Whitley, William James

The distribution of plant communities along a water level gradient was examined, in light of recent logging and fire history, in Fakahatchee Strand State Preserve. The dominance values of trees and shrub were used in cluster analysis to delineate plant communities. Qualitative data on logging and fire history was obtained by inspecting aerial photographs and surveillance in the field. Local water regime, as a function of topography, appears to be the most important factor associated with the distribution of plant communities in Fakahatchee Strand. Logging of cypress and subsequent dominance of hardwoods has altered the species composition of most communities so that community types have become more distinct from one another. The species composition of plant communities has apparently been altered even more when severe fire followed logging.