Vegetational Succession on Three Grassy Balds of the Great Smoky Mountains

Introduction: The Great Smoky Mountains Conservation Association recently requested that the National Park Service take steps to preserve three grassy balds (Andrews Bald, Spence Field, and Gregory Bald) of the Great Smoky Mountains by preventing the invasion of woody vegetation on these balds. The National Park Service requested that the University of Tennessee Department of Botany look into the problem and thus the problem was brought to the attention of the author by Dr. E. E. C. Clebsch.

This is a study of vegetation change on these three grassy balds. Special interest is given to the rate of encroachment of woody species. This is a preliminary step in understanding the fate of the balds over time if nothing is done to preserve them.