Seedling establishment on a landslide site [Tsuga canadensis, Betula lenta; Virginia]

Two landslide scars (slide tracks) were plot sampled one and two years after landsliding to determine plant species involved in ecesis. The study site is located in a blockfield cove on Massanutten Mountain, northern Virginia. Old growth forest, adjacent to the slide tracks, is composed primarily of hemlock (Tsuga canadensis) and sweet birch (Betula lenta). These species are the first and foremost colonizers on the slide tracks. Dendrochronological analysis shows that landsliding is frequent at the study site and this disturbance may impart non-equilibrium conditions on the forest. Seed bed characteristics, light availability, and mode of dispersal may be important factors in plant ecesis on slide tracks.