scholarly journals Successional age and forest structure in a Costa Rican upper montane Quercus forest

1996 ◽  
Vol 12 (5) ◽  
pp. 681-698 ◽  
Author(s):  
Maarten Kappelle ◽  
Thorwald Geuze ◽  
Miguel E. Leal ◽  
Antoine M. Cleef

ABSTRACTChanges in structure of a Costa Rican upper montane Quercus forest were studied in twelve 0.1 ha plots along a chronosequence including 8- to 20-year-old Early Secondary Forest (ESF), 25- to 32-year-old Late Secondary Forest (LSF) and mature Primary Forest (PF). In 1.2 ha 2854 stems ≥ 3.0 cm dbh belonging to 42 tree species were recorded. Tree species richness per 0.1 ha ranged from 15 to 30. Diversity indices did not change significantly during succession. Stem density did not differ significantly among successional phases, while basal area was significantly higher in PF than in ESF and LSF. Maximum canopy height and basal area increased linearly during the first three decades of recovery. Height and dbh showed a significant, logarithmic regression for all forest phases. A period of 84 y was estimated as the theoretically minimum time needed for structural recovery. The maximum canopy height and basal area recovered two to five times slower in upper montane than in lower montane or lowland Neotropical forests.

2002 ◽  
Vol 18 (1) ◽  
pp. 53-66 ◽  
Author(s):  
DEBORAH K. KENNARD

Stand structure, species richness and population structures of tree species were characterized in 12 stands representing 50 y of succession following slash-and-burn agriculture in a tropical dry forest in lowland Bolivia. Estimates of tree species richness, canopy cover and basal area reached or surpassed 75% of mature forest levels in the 5-, 8-, and 23-y-old stands respectively. Total stem density of the 50-y-old stand was almost twice that of the mature forest stand. This rapid recovery may be due to a high percentage of sprouting tree species, potentially high seed fall into abandoned fields, or the disturbance history of the mature stand. The even-aged size-class structures, dominance of long-lived pioneers, and presence of charcoal and pottery shards in soils of the mature forest stand suggest it formed after a severe disturbance, possibly fire of anthropogenic origin.


Jurnal Wasian ◽  
2016 ◽  
Vol 3 (1) ◽  
pp. 45
Author(s):  
Nurlita Indah Wahyuni ◽  
Hendra Susanto Mokodompit

Most of primary forest after exploitation era in Indonesia was converted into secondary forest including Forest Management Unit of Poigar. On the other hand the understanding of forest vegetation will help ecology restoration efforts. This study aims to analyze the structure, composition and tree species diversity of Inobonto Poigar I. In order to accomplish the proposed objectives, 31 plots of 20 m x 20 m were randomly established in the forest area where number and name of tree species in each plot was identified and counted. The research was conducted on September 2014 and recorded a total of 78 species within measured plot. The average basal area of the forest was 16,77 m2/ha and the size class distribution was different from primary forest which is resembled a reserved J-shaped pattern. Trema orientalis was found as the dominant species among tree and pole levels, whereas Piper sp. dominated sapling level respectively. The Shannon-Wiener index showed that sapling has the higher diversity than tree and poles. The result of structure and composition analysis of vegetation has indicated that Inobonto I forest is secondary forest.


2014 ◽  
Vol 30 (6) ◽  
pp. 615-619 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mark J. McKone ◽  
Jonathan W. Moore ◽  
Christopher W. Harbison ◽  
Ian C. Holmen ◽  
Hillary C. Lyons ◽  
...  

Abstract:Amphibian populations have been declining worldwide, with multiple potential causes. At La Selva field station in north-eastern Costa Rica, previous work has shown that populations of many amphibians have decreased significantly since the 1970s, especially in primary forest. Starting in 1998, we investigated one of the most common frog species at La Selva, the poison-dart frog Oophaga pumilio (= Dendrobates pumilio). In a survey of 50 plots of 100 m2 in 1998, adult frogs were 4.6 times more abundant in secondary forest than in primary forest. Tadpoles were found only in secondary-forest plots. Almost all (89%) of the tadpoles were found in leaf axils of Dieffenbachia spp., which were much more abundant in secondary-forest than in primary-forest plots. The greater abundance of Dieffenbachia spp. in secondary forest was confirmed in a broad survey of ~11 km of trails within La Selva in 2002. When the same trails were resampled in 2012, Dieffenbachia spp. had been extirpated from 72% of the 50-m segments where plants were present in 2002; abundance was greatly reduced in the few trail segments where any Dieffenbachia spp. remained in 2012. The loss of Dieffenbachia spp., especially in secondary forest, removed the species most often used by O. pumilio for tadpole rearing. Based on counts of calling frogs in 2010, there was no difference in O. pumilio abundance in primary versus secondary forest, in striking contrast to multiple earlier surveys that found much greater frog abundance in secondary forest. We propose that the reason for the rapid decline in Dieffenbachia spp. is herbivory by the collared peccary (Pecari tajacu), which has increased in abundance at La Selva in recent years. A likely consequence is continued reduction in O. pumilio populations.


1994 ◽  
Vol 10 (1) ◽  
pp. 1-26 ◽  
Author(s):  
T. B. A. Burghouts ◽  
E. J. F. Campbell ◽  
P. J. Kolderman

ABSTRACTEffects of tree species heterogeneity on leaf fall were studied in a primary (4 ha) and in a selectively logged forest plot (2.5 ha) in the Ulu Segama Forest Reserve, Sabah, Malaysia, from April 1988 to December 1989. Leaf fall was collected at 30 sampling points in each plot, and identified to species.Dipterocarpaceae, Euphorbiaceae, Lauraceae, Fagaceae and Meliaceae are important tree families in both plots with regard to their contribution to total basal area, tree density and annual leaf fall. The total number of tree species was higher in the primary forest plot (267) than in the logged forest plot (218), although the number of climber species was higher in the logged forest (44) than in the primary forest plot (33). The overlap in species composition between the two forest plots was relatively small (49%) compared with that in family composition (88%).In the primary forest plot, the Dipterocarpaceae contributed 29% of the total basal area and 34% of the annual leaf fall. In the logged forest plot these contributions were much lower, 11% and 15%. The contribution to annual leaf fall made by climbers and pioneer trees was higher in the logged forest plot (34%) than in the primary forest plot (8%).In the primary forest plot, leaf fall was dominated My large emergent and main canopy trees, mainly dipterocarps, and occurred as regular large peaks. In the logged forest leaf fall was dominated by climbers and many, relatively small trees of pioneer species, such as Macaranga hypoleuca, and was more evenly distributed in time.


ISRN Ecology ◽  
2013 ◽  
Vol 2013 ◽  
pp. 1-10 ◽  
Author(s):  
Daniela J. Shebitz ◽  
William Eaton

Succession following deforestation in Neotropical forests has been investigated extensively, yet rarely have studies connected nutrient dynamics with vegetation. This study was conducted in lowland wet forests of Maquenque, Costa Rica. The objectives were (1) to compare carbon (C), nitrogen (N), and phosphorus (P) characteristics and understory vegetation diversity between regenerating forests and primary forests; and (2) to use these variables to evaluate P. macroloba’s successional role. Four 300 m2 plots were established in primary and secondary forests where P. macroloba was the dominant N-fixing tree. Soil and vegetation data were collected from 2008 to 2010. Values of indicators of C, N, and P cycle activity were generally greater in primary than in secondary forest soils. Efficiency of organic C use and the relative contribution of respiration and organic C to soil biomass were also greater in the primary forest. These trends corresponded with greater richness, biomass, and cover of total and leguminous plant species, greater volume of P. macroloba in primary stands, and greater density of P. macroloba in secondary stands. As cleared regions of former primary forest regenerate, P. macroloba is the important dominant N-fixing tree and a critical driver of C, N, and P recuperation and ecosystem recovery.


2020 ◽  
Vol 5 (1) ◽  
pp. 27
Author(s):  
Abir Dey ◽  
Aklima Akther

The study aimed to quantify and discuss the current condition of the tree species composition and natural regeneration of southeast parts of Bangladesh (Cox’s Bazar North Forest Division). A total of 121 stems having dbh ≥10cm and 3481 stems of regenerating tree species (dbh <10cm) per hectare were recorded. A large trees comprised of 17 species belonging to 10 families and 14 genera and 30 regenerating tree species belonging to 19 families and 27 genera have been found. The forests were highly non-uniform, with three or four species represented most of the stands. The values of diversity indices indicated limited plant diversity, which is dominated by two or three tree species. Stems of 10-30 cm dbh contributed almost 90% of the total stem density, whereas more than 80% of the total basal area still belonged to trees with dbh 100 cm or above. Dipterocarpus turbinatus was the most dominant species which have the highest Importance Value Index (IVI) with 135.82 and embodied 37.71% of the total stand density and 72.19% of total basal area. The study will provide scientific basis for the future implementation of forest conservation strategies in tropical forests of Southeast Asia, particularly in Bangladesh. This study may also pave the way to further research on regeneration potentials of the native species for conservation and enhancement of forests in future.


2020 ◽  
Vol 21 (6) ◽  
Author(s):  
Tri Cahyanto ◽  
Muhammad Efendi ◽  
DIAN MUHAMAD RAMDAN

Abstract. Cahyanto T, Efendi M, Ramdan DM. 2020. Structure and composition of trees in Mount Tilu Nature Reserve, West Java, Indonesia. Biodiversitas 21: 2674-2680. An understanding of the structure and composition of stands in a conservation area is needed to support sustainable management strategy. However, this information in the Mount Tilu Nature Reserve, Bandung District, West Java area is still lacking. This research was aimed to analyze the structure and composition of tree species in the block of Malagembol forest, Mt. Tilu NR. Data collection was carried out through vegetation analysis using sampling plot method with size of 10x100 m2 at three-level altitudes of 1530 m, 1745 m, and 1950 m asl. Observation parameters included species names, number of individuals, and diameter at breast height (dbh). Data were analyzed to determine the floristic composition, species structure based on their diameter class, relative basal area, diversity indices, and analysis of the importance of the main components of trees species through Principal Component Analysis (PCA). A total of 32 tree species from 23 families was found in the observation plots which was dominated by Fagaceae, Lauraceae, and Myrtaceae families. Some pioneer plants covered the gap in vegetation due to minor disturbance and residual damage in the past. Nonetheless, the dominance of stands with small diameters indicated good regeneration status following such disturbance. Based on these findings, we recommend protecting the vegetation in Mt. Tilu NR by limiting community activities that can disturb the forest.


2017 ◽  
Vol 63 (No. 4) ◽  
pp. 167-172 ◽  
Author(s):  
Behjou Farshad Keivan ◽  
Mollabashi Omid Ghaffarzadeh

The aim of the present study was to analyse the impacts of different logging intensities after five years from logging including non-logged, low (3.4 felled stems per hectare), medium (5.2 felled stems per hectare) and high (7.1 felled stems per hectare) treatments on stem density, basal area, canopy cover, and forest biodiversity indices. The study area was located in northern Iran. Data was collected on a set of 120 circular plots with 5 m radius from both non-logged and logging areas. Stem density, basal area, and percentage of canopy cover were measured. Biodiversity study was done by measuring two diversity indices including Simpson’s and Shannon-Wiener’s, two richness indices including Margalef’s and Menhinick’s and two evenness indices including Pielou’s and Hill’s indices. The results indicated that the treatment with the medium logging intensity was found to cause the highest amount of positive effects on stem density, basal area, and biodiversity indices. It is concluded that harvesting intensity should be limited to a medium level (approximately 5 felled trees per hectare) during each logging operation to improve forest biodiversity indices.


1998 ◽  
Vol 14 (2) ◽  
pp. 247-260 ◽  
Author(s):  
EDWARD L. WEBB

For sustainable logging to be achieved in tropical forests, there must be successful gap-phase regeneration to restock the logged-over area. This study examined three aspects of gap-phase regeneration in selectively logged lowland swamp forest of northeast Costa Rica. First, logging gaps were censused immediately after extraction to determine the density of advanced regeneration. Stem density and basal area of residual trees ≥ 10 cm dbh in logging gaps was >85% lower than undisturbed forest, and all trees in gaps had sustained structural damage. The common canopy species Pentaclethra macroloba (Fabaceae) was the most abundant species in gaps whereas the timber tree Carapa nicaraguensis (Meliaceae) was absent from all censused gaps. This suggests that canopy replacement, particularly by Carapa, will depend on trees <10 cm dbh or by seed input into logging gaps. Second, the diversity of the understorey was compared with 6-y old single-tree and multiple-tree logging gaps. Multiple-tree logging gaps were the most diverse, but dominated by two ruderal species; however many shade-tolerant species were present in those gaps. This indicates that controlled selective logging can result in a localized shift in species composition, but that logging gaps should return to pre-logging composition with time under a carefully implemented, controlled harvesting regime. Finally, this study found a significant effect of a fringing Carapa tree on logging gap seedling density. Thus, seed arrival into gaps is a barrier to logging gap regeneration, particularly for a large-seeded tree species. Gap-phase regeneration by a large-seeded tree species in managed forest would benefit from seed broadcasting into gaps.


1998 ◽  
Vol 14 (3) ◽  
pp. 323-340 ◽  
Author(s):  
D. TORIOLA ◽  
P. CHAREYRE ◽  
A. BUTTLER

Secondary succession in a 19-y old tropical rainforest of French Guiana was investigated through the distribution pattern of primary forest species. The experimental plot of 25 ha was logged to simulate conditions of a paper pulp cut. Enumeration of all plants of height ≥ 50 cm in 52 subplots 10 m × 10 m indicated the number of species and individuals in five species categories; short-lived pioneer species, pioneer species that persist in mature forest, primary forest species capable of germinating in shade, primary forest species that indicate a preference for clearings (small gaps) in mature forest and understorey primary forest species. Change in proportion of the most abundant species (≥ 1 cm dbh) over the last 15 y indicated a decrease in short-lived pioneer species and an increase in pioneers that can persist in the mature forest. Proportion of species categories per height class indicated that primary forest species were mainly found in the lower height class in this forest which is largely dominated by secondary forest tree species forming a canopy that rarely exceeds 20 m. Individuals of primary forest species were encountered on ARBOCEL as sprouts from large stumps, sprouts from juveniles or as untraumatised saplings or juveniles. The distribution pattern in a 4-ha area of 11 selected primary forest canopy tree species revealed an overall trend in recolonisation of this species category in the secondary forest. Considered individually, the clustered distribution of stems of Eperua grandiflora showed the importance of regeneration through sprouting or remaining individuals. The gradient distribution, oriented from the edge to the centre of the studied plot, and displayed by the stem densities of Virola michelii, suggested a recent progressive dispersal of seeds. A more dynamic recolonisation front was observed for the primary forest understorey species Cassipourea guianensis and was probably linked to both the initial logging conditions and the fact that this species fruits when relatively young.


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