Aboveground biomass of understorey vegetation has a negligible or negative association with overstorey tree species diversity in natural forests

Tropical dry forests (TDF) are highly threatened ecosystems that are often fragmented due to land-cover change. Using plot inventories, we analyzed tree species diversity, community composition and aboveground biomass patterns across mature (MF) and secondary forests of about 25 years since cattle ranching ceased (SF), 10–20-year-old plantations (PL), and pastures in a TDF landscape in Ecuador. Tree diversity was highest in MF followed by SF, pastures and PL, but many endemic and endangered species occurred in both MF and SF, which demonstrates the importance of SF for species conservation. Stem density was higher in PL, followed by SF, MF and pastures. Community composition differed between MF and SF due to the presence of different specialist species. Some SF specialists also occurred in pastures, and all species found in pastures were also recorded in SF indicating a resemblance between these two land-cover types even after 25 years of succession. Aboveground biomass was highest in MF, but SF and Tectona grandis PL exhibited similar numbers followed by Schizolobium parahyba PL, Ochroma pyramidale PL and pastures. These findings indicate that although species-poor, some PL equal or surpass SF in aboveground biomass, which highlights the critical importance of incorporating biodiversity, among other ecosystem services, to carbon sequestration initiatives. This research contributes to understanding biodiversity conservation across a mosaic of land-cover types in a TDF landscape.

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Positive relationships among aboveground biomass, tree species diversity, and urban greening management in tropical coastal city of Haikou

Ecology and Evolution ◽

10.1002/ece3.7985 ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

Mir Muhammad Nizamani ◽

AJ Harris ◽

Xia‐Lan Cheng ◽

Zhi‐Xin Zhu ◽

Chi Yung Jim ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Species Diversity ◽

Aboveground Biomass ◽

Tree Species ◽

Tree Species Diversity ◽

Urban Greening ◽

Positive Relationships ◽

Coastal City

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The interaction of land-use history and tree species diversity in driving variation in the aboveground biomass of urban versus non-urban tropical forests

Ecological Indicators ◽

10.1016/j.ecolind.2021.107915 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 129 ◽

pp. 107915

Author(s):

Erica R. Borges ◽

Kyle G. Dexter ◽

Marcela V. Pyles ◽

Marcelo L. Bueno ◽

Rubens M. dos Santos ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Land Use ◽

Species Diversity ◽

Tropical Forests ◽

Aboveground Biomass ◽

Tree Species ◽

Land Use History ◽

Tree Species Diversity ◽

Urban Versus

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Aboveground Biomass and Carbon in a South African Mistbelt Forest and the Relationships with Tree Species Diversity and Forest Structures

Forests ◽

10.3390/f7040079 ◽

2016 ◽

Vol 7 (12) ◽

pp. 79 ◽

Cited By ~ 19

Author(s):

Sylvanus Mensah ◽

Ruan Veldtman ◽

Ben du Toit ◽

Romain Glèlè Kakaï ◽

Thomas Seifert

Keyword(s):

Species Diversity ◽

South African ◽

Aboveground Biomass ◽

Tree Species ◽

Tree Species Diversity

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An Estimation of Tree Species Diversity in Rural Farmland of Nepal

Banko Janakari ◽

10.3126/banko.v18i1.2160 ◽

1970 ◽

Vol 18 (1) ◽

pp. 3-10 ◽

Cited By ~ 3

Author(s):

Deepak K Kharal ◽

Bishwa N Oli

Keyword(s):

Species Richness ◽

Species Diversity ◽

Socioeconomic Factors ◽

Tree Species ◽

Natural Habitat ◽

Wide Distribution ◽

Large Sample Size ◽

Tree Species Diversity ◽

Natural Forests ◽

Species Biodiversity

Biodiversity is an important consideration in maintaining natural environmental balance in a particular habitat. This becomes particularly important in areas, where due to the encroachment of natural forests, biodiversity is depleting causing a potential loss in the natural habitat. In such a situation, biodiversity in the farmland becomes an important consideration. Biodiversity is measured and analyzed using various indices. In this study, we present the result of our study through a field work in a rural village in Nepal. The study was conducted through direct field observation and survey of sampled households. The status of tree biodiversity using species biodiversity index and species richness index for the case study are presented. The study has also identified the relationship between the tree species diversity and major socioeconomic factors. Our analysis shows that tree species biodiversity in the rural farmland of study area are lower in comparison to the similar areas of countries like India, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka. The lower biodiversity status is mainly due to the wide distribution of two dominating tree species of Dalbergia sissoo and Melia azederach. Similarly, Tree species biodiversity in the farm land has been found affected by the socioeconomic situation of the area. Further study is suggested by involving more socioeconomic factors and covering a large sample size and time of study. Key words: Farmland, Forest, Homegarden, Nepal, Species Diversity, Species Richness, Trees. doi: 10.3126/banko.v18i1.2160 Banko Janakari, Vol. 18, No. 1, 3-10

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Anthropogenic Pressure on Tree Species Diversity, Composition, and Growth of Balanites aegyptiaca in Dinder Biosphere Reserve, Sudan

Plants ◽

10.3390/plants10030483 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 10 (3) ◽

pp. 483

Author(s):

Elmugheira M. I. Mohammed ◽

Elhag A. M. H. ◽

Patrick A. Ndakidemi ◽

Anna C. Treydte

Keyword(s):

Population Structure ◽

Species Diversity ◽

Tree Species ◽

Biosphere Reserve ◽

Anthropogenic Pressure ◽

Tree Species Diversity ◽

Natural Forests ◽

Importance Value ◽

Balanites Aegyptiaca ◽

Disturbed Site

Anthropogenic disturbances, such as illegal harvesting and livestock browsing, often affect natural forests. However, the resulting tree species diversity, composition, and population structure have rarely been quantified. We assessed tree species diversity and importance value indices and, in particular, Balanites aegyptiaca (L.) Del. population structure, across 100 sample plots of 25 m × 40 m in disturbed and non-disturbed sites at the Dinder Biosphere Reserve, Sudan, from April 2019 to April 2020. We found that the tree species diversity in non-disturbed sites was more than double that of disturbed sites (p < 0.001, T = 32.6), and seedlings and saplings comprised more than 72% of the entire tree population (F2,48 = 116.4, p = 0.034; F2,48 = 163.2, p = 0.021, respectively). The tree density of B. aegyptiaca in the disturbed site was less than half that of the non-disturbed site (p = 0.018, T = 2.6). Balanites aegyptiaca was seven times more aggregated in disturbed sites compared to more regularly spaced trees in non-disturbed sites (T = 39.3 and p < 0.001). The poor B. aegyptiaca population status of the disturbed site shows that the conservation of this vulnerable species is essential for a sustainable management and utilization scheme.

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Aboveground Biomass of Living Trees Depends on Topographic Conditions and Tree Diversity in Temperate Montane Forests from the Slătioara-Rarău Area (Romania)

Forests ◽

10.3390/f12111507 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 12 (11) ◽

pp. 1507

Author(s):

Gabriel Duduman ◽

Ionuț Barnoaiea ◽

Daniel Avăcăriței ◽

Cătălina-Oana Barbu ◽

Vasile-Cosmin Coșofreț ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Species Diversity ◽

Aboveground Biomass ◽

Tree Species ◽

Management Strategies ◽

Tree Size ◽

Secondary Forests ◽

Tree Species Diversity ◽

Montane Forests ◽

Mean Values ◽

Size Heterogeneity

The study zone includes one of the largest montane old-growth forests in Europe (Slatioara UNESCO site), and understanding the structure and functioning of sill intact forests in Europe is essential for grounding management strategies for secondary forests. For this reason, we set out to analyze the dependencies between aboveground biomass (AgB), tree species and size diversity and terrain morphology, as well as the relationship between biomass and diversity, since neither of these issues have been sufficiently explored. We found that tree species diversity decreases with increased solar radiation and elevation. Tree size heterogeneity reaches its highest mean values at elevations between 1001 and 1100 m, on slopes between 50 and 60 degrees. AgB is differentiated with elevation; the highest mean AgB (293 tonnes per hectare) is recorded at elevations between 801 and 900 m, while it decreases to 79 tonnes per hectare at more than 1500 m a.s.l. It is also influenced by tree species diversity and tree size heterogeneity, with the highest AgB reached in the most complex forest ecosystems in terms of structural diversity. We showed that intact temperate montane forests develop maximum biomass for optimum species diversity and highest size heterogeneity; all three are modulated mainly by elevation.

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