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Wind and beavers as disturbance forces on a forested island in Harvard Pond

• HF-ID: HF1988-24
• Category: Research Files
• Creator:
  • Highland, Sarah K.

• Date: 1988
• Location: Tom Swamp Tract (Harvard Forest), TS VI
• Media: Paper
• Contents:
  • Student report (Biology 160). 1 file folder. 8.5 inches x 11 inches.

• Keywords: disturbance, hurricane damage, wetlands, wildlife, wind
• Abstract:
  • Wind and beavers are two major disturbance forces which can affect a forested island. Study of an island affected in this way reveals that Pinus strobus is disturbed almost exclusively by wind while the other island tree species are affected only by beavers. Assuming that wind is a periodic disturbance and beavers a continuous one, these two factors should combine to influence forest composition. The future of these tree species on the island should be determined by seed characteristics, accoring to island biogeography theory, as well as susceptibility to disturbance.

• Archives Location: Middle Room
• Access: Active