Date of Award

Fall 12-1-1975

Document Type

Thesis

Degree Name

Master of Arts (MA)

Department

Department Not Listed

First Advisor

Charles L. Gehring

Second Advisor

George W. Webb

Third Advisor

Marion T. Jackson

Abstract

A study of the vegetation of Vigo County was undertaken to categorize and map presettlement and contemporary vegetation patterns, and to relate these patterns to climate, topography, soil types and land-use changes. Vigo County was divided into four major topographic units according to geography and soil types. Ttese units served as the basis for this study. The General Land Office Survey of 1814 provided data for the presettlement forest distribution. Sixteen contemporary stands were sampled to obtain data for characterization of present-day vegetation patterns. Standattributes tables and size-class tables were constructed for four contemporary and four presettlement forest units. A triordination was performed on the 16 contemporary samples and the eight major forest units; an ordination was performed on the eight major units. A composite map of the vegetation distribution of Vigo County was prepared. Data indicate a general shift toward a more mesophytic forest composition except on the terrace unit. The terrace unit is ~ominated by prairie vegetation and xerophytic oaks. The floodplain is extremely hydrophytic. The upland-flat and upland-slope forests are dominated by neither oak-hickory nor beech-maple vegetation, thus, are classified as mixedwoods.

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