Structure of mixed pine and hardwood stands 12 years after various methods and intensities of site preparation in the Georgia Piedmont

1996 ◽  
Vol 26 (8) ◽  
pp. 1490-1500 ◽  
Author(s):  
Timothy B. Harrington ◽  
M. Boyd Edwards

In the Georgia Piedmont (U.S.A.), size, abundance, and species diversity of trees were quantified in a plantation of Pinustaeda L. 12 years after various methods and intensities of site preparation. In clear-cut only versus site-prepared plots, greater hardwood abundance (27% vs. 8% of the total basal area) and size (8.6 vs. 7.4 m in height) were associated with reduced pine volume (73 vs. 123 m3/ha) and increased Simpson and Shannon diversity indices. Tree-species richness was greater in plots where residual trees from clear-cutting had been removed with a chainsaw versus large machinery (10 vs. 7 species). With increasing site-preparation intensity, reductions in basal area of volunteer pines coincided with proportionate increases (R2 = 0.80) in basal area of planted pines. As a result of this compensatory effect, total volume of all pines varied little (122–134 m3/ha) among site-preparation intensities. Research results suggest that site-preparation treatments can be selected to facilitate the development of a variety of stand structures, including those that favor evenness (clear-cut only) or richness (manual cutting) of tree species, low-cost production of pine fiber (manual cutting), and stand uniformity for management of pine sawtimber (mechanical and herbicide).

2020 ◽  
Vol 50 (7) ◽  
pp. 608-614
Author(s):  
Ronei Baldissera ◽  
Suiane Oliveira de Quadros ◽  
Gabriela Galeti ◽  
Everton Nei Lopes Rodrigues ◽  
Luan M.V. Lazzarotto ◽  
...  

Habitat loss is one of the main consequences of landscape transformation by humans. Monitoring biodiversity changes in areas under different management strategies is fundamental for species conservation. Our study is the first to assess the role of forest disturbance history on spider (Araneae) biodiversity in the westernmost portion of the Atlantic Forest. We analyzed taxonomic and functional aspects of spider assemblages in understories in a large forest fragment in southwestern Brazil. Spiders were sampled in five 30 m × 5 m plots over three seasons in three areas with different management histories: clear-cutting, selective logging, or native plots. We also characterized tree basal area, tree density, and canopy openness. The clear-cut plots showed more canopy openness and low habitat heterogeneity due to the high density of one pioneer native tree species. Forest structure in selective logging and native plots was similar. Spider richness, abundance, and functional richness were affected only by the season. Species composition also differed among the areas depending on the season. The abundance of web-building species was mainly associated with clear-cut areas in winter and spring. These results highlight the importance of natural regeneration in the Atlantic Forest after disturbance for the conservation of regional spider biodiversity.


2001 ◽  
Vol 31 (12) ◽  
pp. 2067-2079 ◽  
Author(s):  
Robert L Deal

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.


2020 ◽  
Vol 21 (6) ◽  
Author(s):  
Tri Cahyanto ◽  
Muhammad Efendi ◽  
DIAN MUHAMAD RAMDAN

Abstract. Cahyanto T, Efendi M, Ramdan DM. 2020. Structure and composition of trees in Mount Tilu Nature Reserve, West Java, Indonesia. Biodiversitas 21: 2674-2680. An understanding of the structure and composition of stands in a conservation area is needed to support sustainable management strategy. However, this information in the Mount Tilu Nature Reserve, Bandung District, West Java area is still lacking. This research was aimed to analyze the structure and composition of tree species in the block of Malagembol forest, Mt. Tilu NR. Data collection was carried out through vegetation analysis using sampling plot method with size of 10x100 m2 at three-level altitudes of 1530 m, 1745 m, and 1950 m asl. Observation parameters included species names, number of individuals, and diameter at breast height (dbh). Data were analyzed to determine the floristic composition, species structure based on their diameter class, relative basal area, diversity indices, and analysis of the importance of the main components of trees species through Principal Component Analysis (PCA). A total of 32 tree species from 23 families was found in the observation plots which was dominated by Fagaceae, Lauraceae, and Myrtaceae families. Some pioneer plants covered the gap in vegetation due to minor disturbance and residual damage in the past. Nonetheless, the dominance of stands with small diameters indicated good regeneration status following such disturbance. Based on these findings, we recommend protecting the vegetation in Mt. Tilu NR by limiting community activities that can disturb the forest.


2002 ◽  
Vol 18 (1) ◽  
pp. 53-66 ◽  
Author(s):  
DEBORAH K. KENNARD

Stand structure, species richness and population structures of tree species were characterized in 12 stands representing 50 y of succession following slash-and-burn agriculture in a tropical dry forest in lowland Bolivia. Estimates of tree species richness, canopy cover and basal area reached or surpassed 75% of mature forest levels in the 5-, 8-, and 23-y-old stands respectively. Total stem density of the 50-y-old stand was almost twice that of the mature forest stand. This rapid recovery may be due to a high percentage of sprouting tree species, potentially high seed fall into abandoned fields, or the disturbance history of the mature stand. The even-aged size-class structures, dominance of long-lived pioneers, and presence of charcoal and pottery shards in soils of the mature forest stand suggest it formed after a severe disturbance, possibly fire of anthropogenic origin.


1999 ◽  
Vol 29 (7) ◽  
pp. 1073-1083 ◽  
Author(s):  
James H Miller ◽  
Robert S Boyd ◽  
M Boyd Edwards

This study tested for effects of site preparation herbicides applied at high labeled rates 11 years earlier on plant species richness, diversity, and stand structure and composition. Four study sites in three physiographic provinces were established in central Georgia in 1984. Six herbicide treatments were included on each site: hexazinone liquid, hexazinone pellets, glyphosate, triclopyr, picloram, and a mixture of dicamba and 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid (2,4-D). Herbicide and untreated plots were prescribed-burned and planted to loblolly pine (Pinus taeda L.). Eleven years after treatment, 177 total species were identified in these dense pine plantations; 99 species were forbs and grasses-grasslikes. Treated and check plots did not differ in species richness or diversity. Structurally, the total basal area of the tree canopy was not significantly altered, but the proportion of pine to hardwoods and shrub stem density were influenced by treatment. Latent effects were detected in the abundance and frequency of Pinus taeda, Prunus serotina Ehrh., Quercus stellata Wangenh., Diospyros virginiana L., Vaccinium stamineum L., Vitis rotundifolia Michx., and Lespedeza bicolor Turcz. Most are potential mast producers for wildlife. Herbicide site preparation had little influence on total species numbers or their diversity 11 years after treatment but affected composition by altering perennial species abundance.


2014 ◽  
Vol 2014 ◽  
pp. 1-8 ◽  
Author(s):  
David Sylvester Kacholi

A survey to determine the variation in species and structural composition of trees along the edge-interior gradient was done in the Kilengwe forest in Morogoro region, Tanzania. The forest was categorized into three habitats, namely, edge (0–100 m), intermediate (100–200 m), and interior (>200 m) depending on the distance from the forest margin. A total of six plots of 0.04 ha each were randomly placed in each of the habitats whereby all trees with DBH ≥ 10 cm were inventoried. A total of 67 species representing 26 families were recorded. Fabaceae was the most speciose and abundant family. Brachystegia spiciformis was the most abundant species. Of the recorded species, 10.45% were common in the three habitats while 8.95%, 13.43%, and 26.86% occurred exclusively to the edge, intermediate, and interior habitats, respectively. The forest interior was significantly rich in terms of species richness, diversity, density, and basal area than the edge and intermediate habitats. The edge had significantly higher number of stumps/ha. In summary, the results suggest that edge/intermediate and interior are contrasting habitats in terms of tree species richness, diversity, and structural composition. Moreover, the forest edge and intermediate habitats were found to be characterized by high anthropogenic activities compared to the forest interior habitat.


2020 ◽  
Vol 2 (2) ◽  
pp. 64-73
Author(s):  
Samuel Olatokunbo Ihinmikaiye ◽  
Bernard Edache Ochekwu ◽  
Josiah Muonam Ikuli ◽  
Doris Akinjagunla Atinuke ◽  
Abel Zikenal Keresinbofa

Measuring tree species diversity is critical for forest management, particularly where timber species suffer undue anthropogenic pressure. This study was carried out in Bayelsa State, Nigeria. A sample plot was systematically chosen from randomly selected communities in each of the three senatorial districts Bayelsa West (BW), Bayelsa East (BE) and Bayelsa Central (BC) of the State. Each sample plots measured 25 m x 25 m and all timber tree species that were at least six feet above ground level within each sample plot were identified, counted and measured. Fifty individual timbers were encountered in the sample plot at Ogobiri community in BW, fifty-two at Kolo 1 community in BE and fifty-six at Gbarain community in BC belonged to 18, 16 and 14 different families respectively. Families with the largest number of species in the plots were Gentianaceae and Meliaceae, and the highest diversity indices were recorded from BE senatorial district. Generally, the basal area of the sample plots increases with an increase in diameter at breast height. The forested zones were on flat terrain characterized by seasonal flood inundation, and the similarities of timber species in the plots occurred as (BW-BC)> (BW-BE)> (BC-BE). Also, four tree species Coelocaryon preussii, Sacoglottis gabonensis, Milicia excelsa and Triplochiton scleroxylon were identified as rare species, and management options that would ensure ad infinitum supply of timber species were proposed.


2017 ◽  
Vol 78 (3) ◽  
pp. 226-237
Author(s):  
Sławomir Ambroży ◽  
Tadeusz Zachara ◽  
Mariusz Kapsa ◽  
Elżbieta Chomicz-Zegar ◽  
Ruslan Vytseha

Abstract One of the tree species appearing after a decline of Norway spruce Picea abies (L.) H. Karst. in the Silesian Beskid Mountains is Silver Birch Betula pendula Roth. Therefore our study was aimed at evaluating this birch regeneration and the dynamics of changes resulting from experimental cutting. Measurements and inventories of trees were conducted on research plots located in a ten-year old birch regeneration site with either no cutting, partial cutting (50%) or clear cutting (100%) of birch. We observed an introduction of biocenotic species (rowan, willow, aspen) as well as the target species (spruce, fir, beech) under the birch canopy. Fir and beech were also planted, because of their slow natural regeneration. The clear cut treatment caused a great number of sprouts growing from birch stumps, reaching a height of about 2 m over 3 years, resulting in competition with the regeneration of other species. Partial cutting did not cause such a drastic amount of sprouting. Furthermore, we found that only the spruce height increment is significantly less under a birch canopy compared to open space. The obtained results indicate a necessity to adjust the density and species composition of regenerating tree species under a birch canopy, avoiding complete removal of the first generation birch cover and the need to moderately thin out birch.


2014 ◽  
Vol 6 (4) ◽  
pp. 448-453 ◽  
Author(s):  
Dumpa PREMAVANI ◽  
Maradana TARAKESWARA NAIDU ◽  
Malleboyina VENKAIAH

The tree species diversity and population structure were studied in four stands of the tropical forests in the north-central Eastern Ghats, based on tree inventories conducted on four 1-ha plots. In the four independent plots, two 5 x 1000 m transects were established and all trees with ≥ 15 cm girth at breast height were enumerated. The density, frequency, basal area and IVI along with diversity indices viz. Shannon index, species richness, equitability and species dominance were computed to see the variation in tree community. A total of 92 species representing 73 genera under 40 families of angiosperms were recorded. Tree species richness was as low as 34 species per hectare plot in Geddapalli to as high as 48 species in Koruturu. Tree density ranged from 360 stems per hectare in plot Geddapalli to 526 stems in plot Chintapalli and that of total basal area from 16.31 m2 ha-1 in Koruturu to 31.15 m2 ha-1 in Chintapalli. The number of species and stems decreased from the smaller to the largest girth classes. The tree inventories of the study area when compared to those of the other tropical forests showed great differences in density and basal area. This may probably be due to differences in geography and annual rainfall patterns. The information on tree species structure and function can provide baseline information for conservation of the biodiversity.


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