Habitat Characteristics ofSpiraea virginianaBritton, a Federally Threatened Riparian Shrub, in North Carolina
Authors:
- Jonathan L. HortonJonathan L. Horton
- Joseph McKennaJMJoseph McKenna
- C. Reed RossellCRC. Reed Rossell
- H. David ClarkeHCH. David Clarke
- Jennifer Rhode WardJWJennifer Rhode Ward
- Steven C. PatchSPSteven C. Patch
Abstract
We studied the habitat characteristics of Spiraea virginiana Britton (Virginia spiraea), a federally threatened riparian shrub, along eight rivers in western North Carolina. Comparisons between plots with and without S. virginiana revealed that S. virginiana plots were on steep, south-facing slopes and had a higher percentage of large substrate, lower herbaceous and vine cover, higher non–S. virginiana shrub density, lower tree influence, and higher visible sky than control plots. When relating these habitat attributes to the presence/absence of S. virginiana using conditional logistic regression, only substrate size and non–S. virginiana shrub density had significant effects on S. virginiana presence. Principal components analysis (PCA) of all plots (S. virginiana and control) found S. virginiana plots separating from controls that had higher vine and herb cover and lower non–S. virginiana shrub density and slope. Spiraea virginiana plots at the Cheoah River separated from other sites by having...Keywords
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