suggests that the pines germinated and began growing in an open 

 situation, probably in an abandoned field. The moist mineral 

 soils of the area provided an ideal seedbed and the pines grew 

 at a rapid rate , overtopping competing hardwoods and establishing 

 canopy dominance. The scarcity of oaks and hickories in the 

 subcanopy also suggests that the stand developed in an old- 

 field situation. Oaks and hickories are typically slow growing 

 species and their seed dispersion is usually by animal agents. 

 This puts them at a distinct disadvantage in pioneer oldfield 

 succession when there is an abundance of red maple, loblolly 

 pine, and sweetgum in the vicinity, all of which produce seeds 

 which are primarily wind dispersed. Apparently these latter 

 species were able to colonize the area quickly and the pine, 

 by virtue of its faster growth rate, eventually attained canopy 

 dominance . 



The ground surface of the natural area is relatively 

 smooth. There are some shallow depressions scattered about 

 which may hold water after heavy rains but generally the 

 surface is dry. The dense canopy of pines essentially blocks 

 most sunlight from reaching the ground layer and there is very 

 little herbaceous ground cover. 



191 



