Community Structure of Two Southern Appalachian Boulderfields

The vegetation in two southern Appalachian boulderfields in north Georgia was analyzed and compared with that of a mesic, non-bouldered cove. Importance values were obtained for tree and shrub species from$100\text{m}^{2}$quadrats. The canopy of the boulderfields is dominated by Yellow Birch (Betula allegheniensis L.) and Basswood (Tilia americana L.), species of relative unimportance in the cove. The shrub strata of the boulderfields is very dense and rich in species when compared to that of the cove. The canopy of the boulderfields is characterized by low density and numerous gaps.