Exotic Plantations Research Articles

Habitat filtering by landscape and local forest composition in native and exotic New Zealand birds

Untangling the relative influences of environmental filtering and biotic interactions on species coexistence at various spatial scales is a long-held issue in community ecology. Separating these processes is especially important to understand the influences of introduced exotic species on the composition of native communities. For this aim, we investigated coexistence patterns in New Zealand exotic and native birds along multiple-scale habitat gradients. We built a Bayesian hierarchical model, contrasting the abundance variations of 10 native and 11 exotic species in 501 point counts spread along landscape and local-scale gradients of forest structure and composition. Although native and exotic species both occurred in a wide range of habitats, they were separated by landscape-level variables. Exotic species were most abundant in exotic conifer plantations embedded in farmland matrices, while native birds predominated in areas dominated by continuous native forest. In exotic plantation forests, and to a lesser extent in native forests, locally co-occurring exotic and native species were segregated along a gradient of vegetation height. These results support the prediction that exotic and native bird species are segregated along gradients related to anthropogenic disturbance and habitat availability. In addition, native and exotic species overlapped little in a multivariate functional space based on 10 life history traits associated with habitat selection. Hence, habitat segregation patterns were probably mediated more by environmental filtering processes than by competition at landscape and local scales.

Soil carbon and nitrogen sequestration over an age sequence of Pinus patula plantations in Zimbabwean Eastern Highlands

Forests play a major role in regulating the rate of increase of global atmospheric carbon dioxide (CO2) concentrations creating a need to investigate the ability of exotic plantations to sequester atmospheric CO2. This study examined pine plantations located in the Eastern Highlands of Zimbabwe relative to carbon (C) and nitrogen (N) storage along an age series. Samples of stand characteristics, forest floor (L, F and H) and 0–10, 10–30 and 30–60cm soil depth were randomly taken from replicated stands in Pinus patula Schiede & Deppe of 1, 10, 20, 25, and 30years plus two natural forests. Sodium polytungstate (density 1.6gcm−3) was used to isolate organic matter into free light fraction (fLF), occluded light fraction (oLF) and mineral associated heavy fraction (MaHF). In both natural and planted forests, above ground tree biomass was the major ecosystem C pool followed by forest floor’s humus (H) layer in addition to the 45%, 31% and 24% of SOC contributed by the 0–10, 10–30 and 30–60cm soil depths respectively. Stand age caused significant differences in total organic C and N stocks. Carbon and N declined initially soon after establishment but recovered rapidly at 10years, after which it declined following silvicultural operations (thinning and pruning) and recovered again by 25years. Soil C and N stocks were highest in moist forest (18.3kgCm−2 and 0.66kg of Nm−2) and lowest in the miombo (8.5kgm−2 of C and 0.22kg of Nm−2). Average soil C among Pinus stands was 11.4kg of Cm−2, being highest at 10years (13.7 of Ckgm−2) and lowest at 1year (9.9kg of Cm−2). Some inputs of charcoal through bioturbation over the 25year period contributed to stabilisation of soil organic carbon (SOC) and its depth distribution compared to the one year old stands. Nitrogen was highest at 10years (0.85kg of Nm−2) and least at 30years (0.22kg of Nm−2). Carbon and N in density fractions showed the 20year old stand having similar proportions of fLF and oLF while the rest had significantly higher fLF than oLF. The contribution of fLF C, oLF C and MaHF C to SOC was 8–13%, 1–7% and 90–91% respectively. Carbon and N in all fractions decreased with depth. The mineral associated C was significantly affected by stand age whilst the fLF and oLF were not. Conversion of depleted miombo woodlands to pine plantations yield better C gains in the short and long run whilst moist forest provide both carbon and biodiversity. Our results highlight the importance of considering forestry age based C pools in estimating C sink potential over a rotation and the possibility of considering conservation of existing natural forests as part of future REDD+projects.

Effects of native and exotic tree plantation on carbon sequestration at arid areas of Zagros region (Case study: Abgarm forest park, Dehloran)

افزایش نگرانی­ها در زمینه گرمایش جهانی موجب شده که به خاک و توانایی آن در ترسیب کربن توجه ویژه­ای شود. این تحقیق به منظور بررسی اثر جنگل­کاری بر ترسیب کربن خاک در مناطق خشک انجام گردید. برای این منظور پارک جنگلی آبگرم دهلران (با گونه­های اکالیپتوس، کهور و کنار) و یک منطقه شاهد همجوار (غیرجنگلی) انتخاب و به­طور تصادفی- سیستماتیک از عمق 20-0 سانتی‌متری خاک نمونه‌برداری و میزان ترسیب کربن و سایر عناصر نظیر فسفر، پتاسیم، ازت، وزن مخصوص ظاهری، اسیدیته، رطوبت، درصد رس، سیلت، شن و سنگ­ریزه اندازه­گیری شد. نتایج نشان داد که میزان ترسیب کربن خاک در منطقه جنگلی معادل 71/117 تن در هکتار و تقریبا پنج برابر منطقه غیرجنگلی (82/24 تن در هکتار) بود. همچنین میانگین ترسیب کربن خاک در رویشگاه کهور به طور معنی­داری (005/0P<) بیشتر از رویشگاه کنار بوده، اما بین میزان ترسیب کربن در رویشگاه­های کهور و اکالیپتوس و رویشگاه­های کنار و اکالیپتوس اختلاف معنی­داری وجود نداشت. میزان ترسیب کربن خاک در منطقه متراکم رویشگاه اکالیپتوس به طور معنی­داری بیشتر از منطقه غیرمتراکم بوده، اما از این نظر در دو رویشگاه کنار و کهور تفاوت معنی­داری وجود نداشت. از سوی دیگر میزان ترسیب کربن خاک در زیر و خارج تاج پوشش در رویشگاه کنار به طور معنی­داری متفاوت بوده، اما در دو رویشگاه دیگر تفاوت معنی داری مشاهده نشد. با توجه به نتایج این تحقیق می‌توان ابراز داشت که توسعه جنگل‌کاری­ این منطقه نقش مهمی در کاهش آلودگی­های اتمسفری داشته است، به گونه­ای که توسعه این جنگل‌کاری­ها را در سطوح بیشتر می­توان پیشنهاد نمود.

Foliar and litter needle carbon and oxygen isotope compositions relate to tree growth of an exotic pine plantation under different residue management regimes in subtropical Australia

Background and aim Significant differences in tree growth were observed in an exotic pine plantation under different harvest residue management regimes at ages 2–10 years. However, the variations in tree growth between residue management treatments could not be explained by soil and foliar nutrient analyses, except by potassium (K) concentration. Therefore, this study determined the carbon isotope composition (δ13C) and oxygen isotope composition (δ18O) of current and archived foliar samples from the exotic pine plantation to establish relationships with foliar K concentration and tree growth indices as a means to determine changes in stomatal conductance (gs) and photosynthetic rate (Amax) or water use efficiency (WUE), and therefore understand the variations in tree growth across treatments.

Hot water extractable phosphorus pools as indicators of soil P responses to harvest residue management in an exotic pine plantation of subtropical Australia

Purpose This study evaluated the potential of using hot water extractable phosphorus (P) pools as a method to assess the impacts of harvest residue management on the bioavailability of P in an exotic pine plantation of southeast Queensland, Australia.

Home Range and Habitat Use of New Zealand Falcons (Falco novaeseelandiae) in an Exotic Plantation Forest During the Breeding Season

The New Zealand Falcon (Falco novaeseelandiae) is a threatened endemic species whose numbers have been reduced by habitat loss and the introduction of exotic predators. The species has recently been discovered breeding in exotic plantation forests. Understanding how New Zealand Falcons use plantation forests is critical to its effective management in this habitat. To determine patterns of habitat selection and inform habitat management, we studied the home-range size and habitat use of 13 adult New Zealand Falcons in Kaingaroa pine plantation. This plantation comprises 180,000 ha of nonnative pine trees that are planted and harvested in discrete ‘stands’ that create a mosaic of pine stand ages across the landscape. We radio-tracked eight males and five females for 12 wk during the 2004 and 2005 breeding seasons. Mean home-range sizes were 9.2 ± 4.2 km2 for males and 6.2 ± 3.2 km2 for females (mean ± SD). To investigate habitat use, pine stands were categorized by tree age and further classified into stand edge and stand interior. Both sexes strongly favored the edges between pine stands where stands less than 4 yr old bordered those greater than 19 yr old. Females also preferentially used the interior of pine stands less than 4 yr old, whereas males were more often found along the edges of these young stands. We conclude that if forestry managers wish to enhance the suitability of their estates for the New Zealand Falcon, they should provide a mosaic of different aged stands, while ensuring that stands less than 4 yr old bordering stands greater than 19 yr old are consistently available.Falco novaeseelandiae es una especie endémica amenazada cuyos números poblacionales se han visto reducidos por la pérdida de hábitat y la introducción de depredadores exóticos. Recientemente se ha descubierto a la especie reproduciéndose en plantaciones forestales exóticas. Entender cómo F. novaeseelandiae utiliza los bosques implantados es crítico para su manejo efectivo en este tipo de hábitat. Para determinar los patrones de selección de hábitat y conducir el manejo de hábitat, estudiamos el tamaño del rango de hogar y el uso de hábitat de 13 individuos adultos de F. novaeseelandiae en la plantación de pinos de Kaingaroa. Esta plantación comprende 180,000 ha de pinos exóticos implantados y que son explotados en rodales discretos que crean un mosaico de rodales de pinos de distinta edad a través del paisaje. Localizamos con radio transmisores ocho machos y cinco hembras durante 12 semanas en las épocas reproductivas de 2004 y 2005. Los tamaños medios de rango de hogar fueron de 9.2 ± 4.2 km2 para los machos y de 6.2 ± 3.2 km2 para las hembras (media ± DE). Para investigar el uso de hábitat, los rodales de pino fueron categorizados por edad de árbol y clasificados en borde de rodal e interior de rodal. Ambos sexos mostraron una marcada preferencia por los bordes entre rodales de pino, donde los rodales de menos de cuatro años de edad bordearon aquellos de más de 19 años de edad. Las hembras también utilizaron preferentemente el interior de los rodales de pino de menos de cuatro años de edad, mientras que los machos fueron encontrados más a menudo a lo largo de los bordes de estos rodales jóvenes. Concluimos que si los encargados de la forestación desean mejorar la aptitud de sus plantaciones para F. novaeseelandiae, deberían mantener un mosaico de rodales de edades diferentes, asegurando que los rodales de menos de cuatro años de edad estén bordeando los rodales de más de 19 años de edad.

Photosynthetic Responses of Seedlings of two Indigenous Plants inside Exotic Tree Plantations and adjacent Natural Forest in Munessa–Shashemene Forest, SouthernEthiopia

The potential role of exotic tree plantations in facilitating successional processes on degraded areas was evaluated in southern Ethiopia, Munessa-Shashemene forest, by examining photosynthetic responses of Bersamaabyssinica Fres. and Croton macrostachyusDel. seedlings naturally grown inside plantations of Eucalyptussaligna and Pinuspatula and adjacent natural forest. Photosynthetic responses of the seedlings were recorded using modulated photosynthesis yield analyzer, Mini-PAM. Analysis of fluorescence parameters in the leaves showed no significant differences in the level of dark-adapted and light-adapted fluorescence yield (Fv/Fm and ΔF/Fm , , respectively) among seedlings grown inside plantations and adjacent natural forest indicating similar photosynthetic performance. The light response curves of electron transport rate (ETR), light-adapted fluorescence yield (ΔF/Fm , ) and non-photochemical quenching (NPQ)showed similar light saturation behavior among the seedlings grown inside plantations and natural forest and suggested a shade-adapted behavior of Bersamaabyssinica as compared to Croton macrostachyus. The results suggest the role of exotic tree plantationsin facilitating restoration processes on degraded areas by improving light conditions for photosynthesis.

From research to responsible advocacy: the Association for Tropical Biology and Conservation finds common ground in Aceh, Indonesia

[Extract] Dramatic losses of forest and biodiversity across the Asia-Pacific region are a great cause for concern. The region's tropical ecosystems are under immense pressures, be it from conversion to exotic plantations in Indonesia and Malaysia or intense demand for wildlife products in Vietnam and China. The fragmentation and disturbance of natural vegetation by proliferating road networks and other infrastructures is seriously affecting many sensitive species, especially those that are slow-reproducing, large- bodied or range-restricted. Such changes are already altering seed dispersal, pollination and other key forest processes, making it even more difficult to predict the future impacts of climate change.

Diversity and Abundance Patterns of Amphibians in Rehabilitated Quarries of Bamburi Near Mombasa (Kenya)

ABSTRACT Amphibians are sensitive to changes in the environment and are, therefore, excellent indicators of success in restoring degraded habitats. As such, a clear understanding on how amphibian populations respond to changes in the environment is required. In order for conservationists to establish if the declining trends are changing, biodiversity recovery studies are essential especially in reclaimed habitats. This study focused on the recovery of amphibians, particularly on frogs, in reclaimed quarries of the Bamburi Cement Plant near Mombasa whereby the diversity, species abundances and composition at different stages of quarry re-establishment were assessed. The study area was divided into three zones based on the 13-year interval since the beginning of the rehabilitation process. Transect surveys and time-constrained search and size method were used for sampling 20 randomly selected sites. Sampling was done during the rainy and the dry seasons, with searches conducted between 900 and 1,600 hours during the day and between 1,800 to 2,100 hours at night. Recording of basic morphological data of collected specimens was done in the field to aid in grouping specimens before voucher materials were preserved in 10% formalin and stored in 70% alcohol. Further identifications and confirmations matching specimens to species were carried out using specialized classification keys from the National Museum of Kenya. Twelve species were encountered across the three zones, with Ptychadena anchietae and Phrynobatrachus acridoides, respectively, the most abundant. It was also noted that amphibian diversity across the quarries was independent of the age of ecological reestablishment (r = -0.5). This is indicated by the higher amphibian diversity in the south and north quarries (N = 1050 and 506 respectively) despite their relatively younger age since reestablishment compared to the central quarry (N = 438). Lower diversity in the central quarry, although the oldest, may be largely attributed to human disturbance. Additionally, exotic plantations across the study area are poor in species since they are monocultures and, thus, not heterogeneous enough to support higher anuran diversity. Since amphibians act as one of the best measure of environmental health, rehabilitation process in the quarries need to embrace mechanisms that support maximum biodiversity recovery such as replanting of more indigenous tree species as opposed to only exotic monocultures.

Use of native species to improve carbon sequestration and contribute towards solving the environmental problems of the timberlands in Biscay, northern Spain

The rapid transformation of natural forest areas into fast-growing exotic species plantations, where the main objective is timber and pulp production, has led to a neglect of other services forests provide in many parts of the world. One example of such a problem is the county of Biscay, where the management of these plantations has negative impacts on the environment, creating the necessity to evaluate alternative tree species for use in forestry. The actual crisis in the forest sector of the region could be an opportunity to change to native species plantations that could help restore ecosystem structure and function. However, forest managers of the region are using the current interest on carbon sequestration by forest to persist with the “pine and eucalyptus culture”, arguing that these species provide a big C sequestration service. Moreover, they are promoting the expansion of eucalyptus plantations to obtain biomass for the pulp and paper industry and for bioenergy. The aim of this paper is to answer the following questions: Is this argument used by the foresters well-founded? or, could the use of native species in plantations improve the C sequestration service in Biscay while avoiding the environmental problems the actual plantations cause?To answer these questions we created three alternative future scenarios: a) the Services scenario, where there is a substitution of fast-growing exotic plantations by native broadleaf species plantations; b) the Biomass scenario, where there is a bet on eucalyptus plantations; and c) the Business as usual scenario. The changes in the C stock in living biomass in these scenarios have been simulated by a hybrid approach utilising inventories and models, and the period considered was 150 years.Our results show that the substitution of existing exotic plantations by plantations of native species has the greatest potential for increasing C sequestration. Although short- and mid-term outcomes may differ, when the long-term (more than 50 years) is considered, the C stock in the living biomass in the Services scenario is the greatest, accumulating 38% more C than the Business as usual scenario and 70% more C than the Biomass scenario at the end of the study period. Thus, changing pine and eucalyptus by native species in plantations, while solving some of the environmental problems of the actual plantations, sequesters more C in the long-term. As C sequestration initiatives only make sense if there is a good chance of long-term persistence of the C stocks created, there is no C sequestration argument for the foresters to continue with the actual policy of the use of fast-growing exotic species.

Growth and ecophysiology of seedlings of Podocarpus falcatus in plantations of exotic species and in a natural montane forest in Ethiopia

The potential role of exotic tree plantations in facilitating successional processes on degraded areas was evaluated in southern Ethiopia by comparing seedling characteristics, transpiration and photosynthetic performance of Podocarpus falcatus seedlings in Eucalyptus plantation, Pinus plantation, adjacent natural forest and clear-felled plantation site. P. falcatus seedlings exhibited differences in architecture between Eucalyptus and Pinus plantations. They had higher leaf area, shorter internode length and greater number of lateral branches in Eucalyptus plantation. At similar vapor pressure deficit (VPD), P. falcatus transpired much less than E. saligna, especially at higher VPDs. Analysis of fluorescence parameters in the leaves showed no significant differences in the level of dark-adapted and light-adapted fluorescence yield (Fv/Fm and ΔF/Fm′, respectively), electron transport rate (ETR) and nonphotochemical quenching (NPQ) among seedlings grown inside plantations and adjacent natural forest, indicating similar photosynthetic performance. Nevertheless, there was evidence of photoinhibition in P. falcatus in the clear-felled site which had low fluorescence yield but high values of NPQ as protection from photoamage. The light response curves of ETR, NPQ and ΔF/Fm′ showed similar light saturation behavior among the seedlings grown inside plantations and natural forest and suggested a sequence of light-adapted to shade-adapted behavior in Natural forest > Eucalyptus plantation > Pinus plantation. The results show the structural flexibility, better water-use and adaptability of P. falcatus in its use of the understory environment of plantation species.

Eucalyptusand Water Use in South Africa

TheEucalyptusgenus yields high rates of productivity and can be grown across a wide range of site types and climates for products such as pulp, fuelwood, or construction lumber. In addition, many eucalypts have the ability to coppice, making this genus an ideal candidate for use as a biofuel feedstock. However, the water use ofEucalyptusis a controversial issue, and the impacts of these fast-growing trees on water resources are well documented. Regardless, the demand for wood products and water continues to rise, providing a challenge to increase the productivity of forest plantations within water constraints. This is of particular relevance for water-limited countries such as South Africa which relies on exotic plantations to meet its timber needs. Research results from water use studies in South Africa are well documented and legislation restrictions limit further afforestation. This paper outlines techniques used to quantify the water use of eucalypt plantations and provides recommendations on where to focus future research efforts. Greater insights into the water use efficiency of clonal material are needed, as certain eucalypt clones show fast growth and low water use. To better understand water use efficiency, estimates should be combined with monitoring of stand canopy structure and measurements of physiological processes.

Bird community in an Araucaria forest fragment in relation to changes in the surrounding landscape in Southern Brazil

The dynamics of the bird community in a small forest fragment was evaluated along seven years in relation to changes in the surrounding landscape. The study area is an Araucaria forest fragment in Southern Brazil (state of Paraná). The sampling period covered the years 1988 through 1994 and the mark-release-recapture method was utilized. The landscape analysis was based on Landsat TM images, and changes in exotic tree plantations, native forest, open areas (agriculture, pasture, bare soil, and abandoned field), and "capoeira"(native vegetation &lt; 2 m) were quantified. The relationship between landscape changes and changes in abundance diversity of forest birds, open-area birds, forest-edge birds, and bamboo specialists was evaluated. Richness estimates were run for each year studied. The richness recorded in the study area comprised 96 species. The richness estimates were 114, 118 and 110 species for Chao 1, Jackknife 1 and Bootstrap, respectively. The bird community varied in species richness, abundance and diversity from year to year. As for species diversity, 1991, 1993 and 1994 were significantly different from the other years. Changes in the landscape contributed to the increase in abundance and richness for the groups of forest, open-area and bamboo-specialist species. An important factor discussed was the effect of the flowering of "taquara" (Poaceae), which contributed significantly to increasing richness of bamboo seed eaters, mainly in 1992 and 1993. In general, the results showed that landscape changes affected the dynamics and structure of the bird community of this forest fragment over time, and proved to have an important role in conservation of the avian community in areas of intensive forestry and agricultural activities.

Productivity and energy balance of forest plantation harvesting in Uganda

The study evaluated the productivity and energy balance of the harvesting and the extraction of wood in plantation of exotic tree species, i.e., Pinus patula (Schiede ex Schlectendahl et Chamisso) and Cupressus lusitanica (Mill.). The harvesting and extraction operations concerned clear-cut felling on two different types of terrain (gentle and steep terrain) and two levels of pruning. The results show that cutting is not affected by the terrain gradient whereas the pruning condition shows a significant effect on the delimbing operation. The productivity of cutting is evaluated at 28.1 m3·d−1 for unpruned trees and at 30.2 m3·d−1 for pruned trees. For the extraction phase, rolling was significantly affected by terrain conditions. On steep terrain, the gross productivity can be evaluated at 22.5 m3·d−1 for an extraction distance of 40 m, while for the same distance on gentle terrain the productivity decreases to 14.1 m3·d−1. As a result, the steep terrain condition showed higher energy efficiency, suggesting that it is the more efficient system of extraction. The productivity model and the energy balance resulting from the study provide a better understanding of the variables affecting motor-manual cutting and rolling extraction in exotic plantations in Uganda.

Selected carbon fluxes in Pinus ponderosa-based silvopastoral systems, exotic plantations and natural pastures on volcanic soils in the Chilean Patagonia

This study was undertaken to measure certain carbon (C) fluxes in a Pinus ponderosa-based silvopastoral systems (SPS) in Patagonia, Chile. Results are compared to those from adjacent 18-year-old managed pine plantations (PPP) and natural prairie (PST). Litter decomposition was determined using the litterbag method. Leached soil solution was collected with tension lysimeters at 80 cm depth, and soil respiration evaluated in situ with the soda lime technique. Wind direction influenced the litterfall distribution in SPS, with 94 % falling in the tree strips and within 3 m on the east side. In the first 6 months the initial needle decomposition was low and less than 5 % of the initial mass. The overall soil organic carbon (SOC) and N contents (0–40 cm depth) decreased significantly in the order SPS > PST > PPP, and within SPS were greater in the alleys, starting at 2.5 m from the tree strip, with the highest values always eastward of the strip, suggesting influence by the wind direction. Total soil respiration decreased in the order PST > SPS > PPP and leached C decreased in the order PPP > PST > SPS. In general, the mean annual soil moisture in the pasture alleys of SPS was twice that of PST. The air/soil temperatures decreased significantly in the second year only in PST and at 2 m and beyond from the tree strip in SPS. Soil moisture varied significantly among treatments, but showed the strong influence exerted by trees in the creation of a favorable microclimate within the pasture alleys of SPS.

Trade-offs between tree cover, carbon storage and floristic biodiversity in reforesting landscapes

This study explores the relationships between an increase in tree cover area (i.e., natural and planted-tree land covers) and changes in forest carbon storage and the potential of a landscape to provide habitat for native floristic biodiversity. Four areas experiencing an increase in tree cover were analyzed. We developed a metric estimating the potential to support native biodiversity based on tree cover type (plantation or natural forests) and the landscape pattern of natural and anthropogenic land covers. We used published estimates for forest and plantation carbon stocks for each region. Focus regions in northwestern Costa Rica, northern Vietnam, southern Chile and highland Ecuador all showed an increase in tree cover area of 390 %, 260 %, 123 % and 418 %, respectively. Landscapes experiencing increases in natural secondary forest also experienced an increase in carbon stored above and below ground, and in the potential to support native floristic biodiversity. Study landscapes in Chile and Ecuador experiencing an expansion of exotic plantations saw their carbon stock decrease along with their potential to support native floristic biodiversity. This study shows that an increase in forest area does not necessarily imply an increased provision of ecosystem services when landscapes are reforesting with monoculture plantations of exotic tree species. Changes in the support of native biodiversity and the carbon stored in pulp rotation plantations, along with other ecosystem services, should be fully considered before implementing reforestation projects.

Ecological networks act as extensions of protected areas for arthropod biodiversity conservation

Summary1. Landscape‐scale ecological networks (ENs) are composed of linear corridors and are widely used to mitigate the adverse effects of intensive land use. One drawback with ENs used for conservation is that being small or linear they result in more edge relative to interior than would be the case naturally. Furthermore, there is little evidence to date that ENs do conserve indigenous biodiversity.2. Here, we use five arthropod taxa at many sites over two geographical areas within South Africa with different elevations and grassland types to test the conservation value of remnant grassland ENs in a plantation forestry context. In particular, the relative value of arthropod biodiversity in exotic plantation blocks, their edges and the interiors of ENs among the plantations were compared with those in neighbouring protected areas (PAs). We use the effects that the plantation blocks have on the adjacent PAs as a reference for comparing the ENs among the plantations. Arthropods were selected to represent biodiversity, as they are small, diverse, habitat sensitive, resource dependent, ecologically important and can be sampled in large numbers.3. In total, 10 422 individuals from 244 species were sampled. Importantly, there were no significant differences in species richness, abundance or assemblage composition between EN interior zones and PA interior zones in both geographical areas.4. Using earlier established edge zones of 32 m, we found that plantation blocks had the lowest species richness and abundance compared with either grassland edge zones (&lt;32 m from the edge) or grassland interior zones (≥ 32 m from the edge).5. Synthesis and applications. Ecological networks are established to conserve biodiversity in areas of intensive land use. Provided that ecological networks are wide enough (i.e. &gt;64 m) to overcome edge effects, they can support similar levels and quality of arthropod biodiversity as protected areas. Remnant grassland ecological networks in agroforestry can provide natural finger‐like extensions from neighbouring protected areas and therefore have conservation value.

Does forest restoration using taungya foster tree species diversity? The case of Afram Headwaters Forest Reserve in Ghana

AbstractThe taungya agro‐forestry system is an under‐researched means of forest restoration that may result in high tree diversity. Within a forest reserve in Ghana, the forest core and its surrounding Teak‐ and Cedrela‐taungya on logged, cropped and burned land were mapped with ALOS satellite imagery. Native trees, seedlings and saplings were enumerated in 70 random, nested plots, equally divided between forest and taungya. The native tree regeneration was assessed by species richness (SR), Shannon‐Wiener Index (SWI), Shannon Evenness Index (SEI) and species density (SeD) for seedlings, saplings and trees separately and combined and subsequently correlated with canopy covers (CC) in taungya. As anticipated, the taungya diversity was lower than the forest diversity but higher than reported from nontaungya exotic plantations. In the forest, the diversity of native trees increased from seedlings through saplings to trees. The reverse was found in the taungya. Taungya seedling diversity was not significantly different from the forest, while the sapling and tree diversity were significantly lower. Weak correlations of CC with SR, SWI, SEI and SeD were found. Our results suggest the need for treatment to maintain the tree diversity beyond the seedling stage in the taungya.

Natural History Observations on a Warty Frog: Callulina dawida (Amphibia: Brevicipitidae) in the Taita Hills, Kenya

Amphibian populations are declining throughout the world, but most of the susceptible species possess particular biological attributes. Understanding these traits plus the environmental factors responsible for declines greatly aids conservation prioritization and planning. This paper examines the natural history observations and ecological characteristics of Callulina dawida, a frog endemic to the montane forests of the Taita Hills, Kenya. Sampling was accomplished by use of standardized pitfall trapping, transects, and time-limited searches. Mean monthly temperature and elevation significantly influenced the species distribution and abundance but mean monthly rainfall did not. The species was rare or absent during the cold season and its abundance increased with elevation. Breeding occurred during the long dry season (June to October) with juveniles being abundant between January and March. Available evidence shows that this species deposits a cluster of large yolk-rich eggs on the forest floor with maternal care and direct development. Its occurrence only within highly fragmented indigenous forests makes the species worth listing as critically endangered. To conserve this species, all remaining indigenous forest fragments including those communally or privately owned should be preserved and connected through planting of indigenous trees along stream valleys. In addition, the exotic tree plantations should be replaced with indigenous trees to restore the species habitat.

When should exotic forest plantation tree species be considered as an invasive threat and how should we treat them?

The area of forests planted with exotic tree species is increasing worldwide in order to fulfill various economic and environmental demands. Numerous species currently used in forest plantations are considered to be invasive in many parts of the world. Exotic plantation tree species are endowed with a series of life-history traits that are characteristic of invasive species: easy establishment, fast growth, high propagule pressure, and low or intermediate shade tolerance. In addition, plantation forestry presents many features that increase ecosystem invasibility, including a regime of frequent and intensive canopy disturbances, a dense network of roads and trails with continuous traffic, and wide plantation areas. Exotic trees planted for production purposes have strong direct positive economic impacts on the local and national economies of many countries, often leading to notable conflicts of interest when the species becomes invasive, as well as to negative impacts on the ecosystem. Studies and management programs mainly focus on Pinus and Acacia, which are used as model species. Complementary management strategies have been established to control these species at different stages of the invasion process. Knowledge gained is useful to predict problems in other regions of the world with the same species and to guide research or management actions on other problematic but less studied tree species.