Distributions and Abundances of Microstegium vimineum along Forest Roadsides at the Grassy Hill Natural Area, Franklin County, Virginia

Abstract

In summer 2005, plots were surveyed along roads passing through forest habitats at the Grassy Hill Natural Area Preserve in Franklin County, Virginia to assess the distributions and abundances of Microstegium vimineum in transects located at increasing distances away from roadsides into forest interiors. Across plots, Microstegium was encountered almost exclusively in roadside transects, where abundances were relatively high. While forest composition and topographic features were similar across plots, percent canopy cover and leaf litter depth were greater in interior compared to roadside transects due to undisturbed tree canopies and ground cover located in interior plot areas. Results imply that Microstegium was restricted to forest roadsides at Grassy Hill at the time of the study, likely due to factors that differ between forest edges and interiors.