Properties of stumps that promote the growth and survival of Japanese cedar saplings in a natural old-growth forest

2012 ◽  
Vol 42 (11) ◽  
pp. 1976-1982 ◽  
Author(s):  
Takayuki Ota ◽  
Takashi Masaki ◽  
Hisashi Sugita ◽  
Tatsuo Kanazashi ◽  
Hisashi Abe
Keyword(s):  
Natural Disturbance ◽  
Japanese Cedar ◽  
Ground Level ◽  
Light Conditions ◽  
Old Growth ◽  
Coniferous Species ◽  
Growth And Survival ◽  
Old Growth Forest ◽  
Species Taxon ◽  
Root Location

In a natural forest that has experienced logging and lacks large fallen logs, cut stumps are expected to become a suitable substrate for regeneration. We investigated the properties of stumps that promoted the natural regeneration of coniferous species in a natural old-growth forest dominated by Cryptomeria japonica (L.f.) D. Don. A comparison of C. japonica saplings growing in three microsites (ground, stumps, and fallen logs) revealed that sapling density was highest on the stumps; 75% of saplings were distributed on stumps, which occupied only 3% of the projected forest area. The mortality of saplings during the 3-year study period did not differ significantly among the three microsites. Six properties of stumps were quantified: height, diameter at ground level, decay class, species taxon, type (i.e., cause of occurrence: logging or natural disturbance), and light conditions. Of these properties, the type of stump was the most influential. The density of saplings was significantly greater on stumps produced by logging than on naturally broken stumps. Taller stumps exhibited a significantly higher density of saplings; indeed, there were no saplings on stumps less than 60 cm in height. Saplings on stumps were concentrated in higher positions on the stump, and survivorship tended to be greater when their root location was higher. We concluded that the height of the microsite was an important factor for regeneration of C. japonica at this research site, where saplings were under competition with dense undergrowth vegetation. Most of the fallen logs were less than 60 cm in height and it appeared unlikely that they would function as regeneration sites for C. japonica.

scholarly journals Natural disturbance dynamics in an old-growth forest: from tree to landscape

2011 ◽  
Vol 7 ◽  
pp. 365-370 ◽  
Author(s):  
Emanuele Lingua ◽  
Matteo Garbarino ◽  
Enrico Borgogno Mondino ◽  
Renzo Motta
Keyword(s):  
Natural Disturbance ◽  
Old Growth ◽  
Disturbance Dynamics ◽  
Old Growth Forest

scholarly journals Incorporating Insect and Wind Disturbances in a Natural Disturbance-Based Management Framework for the Boreal Forest

Forests ◽  
2018 ◽  
Vol 9 (8) ◽  
pp. 471 ◽  
Author(s):  
Louis De Grandpré ◽  
Kaysandra Waldron ◽  
Mathieu Bouchard ◽  
Sylvie Gauthier ◽  
Marilou Beaudet ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Forest Management ◽  
Boreal Forest ◽  
Natural Disturbance ◽  
Ecosystem Dynamics ◽  
Growth Stages ◽  
Old Growth ◽  
Management Framework ◽  
Salvage Logging ◽  
Old Growth Forest ◽  
Biological Legacies

Natural disturbances are fundamental to forest ecosystem dynamics and have been used for two decades to improve forest management, notably in the boreal forest. Initially based on fire regimes, there is now a need to extend the concept to include other types of disturbances as they can greatly contribute to forest dynamics in some regions of the boreal zone. Here we review the main descriptors—that is, the severity, specificity, spatial and temporal descriptors and legacies, of windthrow and spruce bud worm outbreak disturbance regimes in boreal forests—in order to facilitate incorporating them into a natural disturbance-based forest management framework. We also describe the biological legacies that are generated by these disturbances. Temporal and spatial descriptors characterising both disturbance types are generally variable in time and space. This makes them difficult to reproduce in an ecosystem management framework. However, severity and specificity descriptors may provide a template upon which policies for maintaining post harvesting and salvage logging biological legacies can be based. In a context in which management mainly targets mature and old-growth stages, integrating insect and wind disturbances in a management framework is an important goal, as these disturbances contribute to creating heterogeneity in mature and old-growth forest characteristics.

scholarly journals A note on the ecology and management of old-growth forests in the Montane Cordillera

2003 ◽  
Vol 79 (3) ◽  
pp. 441-454 ◽  
Author(s):  
André Arsenault
Keyword(s):  
Pinus Ponderosa ◽  
Ponderosa Pine ◽  
Structural Characteristics ◽  
Coniferous Forest ◽  
Natural Disturbance ◽  
Climatic Conditions ◽  
Forest Types ◽  
Old Growth ◽  
Old Growth Forest ◽  
Old Growth Forests

The Montane Cordillera ecozone that spans British Columbia's central and southern interior and a portion of southwestern Alberta contains the greatest variety of old-growth coniferous forest types in Canada. The diverse climates of this region, which include some of the driest, warmest, wettest, and coldest found in southern continental Canada, have directly contributed to the richness of old forest types. Associated with this range in climatic conditions are radically different natural disturbance regimes that have profoundly influenced the distribution, abundance, and structural characteristics of old-growth forests. Old forests tend to be more abundant and to contain more old-growth-dependent organisms in wetter climates. The high number of old-growth-dependent epiphytic lichens in old inland rainforests is a clear expression of this phenomenon. Conversely, old forests are much less abundant in dry landscapes. These forests, often dominated by Ponderosa pine (Pinus ponderosa P. Laws. ex C. Laws.) and Douglas-fir (Pseudotsuga menziesii (Mirb.) Franco), have been subject to more frequent natural disturbances, and have been more profoundly influenced by human activities. Although fewer species appear to be dependent on old growth in dry forests, a number of them require certain old-growth structural attributes for their survival. A better understanding of the ecological characteristics of the old-growth forests of Canada's Montane Cordillera will assist in developing informed land-use decisions. Key words: old-growth forest, Montane Cordillera, natural disturbance, landscape ecology and management

Tradable Disturbance Permits for Old-growth Forest Conservation: Experimental Evaluation of Implementation Options

2017 ◽  
Vol 7 (1-2) ◽  
pp. 73-107
Author(s):  
Orsolya Perger ◽  
Curtis Rollins ◽  
Marian Weber ◽  
Wiktor Adamowicz ◽  
Peter Boxall
Keyword(s):  
Experimental Evaluation ◽  
Forest Conservation ◽  
Old Growth ◽  
Old Growth Forest

Old-growth forest reserves in Slovenia: the past, present, and future

2012 ◽  
Vol 163 (6) ◽  
pp. 240-246 ◽  
Author(s):  
Thomas A. Nagel ◽  
Jurij Diaci ◽  
Dusan Rozenbergar ◽  
Tihomir Rugani ◽  
Dejan Firm
Keyword(s):  
Stand Structure ◽  
Growth Conditions ◽  
Ecosystem Functions ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Old Growth ◽  
Forest Reserves ◽  
The Past ◽  
Old Growth Forest ◽  
Forest Remnants ◽  
Basic Characteristics

Old-growth forest reserves in Slovenia: the past, present, and future Slovenia has a small number of old-growth forest remnants, as well as many forest reserves approaching old-growth conditions. In this paper, we describe some of the basic characteristics of these old-growth remnants and the history of their protection in Slovenia. We then trace the long-term development of research in these old-growth remnants, with a focus on methodological changes. We also review some of the recent findings from old-growth research in Slovenia and discuss future research needs. The conceptual understanding of how these forests work has slowly evolved, from thinking of them in terms of stable systems to more dynamic and unpredictable ones due to the influence of natural disturbances and indirect human influences. In accordance with this thinking, the methods used to study old-growth forests have changed from descriptions of stand structure to studies that address natural processes and ecosystem functions.

Old-growth forest carbon sinks overestimated

Nature ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 591 (7851) ◽  
pp. E21-E23
Author(s):  
Per Gundersen ◽  
Emil E. Thybring ◽  
Thomas Nord-Larsen ◽  
Lars Vesterdal ◽  
Knute J. Nadelhoffer ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Forest Carbon ◽  
Carbon Sinks ◽  
Old Growth ◽  
Old Growth Forest

scholarly journals Effects of nitrogen and phosphorus additions on nitrous oxide emission in a nitrogen-rich and two nitrogen-limited tropical forests

2016 ◽  
Vol 13 (11) ◽  
pp. 3503-3517 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mianhai Zheng ◽  
Tao Zhang ◽  
Lei Liu ◽  
Weixing Zhu ◽  
Wei Zhang ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Nitrous Oxide ◽  
Tropical Forests ◽  
N2o Emission ◽  
N Deposition ◽  
Soil N ◽  
N Addition ◽  
Old Growth ◽  
Old Growth Forest ◽  
P Addition ◽  
Stimulation Of

Abstract. Nitrogen (N) deposition is generally considered to increase soil nitrous oxide (N2O) emission in N-rich forests. In many tropical forests, however, elevated N deposition has caused soil N enrichment and further phosphorus (P) deficiency, and the interaction of N and P to control soil N2O emission remains poorly understood, particularly in forests with different soil N status. In this study, we examined the effects of N and P additions on soil N2O emission in an N-rich old-growth forest and two N-limited younger forests (a mixed and a pine forest) in southern China to test the following hypotheses: (1) soil N2O emission is the highest in old-growth forest due to the N-rich soil; (2) N addition increases N2O emission more in the old-growth forest than in the two younger forests; (3) P addition decreases N2O emission more in the old-growth forest than in the two younger forests; and (4) P addition alleviates the stimulation of N2O emission by N addition. The following four treatments were established in each forest: Control, N addition (150 kg N ha−1 yr−1), P addition (150 kg P ha−1 yr−1), and NP addition (150 kg N ha−1 yr−1 plus 150 kg P ha−1 yr−1). From February 2007 to October 2009, monthly quantification of soil N2O emission was performed using static chamber and gas chromatography techniques. Mean N2O emission was shown to be significantly higher in the old-growth forest (13.9 ± 0.7 µg N2O-N m−2 h−1) than in the mixed (9.9 ± 0.4 µg N2O-N m−2 h−1) or pine (10.8 ± 0.5 µg N2O-N m−2 h−1) forests, with no significant difference between the latter two. N addition significantly increased N2O emission in the old-growth forest but not in the two younger forests. However, both P and NP addition had no significant effect on N2O emission in all three forests, suggesting that P addition alleviated the stimulation of N2O emission by N addition in the old-growth forest. Although P fertilization may alleviate the stimulated effects of atmospheric N deposition on N2O emission in N-rich forests, this effect may only occur under high N deposition and/or long-term P addition, and we suggest future investigations to definitively assess this management strategy and the importance of P in regulating N cycles from regional to global scales.

Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document