Size Structure and Composition of Trees in Oakwood, Ohio: Historical and Environmental Determinants

Author Institution: Department of Biological Sciences, Wright State UniversityOur goal was to determine whether broad patterns could be identified in the size structure and composition of woody plants in Oakwood, OH, and to determine the influence of both natural and socio-cultural environments. We examined variation in woody species composition for 36 combinations of tree size, position within housing lots, and zones within the city. Parameters considered were development history, topography, a city tree-planting program, species characteristics, and location (front yards, tree lawns, boulevards, wild areas, and parks). Distributional patterns in species composition were examined using ordination (detrended correspondence analysis)