Successional dynamics shape tree diversity in evergreen forests of Côte d’Ivoire, West Africa

2020 ◽  
Vol 36 (4) ◽  
pp. 182-189
Author(s):  
Constant Yves Adou Yao ◽  
François Munoz
Keyword(s):  
West Africa ◽  
Beta Diversity ◽  
Management Practices ◽  
Local Community ◽  
Relative Proportion ◽  
Primary Role ◽  
Evergreen Forests ◽  
Tree Communities ◽  
Main Components ◽  
Floristic Variation

AbstractDisturbances and successional dynamics shape the composition of tree communities, but data remain scarce for tropical forests of West Africa. We assessed the imprint of past disturbances on the composition of evergreen forests in an Ivorian National Park. We hypothesized that (i) Pioneer indices (PI) based on the relative proportion of pioneer and non-pioneer trees relate to changing floristic composition due to successional dynamics, (ii) local community richness peaks at an intermediate value of PI under the Intermediate Disturbance Hypothesis (IDH) and (iii) early successional communities have higher beta diversity due to erratic founder effects. We performed a Correspondence Analysis of tree composition of 38 plots and examined how the main components of floristic variation related to environmental factors and PI. In addition, we tested the relationship between PI, local richness and beta diversity. The variation of PI better explained the main components of floristic variation than abiotic environmental variation, supporting a primary role of successional dynamics in shaping tree communities. We found a peak of richness at intermediate values of PI, supporting the IDH, with a mixture and earlier and later-successional species and more even abundances. The communities were very diverse and included many endemics and rare species. The results underline that the composition of early successional forests greatly varies depending on chance colonization events, while more similar old-growth communities are eventually observed after several decades. The findings should guide management practices for forest restoration, and for conservation of endangered species depending on their successional status.

Floristic Variation of Tree Communities and Their Association with Soil Properties in Pulau Jerejak, Penang, Peninsular Malaysia

2020 ◽  
Vol 14 (1) ◽  
pp. 34
Author(s):  
Faezah Pardi
Keyword(s):  
Tree Species ◽  
Diversity Index ◽  
Basal Area ◽  
Peninsular Malaysia ◽  
Importance Value ◽  
Conservation Action ◽  
Endangered Tree ◽  
Endangered Tree Species ◽  
Tree Communities ◽  
Floristic Variation

This study was conducted at Pulau Jerejak, Penang to determine the floristic variation of its tree communities. A 0.5-hectare study plot was established and divided into 11 subplots. A total of 587 trees with diameter at breast height (DBH) of 5 cm and above were measured, identified and recorded. The tree communities comprised of 84 species, 63 genera and 32 families. The Myrtaceae was the most speciose family with 10 recorded species while Syzgium glaucum (Myrtaceae) was the most frequent species. The Myrtaceae recorded the highest density of 306 individuals while Syzgium glaucum (Myrtaceae) had the highest species density of 182 individuals. Total tree basal area (BA) was 21.47 m2/ha and family with the highest BA was Myrtaceae with 5.81 m2/ha while at species level, Syzgium glaucum (Myrtaceae) was the species with the highest total BA in the plot with value of 4.95 m2/ha. The Shannon˗Weiner Diversity Index of tree communities showed a value of 3.60 (H'max = 4.43) and Evenness Index of 0.81 which indicates high uniformity of tree species. The Margalef Richness Index (R') revealed that the tree species richness was 13.02. Myrtaceae had the highest Importance Value of 20.4%. The Canonical Correspondence Analysis (CCA) showed that Diospyros buxifolia (Ebenaceae) and Pouteria malaccensis (Sapotaceae) were strongly correlated to low pH. Dysoxylum cauliflorum (Meliaceae) and Eriobotrya bengalensis (Rosaceae) were correlated to phosphorus (P) and calcium ion (Ca2+), respectively. Therefore, the trees species composition at Pulau Jerejak showed that the biodiversity is high and conservation action should be implemented to protect endangered tree species. Keywords: Floristic variation; Tree communities; Trees composition; Pulau Jerejak; Species diversity

scholarly journals Legumes increase grassland productivity with no effect on nitrous oxide emissions

2019 ◽  
Vol 446 (1-2) ◽  
pp. 163-177 ◽  
Author(s):  
Arlete S. Barneze ◽  
Jeanette Whitaker ◽  
Niall P. McNamara ◽  
Nicholas J. Ostle
Keyword(s):  
Management Practices ◽  
Production Systems ◽  
N Uptake ◽  
Relative Proportion ◽  
Management Strategies ◽  
Ghg Emissions ◽  
Chemical Properties ◽  
Nitrous Oxide Emissions ◽  
Mineral N ◽  
Grassland Productivity

Abstract Aims Grasslands are important agricultural production systems, where ecosystem functioning is affected by land management practices. Grass-legume mixtures are commonly cultivated to increase grassland productivity while reducing the need for nitrogen (N) fertiliser. However, little is known about the effect of this increase in productivity on greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions in grass-legume mixtures. The aim of this study was to investigate interactions between the proportion of legumes in grass-legume mixtures and N-fertiliser addition on productivity and GHG emissions. We tested the hypotheses that an increase in the relative proportion of legumes would increase plant productivity and decrease GHG emissions, and the magnitude of these effects would be reduced by N-fertiliser addition. Methods This was tested in a controlled environment mesocosm experiment with one grass and one legume species grown in mixtures in different proportions, with or without N-fertiliser. The effects on N cycling processes were assessed by measurement of above- and below-ground biomass, shoot N uptake, soil physico-chemical properties and GHG emissions. Results Above-ground productivity and shoot N uptake were greater in legume-grass mixtures compared to grass or legume monocultures, in fertilised and unfertilised soils. However, we found no effect of legume proportion on N2O emissions, total soil N or mineral-N in fertilised or unfertilised soils. Conclusions This study shows that the inclusion of legumes in grass-legume mixtures positively affected productivity, however N cycle were in the short-term unaffected and mainly affected by nitrogen fertilisation. Legumes can be used in grassland management strategies to mitigate climate change by reducing crop demand for N-fertilisers.

scholarly journals Phylogenetic and functional alpha and beta diversity in temperate and tropical tree communities

Ecology ◽  
2012 ◽  
Vol 93 (sp8) ◽  
pp. S112-S125 ◽  
Author(s):  
Nathan G. Swenson ◽  
David L. Erickson ◽  
Xiangcheng Mi ◽  
Norman A. Bourg ◽  
Jimena Forero-Montaña ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Beta Diversity ◽  
Tropical Tree ◽  
Alpha And Beta Diversity ◽  
Tree Communities

scholarly journals Introduced and cryptogenic species and their management in Paranaguá Bay, Brazil

2008 ◽  
Vol 51 (3) ◽  
pp. 623-633 ◽  
Author(s):  
Carolina Somaio Neves ◽  
Rosana Moreira da Rocha
Keyword(s):  
Management Practices ◽  
Local Community ◽  
Management Strategies ◽  
Population Monitoring ◽  
Negative Effects ◽  
Paranaguá Bay ◽  
Cryptogenic Species ◽  
Information Database ◽  
Hard Substrates ◽  
Underwater Structures

The aim of this work was to identify the introduced and cryptogenic species in encrusting and associated communities of hard substrates in Paranaguá Bay, Brazil, and to attempt to determine which of these species could negatively affect the local community to suggest management strategies for these species. At least four introduced species were found - a large number in comparison with other port surveys. These were the hydrozoan Garveia franciscana Torrey, 1902, the polychaete Polydora cornuta Bosc, 1902, the barnacles Amphibalanus reticulatus (Utinoni, 1967) and Striatobalanus amaryllis Darwin, 1854, all with potentially harmful impacts. Of the 33 cryptogenic species, four were also listed in the literature as causing negative effects. We propose the following management practices: periodic cleaning of all underwater structures, population monitoring of invasive species and potential substrates, an information database of potential sources of introduction.

scholarly journals Unimodal Relationships of Understory Alpha and Beta Diversity along Chronosequence in Coppiced and Unmanaged Beech Forests

Diversity ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 12 (3) ◽  
pp. 101 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sándor Bartha ◽  
Roberto Canullo ◽  
Stefano Chelli ◽  
Giandiego Campetella
Keyword(s):  
Beta Diversity ◽  
Management Practices ◽  
Multiple Scales ◽  
Forest Succession ◽  
Spatial Scales ◽  
Alpha Diversity ◽  
Structural Diversity ◽  
Diversity Indices ◽  
Alpha And Beta Diversity ◽  
Coppice Management

Patterns of diversity across spatial scales in forest successions are being overlooked, despite their importance for developing sustainable management practices. Here, we tested the recently proposed U-shaped biodiversity model of forest succession. A chronosequence of 11 stands spanning from 5 to 400 years since the last disturbance was used. Understory species presence was recorded along 200 m long transects of 20 × 20 cm quadrates. Alpha diversity (species richness, Shannon and Simpson diversity indices) and three types of beta diversity indices were assessed at multiple scales. Beta diversity was expressed by a) spatial compositional variability (number and diversity of species combinations), b) pairwise spatial turnover (between plots Sorensen, Jaccard, and Bray–Curtis dissimilarity), and c) spatial variability coefficients (CV% of alpha diversity measures). Our results supported the U-shaped model for both alpha and beta diversity. The strongest differences appeared between active and abandoned coppices. The maximum beta diversity emerged at characteristic scales of 2 m in young coppices and 10 m in later successional stages. We conclude that traditional coppice management maintains high structural diversity and heterogeneity in the understory. The similarly high beta diversities in active coppices and old-growth forests suggest the presence of microhabitats for specialist species of high conservation value.

scholarly journals Peatland forests are the least diverse tree communities documented in Amazonia, but contribute to high regional beta-diversity

Ecography ◽  
2018 ◽  
Vol 41 (8) ◽  
pp. 1256-1269 ◽  
Author(s):  
Frederick C. Draper ◽  
Eurídice N. Honorio Coronado ◽  
Katherine H. Roucoux ◽  
Ian T. Lawson ◽  
Nigel C. A. Pitman ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Beta Diversity ◽  
Tree Communities

Buffering Borobudur for socio-economic development

2015 ◽  
Vol 5 (2) ◽  
pp. 130-150 ◽  
Author(s):  
Masanori Nagaoka
Keyword(s):  
Management Practices ◽  
Local Community ◽  
Buffer Zone ◽  
Heritage Management ◽  
Empirical Literature ◽  
Literature Study ◽  
Buffer Zones ◽  
Management Planning ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Group Interviews

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to demonstrate that there was a non-Eurocentric approach being attempted at Borobudur in the 1970s and 1980s. From the case of Borobudur, this research aims to provide lessons for better management practices by clarifying the development of the buffer zone concept and its potential impact on communities. Design/methodology/approach – The paper will examine an empirical literature study using topographic maps, contracts between Governments of Indonesia and Japan, documents concerning the Park Project and local newspapers as well as a sequence of one-to-one and group interviews with the key persons who were involved in the Park Project including villagers at Borobudur. Findings – The development of the Borobudur Archaeological Park began in 1979 and marks an important shift in thinking about buffer zones from a monument-centric approach to the consideration of the wider context and approaches to community participation in the context of international heritage management. Originality/value – There has not yet been a detailed study concerning the progression of the Borobudur Park establishment and implementation of the buffer zone concept per se, and its impact on local community members. Furthermore, crucial management planning documents for the establishment of the Borobudur Archaeological Park have yet to be analysed by scholars. One of the documents is entitled the Updated Former Plans and Schematic Design for Borobudur and Prambanan National Archaeological Parks Project (Updated Plan). The Updated Plan is in principle not disclosed to the public and can only be viewed with permission of the Indonesian authorities thereby lessening opportunities for research to be undertaken on how the Japan International Cooperation Agency Master Plan was modified and the Park Project was executed in the 1970s and 1980s. The author opportunely received permission to access to the Updated Plan by the authorities on 23 November 2012, which made this study possible to pursue.

scholarly journals Livestock grazing-induced large-scale biotic homogenization in arid Mediterranean steppe rangelands

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Merdas Saifi ◽  
Yacine Kouba ◽  
Tewfik Mostephaoui ◽  
Yassine Farhi ◽  
Haroun Chenchouni
Keyword(s):  
Species Composition ◽  
Spatial Scale ◽  
Plant Communities ◽  
Beta Diversity ◽  
Large Scale ◽  
Management Practices ◽  
Species Turnover ◽  
Livestock Grazing ◽  
Biotic Homogenization ◽  
Arid Steppe

Despite many studies explored the effect of livestock grazing on plant communities, the response of species composition and diversity to livestock grazing in arid rangelands remain ambiguous. This study examined the effects of livestock grazing on plant communities in arid steppe rangelands of North Africa. Plant diversity of annual species, perennial species and all species combined was measured and compared between grazed and grazing-excluded areas. We also examined the relative importance of species turnover and community nestedness. Moreover, the effects of livestock grazing on beta diversity at local among transects and landscape among sites scales were examined using the multiplicative diversity partitioning. Results revealed that livestock grazing significantly decreased the alpha diversity of all species combined and the diversity of annual plants. Livestock grazing induced a shift in plant community composition where most of species composition variation (~74%) was due to infrequent species replacement ‘turnover’ between the two management types rather than nestedness (~26%). Results revealed also that among transects, beta diversity was higher in grazed steppes than in grazing-excluded steppes. Whereas, among sites, beta diversity was lower in grazed steppes compared to grazing-excluded steppes. These findings suggest that livestock grazing in arid steppe rangelands increases the variation in plant species composition at a local spatial scale and engenders vegetation homogeneity at landscape spatial scale. Therefore, the implementation of appropriate management practices such as short-term grazing exclusion is mandatory to prevent these ecosystems from large scale biotic homogenization.

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