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Effects of Urban and Suburban Forest Fragmentation in Fairfield County, CT: A Survey of Invasive, Introduced, and Native Plants

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https://ir.library.oregonstate.edu/concern/graduate_projects/1r66j8992

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  • The study collected data using ARCGIS Field Maps from a field survey of plants at six (6) sites in Fairfield County, CT. The sites included three (3) urban and three (3) suburban locations. A primary goal of this study was to determine whether there are differences in the extent of invasive plants between urban and suburban locations which could potentially result from local forest fragmentation. The plant data is a compilation of invasive, introduced, and native trees and other types of plants found at non randomized transects. The data set, stored in an Excel database, included 183 plants documented during the surveys which were conducted between May and July, 2023. Chi Square analysis revealed that there was a significant increase for invasive plants detected at the urban sites when compared with the suburban sites, while the association for introduced and native plants was not significant between urban and suburban sites. Furthermore, the tree canopy, assessed by categorical ratings of understory sunlight illumination levels, was found to be significantly associated with suburban sites when compared with urban sites. This suggests that increased tree canopy and closure may be a barrier to plant invasion at suburban locations. Although not assessed directly, greater heat island effects and impervious surface related to gray infrastructure and stormwater runoff at the urban sites may be a factor in the differences found.
  • Keywords: Forest Fragmentation, Connecticut, Invasive Plants, Tree Canopy, Urban, Suburban
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