Deer Browsing, Forest Edge Effects, and Vegetation Dynamics Following Bottomland Forest Restoration

This paper explores the influence of forest edge on the development of tree reproduction and the use of edge as a silvicultural tool for manipulating regeneration outcomes. Oak (Quercus spp.) reproduction was sampled 9 years following edge establishment along transects extending from 8 m into clearcut openings to 40 m into the adjacent intact forest. Trends showed that oak reproduction height in the intact forest was inversely related to distance from edge up to 20 m into the intact forest. Observed oak reproduction densities were greater within 20 m of edge than in distance intervals further into the intact forest. Tree-ring analysis of 106 seedlings was used to evaluate temporal responses associated with edge development. Cross-sectional analysis indicated a mean age of 13 years, 3 years prior to edge establishment. Increased growth was associated with edge establishment, and 10-year radial growth following edge creation showed a similar spatial pattern as height with oak seedlings within 20 m of the edge exhibiting significantly greater growth than those occurring furthest into the intact forest. This study suggests that forest edge can be used to provide environments useful in building reproductive capacity for species like oaks that require advance reproduction.

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FOREST EDGE EFFECTS ON THE PHYTOSOCIOLOGICAL COMPOSITION OF AN ARAUCARIA FOREST FRAGMENT IN SOUTHERN BRAZIL

FLORESTA ◽

10.5380/rf.v48i4.51281 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 48 (4) ◽

pp. 483

Author(s):

Marcelo Callegari Scipioni ◽

Antônio Lunardi Neto ◽

Alexandre Siminski ◽

Vanderlei Dos Santos

Keyword(s):

Edge Effects ◽

Forest Succession ◽

Forest Edge ◽

Southern Brazil ◽

Forest Fragment ◽

Araucaria Forest ◽

Cohesive Group ◽

Pinus Taeda L ◽

Tree Component ◽

Different Origins

The Araucaria forests of Southern Brazil have been drastically reduced as a result of anthropic intervention and are currently found at different stages of succession. The objective of our study was to understand the influence of forest fragmentation on the phytosociological composition of its tree component. The composition of floristic groups of the tree component and their correlation with the edaphic and environmental variables in a fragment of the Araucaria Forest in the municipality of Curitibanos, state of Santa Catarina, Brazil was analyzed. A hundred and ten permanent continuous plots (10 m²) with forest edges of different origins and formation times were established for sampling. Trees with diameter ≥ 5 cm at breast height (DBH) were measured and identified. Using TWINSPAN, data were analyzed for species importance values (including indicator species) in the formation of floristic groups. Floristic similarities resulted in separating groups conditioned by the forest succession. The presence of the invasive species Pinus taeda L. and pioneer species at the forest expansion border contributed to the formation of a spatially cohesive group. The other areas did not show influence of edge effects, being in an initial secondary succession stage, dominated by Jacaranda puberula Cham. Low edaphic variation among the classes of lithosols in a flat relief had no influence on the formation of floristic groups.

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Edge effects in the avifaunal community of riparian rain-forest tracts in Tropical North Queensland

Journal of Tropical Ecology ◽

10.1017/s0266467416000249 ◽

2016 ◽

Vol 32 (4) ◽

pp. 280-289 ◽

Cited By ~ 4

Author(s):

Montague H. C. Neate-Clegg ◽

Emily C. Morshuis ◽

Cristina Banks-Leite

Keyword(s):

Species Richness ◽

Community Composition ◽

Edge Effects ◽

Rain Forest ◽

Forest Edge ◽

Bird Communities ◽

Forest Bird ◽

Resource Distributions ◽

Detection Frequency ◽

Open Canopy

AbstractMost evidence suggests anthropogenic edges negatively affect rain-forest bird communities but little has been done to test this in Australasia. In this study, avifaunal detection frequency, species richness and community composition were compared between the edge and interior and between flat and more complex-shaped edges of riparian rain-forest tracts in Tropical North Queensland. The detection frequency and richness of guilds based on diet, foraging strata and habitat specialism were also compared. This study detected 15.1% more birds at the rain-forest edge compared with the interior but no difference in species richness. Edge shape had no effect on detection frequency or richness. Many guilds (subcanopy, closed forest, frugivorous and insectivorous species) experienced increased detection frequency at the edge relative to the interior, but for some guilds this response was reduced (habitat generalists) or reversed (understorey and mixed-flock species) along complex edges. Overall community composition was affected by edge distance but not by edge shape. Edge habitat was shorter and had more open canopy than the interior, supporting habitat-based explanations for the observed avifaunal edge effects. These results suggest generally positive edge effects in Australian rain-forest bird communities, possibly reflecting local resource distributions or a disturbance-tolerant species pool.

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Assessing rainforest restoration: the value of buffer strips for the recovery of rainforest remnants in Australia?s Wet Tropics

Pacific Conservation Biology ◽

10.1071/pc110274 ◽

2010 ◽

Vol 16 (4) ◽

pp. 274 ◽

Cited By ~ 7

Author(s):

Laura J. Sonter ◽

Daniel J. Metcalfe ◽

Margaret M. Mayfield

Keyword(s):

Functional Diversity ◽

Edge Effects ◽

Functional Trait ◽

Forest Edge ◽

Physical Structure ◽

Buffer Strips ◽

Buffer Strip ◽

Restoration Technique ◽

Forest Remnants ◽

Interior Forest

Throughout the tropics, forest remnants are under increasing pressure from habitat fragmentation and edge effects. To improve the conservation value of forest remnants, restoration plantings are used to accelerate and redirect ecological succession. Unfortunately, many restoration projects undergo little to no evaluation in achieving project goals. Here we evaluate the success of one common restoration technique, ?buffer strip planting,? at the Malanda Scrub in North Queensland, Australia. Buffer strips are used to reduce the impacts associated with edge effects and improve overall forest quality. To evaluate the success of the Malanda project, we compared the microclimate, understorey community structure and functional trait-state diversity (functional diversity) for a range of plant functional traits along the original forest edge, a reference forest edge, and the interior forest of the Malanda reserve. We found the buffer strip restored the original forest edge to interior forest conditions for the majority of measured features. Edge effects were not found more than 5 m from any measured edge, and edge effects penetrated to even shorter distances along the buffer strip edge. The buffer strip appeared to have a similar microclimate (here represented by soil temperature) and physical structure; however, it did not (after 14 years) closely resemble the interior forest floristically nor did it have the same functional diversity for measured traits. Results suggest that the buffer strip was successful in reducing edge effects but not in restoring the forest to original conditions within 14 years.

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Human disturbance affects habitat use and behaviour of Asiatic leopard Panthera pardus in Kaeng Krachan National Park, Thailand

Oryx ◽

10.1017/s0030605307001102 ◽

2007 ◽

Vol 41 (3) ◽

pp. 343-351 ◽

Cited By ~ 52

Author(s):

Dusit Ngoprasert ◽

Antony J. Lynam ◽

George A. Gale

Keyword(s):

Habitat Use ◽

Edge Effects ◽

Human Disturbance ◽

National Park ◽

Road Construction ◽

Forest Edge ◽

Mitigation Strategies ◽

Large Carnivores ◽

Panthera Pardus ◽

Access Road

AbstractEdge effects arising from road construction and other development in protected areas can negatively affect the behaviour of wildlife, particularly large carnivores. The Asiatic leopard Panthera pardus is a large carnivore that may be sensitive to edge effects. Camera trapping was used to assess the influence of human disturbance along forest edges on leopard behaviour and habitat use in a 104 km2 area of Kaeng Krachan National Park, Thailand. A minimum of four male and two female leopards was recorded in the study area. A Park access road bisecting the study area was not a barrier to leopard movement but movements and activity were affected by human traffic inside the Park. A regression model showed that leopard habitat use increased with distance from human settlements at the forest edge. As in other parts of its range, leopards at Kaeng Krachan National Park tended to show less diurnal activity in areas more heavily used by people compared to areas less used. As is the case with tigers, such responses may pose a threat to leopard population persistence but more research is needed to determine the demographic implications of edge effects for Asiatic leopards and other large tropical carnivores, and the appropriate mitigation strategies required.

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Edge effects on nest predators in two forested landscapes

Canadian Journal of Zoology ◽

10.1139/z05-003 ◽

2004 ◽

Vol 82 (12) ◽

pp. 1943-1953 ◽

Cited By ~ 4

Author(s):

Michelle L Smith

Keyword(s):

Species Richness ◽

Edge Effects ◽

Spatial Scales ◽

Forest Edge ◽

Tamiasciurus Hudsonicus ◽

Brood Parasite ◽

Camera Systems ◽

Total Species Richness ◽

Edge Response ◽

Nest Predators

Few studies have systematically examined edge effects on nest predators, although many invoke these processes as potential mechanisms for decreased nesting success of songbirds. Species richness and relative abundance of avian and mammalian nest predators were compared between forest edge and interior in two landscapes, Allegan State Game Area and Fort Custer Training Center (FCTC), in southwest Michigan. One avian predator, the American crow (Corvus brachyrhynchos Brehm, 1822), was more abundant at edges than forest interior at FCTC; however, other predators did not demonstrate an edge response. Abundance of the brood parasite (Molothrus ater (Boddaert, 1783)) was greater at edges in FCTC. Overall abundance was higher at FCTC in both years; however, this could not be attributed to a greater extent of fragmentation. Total species richness for both landscapes did not differ between edge and interior. Remote-camera systems captured three predation events, two involving red squirrels (Tamiasciurus hudsonicus (Erxleben, 1777)) and one involving a blue jay (Cyanocitta cristata (L., 1758)). Vegetation characteristics were similar between edge and interior sites, which suggests that vegetation structure did not influence edge response. The variability in response indicates a need to assess patterns of predator distributions through long-term studies at multiple spatial scales.

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Are leaf-litter frogs and lizards affected by edge effects due to forest fragmentation in Brazilian Atlantic forest?

Journal of Tropical Ecology ◽

10.1017/s0266467408005282 ◽

2008 ◽

Vol 24 (05) ◽

pp. 551-554 ◽

Cited By ~ 19

Author(s):

Marianna Dixo ◽

Marcio Martins

Keyword(s):

Edge Effects ◽

Vegetation Structure ◽

Environmental Changes ◽

Forest Edge ◽

Habitat Types ◽

Abiotic Conditions ◽

Freshwater Habitats ◽

Ecological Patterns ◽

Predominant Factor ◽

Landscape Level

Edge effects encompass biotic and abiotic changes resulting from the interaction between two different habitat types (Murcia 1995). Edge habitats are ecologically distinct from patch interiors, and understanding how ecological patterns change near edges is important in understanding landscape-level dynamics such as the impacts of fragmentation (Rieset al. 2004). Abiotic conditions at the forest edge, such as increased wind and solar radiation, increased fluctuations in temperature, and decreased humidity, may affect forest-adapted organisms (Harperet al. 2005, Murcia 1995). So, edges may affect lizards and amphibians due to their physiological needs (Lehtinenet al. 2003, Vallan 2000). Anurans are considered sensitive to environmental changes due to their permeable skin, shell-less eggs and use of land as well as freshwater habitats (Vallan 2000). Changes in vegetation structure and microclimate are likely to be the predominant factor affecting amphibian abundances across edges (Jellineket al. 2004, Marsh & Pearman 1997, Schaepfer & Gavin 2001, Urbina-Cardonaet al. 2006).

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