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Abstract
I sought to determine community characteristics including stem density and species diversity in a 12-hectare permanent forest plot to determine if the community present suggests mesophication. Additionally, aboveground biomass (AGB) and carbon (AGC) were recorded. Five hectares were surveyed in 2016, and all in 2018-2019. Stems greater than 5cm in diameter were measured, identified, tagged and mapped. Across the 12 hectares, 50 species were found, dominated by white oak (Quercus alba L.), red maple (Acer rubrum L.) and American beech (Fagus grandifolia Ehrh.). Density was 779.92 stems/ha and total AGB was 2,945.85Mg with a mean of 245.49Mg/ha. In 2018, the total AGC was 1,472.93Mg, mean AGC was 122.74±12.92Mg/ha. AGC in the resurveyed hectares increased by 33.24Mg (5.4%). Although oaks were the dominant species, the smaller stems present suggest a shift to a more mixed-mesic species composition in future decades.