Nursery Nitrogen Loading Improves Field Performance of Bareroot Oak Seedlings Planted on Abandoned Mine Lands

Although mine reclamation sites are important targets for ecological restoration, they are generally difficult to regenerate successfully. We evaluated the importance of nursery nutrient loading as a new approach to enhance forest restoration on abandoned mine lands. Northern red oak ( Quercus rubra ) and White oak ( Q. alba ) seedlings were nitrogen (N) loaded for 18 weeks at a bareroot nursery in southern Indiana, United States. Fertility treatments followed conventional or modified exponential functions to synchronize N supply with plant demand. Subsequently, nursery-grown seedlings were outplanted the following year onto a mine reclamation site in southwestern Indiana to evaluate effects of nursery N loading on first-year field performance. Nursery N loading promoted total plant dry mass production 25–129% in Red oak and 50–184% in White oak compared to unfertilized plants. Nitrogen loading increased N content 88–145% and potassium (K) content 16–71% for Red oak and N content 124–250% and K content 16–93% for White oak relative to controls. When outplanted, N loading resulted in high seedling survival (>84%) and increased total plant dry mass production 14–30% for Red oak and 23–52% for White oak. Nitrogen loading increased plant N uptake 14–102% in Red oak and 32–105% in White oak under field conditions. Exponential N loading demonstrates potential as a viable technique to improve seedling outplanting performance and reclamation success in Indiana and elsewhere.     

Soil transfers from valley oak (Quercus lobata Nee) stands increase ectomycorrhizal diversity and alter root and shoot growth on valley oak seedlings

 Soils from valley oak (Quercus lobata Nee) riparian areas of the Cosumnes River Nature Conservancy Preserve near Sacramento, California were added to growth medium of valley oak seedlings grown in a greenhouse or in agricultural fields at Cosumnes which probably once supported valley oak trees and are now replanted with native riparian vegetation or allowed to revegetate naturally. Agricultural field soil from the Cosumnes River Preserve was presumed to be low or lacking in ectomycorrhizal inoculum. The study was designed to (1) determine whether valley oak stand soil transfer could cause mycorrhizal infection on valley oak seedlings in an agricultural field and in a greenhouse, (2) describe ectomycorrhizal morphological types formed on valley oak seedlings, and (3) determine whether seedling growth is enhanced more by transfer of natural valley oak stand soil than agricultural field soil. In the field study, transfer of forest soil increased average ectomycorrhizal diversity (2.4 types) more than transfer of agricultural field soil (1.2 types). Valley oak seedlings were responsive to ectomycorrhizal infection in the field study. With increase in mycorrhizal infection there was an increase in shoot growth at the expense of root growth. In the greenhouse study, both percent mycorrhizal infection and mycorrhizal diversity were increased more by transfer of oak forest and woodland soils than agricultural field soil. Eight morphotypes occurred on seedlings in forest and woodland soils but only three morphotypes in agricultural soil. This result strongly suggests that the agricultural field also harbors ectomycorrhizal propagules but forest and woodland soils support a more abundant and diverse ectomycorrhizal flora. Accepted: 17 August 1997     

桂西地区南亚热带落叶栎林群落组成及物种多样性研究北大核心CSCD

落叶栎林是桂西地区南亚热带的典型次生林,也是该区域落叶阔叶林的重要群系组。该研究采用典型样方法对桂西地区落叶栎林群落进行调查,分析了该区域落叶栎林群落的物种组成、区系成分、物种多样性特征及其与地形因子的关系,为桂西地区南亚热带植物多样性保护与恢复提供依据。结果显示:(1)研究区落叶栎林群落维管束植物共计269种,隶属80科178属。(2)种子植物区系以热带成分为主,同时表现出一定程度的温带过渡性质。(3)聚类分析表明,调查的落叶栎林群落可分为云南波罗栎林、栓皮栎林、白栎林、麻栎林4种林分类型,其中以白栎林群落的物种多样性最高,且灌木层的物种多样性显著高于乔木层和草本层。(4)RDA分析显示,落叶栎林群落不同层次物种多样性的差异受地形因子的影响,多样性指标与经度、纬度、海拔之间具有明显的相关性(P<0.05),其中乔木层物种多样性主要与经度、纬度呈显著的相关性,灌木层物种多样性与纬度、海拔相关,草本层物种多样性与经度、纬度、海拔之间均有相关性。     

Influence of host species on ectomycorrhizal communities associated with two co-occurring oaks (Quercus spp.) in a tropical cloud forest

Interactions between host tree species and ectomycorrhizal fungi are important in structuring ectomycorrhizal communities, but there are only a few studies on host influence of congeneric trees. We investigated ectomycorrhizal community assemblages on roots of deciduous Quercus crassifolia and evergreen Quercus laurina in a tropical montane cloud forest, one of the most endangered tropical forest ecosystems. Ectomycorrhizal fungi were identified by sequencing internal transcribed spacer and partial 28S rRNA gene. We sampled 80 soil cores and documented high ectomycorrhizal diversity with a total of 154 taxa. Canonical correspondence analysis indicated that oak host was significant in explaining some of the variation in ectomycorrhizal communities, despite the fact that the two Quercus species belong to the same red oak lineage (section Lobatae ). A Tuber species, found in 23% of the soil cores, was the most frequent taxon. Similar to oak-dominated ectomycorrhizal communities in temperate forests, Thelephoraceae, Russulaceae and Sebacinales were diverse and dominant.     

Ecological succession following forest decline in a xeric oak forest of south-central United States

Aims The loss of canopy trees associated with forest decline can greatly influence the species composition and structure of a forest and have major impacts on the ecosystem. We studied the changes in forest composition and structure 1 and 5 years following nearly total canopy mortality on several hundreds of hectares of xeric oak forests in south-central United States. Because the forests were within an ecotonal vegetation type composed of a mosaic of forest, savanna and grassland, we sought to learn whether forest decline areas would recover to forest or change to more open savanna and grassland conditions in the landscape pattern of vegetation. Because low intensity fire shaped the vegetation type, we sought to learn whether fire would keep the decline areas open.Methods The study was conducted in a xeric oak forest in east-central Oklahoma, USA. Randomly located vegetation and regeneration surveys were conducted in decline and non-decline stands 1 and 5 years following nearly total canopy mortality. Diameter at breast height (DBH), regeneration and sprout origin were recorded for all woody species.Important findings The major canopy species post oak (Quercus stellata Wangenh.), blackjack oak (Quercus marilandica Muenchh.) and black hickory (Carya texana Buckl.) suffered 85–92% mortality; however, minor canopy components experienced limited mortality. Mortality affected all size classes of canopy trees except those below 5cm breast height diameter. There was abundant regeneration of all species and fire seemed to maintain a high level of sprouting. Decline appeared to decrease the relative importance of stump sprouting and increase other types including root sprouts. Decline areas had abundant true seedlings, with stem origin from a root with the same diameter as the stem, which is very unusual for xeric oak forests. Regeneration height in decline areas was twice that of non-decline forests. Our findings suggest that forest decline may lead to: (i) reduced oak dominance and species change in the canopy, (ii) change in reproduction type to increase success of true seedlings and maintain genetic diversity of oaks.     

东灵山地区辽东栎幼苗的建立和空间分布

研究树木实生苗的建立对森林生态系统的保育和恢复具有重要意义,在北京东灵山地区调查了辽东栎(Quercus liaotungensis)实生和萌生幼苗在几种典型的植被类型中的空间分布以及辽东栎一年生实生幼苗在1个林窗梯度上的建立。选择几种典型的植被类型,研究辽东栎实生幼苗和萌生幼苗在森林中的空间分布。结果显示,在不同植被类型中辽东栎实生和萌生幼苗的密度存在空间差异,实生苗密度随幼苗年龄增大逐渐降低,种群的更新主要依靠萌生苗完成。在1个落叶阔叶林中选择1个林窗,在不同梯度(即林窗中间、林窗和树冠连接处,以及树冠下)上,播种辽东栎坚果,第二年秋季调查实生幼苗的2个生长指标和出苗率。结果显示,林窗对一年生实生幼苗的生长高度有影响。幼苗高度在林窗中比在树冠下大;林窗对辽东栎幼苗最长叶片长度和幼苗的出苗率没有影响。说明辽东栎实生幼苗的良好生长需要阳光比较充足的生境条件。本项研究结果建议,对辽东栎种群的更新,应该适当择伐一些较大个体,使森林形成一些林窗或林中空地,以利于辽东栎实生幼苗的建立,这样才能使辽东栎种群通过实生苗进行更好的自然更新。     

Armillaria mellea as a cause of oak decline in Hatam-baigh forest of Iran

A200 ha forest of "Hatam-baig" is located in Ardebil Province on the Northwest of Iran. Oak trees (Quercus macranthera Fisch & Mey) in this forest have been faced with declining and extinction since 1991, that has destructed about one third of the forest trees until now. This disorder was expressed in various symptoms including wilting, defoliation and decline. In order to identify factors causing decline, a study was managed from 1998 to 2001. Samples were taken from roots, trunks, crowns and soil beneath the canopy and were cultured on different culture media subsequently. Armillaria mellea (Vahl) P. Kumm., Phytophthora cryptogea Pethybr. & Laff., Dematophora sp., Pythium aphanidermatum (Edson) Fitzp. and Fusarium spp. were the most common isolated fungi. A. mellea appeared to be the essential causal agent of the decline according to the studies made on oak tress decline around the world and based on brown rot observed beneath mycelial fans in the cross section prepared from the trunk and characteristics of the isolated fungi. The fungus activity had been favored by physiological weakness and stresses in oak rootstocks caused by brown- tail moth (Euproctis chrysorhoea L.) and drought stress in infected trees. The biological species of this fungus was identified as Armillaria mellea, using hybridization tests and application of haploid test strains. The fungi such as Phytophthora sp., Pythium sp., and Dematophora sp. can not be infective in this forest due to being hydrophylous. In the southern part of the forest with remarked steepness, the severity of the decline appears to be more than that in the smoothly northern part. The decline of Q. macranthera is reported as matrix nova. The report of the isolated fungi from this oak species is also universally new.     

Multiple‐scale assessment of understory herb species diversity in pine plantations after long‐term restoration

Plantations are established for a variety of purposes including wood production, soil and water conservation, and carbon sequestration. However, their implications for species diversity are considerably debated. To assess restoration effect of species diversity in plantations after 50 years’ natural restoration, understory herb species diversity of Chinese pine (Pinus tabulaeformis) plantations were characterized and compared with secondary growth oak (Quercus wutaishanica) forests by additive partitioning across three different nested spatial scales (subplot, plot and site scales) in the middle of the Loess Plateau, northwestern China. Whether these two forest types demonstrate different structuring processes was also examined by quantifying the relative contributions of space and the environment on community composition. Overall, the two forests displayed similar accumulation of species diversity across spatial scales. The contribution of species diversity components increased with the spatial scale, and both forests displayed lower alpha diversity at the subplot scale but higher beta diversity at the plot and site scales. There was no significant difference in alpha or beta diversity between the two forests at any of the three scales, but in species compositions at the subplot and plot scales (p < 0.05). The diversity of both forest types were simultaneously governed by environmental and spatial processes, with the exception of a greater contribution of each component in the secondary growth oak forests, but both forests were dominated by environmental processes. Our study highlight the significant role of spatial scales in assessing the result of biodiversity restoration of plantations. These results suggest that pine plantations function in a similar manner as secondary growth oak forests for understory herb diversity, albeit with different community compositions.     

Distribution of ectomycorrhizal fungi in a Chamaecyparis obtusa stand at different distances from a mature Quercus serrata tree

Ectomycorrhizal fungal distributions at different distances from one mature Quercus serrata tree were demonstrated in a Japanese cypress stand. After 4 months for field-planted and 3 months for laboratory-incubated Q. serrata seedlings, they were evaluated ectomycorrhiza formations. For the field-planted seedlings, molecular discrimination was conducted to clarify the species diversity of ectomycorrhizal fungi. Ectomycorrhiza formation was confirmed at all distances in both methods. However, the formation and associating fungal species were decreased with increasing distance. These results indicate that the density and diversity of ectomycorrhizal fungi decrease rapidly within several tens of meters from arbuscular mycorrhizal forest edges.     

黑龙江省不同地点蒙古栎林生态特点研究

通过对黑龙江省６个地点的天然蒙古栎林的结构和更新特点的分析,蒙古栎林可划分为不同特点的蒙古栎群落,即纯蒙古栎群落、蒙古栎桦树群落、蒙古栎槭树群落、蒙古栎红松群落和蒙古栎松混交林群落,其演替趋势如下：红蒙古栎群落、蒙古栎桦树群落至蒙古栎槭树落、蒙古栎红松群落,再至蒙古栎红松混交林群落,蒙古栎群落类型的多样性主要反应群落不同的演替阶段,造成蒙古栎群落多样的原因是人类活动和自然因素作用的结果,随着群落的演替,蒙古栎的优势地位逐渐被消弱,乔木种类丰富度增多,草本种类丰富度增多;蒙栎的相对密度下降,林内环境由于干燥逐渐变中性至较湿润,蒙古栎幼苗和幼树在总幼苗和幼树中所占的比例下降,耐荫物中色木槭等的幼苗和幼树所占比例上升;在演替过程中,蒙古栎分布格局－聚集分布的聚集程度逐渐降低,并向随机分布的方向发展。     

Diversity and specificity of ectomycorrhizal fungi retrieved from an old-growth Mediterranean forest dominated by Quercus ilex

We analysed the ectomycorrhizal (ECM) fungal diversity in a Mediterranean old-growth Quercus ilex forest stand from Corsica (France), where Arbutus unedo was the only other ECM host. On a 6400 m2 stand, we investigated whether oak age and host species shaped below-ground ECM diversity. Ectomycorrhizas were collected under Q. ilex individuals of various ages (1 yr seedlings; 3-10 yr saplings; old trees) and A. unedo. They were typed by ITS-RFLP analysis and identified by match to RFLP patterns of fruitbodies, or by sequencing. A diversity of 140 taxa was found among 558 ectomycorrhizas, with many rare taxa. Cenococcum geophilum dominated (35% of ECMs), as well as Russulaceae, Cortinariaceae and Thelephoraceae. Fungal species richness was comparable above and below ground, but the two levels exhibited < 20% overlap in fungal species composition. Quercus ilex age did not strongly shape ECM diversity. The two ECM hosts, A. unedo and Q. ilex, tended to share few ECM species (< 15% of the ECM diversity). Implications for oak forest dynamics are discussed.     

Genetic Variation in Fragmented Forest Stands of the Andean Oak Quercus humboldtii Bonpl. (Fagaceae)1

Quercus humboldtii is a montane forest dominant species in Colombia, which has experienced significant habitat loss. Using three microsatellite loci, we compared the genetic diversity of adults and seedlings in fragments of small and large size. Results show high genetic diversity, comparable to other temperate oak species (H_o= 0.813, H_e= 0.780, and f=?0.044). However, allelic richness reduction in seedlings of the most fragmented part of the landscape, suggested restricted gene flow and risk of future genetic bottlenecks, if larger tracts of forest disappear.     

Genetic Differentiation of Quercus mongolica and Q. liaotungensis Based on Morphological Observation,Isozyme and DNA Analysis

The Liaodong oak ( Quercus liaotungensis Koidz. ) is a close relative of the Mongolia oak ( Q. mongolica Fisch. ) which were separated by some morphological characters, such as the number of leaf lobes and the squamate form of cupula. Recently some authors observed that morphological diversity made the Liaodong oak unable to separate clearly from the Mongolia one, therefore, plant materials have been collected from Maoer Mountain of Heilongjiang province as a typical Q. mongolica population, and from Guandi Mountain of Shanxi Province which represented the typical Liaodong oak population to compare isozyme and DNA diversity between both species. The winter bud samples were also analysed from Dongling Mountain near Beijing City since Dongling population is an intermediate form between the Maoer population and the Guandi population morphologically. Statistics of 13 putative loci belonging to 5 enzymes showed a high level of diversity within all populations. The value of genetic distance among populations was low, and showed that the Dongling population genetically located at the middle of both typical species. DNA data also showed that both typical oak populations shared similar variation with the Dongling population. Among 172 polymorphic RAPD and DAF loci, no population-specific band has been found. A significant difference in frequency of amplified products existed in 26 loci. Except for 3 irregular ones, frequency distribution of 23 loci seems clinal. The Dongling population also genetically located at the middle of both flanking populations. It was worth to note that the OPD-08434 was probably unique to the Dongling oak since its frequency in the Guandi population has been estimated up to 100% and decreased to 0 in the Maeer population. The Dongling population received this unique DNA from the Guandi population probably by introgression. The strong gene flow in both directions implied a long history of distributive continuity for both oak species. High levels of morphological, isozymatic and DNA diversity supplied enough genetic basis for reconstruction of degraded oak ecosystems.     

Love of Nurse Plants is Not Enough for Restoring Oak Forests in a Seasonally Dry Tropical Environment

The highest concentration of oak species in the world occurs in Mexico, but human activities have strongly degraded these oak forests. Mexican oaks have high economic, social, and cultural value, and restoring these forests is of paramount importance for the people of Mexico. Here, we propose a method for restoring oak forests using native shrubs that colonize degraded areas as nurse plants for oak seedlings. To test the viability of this proposal, seedling transplant experiments were performed in a degraded area near a protected oak forest relict. Two pioneer shrubs were identified as potential nurse species: Mimosa luisana and Senecio sp. The target oak species was Quercus castanea . Oak seedlings were located beneath the canopies of both shrubs and in the surrounding area without shrub cover. Water is a limiting resource for oak establishment in seasonally dry environments; therefore, we included irrigation systems in our experimental design to determine whether the combination of nurse plants plus watering led to higher rate of survival than the presence of nurse species alone. Seedling survival without watering was less than 20% both beneath nurse species and in the surrounding habitat. When water was supplied, survival rate beneath nurse species increased up to 58% while survival in the surrounding habitat did not differ from that observed in treatments without watering. Our results indicate that survival rate of oak seedlings is increased by the presence of nurse plants only when water is supplied. This suggests that restoration of oak forests in these degraded areas requires both nurse plants and watering.     

Different seasonal feeding activity of diverse herbivores in two temperate forests

The aim of the present study was to understand the effects of abiotic conditions on seasonal feeding activity of diverse herbivores on the same oak tree species in two different forests. We tracked changes in herbivore feeding activities on an oak tree species (Quercus serrata) in two localities: a low elevation small hillock forest patch (Muan, MN) and a middle elevation mountain forest patch (Mt. Jirisan, JR). A total of five sites were selected in each of two forest localities. Data for leaf expansion, leaf chemical qualities, leaf damage ratio, and numbers of lepidopteran caterpillars were collected during spring (May) and summer (July to August), 2012. Leaf expansion rate was higher at the low hillock forest than the mid‐mountain forest from spring to summer. Nitrogen and carbon content decreased seasonally at both localities. Lepidopteran larval diversity was high in the mid‐mountain forest, and two‐way ANOVA showed that species richness of lepidopteran larvae was significantly affected by the interaction between season and locality. Leaf damage by all herbivores was higher in the low hillock forest than the mid‐mountain forest in spring, but was higher in the mid‐mountain forest in summer. Relative proportion of general herbivores increased from spring to summer in the mid‐mountain forest, but not in the low hillock forest. Canonical Correspondence Analysis (CCA) ordination showed that altitude‐ and season‐related variables were significant species and environment interaction factors. Our data indicate that locality and temperature disproportionally affected the feeding activities of diverse herbivores in two different temperate forests.     

蒙古栎,辽东栎的遗传分化：从形态到DNA

通过植物群落结构、壳斗、叶脉形态特征、同工酶及ＤＮＡ等多方面调查与测定,分析了帽儿山的蒙古栎（ＱｕｅｒｃｕｓｍｏｎｇｏｌｉｃａＦｉｓｃｈ．）和东灵山、关帝山的辽东栎（Ｑ．ｌｉａｏｔｕｎｇｅｎｓｉｓＫｏｉｄｚ．）的遗传分化及多样性。各种水平的研究一致说明：两种植物的遗传分化较小,东灵山种群是典型蒙古栎、辽东栎种群的中间类型。确切地说,从东北到山西组成一个地理渐变群,存在大范围、强大的双向基因流     

子午岭三种生境下辽东栎幼苗定居限制

辽东栎(Quercus wutaishanica)是子午岭地区的乡土乔木树种,也是该地区气候顶极群落的建群种,其幼苗的补充更新影响着森林群落的结构及物种组成。在3种典型生境(辽东栎林、人工油松林、灌草丛)中,设置3因素(种子、干扰、遮荫)两水平的野外播种实验(随机区组设计),记录辽东栎幼苗出苗量,并监测幼苗同生群在3种生境中3a间的生长状况,以确定种子及微生境在辽东栎幼苗补充过程中的限制作用。播种实验样方大小30cm×30cm,共计216个样方。结果显示,在辽东栎林及油松林内,增加种子和干扰强度(去除枯落物),能引起出苗量和幼苗补充量的显著增加,且2种处理方式间存在交互作用,表明在郁闭林冠下,辽东栎幼苗的补充受到了种子和微生境的双重限制,枯落物是导致微生境限制的主要因素之一。在灌草丛生境,各种处理方式均不能增加幼苗的补充量,表明辽东栎无法在开阔生境(强光照、干旱)中完成实生幼苗的补充更新。3种生境中的幼苗同生群生存分析表明,辽东栎幼苗在森林群落中存活率显著高于灌草丛群落。根据幼苗生长指标判断,在3种生境中,人工油松林是辽东栎幼苗定居的最佳场所。与实验预期相反,灌木对辽东栎幼苗的补充无显著影响。     

Ectomycorrhizal fungal communities of pedunculate and sessile oak seedlings from bare-root forest nurseries

In this study, we present the detailed molecular investigation of the ectomycorrhizal (ECM) community of Quercus petraea and Quercus robur seedlings grown in bare-root forest nurseries. In all tested oak samples, mycorrhizal colonization was nearly 100%. Morphological observation and molecular investigations (sequencing of fungal ITS rDNA) revealed a total of 23 mycorrhizal taxa. The most frequent and abundant fungal taxa were Hebeloma sacchariolens, Tuber sp., and Peziza sp.; from the detected fungal taxa, 20 were noted for Q. petraea and 23 for Q. robur. Depending on the nursery, the species richness of identified ECM fungal taxa for both oak species ranged from six to 11 taxa. The mean species richness for all nurseries was 5.36 and 5.82 taxa per Q. petraea and Q. robur sample, respectively. According to the analysis of similarity, ECM fungal communities were similar for Q. petraea and Q. robur (R = 0.019; p = 0.151). On the other hand, detected fungal communities were significantly different between nurseries (R = 0.927; p < 0.0001). Using the Spearman rank correlation, it was determined that the ectomycorrhizal diversity (in terms of richness, the Shannon diversity, evenness, and Simpson dominance indices) is significantly related to the soil parameters of each nursery. We conclude that individual nursery may be considered as separate ecological niches that strongly discriminate diversity of ECM fungi.     

北京山区辽东栎林的径级结构、种群起源及生态学意义

 北京山区的辽东栎(Quercus wutaishanica)林径级结构的调查分析结果表明,辽东栎林是稳定性的群落类型,其更新主要通过萌生来完成。能够与辽东栎长期共存的伴生种有色木(Acer mono)、大果榆(Ulmus macrocarpa)、大叶白蜡(Fraxinus rhynchophylla)等。萌生在辽东栎种群中十分普遍,除辽东栎伐桩、枯木和大树根际有较多的萌生茎干外,多年生实生苗也有萌生现象发生。辽东栎林的更新在辽东栎总体种群的幼树阶段(径级2)存在着明显的瓶颈现象,但萌生特性使辽东栎林在更新时或受到干扰后形成较大的萌生种群,使辽东栎的大幼树能够得到迅速的补充,顺利地通过瓶颈进行更新,保持群落的相对稳定。一定数量的辽东栎实生种群的存在对于维持辽东栎的遗传多样性、种群整体活力和群落的稳定,提高辽东栎种群对环境变化的反应能力等方面有着十分重要的生态学意义。     

Effects of Flooding Regime and Seedling Treatment on Early Survival and Growth of Nuttall Oak

Effects of flooding on survival and growth of three different types of Nuttall oak (Quercus texana Buckl.) seedlings were observed at the end of third and fifth growing seasons at Yazoo National Wildlife Refuge, Mississippi, U.S.A. Three types of seedlings were planted in January 1995 in a split‐plot design, with four replications at each of two elevations on floodprone, former cropland in Sharkey clay soil. The lower of the two planting elevations was inundated for 21 days during the first growing season, whereas the higher elevation did not flood during the 5‐year period of this study. The three types of 1‐0 seedlings were bareroot seedlings, seedlings grown in containers (3.8 × 21–cm plastic seedling cones), and container‐grown seedlings inoculated with vegetative mycelia of Pisolithus tinctorius (Pers.) Coker. Survival of all the three seedling types was greatest at the lower, intermittently flooded elevation, indicating that drought and related effects on plant competition were more limiting to seedling survival than flooding. At the lower elevation, survival of mycorrhizal‐inoculated container seedlings was greater than that of noninoculated container seedlings. Survival among bareroot seedlings and inoculated container seedlings was not significantly different at either elevation. At the higher, nonflooded elevation, however, bareroot seedling survival was greater than the survival of container seedlings without inoculation. Differences were significant among the inoculated and the noninoculated container seedlings, with higher survival of inoculated seedlings at both elevations, though differences were only significant in year 3. At the end of the fifth year, height of bareroot seedlings was significantly greater than the heights of both types of container‐grown seedlings at both planting elevations. Because seedlings grown in the plastic seedlings cones did not survive better than the bareroot seedlings at either planting elevation, the bareroot stock appear to be the economically superior choice for regeneration in Sharkey soil.