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Forest Ecology and Management
Elsevier Science
Forest Ecology and Management

Elsevier Science

0378-1127

Forest Ecology and Management/Journal Forest Ecology and ManagementSCIISTPEIAHCI
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    Cultural values and forest dynamics: The Italian forests in the last 150 years

    Agnoletti, MauroPiras, FrancescoVenturi, MartinaSantoro, Antonio...
    13页
    查看更多>>摘要：In the context of the worldwide increasing interest on the role of forests for global warming and biodiversity targets, there is a growing tendency to consider the need to increase not only the extension of forests, but also their degree of naturalness. These indications have been recently included also in important political documents such as the European Green Deal enacted by the European Union, affecting 28 member states of the European continent, also with the aim of fighting deforestation and desertification. In Italy national and regional forest inventories, as well as planning documents, classify more and more forests as natural or seminatural. These indications often result in the limitation of traditional silvicultural methods, by environmental and landscape restrictions, orienting forest management towards favoring more natural forests structures. These policies are often threatening the conservation of the cultural features of the Italian forests. The paper provides an analysis of the evolution of forests in Italy during the last 150 years through official forest inventories and various investigations. This study shows that from 4.215.000 ha of forest in 1888 we have today about 11.778.000 ha, with an increase of 7.563.000 ha and an annual growth rate of 59.551 ha. The present Italian forests can be described partly as derived from those already mapped in 1936 and entirely managed, although not regularly, and secondary forests developed on abandoned land, extending for 5.279.895 ha. The results show that human influence has affected extension, density, structure and species composition of Italian forests in all the geographical areas of the country, independently from altitude, latitude or climate conditions. There are no dangers of deforestation, but rather an uncontrolled increase of forests and there is no need of further afforestation but rather to better manage the existing ones. Moreover, "cultural forests", meaning forest shaped and managed by human activities through times, are more and more reducing their extensions together with the material and immaterial heritage associated to them. Considering the third pillar of Sustainable Forest Management in Europe, the one on "social and cultural values", defined by MCPFE in 2003, the paper proposes the definition of "cultural forests" as a new category in forest conservation and an important part of the biocultural heritage associated to the rural territory. Furthermore, the paper stresses the need of historical investigations, for the better understanding of the features of the forest ecosystems and for the identification of the values to be considered in forest restoration.
      原文链接:
    • NSTL
    • Elsevier

    Open-Source tools in R for forestry and forest ecology

    Atkins, Jeff W.Stovall, Atticus E. L.Silva, Carlos Alberto
    12页
    查看更多>>摘要：Forestry and forest ecology research potentially lags behind related fields such as ecology, biodiversity, and conservation research in the employment of open-source software solutions, specifically the R programming language. A direct comparison of the last decade of published research literature from the top 20 ecology and forestry journals shows that R is utilized in over 30% of the literature for ecology, yet in less than 10% of the forestry literature. Open-source computing environments, such as R, Python, and Julia, increase the visibility and reproducibility of scientific research and foster collaborations through the removal of proprietary software restrictions. The lag in adoption of open-source software in forestry and forest ecology could be hindering collaboration, data sharing, and reproducibility. Here we survey the available packages in the R programming language with specific utility for forest-related research. We found more than 100 available packages which we systematically categorized by research category: community analysis; dendrochronology; forest mensuration and inventory; hydrology; informatics/IoT; modeling; phenology; and remote sensing. We present worked examples for a subgroup of R software packages for each category to demonstrate their potential and utility. In these examples we used open-source data sets of our own selection. Additionally, we collected this information into an R metapackage, ForestAnalysisInR, an R Shiny-based solution that allows users to query the R packages we have identified to find those best suited for their analysis needs in a quick and efficient way.
      原文链接:
    • NSTL
    • Elsevier

    Competitive ability of natural Douglas fir regeneration in central European close-to-nature forests

    Frei, Esther R.Moser, BarbaraWohlgemuth, Thomas
    11页
    查看更多>>摘要：Douglas fir (Pseudotsuga menziesii) has regenerated naturally in European forests since the middle of the 20th century. Some cases of an invasive character of the species have been reported under specific site conditions, but systematic data on the extent of natural regeneration and spread of Douglas fir across different forest communities are largely lacking. Due to its potential tolerance to increasing summer droughts, Douglas fir has been suggested as a sustainable future tree species for Central European forests. In this study, we investigated natural regeneration of Douglas fir in comparison to native tree species in 39 forest stands in Switzerland belonging to different forest communities. We analyzed the regeneration success of Douglas fir, Norway spruce (Picea abies), silver fir (Abies alba), and European beech (Fagus sylvatica) with respect to ecological site conditions. The proportion of Douglas fir seedlings (<130 cm height) was <5% in the majority of stands; but in four stands, Douglas fir was the most abundant species among seedlings. In most other stands, Norway spruce (occurring in 37 stands/ dominant in 10 stands), silver fir (38/2 stands) and beech seedlings (35/10 stands) were more abundant than Douglas fir seedlings. Saplings (>= 130 cm height but <12 cm diameter at breast height) of Douglas fir were observed in five stands with proportions between 10% and 23% and in eight stands with proportions of <10%, in particular in stands with a high proportion of Douglas fir seed trees. Beech saplings occurred in 28 stands and were most abundant in eleven stands. Saplings of silver fir (24/3 stands) and Norway spruce (19/6 stands) were less frequent. The abundance of Douglas fir seedlings correlated positively with the proximity to seed trees and light transmission of the canopy, but negatively with understory vegetation cover and litter abundance. Ungulate browsing did not significantly affect the regeneration of any tree species in the study stands. On the Central Plateau, Douglas fir was mainly planted in productive beech forest communities where it is strongly limited due to its low competitiveness compared to beech and other fast-growing deciduous tree species. On dry and less productive sites, where the canopy is not closed, Douglas fir is able to establish successfully. On such sites, a close monitoring of Douglas fir regeneration and the potential implementation of control measures is recommended.
      原文链接:
    • NSTL
    • Elsevier

    Mining subsidence area reconstruction with N-2-fixing plants promotes arbuscular mycorrhizal fungal biodiversity and microbial biomass C:N:P stoichiometry of cyanobacterial biocrusts

    Bi, YinliGuo, YunChristie, Peter
    11页
    查看更多>>摘要：Vegetation restoration may promote the development of biological soil crusts (biocrusts) that are colonized by arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) and play an important role in microbially-mediated mineral nutrient cycling. However, little is known about biocrust AMF communities or microbial biomass carbon (C), nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P) cycling during vegetation restoration in coal mining subsidence areas. Here, we examine cyanobacterial biocrust microbial biomass C:N:P stoichiometry and AMF communities under five revegetation types, i.e., field plots planted with Hippophae rhamnoides, Xanthoceras sorbifolium, Cerasus humilis, Cerasus szechuanica, or Amorpha fruticosa. Cyanobacterial biocrusts under H. rhamnoides and A. futicosa had the highest estimated microbial biomass C:N:P and AMF alpha-diversity values but the lowest pH and electrical conductivity. Moreover, four AMF genera (Ambispora, Glomus, Diversispora, and Paraglomus), one order (Glomerales) and one class (Glomeromycetes) were the most abundant AMF in cyanobacterial biocrusts under the five revegetation types. Vegetation cover induced by revegetation type had direct positive effects on biocrust biomass and was the strongest driver of AMF diversity and microbial biomass C:P ratio. The N-2-fixing plant species (A. fruticosa and H. rhamnoides) are preferable in restoration strategies in enhancing the development of cyanobacterial biocrusts and thus promoting the soil AMF community and microbial mineral nutrient cycling during vegetation reconstruction. The results provide a clearer understanding of the ecological functions of cyanobacterial biocrusts and further facilitate the assessment of ecosystem services and sustainable development in vegetation reconstruction in coal mining subsidence areas.
      原文链接:
    • NSTL
    • Elsevier

    Modelling the first flowering time of Xanthoceras sorbifolium Bunge in north China based on temperature

    Luo, XiaofeiZhao, JunguangZhu, FeiWang, Xu...
    8页
    查看更多>>摘要：Xanthoceras sorbifolium Bunge is a potential biofuel plant, owing to its high seed oil content. But planted forest experiments and practice indicate that field management before flowering played a vital role in increasing the female to male ration and further raise seed yield. Thus, knowing the onset of flowering in advance is crucial for taking management measures to regulate floral development. To predict the first flowering date, we developed a predictive model with linear regression, support vector machine, and random forest models. Mean monthly temperatures with chilling and forcing accumulation (November-March) and preseason temperatures one month prior to the onset of flowering were taken as independent variables. Chilling accumulation was calculated using chilling portion (CP) with the Dynamic Model and chilling hours (CH) for the Utah Model, while forcing accumulation was derived from the Growing Degree Hours (GDH) Model. Internal leave-one-out cross validation and external validation were used to examine model performance. Generally, multivariate models had similar errors and performed better than the simple linear regression models. The lowest external and internal error values (3.8 and 2.59 days, respectively) were obtained using GDH with the multivariate linear model for March and CP for November. Regarding practicality, we recommend the use of the linear regression model for CP data from January (external error = 5.7 days, internal error = 5.64 days). The non-significant correlation between one month pre-season temperatures and first flowering date indicates that flowering time is primarily determined by earlier temperature accumulation. The significant influence of chilling accumulation in January on the onset of flowering are in coincidence with that X. sorbifolium is an early flowering species. The stable external errors related to the use of GDH for March data and CP for November data implies that the combination of forcing and chilling accumulation plays a critical role in initiating flowering onset. Our study provides a basis for forecasting flowering onset and regulating the floral development of X. sorbifolium.
      原文链接:
    • NSTL
    • Elsevier

    Factors affecting winter damage and recovery of newly planted Norway spruce seedlings in boreal forests

    Luoranen, JaanaRiikonen, JohannaSaksa, Timo
    14页
    查看更多>>摘要：In boreal and temperate forest zones, snowless winters and springs with varying temperature conditions are becoming more common with climate change. In the spring of 2020, extensive winter damage in Norway spruce (Picea abies (L.) Karst.) seedlings, which had been planted the previous year in Central Finland, was observed. In most cases, the probable reason was winter desiccation. This provided a good opportunity to study the regeneration site, seedling, and weather factors that affect winter damage and the recovery of seedlings from damage. In the study, systematic plot sampling was done in 60 selected regeneration sites where damage was known to have occurred. The prediction models for the probabilities of winter damage and the recovery of seedlings were fit to the data. The risk of winter damage was higher in seedlings packed in a closed package than in seedlings stored in open trays. The risk was especially high if seedlings packed in a closed package were stored for more than a week before planting in the middle of June or later. In open trays, the risk of damage was highest in seedlings planted in September, but even then, the risk was lower than in seedlings packed in a closed package. Long storage duration also increased the damage risk in seedlings stored in open trays and planted in September. Other factors that increased damage were coarse soil and the sample plot being on top of a hill. Factors reducing the risk were a fast chain from clear-cutting to planting, planting in good-quality mounds, a sample plot position on the north slope, and the shading of the forest edge on the southern side of a plot. Recovery of seedlings was weaker when seedlings were stored in a closed package and planted in the fall, in too shallow planting depth, or in humus-covered mounds. Recovery improved when seedlings were planted at a depth of at least 5 cm, or when the coniferous forest edge was on the southern or western side of a plot. Winter damage reduced seedling growth and induced the formation of multiple leaders. In practice, the most important factors to be taken into account were avoiding long storage duration and planting seedlings packed in a closed package after the middle of June. Good-quality site preparation and planting were also important for minimizing the risk of damage and improving recovery.
      原文链接:
    • NSTL
    • Elsevier

    Combining remote sensing and field data to assess recovery of the Chilean Mediterranean vegetation after fire: Effect of time elapsed and burn severity

    Smith-Ramirez, CeciliaCastillo-Mandujano, JessicaBecerra, PabloSandoval, Nicole...
    10页
    查看更多>>摘要：It has been debated if Chilean sclerophyllous vegetation can recover after fire of different severity and short and long term. We evaluated the resiliency of this vegetation type after single-occurrence fires of different severities that occurred 30, 20 and 10 years in Central Chile before the study. Two approaches were followed: satellite image analysis and vegetation sampling. Wildfires that occurred between 1985 and 2015 were identified based on Landsat images. We selected 30 sites burned by a single fire in either 1985, 1995 or 2005, and that was not converted to another land use by 2015, then determined the percentage cover by vegetation type. We recorded or estimated the independent variables of burn severity, slope, altitude, pre-fire vegetation type and latitude of the sites. Composition, richness, and abundance of adult and regeneration of woody vegetation and herbaceous cover were sampled. Generalized linear models were used to evaluate the effect of the independent variables and the time elapsed since the fire on vegetation recovery. The proportion of dense vegetation forest cover was significantly higher with more time elapsed since the fire, while semi-dense forest/shrubland and open shrubland vegetation cover returned to pre-fire levels more quickly. The richness and abundance of regenerated woody species was significantly greater with more time elapsed since the fire. However, no relationship was found between species richness and abundance of adult woody species and time elapsed post-fire. We found that vegetative recovery over time was not related to burn severity. Forested and mixed forest/shrubland cover is reached 10-20 years after the fire, if no further intervention occurs. Richness and species abundance was similar to that of unburned sites after 20 or more years post-fire. This study provided evidence that forest vegetation in the Chilean Mediterranean ecosystem is resilient to fires of at least low and medium intensities.
      原文链接:
    • NSTL
    • Elsevier

    Mixing degree, stand density, and water supply can increase the overyielding of mixed versus monospecific stands in Central Europe

    Pretzsch, Hans
    16页
    查看更多>>摘要：Tree species mixtures can overyield monospecific stands and provide many other advantageous regulating and provisioning ecosystem services. So far, the effect of mixing on growth were mostly described at the individual tree level or cumulatively at the stand level. How overyielding emerges from the mixing pattern, how it is modulated by the current environmental conditions, and how overyielding develops with progressing stand age is largely unexplored. However, such knowledge might promote the silvicultural design of mixed stands.
      原文链接:
    • NSTL
    • Elsevier

    Understory diversity are driven by resource availability rather than resource heterogeneity in subtropical forests

    Su, XiangpingZheng, GaochaoChen, Han Y. H.
    9页
    查看更多>>摘要：Understory vegetation accounts for most of the plant diversity, particularly in plantation forests, and contributes significantly to energy flows and nutrient cycling. However, we lack a mechanistic understanding of understory diversity associated with resource availability and heterogeneity across forest types over a wide range of stand development stages. We sampled the understory vegetation of Chinese fir plantations and natural secondary forests (4-40 years old) and used primary forests as a reference in subtropical China. The percent covers of all understory plant species were estimated at the shrub layer (height >1.3 m) and herb layer (<= 1.3 m). We quantified understory light availability and heterogeneity, substrate diversity and soil nutrients and employed principal component analysis to reduce multiple physical and chemical soil properties to PC1 and PC2, with PC1 positively correlating with soil carbon and total nitrogen, and PC2 with available soil nitrogen and phosphorus. Structural equation modelling (SEM) was employed to test the direct and indirect influences of forest type, stand age, light availability and heterogeneity, substrate diversity and soil nutrients on the diversity of understory species. We found that shrub layer richness was higher in the secondary natural and primary forests than in the plantations, but plantations had higher bryophyte richness. Shrub cover was positively correlated with shrub richness and had a positive indirect effect on shrub richness but a negative indirect effect on herb richness via its effect on soil carbon and nitrogen. Stand age has a positive direct effect on bryophyte richness. There were strong positive correlations among the richness of understory layers and life forms. Our results suggest that physical and chemical soil properties, specifically soil nutrient availability, rather than light availability and heterogeneity or substrate diversity, were the main drivers that affected subtropical forests' understory richness.
      原文链接:
    • NSTL
    • Elsevier

    Atlantic Forest recovery after long-term eucalyptus plantations: The role of zoochoric and shade-tolerant tree species on carbon stock

    Pires Coelho, Alex JoselioVilla, Pedro ManuelRibeiro Matos, Fabio AntonioHeringer, Gustavo...
    10页
    查看更多>>摘要：Currently, about a third of the world's forest areas that have been deforested are regrowing. These secondgrowth forests (SGF) promote carbon stocks and tree species richness recovery (co-benefits recovery), which is central to mitigating the negative impact of climate change and loss of biodiversity. In Brazil's Atlantic Forest, second-growth forests that are regrowing after long-term land use can recover diversity and carbon and can have important carbon-tree diversity co-benefits. Thus, we evaluate the recovery of tree species richness and aboveground carbon stock (AGC) in SGF that are regrowing after a long-period of eucalyptus plantations. For this we sampled 43 SGF with stand ages varying from 1-32 years after eucalyptus plantations cutting and three reference old-growth forests (OGF). We considered all individuals with more than 15 cm of circumference at breast height in one 20 x 50 m plot by patch. We identified all tree species, which were categorized into functional attributes, such as zoochoric and non-zoochoric, pioneer and shade-tolerant, and fleshy and dry fruits species. There were marked differences in species richness and AGC between OGF and SGF, but SGFs were not different between then. However, in 32 years these second-growth forests recovered -38% of species richness and -14% of carbon stock of old-growth forests. In addition, there was a carbon-biodiversity co-benefits mainly between zoochoric and shade-tolerant species richness. These results showed that these second-growth forests could naturally recover biodiversity and AGC. Possibly, this is due to the connectivity provided by land-use for eucalyptus plantations that induces favorable conditions for the recruitment of zoochoric and shade-tolerant species and thus for the recovery of biodiversity and AGC after eucalyptus cutting. Thus, this second-growth forest management can contribute to Atlantic Forest biodiversity conservation and carbon stock initiatives.
      原文链接:
    • NSTL
    • Elsevier