Tree species and functional traits but not species richness affect interrill  erosion processes in young subtropical forests

Abstract. Soil erosion is seriously threatening ecosystem functioning in many parts of the world. In this context, it is assumed that tree species richness and functional diversity of tree communities can play a critical role in improving ecosystem services such as erosion control. An experiment with 170 micro-scale run-off plots was conducted to investigate the influence of tree species and tree species richness as well as functional traits on interrill erosion in a young forest ecosystem. An interrill erosion rate of 47.5 Mg ha−1 a−1 was calculated. This study provided evidence that different tree species affect interrill erosion differently, while tree species richness did not affect interrill erosion in young forest stands. Thus, different tree morphologies have to be considered, when assessing soil erosion under forest. High crown cover and leaf area index reduced interrill erosion in initial forest ecosystems, whereas rising tree height increased it. Even if a leaf litter cover was not present, the remaining soil surface cover by stones and biological soil crusts was the most important driver for soil erosion control. Furthermore, soil organic matter had a decreasing influence on interrill erosion. Long-term monitoring of soil erosion under closing tree canopies is necessary, and a wide range of functional tree traits should be considered in future research.

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Tree species identity and functional traits but not species richness affect interrill erosion processes in young subtropical forests

SOIL Discussions ◽

10.5194/soild-2-701-2015 ◽

2015 ◽

Vol 2 (1) ◽

pp. 701-736 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

S. Seitz ◽

P. Goebes ◽

Z. Song ◽

H. Bruelheide ◽

W. Härdtle ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Species Richness ◽

Soil Erosion ◽

Functional Traits ◽

Tree Species ◽

Erosion Control ◽

Tree Species Richness ◽

Young Forest ◽

Wide Range ◽

Interrill Erosion ◽

Soil Losses

Abstract. Soil erosion is seriously threatening ecosystem functioning in many parts of the world. In this context, it is assumed that tree species richness and functional diversity of tree communities can play a critical role in improving ecosystem services such as erosion control. An experiment with 170 micro-scale runoff plots was conducted to investigate the influence of tree species richness and identity as well as tree functional traits on interrill erosion in a young forest ecosystem. An interrill erosion rate of 47.5 t ha−1 a−1 was calculated. This study provided evidence that different tree species affect interrill erosion, but higher tree species richness did not mitigate soil losses in young forest stands. Thus, different tree morphologies have to be considered, when assessing erosion under forest. High crown cover and leaf area index reduced soil losses in initial forest ecosystems, whereas rising tree height increased them. Even if a leaf litter cover was not present, remaining soil surface cover by stones and biological soil crusts was the most important driver for soil erosion control. Furthermore, soil organic matter had a decreasing influence on soil loss. Long-term monitoring of soil erosion under closing tree canopies is necessary and a wide range of functional tree traits should be taken into consideration in future research.

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Does the abundance of dominant trees affect diversity of a widespread tropical woodland ecosystem in Tanzania?

Journal of Tropical Ecology ◽

10.1017/s0266467415000231 ◽

2015 ◽

Vol 31 (4) ◽

pp. 345-359 ◽

Cited By ~ 7

Author(s):

Deo D. Shirima ◽

Ørjan Totland ◽

Pantaleo K. T. Munishi ◽

Stein R. Moe

Keyword(s):

Species Richness ◽

Relative Abundance ◽

Tree Species ◽

Woody Species ◽

Climatic Conditions ◽

Miombo Woodlands ◽

Small Individual ◽

Tree Species Richness ◽

Wide Range ◽

Brachystegia Spiciformis

Abstract:Dominant woody species can determine the structure and composition of a plant community by affecting environmental conditions experienced by other species. We explored how dominant tree species affect the tree species richness, diversity, evenness and vertical structural heterogeneity of non-dominant species in wet and dry miombo woodlands of Tanzania. We sampled 146 plots from eight districts with miombo woodlands, covering a wide range of topographic and climatic conditions. We recorded 217 woody plant species belonging to 48 families and 122 genera. Regression analysis showed significant negative linear associations between tree species richness, relative species profile index of the non-dominant and the relative abundance of the dominant tree species (Brachystegia spiciformis and Brachystegia microphylla in wet, and Brachystegia spiciformis and Julbernardia globiflora in dry miombo woodlands). Shannon diversity and evenness had strong non-linear negative relationships with relative abundance of dominant tree species. A large number of small individual stems from dominant and non-dominant tree species suggesting good regeneration conditions, and intensive competition affecting survival. We suggest that dominant miombo tree species are suppressing the non-dominant miombo tree species, especially in areas with high recruitments, perhaps because of their important adaptive features (extensive root systems and ectomycorrhizal associations), which enhance their ability to access limited nutrients.

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Drivers of understorey biomass – tree species identity is more important than richness in a young forest

Journal of Plant Ecology ◽

10.1093/jpe/rtab004 ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

Markus S Germany ◽

Helge Bruelheide ◽

Alexandra Erfmeier

Keyword(s):

Species Richness ◽

Tree Species ◽

Ecosystem Functioning ◽

Temporal Dynamics ◽

Light Transmittance ◽

Productivity Change ◽

Species Identity ◽

Tree Species Richness ◽

Young Forest ◽

Species Richness Gradient

Abstract Aims Positive biodiversity ecosystem functioning relationships have been widely reported, predominately from grassland ecosystems. However, this does not necessarily have to apply accordingly in more complex situations such as in forests across different vertical strata. For instance, overstorey tree species richness has been shown to be associated with a lower understorey productivity. Whether or not tree species richness effects add to understorey productivity by increasing (i.e. due to habitat heterogeneity) or reducing resource availability (i.e. through increasing competition) and whether understorey productivity is indeed being governed more strongly by tree species identity are likely to change over time. Moreover, studies also suggested that richness-productivity relationships change with the environmental context. Using an experimental forest plantation with manipulated tree species richness, this study examined these temporal and environmental dynamics across strata. Methods In the context of the Biodiversity-Ecosystem Functioning project in subtropical China (BEF-China), we made use of understorey biomass samples repeatedly collected over a time period of three years along a tree species richness gradient. The effects of tree species richness, tree species identities and time were studied across different environmental treatments for their impact on understorey biomass. Important Findings While we found significant and consistent tree layer identity effects on understorey biomass, no such effect was encountered for tree species richness. Our results also indicate that among structural layers in forests, there might not be a single, generalizable overstorey species richness- understorey productivity relationship, and that the extent as to which overstorey-related environmental factors such as light transmittance contribute to understorey productivity change with time. Overall, we demonstrate that temporal dynamics should be considered when studying relationship among structural layers in forests.

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The mechanisms explaining tree species richness and composition are convergent in a megadiverse hotspot

Biodiversity and Conservation ◽

10.1007/s10531-019-01910-9 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 29 (3) ◽

pp. 799-815

Author(s):

Victor P. Zwiener ◽

André A. Padial ◽

Márcia C. M. Marques

Keyword(s):

Species Richness ◽

Tree Species ◽

Tree Species Richness

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Tree species richness and the logging of natural forests: A meta-analysis

Forest Ecology and Management ◽

10.1016/j.foreco.2012.04.001 ◽

2012 ◽

Vol 276 ◽

pp. 146-153 ◽

Cited By ~ 52

Author(s):

Jason A. Clark ◽

Kristofer R. Covey

Keyword(s):

Species Richness ◽

Tree Species ◽

Meta Analysis ◽

Natural Forests ◽

Tree Species Richness

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One, two and three-dimensional geometric constraints and climatic correlates of North American tree species richness

Ecography ◽

10.1111/j.1600-0587.2010.06395.x ◽

2010 ◽

Vol 34 (2) ◽

pp. 267-275 ◽

Cited By ~ 5

Author(s):

Helen T. Murphy ◽

Jeremy VanDerWal ◽

Jon Lovett-Doust

Keyword(s):

Species Richness ◽

North American ◽

Tree Species ◽

Three Dimensional ◽

Geometric Constraints ◽

Tree Species Richness

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Potential Changes in Tree Species Richness and Forest Community Types following Climate Change

Ecosystems ◽

10.1007/s10021-001-0003-6 ◽

2001 ◽

Vol 4 (3) ◽

pp. 186-199 ◽

Cited By ~ 144

Author(s):

Louis R. Iverson ◽

Anantha M. Prasad

Keyword(s):

Climate Change ◽

Species Richness ◽

Tree Species ◽

Forest Community ◽

Tree Species Richness ◽

Community Types

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Spatial pattern of riparian plants along stream order among mountain rivers in China

Journal of Water and Climate Change ◽

10.2166/wcc.2018.047 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 9 (2) ◽

pp. 322-330

Author(s):

Rong Sun ◽

Xiaojie Luo ◽

Xiangyu Meng ◽

Yan Wang

Keyword(s):

Species Richness ◽

Environmental Factors ◽

Tree Species ◽

Riparian Vegetation ◽

Stream Order ◽

River Continuum ◽

Riparian Plants ◽

Tree Species Richness ◽

Riparian Species ◽

Significant Difference

Abstract The streams in a watershed form a hierarchical network system. From the perspective of the river continuum, this classification system is the result of gradual increase in traffic. This study analyzed the riparian species richness, diversity and environmental factors along a six-order hierarchical mountain river in the Donghe watershed, China. A total of 34 sampling sites were sampled to study the spatial distribution of riparian plants among different stream orders. The results showed: Environmental factors among stream orders had significant differences. Among stream order, species richness showed remarkable differences. The species richness rose firstly and dropped afterwards except for tree species richness; tree species richness decreased while stream order increased. The same is true for shrub quadrat species richness. Shannon-Wiener diversity, Simpson dominance and Pielou uniformity showed significant difference among stream orders; Shannon-Wiener diversity rose firstly then dropped afterwards. For integrated environmental factors and community characteristics, we found the changes of stream orders had a significant impact on riparian habitats and riparian vegetation. Further analysis showed that riparian vegetation experienced different types and degrees of disturbance in different stream orders. This meant that a hierarchical management strategy should be applied to riparian vegetation management.

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Factors Influencing the Natural Forest Regeneration at Khadimnagar National Park, Bangladesh

Borneo Journal of Resource Science and Technology ◽

10.33736/bjrst.3437.2021 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 11 (1) ◽

pp. 73-83

Author(s):

MAHEDI HASAN LIMON ◽

SAIDA HOSSAIN ARA ◽

MOHAMMAD GOLAM KIBRIA

Keyword(s):

Species Richness ◽

Bulk Density ◽

Total Variation ◽

Soil Ph ◽

Tree Species ◽

Natural Regeneration ◽

National Park ◽

Canopy Openness ◽

Site Factors ◽

Tree Species Richness

Natural regeneration is an indicator of a healthy forest, hence, understanding the influence of site factors on natural regeneration is a significant concern for ecologists. This work aimed to assess the impact of site factors on natural tree regeneration at Khadimnagar National Park (KNP). Biotic factors (tree density, tree species richness, and basal area), physical factors (elevation, canopy openness), and soil properties (bulk density, moisture content, soil pH, organic matter, sand, silt, and clay) data were investigated from 71 sample plots to examine their effects on natural regeneration density and richness in KNP. Stepwise multiple linear regression analysis was done to predict both regeneration density and regeneration richness. The results showed that soil pH (p<0.001), canopy openness (p<0.001), tree species richness (p<0.01), and bulk density (p<0.01) had a significant effect on regeneration density, explaining 42% of the total variation. Regeneration richness was driven by four factors: tree species richness (p<0.01), soil pH (p<0.001), elevation (p<0.01), and canopy openness (p<0.01) with a model that explained 60% of the total variation. This study observed that soil pH, tree species richness, and canopy openness are the main controlling factors that influenced both the density and richness of regenerating species in KNP. Therefore, these findings have implications for natural resource management, especially in selecting suitable silvicultural systems in a tropical forest under protected area management where enhanced tree cover and conservation of biodiversity are needed.

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