Long-term effects of deer browsing: Composition, structure and productivity in a northeastern Minnesota old-growth forest

The effects of forest degradation, fragmentation, and climate change occur over long time periods, yet relatively few data are available to evaluate the long-term effects of these disturbances on tropical species occurrence. Here, we quantified changes in occupancy of 50 bird species over 17 years on Barro Colorado Island (BCI), Panama, a model system for the long-term effects of habitat fragmentation. The historical data set (2002–2005) was based on point counts, whereas the contemporary data set (2018) was based on acoustic monitoring. For most species, there was no significant change in occupancy; however, the occupancy of four species (Tinamus major, Polioptila plumbea, Myiarchus tuberculifer, and Ceratopipra mentalis) increased significantly, and the occupancy of three species (Saltator grossus, Melanerpes pucherani, and Cyanoloxia cyanoides) decreased significantly. Forest age explained the majority of occupancy variation and affected the occupancy of more bird species than survey period or elevation. Approximately 50% of the species seem to favor old-growth forest, and 15 species (30%) had a significantly higher occupancy in old-growth forest sites. Elevation had no significant impact on the occupancy of the majority of bird species. Although BCI has been a protected reserve for approximately 100 years, land-use legacies (i.e., forest age) continue to influence bird distribution.

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Seven decades of change in a European old-growth forest following a stand-replacing wind disturbance: A long-term case study

Forest Ecology and Management ◽

10.1016/j.foreco.2017.05.036 ◽

2017 ◽

Vol 399 ◽

pp. 197-205 ◽

Cited By ~ 17

Author(s):

Peter Jaloviar ◽

Milan Saniga ◽

Stanislav Kucbel ◽

Ján Pittner ◽

Jaroslav Vencurik ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Wind Disturbance ◽

Old Growth ◽

Old Growth Forest

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Restoring hydrology and old-growth structures in a former production forest: Modelling the long-term effects on biodiversity

Forest Ecology and Management ◽

10.1016/j.foreco.2016.09.028 ◽

2016 ◽

Vol 381 ◽

pp. 125-133 ◽

Cited By ~ 8

Author(s):

Adriano Mazziotta ◽

Jacob Heilmann-Clausen ◽

Hans Henrik Bruun ◽

Örjan Fritz ◽

Erik Aude ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Long Term Effects ◽

Old Growth ◽

Forest Modelling

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Long-term performance and herbivory of tree seedlings planted into primary and secondary forests of Central Amazonia

Journal of Tropical Ecology ◽

10.1017/s026646741300031x ◽

2013 ◽

Vol 29 (4) ◽

pp. 301-311 ◽

Cited By ~ 2

Author(s):

Julieta Benítez-Malvido ◽

Miguel Martínez-Ramos

Keyword(s):

Secondary Forest ◽

Tree Seedlings ◽

Secondary Forests ◽

Old Growth ◽

Old Growth Forest ◽

Central Amazonia ◽

One Year ◽

Term Performance ◽

Over Time

Abstract:Plant survival and growth in tropical rain forest are affected by different biotic and abiotic forces. As time elapses and plants grow the relative importance of such forces as regeneration inhibitors and/or facilitators may change according to habitat and species. To detect within- and among-species divergences in performance over time in different habitats we followed, for nearly a decade, the survival, growth and herbivory of seedlings of the native tree species: Chrysophyllum pomiferum, Micropholis venulosa and Pouteria caimito. In Central Amazonia, young seedlings were planted into old-growth and secondary forests dominated by Vismia spp. One year after planting, C. pomiferum ranked first (i.e. fast growth, fewer dead and less herbivory) for both habitats, followed by M. venulosa and P. caimito. Initial trends changed over time. In the long term, M. venulosa ranked first for both habitats, followed by C. pomiferum and P. caimito ranked consistently lowest. Within-species divergences in growth and herbivory were greater in secondary forest. Initial seedling responses cannot always be used to predict species persistence in the long term. Contrary to previous estimations, old-growth-forest species can persist under Vismia spp. stands, at least when planted.

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Older eastern white pine trees and stands sequester carbon for many decades and maximize cumulative carbon

10.1101/2020.10.27.358044 ◽

2020 ◽

Author(s):

Robert T. Leverett ◽

Susan A. Masino ◽

William R. Moomaw

Keyword(s):

New England ◽

Carbon Storage ◽

Safety Net ◽

White Pine ◽

Eastern White Pine ◽

Old Growth ◽

Old Growth Forest ◽

Large Trees ◽

Natural Climate

AbstractPre-settlement New England was heavily forested, with some trees exceeding 2 m in diameter. New England’s forests have regrown since farm abandonment and represent what is arguably the most successful regional reforestation on record; the region has recently been identified as part of the “Global Safety Net.” Remnants and groves of primary “old-growth” forest demonstrate that native tree species can live for hundreds of years and continue to add to the biomass and structural and ecological complexity of forests. Forests are an essential natural climate solution for accumulating and storing atmospheric CO2, and some studies emphasize young, fast-growing trees and forests whereas others highlight high carbon storage and accumulation rates in old trees and intact forests. To address this question directly within New England we leveraged long-term, accurate field measurements along with volume modeling of individual trees and intact stands of eastern white pines (Pinus strobus) and compared our results to models developed by the U.S. Forest Service. Our major findings complement, extend, and clarify previous findings and are three-fold: 1) intact eastern white pine forests continue to sequester carbon and store high cumulative carbon above ground; 2) large trees dominate above-ground carbon storage and can sequester significant amounts of carbon for hundreds of years; 3) productive pine stands can continue to sequester high amounts of carbon for well over 150 years. Because the next decades are critical in addressing the climate crisis, and the vast majority of New England forests are less than 100 years old, and can at least double their cumulative carbon, a major implication of this work is that maintaining and accumulating maximal carbon in existing forests – proforestation - is a powerful near-term regional climate solution. Furthermore, old and old-growth forests are rare, complex and highly dynamic and biodiverse, and dedication of some forests to proforestation will also protect natural selection, ecosystem integrity and full native biodiversity long-term. In sum, strategic policies that grow and protect existing forests in New England will optimize a proven, low cost, natural climate solution for meeting climate and biodiversity goals now and in the critical coming decades.

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