Limited Invasion and Reproduction of Loblolly Pines in a Large South Carolina Old Field

The invasion and subsequent reproduction of loblolly pines (Pinus taeda) in a large (142 ha) old field in Aiken County, South Carolina, USA has occurred more slowly than expected based on successional studies performed in the 1930s and 1940s. Although the field was abandoned in 1951, only 57 pines invaded a centrally-located 26.7-ha study plot. Pines are normally expected to completely occupy an abandoned field within 25 years. Most of the trees in the center of the field were established between 1955 and 1965 and have shown limited reproduction and dispersal of offspring. The median number of offspring per parent tree is 13, and 90% of the offspring are located within 20 m of the parent. The limited pine invasion may be due to the large size of the abandoned field