Floristic diversification of spreading liverseed grass pasture according to different cutting intensities, obtained by grazing simulation

This study aimed to evaluate the impacts of different forage cutting intensities, obtained by grazing simulation, on the floristic diversity and productivity of a pasture cultivated with spreading liverseed grass. The experiment was set up in a randomized block design, with four replications and treatments arranged in a 5 × 2 factorial scheme, with five levels of cutting intensity of the simulated grazing (0, 25, 50, 75, and 95% of the forage canopy) associated with two levels of weed coexistence (presence and absence). The evaluations of floristic diversity, number of individuals, and total dry matter of weeds were obtained at 15, 30, 45, 60, and 90 days after grazing simulation (DAGS). All plots were evaluated at the end of the experimental period (90 DAGS) for the amount of dry biomass produced by the pasture. The results showed that higher forage cutting intensities, obtained by grazing simulation, increased the floristic diversity, the number of individuals, and the dry matter accumulated by weeds in a pasture grown with spreading liverseed grass, reducing by up to 56% the production of total dry matter of the forage.

EXPRESS: Frequency versus Intensity: How Thinking of a Frequent Consumption Indulgence as Social versus Solitary affects Preferences for How to Cut Back

Many consumers engage in frequent consumption indulgences. Because such indulgences accumulate resource costs (e.g., money, calories), consumers are often prompted or need to cut back, posing questions for how to design cut-back programs with consumer appeal. This research distinguishes between frequent indulgences that consumers think of as social (vs. solitary), demonstrating that thinking of an indulgence as social (vs. solitary) decreases preferences to cut “frequency” (how often the indulgence occasion occurs) and increases preferences to cut “intensity” (choosing a within-category substitute that involves lower resource expenditure). These effects are explained by differentiating between enjoyment from the product itself versus enjoyment from aspects outside the product. Thinking of an indulgence as social (vs. solitary) heightens anticipated enjoyment particularly for aspects outside of the product, decreasing interest in cutting the number of occasions (cutting frequency) and increasing interest in cutting back on the product itself via a within-category substitute (cutting intensity). This divergence in cut-back preferences for social (vs. solitary) experiences is thus eliminated: 1) when consumers think of social experiences with distant (vs. close) others, which involve lower enjoyment outside of the product, or 2) when solitary experiences primarily involve heightened enjoyment for aspects outside of the product.

Tebang Pilih Mengubah Keanekaragaman Semut Tanah Hutan di Kalimantan Timur, Indonesia

This study assesses the short-term effects of selective cutting on the diversity of ground ants (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) in the secondary rainforest. Ground ants were collected using a pitfall trap in a circular sample plot of 0.5 ha. A total of nine sample plots were randomly placed in a 98-ha cutting compartment. Fifteen pitfall traps were planted in each circular plot. A total of 135 pitfall traps were established in the cutting compartment. The average cutting intensity of 8 trees/haas applied in the cutting compartment. Insect sampling and measurement of environmental factors were carried before cutting and two days after cutting. In this study, the abundance, diversity, species richness, and evenness index of ground ants before cutting compared to after cutting. The results of this study indicated that the short-term impact of selective cutting on ground ants was varied. Selective cutting may increase or decrease the abundance and morphospecies composition of ground ants. The abundance of forager and ground-dwelling omnivores increased after selective cutting, whereas for the predator, scavenger, and seed disperser ants were decreased after selective cutting. Keywords: biodiversity, forest conservation, ground ant, selective cutting

Effects of different weed cutting methods on physical and hydromorphological conditions in lowland streams

Climate change has increased the frequency and intensity of stream flooding events. In response, managing authorities may increase frequency and intensity of aquatic plant removal (weed cutting) to lower the water level in rivers possibly impairing physical and hydromorphological stream conditions. We studied 32 Danish lowland streams subjected to three different weed cutting practices, representing a gradient in weed cutting intensity, and uncut controls to compare physical and hydromorphological habitat quality parameters among stream groups. Moreover, we measured short-term changes in dissolved oxygen (DO) concentrations and suspended sediment (SS) transport in two streams before, during, and just after weed cutting for the least and most pervasive weed cutting method, respectively. Our results indicated a lower habitat quality affiliated with increasing intensity of weed cutting practice, notably an association with silt cover at the expense of hard substrate. DO concentrations were relatively unaltered but an abrupt increase in SS transport comparable to storm events was observed during cutting with the most pervasive method. Our results indicate that ecological and hydromorphological effects of high intensity weed cutting should be carefully studied and considered before large scale implementation.

Ecophysiology of Andropogon grass subjected to different cutting frequencies and intensities

ABSTRACT The objective of this study was to evaluate the morphogenic and structural characteristics, and demographic patterns of Andropogon gayanus subjected to different cutting frequencies and intensities. A completely randomized design was adopted in a 3 × 2 factorial arrangement, corresponding to three cutting heights (50, 70, and 90 cm), and two cutting intensities (50 and 70%) with four repetitions, totaling 24 plots of 7.50 × 6.25 m. For morphogenesis, there was no interaction effect (P ≤ 0.05) of treatments on stem elongation rate, leaf appearance rate, and phyllochron rate. The highest rate of leaf elongation was observed at a height of 90 cm and cut intensity of 50%, with 1.69 and 0.84 cm tiller-1 d-1 of leaf elongation at heights of 50 and 70 cm, respectively. For forage production, there was no interaction (p > 0.05) between cutting intensity and cutting height. When the pasture was managed to a cutting height of 90 cm, there was a greater increase in dry leaf mass, stalk dry mass, dead forage dry mass, and total dry forage mass, which was 50.89% and 53.29% higher than pasture heights of 50 and 70 cm, respectively. There was no interaction between factors on demographic characteristics (p > 0.05). A cutting height of 70 cm with a cutting intensity of 50% is recommended when handling this grass.

PENGARUH INTENSITAS PEMOTONGAN TERHADAP PRODUKTIVITAS Indigofera zollingeriana

THE EFFECT OF DEFOLIATION INTENSITY ON PRODUCTIVITY OF Indigofera zollingeriana. This research aims to know the effect of defoliaion intensity on productivity (fresh production, dry weight production, proportion of leaves and stems) and to know the defoliation intensity with optimal productivity of forage Indigofera zollingeriana. This research was conducted in December 2019 until March 2020. It consisted of defoliation intensity at 75cm (T75), 100cm (T100), 125cm (T125), and 150cm (T150). The design used in this experiment is Completely Randomized Design. The variables in this research were 1. fresh production leaves and stems; 2. dry weight production leaves and stems; 3. the proportion of leaves and stems dry weight production of forages Indigofera zollingeriana. The results showed that the difference of intensity defoliation had a significantly effect (P<0,01) on productivity (fresh production, dry weight production, proportion of leaves and stems) forage Indigofera zollingeriana. Defoliation intensity 75 cm have significantly (P<0,01) fresh and dry weight leaf of Indigofera zollingeriana than hight defoliation 125 cm and 150 cm. Intensity defoliation 125 cm have significantly (P<0,01) leaf-stem ratio of Indigofera zollingeriana than any other. It conclude that intensity defoliation 125 cm have highly productivity. Keywords: Indigofera zollingeriana, cutting intensity, productivity

Temporal effects of cutting intensity on Diptera assemblages in eastern Borneo rainforest Indonesia

Budiaman A, Haneda NF, Indahwati, Febrian D, Rahmah LN . 2020. Temporal effects of cutting intensity on Diptera assemblages in eastern Borneo rainforest Indonesia. Biodiversitas 21: 1074-1081. Studies on the effects of varying cutting intensity on the abundance and species richness of Diptera in tropical rainforest are limited, particularly in Southeast Asia region. The aim of the study was to assess the temporal effect of cutting intensity on Diptera community in tropical rainforest in the eastern Borneo rainforest, Indonesia, which was logged using the Indonesian Selective Cutting and Planting system. The field study was carried out in 2016. Responses of Diptera to the Indonesian Selective Cutting and Planting systems in the eastern Borneo rainforest, Indonesia were examined. We compared the abundance and morphospecies composition of Diptera before cutting and after cutting at three different treatments: low cutting intensity, medium cutting intensity and high cutting intensity. Diptera was collected using a malaise trap. Selective cutting of tropical rainforest altered biodiversity of Diptera. The abundance and morphospecies composition of Diptera were greater after cutting than before cutting at all cutting intensities. Our study showed that cutting intensity did not significantly affect the abundance and morphospecies composition of Diptera. Results of the study clearly indicated that the percentage of forest canopy cover could be a single predictor for abundance and morphospecies composition of Diptera in the natural rainforest of eastern Borneo, Indonesia.

New Silvicultural Treatments for Conifer Peri-Urban Forests Having Broadleaves in the Understory - The First Application in the Peri-Urban of Xanthi in Northeastern Greece

Background and Purpose: In Greece, forest practice did not develop special silvicultural treatments for planted conifer peri-urban forests where broadleaf trees appear as natural regeneration in the understory. The aims of this study are: a) to analyze the new proposed selective silvicultural treatments for the planted peri-urban forest of Xanthi and for analogous planted conifer forests, where broadleaf trees are naturally established in the understory b) to check the research hypothesis that the new selective silvicultural treatments exhibited higher intensity in terms of the basal area of cut trees, compared to that of traditional treatments in the studied peri-urban forest. Materials and Methods: In the traditional treatments, in the pine overstory cuttings, apart from the dead trees, mainly the malformed, damaged, suppressed and intermediate trees were cut. In the lower stories, the goal of the thinning was the more or less uniform distribution of broadleaf trees. In the proposed selective treatments, the main aim of pine cuttings is to release the broadleaf formations growing in the lower stories, while the treatments of the broadleaf trees will be a form of “positive selection” thinning. Plots were established in areas where the two types of treatments were going to be applied. In each plot, tree measurements and a classification of living trees into crown classes took place. After the application of the treatments the characteristics of cut trees were recorded. Results: In the established plots, before the cuttings (and thinning), total basal area was not statistically significantly different between the two types of treatments. In selective treatments, the basal area of all cut trees was statistically significantly higher than that of the results of traditional treatments. In the broadleaf cut trees there were statistical differences in the ratios of dominant, intermediate and suppressed trees between the two silvicultural approaches. Conclusions: The research hypothesis was verified. The intensity of treatments in terms of the basal area of cut trees was higher in the selective approach, compared to the traditional treatments in the Xanthi peri-urban forest. However, the overstory cutting intensity of the selective treatments depends on the spatial distributions and densities of broadleaved and conifer trees. In the broadleaf trees, the different objectives of the two types of treatments resulted in thinning with different qualitative characteristics. The proposed silvicultural treatments will accelerate the conversion of peri-urban conifer forests having an understory of broadleaf trees into broadleaved forests, or into mixed forests of conifers and broadleaf trees.

RESTORATION OF A DEGRADED BOG HYDROLOGICAL REGIME USING SYSTEM DYNAMICS MODELING

In scope of biodiversity and sustainable ecosystem development the restoration of the bog ecosystem is important, because by reducing the drainage effect on the bog, the negative impact on adjacent intact or relatively intact raised bogs and other wetland hydrological regimes is lowered. To restore a degraded bog hydrological regime, it is necessary to fill up the drainage ditches and cut out part of the forest stand. While researching scientific literature the author has obtained no evidence that there is a system dynamics model developed in order to simulate the tree cutting intensity in a degraded bog after filling up the drainage ditches with the aim to speed up the restoration of hydrological regimes, thus this approach is an innovative way of restoring the hydrological regime of degraded bogs. In previous studies the author concluded that the STELLA® system dynamics model is an appropriate tool to model the hydrological regime of bog. As a result of this research there is a STELLA® system dynamics model developed which through mathematical relationships helps to better understand the bog water cycle and to determine the consequences of any intervention on the bog ecosystem, primarily the effect of tree cutting. While running this STELLA® system dynamics model by changing the leaf area index, changes in the peat layer moisture level can be observed, which allows to predict the tree cutting intensity in order to reach the desired peat layer moisture level. By changing input data, this STELLA® system dynamics model could be used in other restoration projects of degraded raised bogs.