A study of the hepatic flora of an infrequently timbered forest

Environs of Hepatics were compared and contrasted by both epiphytic and non-epiphytic distribution and coverage for seven different collection stations near Beech Fork Lake in Wayne County, WV, U.S.A. It is predicted that the selective harvest of timber will usually cause a decrease in hepatic species diversity, as timbering is an infrequent activity that causes intensive disturbance over a widespread area.

Hepatic populations of creekbanks and ravines are likely to be most severely affected by timber harvest because of the unusually high species diversity associated with such areas. Timbering of dry ridges and floodplains would probably have minimal effects on hepatics because species diversity is typically low in these areas of high environmental stress. A few species of broad ecological tolerance and short life cycles would be expected to increase coverage as a result of the added stress.

Frullania eboracensis Gott. was found to have the broadest ecological tolerance of all hepatics encountered in the study. Leucolojeunea clypeata (Schwein). Evans and Radula obconica Sull. demonstrated the highest environ specificity. A second paper will deal with the actual effects of logging.