Master's Theses

Department

Biology

Degree Name

Master of Science (MS)

Abstract

In a study of the distribution of the woody vegetation along the Arkansas River in Finney County, Kansas, it was found that the dominant species were salt cedar (Tamarix pentandra), plains cottonwood (Populus sargentii), and sandbar willow (Salix interior). Those species which occurred, but less frequently were peach leaved willow (Salix amygdaloides), green ash (Fraxinus pennsylvanica), Russian olive (Elaegnus angustifolia), mulberry (Morus rubra), black locust (Robinia pseudoacacia), honey locust (Gleditsia triacanthos), and coyote bush (Baccharis glutinosa). Of the three dominant species cottonwood showed the greatest total foliage cover, followed by salt cedar and sandbar willow, respectively. Although cottonwood produced the greatest amount of foliage cover it was second to salt cedar in the number of plants encountered in the transects. Foliage cover of all the plants encountered was greater in the eastern part of the country than in the west, but when the percent of foliage cover per transect was considered, just the opposite was true. When considering the total number of plants of all species the greatest number occurred in the western end of the county and the fewest in the eastern most part of the study area. In height and crown depth of the dominant plants it was found that salt cedar was tallest in the west and shortest in the east. The average height and crown depth of cottonwood was relatively stable all the way across the county. Sandbar willow was tallest in the east and shortest in the west. When comparing the north side of the river with the south side, it was found that the greatest number of woody plants occurred on the north side. Considering the dominant species individually, it was found that both salt cedar and cottonwood were more numerous on the north side than on the south side but the opposite was true when considering sandbar willow. The heights and crown depths did not vary greatly from one side to the other. Due to the flooding which occurred during the summer of 1965, considerable damage was done to the herbaceous vegetation. The survey of herbaceous vegetation cannot be of great value when considering the normal conditions. Woody vegetation during the same flood seemed to be less affected.

Keywords

Foliage plants, Finney County (Kan.), Grassland ecology, Soil conservation, Trees, Shrubs

Advisor

Dr. Gerald Wayne Tomanek

Date of Award

Spring 1967

Document Type

Thesis - campus only access

Rights

© The Author(s)

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