首页期刊导航|Forest Ecology and Management
期刊信息/Journal information
Forest Ecology and Management
Elsevier Science
Forest Ecology and Management

Elsevier Science

0378-1127

Forest Ecology and Management/Journal Forest Ecology and ManagementSCIISTPEIAHCI
正式出版
收录年代

    Effects of ungulates on oak regeneration in Mediterranean woodlands: A meta-analysis

    Leal A.I.Palmeirim J.M.Bugalho M.N.
    10页
    查看更多>>摘要：? 2022 Elsevier B.V.Mediterranean-climate oak woodlands, including those in North America and in the Mediterranean basin, are human-shaped ecosystems with high biodiversity value, which generate different ecosystem services, including grazing resources for livestock production. Low oak recruitment rates, however, are affecting the ecological sustainability of these ecosystems. Understanding the factors affecting recruitment dynamics in Mediterranean oak woodlands is crucial for adequately managing these ecosystems. We used a meta-analysis approach to evaluate the direct effects of ungulates on Mediterranean oak woodlands at various stages of recruitment, analysing publications based on ungulate exclusion experiments. The relationship between ungulates and recruitment is complex, involving multiple interacting factors, but, with very few exceptions, studies reported substantial negative direct impacts. Our meta-analyses show that the odds of an acorn surviving are much lower when ungulates are present and that the impact of wild ungulates on acorn survival was more marked than that of domestic animals. Ungulates also reduce the recruitment rates of oak seedlings and saplings as well as their growth rates. Ungulate management is crucial to achieve adequate oak recruitment in Mediterranean oak woodlands. We suggest management practices that may contribute to reduce the effects of ungulates in oak recruitment and to ecologically sustainable Mediterranean oak woodlands.
      原文链接:
    • NSTL
    • Elsevier

    The introduction of Phoebe bournei into Cunninghamia lanceolata monoculture plantations increased microbial network complexity and shifted keystone taxa

    Ding K.Zhang Y.Yrjala K.Tong Z....
    12页
    查看更多>>摘要：? 2022 Elsevier B.V.Cunninghamia lanceolata is an important timber species and has been widely cultivated in subtropical China. However, monoculture successional patterns lead to multiple ecological problems, such as soil nutrient depletion, biodiversity loss, and forest productivity decline. The introduction of broadleaf species into monospecific C. lanceolata plantations is an effective silvicultural practice driven by the demands to restore soil fertility and produce timber. A comprehensive understanding of how mixed afforestation patterns drive soil microbial community compositions and diversity can aid in the evaluation of the effects of broadleaf trees (Phoebe bournei) on forest soil–plant-microbe ecosystem functions. Therefore, this study aims to explore the effects of conversion from C. lanceolata monoculture plantations to mixed plantations (C. lanceolata-Phoebe bournei) on the soil microbial community by measuring soil physicochemical properties and sequencing the 16S and ITS rRNA genes. The results showed that (1) the effect of forest conversion on bacterial alpha diversity was larger than that on fungal diversity, and the soil microbial community structure of both bacteria and fungi significantly differed between the two interplanting practices; (2) the co-occurrence analysis of bacteria and fungi displayed more connected and complex networks in mixed plantation networks, in which keystone taxa (i.e., Burkholderia and Steroidobacter) might play critical roles in the construction of the microbiome network; and (3) the results from VPA showed that the structure of the soil microbial community was strongly affected by soil environmental factors (e.g., pH). These findings suggest that the introduction of broadleaf species has significant impacts on the soil microbial community, increases the relative abundance of keystone taxa with important functional traits, and drives a more diverse microbial community network in mixed plantations.
      原文链接:
    • NSTL
    • Elsevier

    Persistent composition legacy and rapid structural change following successive fires in Sierra Nevada mixed conifer forests

    Paudel A.Markwith S.H.Coppoletta M.Merriam K....
    11页
    查看更多>>摘要：? 2022Mixed conifer forests in the Sierra Nevada, California, USA, face threats from frequent high-severity reburns caused by fuel accumulation and increasingly dry, hot conditions associated with climate change. Stand replacing fire and establishment of expansive shrub patches may result in positive feedbacks causing landscapes to convert to persistent shrubland or grassland. Our objective was to examine changes in mixed conifer forest density and species composition after successive fires across a range of initial and reburn severities. We resampled 134 field plots 5–6 years after the Chips Fire reburned stands initially burned by the Storrie and Rich fires on the Lassen and Plumas National Forests. Generalized Linear Models and post-hoc margins analyses were used to examine the interaction effects of initial and reburn fire severities on changes in conifer tree and seedling densities, percent cover of shrubs, and changes in species composition evaluated using fire tolerance index. We found that successive fires with severities less than high-severity significantly reduced tree densities to values within or close to the natural range of variation for mixed conifer stands. Despite these changes in density, species composition did not shift toward increasing dominance of fire tolerant species; mature trees and seedlings of true firs and other fire intolerant species remained dominant after successive low and moderate severity fires. Seedling establishment pulses were associated with sampling years with abundant precipitation, and unburned, unchanged, and low-severity plots in the reburn sample had significant increases in seedling densities across the range of initial burn severities. Shrub cover increased significantly with only a few reburn severity interactions, but declined significantly with repeated high-severity fire. Although two low- to moderate-severity fires may reduce tree densities to within the natural range of variation, they may not shift species composition towards historical patterns. Selective thinning in areas that burned at low- to moderate-severity may be necessary to restore historical species composition in Sierra Nevada mixed conifer forests.
      原文链接:
    • NSTL
    • Elsevier

    Moderate pine cover maximizes 10-year survival and growth in late-successional species of contrasting functional strategies

    Chirino E.Vallejo V.R.Morcillo L.Turrion D....
    9页
    查看更多>>摘要：? 2022 Elsevier B.V.Monospecific pine forests are widespread due to extensive afforestation efforts and natural colonization of abandoned croplands in the Mediterranean Basin. It was originally thought that pines would facilitate the natural colonization of native late-successional resprouter species (e.g., hardwoods), but these species can be compromised if competition with pines outweighs their facilitative effect on these hardwood species. Managing the density or canopy cover of these widespread pine forests can potentially provide some “optimum” balance between facilitation and competition to maximize success in the introduction of late successional species while maintaining a tree stratum. We tested the response (survival and growth across 10 years) of six resprouter species covering a wide range of plant functional strategies, from drought-tolerant sclerophyllous shrubs and trees to malacophyllous drought-sensitive trees, across an experimental gradient of Aleppo pine canopy cover. Seedling performance varied according to the functional strategy, pine cover and time. High pine cover generally enhanced seedling survival, whereas moderate pine cover generally enhanced seedling growth, although this response was modulated by the functional strategy of the seedling species. Interactions between pines and seedlings were only detectable 2–3 years after plantation, increasing in intensity with time. The latter highlights the need of medium to long-term studies to evaluate plant-plant interactions in these water-limited environments with slow successional trajectories. Our results could be attributed to the shade tolerance of most of the introduced trees, combined with their low tolerance to the combination of high sunlight radiation and drought. We found an optimal pine cover of ca. 50% (equivalent to 300–400 trees/ha) in which both survival and growth of late successional species can be maximized, which help to select best locations for more efficient reforestation programs and set a threshold value to decide whether or not to perform tree thinning to enhance ecosystem diversity and, subsequently, resilience.
      原文链接:
    • NSTL
    • Elsevier

    Short-term experimental support for bird diversity retention measures during thinning in European boreal forests

    Klein J.Low M.Eggers S.Sjogren J....
    12页
    查看更多>>摘要：? 2022 The AuthorsCurrent levels of forestry expansion in boreal forests threaten to radically reduce biodiversity. For many forest-dwelling species the threat is not simply because the forest is used for biomass production, but rather how it is used. Retention forestry practices aim to limit impacts on biodiversity during the final felling stage of a forestry cycle. However, the efficiency of such methods in retaining biodiversity have rarely been studied for intermediate forestry stages (e.g., forest thinning) with experimental approaches entirely absent from boreal forests. Therefore, we conducted a before-after control-impact experiment in Sweden to investigate the short-term response in occurrence of individual bird species, guilds, and population trend groups (positive, stable, or negative population trend), as well as the response in nest box occupancy and in the reproductive success of Parus major to three different thinning treatments. The three treatments were i) conventional thinning at the plot and stand scale, (ii) understory retention thinning, where at least 250 spruces with live branches below 2 m above ground are retained per hectare, and (iii) complete retention plots, where the forest was not thinned on ～1 ha plots within conventionally thinned forest stands. We found that conventional forest thinning was likely the cause for observed declines in bird occurrence, with ～20% of the species showing clear negative responses. Our results indicate that understory retention thinning with double the retention level as previously suggested and combining conventional thinning with complete retention plots, could largely alleviate the short term negative effects of conventional thinning. This was the case for all guilds, population trend groups and individual bird species, except for Poecile montanus, which responded negatively to complete retention. Among the birds occupying the nest boxes, only Cyanistes caeruleus responded to any of the treatments, with higher nest box occupancy upon understory retention thinning. No thinning treatment affected reproductive success in P. major. Our results clearly show that thinning practices that retain the diversity of forest-dwelling birds are possible. Hence, this study provides a crucial puzzle piece towards more sustainable forestry practices in the boreal region.
      原文链接:
    • NSTL
    • Elsevier

    Preferential allocation of carbohydrate reserves belowground supports disturbance-based management of American chestnut (Castanea dentata)

    Montague M.S.Jacobs D.F.Landhausser S.M.McNickle G.G....
    10页
    查看更多>>摘要：? 2022 Elsevier B.V.Non-structural carbohydrates (NSCs) are critical for the survival of trees, but the ability to accurately predict NSC levels for a given forest tree species is lacking. We evaluated NSC dynamics in American chestnut (Castanea dentata), a species of high restoration interest, to test the conventional model of seasonal and inter-organ dynamics and to facilitate informed conservation efforts. Chestnut trees were sampled over the course of one year at different phenological stages. Then, organ-specific NSC concentration data were paired with biomass estimates from a custom-built allometric model to generate NSC pool sizes. Organ-level NSC concentrations and pools generally peaked at leaf fall (October) and were lowest during shoot expansion (June), although interactions between organ type and collection period drove variation in pool sizes. Whole-tree NSC pools increased from 2.47 ± 0.42 kg at shoot expansion to 4.29 ± 0.65 kg at leaf fall. Coarse roots were the most important NSC reservoir, accounting for 46.5% ? 56.6% of the total whole-tree NSC reserves, depending on the time of year. Coarse root NSC pools were larger and more dynamic than in previous studies with other temperate deciduous trees, and they were the primary supplier of NSCs to support spring leaf-out. Preferential belowground NSC allocation and the ability to mobilize root NSCs to fuel growth and metabolism suggest that chestnut could thrive under disturbance-based management.
      原文链接:
    • NSTL
    • Elsevier

    Recolonization of epiphytic bryophytes after decades of air pollution in forest ecosystems in the Erzgebirge (Ore Mountains) shows the importance of deciduous trees for the diversity of this species group

    Baumann M.Dittrich S.von Oheimb G.
    9页
    查看更多>>摘要：? 2022 Elsevier B.V.In recent decades, great efforts have been made in Central Europe to convert homogeneous conifer stands into mixed stands. One major goal of this measure is to promote the biodiversity of forest ecosystems. Research on forest biodiversity is mostly limited to the spatial scale of the stand (alpha diversity), and only few studies focus on the landscape level (gamma diversity). In our study, we investigate the recolonization of epiphytic bryophytes after decades of air pollution on different host tree species. The study area is the Erzgebirge (Ore Mountains, eastern Germany), a low mountain range in which very high SO2 inputs from industrial emissions caused severe damage to the vegetation up to the end of the 20th century. We selected twelve plots each of the tree species Picea abies, Fagus sylvatica, Acer pseudoplatanus and Sorbus aucuparia and recorded the occurrence of all epiphytic bryophytes on trunk and branches at a height between approx. 0.5 and 2.0 m. We recorded a total of 84 species, finding a significantly higher species richness and number of species of conservation concern as well as a larger regional epiphytic species pool (RESP) on F. sylvatica, A. pseudoplatanus and S. aucuparia compared to P. abies. In contrast, there were only minor differences in epiphytic species diversity and composition between the studied deciduous tree species. The dominance of colonists in the current species composition shows that these epiphyte communities are still in the early stages of succession, supported by the observation that species with small range sizes are still very rare. Compared to other studies, the species pool of the examined tree species is relatively large. This is an indication of the much improved environmental conditions for epiphytes in the Erzgebirge. We also recorded Ulota drummondii in the stands, providing its first record in Germany since 1886. In general, we conclude that changing tree species composition from monospecific coniferous to broadleaved stands will lead to an increase in the epiphytic bryophyte diversity of forest ecosystems.
      原文链接:
    • NSTL
    • Elsevier

    Great Basin bristlecone pine mortality: Causal factors and management implications

    Bentz B.J.Vandygriff J.C.Hansen E.M.Millar C.I....
    12页
    查看更多>>摘要：? 2022High-elevation five-needle pines are foundational species and iconic components of subalpine forests across western North America. Because they often grow at environmental extremes, high-elevation pines are vulnerable to changing climate conditions. In addition to the direct effects of recent climatic changes, these species are increasingly threatened by biotic disturbances that thrive in the warming and drying conditions now occurring at higher elevations. Among the high-elevation pines, Great Basin bristlecone pine (Pinus longaeva) is revered for its extreme longevity and has been considered an icon of stability during periods of change. Life history strategies of Great Basin bristlecone pine that contribute to its longevity include physiological traits that enhance survival in harsh and dry habitats, and defensive traits that make it less vulnerable than other high-elevation pines to tree-killing bark beetles. Recent increases in growing degree days with no associated increase in precipitation is causing temperature-amplified tree drought stress, while warming temperatures positively influence bark beetle population growth. We report on preliminary investigations into recent and unexpected Great Basin bristlecone pine mortality at two sites, including the potential roles of weather-induced stress and bark beetles. At both sites climatic water deficit (CWD), a cumulative measure of moisture stress, and mean annual temperature increased during the 2010 decade and CWD was the highest in 2020 relative to any time during the past 40 years. Although Great Basin bristlecone pine mortality has not previously been attributed to bark beetles, we observed recent (i.e., 2013 to 2020) bark beetle-attacked trees at both sites, coincident with the timing of increasing temperature and CWD. Few adult beetles were produced, however, and our results support previous research that Great Basin bristlecone pine is a population sink for bark beetles. Because bark beetles are likely not self-sustaining in Great Basin bristlecone pine, bark beetle-caused mortality of this iconic species will most likely occur when it grows mixed with or near other pine species that support bark beetle population growth. We found Ips confusus and Dendroctonus ponderosae attacking Great Basin bristlecone pine in areas where their host trees, P. monophylla and P. flexilis, were also growing. These results suggest that the presence of these infested conifers likely contributed to Great Basin bristlecone pine mortality. We highlight several factors that may be used for prioritizing future research and monitoring to facilitate development of management strategies for protecting this iconic species.
      原文链接:
    • NSTL
    • Elsevier

    The accumulation of microbial residues and plant lignin phenols are more influenced by fertilization in young than mature subtropical forests

    Wang Q.-C.Yang L.-M.Song G.Jin S.-S....
    9页
    查看更多>>摘要：? 2022 Elsevier B.V.Soil microbial residues and plant-derived compounds are important components of the stable carbon (C) pool in forest soil. It is not well understood how microbial residues and plant lignin phenols respond to nutrient inputs in subtropical forests of different ages, especially in mature forest stands. Here, a 5-year nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P) fertilization (addition) management experiment was conducted in two stages of subtropical forests (<40- and > 80-year). We found that the concentrations of amino sugars (i.e., microbial residues) and plant lignin phenols and their contributions to soil organic carbon (SOC) were significantly higher in the > 80-year forests than in the < 40-year forests. In the < 40-year forests, N addition increased amino sugars and lignin phenols and their contributions to SOC, whereas P addition decreased muramic acid (bacterial-derived) and its contribution to SOC. In the > 80-year forests, however, N and P addition had no significant effect on amino sugars and lignin phenols and their contributions to SOC. Overall, soil total amino sugars and lignin phenols could be directly and indirectly affected by forest age and N addition, and could be only indirectly impacted by P addition. Our results suggest that microbial residues and plant lignin phenols are sensitive to the nutrient additions in the young forests, which have a greater potential for the soil stable C sequestration in comparison with the mature forests.
      原文链接:
    • NSTL
    • Elsevier

    The influence of microhabitat factors on the regeneration and species composition of understory woody plants in Pinus tabuliformis plantations on the Loess Plateau

    Wang Z.Jiang L.Gao J.Qing S....
    10页
    查看更多>>摘要：? 2022 Elsevier B.V.Chinese pine (Pinus tabuliformis) is one of the main tree species for water and soil conservation on the Loess Plateau. However, most of these plantations face a series of ecological problems, such as low diversity of understory plants and difficulty in natural regeneration. Our study focused on the microhabitat factors that affected the species composition of understory woody plants and the distribution and growth of regeneration in Chinese pine plantations. Plots of 50 × 50 m were randomly established in three typical mature plantations, and then each plot was divided into 100 5 × 5 m microplots to investigate the characteristics of canopy trees, Chinese pine regeneration, other understory woody plants, the light environment, litter and soil. The involved microhabitat factors jointly explained 37.68% of the variation in the species composition of understory woody plants, among which soil total phosphorus (2.66%) and available potassium (2.19%) were the main factors. In the regeneration layer, Chinese pine regeneration (7,261 stems·ha?1, 124.6 cm), Quercus liaotungensis (3,114 stems·ha?1, 117.0 cm) and Betula platyphylla (953 stems·ha?1, 305.7 cm) were considered the canopy replacement species with the most potential. Additionally, we found that the regeneration density was significantly affected by soil total nitrogen, available potassium and shrub density, while the differences in regeneration height growth mainly resulted from the density of other understory trees and shrubs, soil total phosphorus and diffuse non-interceptance. The density of saplings and juvenile trees of Chinese pine was more affected by microhabitat factors than that of seedlings, but the effect of the microenvironment on the former two was less different, indicating that the sapling stage may be the critical period for successful recruitment of the plantations. Therefore, gap creation or thinning is suggested to promote the growth of saplings and juvenile trees, thus increasing the opportunity for them to enter the canopy. At the stand scale, soil resources and interspecies interactions were the dominant microhabitat factors influencing the regeneration of Chinese pine, which inspired us to deeply explore the vegetation-soil-microbial systems and the relationship between regeneration and their neighbors in the future. Moreover, managers should pay more attention to the survival and growth of saplings and juvenile trees to promote the sustainable development of Chinese pine plantations. We believe that these plantations will be transformed into coniferous and broad-leaved mixed forests with high stability and species diversity (e.g., P. tabuliformis × B. platyphylla or P. tabuliformis × Q. liaotungensis).
      原文链接:
    • NSTL
    • Elsevier