Influence of partial harvesting and site factors on the abundance and composition of natural regeneration in the Acadian Forest of Maine, USA

2013 ◽  
Vol 306 ◽  
pp. 96-106 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mohammad Bataineh ◽  
Laura Kenefic ◽  
Aaron Weiskittel ◽  
Robert Wagner ◽  
John Brissette
2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
pp. 73-83
Author(s):  
MAHEDI HASAN LIMON ◽  
SAIDA HOSSAIN ARA ◽  
MOHAMMAD GOLAM KIBRIA

Natural regeneration is an indicator of a healthy forest, hence, understanding the influence of site factors on natural regeneration is a significant concern for ecologists. This work aimed to assess the impact of site factors on natural tree regeneration at Khadimnagar National Park (KNP). Biotic factors (tree density, tree species richness, and basal area), physical factors (elevation, canopy openness), and soil properties (bulk density, moisture content, soil pH, organic matter, sand, silt, and clay) data were investigated from 71 sample plots to examine their effects on natural regeneration density and richness in KNP. Stepwise multiple linear regression analysis was done to predict both regeneration density and regeneration richness. The results showed that soil pH (p<0.001), canopy openness (p<0.001), tree species richness (p<0.01), and bulk density (p<0.01) had a significant effect on regeneration density, explaining 42% of the total variation. Regeneration richness was driven by four factors: tree species richness (p<0.01), soil pH (p<0.001), elevation (p<0.01), and canopy openness (p<0.01) with a model that explained 60% of the total variation. This study observed that soil pH, tree species richness, and canopy openness are the main controlling factors that influenced both the density and richness of regenerating species in KNP. Therefore, these findings have implications for natural resource management, especially in selecting suitable silvicultural systems in a tropical forest under protected area management where enhanced tree cover and conservation of biodiversity are needed.


Forests ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 10 (12) ◽  
pp. 1136
Author(s):  
Jurij Diaci ◽  
Tomaž Adamič ◽  
Andrej Rozman ◽  
Gal Fidej ◽  
Dušan Roženbergar

Since the mid-19th century, Pinus nigra plantations have played a key role in the restoration of degraded European landscapes. Nowadays, these plantations are aging and prone to natural disturbances, insect infestations, and diseases. For their successful gradual conversion, knowledge of optimal gap spatiotemporal dynamics is crucial. We studied herb and natural regeneration patterns along with site factors on 477 subplots within 44 plots distributed over four stand types: closed stand (14% diffuse light), open stand (21%), gap edge (23%), and gap (57%). Despite the abundant Quercus petraea, Q. cerris, and Q. pubescens mast year, no one-year seedlings were recorded, which is likely due to the summer drought. Short seedlings (h < 20 cm) of Quercus sp., Fraxinus ornus and Ostrya carpinifolia were more successful within closed stands. Short Quercus seedlings were positively associated with soil depth and negatively associated with soil nutrients, distance to seed trees, and Sesleria autumnalis coverage. Taller Quercus seedlings required more light than both of its strongest competitors and were positively related to humid soils and less rocky sites. Ungulate overbrowsing significantly impeded natural regeneration. The results indicate a satisfactory Quercus density for conversion and the importance of advanced regeneration, which should be gradually, but persistently, released by progressively widening gaps.


2020 ◽  
Vol 50 (10) ◽  
pp. 1081-1092 ◽  
Author(s):  
Arun K. Bose ◽  
Andrew S. Nelson ◽  
Matthew G. Olson

Does species’ shade tolerance regulate natural regeneration abundance and composition when partial harvestings (≤80% of basal area removal) are operated on a landscape scale? We examined this question using 835 permanent plots located across forested landscapes of Maine, USA. These plots were surveyed for regeneration growth, mortality, and recruitment before and after treatment application (i.e., partially harvested and unharvested). Our results showed that relative to unharvested stands, high-intensity partial harvesting (41%–80% of basal area removal) increased the number of seedlings (diameter at breast height (DBH) < 2.5 cm) recruited to saplings (DBH of 2.5–12.69 cm) and sapling diameter growth irrespective of species’ shade tolerance over a 15-year period after treatment. However, high-intensity partial harvesting increased sapling mortality during the initial 5 years since harvesting, whereas low-intensity partial harvesting (5%–40% of basal area removal) maintained the natural regeneration dynamics (growth, recruitment, and mortality) of unharvested stands. We found that harvesting intensity, basal area, and seedling density by shade-tolerance group before harvesting are more important attributes than species’ shade tolerance for determining the responses of natural regeneration to partial harvesting. The greater importance of preharvest stand attributes on postharvest regeneration may suggest an integrated overstory and understory manipulation approach for attaining the desired regeneration composition.


1989 ◽  
Vol 19 (11) ◽  
pp. 1458-1469 ◽  
Author(s):  
B. D. Harvey ◽  
Y. Bergeron

Pre- and post-harvest regeneration levels were compared for Abiesbalsamea (L.) Mill. –Betulapapyrifera Marsh. –Picea spp. forests in an area of the southern clay belt of northwestern Quebec. Results revealed abundant advance softwood regeneration (mean = 65 000 stems/ha), almost entirely of Abies prior to harvest. The survey following mechanical and manual whole-tree harvesting suggested a 92% reduction of softwood regeneration and a shift from softwood to a mixed or hardwood-shrub dominated regeneration. Ninety percent of softwood seedlings collected after harvest were pre-established. Destruction of advance regeneration was generally greater on fine-textured soils. Hierarchic cluster analysis of ecological types based on softwood, hardwood, and shrub tree regeneration data as variables, revealed nine groups that could serve as a basis for operational silvicultural decision making. In general, Salix spp. and Alnusrugosa (Du Roi) Spreng. are the major competitors on poorly drained sites; Betula sp., Acerspicatum Lam., and Prunuspensylvanica L.f. dominate on thin organic deposits and coarse deposits, whereas Populustremuloides Michx. and Acerspicatum dominate on fine-textured deposits. These findings suggest that a good understanding of physical site factors can provide useful information for harvesting and silvicultural planning.


2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
John-Pascal Berrill ◽  
Lynn A Webb ◽  
Kristy L DeYoung ◽  
Christa M Dagley ◽  
Christopher G Bodle ◽  
...  

Abstract Harvesting of commercial conifer species from conifer-hardwood mixtures can leave residual stands dominated by hardwoods. Removing unwanted hardwoods by cutting or herbicide makes growing space available to residual trees and regeneration and can restore conifer dominance. Forest managers of north coastal California need guidance on how such treatments affect subsequent growth of planted redwoods (Sequoia sempervirens [D. Don.] Endl.) or natural regeneration, as well as proliferation of undesirable species. Our observational study reconstructed growth of 108 regenerating redwoods in 26 treated stands. Residual stand density was the main driver of height and diameter growth in the new cohort of redwoods, irrespective of whether hardwoods were cut or received herbicide frill treatment (prevents resprouting). At lower residual stand densities, there were higher densities of natural regeneration (ingrowth) of conifers and hardwoods, which affected diameter at breast height (dbh) growth of regenerating redwoods. After heavier cutting of hardwoods, this ingrowth comprised a greater proportion of unwanted hardwood regeneration. Therefore, frill treatment is recommended when the objective of management is to reduce hardwood stocking and regeneration. Combining partial harvesting of conifers with cutting or frill treatment of hardwood is another option that reduces stand density to promote height and dbh growth of regenerating redwoods. Study Implications Redwood is a valuable commercial species in California Coast Range forests, but its regeneration often competes with unwanted hardwoods. The most influential solution is reducing stand density. Treatment choice is less influential, giving managers some flexibility. For example, stand density can be reduced by cutting a mix of conifers and hardwoods, or by herbicide frill treatment of hardwoods to release conifers, or some combination of these two treatments. After cutting, hardwoods resprout, leading to higher hardwood densities in the understory and slightly slower regeneration of redwood. Conversely, herbicide frill treatment promotes conifer dominance by removing hardwood trees and regeneration.


2021 ◽  
Vol 2021 ◽  
pp. 1-22
Author(s):  
Semegnew Tadese ◽  
Teshome Soromessa ◽  
Tesefaye Bekele ◽  
Getaneh Gebeyehu

The aim of this study was to analyse the species composition, structures, and regeneration of woody plant species and the impacts of site factors on the natural regeneration of tree species in four study sites of MFBR. The vegetation data were collected systematically in 140 plots with the size of 400 m2 for trees; 25 m2 for seedlings, saplings, shrubs, and lianas; and 1 m2 for herbs. Individual tree and shrub DBH ≥ 5 cm were measured and counted. The diameter at breast height (DBH), frequency, basal area, importance value index (IVI), and density were used for vegetation structure description and regeneration. A total of 158 plant species belonging to 115 genera, 56 families, and 80 species (51%) trees, 26 (16%) shrubs, 19 (12%) herbs, and 33 (21%) lianas were identified and recorded. The most dominant families were Euphorbiaceae, Rubiaceae, and Moraceae, each represented by 13 species (7.4%), 12 species (6.8%), and 10 species (5.7%), respectively. The tree densities varied from 1232 to 1478 stem ha−1, sapling density 176.8 to 708.7 stem ha−1, and seedling density 534.7 to 1657.5 stem ha−1, with an average basal area of 63.6 m2 in the study sites. Dracaena afromontana was the most frequent woody species in the MFBR occurring in 90% followed by Celtis zenkeri (65%) and Pouteria altissima (62.5%). The regeneration status of all the woody plant species was categorised as “not regenerate” (9.6%), “poor” (30.7%), “fair” (59.5%), and “good” (10.8%) in all sites. The correlation result between natural regeneration and site factors revealed both positive and negative relationships. However, the main threat to the biosphere reserve is illegal logging for different purposes. Therefore, awareness creation on sustainable forest management, utilisation, conservation of priority species, and livelihood diversification to the local community and encouraging community and private woodlot plantation in the transitional zone of biosphere reserves are recommended.


2019 ◽  
Vol 48 (3) ◽  
pp. 417-425
Author(s):  
Md Khayrul Alam Bhuiyan ◽  
Md Akhter Hossain ◽  
Abdul Kadir Ibne Kamal ◽  
Mohammed Kamal Hossain ◽  
Mohammed Jashimuddin ◽  
...  

A study was conducted by using 5m × 5m sized 179 quadrates following multistage random sampling method for comparative regenerating tree species, quantitative structure, diversity, similarity and climate resilience in the degraded natural forests and plantations of Cox's Bazar North and South Forest Divisions. A total of 70 regenerating tree species were recorded representing maximum (47 species) from degraded natural forests followed by 43 species from 0.5 year 39 species from 1.5 year and 29 species from 2.5 year old plantations. Quantitative structure relating to ecological dominance indicated dominance of Acacia auriculiformis, Grewia nervosa and Lithocarpus elegans seedlings in the plantations whereas seedlings of Aporosa wallichii, Suregada multiflora and Grewia nervosa in degraded natural forests. The degraded natural forests possess higher natural regeneration potential as showed by different diversity indices. The dominance-based cluster analysis showed 2 major cluster of species under one of which multiple sub-clusters of species exists. Poor plant diversity and presence of regenerating exotic species in the plantations indicated poor climate resilience of forest ecosystem in terms of natural regeneration.


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