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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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    Tree growth responses to climate variation in upland and seasonally flooded forests and woodlands of the Cerrado-Pantanal transition of Brazil

    Vourlitis, George L.Pinto, Osvaldo BorgesDalmagro, Higo J.Zanella de Arruda, Paulo Enrique...
    11页
    查看更多>>摘要：Tropical forest trees are sensitive to climate variations, especially during anomalously warm and dry years that occur during El Nin similar to o. However, species growth responses are poorly understood. We measured annual stem growth of 27 different tree species from upland and seasonally flooded forests and woodlands in the Cuiaba Basin and Northern Pantanal of Mato Grosso, Brazil. Stem growth increment was measured using plastic, spring-loaded dendrometer bands installed on 344 trees. Measurements were made between 2015 and 2019, which encompassed the 2015-16 El Nin similar to o that was one of the warmest and driest on record. Relative stem growth rates (RGR) at both sites increased with higher rainfall and declined with an increase in maximum temperature, but the RGR of trees in the Cuiaba Basin also declined as the length of the dry season increased. RGR, and the response of RGR to climate variation, varied substantially across species. Some species only exhibited a significant RGR response to variations in rainfall, maximum temperature, or dry season length, other species responded to more than one climate variable, and a subset were insensitive to the variation in all three climate variables studied. Rainfall appeared to be a stronger control on RGR in the predominately upland Cuiaba Basin (87% of species exhibited a significant RGR response to rainfall in the Cuiaba Basin vs. 39% in the Pantanal) while temperature was a stronger control on RGR in the seasonally flooded Pantanal (67% of species exhibited a significant RGR response to temperature in the Pantanal vs. 53% in the Cuiaba Basin). While our study period was short, and measurements were done on a small subset of available species, our data indicate that variations in climate affect the growth of tropical forest and woodland tree species differently. These species-specific responses have the potential to alter community diversity and productivity as climate change ensues.
      原文链接:
    • NSTL
    • Elsevier

    Post-logging effects on nest predation and avian predator assemblages in a subtropical forest

    Tallei, EverRivera, LuisSchaaf, AlejandroScheffer, Maila...
    8页
    查看更多>>摘要：Logging represents one of the main threats to bird populations breeding in subtropical forests because the resulting changes in forest structure influence nesting sites and predator-prey interactions. Nest site selection in birds is critical to their survival and reproductive success, because site characteristics can affect predation rates. The aim of this study is to evaluate the abundance of avian nest predators and the rate of predation on artificial nests in post-logging piedmont forests from the southern Yungas. Predation rate on artificial nests was lower in logged forest when compared to unlogged forest. This result may not only be explained by the influence of both micro- and meso-site which provided greater nest concealment, but also by the decrease in density of generalist predators at logged sites. As generalist predators were associated with vegetation cover, lower coverage may be affecting predator density at logging forests. The density of nestling predators, however, was higher in logging forests and was associated with this treatment. Our study suggests that post-logging effects changes the nesting sites and reduce the predation rate on artificial nests as well as the density of nest avian predators like Plushcrested Jay (Cyanocorax chrysops).
      原文链接:
    • NSTL
    • Elsevier

    Linking soil nutrients and traits to seedling growth: A test of the plant economics spectrum

    Yu, ShixiaoShen, YongUmana, Maria NataliaLi, Wenbin...
    11页
    查看更多>>摘要：Investigating the link among plant growth rates, traits and local environmental heterogeneity is necessary for understanding forest dynamics and community assembly. Although recent results showed that aboveground traits are key for determining organism's performance and main resource-use strategies, it is clear that organism performance is influenced by both above- and below-ground traits. However, we have limited understanding about how belowground strategies change in response to soil fertility and determine plant performance. We hypothesize that belowground traits have significant effects on plant performance and that shifts in soil nutrient variability are associated to shifts belowground traits. We tested these hypotheses by surveying plant communities including 3969 seedlings represented by 49 common species over a 10-year period, measured soil nutrients, including total nitrogen (TN), phosphorus (TP) and potassium (TK), and leaf and root traits to examine the links among soil nutrients, traits and growth. We first examined the coordination of leaf and root traits of community level, then used traits to predict individual and species mean height growth rate (RGRh). Finally, we tested for shifts in traits in response to gradients of soil nutrients. We found that community-level traits tended to be multidimensional. Species with acquisitive leaf traits, e.g., high leaf area ratio (LAR), phosphorus content (LP), specific leaf area (SLA) and low leaf dry matter content (LDMC), exhibited high growth rates. However, root traits were weak predictors of RGRh, all root traits were not significantly correlated to RGRh of species, only root tissue density (RTD), specific root area (SRA) and length (SRL) was significantly correlated with RGRh of individuals. Community-weighted mean traits only significantly changed along the gradients of limiting soil nutrients, especially for TK and TP. Species with high LN, SLA, root nitrogen content, SRA and SRL, and low tissue density associated with high TK and TP. Ultimately, multidimensional trait variations, and weak links between root traits and growth only partly support the plant economics spectrum (correlation among traits along one axis), but emphasizes that, beyond root traits, other resource uptake processes of roots should be linked to plant performances. Our findings provide further insights into the understanding of how ecological strategies regulate plant performances and shape potential responses of plant communities to environmental change.
      原文链接:
    • NSTL
    • Elsevier

    Light and regeneration patterns following silvicultural gap establishment in Quercus dominated stands of the northern Cumberland Plateau, USA

    Hackworth, Zachary J.Lhotka, John M.Patterson, Clinton P.Stringer, Jeffrey W....
    12页
    查看更多>>摘要：We assessed short-term light and regeneration dynamics following silvicultural gap creation in intermediately productive oak (Quercus)-dominated stands of the Northern Cumberland Plateau, USA. We established 12 experimental units comprising a harvest gap (30-m radius) and a matrix zone extending 30 m beyond the circumference of the gap. Midstory removal was performed using manual felling and chemical deadening within the matrix zone of six experimental units, while those of the other six units remained undisturbed as controls. Belt transects extending 60 m from the gap center to the end of the matrix zone were delineated within each unit to quantify spatial light patterns and regeneration dynamics of oaks and woody competitors. Mean light transmittance ranged from 86% full sun at the gap center to 10% at the outer margin of the matrix zone. Light transmittance decreased from approximately 70% full sun within the gap at 10 m from the gap edge to 20% full sun at 10 m within the forest matrix. Two-year height growth and total heights of oaks were greatest within the gap interior and decreased toward the gap edge and subsequently into the adjacent forest matrix. We observed no statistical differences in light or regeneration patterns between control and midstory removal forest matrix zones. After two years, woody competition from non-oak stems, particularly yellow-poplar (Liriodendron tulipifera L.), was high within the gap interior, and 50% of non-oak stems were taller than the average oak seedling (50 cm). At the gap edge and within the adjacent forest matrix, <20% of non-oak stems were taller than 50 cm. Light conditions fostering taller oak reproduction and reduced rates of overtopping competition identify the gap edge environment as a zone of competitive oak reproduction within which future regeneration efforts may prove effective.
      原文链接:
    • NSTL
    • Elsevier

    Modelling aboveground biomass and fuel load components at stand level in shrub communities in NW Spain

    Vega, Jose A.Arellano-Perez, StefanoGabriel Alvarez-Gonzalez, JuanFernandez, Cristina...
    18页
    查看更多>>摘要：Shrub-dominated ecosystems cover large areas globally and play essential roles in ecological processes. Aboveground biomass expressed on an area basis (AGB) is central to many of the ecological processes and services provided by shrublands and is important as the main fuel source for wildfires. Hence, its accurate estimation in shrublands is crucial for ecologists and land managers. This is especially relevant in fire-prone regions such as NW Spain, where shrublands are an important part of the landscape, providing multiple services, but are severely impacted by wildfires. Although biomass models are available for numerous shrub species at the individual plant level, operational models based directly on easily measured shrub stand attributes are scarce. In this study, equations for estimating AGB and loads of different fuel components by size and condition (live and dead) from stand biometric variables were developed for the nine most prevalent shrub communities in NW Spain. Non-linear iterative seemingly unrelated regression was used to fit compatible systems of equations for estimating fuel loads, with shrub stand height and cover and litter depth as predictors for individual shrub communities and all data combined. In general, the goodness-of-fit statistics indicated that the estimates were reasonably accurate for all communities (grouped and ungrouped). The best results were obtained for AGB and total fuel load, including litter, whereas the poorest results were obtained for standing live and dead fine fuel load. Model performance was reduced when height was the only independent variable, although the reduction was small for most fuel categories, except litter load for which the variability was adequately explained by the litter depth. These results illustrate the feasibility of the stand level approach for constructing operational models of shrub fuel load that are accurate for most of fuel components, while also highlighting the ongoing challenges in live and dead fine fuel modelling. The equations developed represent an appreciable advance in shrubland biomass assessment in the region and areas with similar characteristics and may be instrumental in generating fuel maps, fire management improvement and better C storage assessment by vegetation, among other many uses.
      原文链接:
    • NSTL
    • Elsevier

    Long-term growth trends of Abies delavayi and its physiological responses to a warming climate in the Cangshan Mountains, southwestern China

    Yang, Rao-QiongZhao, FanFan, Ze-XinPanthi, Shankar...
    11页
    查看更多>>摘要：Long-term tree growth trends and physiological responses to environmental changes, i.e., climate warming, and the rise of atmospheric [CO2] (C-a), need to be investigated across diverse forest ecosystems. We detected long-term trends in tree growth and delta C-13 derived intrinsic water use efficiency (iWUE) of Abies delavayi in the Cangshan Mountains, at its southern distribution edge in the Hengduan Mountains in southwestern China. We applied a dual-isotopic approach (delta C-13, delta O-18) to detect the shifts of tree physiological responses (photosynthetic, stomatal conductance) from colder to warmer conditions. Annual basal area increment (BAI) of A. delavayi in the Cangshan Mountains was decreasing since the 1950s, whilst the declining trend of tree growth was not obvious during the earlier period (1800-1951) after removing tree age- and size-related growth signals. Tree growth correlated negatively with temperatures and positively with relative humidity and self-calibrated Palmer drought severity index (scPDSI) during the early growing season (February to June), indicating a predominant growth limitation by moisture availability. Leaf inter-cellular [CO2] (C-i) derived from tree-ring delta C-13 of A. delavayi increased over time, with a rate slower than atmospheric C-a rise, resulting in a decrease in the C-i/C-a ratio. Intrinsic water-use efficiency (iWUE) was increasing, especially after the 1950s. Dual-isotopic analyses revealed a reduction of stomatal conductance and stable or declined photosynthetic assimilation under warmer and drier environmental conditions. Recent growth decline of A. delavayi in the Cangshan Mountains was mainly related to the increase of warming-mediated drought stress and the resulting stomatal closure, while a positive effect of CO2 fertilization was diminished under warming and drying environmental conditions. Our results serve as an early warning for tree growth and productivity of A. delavayi forests at the southern distribution limits under the ongoing warming climate.
      原文链接:
    • NSTL
    • Elsevier

    Tree growth and mortality of 42 timber species in central Africa

    Mazengue, MathurinEkome, Stevy NnaNkoulou, Yanick SergeZombo, Isaac...
    13页
    查看更多>>摘要：Tree growth and mortality are two central processes in mixed and structurally complex moist tropical forests, yet accurate estimates of the variables needed to model them remain sparse and scattered. It is thus still difficult to predict forest evolution at a local scale and build reliable management plans. To help fill this gap, for 1-7 years we annually monitored 21,180 trees belonging to 42 species exploited for timber production in Central Africa. We made new species-specific estimates of diameter increments and mortality rates, and investigated how tree growth varied with tree size and logging history. We compared our results with the legal values of diameter increments, mortality rates, and minimum cutting diameters used to build forest management plans in Cameroon. Diameter increment was found to vary with tree size for most of the species studied. The relationships between diameter increment and tree size were mostly humpback-shaped. The trees with diameters close to or lower than the reference minimum cutting diameter generally grew faster than the average. We also found that tree growth could slow for 1-2 years after timber exploitation and was then spurred for at least 5 years. The tree growth response to logging was nevertheless species-specific. This study provides new estimates of tree diameter increments and mortality rates that could help make more accurate forest projections and draw up sustainable management plans in Africa.
      原文链接:
    • NSTL
    • Elsevier

    Fuel consumption rates in resprouting eucalypt forest during hazard reduction burns, cultural burns and wildfires

    Price, Owen H.Samson, Stephanie A.Nolan, Rachael H.
    10页
    查看更多>>摘要：Accurate estimation of emissions from biomass burning and their impact on carbon storage requires pre and postfire plot measurement of fuel consumption across a range of forest types and fire severities, and this information is currently far from comprehensive in Australia or elsewhere. We measured fine and coarse fuels in 44 sites before and after 20 fires including cultural burns, hazard reduction burns and wildfires in resprouting dry sclerophyll (eucalypt) forests in the Sydney region of Australia. We compared consumption among the classes of fire severity and fire types. Most of the fires removed the great majority of fine litter and near surface fuels (mean 68% and 94% respectively) but a smaller and more variable percentage of other fine components and coarse fuels. Consumption was largely a function of pre-fire fuel levels. However, percentage consumption varied according to fire severity. Remaining fuel was negatively, and fresh fuel (i.e. immediate post-fire inputs) positively related to fire severity so that the two were in balance for litter, twigs and coarse woody debris. A higher proportion of twigs and coarse woody debris were consumed in hazard reduction and wildfires than in cultural burns, and more canopy and tree wood was consumed in wildfire than the other fire types. Total fuel consumption was 12.8 t ha(-1) (13% of pre-fire) in cultural burns, 75.7 t ha(-1) (27%) in hazard reductions, and 123.5 t ha(-1) (38%) in wildfires. This was dominated by tree biomass consumption (69% of total). Our estimates for hazard reduction burns are higher than most previous studies from Australian forests, probably because our fires spanned a greater range of severities. Our study provides a benchmark for estimating fire emissions and carbon dynamics for the region and will contribute to improving predictions of the impact of hazard reduction burns on fire behaviour and smoke emissions.
      原文链接:
    • NSTL
    • Elsevier

    Variability in growth-determining hydraulic wood and leaf traits in Melia dubia across a steep water availability gradient in southern India

    Ramesha, Mundre N.Link, Roman M.Paligi, Sharath S.Hertel, Dietrich...
    12页
    查看更多>>摘要：In India, short-rotation plantations have increasingly been promoted over the last decades in response to altered forest management policy and increased wood demand. Understanding how short-rotation forest species coordinate fast growth with water demand and carbon investment will help improving management decisions. We investigated the intra-specific variability in growth performance, leaf traits, and wood anatomical and derived hydraulic properties in 31 Melia dubia (Meliaceae) plantations along a steep rainfall gradient from 450 to 1,700 mm yr 1, and addressed the role of different irrigation practices and soil nutrient availability. We found water supply and soil nutrient status to have a dominant influence on the aboveground biomass increment (AGBI) of M. dubia. AGBI was higher at irrigated sites with a less negative climatological water balance (i.e. with lower rainfall) and at sites with higher soil phosphorus availability. Stem wood anatomical traits associated with the water transport capacity mirrored the patterns in AGBI. At sites with higher water and soil phosphorus availability, the xylem was composed of larger vessel diameters and lower vessel densities. However, both branch wood anatomical traits and leaf traits including the leaf-to-sapwood area ratio were largely independent of water availability and soil conditions. We conclude that a high stem hydraulic efficiency determined by large xylem vessels is a prerequisite for high aboveground productivity, and that the growth of M. dubia may often be phosphorus-limited. Short-rotation plantations with M. dubia will therefore clearly benefits from continuous irrigation in regions that receive annual precipitations substantially below 1,000 mm yr 1. This highlights the potential to increase yields in this important short-rotation forest species by improving irrigation and fertilization protocols.
      原文链接:
    • NSTL
    • Elsevier

    Interpreting the water use strategies of plantation tree species by canopy stomatal conductance and its sensitivity to vapor pressure deficit in South China

    Ouyang, LeiZhao, PingRao, XingquanZhu, Liwei...
    11页
    查看更多>>摘要：Stomatal regulation controls tree transpiration rate and is central to plant function. However, most previous studies that investigated the stomatal regulation of forest trees mainly focused on arid and semi-arid zones, uncertainty remains about how trees adjust their stomatal response to the changing environment in subtropical moist areas. In this study, we investigated the tree transpiration (E-l), canopy stomatal conductance (G(s)), and G(s) sensitivity to vapor pressure deficit (VPD) of four typical plantation tree species (Schima wallichii, Acacia mangium, Eucalyptus urophylla, and Cunninghamia lanceolata) in hilly lands of South China. Datasets including the continuously measured sap flow and meteorological parameters, as well as the physiological traits of the four species, were collected during the year of 2018. Our results showed that the coniferous C. lanceolata had significantly lower E-l, G(s), and weak sensitivity to VPD than the other three broadleaved species. We attributed the different water use and stomatal behavior to the various species-specific traits. The three broadleaved species generally possessed higher leaf area, specific leaf area (SLA), the ratio of sapwood area (A(s)) to leaf area (A(l)), and deeper root depth, facilitating their transpiration and gas exchange. During the experimental period, a super typhoon"Mangkhut" hit the research site and caused substantial decline in leaf area, while the whole tree transpiration experienced slighter decrease, indicating the rapid compensatory effect of stomatal regulation. Moreover, the increased G(s) sensitivity to VPD (m values) and reference G(s) for the introduced A. mangium and E. urophylla in the dry season highlighted their ability to function well even under the much drier condition with no strict stomatal control. Our analyses on the response of G(s) to the changing environment for typical species in the subtropical moist forests will provide important insights for forest management and ecosystem stability under future climate changes.
      原文链接:
    • NSTL
    • Elsevier