Effects of Forest Edge and Canopy Cover on Non-Woody Plants Species Richness in Deciduous Forests

• Trey Bennett

  Juniata College

  Author

• Daniel Codeluppi

  Juniata College

  Author

• John Hanosek

  Juniata College

  Author

• Logan Williams

  Juniata College

  Author

The forest edge effect describes ecological changes at the boundary between forests and other habitats and how they influence species composition. This study investigates the spatial variation of plant species richness along a gradient from the edge of a forested area to its interior, measured at three different forested sites near Juniata College. We used transects to survey counts of non-woody plant species at systematically measured intervals (0 m, 10 m, 25 m, 50 m) starting at the forest edge and going inwards. We also recorded the canopy cover at each transect location. We assessed how species richness and composition change with increasing distance from the boundary. Results indicate a clear pattern of decreasing richness, with higher species richness in areas with less canopy cover near the forest edge and a gradual decline toward the interior where there is more canopy cover, likely due to changes in light availability, soil characteristics, and disturbance. These findings highlight the ecological importance of diverse forest edges and have implications for biodiversity conservation, particularly in fragmented landscapes.

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