An Additional Source of Data on Northeastern Illinois Woodlands around the Time of Settlement

An Additional Source of Data on Northeastern Illinois Woodlands around the Time of Settlement

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Publication Date

2002

Description

Reproduced with permission of American Midland Naturalist in the format "Internet posting" via Copyright Clearance Center. (January 9, 2015) Originally published by the University of Notre Dame.

Abstract

A new source of data on early postsettlement woodlands, witness trees in woodlot subdivision surveys, is described. Subdivision surveys of Thorn Grove, Will County, Illinois (1848-1856), using 92 witness trees, are compared to the presettlement 1834 Public Land Survey (PLS) including the same area. The woodland described in the subdivision surveys was richer in species, lower in density and composed of smaller trees than the woodland described in the PLS. Decreased density and tree size suggest beginning deforestation, but surveyor bias is a possibility.

Journal Title

American Midland Naturalist

Volume

147

Beginning Page Number

279

Last Page Number

286

An Additional Source of Data on Northeastern Illinois Woodlands around the Time of Settlement

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