Judit Gaspar
PhD candidate, 1998-2001
Where does vine maple grow, and why there?
Doktorandin at the Carl-von-Ossietzky Universität Oldenburg, Germany, under the supervision of Prof. Dr. Wolfgang Eber, Fachbereich Biologie, and apl. Prof. Dr. Dietrich Hagen, Fachbereich Geographie. Research was conducted at the Simon Fraser University, Burnaby, Canada under the supervision of Dr. Margaret Schmidt, Dept. of Geography.
RESEARCH SUMMARY
On the ecology of Acer circinatum Pursh : a study of factors that affect the distribution of a small hardwood tree within oldgrowth forests in southwestern British Columbia, Canada / von Judit Gaspar. - 2002. - XII, 147 S. - Oldenburg, Univ., Diss., 2002
Vine maple (Acer circinatum PURSH) is a common understory species in the temperate rainforests of southwest British Columbia. The influence of surficial geology, light availability, ground water levels, aspects of the microtopography and of vine maple persistence, priority effects and layering on the distribution pattern of vine maple within oldgrowth stands was investigated in this study. The distribution pattern was primarily influenced by surficial geology. High vine maple cover was significantly connected to rockfall sediment. This was probably a relic of vine maple dominance during primary succession. On a smaller scale light availability and potentially former light availability influenced vine maple cover and occurrence. Ground water levels, soil properties and slope inclination had no influence on vine maple distribution. Vine maple was able to delay but not completely repress gap closure in gaps it occupied.
