Individual Species Responses 



Relative cover could be calculated for 12 species and 

 for mosses (fig. 33). The range of responses was high, 

 although not as high as in some of the other study 

 areas. The response of mosses was unique. Even 500 

 passes reduced relative cover no lower than 63 percent. 



One year after trampling, relative cover exceeded 100 

 percent on all lanes. No vascular plants were as resis- 

 tant. Of the vascular plants, the two sedges, Carex 

 pensylvanica and Carex swanii (downy green sedge), 

 were most resistant, with relative cover of 21 percent 

 and 33 percent after 500 passes. These two species 

 were also among the least resilient. Geranium 



125~j Carex pensylvanica 



1 year after trampling 

 ~ After trampling 



Panicum boscii 



CL. Mosses 

 »>>*K,^ ^> 



> imm 



Amphicarpa bracteata 



200 



Clintonia borealis 



500 



200 500 



Dryopteris campyloptera 



V 



500 



200 



500 



200 



500 



O 1 25 -1 Geranium maculatum 



_ Phlox stolonifera 



Potentilla simplex 



Viola papilionacea 



— -o 



200 500 



_ Thaspium trifoliata 



500 



500 



Number of Passes 



Figure 33 — Relative cover after trampling and after 1 year of recovery for abundant species 

 in four vegetation types in North Carolina's Great Smoky Mountains. 



44 



