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Noualhaguet M, Work TT, Nock CA, Macdonald SE, Aubin I, Fenton NJ. Functional responses of understory plants to natural disturbance-based management in eastern and western Canada. ECOLOGICAL APPLICATIONS : A PUBLICATION OF THE ECOLOGICAL SOCIETY OF AMERICA 2024; 34:e3011. [PMID: 39030784 DOI: 10.1002/eap.3011] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/01/2024] [Accepted: 04/23/2024] [Indexed: 07/22/2024]
Abstract
Natural disturbance-based management (NDBM) is hypothesized to maintain managed forest ecosystem integrity by reducing differences between natural and managed forests. The effectiveness of this approach often entails local comparisons of species composition or diversity for a variety of biota from managed and unmanaged forests. Understory vegetation is regularly the focus of such comparison because of its importance in nutrient cycling, forest regeneration, and for wildlife. However, larger scale comparisons between regions with distinct species assemblages may require a trait-based approach to better understand understory responses to disturbance. We compared the long-term effects of retention harvesting on understory vegetation in two large experimental study sites located in eastern and western regions of the Canadian boreal forest. These sites included the Sylviculture en Aménagement Forestier Ecosystémique (SAFE) experiment and the Ecosystem Management Emulating Natural Disturbance (EMEND) experiment, located in the eastern and western regions of Canada, respectively. EMEND and SAFE share common boreal understory species but have distinct tree communities, soils, and climate. Both experiments were designed to evaluate how increasing tree retention after harvest affects biodiversity. Here, we examined taxonomic richness, functional diversity, and functional composition (using community trait mean values) of understory plant communities, and also examine intraspecific trait variability (ITV) for five species common and abundant in both experiments. We observed the limited impacts of retention level on richness, functional diversity, and functional composition of understory plants 20 years postharvest. However, ITV of leaf morphological traits varied between retention levels within each experiment, depending on the species identity. Common species had different functional responses to retention level, showing species-specific reactions to environmental variation. Our result suggests that understory plant communities in the boreal forest achieve resilience to disturbance both in terms of interspecific and intraspecific functional trait diversity. Such diversity may be key to maintaining understory biodiversity in the face of future disturbances and environmental change. Our results reveal the significance of ITV in plant communities for understanding responses to forest harvesting and the importance of choosing appropriate traits when studying species responses to the environment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marion Noualhaguet
- Institut de Recherche sur les Forêts, Université du Québec en Abitibi-Témiscamingue, Rouyn-Noranda, Quebec, Canada
| | - Timothy T Work
- Département des Sciences Biologiques, Université du Québec à Montréal, Montreal, Quebec, Canada
| | - Charles A Nock
- Department of Renewable Resources, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada
| | - S Ellen Macdonald
- Department of Renewable Resources, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada
| | - Isabelle Aubin
- Great Lakes Forestry Centre, Canadian Forest Service, Natural Resources Canada, Sault Ste Marie, Ontario, Canada
| | - Nicole J Fenton
- Institut de Recherche sur les Forêts, Université du Québec en Abitibi-Témiscamingue, Rouyn-Noranda, Quebec, Canada
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Zhang Y, Zhou W, Yuan Q, Deng J, Zhou L, Yu D. Niches, interspecific associations, and community stability of main understory regeneration species after understory removal in temperate forests. FRONTIERS IN PLANT SCIENCE 2024; 15:1371898. [PMID: 39268002 PMCID: PMC11390392 DOI: 10.3389/fpls.2024.1371898] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/13/2024] [Accepted: 07/26/2024] [Indexed: 09/15/2024]
Abstract
Introduction Understory removal is frequently used to relieve the renewal pressure on trees and promote the growth capability of trees for maintaining community stability, while the lack of previous study on temperate forests limits our assessment of the effectiveness of this essential management measurement. Methods In this study, we calculated the niche characteristics and interspecific association of main understory species and community stability in temperate forests [original broad-leaved Korean pine forest (BKF), Betula platyphylla secondary forest (BF), and Larix gmelinii plantation (LF)] after understory removal for characterizing the resource utilization capacity of the regeneration trees. Results During the restoration stage, the niche breadth of understory plants with similar habits varied across stands and layers; regeneration tree species with heliophile and semishade occupied a larger niche in BKF and LF, while it was the opposite in LF. Niche overlap among heliophile regeneration trees increased in both BKF and BF, but not in LF. The interspecific association among main species revealed that the distribution of each species was independent and the interspecific association was loose and it varied in different forests and different light-demanding species with regeneration trees. The stability of shrub communities in BF and LF improved whereas that of BKF declined, while that of the herb communities of corresponding forests showed the opposite state. Discussion Our study demonstrated that the effectiveness of understory removal depends on species' ecological habits, which enhances the renewal and resource utilization capacity of regeneration tree species in temperate forests and shrub community stability in BF and LF.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yanyan Zhang
- Key Laboratory of Forest Ecology and Silviculture, Institute of Applied Ecology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shenyang, China
- Jilin Changbai Mountain West Slope National Research Station of Forest Ecosystem, Shenyang, China
| | - Wangming Zhou
- School of Life Sciences, Anqing Normal University, Anqing, China
| | - Quan Yuan
- Key Laboratory of Forest Ecology and Silviculture, Institute of Applied Ecology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shenyang, China
- Jilin Changbai Mountain West Slope National Research Station of Forest Ecosystem, Shenyang, China
- Yancheng Wetland and Natural World Heritage Conservation and Management Center, Yancheng, China
| | - Jiaojiao Deng
- Key Laboratory of Forest Ecology and Silviculture, Institute of Applied Ecology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shenyang, China
- Jilin Changbai Mountain West Slope National Research Station of Forest Ecosystem, Shenyang, China
| | - Li Zhou
- Key Laboratory of Forest Ecology and Silviculture, Institute of Applied Ecology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shenyang, China
- Jilin Changbai Mountain West Slope National Research Station of Forest Ecosystem, Shenyang, China
| | - Dapao Yu
- Key Laboratory of Forest Ecology and Silviculture, Institute of Applied Ecology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shenyang, China
- Jilin Changbai Mountain West Slope National Research Station of Forest Ecosystem, Shenyang, China
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Halim MA, Bieser JMH, Thomas SC. Large, sustained soil CO 2 efflux but rapid recovery of CH 4 oxidation in post-harvest and post-fire stands in a mixedwood boreal forest. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2024; 930:172666. [PMID: 38653415 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2024.172666] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/30/2023] [Revised: 04/18/2024] [Accepted: 04/19/2024] [Indexed: 04/25/2024]
Abstract
The net effect of forest disturbances, such as fires and harvesting, on soil greenhouse gas fluxes is determined by their impacts on both biological and physical factors, as well as the temporal dynamics of these effects post-disturbance. Although harvesting and fire may have distinct effects on soil carbon (C) dynamics, the temporal patterns in soil CO2 and CH4 fluxes and the potential differences between types of disturbances, remain poorly characterized in boreal forests. In this study, we measured soil CO2 and CH4 fluxes using a off-axis integrated cavity output spectroscopy system in snow-free seasons over two years in post-harvest and post-fire chronosequence sites within a mixedwood boreal forest in northwestern Ontario, Canada. Soil CO2 efflux showed a post-disturbance peak, with differing dynamics depending on the disturbance type: post-harvest stands exhibited a nearly tenfold increase (from ∼1 to ∼11 μmol CO2.m-2.s-1) from 1 to 9-10 years post-disturbance, followed by a steep decline; post-fire stands showed a more gradual increase, peaking at ∼6-7.2 μmol CO2.m-2.s-1 after ∼12-15 years. The youngest post-harvest stands were net sources of CH4,whereas post-fire stands were never net CH4 sources. In both disturbance types, the strength of the CH4 sink increased with stand age, approaching ∼2.4 nmol.m-2.s-1 by 15 years post-disturbance. Volumetric water content, bulk density, litter depth, and pH were significant predictors of CO2 fluxes; for CH4 fluxes, litter depth, pH, and the interaction of VWC and soil temperature were significant predictors in both disturbance types, with EC also showing a relationship in post-harvest stands. Our findings indicate that while soil CH4 oxidation rapidly recovers following disturbance, both post-harvest and post-fire stands show a multi-decade release of soil CO2 that is too large to be offset by C gains over this period.
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Affiliation(s)
- Md Abdul Halim
- Institute of Forestry and Conservation, University of Toronto, 33 Willcocks Street, M5S 3B3 Toronto, Canada; Department of Forestry and Environmental Science, Shahjalal University of Science and Technology, Sylhet 3114, Bangladesh.
| | - Jillian M H Bieser
- Institute of Forestry and Conservation, University of Toronto, 33 Willcocks Street, M5S 3B3 Toronto, Canada
| | - Sean C Thomas
- Institute of Forestry and Conservation, University of Toronto, 33 Willcocks Street, M5S 3B3 Toronto, Canada
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Gundale MJ, Axelsson EP, Buness V, Callebaut T, DeLuca TH, Hupperts SF, Ibáñez TS, Metcalfe DB, Nilsson MC, Peichl M, Spitzer CM, Stangl ZR, Strengbom J, Sundqvist MK, Wardle DA, Lindahl BD. The biological controls of soil carbon accumulation following wildfire and harvest in boreal forests: A review. GLOBAL CHANGE BIOLOGY 2024; 30:e17276. [PMID: 38683126 DOI: 10.1111/gcb.17276] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/09/2024] [Revised: 03/29/2024] [Accepted: 03/30/2024] [Indexed: 05/01/2024]
Abstract
Boreal forests are frequently subjected to disturbances, including wildfire and clear-cutting. While these disturbances can cause soil carbon (C) losses, the long-term accumulation dynamics of soil C stocks during subsequent stand development is controlled by biological processes related to the balance of net primary production (NPP) and outputs via heterotrophic respiration and leaching, many of which remain poorly understood. We review the biological processes suggested to influence soil C accumulation in boreal forests. Our review indicates that median C accumulation rates following wildfire and clear-cutting are similar (0.15 and 0.20 Mg ha-1 year-1, respectively), however, variation between studies is extremely high. Further, while many individual studies show linear increases in soil C stocks through time after disturbance, there are indications that C stock recovery is fastest early to mid-succession (e.g. 15-80 years) and then slows as forests mature (e.g. >100 years). We indicate that the rapid build-up of soil C in younger stands appears not only driven by higher plant production, but also by a high rate of mycorrhizal hyphal production, and mycorrhizal suppression of saprotrophs. As stands mature, the balance between reductions in plant and mycorrhizal production, increasing plant litter recalcitrance, and ectomycorrhizal decomposers and saprotrophs have been highlighted as key controls on soil C accumulation rates. While some of these controls appear well understood (e.g. temporal patterns in NPP, changes in aboveground litter quality), many others remain research frontiers. Notably, very little data exists describing and comparing successional patterns of root production, mycorrhizal functional traits, mycorrhizal-saprotroph interactions, or C outputs via heterotrophic respiration and dissolved organic C following different disturbances. We argue that these less frequently described controls require attention, as they will be key not only for understanding ecosystem C balances, but also for representing these dynamics more accurately in soil organic C and Earth system models.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michael J Gundale
- Department of Forest Ecology and Management, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, Umeå, Sweden
| | - E Petter Axelsson
- Department of Wildlife, Fish and Environmental Studies, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, Umeå, Sweden
| | - Vincent Buness
- Department of Forest Ecology and Management, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, Umeå, Sweden
| | - Timon Callebaut
- Department of Environmental Science and Ecology, Umeå University, Umeå, Sweden
| | - Thomas H DeLuca
- College of Forestry, Oregon State University, Corvallis, Oregon, USA
| | - Stefan F Hupperts
- Department of Forest Ecology and Management, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, Umeå, Sweden
| | - Theresa S Ibáñez
- Department of Wildlife, Fish and Environmental Studies, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, Umeå, Sweden
| | - Daniel B Metcalfe
- Department of Environmental Science and Ecology, Umeå University, Umeå, Sweden
| | - Marie-Charlotte Nilsson
- Department of Forest Ecology and Management, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, Umeå, Sweden
| | - Matthias Peichl
- Department of Forest Ecology and Management, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, Umeå, Sweden
| | - Clydecia M Spitzer
- Department of Forest Ecology and Management, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, Umeå, Sweden
| | - Zsofia R Stangl
- Department of Forest Ecology and Management, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, Umeå, Sweden
| | - Joachim Strengbom
- Department of Ecology, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Maja K Sundqvist
- Department of Forest Ecology and Management, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, Umeå, Sweden
| | - David A Wardle
- Department of Environmental Science and Ecology, Umeå University, Umeå, Sweden
| | - Björn D Lindahl
- Department of Soil Science, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, Uppsala, Sweden
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Guo H, Zhou XB, Tao Y, Yin JF, Zhang L, Guo X, Liu CH, Zhang YM. Perennial herb diversity contributes more than annual herb diversity to multifunctionality in dryland ecosystems of North-western China. FRONTIERS IN PLANT SCIENCE 2023; 14:1099110. [PMID: 36890885 PMCID: PMC9986965 DOI: 10.3389/fpls.2023.1099110] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/15/2022] [Accepted: 02/03/2023] [Indexed: 06/18/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Considerable attention has been given to how different aspects of biodiversity sustain ecosystem functions. Herbs are a critical component of the plant community of dryland ecosystems, but the importance of different life form groups of herbs is often overlooked in experiments on biodiversity-ecosystem multifunctionality. Hence, little is known about how the multiple attributes of diversity of different life form groups of herbs affect changes to the multifunctionality of ecosystems. METHODS We investigated geographic patterns of herb diversity and ecosystem multifunctionality along a precipitation gradient of 2100 km in Northwest China, and assessed the taxonomic, phylogenetic and functional attributes of different life form groups of herbs on the multifunctionality. RESULTS We found that subordinate (richness effect) species of annual herbs and dominant (mass ratio effect) species of perennial herbs were crucial for driving multifunctionality. Most importantly, the multiple attributes (taxonomic, phylogenetic and functional) of herb diversity enhanced the multifunctionality. The functional diversity of herbs provided greater explanatory power than did taxonomic and phylogenetic diversity. In addition, the multiple attribute diversity of perennial herbs contributed more than annual herbs to multifunctionality. CONCLUSIONS Our findings provide insights into previously neglected mechanisms by which the diversity of different life form groups of herbs affect ecosystem multifunctionality. These results provide a comprehensive understanding of the relationship between biodiversity and multifunctionality, and will ultimately contribute to multifunctional conservation and restoration programs in dryland ecosystems.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hao Guo
- State Key Laboratory of Desert and Oasis Ecology, Xinjiang Institute of Ecology and Geography, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Urumqi, China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Xiao-bing Zhou
- State Key Laboratory of Desert and Oasis Ecology, Xinjiang Institute of Ecology and Geography, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Urumqi, China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Ye Tao
- State Key Laboratory of Desert and Oasis Ecology, Xinjiang Institute of Ecology and Geography, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Urumqi, China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Jin-fei Yin
- State Key Laboratory of Desert and Oasis Ecology, Xinjiang Institute of Ecology and Geography, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Urumqi, China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Lan Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Desert and Oasis Ecology, Xinjiang Institute of Ecology and Geography, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Urumqi, China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Xing Guo
- State Key Laboratory of Desert and Oasis Ecology, Xinjiang Institute of Ecology and Geography, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Urumqi, China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Chao-hong Liu
- State Key Laboratory of Desert and Oasis Ecology, Xinjiang Institute of Ecology and Geography, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Urumqi, China
| | - Yuan-ming Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Desert and Oasis Ecology, Xinjiang Institute of Ecology and Geography, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Urumqi, China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
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Yin X, Martineau C, Fenton NJ. How big is the footprint? Quantifying offsite effects of mines on boreal plant communities. Glob Ecol Conserv 2023. [DOI: 10.1016/j.gecco.2023.e02372] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/11/2023] Open
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7
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McKay TL, Finnegan LA. Predator–prey co‐occurrence in harvest blocks: Implications for caribou and forestry. CONSERVATION SCIENCE AND PRACTICE 2022. [DOI: 10.1111/csp2.12847] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/21/2022] Open
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Pang Y, Tian J, Yang H, Zhang K, Wang D. Responses of Fine Roots at Different Soil Depths to Different Thinning Intensities in a Secondary Forest in the Qinling Mountains, China. BIOLOGY 2022; 11:biology11030351. [PMID: 35336725 PMCID: PMC8945732 DOI: 10.3390/biology11030351] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/10/2022] [Revised: 02/16/2022] [Accepted: 02/21/2022] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
Fine roots make critical contributions to carbon stocks and terrestrial productivity, and fine roots with different diameters exhibit functional heterogeneity. However, the changed characteristics of fine roots with different diameters at different soil depths following thinning disturbances are poorly understood. We investigated the biomass, production, mortality and turnover rate of <0.5 mm, 0.5−1 mm, and 1−2 mm fine roots at 0−20 cm, 20−40 cm, and 40−60 cm soil depths under five thinning intensities (0%, 15%, 30%, 45%, and 60%) in a secondary forest in the Qinling Mountains. The biomass, production and turnover rate of <0.5 mm fine roots fluctuated with increasing thinning intensities, while the 0.5−1 mm and 1−2 mm fine-root biomass significantly decreased. The thinning intensities had no effects on the fine-root necromass or mortality. The change in the fine-root characteristics in deeper soils was more sensitive to the thinning intensities. The principal component analysis results showed that increased <0.5 mm fine-root biomass and production resulted from increased shrub and herb diversity and biomass and decreased soil nutrient availability, stand volume, and litter biomass, whereas the 0.5−1 mm and 1−2 mm fine-root biomass showed the opposite trends and changes. Our results suggest that different thinning intensities exhibit varied influential mechanisms on the changed characteristics of fine roots with different diameters.
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Zheng L, Chen HYH, Hautier Y, Bao D, Xu M, Yang B, Zhao Z, Zhang L, Yan E. Functionally diverse tree stands reduce herbaceous diversity and productivity via canopy packing. Funct Ecol 2022. [DOI: 10.1111/1365-2435.14009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/27/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Li‐Ting Zheng
- Forest Ecosystem Research and Observation Station in Putuo Island Tiantong National Forest Ecosystem Observation and Research Station, and Shanghai Key Lab for Urban Ecological Processes and Eco‐Restoration, School of Ecological and Environmental Sciences, East China Normal University Shanghai 200241 China
- Institute of Eco‐Chongming (IEC) 3663 N. Zhongshan Rd Shanghai 200062 China
| | - Han Y. H. Chen
- Faculty of Natural Resources Management Lakehead University 955 Oliver Road, Thunder Bay Ontario P7B 5E1 Canada
| | - Yann Hautier
- Ecology and Biodiversity Group Department of Biology Utrecht University Padualaan 8 3584 CH Utrecht The Netherlands
| | - Di‐Feng Bao
- Forest Ecosystem Research and Observation Station in Putuo Island Tiantong National Forest Ecosystem Observation and Research Station, and Shanghai Key Lab for Urban Ecological Processes and Eco‐Restoration, School of Ecological and Environmental Sciences, East China Normal University Shanghai 200241 China
- Institute of Eco‐Chongming (IEC) 3663 N. Zhongshan Rd Shanghai 200062 China
| | - Ming‐Shan Xu
- Forest Ecosystem Research and Observation Station in Putuo Island Tiantong National Forest Ecosystem Observation and Research Station, and Shanghai Key Lab for Urban Ecological Processes and Eco‐Restoration, School of Ecological and Environmental Sciences, East China Normal University Shanghai 200241 China
- Institute of Eco‐Chongming (IEC) 3663 N. Zhongshan Rd Shanghai 200062 China
| | - Bai‐Yu Yang
- Forest Ecosystem Research and Observation Station in Putuo Island Tiantong National Forest Ecosystem Observation and Research Station, and Shanghai Key Lab for Urban Ecological Processes and Eco‐Restoration, School of Ecological and Environmental Sciences, East China Normal University Shanghai 200241 China
- Institute of Eco‐Chongming (IEC) 3663 N. Zhongshan Rd Shanghai 200062 China
| | - Zhao Zhao
- Forest Ecosystem Research and Observation Station in Putuo Island Tiantong National Forest Ecosystem Observation and Research Station, and Shanghai Key Lab for Urban Ecological Processes and Eco‐Restoration, School of Ecological and Environmental Sciences, East China Normal University Shanghai 200241 China
- Institute of Eco‐Chongming (IEC) 3663 N. Zhongshan Rd Shanghai 200062 China
| | - Li Zhang
- Forest Ecosystem Research and Observation Station in Putuo Island Tiantong National Forest Ecosystem Observation and Research Station, and Shanghai Key Lab for Urban Ecological Processes and Eco‐Restoration, School of Ecological and Environmental Sciences, East China Normal University Shanghai 200241 China
- Institute of Eco‐Chongming (IEC) 3663 N. Zhongshan Rd Shanghai 200062 China
| | - En‐Rong Yan
- Forest Ecosystem Research and Observation Station in Putuo Island Tiantong National Forest Ecosystem Observation and Research Station, and Shanghai Key Lab for Urban Ecological Processes and Eco‐Restoration, School of Ecological and Environmental Sciences, East China Normal University Shanghai 200241 China
- Institute of Eco‐Chongming (IEC) 3663 N. Zhongshan Rd Shanghai 200062 China
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Plant Species Classification and Diversity of the Understory Vegetation in Oak Forests of Swat, Pakistan. APPLIED SCIENCES-BASEL 2021. [DOI: 10.3390/app112311372] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
The forest ecosystem has understory vegetation that plays a vital role in sustaining diversity, providing nutrients, and forming a useful association for developing a balanced ecosystem. The current study provides detailed insights into the plant biodiversity and species classification of the understory vegetation of Swat, Pakistan. The floral diversity of the area was comprised of 58 plant species belonging to 32 families. The physiognomy of the studied area was dominated by herbaceous growth form with 47 species. The dominant life-form class was hemicryptophytes with 19 species (33%), followed by nanophanerophytes with 15 species (26%) and therophytes with 13 species (22%). Of the 58 species, 43 plant species were associated with group III clustered by applying Ward’s agglomerative clustering that indicated wide sociability of the species in the studied oak-dominated forests. Group III had higher species richness (10.3), α-diversity (2.74) and β-diversity (9.85), and Margalef index values (3.95). While the group I had maximum Pielous and Simpson index values of 0.97 and 7.13, respectively. Redundancy analysis revealed that seven variables (i.e., latitude, elevation, clay, wilting point, bulk density, saturation, and electric conductivity) were significantly influential concerning the understory vegetation of oak-dominated forests. The understory vegetation of these forests plays an important role in the forest ecosystem of the region. The present study reveals floral divergence and physiognomic scenario of the unexplored study area, which could be an important reference for future ethnobotanical, phytosociological, and conservational endeavors. Moreover, this information is important to the success of efforts intended to prevent the loss of species diversity in these forests by destroying their natural habitats.
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11
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Shi X, Wang J, Lucas‐Borja ME, Wang Z, Li X, Huang Z. Microbial diversity regulates ecosystem multifunctionality during natural secondary succession. J Appl Ecol 2021. [DOI: 10.1111/1365-2664.14015] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/21/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Xiuzhen Shi
- Key Laboratory for Humid Subtropical Eco‐Geographical Processes of the Ministry of Education Fujian Normal University Fuzhou China
- Institute of Geography Fujian Normal University Fuzhou China
| | - Jianqing Wang
- Key Laboratory for Humid Subtropical Eco‐Geographical Processes of the Ministry of Education Fujian Normal University Fuzhou China
- Institute of Geography Fujian Normal University Fuzhou China
| | - Manuel Esteban Lucas‐Borja
- Higher Technical School of Agricultural and Forestry Engineering Castilla‐La Mancha University Albacete Spain
| | - Zhenyu Wang
- Key Laboratory for Humid Subtropical Eco‐Geographical Processes of the Ministry of Education Fujian Normal University Fuzhou China
- Institute of Geography Fujian Normal University Fuzhou China
| | - Xue Li
- Key Laboratory for Humid Subtropical Eco‐Geographical Processes of the Ministry of Education Fujian Normal University Fuzhou China
- Institute of Geography Fujian Normal University Fuzhou China
| | - Zhiqun Huang
- Key Laboratory for Humid Subtropical Eco‐Geographical Processes of the Ministry of Education Fujian Normal University Fuzhou China
- Institute of Geography Fujian Normal University Fuzhou China
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12
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Lacerte R, Leblond M, St‐Laurent M. Determinants of vegetation regeneration on forest roads following restoration treatments: implications for boreal caribou conservation. Restor Ecol 2021. [DOI: 10.1111/rec.13414] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Rebecca Lacerte
- Centre for Forest Research, Département de biologie, chimie et géographie Université du Québec à Rimouski Rimouski QC Canada
| | - Mathieu Leblond
- Science and Technology Branch Environment and Climate Change Canada Ottawa ON Canada
| | - Martin‐Hugues St‐Laurent
- Centre for Northern Studies and Centre for Forest Research, Département de biologie, chimie et géographie Université du Québec à Rimouski Rimouski QC Canada
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13
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Tatsumi S, Strengbom J, Čugunovs M, Kouki J. Partitioning the colonization and extinction components of beta diversity across disturbance gradients. Ecology 2021; 101:e03183. [PMID: 32892360 DOI: 10.1002/ecy.3183] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/24/2020] [Revised: 06/11/2020] [Accepted: 06/29/2020] [Indexed: 11/11/2022]
Abstract
Changes in species diversity often result from species losses and gains. The dynamic nature of beta diversity (spatial variation in species composition) that derives from such temporal species turnover, however, has received relatively little attention. Here, we disentangled extinction and colonization components of beta diversity by using the sets of species that went locally extinct and that newly colonized the study sites. We applied this concept of extinction and colonization beta diversity to ground vegetation communities that have been repeatedly surveyed in forests where fire and harvesting were experimentally applied. We first found that fire and harvesting caused no effect on beta diversity 2 yr after the treatments. From this result, we might conclude that they did not alter the ways in which species assemble across space. However, when we analyzed the extinction and colonization beta diversity between pre-treatment and 2 yr after the treatments, both measures were found to be significantly lower in burned sites compared to unburned sites (i.e., the groups of excluded and newly colonized species both showed low beta diversity in the burned sites). These results indicate that the fire excluded similar subsets of species across space, making communities become more heterogeneous, but at the same time induced spatially uniform colonization of new species, causing communities to homogenize. Consequently, the effects of these two processes canceled each other out. The relative importance of extinction and colonization components per se also changed temporally after the treatments. Fire and harvesting showed synergetic negative impacts on extinction beta diversity between pre-treatment and 10 yr after the treatments. Overall, analyses using extinction and colonization beta diversity allowed us to detect nonrandom disassembly and reassembly dynamics in ground vegetation communities. Our results suggest that common practices of analyzing beta diversity at one point in time can mask significant variation driven by disturbance. Acknowledging the extinction-colonization dynamics behind beta diversity is essential for understanding the spatiotemporal organization of biodiversity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shinichi Tatsumi
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Toronto Scarborough, 1265 Military Trail, Toronto, Ontario, M1C 1A4, Canada.,Hokkaido Research Center, Forestry and Forest Products Research Institute, Hitsujigaoka 7, Toyohira-ku, Hokkaido, 062-0045, Japan
| | - Joachim Strengbom
- Department of Ecology, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, Box 7044, Uppsala, 750 07, Sweden
| | - Mihails Čugunovs
- School of Forest Sciences, University of Eastern Finland, PO Box 111, Yliopistokatu 7, Joensuu, FI-80101, Finland
| | - Jari Kouki
- School of Forest Sciences, University of Eastern Finland, PO Box 111, Yliopistokatu 7, Joensuu, FI-80101, Finland
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14
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Population Structure and Regeneration Status of Woody Plants in Relation to the Human Interventions, Arasbaran Biosphere Reserve, Iran. FORESTS 2021. [DOI: 10.3390/f12020191] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/09/2023]
Abstract
Proper understanding of the diversity and natural structure of woody species and the impacts of human interventions are prerequisites for maintaining the remaining forests as well as restoration of deforested and degraded areas. This research was conducted to document the impact of human interventions on the population structure and the species diversity in the Arasbaran biosphere reserve in Iran due to the limited research and insufficient knowledge. The study area was divided into three adjacent sampling areas of low, medium, and high destruction intensity. Thirty fixed area 0.1-hectare plots were sampled to evaluate the composition, diversity, and species richness. Oak (Quercus macranthera), hawthorn (Crataegus meyeri), and maple (Acer campestre) were the top three dominant tree species at all the sites. The relative dominance of the top three species comprised 87.8% of the basal area of all species. The relative abundance of the top three species accounted for 68.1% of the species. The mean density and basal areas per tree across all three destruction statuses were 145 ± 59 stems ha−1 and 0.01 ± 0.005 m2 ha−1, respectively. The mean height of trees was different at low and high disturbance sites (4.6 ± 0.96 m and 3.37 ± 1.74 m, respectively). Due to the impact of human interventions on forest structure, composition, and diversity, conservation programs are recommended for implementation and in collaboration with local communities to employ management aimed at providing services for local people while restoring these forests. Basic ecological studies such as this study are the foundation to begin developing policies and management that meet multiple ecological and social goals.
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15
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Ohdo T, Takahashi K. Plant species richness and community assembly along gradients of elevation and soil nitrogen availability. AOB PLANTS 2020; 12:plaa014. [PMID: 32467749 PMCID: PMC7243275 DOI: 10.1093/aobpla/plaa014] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/29/2020] [Accepted: 04/11/2020] [Indexed: 06/11/2023]
Abstract
Environmental filters affect community assembly through the functional traits of species. However, the process of community assembly remains unclear because of the complex interactions among the many biotic and abiotic factors. This study aimed to examine the community assembly process of vascular plants along gradients of elevation (45‒2500 m a.s.l.) and soil nitrogen availability. This study examined the trait distribution patterns of four functional traits (plant height, leaf area, specific leaf area and leaf nitrogen concentration) of vascular plants (trees, herbs and ferns) in central Japan, using null model testing. The number of species decreased and increased at high elevations for tree species and herb and fern species, respectively. The numbers of both tree species and herb and fern species were positively correlated with soil nitrogen availability. Community-weighted means (CWMs) of the four traits decreased with elevation. CWMs and ranges of the three leaf traits were positively correlated with soil nitrogen availability. The community-weighted variance of plant height was higher at higher elevations, indicating that niche differentiation of vertical stratum in habitats with a low canopy was important for community assembly. This study suggests that severe climatic conditions reduce the number of tree species and the canopy height at high elevations, leading to increases in the number of herb and fern species due to increased light intensity at the forest floor. The elevational change of leaf traits also indicates the change of adaptive leaf traits. It further suggests that lower nitrogen availability decreases the number of tree, herb and fern species by excluding those species with leaf traits unsuited to lower nitrogen availability. Therefore, community structure is most likely regulated by both elevation and soil nitrogen availability.
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Affiliation(s)
- Taro Ohdo
- Graduate School of Science and Technology, Shinshu University, Asahi, Matsumoto, Japan
| | - Koichi Takahashi
- Department of Biology, Faculty of Science, Shinshu University, Matsumoto, Japan
- Institute of Mountain Science, Shinshu University, Asahi, Matsumoto, Japan
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16
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Lindenmayer DB, Blanchard W, Blair D, Westgate MJ, Scheele BC. Spatiotemporal effects of logging and fire on tall, wet temperate eucalypt forest birds. ECOLOGICAL APPLICATIONS : A PUBLICATION OF THE ECOLOGICAL SOCIETY OF AMERICA 2019; 29:e01999. [PMID: 31519053 DOI: 10.1002/eap.1999] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/04/2019] [Accepted: 07/12/2019] [Indexed: 06/10/2023]
Abstract
Forests globally are subject to disturbances such as logging and fire that create complex temporal variation in spatial patterns of forest cover and stand age. However, investigations that quantify temporal changes in biodiversity in response to multiple forms of disturbance in space and time are relatively uncommon. Over a 10-yr period, we investigated the response of bird species to spatiotemporal changes in forest cover associated with logging and wildfire in the mountain ash (Eucalyptus regnans) forests of southeastern Australia. Specifically, we examined how bird occurrence changed with shifts in the proportion of area burned or logged in a 4.5 km radius surrounding our 88 long-term field survey sites, each measuring 1 ha in size. Overall species richness was greatest in older forest patches, but declined as the amount of fire around each site increased. At the individual species level, 31 of the 37 bird species we modeled exhibited a negative response to the amount of fire in the surrounding landscape, while one species responded positively to fire. Only nine species exhibited signs of recovery in the 6 yr of surveys following the fire. Five species were more likely to be detected as the proportion of logged forest surrounding a site increased, suggesting a possible "concentration effect" with displaced birds moving into unlogged areas following harvesting of adjacent areas. We also identified relationships between the coefficients of life history attributes and spatiotemporal changes in forest cover and stand age. Large-bodied birds and migratory species were associated with landscapes subject to large amounts of fire in 2009. There were associations between old growth stands and small-bodied bird species and species that were not insectivores. Our study shows that birds in mountain ash forests are strongly associated with old growth stands and exhibit complex, time-dependent, and species-specific responses to landscape disturbance. Despite logging and fire both being high-severity perturbations, no bird species exhibited similar responses to fire and logging in the landscape surrounding our sites. Thus, species responses to one kind of landscape-scale disturbance are not readily predictable based on an understanding of the responses to another kind of (albeit superficially similar) disturbance.
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Affiliation(s)
- David B Lindenmayer
- Fenner School of Environment and Society, The Australian National University, Canberra, Australian Capital Territory, 2601, Australia
- Threatened Species Recovery Hub, National Environmental Science Program, Fenner School of Environment and Society, The Australian National University, Canberra, Australian Capital Territory, 2601, Australia
| | - Wade Blanchard
- Fenner School of Environment and Society, The Australian National University, Canberra, Australian Capital Territory, 2601, Australia
| | - David Blair
- Fenner School of Environment and Society, The Australian National University, Canberra, Australian Capital Territory, 2601, Australia
- Threatened Species Recovery Hub, National Environmental Science Program, Fenner School of Environment and Society, The Australian National University, Canberra, Australian Capital Territory, 2601, Australia
| | - Martin J Westgate
- Fenner School of Environment and Society, The Australian National University, Canberra, Australian Capital Territory, 2601, Australia
| | - Ben C Scheele
- Fenner School of Environment and Society, The Australian National University, Canberra, Australian Capital Territory, 2601, Australia
- Threatened Species Recovery Hub, National Environmental Science Program, Fenner School of Environment and Society, The Australian National University, Canberra, Australian Capital Territory, 2601, Australia
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17
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The Combined Role of Retention Pattern and Post-Harvest Site Preparation in Regulating Plant Functional Diversity: A Case Study in Boreal Forest Ecosystems. FORESTS 2019. [DOI: 10.3390/f10111006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
Changes in the light availability in forests generated by diversified retention patterns (e.g., clear cut, partial harvest) have been shown to strongly filter the plant species present. Modified soil microsite conditions due to post-harvest site preparation (e.g., mechanical site preparation, prescribed fire) might also be an important determinant of plant diversity. The objective here was to detect how retention pattern and post-harvest site preparation act as filters that explain the understory functional diversity in boreal forests. We also assessed whether these effects were dependent on forest attributes (stand type, time since fire, and time since harvest). We retrieved data from seven different studies within 101 sites in boreal forests in Eastern Canada. Our data included forests harvested with two retention patterns: careful logging and clear cut, plus unharvested control forests. Three post-harvest site preparation techniques were applied: plow or disk trenching after careful logging, and prescribed fire after clear cut. We collected trait data (10 traits) representing plant morphology, regeneration strategy, or resource utilization for common species. Our results demonstrated significant variation in functional diversity after harvest. The combined effect of retention pattern and site preparation was the most important factor explaining understory diversity compared to retention pattern only and forest attributes. According to RLQ analysis, harvested forests with site preparation favored traits reflecting resistance or resilience ability after disturbance (clonal guerilla species, geophytes, and species with higher seed weight). Yet harvested forests without site preparation mainly affected understory plant species via their light requirements. Forest attributes did not play significant roles in affecting the relationship between site preparation and functional diversity or traits. Our results indicated the importance of the compounding effects of light variation and soil disturbance in filtering understory diversity and composition in boreal forests. Whether these results are also valid for other ecosystems still needs to be demonstrated.
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18
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Forest Understorey Vegetation: Colonization and the Availability and Heterogeneity of Resources. FORESTS 2019. [DOI: 10.3390/f10110944] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
Understorey vegetation comprises a major portion of plant diversity and contributes greatly to nutrient cycling and energy flow. This review examines the mechanisms involved in the response of understorey vegetation to stand development and the overstorey canopy following disturbances. The overall abundance and diversity of the understorey is enhanced with the availability and heterogeneity of light, soil nutrients, soil moisture, and substrates. Vascular plants are positively impacted by the availability and heterogeneity of light and soil nutrients, whereas non-vascular vegetation is more strongly influenced by colonization time, soil moisture, and substrates, and is decreased with a higher proportion of broadleaf overstorey. The availability of resources is a prominent driver toward the abundance and diversity of understorey vegetation, from the stand initiation to stem exclusion stage under a single-species dominated overstorey. However, resource heterogeneity dominates at the later stages of succession under a mixed overstorey. Climate and site conditions modify resource availability and heterogeneity in the understorey layer, but the extent of their influences requires more investigation. Forest management practices (clearcutting and partial harvesting) tend to increase light availability and heterogeneity, which facilitates the abundance and diversity of understorey vascular plants; however, these factors reduce the occurrence of non-vascular plants. Nevertheless, in the landscape context, anthropogenic disturbances homogenize environmental conditions and reduce beta-diversity, as well, the long-term effects of anthropogenic disturbances on understorey vegetation remain unclear, particularly compared with those in primary forests.
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19
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Dhar A, Comeau PG, Naeth MA, Pinno BD, Vassov R. Plant community development following reclamation of oil sands mines using four cover soil types in northern Alberta. Restor Ecol 2019. [DOI: 10.1111/rec.13039] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/01/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Amalesh Dhar
- Department of Renewable ResourcesUniversity of Alberta Edmonton AB T6G 2H1 Canada
| | - Philip G. Comeau
- Department of Renewable ResourcesUniversity of Alberta Edmonton AB T6G 2H1 Canada
| | - M. Anne Naeth
- Department of Renewable ResourcesUniversity of Alberta Edmonton AB T6G 2H1 Canada
| | - Bradley D. Pinno
- Department of Renewable ResourcesUniversity of Alberta Edmonton AB T6G 2H1 Canada
| | - Robert Vassov
- Canadian Natural Resources Fort McMurray AB T9H 4W1 Canada
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20
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Understory Vegetation Dynamics across a Poplar Plantation Chronosequence in Reclaimed Coastal Saline Soil. FORESTS 2019. [DOI: 10.3390/f10090764] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
Although the understory vegetation abundance, diversity, and composition associated with stand development in natural forests have been well reported, only a few studies have examined the age-related changes of understory vegetation in fast-growing planted forests in reclaimed soils. This study measured the understory vegetation and soil variables in 8-, 12-, and 18-year-old poplar plantations in reclaimed coastal saline soil of Eastern China. This study examined how the abundance, diversity, and composition changed with stand development and the soil variables. Further, structural equation modeling (SEM) was used to evaluate the direct and indirect factors influencing the abundance and plant diversity throughout stand development. Herb abundance was significantly higher in the youngest and oldest stands, whereas shrub abundance was higher in the middle-aged stands. Shannon’s diversity index was significantly higher in the youngest stand for herbs, whereas it was highest in the middle-aged stands for shrubs. A multivariate analysis revealed that the herb and shrub composition were influenced by the stand age, total soil carbon and soil pH. The most parsimonious SEM model showed the negative direct effects of the stand age and the negative indirect effects of the stand age via the soil variables on shrub abundance, shrub diversity, and herb diversity, suggesting that the increase of overstory biomass with the stand age reduces resources available for the understory. Our results revealed that understory diversity and composition might change with stand development mediated by the changes in understory light and soil resources in fast-growing plantations.
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21
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Composite Effects of Cutlines and Wildfire Result in Fire Refuges for Plants and Butterflies in Boreal Treed Peatlands. Ecosystems 2019. [DOI: 10.1007/s10021-019-00417-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
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22
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Wenninger A, Hollingsworth T, Wagner D. Predatory hymenopteran assemblages in boreal Alaska: associations with forest composition and post-fire succession. ECOSCIENCE 2019. [DOI: 10.1080/11956860.2018.1564484] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/27/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Alexandria Wenninger
- Institute of Arctic Biology and Department of Biology and Wildlife, University of Alaska Fairbanks, Fairbanks, AK, USA
| | - Teresa Hollingsworth
- USDA Forest Service, Pacific Northwest Research Station, University of Alaska Fairbanks, Fairbanks, AK, USA
| | - Diane Wagner
- Institute of Arctic Biology and Department of Biology and Wildlife, University of Alaska Fairbanks, Fairbanks, AK, USA
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23
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Liu B, Chen HYH, Yang J. Understory Community Assembly Following Wildfire in Boreal Forests: Shift From Stochasticity to Competitive Exclusion and Environmental Filtering. FRONTIERS IN PLANT SCIENCE 2018; 9:1854. [PMID: 30631332 PMCID: PMC6315132 DOI: 10.3389/fpls.2018.01854] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/14/2018] [Accepted: 11/30/2018] [Indexed: 06/09/2023]
Abstract
Understory vegetation accounts for the majority of plant species diversity and serves as a driver of overstory succession and nutrient cycling in boreal forest ecosystems. However, investigations of the underlying assembly processes of understory vegetation associated with stand development following a wildfire disturbance are rare, particularly in Eurasian boreal forests. In this study, we measured the phylogenetic and functional diversity and trait dispersions of understory communities and tested how these patterns changed with stand age in the Great Xing'an Mountains of Northeastern China. Contrary to our expectation, we found that understory functional traits were phylogenetically convergent. We found that random patterns of phylogenetic, functional, and trait dispersions were dominant for most of our surveyed plots, indicating that stochastic processes may play a crucial role in the determination of understory community assembly. Yet, there was an evidence that understory community assembly was also determined by competitive exclusion and environmental filtering to a certain degree, which was demonstrated by the observed clustered phylogenetic and functional patterns in some plots. Our results showed that phylogenetic diversity significantly decreased, while functional diversity increased with stand age. The observed shift trends in phylogenetic and functional patterns between random to clustering along with stand age, which suggested that understory community assembly shifted from stochasticity to competitive exclusion and environmental filtering. Our study presented a difference to community assembly and species coexistence theories insisted solely on deterministic processes. These findings indicated that Eurasian boreal understory communities may be primarily regulated by stochastic processes, providing complementary evidence that stochastic processes are crucial in the determination of community assembly both in tropical and boreal forests.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bo Liu
- CAS Key Laboratory of Forest Ecology and Management, Institute of Applied Ecology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shenyang, China
- Faculty of Natural Resources Management, Lakehead University, Thunder Bay, ON, Canada
| | - Han Y. H. Chen
- Faculty of Natural Resources Management, Lakehead University, Thunder Bay, ON, Canada
- Key Laboratory for Humid Subtropical Eco-geographical Processes of the Ministry of Education, Fujian Normal University, Fuzhou, China
| | - Jian Yang
- Department of Forestry and Natural Resources, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY, United States
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24
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Distribution of Cranberry Blue Butterflies (Agriades optilete) and Their Responses to Forest Disturbance from In Situ Oil Sands and Wildfires. DIVERSITY 2018. [DOI: 10.3390/d10040112] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
Abstract
Cranberry blues (Agriades optilete) are butterflies of conservation interest worldwide. Less than 20 populations are known in Alberta, Canada, mostly inhabiting boreal forests that are increasingly fragmented by oil sands developments and subject to wildfires. We modeled the abundance of cranberry blues in the boreal forests of Alberta’s Wood Buffalo Region as a function of forest characteristics, presence of disturbances associated with in situ oil sands exploration, and wildfire disturbance, while accounting for butterfly detectability as a function of sampling conditions. We counted 188 cranberry blues during 1280 samples, discovering 14 unknown populations using a species distribution model based on forest wetness and canopy height. Probability of detection peaked around 5th July, and at higher temperatures and in the absence of wind, with cranberry blues preferring wetter treed peatland forests with low canopy heights. Seismic lines were positively related to the abundance of cranberry blues (400% increase), while exploratory well pads and wildfires were negatively related (60% and 90% loss, respectively). Overall, cranberry blue populations are small and locally sensitive to both natural and anthropogenic disturbances. Despite a narrow habitat specificity, cranberry blues seem more widely distributed than previously thought in northern Alberta (57% of the study area deemed suitable).
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25
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Das Gupta S, Pinno BD, Errington RC. Resource Heterogeneity Relationship with Understory Vegetation in Post-fire Xeric Jack Pine Forests. Ecosystems 2018. [DOI: 10.1007/s10021-018-0277-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/24/2022]
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26
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Whitman E, Parisien MA, Thompson DK, Hall RJ, Skakun RS, Flannigan MD. Variability and drivers of burn severity in the northwestern Canadian boreal forest. Ecosphere 2018. [DOI: 10.1002/ecs2.2128] [Citation(s) in RCA: 70] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/05/2023] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Ellen Whitman
- Department of Renewable Resources; University of Alberta; 751 General Services Building Edmonton Alberta T6G 2H1 Canada
- Northern Forestry Centre; Canadian Forest Service; Natural Resources Canada; 5320-122nd Street Edmonton Alberta T6H 3S5 Canada
| | - Marc-André Parisien
- Northern Forestry Centre; Canadian Forest Service; Natural Resources Canada; 5320-122nd Street Edmonton Alberta T6H 3S5 Canada
| | - Dan K. Thompson
- Northern Forestry Centre; Canadian Forest Service; Natural Resources Canada; 5320-122nd Street Edmonton Alberta T6H 3S5 Canada
| | - Ronald J. Hall
- Northern Forestry Centre; Canadian Forest Service; Natural Resources Canada; 5320-122nd Street Edmonton Alberta T6H 3S5 Canada
| | - Robert S. Skakun
- Northern Forestry Centre; Canadian Forest Service; Natural Resources Canada; 5320-122nd Street Edmonton Alberta T6H 3S5 Canada
| | - Mike D. Flannigan
- Department of Renewable Resources; University of Alberta; 751 General Services Building Edmonton Alberta T6G 2H1 Canada
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27
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28
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Chen HY, Biswas SR, Sobey TM, Brassard BW, Bartels SF. Reclamation strategies for mined forest soils and overstorey drive understorey vegetation. J Appl Ecol 2017. [DOI: 10.1111/1365-2664.13018] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Han Y.H. Chen
- Faculty of Natural Resources Management; Lakehead University; Thunder Bay ON Canada
| | - Shekhar R. Biswas
- Faculty of Natural Resources Management; Lakehead University; Thunder Bay ON Canada
| | - Timothy M. Sobey
- Faculty of Natural Resources Management; Lakehead University; Thunder Bay ON Canada
| | - Brian W. Brassard
- Faculty of Natural Resources Management; Lakehead University; Thunder Bay ON Canada
| | - Samuel F. Bartels
- Faculty of Natural Resources Management; Lakehead University; Thunder Bay ON Canada
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29
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Bergeron JAC, Pinzon J, Odsen S, Bartels S, Macdonald SE, Spence JR. Ecosystem memory of wildfires affects resilience of boreal mixedwood biodiversity after retention harvest. OIKOS 2017. [DOI: 10.1111/oik.04208] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- J. A. Colin Bergeron
- Dept of Renewable Resources; Univ. of Alberta, 751 General Services Building; Edmonton AB, T6G 2H1 Canada
| | - Jaime Pinzon
- Natural Resources Canada, Canadian Forest Service, Northern Forestry Centre; Edmonton AB Canada
| | - Sonya Odsen
- Dept of Renewable Resources; Univ. of Alberta, 751 General Services Building; Edmonton AB, T6G 2H1 Canada
| | - Samuel Bartels
- Dept of Renewable Resources; Univ. of Alberta, 751 General Services Building; Edmonton AB, T6G 2H1 Canada
| | - S. Ellen Macdonald
- Dept of Renewable Resources; Univ. of Alberta, 751 General Services Building; Edmonton AB, T6G 2H1 Canada
| | - John R. Spence
- Dept of Renewable Resources; Univ. of Alberta, 751 General Services Building; Edmonton AB, T6G 2H1 Canada
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30
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Hume AM, Chen HYH, Taylor AR. Intensive forest harvesting increases susceptibility of northern forest soils to carbon, nitrogen and phosphorus loss. J Appl Ecol 2017. [DOI: 10.1111/1365-2664.12942] [Citation(s) in RCA: 40] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Alexandra M. Hume
- Faculty of Natural Resources Management; Lakehead University; Thunder Bay Canada
| | - Han Y. H. Chen
- Faculty of Natural Resources Management; Lakehead University; Thunder Bay Canada
| | - Anthony R. Taylor
- Natural Resources Canada, Canadian Forest Service; Atlantic Forestry Centre; Fredericton NB Canada
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31
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Liu J, Ma K, Qu L. Relative influence of sediment variables on mangrove community assembly in Leizhou Peninsula, China. MARINE POLLUTION BULLETIN 2017; 117:429-435. [PMID: 28209362 DOI: 10.1016/j.marpolbul.2017.02.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/28/2016] [Revised: 02/03/2017] [Accepted: 02/04/2017] [Indexed: 06/06/2023]
Abstract
Effective conservation of mangroves requires a complete understanding of vegetation structure and identification of the variables most important to their assembly. Using canonical correspondence analysis (CCA) combined with variation partition, we determined the independent and joint effects of sediment variables, including physicochemical characteristics and heavy metals, on mangrove community assemblies in the overstory and understory in Leizhou Peninsula, China. The results indicated that the contributions of sediment physicochemical variables to community assembly were greater than were those of heavy metals, particularly in overstory vegetation. However, the independent contributions of heavy metals were higher in understory mangrove vegetation than in the overstory. The TOC, TP, and salinity of the sediment, distance from the coastline, and concentration of As were limiting factors for mangrove assembly in overstory vegetation, while understory vegetation may be affected to a greater degree by the distance from the coastline, electrical conductivity, and concentration of As and Pb in the sediment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jing Liu
- State Key Laboratory of Urban and Regional Ecology, Research Center for Eco-Environmental Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100085, China; Institute of Plant Nutrition and Resources, Beijing Academy of Agriculture and Forestry Sciences, 100091, China
| | - Keming Ma
- State Key Laboratory of Urban and Regional Ecology, Research Center for Eco-Environmental Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100085, China.
| | - Laiye Qu
- State Key Laboratory of Urban and Regional Ecology, Research Center for Eco-Environmental Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100085, China
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32
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Chen HYH, Brant AN, Seedre M, Brassard BW, Taylor AR. The Contribution of Litterfall to Net Primary Production During Secondary Succession in the Boreal Forest. Ecosystems 2016. [DOI: 10.1007/s10021-016-0063-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 36] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/20/2022]
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33
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Romme WH, Whitby TG, Tinker DB, Turner MG. Deterministic and stochastic processes lead to divergence in plant communities 25 years after the 1988 Yellowstone fires. ECOL MONOGR 2016. [DOI: 10.1002/ecm.1220] [Citation(s) in RCA: 68] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/05/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- William H. Romme
- Natural Resource Ecology Laboratory; Colorado State University; Fort Collins Colorado 80523 USA
| | - Timothy G. Whitby
- Department of Zoology; University of Wisconsin; Madison Wisconsin 53706 USA
| | - Daniel B. Tinker
- Department of Botany; University of Wyoming; Laramie Wyoming 82071 USA
| | - Monica G. Turner
- Department of Zoology; University of Wisconsin; Madison Wisconsin 53706 USA
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Thom D, Seidl R. Natural disturbance impacts on ecosystem services and biodiversity in temperate and boreal forests. Biol Rev Camb Philos Soc 2016; 91:760-81. [PMID: 26010526 PMCID: PMC4898621 DOI: 10.1111/brv.12193] [Citation(s) in RCA: 174] [Impact Index Per Article: 21.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/19/2014] [Revised: 04/01/2015] [Accepted: 04/22/2015] [Indexed: 12/03/2022]
Abstract
In many parts of the world forest disturbance regimes have intensified recently, and future climatic changes are expected to amplify this development further in the coming decades. These changes are increasingly challenging the main objectives of forest ecosystem management, which are to provide ecosystem services sustainably to society and maintain the biological diversity of forests. Yet a comprehensive understanding of how disturbances affect these primary goals of ecosystem management is still lacking. We conducted a global literature review on the impact of three of the most important disturbance agents (fire, wind, and bark beetles) on 13 different ecosystem services and three indicators of biodiversity in forests of the boreal, cool- and warm-temperate biomes. Our objectives were to (i) synthesize the effect of natural disturbances on a wide range of possible objectives of forest management, and (ii) investigate standardized effect sizes of disturbance for selected indicators via a quantitative meta-analysis. We screened a total of 1958 disturbance studies published between 1981 and 2013, and reviewed 478 in detail. We first investigated the overall effect of disturbances on individual ecosystem services and indicators of biodiversity by means of independence tests, and subsequently examined the effect size of disturbances on indicators of carbon storage and biodiversity by means of regression analysis. Additionally, we investigated the effect of commonly used approaches of disturbance management, i.e. salvage logging and prescribed burning. We found that disturbance impacts on ecosystem services are generally negative, an effect that was supported for all categories of ecosystem services, i.e. supporting, provisioning, regulating, and cultural services (P < 0.001). Indicators of biodiversity, i.e. species richness, habitat quality and diversity indices, on the other hand were found to be influenced positively by disturbance (P < 0.001). Our analyses thus reveal a 'disturbance paradox', documenting that disturbances can put ecosystem services at risk while simultaneously facilitating biodiversity. A detailed investigation of disturbance effect sizes on carbon storage and biodiversity further underlined these divergent effects of disturbance. While a disturbance event on average causes a decrease in total ecosystem carbon by 38.5% (standardized coefficient for stand-replacing disturbance), it on average increases overall species richness by 35.6%. Disturbance-management approaches such as salvage logging and prescribed burning were neither found significantly to mitigate negative effects on ecosystem services nor to enhance positive effects on biodiversity, and thus were not found to alleviate the disturbance paradox. Considering that climate change is expected to intensify natural disturbance regimes, our results indicate that biodiversity will generally benefit from such changes while a sustainable provisioning of ecosystem services might come increasingly under pressure. This underlines that disturbance risk and resilience require increased attention in ecosystem management in the future, and that new approaches to addressing the disturbance paradox in management are needed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dominik Thom
- Institute of Silviculture, Department of Forest- and Soil Sciences, University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences (BOKU) Vienna, Peter-Jordan-Straße 82, 1190, Vienna, Austria
| | - Rupert Seidl
- Institute of Silviculture, Department of Forest- and Soil Sciences, University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences (BOKU) Vienna, Peter-Jordan-Straße 82, 1190, Vienna, Austria
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The Effects of Disturbance History on Ground-Layer Plant Community Composition in British Columbia. FORESTS 2016. [DOI: 10.3390/f7050109] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
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Errington RC, Pinno BD. Early successional plant community dynamics on a reclaimed oil sands mine in comparison with natural boreal forest communities. ECOSCIENCE 2016. [DOI: 10.1080/11956860.2016.1169385] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/21/2022]
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McIntosh ACS, Macdonald SE, Quideau SA. Understory Plant Community Composition Is Associated with Fine-Scale Above- and Below-Ground Resource Heterogeneity in Mature Lodgepole Pine (Pinus contorta) Forests. PLoS One 2016; 11:e0151436. [PMID: 26975055 PMCID: PMC4790852 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0151436] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/09/2015] [Accepted: 02/28/2016] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Understory plant communities play critical ecological roles in forest ecosystems. Both above- and below-ground ecosystem properties and processes influence these communities but relatively little is known about such effects at fine (i.e., one to several meters within-stand) scales, particularly for forests in which the canopy is dominated by a single species. An improved understanding of these effects is critical for understanding how understory biodiversity is regulated in such forests and for anticipating impacts of changing disturbance regimes. Our primary objective was to examine the patterns of fine-scale variation in understory plant communities and their relationships to above- and below-ground resource and environmental heterogeneity within mature lodgepole pine forests. We assessed composition and diversity of understory vegetation in relation to heterogeneity of both the above-ground (canopy tree density, canopy and tall shrub basal area and cover, downed wood biomass, litter cover) and below-ground (soil nutrient availability, decomposition, forest floor thickness, pH, and phospholipid fatty acids (PLFAs) and multiple carbon-source substrate-induced respiration (MSIR) of the forest floor microbial community) environment. There was notable variation in fine-scale plant community composition; cluster and indicator species analyses of the 24 most commonly occurring understory species distinguished four assemblages, one for which a pioneer forb species had the highest cover levels, and three others that were characterized by different bryophyte species having the highest cover. Constrained ordination (distance-based redundancy analysis) showed that two above-ground (mean tree diameter, litter cover) and eight below-ground (forest floor pH, plant available boron, microbial community composition and function as indicated by MSIR and PLFAs) properties were associated with variation in understory plant community composition. These results provide novel insights into the important ecological associations between understory plant community composition and heterogeneity in ecosystem properties and processes within forests dominated by a single canopy species.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anne C. S. McIntosh
- Department of Renewable Resources, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada
| | - S. Ellen Macdonald
- Department of Renewable Resources, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada
| | - Sylvie A. Quideau
- Department of Renewable Resources, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada
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Zhang X, Liu S, Li X, Wang J, Ding Q, Wang H, Tian C, Yao M, An J, Huang Y. Changes of soil prokaryotic communities after clear-cutting in a karst forest: evidences for cutting-based disturbance promoting deterministic processes. FEMS Microbiol Ecol 2016; 92:fiw026. [PMID: 26880783 DOI: 10.1093/femsec/fiw026] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/30/2015] [Accepted: 02/09/2016] [Indexed: 11/14/2022] Open
Abstract
To understand the temporal responses of soil prokaryotic communities to clear-cutting disturbance, we examined the changes in soil bacterial and archaeal community composition, structure and diversity along a chronosequence of forest successional restoration using high-throughput 16S rRNA gene sequencing. Our results demonstrated that clear-cutting significantly altered soil bacterial community structure, while no significant shifts of soil archaeal communities were observed. The hypothesis that soil bacterial communities would become similar to those of surrounding intact primary forest with natural regeneration was supported by the shifts in the bacterial community composition and structure. Bacterial community diversity patterns induced by clear-cutting were consistent with the intermediate disturbance hypothesis. Dynamics of bacterial communities was mostly driven by soil properties, which collectively explained more than 70% of the variation in bacterial community composition. Community assembly data revealed that clear-cutting promoted the importance of the deterministic processes in shaping bacterial communities, coinciding with the resultant low resource environments. But assembly processes in the secondary forest returned a similar level compared to the intact primary forest. These findings suggest that bacterial community dynamics may be predictable during the natural recovery process.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiao Zhang
- Key Laboratory of Forest Ecology and Environment, China's State Forestry Administration, Institute of Forest Ecology, Environment and Protection, Chinese Academy of Forestry, No. 2 Dongxiaofu, Haidian District, Beijing 100091, China
| | - Shirong Liu
- Key Laboratory of Forest Ecology and Environment, China's State Forestry Administration, Institute of Forest Ecology, Environment and Protection, Chinese Academy of Forestry, No. 2 Dongxiaofu, Haidian District, Beijing 100091, China
| | - Xiangzhen Li
- Key Laboratory of Environmental and Applied Microbiology, CAS; Environmental Microbiology Key Laboratory of Sichuan Province, Chengdu Institute of Biology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Sichuan, 610041, PR China
| | - Jingxin Wang
- Division of Forestry and Natural Resources, West Virginia University, P.O. Box 6215, Morgantown, WV 26506-6125, USA
| | - Qiong Ding
- College of Horticulture and Landscape Architecture, Hainan University, No.58, Renmin Road, Meilan District, Haikou, Hainan Province, 570228, China
| | - Hui Wang
- Key Laboratory of Forest Ecology and Environment, China's State Forestry Administration, Institute of Forest Ecology, Environment and Protection, Chinese Academy of Forestry, No. 2 Dongxiaofu, Haidian District, Beijing 100091, China
| | - Chao Tian
- Department of Earth Sciences, Indiana University-Purdue University, Indianapolis (IUPUI), Indianapolis, Indiana 46202, USA
| | - Minjie Yao
- Key Laboratory of Environmental and Applied Microbiology, CAS; Environmental Microbiology Key Laboratory of Sichuan Province, Chengdu Institute of Biology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Sichuan, 610041, PR China
| | - Jiaxing An
- West China School of Public Health, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610041, China
| | - Yongtao Huang
- Key Laboratory of Forest Ecology and Environment, China's State Forestry Administration, Institute of Forest Ecology, Environment and Protection, Chinese Academy of Forestry, No. 2 Dongxiaofu, Haidian District, Beijing 100091, China
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Boan JJ, Mclaren BE, Malcolm JR. Predicting non-inventoried forest elements using forest inventory data: The case of winter forage for woodland caribou. ECOSCIENCE 2015. [DOI: 10.2980/20-2-3567] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/06/2022]
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Kershaw HM, Morris DM, Fleming RL, Luckai NJ. Reconciling Harvest Intensity and Plant Diversity in Boreal Ecosystems: Does Intensification Influence Understory Plant Diversity? ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT 2015; 56:1091-1103. [PMID: 26092048 DOI: 10.1007/s00267-015-0551-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/10/2014] [Accepted: 06/08/2015] [Indexed: 06/04/2023]
Abstract
Overall demand for forest products in the boreal forest is increasing to supply growing bio-energy demands in addition to traditional forest products. As a result, there is a need to refine current forest policies to reconcile production and ecosystem function within the context of ecologically sustainable management. This study assessed understory plants' richness, evenness, and diversity in six harvested boreal black spruce-dominated stands situated on loam, sand, and peat site types 15 years after the application of four harvest treatments of increasing biomass removals. Treatments included uncut, stem-only harvest, full-tree harvest, and full-tree harvest + blading of O horizon. Following canopy removal, species richness and diversity (Shannon's and Simpson's indices) increased on all soil types. The more than doubling of slash loading on the stem-only treatment plots compared to the full-tree plots led to significantly lower species diversity on loam sites; however, the reverse was observed on peat sites where the slash provided warmer, drier microsites facilitating the establishment of a broader array of species. Preexisting ericaceous shrub and sphagnum components continued to dominate on the peat sites. Compositional shifts were most evident for the full-tree + bladed treatment on all soil types, with increases in herbaceous cover including ruderal species. The results suggest that the intensification of harvesting on plant diversity varies with soil type, and these differential results should be considered in the refinement of forest biomass-harvesting guidelines to ensure ecological sustainability and biodiversity conservation over a broad suite of soil types.
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Affiliation(s)
- H Maureen Kershaw
- Ontario Forest Research Institute, Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry, 1235 Queen Street East, Sault Ste. Marie, ON, P6A 2E5, Canada
| | - Dave M Morris
- Centre for Northern Forest Ecosystem Research, Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry, c/o Lakehead University, 955 Oliver Road, Thunder Bay, ON, P7B 5E1, Canada.
| | - Robert L Fleming
- Natural Resources Canada, Canadian Forest Service, 1219 Queen St. E., Sault Ste. Marie, ON, P6A 2E5, Canada
| | - Nancy J Luckai
- Faculty of Natural Resources Management, Lakehead University, 955 Oliver Road, Thunder Bay, ON, P7B 5E1, Canada
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Pec GJ, Karst J, Sywenky AN, Cigan PW, Erbilgin N, Simard SW, Cahill JF. Rapid Increases in forest understory diversity and productivity following a mountain pine beetle (Dendroctonus ponderosae) outbreak in pine forests. PLoS One 2015; 10:e0124691. [PMID: 25859663 PMCID: PMC4393282 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0124691] [Citation(s) in RCA: 38] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/02/2014] [Accepted: 03/17/2015] [Indexed: 12/02/2022] Open
Abstract
The current unprecedented outbreak of mountain pine beetle (Dendroctonus ponderosae) in lodgepole pine (Pinus contorta) forests of western Canada has resulted in a landscape consisting of a mosaic of forest stands at different stages of mortality. Within forest stands, understory communities are the reservoir of the majority of plant species diversity and influence the composition of future forests in response to disturbance. Although changes to stand composition following beetle outbreaks are well documented, information on immediate responses of forest understory plant communities is limited. The objective of this study was to examine the effects of D. ponderosae-induced tree mortality on initial changes in diversity and productivity of understory plant communities. We established a total of 110 1-m2 plots across eleven mature lodgepole pine forests to measure changes in understory diversity and productivity as a function of tree mortality and below ground resource availability across multiple years. Overall, understory community diversity and productivity increased across the gradient of increased tree mortality. Richness of herbaceous perennials increased with tree mortality as well as soil moisture and nutrient levels. In contrast, the diversity of woody perennials did not change across the gradient of tree mortality. Understory vegetation, namely herbaceous perennials, showed an immediate response to improved growing conditions caused by increases in tree mortality. How this increased pulse in understory richness and productivity affects future forest trajectories in a novel system is unknown.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gregory J. Pec
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada
- * E-mail:
| | - Justine Karst
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada
- Department of Renewable Resources, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada
| | - Alexandra N. Sywenky
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada
| | - Paul W. Cigan
- Department of Renewable Resources, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada
| | - Nadir Erbilgin
- Department of Renewable Resources, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada
| | - Suzanne W. Simard
- Department of Forest and Conservation Sciences, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
| | - James F. Cahill
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada
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Stand Dynamics, Humus Type and Water Balance Explain Aspen Long Term Productivity across Canada. FORESTS 2015. [DOI: 10.3390/f6020416] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
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43
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Gendreau-Berthiaume B, Macdonald SE, Stadt JJ, Hnatiuk RJ. How dynamic are understory communities and the processes structuring them in mature conifer forests? Ecosphere 2015. [DOI: 10.1890/es14-00308.1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
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Hedwall PO, Skoglund J, Linder S. Interactions with successional stage and nutrient status determines the life-form-specific effects of increased soil temperature on boreal forest floor vegetation. Ecol Evol 2015; 5:948-60. [PMID: 25750720 PMCID: PMC4338976 DOI: 10.1002/ece3.1412] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/04/2014] [Accepted: 01/06/2015] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
The boreal forest is one of the largest terrestrial biomes and plays a key role for the global carbon balance and climate. The forest floor vegetation has a strong influence on the carbon and nitrogen cycles of the forests and is sensitive to changes in temperature conditions and nutrient availability. Additionally, the effects of climate warming on forest floor vegetation have been suggested to be moderated by the tree layer. Data on the effects of soil warming on forest floor vegetation from the boreal forest are, however, very scarce. We studied the effects on the forest floor vegetation in a long-term (18 years) soil warming and fertilization experiment in a Norway spruce stand in northern Sweden. During the first 9 years, warming favored early successional species such as grasses and forbs at the expense of dwarf shrubs and bryophytes in unfertilized stands, while the effects were smaller after fertilization. Hence, warming led to significant changes in species composition and an increase in species richness in the open canopy nutrient limited forest. After another 9 years of warming and increasing tree canopy closure, most of the initial effects had ceased, indicating an interaction between forest succession and warming. The only remaining effect of warming was on the abundance of bryophytes, which contrary to the initial phase was strongly favored by warming. We propose that the suggested moderating effects of the tree layer are specific to plant life-form and conclude that the successional phase of the forest may have a considerable impact on the effects of climate change on forest floor vegetation and its feedback effects on the carbon and nitrogen cycles, and thus on the climate.
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Affiliation(s)
- Per-Ola Hedwall
- Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, SLU, Southern Swedish Forest Research Centre PO Box 49, SE-230 53, Alnarp, Sweden
| | | | - Sune Linder
- Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, SLU, Southern Swedish Forest Research Centre PO Box 49, SE-230 53, Alnarp, Sweden
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Conifer Recruitment in Trembling Aspen (Populus Tremuloides Michx.) Stands along an East-West Gradient in the Boreal Mixedwoods of Canada. FORESTS 2014. [DOI: 10.3390/f5112905] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
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Bartels SF, Chen HY. Dynamics of epiphytic macrolichen abundance, diversity and composition in boreal forest. J Appl Ecol 2014. [DOI: 10.1111/1365-2664.12360] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Samuel F. Bartels
- Faculty of Natural Resources Management; Lakehead University; 955 Oliver Road Thunder Bay ON P7B 5E1 Canada
| | - Han Y.H. Chen
- Faculty of Natural Resources Management; Lakehead University; 955 Oliver Road Thunder Bay ON P7B 5E1 Canada
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The influences of canopy species and topographic variables on understory species diversity and composition in coniferous forests. ScientificWorldJournal 2014; 2014:252489. [PMID: 25097871 PMCID: PMC4109125 DOI: 10.1155/2014/252489] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/11/2014] [Revised: 06/20/2014] [Accepted: 06/20/2014] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Understanding the factors that influence the distribution of understory vegetation is important for biological conservation and forest management. We compared understory species composition by multi-response permutation procedure and indicator species analysis between plots dominated by Qinghai spruce (Picea crassifolia Kom.) and Qilian juniper (Sabina przewalskii Kom.) in coniferous forests of the Qilian Mountains, northwestern China. Understory species composition differed markedly between the forest types. Many heliophilous species were significantly associated with juniper forest, while only one species was indicative of spruce forest. Using constrained ordination and the variation partitioning model, we quantitatively assessed the relative effects of two sets of explanatory variables on understory species composition. The results showed that topographic variables had higher explanatory power than did site conditions for understory plant distributions. However, a large amount of the variation in understory species composition remained unexplained. Forward selection revealed that understory species distributions were primarily affected by elevation and aspect. Juniper forest had higher species richness and α-diversity and lower β-diversity in the herb layer of the understory plant community than spruce forest, suggesting that the former may be more important in maintaining understory biodiversity and community stability in alpine coniferous forest ecosystems.
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49
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Recovery of Ecosystem Carbon Stocks in Young Boreal Forests: A Comparison of Harvesting and Wildfire Disturbance. Ecosystems 2014. [DOI: 10.1007/s10021-014-9763-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/25/2022]
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50
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Stojanovic D, Koch AJ, Webb M, Cunningham R, Roshier D, Heinsohn R. Validation of a landscape-scale planning tool for cavity-dependent wildlife. AUSTRAL ECOL 2014. [DOI: 10.1111/aec.12118] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Dejan Stojanovic
- Fenner School of Environment and Society; Australian National University; Canberra ACT 0200 Australia
| | - Amelia J. Koch
- Tasmanian Forest Practices Authority; Hobart Tasmania Australia
- School of Geography and Environmental Studies; University of Tasmania; Hobart Tasmania Australia
| | - Matthew Webb
- Fenner School of Environment and Society; Australian National University; Canberra ACT 0200 Australia
- Tasmanian Department of Primary Industries, Parks, Water and the Environment; Hobart Tasmania Australia
| | - Ross Cunningham
- Fenner School of Environment and Society; Australian National University; Canberra ACT 0200 Australia
| | - David Roshier
- Australian Wildlife Conservancy; Adelaide South Australia Australia
| | - Robert Heinsohn
- Fenner School of Environment and Society; Australian National University; Canberra ACT 0200 Australia
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