Grape Vines and Sugar Maple Trees

Document Type

Thesis

Publication Date

Fall 2016

Abstract

Introduction
We studied the effects of grape vines on growth of sugar maple trees in the DePauw Nature Park. Previous research during fall semester 2009 by Jessica Pond and Pooja Rathore found that growth of ash trees was affected by grape vines. Ash trees with grape vines grew more slowly compared to ash trees without grape vines.

Hypothesis
We hypothesized that growth of sugar maple trees with grape vines would be negatively affected compared to growth of sugar maple trees without grape vines.

Methods
We selected 15 pairs of sugar maple trees along the W4 Trail in the DePauw Nature Park. Each tree within the pairs was similar in size and in the same habitat. Within each pair, one sugar maple tree was colonized by a grape vine and the other sugar maple tree was not colonized by a grape vine. Each tree was cored with an increment borer at chest height. We measured the circumference and height of each tree. We dried and sanded the tree cores. We measured width of tree rings using a Velmex measuring system connected to a microscope to compare the growth of trees with and without grape vines.

Results and Discussion
We found no difference in the growth rates of sugar maple trees with and without vines. This could be due to sugar maple's tolerance of shady conditions.

Comments

Completed as part of Dana Dudle's Ecology class, BIO 342, Biology Department, DePauw University Fall semester 2016

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