Diversity patterns of ground beetles and understory vegetation in mature, secondary, and plantation forest regions of temperate northern China.

Yi Zou,Shunzhong Wang,Weiguo Sang,Jan Christoph Axmacher,Zhenrong Yu,Changliu Wang,Yunhui Liu,Eleanor Warren‐Thomas

doi:10.1002/ece3.1367

Abstract

Plantation and secondary forests form increasingly important components of the global forest cover, but our current knowledge about their potential contribution to biodiversity conservation is limited. We surveyed understory plant and carabid species assemblages at three distinct regions in temperate northeastern China, dominated by mature forest (Changbaishan Nature Reserve, sampled in 2011 and 2012), secondary forest (Dongling Mountain, sampled in 2011 and 2012), and forest plantation habitats (Bashang Plateau, sampled in 2006 and 2007), respectively. The α-diversity of both taxonomic groups was highest in plantation forests of the Bashang Plateau. Beetle α-diversity was lowest, but plant and beetle species turnover peaked in the secondary forests of Dongling Mountain, while habitats in the Changbaishan Nature Reserve showed the lowest turnover rates for both taxa. Changbaishan Nature Reserve harbored the highest proportion of forest specialists. Our results suggest that in temperate regions of northern China, the protected larch plantation forest established over extensive areas might play a considerable role in maintaining a high biodiversity in relation to understory herbaceous plant species and carabid assemblages, which can be seen as indicators of forest disturbance. The high proportion of phytophagous carabids and the rarity of forest specialists reflect the relatively homogenous, immature status of the forest ecosystems on the Bashang Plateau. China's last remaining large old-growth forests like the ones on Changbaishan represent stable, mature ecosystems which require particular conservation attention.

Highlights

The loss of biodiversity due to deforestation has been of increasing global concern
It is believed that mature forests are irreplaceable for sustaining biodiversity (Gibson et al 2011; Ruiz-Benito et al 2012), secondary and plantation forests are known to play an important role in maintaining forest biodiversity (Barbaro et al 2005)
The overall objectives of this study were to compare the a-diversity of herbaceous plants and carabids in the three regions dominated by mature, secondary, and plantation forests, respectively, and to analyze the structure of ground beetle and plant assemblages in the study regions

Summary

Introduction

The loss of biodiversity due to deforestation has been of increasing global concern. Only 36% of the world’s forest cover of 4 billion ha consists of “primary” or mature forests, whereas 53% of the forest ecosystems are modified natural forests, 7% represent seminatural forests and 4% are forest plantations (FAO 2006). Not least due to the marked regeneration of native forest vegetation in the undergrowth of many forest plantations, any logging activities beyond normal stand management have been strictly banned in these forests (Wang et al 2007), generating a number of large-scale, well-protected plantation and secondary forest mosaics (Li 2004) Their protection is further underpinned by various government programs aimed at conserving reforestation and afforestation forest resources. The main functions of these largescale protected secondary forests and forest plantations are seen in the prevention of soil erosion and associated sand storms as well as in carbon sequestration Their establishment, is lacking clear conservation and habitat restoration objectives (Sayer et al 2004). Forest plantations have even resulted in substantial ecosystem and biodiversity degradation (Cao et al 2010b; Xu 2011), while in most cases, their effects on local species richness and composition are unknown

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