The effects of partial cutting on forest plant communities of western hemlock – Sitka spruce stands in southeast Alaska

2001 ◽  
Vol 31 (12) ◽  
pp. 2067-2079 ◽  
Author(s):  
Robert L Deal
Keyword(s):  
Species Richness ◽  
Community Structure ◽  
Plant Community ◽  
Basal Area ◽  
Plant Species Richness ◽  
Plant Community Structure ◽  
Old Growth ◽  
Partial Cutting ◽  
Southeast Alaska ◽  
Clear Cutting

The effects of partial cutting on plant species richness, community structure, and several understory species that are important for deer forage were evaluated on 73 plots in 18 stands throughout southeast Alaska. These partially cut stands were harvested 12–96 years ago when 16–96% of the former stand basal area was removed. The species richness and community structure of understory plants were similar in uncut and partially cut plots. However, plots where more than 50% of the basal area was cut had a significantly different plant community structure. Species composition and abundance also appeared to be distinctly different between hemlock-dominated and spruce-dominated stands. Partial cutting did not significantly change abundance for most of the important forage species for deer. The similarity in plant community structure between partially cut and uncut old-growth stands may be related to forest stand structures. The heterogeneous stand structures that develop after partial cutting are more similar to old-growth stands than to the uniform young-growth stands that develop after stand replacing disturbances such as clear-cutting.

Relating pine-litter intrusion to plant-community structure in native eucalypt woodland adjacent to Pinus radiata (Pinaceae) plantations

2007 ◽  
Vol 55 (5) ◽  
pp. 521 ◽  
Author(s):  
Andrew C. Baker ◽  
Brad R. Murray ◽  
Grant C. Hose
Keyword(s):  
Species Richness ◽  
Community Structure ◽  
Plant Species ◽  
Plant Community ◽  
Plant Species Richness ◽  
Radiata Pine ◽  
Plant Community Structure ◽  
Native Plant ◽  
Native Plant Species ◽  
Eucalypt Woodland

Radiata pine (Pinus radiata D.Don) plantations are often found in close proximity to vegetation set aside for biodiversity conservation. We examined the intrusive effects of radiata pine beyond the confines of plantations by quantifying the penetration of pine litter (needles, cones, twigs and seeds) and wildings from plantations into adjacent eucalypt woodland in the Jenolan Caves Karst Conservation Reserve (south-eastern Australia). We then investigated the relationship between pine-litter intrusion and plant-community structure in adjacent woodland vegetation. We found significantly higher quantities of pine litter and wildings at all sites adjacent to plantations than at reference woodland sites that were not adjacent to plantations. At adjacent sites, pine litter decreased significantly with increasing distance from plantations. Alarmingly, native plant species richness declined and exotic plant species richness increased with increasing quantities of pine litter. Thus, there were fewer native plant species and more exotics in areas bordering pine plantations. Our findings suggest a potentially important link between the intrusion of pine litter and a loss of native biodiversity and facilitation of exotic-species invasion. We suggest the provision of a buffer zone around plantations in order to minimise intrusive impacts of plantations on native biodiversity.

scholarly journals Altitudinally coordinated pattern of plant community structure in the Shivapuri National Park, Nepal

1970 ◽  
Vol 18 (1) ◽  
pp. 11-17 ◽  
Author(s):  
Shalik Ram Sigdel
Keyword(s):  
Community Structure ◽  
Species Diversity ◽  
Plant Species ◽  
Plant Community ◽  
National Park ◽  
Climatic Factors ◽  
Flower Colour ◽  
Basal Area ◽  
Plant Community Structure ◽  
Closed Canopy

Study on plant community structure was undertaken in different altitudinal ranges of Shivapuri National Park. The general objective of this study is to analyse different plant community structure in Shivapuri National Park with regards to altitudinal variation. The forest was divided into three distinct altitudinal ranges on the basis of dominancy. In each altitudinal range standard quadrats method was applied for vegetation analysis. The highest number of species was found in site II. All the ecological parameters of the plant species were higher in site II except Basal Area of tree that was highest in site III. The pattern of distribution of plant species was not uniform according to altitude. At higher elevation, the forest was mature with almost closed canopy and trees were large; so the tree density was low. Species richness was highest in site II. Species diversity among tree and shrub species was higher in site I. But for herb species diversity was higher in site II for both seasons. Such type of variations may be due to nature of soil i.e. acidity, nutrient availability and other micro-climatic factors. The most noteworthy thing was that variation in flower colour of Rhododendron arboreum i.e. deep scarlet at low altitude, but it gradually changed into pinkish white as altitude increased. Key words: Altitude, Density, Plant community, Species diversity doi: 10.3126/banko.v18i1.2161 Banko Janakari, Vol. 18, No. 1, 11-17

Plant Community Structure and Composition in Uneven-aged Stands of Loblolly-Shortleaf Pine at Four Basal Area Levels

1995 ◽  
Vol 19 (2) ◽  
pp. 84-88 ◽  
Author(s):  
Philip A. Tappe ◽  
Michael D. Cain ◽  
T. Bently Wigley ◽  
Derik J. Reed
Keyword(s):  
Community Structure ◽  
Plant Community ◽  
Basal Area ◽  
Ground Cover ◽  
Control Treatment ◽  
Plant Community Structure ◽  
Shortleaf Pine ◽  
Single Tree ◽  
Single Tree Selection ◽  
Four Levels

Abstract The effects of overstory pine basal area on plant community structure and composition were assessed in uneven-aged stands of loblolly and shortleaf pines (Pinus taedaL. and P. echinata Mill.) in southern Arkansas. Basal area treatments were 40, 60, 80, and 100 ft2/ac for the merchantable pine component (>3.5 in. dbh) and were maintained on a 6 yr cutting cycle using single-tree selection. Assessments of plant communities were made 10 yr after a single hardwood control treatment. The four levels of pine basal area had no effect on percent ground cover of most plants <3 ft tall, but ground cover from graminoids decreased as pine basal area increased. Vertical cover above loft height increased 33% as overstory basal area increased from 40 to 100 ft2/ac, but basal area had no effect on horizontal cover in height zones between 0 and 10ft. It is concluded that uneven-aged stands of loblolly-shortleaf pine with merchantable basal areas of from 40 to 100 ft²/ac may support similar plant species in the understory and consequently probably provide similar habitat requirements for a variety of game and nongame wildlife. South. J. Appl. For. 19(2):84-88.

Using Sheep to Control Purple Loosestrife (Lythrum salicaria)

2011 ◽  
Vol 4 (1) ◽  
pp. 50-57 ◽  
Author(s):  
G. S. Kleppel ◽  
Erin LaBarge
Keyword(s):  
New York ◽  
Species Richness ◽  
Community Structure ◽  
Plant Community ◽  
Vascular Plant ◽  
Lythrum Salicaria ◽  
Purple Loosestrife ◽  
Plant Community Structure ◽  
Wet Meadow ◽  
Upstate New York

AbstractWe investigated the use of sheep for controlling the spread of purple loosestrife in a wet meadow in upstate New York from June to August 2008. Changes in the purple loosestrife population and vascular plant community structure were monitored as a function of the grazing of two ewes, “rotated” through four “experimental” paddocks at 2- to 3-d intervals. Comparative data were collected in “reference” paddocks from which sheep were excluded. Purple loosestrife was heavily grazed and most plants did not flower in experimental paddocks. Purple loosestrife cover declined by 40.7% in the experimental paddocks but did not change significantly in the reference paddocks. After grazing, species richness was 20% higher in experimental than reference paddocks.

Impacts of trails on cliff-edge forest structure

1995 ◽  
Vol 73 (6) ◽  
pp. 943-953 ◽  
Author(s):  
Pampang Parikesit ◽  
Douglas W. Larson ◽  
Uta Matthes-Sears
Keyword(s):  
Species Richness ◽  
Community Structure ◽  
Soil Properties ◽  
Plant Community ◽  
Forest Structure ◽  
Environmental Gradient ◽  
Soil Characteristics ◽  
Anthropogenic Factors ◽  
Plant Community Structure ◽  
Niagara Escarpment

Plant community structure and soil characteristics were quantitatively studied along forested cliff edges of the Niagara Escarpment in southern Ontario, Canada. The objective of the study was to try to differentiate between the effects of two gradients on vegetation structure: the environmental gradient between the cliff edge and dense forest, and an anthropogenic gradient, generated by the presence of major hiking trails parallel to the cliff edges. Species frequencies were determined along 69 transects distributed over eight sites with different amounts of past and present trampling disturbance. The data were analyzed using cluster and ordination analysis as well as analyses of variance. The results showed that soil characteristics were the major influence organizing the vegetation of cliff-edge forests and that soil properties and plant community structure were more strongly influenced by anthropogenic factors than by the environmental gradient between cliff edge and forest. Trampled plots had some properties in common with cliff-edge plots. Species richness was highest at intermediate trail-use levels; abandonment of heavily disturbed trails resulted in the restoration of species richness, but most new colonizing plants were disturbance-tolerant ruderals. Soil properties did not completely recover even after 10 years of trail abandonment. The results suggest that the current use of cliff edges along the Niagara Escarpment is nonsustainable, and reversing its effects on cliff-edge forest structure may take a considerable amount of time. Key words: Niagara Escarpment, plant community ecology, disturbance, trampling, cluster analysis, ordination.

Partial cutting reduces species richness of fungi on woody debris in oak-rich forests

2008 ◽  
Vol 38 (7) ◽  
pp. 1807-1816 ◽  
Author(s):  
Björn Nordén ◽  
Frank Götmark ◽  
Martin Ryberg ◽  
Heidi Paltto ◽  
Johan Allmér
Keyword(s):  
Species Richness ◽  
Woody Debris ◽  
Basal Area ◽  
Fruiting Bodies ◽  
Partial Cutting ◽  
Total Species Richness ◽  
Before And After ◽  
Closed Canopy ◽  
And Control ◽  
Total Species

Partial cutting is increasingly applied in European temperate oak-dominated forests for biofuel harvesting, and to counteract succession in protected stands. Effects on biodiversity of these measures need to be carefully evaluated, and species-rich but neglected taxa such as fungi should be considered. We studied the effects of partial cutting on fungal fruiting bodies on woody debris. In 21 closed canopy forests rich in large oaks in Sweden, on average 25%–30% of the basal area was cut. Fruiting bodies were counted and some were collected in treated and control plots before and after treatment. We found 334 basidiomycete and 47 ascomycete species. Species richness of basidiomycetes declined significantly more in treated plots (on average 26%) than in control plots (on average 13%) between seasons. Species richness of ascomycetes increased by 17% in control plots and decreased by 2% in treated plots. Total species richness was significantly reduced on fine woody debris (1–10 cm in diameter), but not on coarse woody debris (>10 cm). Overall species composition did not change significantly as a result of partial cutting, but red-listed species tended to decrease more in treated plots. We suggest that approximately 30% of the stands should not be thinned, and dead stems and fallen branches should not be removed, to favor saproxylic fungi and their associated fauna.

Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document