (Water Hickory)	0	1.49
Diospyros Virginiana (Persimmon)	3	46
Carya Aquatica (Water Hickory)	7	23
Carya Aquatica (Water Hickory)	13.6	33
Carya Aquatica (Water Hickory)	17.75	193
Liquidambar Styraciflua (Sweet Gum)	19.6	3
Carya Aquatica (Water Hickory)	24	38
Carya Aquatica (Water Hickory)	36	30
Celtis Occidentalis (Hackberry)	40.5	25
Celtis Occidentalis (Hackberry)	43.1	28
Celtis Occidentalis (Hackberry)	44.2	11

Transect 2

Species	Location (m)	Diameter (cm)
Carya Aquatica (Water Hickory)	0.4	110
Celtis Occidentalis (Hackberry)	1	10
Ulmus Americana (American Elm)	4	10
Carya Aquatica (Water Hickory)	10.4	9
Celtis Occidentalis (Hackberry)	18.6	11
Carya Tomentosa (Mockernut Hickory)	19.5	19
Liquidambar Styraciflua (Sweet Gum)	29.2	12
Celtis Occidentalis (Hackberry)	32	11
Liquidambar Styraciflua (Sweet Gum)	35.6	42
Quercus Nuttallii (Post Oak)	41	230
Carya Aquatica (Water Hickory)	45	45
Carya Aquatica (Water Hickory)	50	125

Transect 3

Species	Location (m)	Diameter (cm)
Carya Tomentosa (Mockernut Hickory)	48	140
Liquidambar Styraciflua (Sweet Gum)	41.4	6
Acer Rubrum (Red Maple)	40	34
Celtis Occidentalis (Hackberry)	39	126
Liquidambar Styraciflua (Sweet Gum)	37.9	4
Vitis Vinifera (Grape Vine)	38.5	12
Celtis Occidentalis (Hackberry)	33.2	13
Acer Rubrum (Red Maple)	29	8
Celtis Occidentalis (Hackberry)	29.1	41
Liquidambar Styraciflua (Sweet Gum)	20	5
Celtis Occidentalis (Hackberry)	10	90
Acer Negundo (Box Elder)	4.8	110

Transect 4

Species	Location (m)	Diameter (cm)
Morus Rubra (Red Mulberry)	0.4	34
Carya Aquatica (Water Hickory)	0	240
Acer Rubrum (Red Maple)	7.4	39
Liquidambar Styraciflua (Sweet Gum)	9.2	132
Celtis Occidentalis (Hackberry)	10.7	12
Morus Rubra (Red Mulberry)	17.1	43
Acer Rubrum (Red Maple)	26.2	55
Acer Negundo (Box Elder)	28	11
Vitis Vinifera (Grape Vine)	36.6	6
Acer Negundo (Box Elder)	41	41
Vitis Vinifera (Grape Vine)	49	13

Transect 5

Species	Location (m)	Diameter (cm)
Celtis Occidentalis (Hackberry)	4.3	4.5
Liquidambar Styraciflua (Sweet Gum)	5.3	10
Liquidambar Styraciflua (Sweet Gum)	11	3.6
Liquidambar Styraciflua (Sweet Gum)	11.2	3
Celtis Occidentalis (Hackberry)	16.7	5.5
Liquidambar Styraciflua (Sweet Gum)	20.6	8.7
Acer Rubrum (Red Maple)	36.3	38
Acer Negundo (Box Elder)	38	41
Carya Tomentosa (Mockernut Hickory)	41.6	180
Vitis Vinifera (Grape Vine)	42.1	5
Diospyros Virginiana (Persimmon)	46	41

Here is a List of Hyperlinks if you would like to read about each species and to see a picture of the tree. Click on the name and it will take you to the page.

1. Carya Aquatica (Water Hickory)

2. Diospyros Virginiana (Persimmon)

3. Liquidambar Styraciflua (Sweet Gum)

4. Celtis Occidentalis (Hackberry)

5. Ulmus Americana (American Elm)

6. Carya Tomentosa (Mockernut Hickory)

7. Quercus Nuttallii (Post Oak)

8. Morus Rubra (Red Mulberry)

9. Acer Rubrum (Red Maple)

10. Acer Negundo (Box Elder)

11. Vitis Vinifera (Grape Vine)

Rank Abundance Data

Scientific Name	Common Name	Number Observed	Percentage Abundance
Carya Aquatica	Water Hickory	11	19.29
Diospyros Virginiana	Persimmon	2	3.51
Liquidambar Styraciflua	Sweetgum	11	19.29
Celtis Occidentalis	Hackberry	13	22.81
Ulmus Americana	American Elm	1	1.75
Carya Tomentosa	Mockernut Hickory	3	5.26
Quercus Nuttallii	Post Oak	1	1.75
Morus Rubra	Red Mulberry	2	3.51
Acer Rubrum	Red Maple	5	8.77
Acer Negundo	Box Elder	4	7.02
Vitis Vinifera	Grape Vine	4	7.02
Total Number of Individuals (N)		57
Total Number of Species (S)		11
Fisher’s alpha		4.05
Shannon Diversity (H’)		2.098
Simpson Diversity		0.865

Top Species Observed

Common Name	Scientific Name	Percent Abundance
Hackberry	Celtis Occidentalis