Date of Award

Summer 1990

Document Type

Thesis

Degree Name

Master of Science (MS)

Department

Biological Sciences

Program/Concentration

Biology

Committee Director

Gerald F. Levy

Committee Member

Frank P. Day, Jr.

Committee Member

Kneeland K. Nesius

Call Number for Print

Special Collections LD4331.B46 L89

Abstract

Pyxidanthera barbulata (pyxie moss), a rare and endangered subshrub, has been found in decreasing numbers in it's "pine barren" habitat. An autecological study encompassing vegetation association analysis and environmental measurements was performed in the Blackwater Ecologic Preserve, its only known location in Virginia. The preserve is being subjected to controlled burning and the effect of burning on the species was evaluated. A multivariate analysis of variance was performed to identify species associations, and simple analysis of variance was done to find trends in the environmental data. Four taxa were positively associated with P. barbulata, Gaultheria procumbens, Vaccinium tenellum, Cladonia spp., and Polytrichum spp. P. barbulata's habitat is harsh and subjected to environmental extremes including high soil surface temperatures, low moisture, and low soil nutrients. P. barbulata appeared to exhibit better growth in the burned areas. The continuation of controlled burning should promote the species.

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DOI

10.25777/nf3n-6p49

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