A STUDY OF EARLY SUCCESSION IN THE MARYLAND PIEDMONT

Abstract

Early plant succession in the upper Montgomery County portion of the Maryland piedmont was studied over a two year period during the 1984-1985 growing seasons. Analysis of vegetation was made in seven old fields ranging in age from 1 through 30 years. Each year plant species, number, and percent coverage were tabulated for each site. The . botanical nature of the plant cover growing on early succession fields in the Maryland piedmont and the changes in these communities with respect to time were thus recorded and examined. Following a short period of annual dominance (0-1 year), Aster spp. were found to be dominant during 1 through 4 years; Solidago species increasingly gained importance throughout this period. Solidago species assumed dominance by year 5 and retained dominant status in the herbaceous level through year 30. Sharing dominance with Solidago were Lonicera, japonica in the 10-15 year field, Lonicera japonica, Rubus flagellaris and Lespedeza procumbens in the 15-20 year field, and Rhus radicans in the 25-30 year field. Succession proceeds somewhat more slowly in the Maryland piedmont than in other areas reported in the literature, with the change in species neither as quick nor as distinct as in the North Carolina piedmont. No marked trends in density, species richness, diversity, or evenness were noted over the 30 year span.