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Distribution and species composition of tree islands in Martin and Palm Beach Counties

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Date Issued:
1988
Summary:
Sixty-two coastal and inland tree islands (hammocks) in Martin and Palm Beach Counties were mapped. Species composition was determined for 36 sites and used to test several hypotheses. The hypothesis was tested and supported that the percentage of tropical species inhabiting a tree island increases on north to south and west to east gradients. A linear regression was run to determine patterns in percent composition of tropical species and whether low hammocks were separable from high hammocks. Data suggested that a range from 70 to 80 percent tropical species composition might be used to define "tropical" hammocks. Since hammocks in southern Florida are considered habitat islands, the MacArthur and Wilson concept was tested. An obtained slope (z value) of 0.18 compares well with the slope of 0.17 predicted by the MacArthur and Wilson model. A cluster analysis showed similarities of 36 sites based on 83 tree and shrub species present.
Title: Distribution and species composition of tree islands in Martin and Palm Beach Counties.
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Name(s): Cox, Anne Cheney.
Florida Atlantic University, Degree grantor
Austin, Daniel F., Thesis advisor
Type of Resource: text
Genre: Electronic Thesis Or Dissertation
Issuance: monographic
Date Issued: 1988
Publisher: Florida Atlantic University
Place of Publication: Boca Raton, Fla.
Physical Form: application/pdf
Extent: 117 p.
Language(s): English
Summary: Sixty-two coastal and inland tree islands (hammocks) in Martin and Palm Beach Counties were mapped. Species composition was determined for 36 sites and used to test several hypotheses. The hypothesis was tested and supported that the percentage of tropical species inhabiting a tree island increases on north to south and west to east gradients. A linear regression was run to determine patterns in percent composition of tropical species and whether low hammocks were separable from high hammocks. Data suggested that a range from 70 to 80 percent tropical species composition might be used to define "tropical" hammocks. Since hammocks in southern Florida are considered habitat islands, the MacArthur and Wilson concept was tested. An obtained slope (z value) of 0.18 compares well with the slope of 0.17 predicted by the MacArthur and Wilson model. A cluster analysis showed similarities of 36 sites based on 83 tree and shrub species present.
Identifier: 14440 (digitool), FADT14440 (IID), fau:11240 (fedora)
Collection: FAU Electronic Theses and Dissertations Collection
Note(s): Thesis (M.S.)--Florida Atlantic University, 1988.
Charles E. Schmidt College of Science
Subject(s): Forests and forestry--Florida--Martin County
Forests and forestry--Florida--Palm Beach County
Held by: Florida Atlantic University Libraries
Persistent Link to This Record: http://purl.flvc.org/fcla/dt/14440
Sublocation: Digital Library
Use and Reproduction: Copyright © is held by the author with permission granted to Florida Atlantic University to digitize, archive and distribute this item for non-profit research and educational purposes. Any reuse of this item in excess of fair use or other copyright exemptions requires permission of the copyright holder.
Use and Reproduction: http://rightsstatements.org/vocab/InC/1.0/
Host Institution: FAU
Is Part of Series: Florida Atlantic University Digital Library Collections.