Forests Of Different Ages Research Articles

Soil mesofauna and diversity of vegetation: Collembola in pristine taiga forests (Pechora-Ilych Biosphere Reserve, Russia)

Unique 600-year-old tall herb taiga forests are located in the European North-East of Russia at the foothills of the Middle Urals and are characterized by extremely diverse and vertically differentiated vegetation. This study addresses how vegetation parameters such as net primary productivity and diversity influence the community structure of Collembola in fir forests of different ages. Sample plots were arranged along diversity and biomass gradients of vegetation: Vaccinium-moss, short herb-moss, and nitrophilous tall herb fir–spruce forests. Plants and collembolans were compared with respect to their species richness, abundance, species structure and traits. The number of species of vascular plants, mosses and liverworts along the studied gradient increased by about double, whereas the species richness of collembolans did not differ significantly. The biomass of vascular plants increased, whereas that of mosses declined, and the abundance of collembolans remained approximately consistent. Despite sharp differences in ground vegetation, in all phytocenoses the dominant Collembola species were widespread. However, the collembolan community of old-growth tall herb forests showed a trend of more complex structure reflected by greater evenness of abundances compared to younger ecosystems with less diverse ground vegetation. In conclusion, the springtail communities in forests that have developed spontaneously for over 600 years appeared to be no more complex than those in 200-year-old stands. Multi-species ground vegetation did not increase collembolan diversity and abundance indices. Thus, soil mesofauna (in this case, springtails) appeared to be relatively independent of long-term spontaneous development in vegetation in the studied area.

Tree stand floristic dynamics in secondary forests of different ages in Sarawak, Malaysia

Karyati, Ipor IB, Jusoh I, Wasli ME. 2018. Tree stand floristic dynamics in secondary forests of different ages in Sarawak, Malaysia. Biodiversitas 19: 767-773. Succession is a series sequential processes of the development of floristic community which involves changes in community structure, species composition and diversity over time. The information on tree stand floristic dynamics of various stages of succession in secondary forests in Malaysia is currently lacking. This study was conducted to determine tree stand structure, floristic composition, and species diversity in various stages of secondary forest development in the study areas. A total of 997, 1,842, and 834 tree stems with diameter at breast height (DBH) of > 5 cm were recorded in one-hectare-plots of 5, 10, and 20 year old secondary forests, respectively. The ten most common species in 5 and 10 year old of secondary forests consisted mostly of light demanding species. In the 20 year old secondary forest, these species did not exist. Macaranga gigantea was the most dominant tree species in the 5 and 10 year old secondary forests in terms of basal area and volume per hectare. The most common species, based on density, basal area, volume, and Importance Value Index (IVi), in the 20 year old secondary forest was Adinandra dumosa. The diversity and richness indices of the 10 year old secondary forest were the highest among all study sites.

Top-meter soil organic carbon stocks and sources in restored mangrove forests of different ages

Knowledge of the changes in the soil organic carbon (OC) stock and its sources with forest age is crucial to understanding the carbon processes and carbon sequestration benefits associated with mangrove restoration. The present study compared the soil OC contents and stocks among three restored Kandelia obovata mangrove forests with different ages (12, 24 and 48 years) in South China. The contributions of mangrove and allochthonous suspended particulate organic matter (SPOM) in tidal water to soil OC were also estimated. The results showed increases in soil OC content and density with forest age, and the OC stocks in the top meter of soil were 13.0 ± 0.5 kg C m−2, 15.1 ± 0.7 kg C m−2 and 17.0 ± 0.9 kg C m−2 at the 12-year site, 24-year site and 48-year site, respectively. We also found a higher soil labile OC content at the 48-year site. The higher soil OC content was accompanied by more 13C-depleted OC in the older forests, and the significantly negative relationship between soil OC contents and δ13C values indicated that the increase in soil OC content relied on the input of 13C-depleted mangrove organic matter. Isotope mixing calculations showed that the soil OC was dominated by SPOM at the 12-year site but was dominated by both mangrove-derived OC and SPOM at the 48-year site. Moreover, the findings also suggested that the effect of mangrove restoration on the soil OC content and stock was more substantial in the upper soil layers.

Exploratory analysis of structural diversity indicators at stand level in three Italian beech sites and implications for sustainable forest management

The present study introduces an exploratory data analysis based on structural indicators with the aim to assess the effect of silvicultural practices on tree stand structure. The study was carried out in three Italian beech forests of different ages with stand structures that originated from dissimilar regeneration and cultivation techniques (Cansiglio, northern Italy, Chiarano, central Italy, and Mongiana, southern Italy). Ten structural indicators were considered when investigating the latent multivariate relationship between stand structure attributes before and after thinning operations by using a multiway factor analysis (MFA). The MFA results identified the older stand at Cansiglio as more homogeneous for cultivation regimes, and more stable to practices when compared with the younger sites (Chiarano and Mongiana). Heterogeneous stands were sensitive to silvicultural practice thus suggesting their possible impact on forest attributes. The proposed approach proved to be an operational tool to evaluate comprehensively the response of forest structure to planned interventions.

Characteristics of Old-Growth and Secondary Forests in Relation to Age and Typhoon Disturbance

Many properties of forest ecosystems, such as species composition and forest structure, naturally vary with forest age. However, in regions prone to cyclone disturbances, both forest age and cyclone severities can play a role shaping these properties. To evaluate potential effects of an altered cyclone regime on forest ecosystems, it is necessary to disentangle the roles of cyclones and forest age on different forest characteristics. In this study, we compared species composition and forest structure at plot level across sites with similar climate and topographic backgrounds, yet differing in age and typhoon severities in northeastern Taiwan. We found shorter tree stature, higher wood density, higher tree species diversity, and lower typhoon-induced tree mortality in the sites with more severe typhoon disturbances. On the other hand, regardless of typhoon severity, the sites of younger ages had a considerably smaller amount of woody debris, suggesting that it takes time for the accumulation of woody debris. More typhoon-induced canopy gaps at sites with more severe typhoon influences highlights a role of typhoons in canopy dynamics. However, the lack of gaps prior to typhoon disturbances in the less severely affected forest is likely related to the low background mortality associated with the relative young age of the forest. Our results indicate that frequent or severe typhoon disturbances can homogenize some of the structural differences among forests of different ages. If the frequency or severity of cyclones increase in the future, many forests, including old-growth forests, may gradually lose large trees.

Effect of climatic factors on the temporal variation of stem respiration in Larix principis-rupprechtii Mayr

Stem respiration is a critical yet unavailable component of forest ecosystem carbon cycle dynamics. It is therefore necessary to study the variation in stem respiration at different time scales, especially regarding the response of the temporal variation in stem respiration to climatic factors. However, stem respiration is commonly measured only a few times a year during the daytime. In this study, we investigated the stem respiration of Larix principis-rupprechtii Mayr at different time scales, including hours, days, months, and seasons, and in forests of different ages as well as its connection with climatic factors using a soil carbon flux system (Li-8100) in North China during the growing season (May to September) and the non-growing season (October) from 2013 to 2015. The maximum daily stem respiration rate (abbreviated as RS) occurred between 14:00 and 18:00, and the minimum occurred between 4:00 and 8:00 (2.01–4.24, 1.71–4.25 and 1.02–1.72 vs. 10.83–2.93, 1.08–2.28 and 0.51–1.17μmolm−2s−1, respectively) for three forestry ages, which was in accordance with single-peak curves. The seasonal respiration was highest in late July and lowest in late October (3.84 vs. 0.27μmolm−2s−1, respectively). Calculation of RS indicated that the annual CO2 efflux per unit area was ranked by forest age as follows: 25 (11.53±2.08tha−1)>16 (7.45±1.02)>41 (4.87±0.66)years of age. The average annual Q10 values were 3.85 (16 years of age), 3.41 (25), and 2.23 (41). The Q10 value of the 16-year-old forest peaked (9.89) during low temperature (0–5°C) and subsequently decreased with increasing air temperature. These results not only clarify the response of RS to climatic factors at different time scales but also reveal the relationship between stem respiration in forests of different ages and their temperature sensitivity. These results suggest that the sensitivity of RS to temperature is negatively correlated with stand age and air temperature. Methodologically, incorporating stand age and air temperature into the conventional method would improve the accuracy of annual stem respiration estimates.

Influence of leaf morphometric variations on the growth of seedlings and juveniles of woody species in a semiarid environment

Variations in leaf morphometry and in diameter and height growth of plants may occur due to changes in light and temperature conditions of the forest in order to compensate the stress in the habitat. In this study, we examine the relationship of seedling and juvenile size and leaf area of woody species in forests of different ages (>55 and 19 years) in northeastern Brazil. A total of 600 individuals of four species, seedlings and juveniles that survived a rainy season were evaluated. Seedlings and juveniles of Croton blanchetianus Baill, Poincianella pyramidalis (Tul.) L. P. Queiroz, Myracrodruon urundeuva Allemao and Commiphora leptophloeos (Mart.) J.B. Gillett were measured for height and stem diameter in the beginning of the rainy season of 2014. One leaf of each individual was collected in the beginning of the rainy season. Leaves were photographed, and leaf area was measured. Differences in height, diameter and leaf area between forests and the existence of a relationship of diameter and height to leaf area were examined. Leaf area and seedling and juvenile size of C. blanchetianus and C. leptophloeos decreased as succession progressed. However, this was not observed for seedlings of P. pyramidalis and juveniles of M. urundeuva. Leaf area explained 7–26% of the variation in size of individuals in the young forest and 11–39% of the variation in size of individuals in the mature forest. Despite variations in leaf area, significant changes in growth rate were not found with the increase in forest age for most ontogenetic stages and species.

Can terrestrial laser scanners (TLSs) and hemispherical photographs predict tropical dry forest succession with liana abundance?

Abstract. Tropical dry forests (TDFs) are ecosystems with long drought periods, a mean temperature of 25 °C, a mean annual precipitation that ranges from 900 to 2000 mm, and that possess a high abundance of deciduous species (trees and lianas). What remains of the original extent of TDFs in the Americas remains highly fragmented and at different levels of ecological succession. It is estimated that one of the main fingerprints left by global environmental and climate change in tropical environments is an increase in liana coverage. Lianas are non-structural elements of the forest canopy that eventually kill their host trees. In this paper we evaluate the use of a terrestrial laser scanner (TLS) in combination with hemispherical photographs (HPs) to characterize changes in forest structure as a function of ecological succession and liana abundance. We deployed a TLS and HP system in 28 plots throughout secondary forests of different ages and with different levels of liana abundance. Using a canonical correlation analysis (CCA), we addressed how the VEGNET, a terrestrial laser scanner, and HPs could predict TDF structure. Likewise, using univariate analyses of correlations, we show how the liana abundance could affect the prediction of the forest structure. Our results suggest that TLSs and HPs can predict the differences in the forest structure at different successional stages but that these differences disappear as liana abundance increases. Therefore, in well known ecosystems such as the tropical dry forest of Costa Rica, these biases of prediction could be considered as structural effects of liana presence. This research contributes to the understanding of the potential effects of lianas in secondary dry forests and highlights the role of TLSs combined with HPs in monitoring structural changes in secondary TDFs.

Tree and bird functional groups as indicators of recovery of regenerating subtropical coastal dune forests

AbstractFunctional diversity indicators are increasingly used to monitor forest function recovery because they connect biodiversity to ecosystem functions. However, identifying which functions deviate from a reference forest has not received much attention, despite its potential to inform restoration interventions. In this study, we used functional groups to assess the recovery of ecosystem functions in regenerating coastal dune forests. We surveyed birds and trees in forest of different ages and a reference old‐growth forest in KwaZulu‐Natal, South Africa. We classified species into functional groups for each taxa based on functional traits or a priori defined categories (i.e. guilds) and quantified the number of species within functional groups as a proxy of function stability. Bird species density followed an asymptotic trajectory, reaching old‐growth forest values after 25 years. Insectivores and granivores showed saturating trajectories, whereas small frugivores and generalists increased linearly. With the exception of large frugivores, relative abundances of bird functional groups progressed towards old‐growth forest values as the forest aged. Tree species density increased linearly with forest age. In contrast to old‐growth forests, large‐canopy trees and understory shrubs were under‐represented, while mid‐canopy trees dominated regenerating forests. Our result suggests that most bird, but not tree, functions may have been restored. The trend in large frugivore numbers may warrant further investigation, as their low numbers may have hampered the recovery of tree functions. We conclude that functional group trajectories can track functions that deviate from a benchmark, and may therefore direct adaptive actions to recover the stability of regenerating forest.

Cambios de la microflora del suelo en varias etapas de la sucesión en Ciudad Colón, Costa Rica

The soil microfloras of a pastureland and three forests of different ages were studied in Ciudad Colon, Costa Rica. The arca studied is composed of orthent soils, at 800 m above sea level with an annual rainfall of about 2000 mm and a mean temperature of 23 C. The fern prothallus population is very low in the soil of the pastureland, it increases in the forests and reaches the highest level in that 30 years old. 00 the other hand, fungi are more abundant and diverse in the soil of the pastureland than in the younger forests (11 and 21 years old) but increases again in the 30 year-old forest. This situation could be considered as a case of microsuccession, since the species composition of the pastureland fungi community is different from that in the soil of the older forest. Algae were also more abundant and diverse in the pastureland than in the forests. The relative richness of algae and fungi communities in the soil of the pastureland could explain the highest rate of soil respiration observed here. Soil bacteria increased with the age of the forest.

Exotic plantations can ignite forest succession in the Afrotropics where natural forest regeneration is slow

Figure S1 Map of the Kanyawara area of Kibale National Park, Uganda showing the locations of the studied areas. Figure S2 Relative density of the tree species in different-aged forests; species that distinguish the age groups are shown (i.e., they contribute to 50% of the differences between the different age groups in the SIMPER analysis). Table S1 Tree species included in the analysis. Please note: The publisher is not responsible for the content or functionality of any supporting information supplied by the authors. Any queries (other than missing content) should be directed to the corresponding author for the article.

ESTRUTURA POPULACIONAL, PADRÃO ESPACIAL E ESTOQUE DE CARBONO EM BRACATINGAIS NO PLANALTO SUL CATARINENSE

O conhecimento de aspectos relacionados ao comportamento de populações naturais é premissa básica para elaboração de tecnologias adequadas para viabilizar o manejo e conservação de uma espécie. Objetivou-se investigar a estrutura populacional e a distribuição espacial, assim como estimar a biomassa aérea, teor de carbono e a quantidade de CO2 equivalente removido da atmosfera pela biomassa aérea de populações de Mimosa scabrella Benth. com diferentes idades, inseridas em áreas de floresta secundária. Foram alocadas três unidades amostrais, com dimensões de 40x40 m, em quatro locais distintos, totalizando 1,92 ha de área amostral, onde foram calculados os valores de densidade relativa dos indivíduos nas categorias regenerantes (DAP < 5 cm) e adultos (DAP ≥ 5 cm). O padrão de distribuição espacial foi calculado pelo índice de Morisita para as diferentes populações e a quantidade de CO2 equivalente pela estimativa do carbono total. A estrutura e o padrão de distribuição espacial de M. scabrella são compatíveis aos resultados registrados para outras espécies pioneiras (estádio inicial = agregado; estádio avançado = aleatório). Os maiores valores médios de biomassa, carbono total e CO2 equivalente registrados foram 91,4, 40,1 e 147,2 t.ha-1 respectivamente. As populações de M. scabrella demonstram potencialidades de prestação de serviço ambiental no que tange o sequestro e estocagem de carbono, além de contribuírem para o aporte de carbono no solo e serapilheira.

Seeded pioneer die-offs reduce the functional trait space of new-growth coastal dune forests

The planting or seeding of pioneer species to promote restoration apparently contributes little to the establishment of late-successional species, despite the common assumption that they facilitate forest regeneration. We evaluate the consequences of planting pioneers for coastal dune restoration by measuring plant traits (specific leaf area, wood density, δ13C and maximum plant height), species composition and canopy openness in three rehabilitating forests of different ages, where a pioneer species (Acacia karroo) was seeded, and one undisturbed old-growth forest. We surveyed woody species composition in 2010 and in 2015 to assess how changes in A. karroo influences community structure of rehabilitating forest. Our results showed that the number of adult individuals of A. karroo decreased progressively with forest age, indicating that the demise of individuals of A. karroo opens canopy gaps in rehabilitating sites. This accorded with a significantly higher variation of canopy openness levels in the oldest rehabilitating site. Rehabilitating sites tended to progress towards a reduced trait space as they aged, contrasting with the old-growth forest that showed an expanded trait space. Communities located at high levels of canopy openness were dominated by species with lower values of specific leaf area and wood density, indicative of acclimation to high light conditions and fast-growing strategies. Our results suggest that changes in light availability due to canopy gap formation, can act as an environmental filter which may deflect forest regeneration trajectories. We show that coupling a trait-based approach with environmental measurements can give insight in regeneration trajectories of rehabilitating sites and, therefore, better inform restoration practices. Preventing the formation of large canopy gaps in restoration programs using pioneers as a regeneration pathway may facilitate the natural recovery of degraded forest.

Nutrient availability and climate as the main determinants of the ratio of biomass to NPP in woody and non-woody forest compartments

Once the effect of stand age has been taken into account, nutrient availability and climate play a crucial role in determining the B:NPPs of woody and non-woody tissues. Forest ecosystems accumulate large amounts of carbon in living tissues. The residence time of this carbon in the ecosystem depends largely on the turnover time of these tissues, which can be estimated as a surrogate of the ratio of biomass to net primary production (B:NPP). We used a global forest database of 310 sites containing data for biomass stocks and NPP to investigate the differences of B:NPPs among species and forest compartments and to determine B:NPPs main exogenous (mainly climate and nutrient availability) and endogenous (leaf habit and stand age) drivers. We used asymptotic exponential functions to adjust the B:NPPs of woody compartments to a theoretical stationary state to allow comparisons between forests of different ages. The B:NPPs of woody tissues (branches, stems, and coarse roots) were positively influenced by stand age, conversely to fine roots and leaves, which were weakly dependent on the age of the forest. The B:NPPs of woody tissues were positively correlated with nutrient availability, whereas fine-root B:NPPs decreased with increasing nutrient availability. The foliar B:NPP of evergreen forests was positively correlated with water deficit, and the fine-root B:NPP was correlated positively with the seasonality of precipitation and with annual thermal amplitude but negatively with water deficit. Our results support the influence of climate on the B:NPPs of non-woody compartments and identify nutrient availability as the main influence on the B:NPPs of woody tissues.

Turnover of Species and Guilds in Shrub Spider Communities in a 100-Year Postlogging Forest Chronosequence.

Disturbance of forests by logging and subsequent forest succession causes marked changes in arthropod communities. Although vegetation cover provides important habitat for arthropods, studies of the changes in their community structure associated with forest succession have been conducted mostly at ground level. To evaluate how forests of different ages contribute to arthropod biodiversity in shrub habitat, spiders were collected from shrubs in 12 forests ranging in age from 1 to 107 yr after logging. We found marked changes in spider community structure about 10 yr after logging: the number of species and individuals declined rapidly after this time. These changes were likely caused by a decrease in shrub cover in association with forest succession. Changes in spider species composition associated with stand age were small in forests at least 11 yr old and were not clustered by forest age. After the exclusion of species of which we sampled only one or two individuals incidentally, just 0.9 ± 0.5 (mean ± SD) species were unique to these older forests. The other 41.2 ± 4.3 species found in these forests were common to both older and young forests, although some of these species in common were found mainly in forests at least 11 yr old. These results suggest that preservation of old-growth forests contributes to the abundance of these common species, although old-growth forests contribute little to species diversity.

Rainfall infiltration and soil hydrological characteristics below ancient forest, planted forest and grassland in a temperate northern climate

AbstractHow rainfall infiltration rate and soil hydrological characteristics develop over time under forests of different ages in temperate regions is poorly understood. In this study, infiltration rate and soil hydrological characteristics were investigated under forests of different ages and under grassland. Soil hydraulic characteristics were measured at different scales under a 250‐year‐old grazed grassland (GL), 6‐year‐old (6yr) and 48‐year‐old (48yr) Scots pine (Pinus sylvestris) plantations, remnant 300‐year‐old individual Scots pine (OT) and a 4000‐year‐old Caledonian Forest (AF). In situ field‐saturated hydraulic conductivity (Kfs) was measured, and visible root:soil area was estimated from soil pits. Macroporosity, pore structure and macropore connectivity were estimated from X‐ray tomography of soil cores, and from water‐release characteristics.At all scales, the median values for Kfs, root fraction, macroporosity and connectivity values tended to AF > OT > 48yr > GL > 6yr, indicating that infiltration rates and water storage increased with forest age. The remnant Caledonian Forest had a huge range of Kfs (12 to >4922 mm h−1), with maximum Kfs values 7 to 15 times larger than those of 48‐year‐old Scots pine plantation, suggesting that undisturbed old forests, with high rainfall and minimal evapotranspiration in winter, may act as important areas for water storage and sinks for storm rainfall to infiltrate and transport to deeper soil layers via preferential flow. The importance of the development of soil hydrological characteristics under different aged forests is discussed. Copyright 2015 British Geological Survey. Ecohydrology © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

Состояние пихтарников Республики Татарстан

After the drought of 2010, there was partial drying of plants of fir-spruce forests of different ages throughout the territory of the Republic of Tatarstan, in the Kama area fir was on the verge of extinction. The studies on fir forest state have been conducted at the 5 forest areas in the Republic of Tatarstan in 2011-15. As a result, we defined the extent of drying, determined the regularities of desiccation in plantations, depending on the age, composition, diameter, forest conditions. Based on the research, we have made recommendations to improve the sanitary conditions of these plants, and the preservation of fir in the Republic of Tatarstan.

Forestry impacts on the hidden fungal biodiversity associated with bryophytes.

Recent studies have revealed an unexpectedly high, cryptic diversity of fungi associated with boreal forest bryophytes. Forestry practices heavily influence the boreal forest and fundamentally transform the landscape. However, little is known about how bryophyte-associated fungal communities are affected by these large-scale habitat transformations. This study assesses to what degree bryophyte-associated fungal communities are structured across the forest successional stages created by current forestry practices. Shoots of Hylocomium splendens were collected in Picea abies dominated forests of different ages, and their associated fungal communities were surveyed by pyrosequencing of ITS2 amplicons. Although community richness, diversity and evenness were relatively stable across the forest types and all were consistently dominated by ascomycete taxa, there was a marked shift in fungal community composition between young and old forests. Numerous fungal operational taxonomic units (OTUs) showed distinct affinities for different forest ages. Spatial structure was also detected among the sites, suggesting that environmental gradients resulting from the topography of the study area and dispersal limitations may also significantly affect bryophyte-associated fungal community structure. This study confirms that Hylocomium splendens hosts an immense diversity of fungi and demonstrates that this community is structured in part by forest age, and as such is highly influenced by modern forestry practices.

Rates of litter decomposition and soil respiration in relation to soil temperature and water in different-aged Pinus massoniana forests in the Three Gorges Reservoir Area, China.

To better understand the soil carbon dynamics and cycling in terrestrial ecosystems in response to environmental changes, we studied soil respiration, litter decomposition, and their relations to soil temperature and soil water content for 18-months (Aug. 2010–Jan. 2012) in three different-aged Pinus massoniana forests in the Three Gorges Reservoir Area, China. Across the experimental period, the mean total soil respiration and litter respiration were 1.94 and 0.81, 2.00 and 0.60, 2.19 and 0.71 µmol CO2 m−2 s−1, and the litter dry mass remaining was 57.6%, 56.2% and 61.3% in the 20-, 30-, and 46-year-old forests, respectively. We found that the temporal variations of soil respiration and litter decomposition rates can be well explained by soil temperature at 5 cm depth. Both the total soil respiration and litter respiration were significantly positively correlated with the litter decomposition rates. The mean contribution of the litter respiration to the total soil respiration was 31.0%–45.9% for the three different-aged forests. The present study found that the total soil respiration was not significantly affected by forest age when P. masonniana stands exceed a certain age (e.g. >20 years old), but it increased significantly with increased soil temperature. Hence, forest management strategies need to protect the understory vegetation to limit soil warming, in order to reduce the CO2 emission under the currently rapid global warming. The contribution of litter decomposition to the total soil respiration varies across spatial and temporal scales. This indicates the need for separate consideration of soil and litter respiration when assessing the climate impacts on forest carbon cycling.

Structure, composition and diversity of plant communities in FSC-certified, selectively logged forests of different ages compared to primary rain forest

The impact of logging on plant communities was studied in forest that has been logged selectively 1, 5 and 10 years previously (following a certified procedure): diversity was compared with that of primary rain forest in the Berau region of East Kalimantan, Indonesia. Four sets of 20 transects located within an area of 6 ha were sampled for all trees, saplings and seedlings, and records were made of topographic position, structure, composition and species diversity. There was a high level of floristic similarity between primary forests at the study sites compared to primary forest elsewhere in Kalimantan. The impact of logging is therefore likely to be the most important factor determining any differences between the plant communities of the selectively logged and primary forest sites. We found differences in species composition and abundance of most plants between selectively logged and primary forest. Overall, stem densities of trees in the primary forest were higher than in the three selectively logged forest sites. Stem densities of saplings were equivalent in all four forests. Seedling stem densities were higher in the forest site logged 10 years previously than in primary forest. Our results showed that the forests logged selectively under certified regimes still have a high plant diversity, possibly indicating that biodiversity values may be conserved by following certification procedures.