Effects of Non-Fire Human Disturbance on Floristics and Soils in a Southern Slash Pine Forest / Presenters: Brittany Wielgosz, Elizabeth Belveal, Braydon Shepherd, Wesley Bailey, Ashley Smith, and Tiffany Le

 

Abstract: We will be performing a correlational study on how non-fire disturbance impacts soils and plants in a southern slash pine forest. Our class started by running transects through three areas at Florida State College at Jacksonville Cecil North campus. Section A has been partially disturbed by human intervention, Section B has been completely disturbed in the same manner, and Section C has not been disturbed. The pH of the soil, soil moisture, and organic content of the soil will be measured as well as the density of different plant species in the middle of each section. Our initial findings are that Sections A and C have more understory plants than Section B. As a result of the increased understory plants, we predict the soil moisture and organic content will be higher in Sections A and C than Section B, whereas pH will be higher in Section B than in Section A and C.