Effects of fire severity on early development of understory vegetation

2005 ◽  
Vol 35 (2) ◽  
pp. 254-262 ◽  
Author(s):  
G. Geoff Wang ◽  
Kevin J Kemball
Keyword(s):  
Plant Community ◽  
Diversity Index ◽  
Fire Severity ◽  
Species Abundance ◽  
Understory Vegetation ◽  
Entire Study ◽  
Dominant Component ◽  
Regeneration Response ◽  
Understory Plant ◽  
Early Regeneration

Four boreal mixedwood stands burned by the 1999 Black River wildfire in southeastern Manitoba were sampled to examine the effects of fire severity on early regeneration dynamics of understory vegetation. In each stand, three fire severity classes (scorched, lightly burned, and severely burned) were identified based on the degree of forest floor consumption, and six plots per severity class were randomly selected. Variation in fire severity significantly affected the initial regeneration of the understory plant community. Regeneration response after fire was largely controlled by interactions between fire severity and species' regeneration strategy. Establishment of invaders, seed bankers, and sprouters was best on severely burned, lightly burned, and scorched plots, respectively. Species richness and Shannon's diversity index was reduced by severe fire only in the first postfire year. However, the effects of fire severity on species abundance and composition persisted through the entire study period (1999–2002). Rapid changes in the understory plant community were only observed during the initial 3 postfire years, regardless of fire severity. At the end of the study, herbaceous plants were the most dominant component, with woody plants being a codominant component on scorched plots, and nonvascular plants being a codominant component on severely burned plots.

Overstory influences on light attenuation patterns and understory plant community diversity and composition in southern boreal forests of Quebec

2006 ◽  
Vol 36 (9) ◽  
pp. 2065-2079 ◽  
Author(s):  
Paula Bartemucci ◽  
Christian Messier ◽  
Charles D Canham
Keyword(s):  
Plant Community ◽  
Plant Communities ◽  
Boreal Forests ◽  
Forest Floor ◽  
Light Transmission ◽  
Forest Type ◽  
Light Attenuation ◽  
Understory Vegetation ◽  
Light Levels ◽  
Understory Plant

We have characterized overstory light transmission, understory light levels, and plant communities in mixed wood boreal forests of northwestern Quebec with the objective of understanding how overstory light transmission interacts with composition and time since disturbance to influence the diversity and composition of understory vegetation, and, in turn, the further attenuation of light to the forest floor by the understory. Overstory light transmission differed among three forest types (aspen, mixed deciduous–conifer, and old cedar-dominated), with old forests having higher proportions of high light levels than aspen and mixed forests, which were characterized by intermediate light levels. The composition of the understory plant communities in old forests showed the weakest correlation to overstory light transmission, although those forests had the largest range of light transmission. The strongest correlation between characteristics of overstory light transmission and understory communities was found in aspen forests. Species diversity indices were consistently higher in aspen forests but showed weak relationships with overstory light transmission. Light attenuation by the understory vegetation and total height of the understory vegetation were strongly and positively related to overstory light transmission but not forest type. Therefore, light transmission through the overstory influenced the structure and function of understory plants more than their diversity and composition. This is likely due to the strong effect of the upper understory layers, which tend to homogenize light levels at the forest floor regardless of forest type. The understory plant community acts as a filter, thereby reducing light levels at the forest floor to uniformly low levels.

scholarly journals Shifts in soil and plant functional diversity along an altitudinal gradient in the French Alps

2021 ◽  
Vol 14 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Alexia Stokes ◽  
Guillermo Angeles ◽  
Fabien Anthelme ◽  
Eduardo Aranda-Delgado ◽  
Isabelle Barois ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Plant Community ◽  
Functional Diversity ◽  
Plant Communities ◽  
Species Abundance ◽  
Chemical Properties ◽  
Water Infiltration ◽  
Temperate Climate ◽  
Biophysical Properties ◽  
Tropical Zone ◽  
Soil Microbial

Abstract Objectives Altitude integrates changes in environmental conditions that determine shifts in vegetation, including temperature, precipitation, solar radiation and edaphogenetic processes. In turn, vegetation alters soil biophysical properties through litter input, root growth, microbial and macrofaunal interactions. The belowground traits of plant communities modify soil processes in different ways, but it is not known how root traits influence soil biota at the community level. We collected data to investigate how elevation affects belowground community traits and soil microbial and faunal communities. This dataset comprises data from a temperate climate in France and a twin study was performed in a tropical zone in Mexico. Data description The paper describes soil physical and chemical properties, climatic variables, plant community composition and species abundance, plant community traits, soil microbial functional diversity and macrofaunal abundance and diversity. Data are provided for six elevations (1400–2400 m) ranging from montane forest to alpine prairie. We focused on soil biophysical properties beneath three dominant plant species that structure local vegetation. These data are useful for understanding how shifts in vegetation communities affect belowground processes, such as water infiltration, soil aggregation and carbon storage. Data will also help researchers understand how plant communities adjust to a changing climate/environment.

Amazonian Dark Earth Shapes the Understory Plant Community in a Bolivian Forest

Biotropica ◽  
2015 ◽  
Vol 47 (2) ◽  
pp. 152-161 ◽  
Author(s):  
Estela Quintero-Vallejo ◽  
Yannick Klomberg ◽  
Frans Bongers ◽  
Lourens Poorter ◽  
Marisol Toledo ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Plant Community ◽  
Understory Plant ◽  
Amazonian Dark Earth

scholarly journals Distance Effects on Diversity and Abundance of the Flower Visitors of Ocimum kilimandscharicum in the Kakamega Forest Ecosystem

2018 ◽  
Vol 2018 ◽  
pp. 1-7 ◽  
Author(s):  
Hellen K. Mandela ◽  
Mugatsia H. Tsingalia ◽  
Mary Gikungu ◽  
Wilbur M. Lwande
Keyword(s):  
Species Diversity ◽  
Diversity Index ◽  
Land Use Changes ◽  
Species Abundance ◽  
Diversity Indices ◽  
Forest Edge ◽  
Flower Visitors ◽  
Kakamega Forest ◽  
Species Invasions ◽  
Wiener Diversity Index

Pollination is an important ecosystem service in the maintenance of biodiversity and most importantly in food production. Pollination is on the decline due to habitat loss, exotic species invasions, pollution, overharvesting, and land use changes. This study analyzed the abundance and diversity of flower visitors’ of Ocimum kilimandscharicum in Kakamega forest with increasing distance from the forest edge. Data were collected through direct observation and sweep netting. Six study sites were identified along two transects each 2.5 km long and labeled A to F. Distance in metres from the forest edge to each site was A=221, B=72, C=83, D=198, E=113, and F=50. Sampling was done from 7:30 am to 4:00 pm, three days in a week for five months consecutively. Diversity indices of different flower visitors were calculated using the Shannon-Wiener diversity index. One-way analysis of variance was used to compare differences between sites and a two-sample t-test was used to identify mean significant differences in species diversity between the closest and the furthest sites. A total of 645 individuals belonging to 35 species were captured from 4 families. The highest diversity was at site F (H’= 2.38) which was closest to the forest edge and the lowest diversity was from site A (H’=1.44) which was furthest from the forest edge. Distance from the forest edge significantly influenced species diversity (F(3, 20)=14.67, p=0.024). Distance from the forest edge also significantly influenced species abundance between the furthest sites A, D, and E and the nearest sites F, B, and C to the forest edge (t=4.177; p=0.0312) and species richness (t=3.2893; p=0.0187). This study clearly demonstrates that Ocimum kilimandscharicum flower visitors play essential roles in pollination and their higher number of visits translates into higher numbers of seeds set. Many of these pollinators are associated with the forest and hence the need to conserve the Kakamega forest as a source pool for pollinators.

scholarly journals The use of Shanon Weiners diversity index in the assessment of floral diversity and equitability of Neni–Nimo Watershed in Anaocha L.G.A. of Anambra State, Nigeria

2021 ◽  
Vol 16 (2) ◽  
pp. 155-158
Author(s):  
Ezenwatah Ifeoma Susan ◽  
Ukpaka Chukwujekwu Gratius ◽  
Onyemeka Regland Michael ◽  
Afulukwe Stella Chinyere ◽  
Okoye Elochukwu Chidubem Sunday
Keyword(s):  
Species Richness ◽  
Plant Growth ◽  
Diversity Index ◽  
Block Design ◽  
Species Abundance ◽  
P Value ◽  
Growth Forms ◽  
Anambra State ◽  
Floral Diversity ◽  
Current Usage

The study on the floral diversity of Neni-Nimo watershed in Anaocha L.G.A. of Anambra State was conducted between November 2009 and July 2020. The aim of the study was to find out the species richness and the floral biodiversity of the watershed. In this study, the watershed was divided into three sites, the forested site, the fallow site and the current usage site. The experiment was laid out in a Randomized Complete Block Design. The ecological methods used in this study are the Point Centred Plotless Count sampling technique for areas dominated by trees while the Plot Count technique using quadrats were used for sampling the areas dominated by forbs, shrubs, climbers and grasses. The vegetation data collected was used to estimate the species richness of the different plant growth forms, the diversity and equitability of the various growth forms encountered were calculated using Shanon Weiners diversity index. The Shanno Weiners diversity index shows that the forested areas had the highest floral biodiversity than the fallow and current usage area. Regression analysis shows that a significant relationship exists between species abundance and floral biodiversity at a p-value of <0.05 for all plant growth forms in the watershed except for grasses and as abundance increases, diversity also increases.

scholarly journals Abundance of ants (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) and the functional groups in two different habitats

2020 ◽  
Vol 21 (5) ◽  
Author(s):  
Ananto Triyogo ◽  
Budiadi ◽  
Siti Muslimah Widyastuti ◽  
Sena Adi Subrata ◽  
Suwito Susetyo Budi
Keyword(s):  
Functional Groups ◽  
Native Species ◽  
Diversity Index ◽  
Species Abundance ◽  
Land Development ◽  
Invasive Ants ◽  
Ant Communities ◽  
Anoplolepis Gracilipes ◽  
Research Education ◽  
June July

Abstract. Triyogo A, Budiadi, Widyastuti SM, Subrata SA, Budi SS. 2020. Abundance of ants (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) and the functional groups in two different habitats. Biodiversitas 21: 2079-2087. Land development often affects the quantity and diversity of ants (Hymenoptera: Formicidae). The aim of this study, therefore, was to determine and compare the ant species abundance and the functional groups between two different habitats, representing land development, including pioneer and agroforestry. This research involved a survey of the ants at the Forest Research Education (FRE) of Wanagama I Yogyakarta, and data were accumulated over a period of five months (April, May, June, July, and August). In addition, pit-fall trap and direct collection methods were used, involving the placement of 54 pit-fall traps at two habitats, and the ant specimens were retrieved after a two day period. The results show the total individual abundance of 2,310 and 2,067, on agroforestry and pioneer, respectively. Furthermore, the species richness and diversity index was higher in agroforestry (7; 2.01), compared with pioneer (6; 1.49), where the three dominant species include, Anoplolepis gracilipes, Solenopsis sp., Odontoponera denticulata; and Anoplolepis gracilipes, Odontoponera denticulata, Camponotus sp., respectively. Conversely, the highest amount of invasive ants (Solenopsis sp.) was observed in agroforestry, which negatively impacted on the presence of native species (Odontoponera denticulata). In addition, PCA analysis showed the development of three ant groups on each habitat, hence agroforestry made more real differences in the aspect of species abundance, and none in terms of richness. Therefore, notable differences were observed in the ant communities between both habitats, and agroforestry was indicated as a disturbed area, based on the increment in tramp and invasive ants, alongside low abundance of native and functional groups.

scholarly journals Struktur Komunitas Rumput Laut di Perairan Pasir Panjang Desa OlibuuKabupaten Boalemo, Gorontalo

2018 ◽  
Vol 7 (1) ◽  
pp. 59
Author(s):  
Edi Wibowo ◽  
Raden Ario ◽  
Suryono Suryono ◽  
Nur Taufiq ◽  
Destalino Destalino
Keyword(s):  
Diversity Index ◽  
Survey Methods ◽  
Species Abundance ◽  
Brown Seaweed ◽  
Sample Survey ◽  
Research Station ◽  
Water Medium ◽  
Significant Difference ◽  
Index Value ◽  
Almost All

Rumput laut atau seaweed termasuk tumbuhan berthallus yang banyak dijumpai hampir di seluruh pantai Indonesia, terutama wilayah pantai yang mempunyai rataan terumbu karang.  Perbedaan mendasar sistem hidupnya dengan tumbuhan darat adalah dalam pengambilan zat-zat makanan. Tumbuhan darat sangat bergantung pada akar sebagai alat pengambil/ penyerap zat hara dari substrat, sedangkan rumput laut menyerap zat hara yang dibutuhkan bagi pertumbuhannya dari medium air dengan cara difusi melalui permukaan substansi fisiknya.Penelitian ini bertujuan untuk mengetahui struktur komunitas rumput laut di perairan Pasir Panjang Pulau Limbah, Kecamatan Paguyaman Pantai, Kabupaten Boalemo, Provinsi Gorontalo. Metoda penelitian yang digunakan adalah bersifat diskriptif.Adapun pengumpulan data dilakukan dengan metode sample survey methods. Hasil penelitian menunjukan bahwa perairan Pulau Limbah di dominasi oleh Rumput Laut Coklat dengan kelimpahan tertinggi Padina australis. Nilai Indeks Keanekaragaman (H’) Rumput Laut tertinggi terdapat pada stasiun C dengan nilai rerata: 1,854 dan yang terendah pada Stasiun A dengan nilai rerata: 1,469. Nilai Indeks Keseragaman (E)  nilai tertinggi terdapat pada Stasiun C dengan nilai rerata: 0,679 dan terendah pada stasiun A dengan nilai rerata: 0,668. Nilai indeks Dominansi (C) tertinggi terdapat pada Stasiun A dengan nilai rerata : 0,251 dan nilai terendah stasiun B dengan nilai rerata: 0,187. Analisis Ragam (Anova) menunjukan bahwa stasiun penelitian memberikan perbedaan yang nyata (P≤0,05) terhadap nilai Indeks Keanekaragaman (H’), Indeks Keseragaman (E) serta Indeks Dominasi (C).  Seaweed including thallus plants that are found almost all over the coast of Indonesia, especially on beaches that have coral reefs. Seaweed is a photosynthetic organism as well as plants on land. The fundamental difference of his life system is in the taking of food substances. Ground plants realy heavily on roots as a nutrient removal device from the substrate, while seaweed absorbs the nutrients needed for its growth from the water medium by diffusion through the surface of its physical substance. This study aims to determine the structure of seaweed communities in Limbah Island Waters, District Paguyaman Beach. The results showed that the waters of Limbah Island is dominated by brown seaweed with the highest species abundance was Padina australis. The highest index value of Seaweed diversity (H’) was found at station C with average: 1,854 and the lowest at station A with a mean of: 1,469. For uniformity index value (E) the highest value is at station C with average: 0,679 and the lowest at station A with a mean of: 0,668. The highest index value of dominance (C) is at station A with a mean of: 0,251 and the lowest value at station B with a mean of: 0,187. The result of the analysis of variance (Anova) showed that the research station give a significant difference (P≤0,05) to the Diversity Index (H’), Uniformity Index (E) and Domination Index (C).

Fire severity and changing composition of forest understory plant communities

2019 ◽  
Vol 30 (6) ◽  
pp. 1099-1109 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jens T. Stevens ◽  
Jesse E. D. Miller ◽  
Paula J. Fornwalt
Keyword(s):  
Plant Communities ◽  
Fire Severity ◽  
Forest Understory ◽  
Understory Plant ◽  
Understory Plant Communities

Species-abundance–seed-size patterns within a plant community affected by grazing disturbance

2015 ◽  
Vol 25 (3) ◽  
pp. 848-855 ◽  
Author(s):  
Gao-Lin Wu ◽  
Zhan-Huan Shang ◽  
Yuan-Jun Zhu ◽  
Lu-Ming Ding ◽  
Dong Wang
Keyword(s):  
Plant Community ◽  
Seed Size ◽  
Species Abundance ◽  
Grazing Disturbance

Vascular plant community dynamics following hexazinone site preparation in the lower Coastal Plain

1993 ◽  
Vol 23 (10) ◽  
pp. 2216-2229 ◽  
Author(s):  
R. Neal Wilkins ◽  
Wayne R. Marion ◽  
Daniel G. Neary ◽  
George W. Tanner
Keyword(s):  
Plant Community ◽  
Community Dynamics ◽  
Vascular Plant ◽  
Species Abundance ◽  
Woody Species ◽  
Application Rate ◽  
Site Preparation ◽  
Herbaceous Vegetation ◽  
Growing Seasons ◽  
Species Abundance Distributions

Differential responses of vascular plant community compositions, diversities, and species-abundance distributions to hexazinone site preparation were evaluated on three 1-year-old clearcuts, each representing a point along a generalized edaphic gradient (xeric sandhill, mesic flatwoods, and hydric hammock). Foliar cover by species was sampled along four 20-m permanent line transects within each of three blocked replications of hexazinone treatments (0.0, 1.7, 3.4, and 6.8 kg/ha) at pretreatment and after the first and second growing seasons post-treatment. Cover by woody species decreased with increasing hexazinone rates on all sites (P < 0.05). Herbaceous vegetation recovered from first-season reductions to levels that did not vary with treatment (xeric sandhill and mesic flatwoods) or increased with increasing hexazinone rates (hydric hammock). Hexazinone tolerance by Gelsemiumsempervirens (L.) Ait.f. and Vaccinium spp. on the xeric sandhill and Ilexglabra (L.) Gray and G. sempervirens on the mesic flatwoods influenced diversity responses by woody and herbaceous vegetation. With increasing rates, herbaceous diversity decreased on the xeric sandhill, did not vary on the mesic flatwoods, and increased on the hydric hammock. Plant community responses to hexazinone were found to be functions of application rate, edaphic factors, adaptive strategies of resident species, and the presence or absence of hexazinone-tolerant species.

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