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A 70-Year History of Arborescent Vegetation of Inwood Park, Manhattan, New York, U.S.

Richard Stalter and Dwight Kincaid
Arboriculture & Urban Forestry (AUF) July 2008, 34 (4) 245-251; DOI: https://doi.org/10.48044/jauf.2008.033

Article Figures & Data

Figures

  • Figure 1.
    Figure 1.

    Inwood Park, in the northern tip of Manhattan, New York. Color-coded tree planting sites 1991 to 2003 by New York City Parks and Recreation. The geographic distribution of these plantings exceeded the range of our three study sites whose GPS coordinates are given in “Methods.”

  • Figure 2.
    Figure 2.

    Interaction graph of mean diameter at breast height (dbh) for the three sites comparing the 1935 with the 2004 to 2005 census of Inwood Park, New York. In two-way analysis of variance, interaction F2,353 = 0.24, P = 0.78. Mean dbh has increased in parallel fashion at each site.

  • Figure 3.
    Figure 3.

    Correspondence analysis ordinating the three sites and the nine most dominant genera of trees. Data merged from the 1935 and 2004 to 2005 census. The rays indicate the direction and distance from the origin of the three sites as ordinated by generic composition (Anonymous 2007).

Tables

  • Table 1.

    Species importance values (IV) in percentages for the 1935 and the 2005 census.z

    Dominance rankNRelative densityRelative frequencyRelative dominanceImportance value
    Moist Valley, 1935
      1. Liriodendron tulipifera  926.5 (26.5)26.7 (26.7)57.1 (57.1)110.2 (110.22)
      2. Quercus spp.  617.7 (44.1)16.7 (43.3)25.0 (82.1)59.4 (169.57)
      3. Acer spp.  823.5 (67.6)20.0 (63.3)  5.6 (87.7)49.1 (218.69)
      4. Fraxinus americana  2  5.9 (73.5)  6.7 (70.0)  3.5 (91.2)16.0 (234.70)
      5. Ulmus americana  2  5.9 (79.4)  6.7 (76.7)  2.1 (93.3)14.7 (249.36)
      6. Carpinus caroliniana  2  5.9 (85.3)  6.7 (83.3)  1.3 (94.6)13.9 (263.21)
      7. Cornus florida  2  5.9 (91.2)  6.7 (90.0)  1.0 (95.6)13.6 (276.78)
      8. Betula lenta  1  2.9 (94.1)  3.3 (93.3)  1.5 (97.1)  7.7 (284.52)
      9. Catalpa spp.  1  2.9 (97.1)  3.3 (96.7)  1.5 (98.5)  7.7 (292.26)
    10. Juglans cinera  1  2.9 (100)  3.3 (100)  1.5 (100)  7.7 (300.00)
    Moist Valley, 2005
      1. Liriodendron tulipifera1022.7 (22.7)25.7 (0.257)46.1 (46.1)94.6 (94.55)
      2. Acer saccharum1022.7 (45.5)20.0 (0.457)15.2 (61.3)58.0 (152.49)
      3. Quercus rubra  4  9.1 (54.5)  8.6 (0.543)20.4 (81.8)38.1 (190.60)
      4. Fraxinus americana  4  9.1 (63.6)11.4 (0.657)  0.9 (82.6)21.4 (212.00)
      5. Quercus alba  2  4.6 (68.2)  2.9 (0.686)  6.8 (89.4)14.2 (226.18)
      6. Carya cordiformis  2  4.6 (72.7)  5.7 (0.743)  3.0 (92.5)13.3 (239.48)
      7. Ulmus americana  2  4.6 (77.3)  5.7 (0.800)  2.9 (95.3)13.1 (252.59)
      8. Betula lenta  2  4.6 (81.8)  5.7 (0.857)  1.6 (97.0)11.9 (264.50)
      9. Celtis occidentalis  3  6.8 (88.6)  2.9 (0.886)  0.2 (97.2)  9.9 (274.40)
    10. Aralia spinosa  2  4.6 (93.2)  2.9 (0.914)  0.3 (97.5)  7.7 (282.08)
    11. Quercus velutina  1  2.3 (95.5)  2.9 (0.943)  2.4 (99.9)  7.6 (289.66)
    12. Prunus serotina  1  2.3 (97.7)  2.9 (0.971)  0.04 (100)  5.2 (294.83)
    13. Tsuga canadensis  1  2.3 (100)  2.9 (1.000)  0.04 (100)  5.2 (300.00)
    South Slope, 1935
      1. Liriodendron tulipifera2531.3 (31.3)31.5 (31.5)68.0 (68.0)130.7 (130.68)
      2. Quercus spp.1417.5 (48.8)20.4 (51.9)12.1 (80.1)50.0 (180.68)
      3. Acer spp.1215.0 (63.8)11.1 (63.0)  6.7 (86.7)32.8 (213.44)
      4. Cornus florida1113.8 (77.5)13.0 (75.9)  2.1 (88.8)28.8 (242.23)
      5. Betula lenta  5  6.3 (83.8)  5.6 (81.5)  3.2 (92.0)15.0 (257.26)
      6. Carya spp.  5  6.3 (90.0)  5.6 (87.0)  2.9 (95.0)14.7 (271.99)
      7. Juglans cinera  2  2.5 (92.5)  3.7 (90.7)  2.9 (97.9)  9.1 (281.12)
      8. Fraxinus americana  2  2.5 (95.0)  1.9 (92.6)  0.5 (98.4)  4.9 (285.97)
      9. Nyssa sylvatica  1  1.3 (96.3)  1.9 (94.4)  0.7 (99.1)  3.9 (289.76)
    10. Prunus spp.  1  1.3 (97.5)  1.9 (96.3)  0.4 (99.5)  3.5 (293.30)
    11. Celtis occidentalis  1  1.3 (98.7)  1.9 (98.1)  0.2 (99.8)  3.4 (296.65)
    12. Sassafras albidum  1  1.3 (100)  1.9 (100)  0.2 (100)  3.4 (300.00)
    South Slope, 2005
      1. Liriodendron tulipifera1220.0 (20.0)17.3 (17.3)45.5 (0.455)82.8 (82.80)
      2. Quercus rubra  711.7 (31.7)11.5 (28.8)28.0 (0.735)51.3 (134.04)
      3. Prunus serotina  915.0 (46.7)15.4 (44.2)  0.9 (0.744)31.2 (165.28)
      4. Carya cordiformis  610.0 (56.7)11.5 (55.8)  7.3 (0.817)28.9 (194.15)
      5. Sassafras albidum  813.3 (70.0)13.5 (69.2)  1.2 (0.829)28.0 (222.16)
      6. Quercus alba  3  5.0 (75.0)  5.8 (75.0)  7.0 (0.899)17.8 (239.94)
      7. Cornus florida  5  8.3 (83.3)  7.7 (82.7)  0.8 (0.908)16.9 (256.80)
      8. Ulmus americana  3  5.0 (88.3)  3.9 (86.5)  3.6 (0.944)12.5 (269.29)
      9. Quercus prinus  2  3.3 (91.7)  3.9 (90.4)  4.7 (0.991)11.9 (281.18)
    10. Betula lenta  1  1.7 (93.3)  1.9 (92.3)  0.6 (0.997)  4.2 (285.34)
    11. Acer saccharum  1  1.7 (95.0)  1.9 (94.2)  0.12 (0.998)  3.7 (289.04)
    12. Acer rubrum  1  1.7 (96.7)  1.9 (96.2)  0.07 (0.999)  3.7 (292.70)
    13. Hamamelis virginiana  1  1.7 (98.3)  1.9 (98.1)  0.07 (1.000)  3.7 (296.37)
    14. Fraxinus americana  1  1.7 (100)  1.9 (100)  0.04 (1.000)  3.6 (300.00)
    Dry Ridge, 1935
      1. Quercus spp.3177.5 (77.5)69.2 (69.2)95.0 (95.0)241.7 (241.69)
      2. Betula lenta  410.0 (87.5)11.5 (80.8)  1.8 (96.7)23.3 (265.00)
      3. Prunus spp.  3  7.5 (95.0)11.5 (92.3)  1.5 (98.2)20.5 (285.54)
      4. Acer spp.  1  2.5 (97.5)  3.9 (96.2)  1.2 (99.5)  7.6 (293.11)
      5. Robinia pseudoacacia  1  2.5 (100)  3.9 (100)  0.5 (100)  6.9 (300.00)
    Dry Ridge, 2005
      1. Quercus rubra4343.0 (43.0)28.4 (28.4)47.0 (47.0)118.4 (118.37)
      2. Quercus velutina  7  7.0 (50.0)  9.0 (37.3)13.2 (60.2)29.2 (147.52)
      3. Quercus alba  7  7.0 (57.0)  9.0 (46.3)11.8 (72.0)27.8 (175.30)
      4. Prunus serotina1111.0 (68.0)14.9 (61.2)  1.4 (73.4)27.3 (202.58)
      5. Quercus prinus  8  8.0 (76.0)10.5 (71.6)  4.9 (78.2)23.3 (225.88)
      6. Liriodendron tulipifera  7  7.0 (83.0)  4.5 (76.1)11.1 (89.4)22.6 (248.48)
      7. Quercus coccínea  3  3.0 (86.0)  4.5 (80.6)  3.6 (92.9)11.1 (259.53)
      8. Betula lenta  3  3.0 (89.0)  4.5 (85.1)  2.5 (95.5)10.0 (269.53)
      9. Morus alba  3  3.0 (92.0)  4.5 (89.6)  0.5 (95.9)  7.9 (277.47)
    10. Tilia cordata  2  2.0 (94.0)  1.5 (91.0)  1.0 (96.9)  4.5 (281.93)
    11. Aesculus hippocastanum  1  1.0 (95.0)  1.5 (92.5)  1.3 (98.2)  3.8 (285.71)
    12. Robinia pseudoacacia  1  1.0 (96.0)  1.5 (94.0)  0.8 (98.9)  3.3 (288.98)
    13. Fraxinus americana  1  1.0 (97.0)  1.5 (95.5)  0.7 (99.6)  3.2 (292.16)
    14. Carya cordiformis  1  1.0 (98.0)  1.5 (97.0)  0.2 (99.8)  2.7 (294.82)
    15. Populus deltoides  1  1.0 (99.0)  1.5 (98.5)  0.2 (100)  2.7 (297.48)
    16. Prunus avium  1  1.0 (10.0)  1.5 (100)  0.02 (100)  2.5 (300.00)

    • ↵zIV is the sum of relative density, relative frequency, and relative dominance. In the 1935 census, some taxa were identified only to genus. Integers denote the ecologic dominance rank of each species as measured by the IV method.

  • Table 2.

    Density per ha of saplings (trees of diameter at breast height less than 7.6 cm [3 in]) at three sites in 2005, Inwood Park, New York.

    SpeciesMoist ValleySouth SlopeDry Ridge
    Morus alba350  250
    Acer platanoides200  50    50
    Fraxinus spp.250700  350
    Acer saccharum400100
    Carya cordiformis100350  100
    Liriodendron tulipifera150150
    Quercus alba150  350
    Celtis occidentalis  50  50  250
    Quercus prinus100
    Tilia cordata  50
    Prunus serotina1503500
    Quercus rubra  50  450
    Sassafras albidum100  450
    Prunus avium100  250
    Betula lenta  50
    Acer rubrum  850
    Crataegus spp.    50
    Pyrus calleryana    50
    Pyrus malus  400
  • Table 3.

    Comparison of relative density of trees in the forests of Inwood Park in the 1935 and 2005 study.

    Taxon1935 Census2005 Census
      1. Quercus0.331Quercus0.427
    Q. rubra0.265
    Q. alba0.059
    Q. prinus0.049
    Q. velutina0.039
    Q. coccinea0.015
      2. Liriodendron tulipifera0.2140.142
      3. Acer0.136Acer0.059
    A. saccharum0.054
    A. rubrum0.005
      4. Cornus florida0.0840.025
      5. Betula lenta0.0650.029
      6. Carya cordiformis0.0320.044
      7. Fraxinus americana0.0260.029
      8. Prunus0.026Prunus0.108
    P. serotina0.103
    P. avium0.005
      9. Juglans cinera0.019—
    10. Carpinus caroliniana0.013—
    11. Ulmus americana0.0130.025
    12. Catalpa spp.0.006—
    13. Celtis occidentalis0.0060.015
    14. Liquidambar styraciflua0.006—
    15. Nyssa sylvatica0.006—
    16. Robinia pseudoacacia0.0060.005
    17. Sassafras albidum0.0060.039
    18. Morus alba—0.015
    19. Tilia cordata—0.010
    20. Aralia spinosa—0.010
    21. Aesculus hippocastanum—0.005
    22. Hamamelis virginiana—0.005
    23. Populus deltoides—0.005
    24. Tsuga canadensis—0.005
  • Table 4.

    Tree plantings at Inwood Park during Fall 2004 to Fall 2005.z

    SpeciesNumber of trees
    Fall 2004Spring 2005Fall 2005
    Quercus rubra173122195
    Liriodendron tulipifera120105109
    Celtis occidentalis100  70  16
    Acer rubrum  96  15
    Quercus alba  52  36  12
    Pinus strobus  37  21
    Quercus prinus  29  74  75
    Acer saccharum  14  95
    Quercus palustris  12  51
    Quercus velutina  10  12
    Carpinus caroliniana    9    9
    Ostrya virginiana    7
    Amelanchier canadensis    1
    Betula lenta    1  74  57
    Fraxinus americana  36
    Quercus × heterophylla  30
    Carya cordiformis  19
    Liquidambar styraciflua  15  16
    Betula nigra  10
    Betula populifolia  14
    Juglans cinerea  12
    Nyssa sylvatica  12
    Carya ovata    6

    • ↵zFigure 1 maps the approximate location of tree plantings from 1991 to 2003.

  • Table 5.

    Species diversity and tree size at three locations in the forests of Inwood Park censused in 1935 and 2005.z

    1935 Census2005 Census
    Speciesdbh (SD) maximumSpeciesdbh (SD) maximum
    Moist Valley1036.01 (24.19) 91.4 cm1346.01 (32.84) 139.7 cm
    South Slope1328.51 (19.02) 121.91438.00 (29.84) 99.0
    Dry ridge  536.70 (23.67) 101.61642.25 (25.21) 125.7
    Total1732.29 (21.72) 121.92541.81 (28.38) 139.7
    Two-way ANOVA
    EffectdfSSFPR2
    Date    1  5,3888.190.00450.022
    Site    2  3,8362.9150.05550.016
    Date × site    2      3210.2440.780.001
    Unexplained352231,5770.951
    Total357243,577

    • ↵zResults from 25 10 m × 10 m quadrats at each census. In the 1935 census, some taxa were identified only to genus (Table 1). Species number, mean dbh with SD, and maximum. The data are the upper table is analyzed by two-way ANOVA below.

    • dbh = diameter at breast height; SD = standard deviation; ANOVA = analysis of variance; SS = sum of squares for dbh.

  • Table 6.

    Shannon diversity and simple species diversity for trees at Inwood Park, New York, in 1935 and in 2005.

    YearMoist ValleySouth SlopeDry Ridge
    1935
        Simple diversity1012  5
        Shannon diversity  1.976  1.976  0.807
    2005z
        Simple diversity111111
        Shannon diversity  2.101  2.102  1.222
    2005
        Simple diversity131416
        Shannon diversity  2.253  2.317  2.036

    • ↵zThe 2005 site reflects species merged into genera (i.e., Acer, Quercus, Prunus) corresponding to the 1935 census.

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A 70-Year History of Arborescent Vegetation of Inwood Park, Manhattan, New York, U.S.
Richard Stalter, Dwight Kincaid
Arboriculture & Urban Forestry (AUF) Jul 2008, 34 (4) 245-251; DOI: 10.48044/jauf.2008.033
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