Natural Regeneration of Ground Storey Vegetation in a Semi-Arid Woodland Following Mechanical Disturbance and Burning. 1. Ground Cover Levels and Composition.

1995 ◽  
Vol 17 (1) ◽  
pp. 46 ◽  
Author(s):  
PJ Walker ◽  
TB Koen
Keyword(s):  
Species Composition ◽  
Natural Regeneration ◽  
Ground Cover ◽  
Natural Gas Pipeline ◽  
Total Cover ◽  
Mechanical Disturbance ◽  
South Wales ◽  
Disturbed Areas ◽  
Rainfall Seasonality ◽  
Semi Arid

A study was made over a period of 12 years of the natural regeneration of vegetation along a corridor corridor cleared for the construction of a natural gas pipeline in a semi-arid woodland in central- western New South Wales. Total cover, proportion of grasses, and species composition were assessed on the infilled trench and on areas from which topsoil had been bladed, as well as on adjacent undisturbed areas and areas burned by a wildfire. All areas were grazed continuously by sheep under normal station management, and by native animals. After four years of about average rainfall, total cover on disturbed areas had regained levels as high or higher than on adjacent areas, and was maintained thereafter. On many individual sites this period was as short as eighteen months. The proportion of grasses remained much lower on disturbed areas, except for some periods of annual grass dominance. Species composition remained very different between disturbed and undisturbed areas, the main difference being in perennial species. However, composition also varied markedly between years, according to rainfall seasonality and competition from previously established plants. Little difference was apparent between undisturbed areas and similar areas which had burned twelve months before the first measurements. Mechanical disturbance caused by trenching and blading had a much greater effect on vegetation than did fire, and the effects were still obvious after twelve years.

Natural Regeneration of Ground Storey Vegetation in a Semi-Arid Woodland Following Mechanical Disturbance and Burning. 2. Response of Individual Species.

1995 ◽  
Vol 17 (1) ◽  
pp. 59 ◽  
Author(s):  
PJ Walker ◽  
TB Koen ◽  
R Gittins
Keyword(s):  
Species Composition ◽  
Natural Regeneration ◽  
Perennial Grasses ◽  
Individual Species ◽  
Annual Plants ◽  
Clear Trend ◽  
Species Dominance ◽  
Burned Areas ◽  
Mechanical Disturbance ◽  
Semi Arid

A study was made over a period of 12 years of the natural regeneration of vegetation along a corridor cleared for the construction of a natural gas pipeline in a semi-arid woodland in central-western New South Wales. Total cover, proportion of grasses, and species composition were assessed on the infilled trench and areas from which topsoil had been bladed, as well as on adjacent undisturbed areas or areas burned by a wildfire. All areas were grazed continuously by sheep under normal station management. The effects of mechanical disturbance and of burning on individual species were measured in terms of species dominance and occurrence. Some insight was also gained in to the successional process on bared sites and in to the effects of the timing of seasonal rainfall on species composition. Of the 75 major species recorded, 15 were found to have greater occurrence on trenched sites, 46 decreased in occurrence and 14 showed no clear trend. Perennial grasses and small annual plants were the main decreasers, whilst Medicago spp., Erodium crinitum, Hordeum leporinum and certain 'weedy' annuals were the main increasers. Some of the early colonisers lasted only a few years or even less in any quantity, thereafter to be replaced by other increasers. Burning had little effect on the long-term occurrence of Stipa variabilis, Wahlenbergia spp., Helipterum spp., Calotis cuneifolia and some minor species. Eragrostis lacunaria appeared to decrease, while several annual plants were more common on burned areas.

scholarly journals The Effect of Long-Term, Gradual Felling in Mixed Pine Stands for Natural Regeneration, Living Ground Cover and Some Properties of the Upper Soil Horizons

2017 ◽  
Vol 7 (3) ◽  
pp. 85-99 ◽  
Author(s):  
Алексей Ильинцев ◽  
Aleksey Ilintsev ◽  
Сергей Третьяков ◽  
Sergey Tretyakov ◽  
Елена Наквасина ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Species Composition ◽  
Natural Regeneration ◽  
Chemical Properties ◽  
Ground Cover ◽  
Class Iii ◽  
Soil Horizons ◽  
Floristic Similarity ◽  
Spruce Stands ◽  
Physical And Chemical

Silvicultural and ecological studies were conducted in mixed pine-spruce stands, with the first receiving longgradual felling in 1993-1995 on the territory of Obozerskoe forestry, Arkhangelsk region. The studied stands are presented by mixed old growth pine forests of VII age class, III bonitet class. The studies was carried out on temporary plots, with the study by standard methods of layer deposition in the apiaries and in skidding track of long-term, gradual felling and planting untouched by felling (control studies). Studies show that 25 years after logging in apiaries and in skidding track are mainly dominated by viable undergrowth. There is an increase in the proportion of viable undergrowth in the apiaries (27 %) and skidding track (36 %) compared to natural vegetation (21 %). The largest number of all categories of undergrowth is taken into account on skidding tracks, mainly due to the settlement of spruce and birch, pine are almost not renewed. Calculations of the index of phytocenotic significance and the coefficient of floristic similarity (the Jaccard index) of living ground cover showed close species composition between pristine planting and skidding track and apiaries of long-term, gradual felling that indicates the similarity of environmental and forest conditions. Built biomorf spectra also indicate similar environmental conditions. Although skidding tracks have high proportion of herbs of caespitose life form (21.7 %), this indicates a certain degree of turfing. In the apiaries and in skidding tracks there are differences with the control in physical and chemical properties of upper soil horizons. The results of studying the dynamics of natural regeneration, living ground cover and upper soil horizons allow us to give recommendations for the long-term, gradual felling to preserve silvicultural and ecological potential of plantations. The second long-term, gradual felling (solid final felling) without additional measures to promote the resumption of the pine will result in change of species composition from pine-spruce in fir-birch, which is not desirable from economic and forestry points of view.

Effect of herbicides on St John's wort (Hypericum perforatum L.)

1991 ◽  
Vol 31 (4) ◽  
pp. 499 ◽  
Author(s):  
MH Campbell ◽  
BR Milne ◽  
JJ Dellow ◽  
HI Nicol
Keyword(s):  
Hypericum Perforatum ◽  
New South ◽  
Arable Land ◽  
Ground Cover ◽  
Aerial Application ◽  
St John’S Wort ◽  
Strong Trend ◽  
St John's Wort ◽  
South Wales ◽  
Hypericum Perforatum L

The effect of type of herbicide and time and rate of application on the reduction in ground cover of St John's wort (Hypericum perforatum L.) was determined at Orange, New South Wales. In January, April, July and November 1988, 8 herbicide treatments including the currently used glyphosate and picloram + 2,4-D were applied to vigorously growing H. perforaturn, and the reduction in percentage ground cover was recorded in December 1989. Ineffective herbicides (a.i./ha) were tebuthiuron, 0.8-6.4 kg; metsulfuron, 5-20 g; and paraquat + diquat, 0.4 + 0.5 kg. The addition of metsulfuron (2.5 g a.i./ha) to glyphosate (0.9 and 1.8 kg a.i./ha) did not increase the effectiveness of the latter. Effective herbicides (kg a.i./ha) were triclopyr + picloram, 0.6 + 0.2; picloram + 2,4-D, 0.2 + 0.8; glyphosate, 1.8; and triclopyr, 1.92. There was a strong trend for these herbicides to be more effective in January and November than in April and July. Based on price, effectiveness and selectivity, triclopyr + picloram would be preferred to the other herbicides for boom and spot spraying, and glyphosate would be the only herbicide suitable for aerial application prior to sowing improved pastures on non-arable land.

Effects of logging and fire on small mammals in Mumbulla State Forest, near Bega, New South Wales

1987 ◽  
Vol 14 (2) ◽  
pp. 163 ◽  
Author(s):  
D. Lunney ◽  
B. Cullis ◽  
P. Eby
Keyword(s):  
Small Mammals ◽  
New South ◽  
New South Wales ◽  
Canopy Cover ◽  
Ground Cover ◽  
First Year ◽  
Severe Effect ◽  
South Wales ◽  
Antechinus Stuartii ◽  
Rattus Fuscipes

This study of the effects of logging on small mammals in Mumbulla State Forest on the south coast of New South Wales included the effects of a fire in November 1980 and a drought throughout the study period from June 1980 to June 1983. Rattus fuscipes was sensitive to change: logging had a significant impact on its numbers, response to ground cover, and recapture rate; fire had a more severe effect, and drought retarded the post-fire recovery of the population. The three species of dasyurid marsupials differed markedly in their response to ground cover, canopy cover, logging and fire. Antechinus stuartii was distributed evenly through all habitats and was not affected by logging, but fire had an immediate and adverse effect which was sustained by the intense drought. A. swainsonii markedly preferred the regenerating forest, and was not seen again after the fire, the failure of the population being attributed to its dependence on dense ground cover. Sminthopsis leucopus was found in low numbers, appeared to prefer forest with sparse ground cover, and showed no immediate response to logging or fire; its disappearance by the third year post-fire suggests that regenerating forest is inimical to the survival of this species. Mus musculus showed no response to logging. In the first year following the fire its numbers were still very low, but in the next year there was a short-lived plague which coincided with the only respite in the 3-year drought and, importantly, occurred in the intensely burnt parts of the forest. The options for managing this forest for the conservation of small mammals include minimising fire, retaining unlogged forest, extending the time over which alternate coupes are logged and minimising disturbance from heavy machinery.

Vesicular – arbuscular mycorrhizae in disturbed and revegetated sites from La Gran Sabana, Venezuela

1992 ◽  
Vol 70 (1) ◽  
pp. 73-79 ◽  
Author(s):  
Gisela Cuenca ◽  
Milagros Lovera
Keyword(s):  
Arbuscular Mycorrhizae ◽  
Plant Cover ◽  
Ground Cover ◽  
Arbuscular Mycorrhizal ◽  
Most Probable Number ◽  
Probable Number ◽  
Organic Layers ◽  
Vesicular Arbuscular Mycorrhizae ◽  
Disturbed Areas ◽  
Vesicular Arbuscular

Savannas growing on stony, old and nutrient-poor soils of southern Venezuela were severely disturbed by removal of the soil organic layers with bulldozers for road building. Introduced species Brachiaria decumbens, Brachiaria humidicola, Pueraria phaseoloides, and Calopogonium sp. were sown. The substrate was fertilized and limed. Plant cover, vesicular – arbuscular mycorrhizae colonization, spore number, and most probable number of propagulels in undisturbed savanna, disturbed nonrevegetated savanna, and six revegetated savannas were assessed. The perturbation reduced the mycorrhizal propagule number in comparison with the undisturbed savanna. In the nonrevegetated areas the mean percent ground cover 2 years after disturbance was low (0.04%). In revegetated areas an increase in mycorrhizal propagule number occurred and the mycorrhizal colonization of the sown species was high. In restored areas there was an increase in species of nonmycotrophic Amaranthaceae. The results support other predictions on the mycorrhizae in successional biomes, because in the extremely nutrient-poor soils studied the colonizing species were mainly mycotrophic. The reclamation program applied in disturbed areas was useful because it has allowed the recovery of vesicular – arbuscular mycorrhizal inoculum and there was an increase in the recolonization of native plants. Key words: disturbance, endomycorrhizae, revegetation, savanna, vesicular – arbuscular mycorrhizae.

Woody plant restoration and natural regeneration in wet meadow at Coomonderry Swamp on the south coast of New South Wales

2000 ◽  
Vol 51 (1) ◽  
pp. 81 ◽  
Author(s):  
N. H. de Jong
Keyword(s):  
Natural Regeneration ◽  
New South ◽  
Woody Species ◽  
Cost Effective ◽  
Wet Meadow ◽  
Casuarina Glauca ◽  
South Wales ◽  
Plant Restoration ◽  
Inhibited Acid ◽  
Sulfate Soils

This study investigated planting techniques and natural regeneration of indigenous woody species within degraded wet meadow wetland at Coomonderry Swamp. Planting tubestock directly into existing vegetation was practical and cost-effective. Clearing of plots allowed infiltration of weeds, early growth of tubestock was inhibited, acid sulfate soils were exposed, and open inundated plots were choked by algae. After four years, Melaleuca ericifolia and Melaleuca linariifolia showed good survivorship at upper and lower elevations. Eucalyptus robusta and Casuarina glauca were more successful at upper elevations, and Leptospermum juniperinum did not succeed at either elevation. These results corresponded to patterns of regeneration and to distributions within undisturbed stands. Despite the evidence of natural regeneration, direct seeding was not successful at the experimental site. Given that poor dispersal was indicated at Coomonderry Swamp, it is unlikely that isolated wetlands in the region could rely solely on seed dispersal for woody revegetation. Even where regeneration can occur naturally, some planting or culling might be required if the desired outcome is a species mix comparable to that observed on undisturbed margins.

scholarly journals Natural Regeneration of the Tree Stand in the Bilberry Spruce Forest—Clear-Cutting Ecotone Complex in the First Post-Logging Decade

Forests ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 12 (11) ◽  
pp. 1542
Author(s):  
Nadezhda V. Genikova ◽  
Viktor N. Mamontov ◽  
Alexander M. Kryshen ◽  
Vladimir A. Kharitonov ◽  
Sergey A. Moshnikov ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Natural Regeneration ◽  
Forest Canopy ◽  
Forest Cover ◽  
Forest Type ◽  
Ground Cover ◽  
Woody Species ◽  
Forest Edge ◽  
Tree Canopy ◽  
Clear Cut ◽  
Clear Cutting

Bilberry spruce forests are the most widespread forest type in the European boreal zone. Limiting the clear-cuttings size leads to fragmentation of forest cover and the appearance of large areas of ecotone complexes, composed of forest (F), a transition from forest to the cut-over site under tree canopy (FE), a transition from forest to the cut-over site beyond tree canopy (CE), and the actual clear-cut site (C). Natural regeneration of woody species (spruce, birch, rowan) in the bilberry spruce stand—clear-cut ecotone complex was studied during the first decade after logging. The effects produced by the time since cutting, forest edge aspect, and the ground cover on the emergence and growth of trees and shrubs under forest canopy and openly in the clear-cut were investigated. Estimating the amount and size of different species in the regeneration showed FE and CE width to be 8 m—roughly half the height of first-story trees. Typical forest conditions (F) feature a relatively small amount of regenerating spruce and birch. The most favorable conditions for natural regeneration of spruce in the clear-cut—mature bilberry spruce stand ecotone are at the forest edge in areas of transition both towards the forest and towards the clear-cut (FE and CE). Clear-cut areas farther from the forest edge (C) offer an advantage to regenerating birch, which grows densely and actively in this area.

Assessing ground cover at patch and hillslope scale in semi-arid woody vegetation and pasture using fused Quickbird data

2012 ◽  
Vol 14 (1) ◽  
pp. 94-102 ◽  
Author(s):  
Carlos Muñoz-Robles ◽  
Paul Frazier ◽  
Matthew Tighe ◽  
Nick Reid ◽  
Sue V. Briggs ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Ground Cover ◽  
Woody Vegetation ◽  
Hillslope Scale ◽  
Semi Arid

What drives plant biodiversity in the clay floodplain grasslands of NSW?

2009 ◽  
Vol 31 (3) ◽  
pp. 329 ◽  
Author(s):  
Tom Lewis ◽  
Peter J. Clarke ◽  
Ralph D. B. Whalley ◽  
Nick Reid
Keyword(s):  
Species Richness ◽  
Species Composition ◽  
Soil Type ◽  
Environmental Variables ◽  
Private Property ◽  
Flood Frequency ◽  
Perennial Grasses ◽  
Plant Biodiversity ◽  
South Wales ◽  
Plant Families

An assessment of the relative influences of management and environment on the composition of floodplain grasslands of north-western New South Wales was made using a regional vegetation survey sampling a range of land tenures (e.g. private property, travelling stock routes and nature reserves). A total of 364 taxa belonging to 55 different plant families was recorded. Partitioning of variance with redundancy analysis determined that environmental variables accounted for a greater proportion (61.3%) of the explained variance in species composition than disturbance-related variables (37.6%). Soil type (and fertility), sampling time and rainfall had a strong influence on species composition and there were also east–west variations in composition across the region. Of the disturbance-related variables, cultivation, stocking rate and flooding frequency were all influential. Total, native, forb, shrub and subshrub richness were positively correlated with increasing time since cultivation. Flood frequency was positively correlated with graminoid species richness and was negatively correlated with total and forb species richness. Site species richness was also influenced by environmental variables (e.g. soil type and rainfall). Despite the resilience of these grasslands, some forms of severe disturbance (e.g. several years of cultivation) can result in removal of some dominant perennial grasses (e.g. Astrebla spp.) and an increase in disturbance specialists. A simple heuristic transitional model is proposed that has conceptual thresholds for plant biodiversity status. This knowledge representation may be used to assist in the management of these grasslands by defining four broad levels of community richness and the drivers that change this status.

The effect of drainage height on plant-species composition on a semi-arid green roof system

2021 ◽  
Vol 67 (3-4) ◽  
pp. 149-155
Author(s):  
Har'el Agra ◽  
Hadar Shalom ◽  
Omar Bawab ◽  
Gyongyver J. Kadas ◽  
Leon Blaustein
Keyword(s):  
Species Composition ◽  
Plant Species ◽  
Plant Diversity ◽  
Urban Areas ◽  
Green Roof ◽  
Growing Season ◽  
Green Roofs ◽  
Plant Species Composition ◽  
Roof System ◽  
Semi Arid

Abstract Green roofs are expected to contribute to higher biodiversity in urban surroundings. Typically, green roofs have been designed with low plant diversity. However, plant diversity can be enhanced by controlling resource availability and creating distinct niches. Here we hypothesize that by using different drainage heights during the short plant-growing season in a semi-arid green roof system we can create distinct niches and plant communities. Our experiment took place at the University of Haifa, north Israel. We tested three different heights of drainage outlet: 10 cm under the surface of the substrate (Low), 1 cm under the surface of the substrate (Medium) and 3 cm above the surface of the substrate (High) on plant species-composition in green-roof gardens. Grasses cover was higher in High and Medium drainages while forbs cover was higher in Low drainage. Species richness was the highest in Low drainage while diversity indices showed the opposite trend. We conclude that by changing the height of the drainage we can create different niches and change species composition in a short time period of one growing season. This way we can create more diverse green roof communities and enhance biodiversity in urban areas, particularly in semi-arid regions.

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