scholarly journals Canopy Gaps Improve Landscape Aesthetic Service by Promoting Autumn Colour-Leaved Tree Species Diversity and Colour-Leaved Patch Properties in Subalpine Forests of Southwestern China

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Qiaoyu Li ◽  
Yu Du ◽  
Yuan Liu ◽  
Juan Chen ◽  
Xiaojing Zhang ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Species Diversity ◽  
Ecosystem Service ◽  
Tree Species ◽  
Canopy Gaps ◽  
Southwestern China ◽  
Tree Species Diversity ◽  
Patch Area ◽  
Subalpine Forests ◽  
Gap Characteristics ◽  
Forest Stability

Abstract BackgroundLandscape aesthetic service is a crucial ecosystem service in subalpine forests of the mountain and ravine regions of the Tibetan Plateau; it can provide important ecological and economic value, improving the livelihood of the local people. Canopy gap is recognized as the key mechanism in the maintenance of species diversity and forest stability and is known to further affect ecosystem service functioning. However, the mechanisms and interactions of forest stability maintained by gap formations and forest aesthetic service functioning via gap dynamics are not fully understood. We used very high-resolution images to quantify gap characteristics and examined the effects of canopy gaps on autumn colour-leaved tree species diversity, colour-leaved patch structure characteristics, and landscape aesthetic service in 21 subalpine autumn colour-leaved forest plots in southwestern China. We then used path analysis to determine the relationships between these factors.ResultsThe number of gaps and total gap area were the key gap characteristics affecting landscape aesthetic service; particularly, medium canopy gaps (51–100 m2) played a more important role. The path model showed that increasing the total gap area along with the number of medium canopy gaps had direct positive effects on autumn colour-leaved tree species diversity, colour-leaved patch diversity, and total colour-leaved patch area, thus improving the landscape aesthetic service.ConclusionCanopy gaps indirectly improve landscape aesthetic service by significantly affecting colour-leaved species diversity, colour-leaved patch diversity, and colour-leaved patch area. Our results suggest that forest managers may be able to manipulate the numbers and proportion of medium canopy gaps to protect and preserve autumn colour-leaved tree species diversity and colour-leaved landscapes, promoting the landscape aesthetic service of subalpine autumn colour-leaved forests and, in turn, ensuring the coordinated development of economic, social, and ecological benefits for the underdeveloped rural montane areas of southwestern China.

scholarly journals Canopy Gaps Improve Landscape Aesthetic Service by Promoting Autumn Color-Leaved Tree Species Diversity and Color-Leaved Patch Properties in Subalpine Forests of Southwestern China

Forests ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 12 (2) ◽  
pp. 199
Author(s):  
Qiaoyu Li ◽  
Yu Du ◽  
Yuan Liu ◽  
Juan Chen ◽  
Xiaojing Zhang ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Species Diversity ◽  
Tree Species ◽  
Canopy Gaps ◽  
Path Model ◽  
Southwestern China ◽  
Tree Species Diversity ◽  
Subalpine Forests ◽  
Positive Effects ◽  
Gap Characteristics ◽  
Forest Stability

Background and Objectives: The landscape aesthetic service (LAS) is a crucial ecosystem service in subalpine forests of the mountain and ravine regions of the Tibetan Plateau, especially in autumn; it can provide important ecological and economic value, improving the livelihood of the local people. Canopy gap acts as a key role in the maintenance of species diversity and forest stability and ecosystem services. However, the mechanisms and interactions of forest stability maintained by gap formations and LAS via gap dynamics are not fully understood. The aim of this study was to explore the effects of canopy gaps on autumn color-leaved tree species diversity (ACTSD), color-leaved patch structure attributes (CPSA), LAS, and their interactions during the autumn viewing period, and to provide a fundamental basis for the management and protection of subalpine autumn color-leaved forests (SACF). Materials and Methods: We used very high-resolution images to quantify gap characteristics and examined the effects of canopy gaps on ACTSD, CPSA, and LAS in 21 SACF plots in southwestern China. We then used path analysis to determine the relationships between these factors. Results: The number of gaps and total gap area were the key gap characteristics affecting LAS; particularly, medium canopy gaps (51–100 m2) played a more important role. The path model showed that increasing the total gap area along with the number of medium canopy gaps had direct positive effects on ACTSD, color-leaved patch diversity, and total color-leaved patch area, thus improving the LAS. Conclusions: Canopy gaps indirectly improve LAS in autumn by significantly affecting ACTSD and CPSA. Our results suggest that forest managers may be able to manipulate the numbers and proportion of medium canopy gaps to protect and preserve ACTSD and color-leaved landscapes, promoting the LAS of SACF, and in turn, ensuring the coordinated development of economic, social, and ecological benefits for the underdeveloped rural montane areas of southwestern China.

scholarly journals Tree Species Diversity, Composition and Aboveground Biomass Across Dry Forest Land-Cover Types in Coastal Ecuador

2021 ◽  
Vol 14 ◽  
pp. 194008292199541
Author(s):  
Xavier Haro-Carrión ◽  
Bette Loiselle ◽  
Francis E. Putz
Keyword(s):  
Species Diversity ◽  
Land Cover ◽  
Community Composition ◽  
Aboveground Biomass ◽  
Tree Species ◽  
Dry Forest ◽  
Stem Density ◽  
Tree Species Diversity ◽  
Land Cover Types ◽  
Schizolobium Parahyba

Tropical dry forests (TDF) are highly threatened ecosystems that are often fragmented due to land-cover change. Using plot inventories, we analyzed tree species diversity, community composition and aboveground biomass patterns across mature (MF) and secondary forests of about 25 years since cattle ranching ceased (SF), 10–20-year-old plantations (PL), and pastures in a TDF landscape in Ecuador. Tree diversity was highest in MF followed by SF, pastures and PL, but many endemic and endangered species occurred in both MF and SF, which demonstrates the importance of SF for species conservation. Stem density was higher in PL, followed by SF, MF and pastures. Community composition differed between MF and SF due to the presence of different specialist species. Some SF specialists also occurred in pastures, and all species found in pastures were also recorded in SF indicating a resemblance between these two land-cover types even after 25 years of succession. Aboveground biomass was highest in MF, but SF and Tectona grandis PL exhibited similar numbers followed by Schizolobium parahyba PL, Ochroma pyramidale PL and pastures. These findings indicate that although species-poor, some PL equal or surpass SF in aboveground biomass, which highlights the critical importance of incorporating biodiversity, among other ecosystem services, to carbon sequestration initiatives. This research contributes to understanding biodiversity conservation across a mosaic of land-cover types in a TDF landscape.

Diversification of tree stands as a means to manage pests and diseases in boreal forests: myth or reality?

2006 ◽  
Vol 36 (2) ◽  
pp. 324-336 ◽  
Author(s):  
Julia Koricheva ◽  
Harri Vehviläinen ◽  
Janne Riihimäki ◽  
Kai Ruohomäki ◽  
Pekka Kaitaniemi ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Species Diversity ◽  
Tree Species ◽  
Boreal Forests ◽  
Tree Mortality ◽  
Tree Species Diversity ◽  
Mixed Stands ◽  
Tree Species Composition ◽  
Pests And Diseases ◽  
Pest Outbreaks ◽  
Disease Epidemics

Pure forest stands are widely believed to be more prone to pest outbreaks and disease epidemics than mixed stands, leading to recommendations of using stand diversification as a means of controlling forest pests and pathogens. We review the existing evidence concerning the effects of stand tree-species diversity on pests and pathogens in forests of the boreal zone. Experimental data from published studies provide no overall support for the hypothesis that diversification of tree stands can prevent pest outbreaks and disease epidemics. Although beneficial effects of tree-species diversity on stand vulnerability are observed in some cases, in terms of reductions in damage, these effects are not consistent over time and space and seem to depend more on tree-species composition than on tree-species diversity per se. In addition, while mixed stands may reduce the densities of some specialized herbivores, they may be more attractive to generalist herbivores. Given that generalist mammalian herbivores cause considerable tree mortality during the early stages of stand establishment in boreal forests, the net effect of stand diversification on stand damage is unlikely to be positive.

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