A Synthesis of Rights-of-way Native Plant Communities: Identifying Their Relevance to Historical and Contemporary Piedmont Savannas
Year: 2012
Type: article
Abstract: The presettlement Piedmont landscape supported an apparent abundance of fire-maintained landscapes, including Piedmont savannas. A loss of fire on the natural landscape led to a decline of fire-tolerant, sun-loving native herbaceous plants that had persisted for thousands of years. These plants are now restricted to few natural areas, and a suite of rights-of-way where frequent mowing has favored them. There is great interest within the conservation community in restoring these management-intensive savanna landscapes. Thirty-one rural rights-of-way displaying savanna-like herbaceous vegetation in the North Carolina Piedmont were surveyed in order to build a reference for managers wishing to restore savannas. Four distinct vegetative groups and their environmental preferences were identified. This information was then used to determine which group(s) should be prescribed for a restoration site at Mason Farm Biological Reserve.
DOI: 10.17615/95cd-wc51
Author: Adams, Nicholas S.
Institution: University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
Language: English
Subfield: Plant Science
Domain: Life Sciences
SDG: Life on land
Open Access status: green
OpenAlex ID: W189089171