Beyond species richness and biomass: Impact of selective logging and silvicultural treatments on the functional composition of a neotropical forest

A study of foraging by 10 bird species suggests that selective logging of large Eucalyptus marginata will only have affected Melithreptus lunatus, but that proposed silvicultural treatments, including removal of Banksia grandis, may affect several other bird species.

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Context-dependency in biodiversity-multifunctionality relationships is driven by nitrogen availability and plant functional composition

10.1101/2020.08.17.254086 ◽

2020 ◽

Author(s):

Noémie A. Pichon ◽

Seraina L. Cappelli ◽

Santiago Soliveres ◽

Tosca Mannall ◽

Thu Zar Nwe ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Species Richness ◽

Plant Species ◽

Functional Diversity ◽

Experimental Studies ◽

Plant Species Richness ◽

Trophic Levels ◽

Context Dependency ◽

Composition Gradient ◽

Nitrogen Enrichment ◽

Functional Composition

SummaryThe ability of an ecosystem to deliver multiple functions at high levels (multifunctionality) typically increases with biodiversity but there is substantial variation in the strength and direction of biodiversity effects, suggesting context-dependency. However, the drivers of this context dependency have not been identified and understood in comparative meta-analyses or experimental studies. To determine how different factors modulate the effect of diversity on multifunctionality, we conducted a large grassland experiment with 216 communities, crossing a manipulation of plant species richness (1-20 species) with manipulations of resource availability (nitrogen enrichment), plant functional composition (gradient in mean specific leaf area [SLA] to manipulate abundances of fast vs. slow species), plant functional diversity (variance in SLA) and enemy abundance (fungal pathogen removal). We measured ten functions, above and belowground, related to productivity, nutrient cycling and energy transfer between trophic levels, and calculated multifunctionality. Plant species richness and functional diversity both increased multifunctionality, but their effects were context dependent. Species richness increased multifunctionality, but only when communities were assembled with fast growing (high SLA) species. This was because slow species were more redundant in their functional effects, whereas fast species tended to promote different functions. Functional diversity also increased multifunctionality but this effect was dampened by nitrogen enrichment, however, unfertilised, functionally diverse communities still delivered more functions than low diversity, fertilised communities. Our study suggests that a shift towards exploitative communities will not only alter ecosystem functioning but also the strength of biodiversity-functioning relationships, which highlights the potentially complex effects of global change on multifunctionality.

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Plant species richness and functional composition drive overyielding in a six-year grassland experiment

Ecology ◽

10.1890/09-0069.1 ◽

2009 ◽

Vol 90 (12) ◽

pp. 3290-3302 ◽

Cited By ~ 232

Author(s):

Elisabeth Marquard ◽

Alexandra Weigelt ◽

Vicky M. Temperton ◽

Christiane Roscher ◽

Jens Schumacher ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Species Richness ◽

Plant Species ◽

Plant Species Richness ◽

Functional Composition

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Response of Understory Bird Feeding Groups to Deforestation Gradient in a Tropical Rainforest of Cameroon

Tropical Conservation Science ◽

10.1177/1940082920906970 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 13 ◽

pp. 194008292090697

Author(s):

Mélanie A. Tchoumbou ◽

Elikwo F. N. Malange ◽

Claire T. Tiku ◽

Brice Tibab ◽

Jerome Fru-Cho ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Species Richness ◽

Oil Palm ◽

Diversity Index ◽

Bird Communities ◽

Selective Logging ◽

Habitat Types ◽

Frugivorous Birds ◽

Oil Palm Plantation ◽

Logged Forest ◽

Abundance And Diversity

Birds are crucial in maintaining the balance of many ecosystems and provide various ecological services. Understanding their sensitivity to human disturbances should be prioritized in understudy areas for effective conservation practices. Using mist nets, this study characterized mostly understory bird communities (insectivorous, frugivorous, granivorous, and nectarivorous birds) in three habitat types (pristine forest, selectively logged forest, and young oil palm plantation) in the Talangaye rainforest, Southwest Cameroon. A total of 845 birds belonging to 27 families and 85 species were recorded in the three habitats after 294 h of mist netting. Overall, the mist-netted community was largely dominated by insectivores, followed by frugivores, nectarivores, granivores, and carnivores. Although mean species richness, abundance, and Simpson diversity index did not vary significantly among habitat types, mean species abundance and diversity index decreased in selectively logged forest and young oil palm plantation and species richness increased in both habitats. The species richness, abundance, and diversity index for insectivorous and frugivorous birds were lowest in the young oil palm plantations. For granivores, species richness and abundance increased following selective logging and the establishment of oil palm plantation. The highest mean species richness and diversity index in nectarivores were recorded in the young oil palm plantations. The study showed that selective logging and establishment of oil palm plantation had variable effects on the bird communities in the Talangaye rainforest. Also, the frugivorous birds appeared to be more sensitive to both types of disturbances, while the insectivores were more sensitive to habitat loss/conversion.

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Bird occupancy and richness in ponderosa pine forests with contrasting forest structure and fire historyThis article is one of a selection of papers from the Special Forum on Ecological Studies in Interior Ponderosa Pine — First Findings from Blacks Mountain Interdisciplinary Research.

Canadian Journal of Forest Research ◽

10.1139/x07-238 ◽

2008 ◽

Vol 38 (5) ◽

pp. 936-942 ◽

Cited By ~ 7

Author(s):

T. Luke George ◽

Steve Zack

Keyword(s):

Species Richness ◽

Ponderosa Pine ◽

Prescribed Burning ◽

Bird Species ◽

Bird Community ◽

American Robin ◽

Point Counts ◽

Ponderosa Pine Forests ◽

Silvicultural Treatments ◽

Silvicultural Treatment

We compared the effects of two contrasting silvicultural treatments and prescribed fire on bird occupancy at Blacks Mountain Experimental Forest. Each silvicultural treatment was applied to two approximately 100 ha units within each of three blocks. Prescribed burning was applied to one-half of each silvicultural treatment in a split-plot design. Occupancy was estimated at eight points in each plot for 11 bird species and three foraging guilds (bark gleaners, woodpeckers, and foliage gleaners). The frequencies of species detections on the point counts were used to estimate species richness on each plot. Occupancy did not differ among treatments for any of the guilds. Four of the 11 bird species, the American robin ( Turdus migratorius L., 1766), the chipping sparrow ( Spizella passerina (Bechstein, 1798)), the white-breasted nuthatch ( Sitta carolinensis Latham, 1790), and the western tanager ( Piranga ludoviciana (A. Wilson, 1811)), showed responses to the treatments. Species richness did not differ between the silvicultural or the burn treatments. The general lack of response of the bird community to the silvicultural and burn treatments is likely a result of the relatively large size of the trees and snags retained on both silvicultural treatments, the low intensity of the prescribed burns, and the lack of a strong contrast in tree density between the silvicultural treatments.

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