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A study of tree species diversity at an
un-mined and a reclaimed forest on
Frostburg State University campus
Diamond Alexander, Summyr Butts, Darius Daniels, Richard
Jackson, Tammy Johns, Belmont Johnson, Faith McFadden,
Gregory Parks, Mariah Phillips, Lucas Shafer, Chaz Ward
and Lauren Whitley
Biodiversity Group
Final Presentation
August 1, 2008
Biodiversity
The variety of living
things in the world
Types of Biodiversity
• Species diversity
• Genetic diversity
• Ecological diversity
Benefits of Biodiversity
Food
Drugs/Medicine
Ecological
benefits
Aesthetics
Religious/Culture
Decreasing Biodiversity
1/3- 2/3 of all species to be extinct
by the middle of the 21st century
Habitat destruction is the number
one cause
Species Diversity
Species Richness (S)- the number of
different species in a community
Species Evenness (J’)- the
distribution of individuals in a
community
Why both measures are needed
Evenness often decreases before richness
Example:
• Forest A and B would have the same richness, S = 3.
• Evenness in Forest A is greater than evenness in Forest
B.
Forest A Forest B
Species 1 4 1
Species 2 4 1
Species 3 4 10
Coal Mining in Western Maryland
Began in the
1800’s
Two types:
• Underground
mining
• Surface mining
Underground Mining
Deep in the earth
Impacts:
• Acid Mine Drainage
(AMD)
• Spoils that are
brought to the
surface
Surface Mining
Topsoil and overburden are removed.
Overburden- rocks and soil that lie over a
coal seam
Impacts:
• Habitat
• Spoils
• Erosion
• Landslides
• High walls
Reclamation
When mining is complete the mining
company must restore the land to its
original state.
Maryland laws began in 1955.
Federal laws began in 1977.
• Surface Mining Control and Reclamation
Act (SMCRA)
“a diverse, effective, and permanent
vegetative cover of the same seasonal
variety and native to the area”
Problems with Mine Spoils
Topsoil removed
Mine spoils used as fill
Spoils
• Low organic matter
• Low, acidic pH
• Low nitrogen (N)
• Low phosphorus (P)
• Low potassium (K)
Plant Requirements
pH- harmful if below 5.5,
many plants do not grow
Nitrogen- used for energy,
growth and overall health
Phosphorus- used for
photosynthesis, respiration,
growth and other functions
Potassium-used for
photosynthesis, energy and
other functions
Mining at Frostburg
Campus was built
on mines.
A forest was
planted on shale
spoils.
There are still
active mines.
Purpose
To examine the impacts of
mining on tree species diversity
Hypotheses
Hypothesis: There will be a
difference in tree species diversity
between the mined forest and un-
mined forest.
Null Hypothesis: There will not be a
difference in tree species diversity
between the mined forest and un-
mined forest.
Methods
Study Sites
July 22, 2008
Two sites
FSU campus
• Un-mined site
• Mined site
- Un-mined Site
- Mined Site
Setting up the site
Circle with a 14-
m radius
Center marker
Measuring tape
Flags
14 m
14
meter
s
Tree Identification
Identified and
recorded the
species
Living trees
3 inch diameter
breast height
(dbh)
Flagged trees
Soil Sampling
Collected 2 samples
from each site
Soil corer
Sampled “A” horizon
Lab testing using the
Rapitest® soil test kit
Observations
Other types of life in the area
Aged the forest as even or uneven
Noted dead trees and health of the
forest
Data Analysis
Shannon-Weiner Index
• Uses both species richness and species
evenness
• Assigns a value for diversity
• Not dependant on sample size
• Compares sites
Shannon-Weiner Index
Hs = -∑ (Pi)(log Pi)
Hs= diversity index value
Pi = relative abundance found
Pi=ni/N
ni = individuals of a species
N = total number of individuals
Maximum Diversity
Hs max is the maximum possible
diversity.
• Hs max = log (S)
Species Evenness (J’)
J’= Hs/Hs max
Results
Number of Trees
bl
ac
su k ch
0
5
10
15
20
25
30
35
40
ga er
r m ry
bl a
ac p l
k e
wh gu
m
wi ite
tc oa
h k
re h az
st d e l
rip m
ed a p
m le
cu ba s apl
cu sw e
m oo
b
bl er t d
am ac k r ee
er bir
ica ch
n
Tree Species
iro as
nw h
o
re o d
sp do
ice ak
pi b u
tc sh
h
p
bl d re in e
ac p
k ine
lo
cu
s
as t
pe
n
Tree Species at the Two Forested Sites
Mined
Un‐mined
Species Evenness Between the Sites
1
0.9
0.8
Evenness (J')
0.7
0.6
0.5
0.4
0.3
0.2
0.1
0
Mined Un-mined
Sites
Shannon-Weiner Index Values for the Sites
1.4
Shannon-Weiner Index
1.2
1
0.8 Hs
Value
0.6 Hs max
0.4
0.2
0
Mined Un-mined
Sites
Soil Measurements
pH N P K
Mined 6.0-7.0 Depleted Deficient- Surplus
Depleted
Un-mined 6.0 Depleted Depleted Surplus
Discussion &
Conclusions
Hypotheses Revisited
Hypothesis: There will be a
difference in tree species diversity
between the mined forest and un-
mined forest.
Null Hypothesis: There will not be a
difference in tree species diversity
between the mined forest and un-
mined forest.
Hypothesis Accepted
Un-mined site had a higher diversity.
Un-mined site had a higher Shannon-
Weiner Index Value (Hs).
Un-mined site had a higher species
richness (S).
Un-mined site had a higher species
evenness (J’).
Maximum diversity (Hs max)
Neither site was at Hs max.
Different reason at the two sites.
Mined Site Hs max
Hs and Hs max were lower at the
mined site.
Only 5 tree species at the site
2 main species were planted.
• Red pine
• Pitch pine
Un-mined Site Hs max
2 main species were present.
• Sugar maple
• Witch hazel
Were not planted
It is natural for some species to be
more numerous in a forest.
Diversity and Soil Relations
Soil test results were similar, but we believe the
sites are different.
Visual observations
• Mined Site
Dead trees/unhealthy trees
Little vegetation
Thin O Soil Horizon
• Un-mined Site
Healthy trees
Abundant vegetation
Thick O Soil Horizon
Nitrogen and Phosphorus
Low at both sites
Un-mined site
• N and P added through decay
• Plants use it quickly
• Stay at low levels in the soil
Mined site
• Not much N and P being added
• Plants use the limited amount
• Trees are unhealthy or dying
Limitations
Site size was small (28 m diameter).
Only sampled one site per forest
Only sampled one forest of each type
Soil testing method
Season of sampling
Time to conduct the study
Suggestions for Improvement
Larger sites
More sites in each forest
More forest of each type
More advanced soil testing kit
Seasonal testing on soil
Unanswered Questions
How can humans reclaim mines so they
closely resemble the surrounding forest?
Does the mined site’s tree species
diversity and soil qualities meet the
standards of the SMCRA?
Will the trees in the mined site continue to
die?
Acknowledgements
Questions
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