The influence of concurrent disturbances on plant community dynamics in northern hemlock-hardwood forests

........................................................................................................ 73 Introduction ................................................................................................... 74 Materials and Methods ................................................................................. 77 Study area ......................................................................................... 77 Experimental design ......................................................................... 78 Field methods. .................................................................................. 79 Tree regeneration sampling ................................................. 79 Acer saccharum excavation ................................................ 79 Data analysis ..................................................................................... 81 Results ........................................................................................................... 81 Post-disturbance regeneration sampling ......................................... 81 Prevalence and influence of layering in Acer saccharum ............. 82 Influence of light and herbivory on Acer saccharum .................... 83 Discussion .................................................................................................... 84 ix Acknowledgments ........................................................................................ 86 References ..................................................................................................... 87 Chapter 3 Tables and Figures Table 3-1 ........................................................................................... 93 Table 3-2 ........................................................................................... 94 Table 3-3 ........................................................................................... 95 Table 3-4. .......................................................................................... 96 Table 3-5 ........................................................................................... 97 Figure 3-1.......................................................................................... 98 Figure 3-2.......................................................................................... 99 Figure 3-3........................................................................................ 100 Chapter 4: Mesic Tree Species Restoration in a Northern Hardwood Forest: Early Survival and Growth Abstract ....................................................................................................... 10