Temporal changes in forest structure, composition, and carbon storage at Trelease Woods
Research Advisors: Drs. Jennifer Fraterrigo and Jim Dalling
Zoom link: https://go.nres.illinois.edu/AlvarezDefense (pw trelease)
Temperate deciduous forests in the eastern U.S. are undergoing significant changes driven by both biological and human-induced factors, such as fire suppression and invasive species. Understanding the structural and compositional shifts in these forests is essential to assess their long-term sustainability. To explore these changes, I analyzed nearly a century of historical data from an old-growth forest remnant in Urbana, Illinois, focusing on the structural, compositional, and carbon (C) storage changes. My findings show a decline in species richness and diversity, with an increase in sugar maple dominance and the rapid decline of elm and ash species due to biotic invasions. Despite these disturbances, the forest maintained its aboveground C storage. These changes reflect broader trends of mesophication in eastern forests, where fire suppression – along with invasive species – have contributed to species homogenization. Overall, my results indicate that Trelease Woods has managed to sustain aboveground C stocks despite a loss of species diversity and increased homogenization.