Eli Dickerson

HUNTING THE URBAN OLD-GROWTH - DENDROCHRONOLOGY OF THE FERNBANK FOREST, Megan Chapman*1, Matthew P. Weand1, and Eli Dickerson, 1 Department of Biology, Chemistry and Physics, Southern Polytechnic State University, Marietta GA 30060. Urban forest fragments are often small, even-aged, with frequent disturbances, and therefore dominated by early successional tree species. In comparison, Fernbank Forest in Atlanta, is a 65 acre forest with a relatively anomalous history. Despite changing ownership… Show more

HUNTING THE URBAN OLD-GROWTH - DENDROCHRONOLOGY OF THE FERNBANK FOREST, Megan Chapman*1, Matthew P. Weand1, and Eli Dickerson, 1 Department of Biology, Chemistry and Physics, Southern Polytechnic State University, Marietta GA 30060. Urban forest fragments are often small, even-aged, with frequent disturbances, and therefore dominated by early successional tree species. In comparison, Fernbank Forest in Atlanta, is a 65 acre forest with a relatively anomalous history. Despite changing ownership several times in the last century, the inner area of the forest (50 acres) has been maintained largely intact, free from significant disturbance, and currently contains many large diameter trees thought to be “old-growth” or “virgin forest”. The existence of old-growth trees in an urban setting would add conservation value to the forest. The preliminary goal of our study was to age Fernbank’s trees and determine historical tree population dynamics. An increment borer was used to take tree cores from 38 trees representing 12 species within Fernbank forest. The cores were aged by counting the growth rings from pith to bark. Mean tree age was 132 ± 10 years and the oldest tree sampled was a 285 year old Quercus alba. Twenty-eight trees had ages above 100 years (74%) and Liriodendron tulipifera tended to be the oldest with a mean age of 186 ± 22 years. Tree age was significantly correlated with tree diameter at breast height (r2=0.55, p<0.0001). The oldest species in the forest (present for at least 170 years) are L. tulipifera, Q. alba, Quercus stellata, and Liquidambar styraciflua. Younger species (with ages of 50 years or less) included Carpinus Carolina, Nyssa sylvatica and Oxydendrum arboretum. The uneven-age distribution, with a large number of old trees, suggests that Fernbank represents unique habitat within urban Atlanta and supports the conservation value of the forest. Show less

*Note- I did not write, edit or publish this text, instead I have a photograph that was used in the publication. The photo depicts the eggs of an invasive Hemlock Woolly Adelgid infestation on a hemlock tree.

Book description: Gardeners are the front line of defense in our struggle to tackle the problems of global warming, loss of habitat, water shortages, and shrinking biodiversity. In The New American Landscape, author and editor Thomas Christopher brings together the best thinkers… Show more

*Note- I did not write, edit or publish this text, instead I have a photograph that was used in the publication. The photo depicts the eggs of an invasive Hemlock Woolly Adelgid infestation on a hemlock tree.

Book description: Gardeners are the front line of defense in our struggle to tackle the problems of global warming, loss of habitat, water shortages, and shrinking biodiversity. In The New American Landscape, author and editor Thomas Christopher brings together the best thinkers on the topic gardening sustainably, and asks them to describe the future of the sustainable landscape. The discussion unfolds from there, and what results is a collective vision as eloquent as it is diverse. Show less

*Note- I am not the author, but instead a collaborator on this book and in addition, I wrote an introduction for the book.

Not only is this the first guidebook dedicated entirely to hikes in intown and close-in neighborhoods, but nearly half of these 60 hikes appear in no other guidebook. That means this book gets the word out about intown greenspaces that, until now, have only been explored by in-the-know neighbors and hiking enthusiasts. Twenty of the 60 routes are inside the perimeter… Show more

*Note- I am not the author, but instead a collaborator on this book and in addition, I wrote an introduction for the book.

Not only is this the first guidebook dedicated entirely to hikes in intown and close-in neighborhoods, but nearly half of these 60 hikes appear in no other guidebook. That means this book gets the word out about intown greenspaces that, until now, have only been explored by in-the-know neighbors and hiking enthusiasts. Twenty of the 60 routes are inside the perimeter and many more are just outside the I-285 loop. With this book in hand, you can experience full days of hiking without spending half a day in the car.

The book includes 60 hikes at more than 45 hiking destinations, all within 30 miles of the Capitol dome;

Of the 60 hikes in the book, 27 appear for the first time in any guide;

Of the 60 hikes, 20 are within the perimeter and many are just outside I-285;

Route lengths range from less than a mile to 12 miles;

All hike descriptions list public transportation access information;

Lists descriptions and GPS coordinates for more than 150 sentinel trees, including city and state champion trees;

-Jonah McDonald Show less