scholarly journals Plant functional traits of woody plant species at different successional stages of encroachment in an Mpumalanga savannah

2018 ◽  
Vol 115 ◽  
pp. 327-328
Author(s):  
M.D. Raseala ◽  
M. Botha ◽  
P.C. Le Roux ◽  
M. Greve
Keyword(s):  
Plant Species ◽  
Functional Traits ◽  
Woody Plant ◽  
Plant Functional Traits ◽  
Woody Plant Species ◽  
Successional Stages

scholarly journals The Role of Woody Plant Functional Traits for Sustainable Soil Management in the Agroforestry System of Ethiopia

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Hana Tamrat Gebirehiwot ◽  
Alemayehu Abera Kedanu ◽  
Megersa Tafesse Adugna
Keyword(s):  
Functional Traits ◽  
Woody Plant ◽  
Canopy Structure ◽  
Woody Species ◽  
Soil Management ◽  
Functional Trait ◽  
Agroforestry System ◽  
Plant Functional Traits ◽  
Woody Plant Species ◽  
Sustainable Soil Management

A woody plant functional trait that directly affects its fitness and environment is decisive to ensure the success of an Agroforestry practice. Hence, recognizing the woody plant functional traits is very important to boost and sustain the productivity of the system when different plants are sharing common resources, like in Agroforestry system. Therefore, the objective of this paper was to understand how woody plant functional traits contribute to sustainable soil management in Agroforestry system and to give the way forward in the case of Ethiopia. The contribution of woody plant species in improving soil fertility and controlling soil erosion is attributed by litter accumulation rate and the season, decomposability and nutrient content of the litter, root physical and chemical trait, and spread canopy structure functional trait. However, spread canopy structure functional trait is used in coffee based Agroforestry system, while with management in Parkland Agro forestry System. Woody species of Agroforestry system added a significant amount of soil TN, OC, Av.P, K, Na, Ca, and Mg nutrients to the soil. Woody plant species of Agroforestry system and their functional traits are very important to ensure sustainable soil management. Thus, further investigation of the woody plant functional traits especially the compatibility of trees with cops is needed to fully utilize the potential of woody species for sustainable soil management practice.

scholarly journals Spatial and temporal dynamics of growth of woody plant species (birch and willows) on the foreland of a retreating glacier in southern Iceland

2021 ◽  
Vol 10 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Haley E. Synan ◽  
Mikael A. Melfi ◽  
Lawrence H. Tanner
Keyword(s):  
Plant Species ◽  
Woody Plant ◽  
Temporal Dynamics ◽  
Statistical Significance ◽  
Temporal Distribution ◽  
Conclusive Evidence ◽  
Individual Species ◽  
Environmental Filters ◽  
Woody Plant Species ◽  
Successional Stages

Abstract Background The forelands of retreating glaciers are invaluable natural laboratories in which to explore the processes of primary succession. Numerous studies have been conducted on foreland chronosequences to identify temporal and spatial trends of the successional communities. This study focused on the spatio-temporal distribution of three woody plant species on the foreland of a retreating glacier in southern Iceland where historical observations provide precise age control of the moraines. To evaluate colonization and successional trends, we examined which species increase in abundance with time and tested the role of proximity to a seed source in colonization. Additionally, we quantified the rate at which biomass carbon is added to the landscape. Results The density of stems of Betula pubescens increases with moraine age across the foreland chronosequence while the density of stems of both Salix lanata and Salix phylicifolia decreases. We found low statistical significance to the relationship between the density of B. pubescens and distance from a forested ridge nor did we find a relationship between the lengths of the stems and the moraine ages. Woody biomass increased fastest during early successional stages and reached a maximum of 28.5 g C m− 2 on the oldest moraine. Conclusions Early colonization of moraines was controlled by environmental filters which favored both Salix species. Colonization by B. pubescens followed as environmental factors, e.g., favorable soil properties, improved. We found no conclusive evidence that proximity to a potential source of B. pubescens propagules was a significant factor in controlling colonization. The assumption that the abundance of individuals increased with time through later successional stages proved valid for B. pubescens, but not for either species of Salix. These findings are consistent with the classical spatial successional model of community homogenization. Thus, general successional processes at the landscape scale control the temporal dynamics of individual species.

scholarly journals The distribution of woody species in relation to climate and fire in Yosemite National Park, California, USA

Fire Ecology ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 16 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Jan W. van Wagtendonk ◽  
Peggy E. Moore ◽  
Julie L. Yee ◽  
James A. Lutz
Keyword(s):  
Plant Species ◽  
Sierra Nevada ◽  
Species Distribution ◽  
National Park ◽  
Woody Plant ◽  
Fire Regime ◽  
Yosemite National Park ◽  
Distribution Models ◽  
Ecological Zones ◽  
Woody Plant Species

Abstract Background The effects of climate on plant species ranges are well appreciated, but the effects of other processes, such as fire, on plant species distribution are less well understood. We used a dataset of 561 plots 0.1 ha in size located throughout Yosemite National Park, in the Sierra Nevada of California, USA, to determine the joint effects of fire and climate on woody plant species. We analyzed the effect of climate (annual actual evapotranspiration [AET], climatic water deficit [Deficit]) and fire characteristics (occurrence [BURN] for all plots, fire return interval departure [FRID] for unburned plots, and severity of the most severe fire [dNBR]) on the distribution of woody plant species. Results Of 43 species that were present on at least two plots, 38 species occurred on five or more plots. Of those 38 species, models for the distribution of 13 species (34%) were significantly improved by including the variable for fire occurrence (BURN). Models for the distribution of 10 species (26%) were significantly improved by including FRID, and two species (5%) were improved by including dNBR. Species for which distribution models were improved by inclusion of fire variables included some of the most areally extensive woody plants. Species and ecological zones were aligned along an AET-Deficit gradient from cool and moist to hot and dry conditions. Conclusions In fire-frequent ecosystems, such as those in most of western North America, species distribution models were improved by including variables related to fire. Models for changing species distributions would also be improved by considering potential changes to the fire regime.

Weight–diameter relationships for 22 woody plant species

1969 ◽  
Vol 47 (12) ◽  
pp. 1851-1855 ◽  
Author(s):  
E. S. Telfer
Keyword(s):  
Plant Species ◽  
Woody Plants ◽  
Woody Plant ◽  
Stem Diameter ◽  
Prediction Equations ◽  
Woody Plant Species ◽  
Leaf Weight ◽  
Ground Line

Prediction equations are presented for use in estimating total aboveground weight and maximum leaf weight for 22 species of woody plants. Stem diameter at the ground line was found to be closely correlated with both total and leaf weights. This diameter was therefore used in the equations as the measurement from which weights were predicted.

Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document