Ecology of Forest Soils: Notes from the Underground

Michigan’s forest ecosystems, as well as vegetative cover types resulting from disturbance, are largely defined by glacial landforms, parent soils, and soil development. Species occurrence, abundance, and dominance, are largely determined by the interactions of plants with local landforms and the soil matrix. Ecologist Robert Ayotte will elucidate how a variety of landscape ecosystems have generated from spatial variations in Pleistocene derived landforms, glacial drift, and soil profile development. From wetlands to upland forest; we will consider how both organic and inorganic soils have evolved into the living and life conferring matrices that we observe today. Distinctions will be made between agricultural and forest soils; and we will consider how forest histories and land use practices have affected soils and their productivity. A basic understanding the land forms and soil is paramount to high quality natural areas stewardship and management. As Professor Burton V. Barnes used to say: “You got to know the territory!”