7. Vegetation structure inside the plots: ground vegetation structure
We used the average of the vegetation scores from the dry and wet seasons to describe the
ground vegetation inside the plots (Table 3). Only BMSM plots had ferns (Pteridum aquilinum (L.)
Kuhu ssp. Aquillium var. wightianum (Ag.) Try.). Fern was very abundant at BMSM and grew back
quickly after fire or weeding. Plot 5 had the highest fern score (after the 2001 rainy season the trees
on plot 5 became tall with greater canopy cover and shaded most of the weedy plants out). Plots 2 and
8 were dominated by grass (Imperata cylindrica (L.) P. Beauv. var. major (Needs) C.E. Hubb. ex
Hubb & Vaugh and Thysanolaena latifolia (Roxb. ex Horn) Honda) which also easily grow back after
fire or weeding. Plot 7 had abundant grass and fern, while the groundcover of plots 4 and 6 was
dominated by HW. Plot 3 had the highest scores for bamboo and woody species (< 1 meter). Bare,
grass and litter were not significantly different among plots. Fern cover on plots 5, 6 and 7 was
significantly different from other plots (SNK test, P < 0.001).