HAYSMITH: NEOTOMA F. FLORIDANA IN NORTH-CENTRAL FLORIDA


Table 7. Mean vegetation' heights (in mm) categorized by habitat type.


Plant N Mean SE


Trees
 MHP 109 10.65 0.48
 MH 57 11.87 0.67
 BSW 47 11.16 0.73
Sapings
 MHP 108 3.10 0.29
 MH 59 2.75 0.26
 BSW 44 4.50 0.30
Seedling
 MHP 107 0.28 0.04
 MH 60 0.36 0.05
 BSW 41 0.31 0.06
Shrubs
 MHP 105 1.76 0.11
 MH 55 1.13 0.16
 BSW 47 1.59 0.17
Herbs
 MHP 79 1.01 0.48
 MH 50 0.31 0.61
 BSW 47 0.43 0.63

MH meichmod-saw-j~ hnalneton y, va mn hammo-openundustay, BSW=botrhoanhdwoodswamp



seedling stem density was highest in mesic hardwood habitats, but shrub stem
density was highest in the bottomland swamp.
 Data on crown diameter also were analyzed using an ANOVA, and the
Kruskal-Wallis and non-parametric multiple comparisons tests (p=0.05). The
ANOVA indicated significant differences for saplings and shrubs by habitats, with
the largest crown diameter for saplings, shrubs, and herbs, in the bottomland
swamp. Comparison of the parametric and non-parametric analyses demonstrate
that sapling and shrub crown diameter is largest in the bottomland swamp. This
comparison also demonstrates that herb crown diameter is largest in the mesic
hammock-saw-palmetto, and the bottomland swamp.
 Vegetation cover was assumed to be high in the mesic hammock with saw-
palmetto understory, due to the dominance of saw-palmetto. However, stem
density of saw-palmetto is low, and when viewed from an aerial position, shrub
cover is consequently patchy. These factors were difficult to quantify using chosen
vegetation sampling methods. It appears that by combining the evaluation for stem
density with vegetation cover a more representative depiction of vegetation cover
and consequent habitat quality for small mammals, such as woodrats, can be
obtained.