The Role of Grassy Habitats in Agroforestry

Planting shelterbelts on agricultural fields has long traditions in Hungary. The biodiversityenhancing effect of this type of agroforestry is intensively researched, but most of the results concentrate on tree species diversity and specific animal communities such as insects and birds. The characteristics of herbaceous vegetation and soil mesofauna related to shelterbelts are understudied; however, both communities play key roles in agricultural productivity. This study aimed to explore the diversity and species composition of these groups in shelterbelts and adjacent grassy and cropped habitats. Samples were taken inside and adjacent to a native and a non-native shelterbelt in an agricultural landscape. The results highlight that shelterbelt edges are at least as important as tree stands in preserving soil-related diversity. Native tree species composition shows slightly more favorable conditions concerning the examined communities. While the positive impact of shelterbelts on the agricultural productivity and the diversity of several animal communities has been proven, the appearance of forest-related herbaceous species in tree stands planted on cultivated fields is not expected, even after decades have passed. The research was supported by the Blue Planet Climate Protection Foundation.

Download Full-text

Testing the enemies hypothesis in forest stands: the important role of tree species composition

Oecologia ◽

10.1007/s00442-004-1696-y ◽

2004 ◽

Vol 142 (1) ◽

pp. 90-97 ◽

Cited By ~ 60

Author(s):

Janne Riihimäki ◽

Pekka Kaitaniemi ◽

Julia Koricheva ◽

Harri Vehviläinen

Keyword(s):

Species Composition ◽

Tree Species ◽

Forest Stands ◽

Tree Species Composition ◽

Enemies Hypothesis

Download Full-text

Lability of C in temperate forest soils: Assessing the role of nitrogen addition and tree species composition

Soil Biology and Biochemistry ◽

10.1016/j.soilbio.2014.06.025 ◽

2014 ◽

Vol 77 ◽

pp. 129-140 ◽

Cited By ~ 16

Author(s):

Alexandra Rodriguez ◽

Gary M. Lovett ◽

Kathleen C. Weathers ◽

Mary A. Arthur ◽

Pamela H. Templer ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Species Composition ◽

Forest Soils ◽

Tree Species ◽

Temperate Forest ◽

Nitrogen Addition ◽

Tree Species Composition ◽

Temperate Forest Soils

Download Full-text

Tree Species Composition and Diversity of Ipinu-Igede Sacred Forest in Oju Local Government Area of Benue State, Nigeria

Journal of Agriculture and Ecology Research International ◽

10.9734/jaeri/2019/v18i330059 ◽

2019 ◽

pp. 1-10

Author(s):

E. T. Ikyaagba ◽

J. I. Amonum ◽

S. Okwoche

Keyword(s):

Species Richness ◽

Species Diversity ◽

Species Composition ◽

Tree Species ◽

Base Line ◽

Species Evenness ◽

Tree Species Composition ◽

Sacred Forest ◽

Sacred Forests

The role of sacred forest/sacred groves in the conservation of biodiversity is well recognised and documented. Despite the importance of sacred forests in conservation, data of flora species composition and diversity in many sacred forests still remain scanty. The study was conducted to provide baseline data on tree species composition and diversity of Ipinu-Igede sacred forest with a view to promote the role of sacred forest in flora conservation in the area. Systematic sampling technique was adopted for the study. A base line transect of 2 km long was established and five (5) other transects 2 km long were laid at regular interval of 500 km apart. On each transect, 4 sampling plots of 50 mx50 m were established at a regular interval of 500m apart. Within the 50 m x50 m plots, trees with diameter at breast height (DBH)≥10 cm were identified and enumerated. Species Important Value Index (IVI), species richness, species evenness and species diversity were estimated. A total number of 50 tree species in 19 families were recorded. Cola gigantea was the most important tree species with IVI of 14.56, this was followed by Harungana madagascariensis with 13.14. Caesalpinioideae was the dominant family with 6 species, 48.15% of the families were represented by only one species. The species richness was D=9.436, Species Evenness was E´=0.7668 and species diversity was H=3.646. Thirty percent (30%) of the tree species were in the DBH class of 1-40cm indicating good regeneration status of the sacred forest. Acknowledgement of the traditional practices by scientists and other actors in natural resources conservation will help in promoting forest conservation.

Download Full-text

Tree Species Composition and Regeneration Status of Shitalpur Forest Beat under Chittagong North Forest Division, Bangladesh

Advances in Ecology ◽

10.1155/2016/5947874 ◽

2016 ◽

Vol 2016 ◽

pp. 1-7 ◽

Cited By ~ 2

Author(s):

Asadozzaman Nur ◽

Rajasree Nandi ◽

Mohammed Jashimuddin ◽

Mohammed Akhter Hossain

Keyword(s):

Species Composition ◽

Tree Species ◽

Basal Area ◽

Stem Density ◽

Tree Species Composition ◽

Regeneration Status ◽

Forest Division ◽

Toona Ciliata ◽

Favorable Conditions ◽

Changes Over Time

Biodiversity erosion particularly in developing countries is a matter of great concern to the global ecological community. Species composition and regeneration indicate the health of forest. This study explored tree species composition and regeneration of natural hill forest of Shitalpur under Chittagong North Forest Division through 27 sample plots of 20 m × 20 m for trees and 2 m × 2 m for regeneration. A total of 47 tree species belonging to 29 families and 17 regenerating species belonging to 15 families were recorded. The tree stem density, basal area, and wood volume were 0.49 m2/ha, 1425 stem/ha, and 189.9 m3/ha, respectively. Mean regeneration was significantly higher in bottom hill (14374 seedlings/ha) compared to top hill (9671 seedlings/ha). Toona ciliata was highest (4444 seedlings/ha) at the bottom hill compared to other hill positions. The result shows that only 36% of the tree species (17 out of 47) are regenerating in the study area, meaning majority of the tree species (64%) are not getting favorable conditions to regenerate. This might be due to absence of mature tree species as a result of overexploitation by local people. The findings may help in monitoring the species composition changes over time and adopting specific conservation programs for Shitalpur Forest.

Download Full-text

Langfristige Entwicklung von zwei Waldgesellschaften im Białowieża-Urwald

Schweizerische Zeitschrift fur Forstwesen ◽

10.3188/szf.2008.0080 ◽

2008 ◽

Vol 159 (4) ◽

pp. 80-90 ◽

Cited By ~ 3

Author(s):

Bogdan Brzeziecki ◽

Feliks Eugeniusz Bernadzki

Keyword(s):

Species Composition ◽

Tree Species ◽

Stand Structure ◽

Temporal Dynamics ◽

Structural Parameters ◽

Forest Communities ◽

Natural Forests ◽

Tree Species Composition ◽

Strong Trend ◽

Long Term Study

The results of a long-term study on the natural forest dynamics of two forest communities on one sample plot within the Białowieża National Park in Poland are presented. The two investigated forest communities consist of the Pino-Quercetum and the Tilio-Carpinetum type with the major tree species Pinus sylvestris, Picea abies, Betula sp., Quercus robur, Tilia cordata and Carpinus betulus. The results reveal strong temporal dynamics of both forest communities since 1936 in terms of tree species composition and of general stand structure. The four major tree species Scots pine, birch, English oak and Norway spruce, which were dominant until 1936, have gradually been replaced by lime and hornbeam. At the same time, the analysis of structural parameters indicates a strong trend towards a homogenization of the vertical stand structure. Possible causes for these dynamics may be changes in sylviculture, climate change and atmospheric deposition. Based on the altered tree species composition it can be concluded that a simple ≪copying≫ (mimicking) of the processes taking place in natural forests may not guarantee the conservation of the multifunctional character of the respective forests.

Download Full-text

Effects of nitrogen deposition on nitrate leaching from forests of the northeastern United States will change with tree species composition

Canadian Journal of Forest Research ◽

10.1139/cjfr-2016-0529 ◽

2017 ◽

Vol 47 (8) ◽

pp. 997-1009 ◽

Cited By ~ 5

Author(s):

Katherine F. Crowley ◽

Gary M. Lovett

Keyword(s):

United States ◽

Species Composition ◽

Nitrate Leaching ◽

Tree Species ◽

N Deposition ◽

Red Oak ◽

Northeastern United States ◽

Tree Species Composition ◽

White Ash ◽

Species Change

As tree species composition in forests of the northeastern United States changes due to invasive forest pests, climate change, or other stressors, the extent to which forests will retain or release N from atmospheric deposition remains uncertain. We used a species-specific, dynamic forest ecosystem model (Spe-CN) to investigate how nitrate (NO3–) leaching may vary among stands dominated by different species, receiving varied atmospheric N inputs, or undergoing species change due to an invasive forest pest (emerald ash borer; EAB). In model simulations, NO3– leaching varied widely among stands dominated by 12 northeastern North American tree species. Nitrate leaching increased with N deposition or forest age, generally with greater magnitude for deciduous (except red oak) than coniferous species. Species with lowest baseline leaching rates (e.g., red spruce, eastern hemlock, red oak) showed threshold responses to N deposition. EAB effects on leaching depended on the species replacing white ash: after 100 years, predicted leaching increased 73% if sugar maple replaced ash but decreased 55% if red oak replaced ash. This analysis suggests that the effects of tree species change on NO3– leaching over time may be large and variable and should be incorporated into predictions of effects of N deposition on leaching from forested landscapes.

Download Full-text