TITLE:
Climate, Deer and Hogs: Drivers of Rapid Change in a Hickory-Dominated Maritime Forest on St. Catherines Island
AUTHORS:
C. Ken Smith, Elise Landreaux, Hali Steinmann, Royce Hayes, Alastair Keith-Lucas, Christa Hayes
KEYWORDS:
Pignut Hickory, Maritime Forest, Deer Browse, Barrier Island
JOURNAL NAME:
Natural Resources,
Vol.6 No.1,
January
19,
2015
ABSTRACT: Maritime forests in the
southeastern United States are very susceptible to climate change and have experienced dramatic reductions in extent
following anthropogenic disturbances over the past two hundred years. St. Catherines Island, Georgia, an undeveloped
barrier island, is home to an unusual pignut hickory (Carya glabra) maritime forest that is
experiencing rapid rates of change, including a reduction in basal area from 23
m2·ha-1 in 1996 to 15 m2·ha-1 in 2014. Nine permanent forest
plots and associated animal exclosures were installed across this 37 ha stand
in 2012 to track forest change and seedling recruitment. From 2012 to 2014,
declines in total basal area were caused by
mortality of pignut hickory in the overstory and redbay (Persea borbonia) in the midstory. Pignut hickory continues to be ranked first in relative
frequency, density and dominance, while Sabal palm (Sabal palmetto) is slightly increasing in relative density. In
2012, there were no woody species regenerating in any of the plots and
following one year of animal exclosures, we found 478 pignut hickory seedlings
ha-1; thus, deer browse and feral hog predation of nuts may be
important drivers of change in this stand. The interplay among deer browse,
exotic animal pressures, exotic insects and a drier climate has resulted in a
very open forest with the regeneration of few woody plants. Without management
of the feral hog and deer population, this unusual maritime forest, with trees
as old as 250 years, may continue to decline.