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C L I M B E R S

Censusing Lianas In Mesic Biomes of Eastern RegionS

contact: Robyn J. Burnham at University of Michigan rburnham

An Initiative to Increase Knowledge of and Monitor Changes in Species of Temperate Climbing Plants

 

Trees in temperate forests are relatively well known after centuries of intensive study of their reproductive biology, logging potential, regeneration, and diseases. In contrast climbing plants, lianas and vines, are relatively poorly understood in temperate forests.

The CLIMBERS Project was initiated by Robyn J. Burnham in an effort to establish baseline plots in which all climbers are measured and identified to species. Plots can be compared across habitats, across geographic areas, and especially across time intervals. Data will be applied to a number of questions about temperate forests and their climbers, such as:

·                   Does species diversity of climbers decrease with increasing latitude?

·                   Do conifer forests consistently show fewer climbers than hardwood forests?

·                   Has disturbance increased climber diversity and density?

·                   Will increased carbon dioxide favor vines at all latitudes?

·                   How important are invasive lianas in forested ecosystems at various latitudes?

 

C L I M B E R S Research Initiatives:

Geographic - Floristic Research:
Plots and Databases

 

Species-Level Research:
Species Accounts

 

 

PLOTS ESTABLISHED

Half Hectare Plots in Temperate Forest Ecosystems

Using teams of 3-4 people, we select a 0.5 hectare plot (50 x 100m) in forested ecosystems that show little influence from logging or other human disturbance (e.g., vine "management", extensive trails, farming, etc. ) in the past 75 years. The site is gridded into 10 x 10m cells. Each cell is censused for ALL climbing plants (vines, lianas) in the cell. For stems larger than 0.5cm at 1.3m above their rooting position, stems are mapped to exact position within the 10 x 10m cell, stem diameter is noted at two positions, species are identified, and the tree (or stump) on which the climber is growing is identified. For stems smaller than 0.5cm at 1.3m above their rooting position, we note the species as "present" in the cell, but do not take data on abundance or position within the 10 x 10m cell.

CLIMBERS Census Sites: Green symbols are sites completed in 2007; Red symbols are planned for 2008; Each site may represent more than one 0.5 hectare plot.

Map of Climber Sites

 

DATA ACCUMULATION ON CLIMBER ABUNDANCE AND DISTRIBUTION

(data to be entered here soon!)

 

SPECIES ACCOUNTS


Image of Smilax tamnoidesSpecies Accounts are complete for 50 of the approximately 85 species of climbers in the Michigan flora. If the link below is not active, contact Robyn Burnham for individual pdfs of our CLIMBER species accounts




Adlumia fungosa

Akebia quinata

Aristolochia macrophylla

Calystegia hederacea

Calystegia sepium

Calystegia sylvatica

Calystegia spithamaea

Campsis radicans

Cardiospermum halicacabum

Celastrus orbiculata

 

 

Celastrus scandens

Clematis virginiana

Desmodium rotundifolium

Dioscorea villosa

Echinocystis lobata

Euonymus fortunei

Euonymus obovatus

Hedera helix

Humulus japonicus

Humulus lupulus

Lathyrus latifolius

Lonicera caprifolium

Lonicera dioica

Lonicera hirsuta

Lonicera japonica

Lonicera reticulata

Lonicera sempervirens

Lygodium palmatum

Menispermum canadense

Mikania scandens

Mitchella repens

Parthenocissus quinquefolia

Pisum sativum

Rosa multiflora

Rubus laciniatus

Sicyos angulatus

Smilax herbacea

Smilax hispida

Smilax lasioneura

Smilax rotundifolia

Solanum dulcamara

Strophostyles helvula

Toxicodendron radicans

Tribulus terrestris

Vicia americana

Vinca minor

Vitis aestivalis

Vitis labrusca

Vitis riparia

Vitis vulpina

Wisteria frutescens

Wisteria sinensis