Retention Forestry Supports Bird Diversity in Managed, Temperate Hardwood Floodplain Forests

The retention forestry approach is considered as one of the potentially effective tools for sustainable forest management for conservation of biodiversity in managed temperate and boreal forests. Retention of old-growth forest structures (e.g., very large old living trees) in forest stands during clear-cutting provides maintenance of key habitats for many old-growth forest interior-species. Most of ecological studies on green tree retention (GTR) consequences for biodiversity have been focused on birds. However, the long-term studies of GTR impacts on forest birds are very poor. In this paper, we focused on assessment of the long-term consequences of leaving legacy oak trees on the cut areas for bird diversity 18–22 years after clear-cutting in managed temperate European hardwood floodplain forests. Results based on bird counting using mapping of bird nesting territories revealed a key importance of legacy oak trees for maintaining bird diversity in the study area. These results are widely applicable for managed temperate hardwood forests with serious dominance of oak (Quercus sp.) in forest stands. Legacy oak trees in this habitat type are keystone structures for bird diversity. Retention approach focused on these trees is potentially an important conservation tool for preserving forest bird diversity and other associated species in temperate hardwood forests managed by clear-cutting.

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The relationship of buried, germinating seeds to vegetation in an old-growth Colorado subalpine forest

Canadian Journal of Botany ◽

10.1139/b78-176 ◽

1978 ◽

Vol 56 (13) ◽

pp. 1505-1509 ◽

Cited By ~ 47

Author(s):

Stephen A. Whipple

Keyword(s):

Subalpine Forest ◽

Forest Species ◽

Forest Stands ◽

Rapid Loss ◽

Old Growth ◽

Old Growth Forest ◽

Viable Seeds ◽

Relationship Of ◽

Germinating Seeds ◽

The Relationship

Species of buried, germinating seeds and species occurring in the vegetation are compared for two Colorado subalpine forest stands, one dry and one mesic, both over 325 years old. The total numbers of seeds found were small and the correspondence with species in the vegetation was poor. This is consistent with reports from other old-growth forests and may be accounted for by a combination of low seed input and rapid loss of viable seeds from the soil reservoir for old-growth forest species.

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Seven decades of change in a European old-growth forest following a stand-replacing wind disturbance: A long-term case study

Forest Ecology and Management ◽

10.1016/j.foreco.2017.05.036 ◽

2017 ◽

Vol 399 ◽

pp. 197-205 ◽

Cited By ~ 17

Author(s):

Peter Jaloviar ◽

Milan Saniga ◽

Stanislav Kucbel ◽

Ján Pittner ◽

Jaroslav Vencurik ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Wind Disturbance ◽

Old Growth ◽

Old Growth Forest

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Long-term performance and herbivory of tree seedlings planted into primary and secondary forests of Central Amazonia

Journal of Tropical Ecology ◽

10.1017/s026646741300031x ◽

2013 ◽

Vol 29 (4) ◽

pp. 301-311 ◽

Cited By ~ 2

Author(s):

Julieta Benítez-Malvido ◽

Miguel Martínez-Ramos

Keyword(s):

Secondary Forest ◽

Tree Seedlings ◽

Secondary Forests ◽

Old Growth ◽

Old Growth Forest ◽

Central Amazonia ◽

One Year ◽

Term Performance ◽

Over Time

Abstract:Plant survival and growth in tropical rain forest are affected by different biotic and abiotic forces. As time elapses and plants grow the relative importance of such forces as regeneration inhibitors and/or facilitators may change according to habitat and species. To detect within- and among-species divergences in performance over time in different habitats we followed, for nearly a decade, the survival, growth and herbivory of seedlings of the native tree species: Chrysophyllum pomiferum, Micropholis venulosa and Pouteria caimito. In Central Amazonia, young seedlings were planted into old-growth and secondary forests dominated by Vismia spp. One year after planting, C. pomiferum ranked first (i.e. fast growth, fewer dead and less herbivory) for both habitats, followed by M. venulosa and P. caimito. Initial trends changed over time. In the long term, M. venulosa ranked first for both habitats, followed by C. pomiferum and P. caimito ranked consistently lowest. Within-species divergences in growth and herbivory were greater in secondary forest. Initial seedling responses cannot always be used to predict species persistence in the long term. Contrary to previous estimations, old-growth-forest species can persist under Vismia spp. stands, at least when planted.

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Older eastern white pine trees and stands sequester carbon for many decades and maximize cumulative carbon

10.1101/2020.10.27.358044 ◽

2020 ◽

Author(s):

Robert T. Leverett ◽

Susan A. Masino ◽

William R. Moomaw

Keyword(s):

New England ◽

Carbon Storage ◽

Safety Net ◽

White Pine ◽

Eastern White Pine ◽

Old Growth ◽

Old Growth Forest ◽

Large Trees ◽

Natural Climate

AbstractPre-settlement New England was heavily forested, with some trees exceeding 2 m in diameter. New England’s forests have regrown since farm abandonment and represent what is arguably the most successful regional reforestation on record; the region has recently been identified as part of the “Global Safety Net.” Remnants and groves of primary “old-growth” forest demonstrate that native tree species can live for hundreds of years and continue to add to the biomass and structural and ecological complexity of forests. Forests are an essential natural climate solution for accumulating and storing atmospheric CO2, and some studies emphasize young, fast-growing trees and forests whereas others highlight high carbon storage and accumulation rates in old trees and intact forests. To address this question directly within New England we leveraged long-term, accurate field measurements along with volume modeling of individual trees and intact stands of eastern white pines (Pinus strobus) and compared our results to models developed by the U.S. Forest Service. Our major findings complement, extend, and clarify previous findings and are three-fold: 1) intact eastern white pine forests continue to sequester carbon and store high cumulative carbon above ground; 2) large trees dominate above-ground carbon storage and can sequester significant amounts of carbon for hundreds of years; 3) productive pine stands can continue to sequester high amounts of carbon for well over 150 years. Because the next decades are critical in addressing the climate crisis, and the vast majority of New England forests are less than 100 years old, and can at least double their cumulative carbon, a major implication of this work is that maintaining and accumulating maximal carbon in existing forests – proforestation - is a powerful near-term regional climate solution. Furthermore, old and old-growth forests are rare, complex and highly dynamic and biodiverse, and dedication of some forests to proforestation will also protect natural selection, ecosystem integrity and full native biodiversity long-term. In sum, strategic policies that grow and protect existing forests in New England will optimize a proven, low cost, natural climate solution for meeting climate and biodiversity goals now and in the critical coming decades.

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