Old Field Communities and Restoration Potential at Mammoth Cave National Park, USA

Old fields within Mammoth Cave National Park, USA, have shifted from the desired oak and hickory-dominated ecosystems to conifer-dominated stands due to historical agricultural land use and fire exclusion. This study found that both above-ground species composition and seedbank diversity in these old fields differ significantly from adjacent areas targeted for restoration. The research compared species dominance in old fields with that of desired future condition areas, identifying Juniperus virginiana and Pinus virginiana as dominant conifers. Management strategies proposed to restore the park's ecological balance include thinning treatments and reintroducing historic fire regimes, aiming to shift the composition back toward oak and hickory dominance.

Oswald, B. P., Woodward, N. T., Farrish, K. W., Unger, D. R., & Hung, I.-K. (2016). Old Field Communities and Restoration Potential at Mammoth Cave National Park, USA. Journal of the Kentucky Academy of Science, 77(1-2), 25–35. https://doi.org/10.3101/1098-7096-77.1.25