Response of understory vegetation to soil disturbance in the interior douglas-fir zone of southeastern British Columbia

This research studies soil disturbance effects on understory vegetation and the application of remotely sensed data in three replicated Long-Term Soils Productivity sites in southeastern British Columbia. Forest floor removal reduced total cover of vegetation. The combined effects of forest floor removal and compaction significantly reduced cover of kinnikinnick, total forbs, and rough fescue. Species richness and diversity increased after harvesting. Grass diversity increased under forest floor retention and decreased under forest floor removal and heavy compaction. Forb diversity increased with forest floor removal. Soil rehabilitation reduced vegetation cover and organic matter amelioration did not affect vegetation cover greatly. Remotely sensed vegetation cover data detected trends in cover classes and was moderately correlated to ground data. This study indicates that vegetation cover is a suitable indicator of severe soil disturbance and may be useful as a visual classification system in adaptive forest management.