Old-growth Stands Research Articles

Effects of neighbours on crown length of Abies lasiocarpa and Picea engelmannii in two old-growth stands in British Columbia

Crown length is a key aspect of vertical structure in multi-aged, multistrata, mixed-species forests. Crown length, defined as the distance from the tree top to the lowest live branch whorl, was determined for 3169 mapped trees ≥4.0 cm in diameter, in four 0.25 ha plots in each of two old-growth Abies lasiocarpa (Hook.) Nutt. – Picea engelmannii Parry ex Engelm. stands. We randomly selected half the trees to build models and half for validation. Crown length was modelled as a function of tree height, incorporating modifiers to account for neighbouring trees. The inclusion radius and height threshold for competition were 3 m and 70%, respectively. The addition of two modifiers significantly improved the model for A. lasiocarpa; crown length decreased as the number of neighbours increased and as the height of surrounding trees increased. In contrast, none of the modifiers significantly improved the model for P. engelmannii. Except at high levels of competition, Abies crowns were longer than those of Picea. However, both species in these forests have long crowns, typically three-quarters of the tree height and rarely less than half. The tightly programmed conical crown architecture of these species likely contributes to long crowns and to the limited effects of neighbours on crown length.

Lichens and bryophytes as indicators of old‐growth features in Mediterranean forests

This study is focused on the selection of variables affecting lichen and bryophyte diversity in Mediterranean deciduous forests. Plots representing two forest types (Fagus sylvatica and Quercus cerris forests) and two forest continuity categories (old‐growth (OG) and non‐OG forests) were selected in the Cilento and Vallo di Diano National Park (Italy). The presence and the abundance of bryophytes and epiphytic lichens were recorded. Structural variables of the forests and vascular plant species richness have been used as predictors. A strong positive correspondence between the two groups of organisms was found. Higher species richness and the distribution of rare species are related to OG stands, while a qualitative (species composition) rather than a quantitative (species richness) difference between the two forest types was observed. Some species elsewhere considered as indicators of forest continuity, such as Lobaria pulmonaria, Antitrichia curtipendula, and Homalothecium sericeum, are associated with OG forests, independently from forest type, suggesting that they can be regarded as suitable indicators also in Mediterranean forests. Finally, our results suggest that old trees, high levels of basal area, a broad range of diameter classes, and high understory diversity are the main structural features affecting cryptogamic communities, while no correlation was found with the occurrence of deadwood.

Comparison of tree size structure and growth for partially harvested and even-aged hemlock-spruce stands in southeast Alaska

The effects of partial cutting on tree size structure and stand growth were evaluated in 52 plots in 13 stands in southeast Alaska that were partially harvested 53–96 years ago and compared with 50-year-old even-aged stands that developed after clearcutting. The net basal-area growth was greater in the partially cut plots than in the uncut plots, and basal-area growth generally increased with increasing cutting intensity. However, the basal-area growth of all of the partially harvested stands was significantly less than the growth of 50-year-old even-aged stands, and net basal area growth over the 50 year period since partial harvesting was about 33–43% of the growth of the even-aged stands. Partial cutting maintained stand structures similar to uncut old-growth stands, and the cutting had no significant effect on tree species composition. The tree size distribution of the partially harvested stands was far more complex and well distributed in comparison with the 50-year-old even-aged stands, and included the presence of several trees with diameters of more than 100 cm. These trees included both large-diameter spruce and hemlock trees and were a distinctive structural feature that was noticeably lacking in the even-aged stands.

Carbon storage in old-growth and second growth fire-dependent western larch (Larix occidentalis Nutt.) forests of the Inland Northwest, USA

Abstract There is limited understanding of the carbon (C) storage capacity and overall ecological structure of old-growth forests of western Montana, leaving little ability to evaluate the role of old-growth forests in regional C cycles and ecosystem level C storage capacity. To investigate the difference in C storage between equivalent stands of contrasting age classes and management histories, we surveyed paired old-growth and second growth western larch (Larix occidentalis Nutt)–Douglas-fir (Pseudostuga menziesii var. glauca) stands in northwestern Montana. The specific objectives of this study were to: (1) estimate ecosystem C of old-growth and second growth western larch stands; (2) compare C storage of paired old-growth–second growth stands; and (3) assess differences in ecosystem function and structure between the two age classes, specifically measuring C associated with mineral soil, forest floor, coarse woody debris (CWD), understory, and overstory, as well as overall structure of vegetation. Stands were surveyed using a modified USFS FIA protocol, focusing on ecological components related to soil, forest floor, and overstory C. All downed wood, forest floor, and soil samples were then analyzed for total C and total nitrogen (N). Total ecosystem C in the old-growth forests was significantly greater than that in second growth forests, storing over 3 times the C. Average total mineral soil C was not significantly different in second growth stands compared to old-growth stands; however, total C of the forest floor was significantly greater in old-growth (23.8 Mg ha−1) compared to second growth stands (4.9 Mg ha−1). Overstory and coarse root biomass held the greatest differences in ecosystem C between the two stand types (old-growth, second growth), with nearly 7 times more C in old-growth trees than trees found on second growth stands (144.2 Mg ha−1 vs. 23.8 Mg ha−1). Total CWD on old-growth stands accounted for almost 19 times more C than CWD found in second growth stands. Soil bulk density was also significantly higher on second growth stands some 30+ years after harvest, demonstrating long-term impacts of harvest on soil. Results suggest ecological components specific to old-growth western larch forests, such as coarse root biomass, large amounts of CWD, and a thick forest floor layer are important contributors to long-term C storage within these ecosystems. This, combined with functional implications of contrasts in C distribution and dynamics, suggest that old-growth western larch/Douglas-fir forests are both functionally and structurally distinctive from their second growth counterparts.

Pervasive interactions between ungulate browsers and disturbance regimes promote temperate forest herbaceous diversity

Disruptions to historic disturbance and herbivory regimes have altered plant assemblages in forests worldwide. An emerging consensus suggests that these disruptions often result in impoverished forest biotas. This is particularly true for eastern U.S. deciduous forests where large gaps and understory fires were once relatively common and browsers were far less abundant. Although much research has focused on how disturbance and browsers affect tree diversity, far less attention has been devoted to forest understories where the vast majority (>75%) of the vascular species reside. Here we test the hypothesis that the reintroduction of disturbances resembling historic disturbance regimes and moderate levels of ungulate browsing enhance plant diversity. We explore whether once-common disturbances and their interaction with the top-down influence of browsers can create conditions favorable for the maintenance of a rich herbaceous layer in a region recognized as a temperate biodiversity hotspot in West Virginia, U.S.A. We tested this hypothesis via a factorial experiment whereby we manipulated canopy gaps (presence/absence) of a size typically found in old-growth stands, low-intensity understory fire (burned/unburned), and deer browsing (fenced/unfenced). We tracked the abundance and diversity of more than 140 herb species for six years. Interactions among our treatments were pervasive. The combination of canopy gaps and understory fire increased herbaceous layer richness, cover, and diversity well beyond either disturbance alone. Furthermore, we documented evidence that deer at moderate levels of abundance promote herbaceous richness and abundance by preferentially browsing fast-growing pioneer species that thrive following co-occurring disturbances (i.e., fire and gaps). This finding sharply contrasts with the negative impact browsers have when their populations reach levels well beyond those that occurred for centuries. Although speculative, our results suggest that interactions among fire, canopy gaps, and browsing provided a variable set of habitats and conditions across the landscape that was potentially capable of maintaining much of the plant diversity found in temperate forests.

Calibrating the radial-growth averaging method for detecting releases in old-growth forests of coastal British Columbia, Canada

Dendroecological methods that use growth releases to reconstruct the history of canopy disturbances are most useful when calibrated for specific species in specific forest types. In this study, we calibrate the radial-growth averaging method to detect growth releases of western redcedar (Thuja plicata Donn ex D. Don), western hemlock (Tsuga heterophylla (Raf.) Sarg.), and Pacific silver fir (Abies amabilis Dougl. ex J. Forbes) following fine-scale canopy disturbances in old-growth forests of coastal British Columbia, Canada. Our goal is to establish a version of the method that will capture the full range of growth increases that occur for the study species following natural, fine-scale canopy gaps, yet will account for the effects of climatic variability on radial growth and growth increases. We used traditional dendroclimatological techniques and the radial-growth averaging method to examine how climatic and regional-scale factors contributed to radial growth and growth increases. In addition, we did a sensitivity analysis, using both ring widths and basal area increments, to explore how varying the values of three parameters of the radial-growth averaging method (threshold, moving average, and window) influenced the proportion of trees that showed a release pattern following the formation of canopy gaps of known timing of origin. Although radial growth of western redcedar and western hemlock was significantly associated with climate, percent-growth change derived from residual chronologies rarely exceeded 25%, which defined our minimum threshold for a release. For the sensitivity analysis, two general trends were common to all three species: (1) as threshold increased, the proportion of trees that showed a release pattern decreased, particularly for western redcedar and (2) a higher proportion of trees showed a release pattern using a 10-year versus a 5-year window, particularly for thresholds <100%. The greatest proportion of trees showed a release pattern using a 25% threshold, 5-year moving average, and 10-year window for both ring widths and basal area increments. Overall, a higher proportion of trees showed a release pattern using basal area increments as opposed to ring widths. Therefore, basal area increments are better suited to assess releases in these old-growth stands that have large inter- and intra-species variability in tree size. By establishing these empirically-based criteria, we have achieved the first step towards quantifying attributes of growth releases of trees in the study stands, allowing future studies to capture the variability of past disturbance events and predict changes in forest structure and composition over time.

Effects of woody elements on simulated canopy reflectance: Implications for forest chlorophyll content retrieval

An important bio-indicator of actual plant health status, the foliar content of chlorophyll a and b ( Cab), can be estimated using imaging spectroscopy. For forest canopies, however, the relationship between the spectral response and leaf chemistry is confounded by factors such as background (e.g. understory), canopy structure, and the presence of non-photosynthetic vegetation (NPV, e.g. woody elements)—particularly the appreciable amounts of standing and fallen dead wood found in older forests. We present a sensitivity analysis for the estimation of chlorophyll content in woody coniferous canopies using radiative transfer modeling, and use the modeled top-of-canopy reflectance data to analyze the contribution of woody elements, leaf area index (LAI), and crown cover (CC) to the retrieval of foliar Cab content. The radiative transfer model used comprises two linked submodels: one at leaf level (PROSPECT) and one at canopy level (FLIGHT). This generated bidirectional reflectance data according to the band settings of the Compact High Resolution Imaging Spectrometer (CHRIS) from which chlorophyll indices were calculated. Most of the chlorophyll indices outperformed single wavelengths in predicting Cab content at canopy level, with best results obtained by the Maccioni index ([ R 780 − R 710] / [ R 780 − R 680]). We demonstrate the performance of this index with respect to structural information on three distinct coniferous forest types (young, early mature and old-growth stands). The modeling results suggest that the spectral variation due to variation in canopy chlorophyll content is best captured for stands with medium dense canopies. However, the strength of the up-scaled Cab signal weakens with increasing crown NPV scattering elements, especially when crown cover exceeds 30%. LAI exerts the least perturbations. We conclude that the spectral influence of woody elements is an important variable that should be considered in radiative transfer approaches when retrieving foliar pigment estimates in heterogeneous stands, particularly if the stands are partly defoliated or long-lived.

The role of gaps and tree regeneration in the transition from dense to open black spruce stands

Black spruce forests growing on clay soils in northwestern Quebec change structure from dense even-aged stands to open uneven-aged stands such that almost all forests older than 200 years have an open canopy. These forests become unproductive over time because they are prone to paludification. The main goal of our study was to document the transition between dense and open stands in terms of gap dynamics, with a focus on tree regeneration. Our objective was to determine whether forests remain open due to a lack of regeneration, a lack of growth or both. Nine stands along a 50–250-year-old time since fire gradient were sampled with the line intersect sampling method. Gap fraction increased with stand age and reached a maximum of 77% in the oldest site. In old-growth stands, gaps were interconnected due to the low density of these forests. Most of the gap makers were found with broken stems. Regeneration was dominated by black spruce layers and was relatively abundant (1.71stems/m2). However, the majority of gap fillers were smaller than 1m in height in stands of all ages. Instead of a lack of regeneration, the opening of the forests is due to a lack of growth associated with cold and wet organic deposits. Partial harvesting could be implemented on the most productive sites, while management techniques including soil disturbances will be required on low productivity sites to recreate good growth conditions.

Comparing different forest zoning options for landscape-scale management of the boreal forest: Possible benefits of the TRIAD

Forest management has been criticised in the last 20 years for its negative impact on the native species, structures and functions of the forest. Of many possible alternatives proposed to minimize these effects, the functional zoning (or TRIAD) approach is gaining popularity in North America. The goal of this approach is to minimize the negative environmental impacts of forestry while maintain timber supply by dividing the forest into three broad land-use zones: (1) conservation, (2) ecosystem management, and (3) wood production. In this study, we used a spatially explicit landscape model to simulate the effects of fire and six different forest management scenarios on a boreal mixedwood forest management unit in central Quebec. The management scenarios examined included the current practices scenario, a scenario proposed by the provincial government, and four TRIAD scenarios varying in the amount of forest allocated to each of the three zones. For each scenario, we examined the harvest volume, percentage old-growth forest or old forest managed to favour old-growth attributes, and effective mesh size of forest patches by 20-year age classes. With more area set aside for conservation and high-retention partial cut harvesting techniques designed to maintain the attributes of old-growth stands, all TRIAD scenarios resulted in higher percentages of stands with old-growth attributes than the current practices scenario and the government proposed scenario, and two of the four TRIAD scenarios also resulted in higher harvest volume over the long term. All forest management scenarios resulted in significantly lower effective mesh size than the fire-only scenario, but this difference was not as pronounced for the four TRIAD scenarios as for the current practice and government proposed scenarios. We conclude that the TRIAD approach has the potential to minimize some of the negative impacts of forestry on the landscape, while maintaining timber supply over the long term.

Resilience of stand structure and tree species diversity in subtropical forest degraded by clear logging

Subtropical forests in the Ryukyu Islands have been degraded by silvicultural practices, and thus their structural attributes are being shifted to other states dominated by a few tree species. This study clarified the mechanisms of the change, and examined the effect of clear logging on the resilience of a subtropical forest. Sprouting regeneration and typhoon disturbance were introduced into an individual-based model, SEIB-DGVM, for describing stand development and succession. The regeneration dynamics from young secondary to old-growth stands were reproduced fairly well with the model. Sprouting recruitment produced high stem density at the beginning of stand development, which caused a self-thinning trajectory following the −3/2 power law. In the late development stage after 70 years, tree species diversity fluctuated because of the regenerative response of sprouting species and the facilitatory effect of typhoon disturbance on the coexistence of subordinate species. The death of canopy trees because of typhoon disturbances reduced the dominance of Castanopsis sieboldii, and depressed its dominance in the understory. Consequently, the understory species could establish by virtue of fallen canopy trees, and tree species diversity increased at the stand level. Clear logging experiments in the model revealed that species diversity deteriorated, especially in the stand dominated by sprouting species. Resilience of subtropical forests was determined by initial species composition before clear logging. Our simulation results suggest that repeated logging drives subtropical forests with high species diversity to a stand monopolized by C. sieboldii.

Reflections on Thrush Songs, Newt Tracks and Old-Growth Stands of Trees

The songs of varied thrush pull me from bed and out into a still-young morning. It took a full week, but I can resist their beckoning voices no longer. When the decision is made, I jerk off sheet and quilt, jump out of bed, and pile on several layers of shirts plus fleece jacket to ensure I'll stay warm in the cool, damp October air of an Oregon old-growth forest. To say it's early is a bit misleading; the clock reads a few minutes past seven when I step out the door, cross the lawn, and enter the old-growth stand only a stone's throw from where I've been sleeping, eating, and writing these last several days. The forest rings with the wake-up calls of varied thrushes, the predominant sound during this calm, quiet hour in the H. J. Andrews Experimental Forest. The songs aren't the gorgeously fluid, whistled melodies of the varied's Turdidae relatives, for instance the Swainson's and hermit's thrushes and American robin. But the distinctive voice is pleasing nonetheless, at least to these ears.

Long-term snag and downed woody debris dynamics under periodic surface fire, fire suppression, and shelterwood management

There are pronounced differences in the processes that act to determine the type and amount of standing and downed coarse woody debris present under partial harvesting versus other noncatastrophic disturbances. To evaluate long-term differences in snag and downed woody debris (DWD) dynamics, we developed a simulation model to project snag density and DWD volume by size and decay class in white pine ( Pinus strobus L.) and red pine ( Pinus resinosa Ait.) dominated stands under (i) a high-retention shelterwood system, (ii) periodic surface fire, and (iii) fire suppression. Snag densities under a high-retention shelterwood system were consistently lower than those in the fire-suppression and surface-fire scenarios, even if no large snags were felled at the time of harvest. Regular inputs from harvest residues were important in maintaining the total volume of DWD, but this material tended to be concentrated in a narrow range of decay classes at any given time. Preserving existing DWD at harvest was less influential than the level of inputs from harvest residues. Active measures for snag creation and staggering of harvest stages among adjacent stands may help minimize differences in the overall supply and temporal variation of coarse woody debris between managed and both naturally disturbed and old-growth stands.

Selective logging of lowland evergreen rainforests in Chiloé Island, Chile: Effects of changing tree species composition on soil nitrogen transformations

Lowland evergreen rainforests in southern Chile growing on highly productive soils and accessible sites have been subjected to traditional and industrial logging of valuable timber trees. Old-growth rain forests in this area are characterized by highly conservative N cycles, which results in an efficient N use of ecosystems. We hypothesize that different logging practices, by changing forest structure and species composition, can alter the quantity and quality (i.e. C/N ratio) of litterfall and soil organic matter and soil microbial processes that determine N storage and availability. To test this hypothesis we investigated chemical properties, microbial N transformations, N fluxes and N storage in soils of lowland evergreen rainforests of Chiloé Island after 10 years since industrial selective logging (ISL) and in stands subjected to traditional selective logging (TSL) by landowners in small properties. We compared them to reference unlogged old-growth stands (OG) in the same area. Tree basal area was more reduced in the stands subjected to ISL than to TSL. Litterfall inputs were similar in both logging treatments as in OG stands. This was due to greater biomass of understory species after logging. In TSL understory tree species determined a higher litterfall C/N ratio than ISL. We found higher soil N availability and content of base cations in surface soils of logged forests than in OG. The litter horizon of OG forest had significantly higher rates of non-symbiotic N fixation than logged forests. In the ISL treatment there was a trend toward increasing soil denitrification and significantly higher NO 3–N/N t ratio in spring waters, which led to a stronger δ 15N signal in surface and deep soils. We conclude that massive understory occupation by the shade-intolerant native bamboo Chusquea quila in ISL led to enhanced litter quality (lower C/N ratios) relaxing the tightness of the N cycle, which increased soil N availability leading to a higher proportion of nitrate in spring waters and higher gaseous N losses. In contrast, under TSL a higher litterfall C/N ratio slowed decomposition and net N mineralization rates thus reducing the chances for N losses, and enhancing C and N storage in soil. We suggest that sustainable logging practices in these rain forests should be based on lower rates of canopy removal to enhance colonization of the understory by shade-tolerant trees, which are associated with a more efficient N cycle.

Vegetation Change in Boreonemoral Forest during Succession — Trends in Species Composition, Richness and Differentiation Diversity

We compared the diversity and composition of understorey vegetation of four successional stages (recently clearcut, young, middle-aged and old stands) in an Estonian boreonemoral coniferous forest under homogeneous soil conditions. The ordination analysis (NMDS) showed that successional age was the main driver of understorey species composition with soil pH and P content responsible for some variation as well. Species composition in old-growth stands was more similar to the vegetation of young and clear-cut stands than to the composition of mid-aged stands. Species richness in 1-m2 plots was higher in recently disturbed and young stands due to the higher abundance of disturbance-related species. The differentiation diversity, characterising species turnover among plots within a stand, was higher in recently disturbed and young stands than in mid-aged and old stands. The results indicate that earlier successional stages are characterised by spatially heterogeneous and diverse vegetation, whereas older stan...

Stand structure and the abundance and diversity of plants and small mammals in natural and intensively managed forests

Little attention has been given to investigating biodiversity in managed forests. Pre-commercial thinning (PCT) and fertilization have been used successfully to increase growth of coniferous trees, vegetative succession, and overall stand structure in second-growth stands. This study was designed to test the hypotheses (H) that PCT and repeated fertilization of young (20–25 years) even-aged lodgepole pine ( Pinus contorta) stands would enhance (H1) coniferous stand structure; (H2) abundance and diversity of understory vegetation; and (H3) abundance and diversity of forest-floor small mammals, to levels found in mature and old-growth forests. Replicate study areas were located near Summerland and Kelowna in south-central British Columbia, Canada. Each study area had six stands: young plantation, thinned stand (1000 stems/ha), thinned–fertilized stand (1000 stems/ha), unthinned stand, mature forest, and old-growth forest. Coniferous stand structure, understory vegetation, and forest-floor small mammals were sampled during a 5-year period from 1999 through 2003. The smaller tree sizes (diameter, height, basal area) in the young lodgepole pine stands did not support the tree size part of H1. Similar abundance of overstory and total conifers did support the abundance part of H1. The diversity component was supported by the similarity in species and structural diversity of total conifers among the intensively managed and older unmanaged stands. Response of understory vegetation was dominated by the abundance of herbs in the thinned–fertilized stands. There was no difference in shrub abundance among stands, but mosses and terrestrial lichens were most numerous in the mature and old-growth stands. Our results supported the abundance part of H2, at least for herbs and shrubs. Species richness and diversity of vascular plants were similar in managed and old-growth forests, and richness was lowest in the mature stands. H3 was supported for total abundance, species richness, and diversity of small mammals, and for the generalist species Peromyscus maniculatus and Tamias amoenus, but not for the old forest specialist Myodes gapperi. Two insectivores, Sorex monticolus and Sorex cinereus, were at comparable or higher abundance in the managed stands than in the older unmanaged forests. Three other microtines: Microtus pennsylvanicus, Microtus longicaudus, and Phenacomys intermedius were early successional vegetation specialists, and hence did not fit the prediction of H3. Thus, despite overall quantitative differences in stand structure and species-specific variability between our intensively managed and older natural stands, old-growth attributes seem to be developing in a time-span of decades rather than the centuries depicted by long rotations.

Historical fire and multidecadal drought as context for piñon–juniper woodland restoration in western Colorado

Fire is known to structure tree populations, but the role of broad-scale climate variability is less clear. For example, the influence of climatic "teleconnections" (the relationship between oceanic-atmospheric fluctuations and anomalous weather patterns across broad scales) on forest age structure is relatively unexplored. We sampled semiarid piñon-juniper (Pinus edulis-Juniperus osteosperma) woodlands in western Colorado, U.S.A., to test the hypothesis that woodland age structures are shaped by climate, including links to oceanic-atmospheric fluctuations, and by past fires and livestock grazing. Low-severity surface fire was lacking, as fire scars were absent, and did not influence woodland densities, but stand-replacing fires served as long-rotation (>400-600 years), stand-initiating events. Old-growth stands (>300 years old) were found in 75% of plots, consistent with a long fire rotation. Juniper and piñon age structures suggest contrasting responses during the past several centuries to dry and wet episodes linked to the Atlantic Multidecadal Oscillation (AMO) and Pacific Decadal Oscillation (PDO). Juniper density increased slightly during periods of drought, positive (warm) AMO (after approximately 10-year lag), and negative (cool) PDO. In contrast, piñon populations may still be recovering from a long, drought-filled period (AD 1620-1820), with pulses of recovery favored during cool AMO, warm PDO, and above-average moisture periods. Analysis of 20th-century tree establishment and instrumental climate data corroborate the long-term relationships between age structure and climate. After Euro-American settlement (AD 1881), livestock grazing reduced understory grasses and forbs, reducing competition with tree seedlings and facilitating climate-induced increases in piñons. Thus tree populations in these woodlands are in flux, affected by drought and wet periods linked to oceanic-atmospheric variability, Euro-American livestock grazing, and long-rotation, high-severity fires. Reductions in livestock grazing levels may aid ecological restoration efforts. However, given long-term fluctuations in tree density and composition, and expected further drought, thinning or burning to reduce tree populations may be misdirected.

Old Forests and Endangered Woodpeckers: Old-Growth in the Southern Coastal Plain

Southern old-growth forests are small and rare, but critical in their support of biodiversity. While the remnant old-growth forests contain diversity that is significant regionally and globally, they most likely represent only a portion of the variety that old forests once sustained. High within-habitat diversity and rarity in the landscape magnify the conservation value of these systems. Old-growth stands of two particular communities—longleaf pine (Pinus palustris) forests and floodplain (bottomland/swamp) forests—have emblematic links to two notable bird species of concern, the Red-cockaded (Picoides borealis) and Ivory-billed (Campephilus principalis) Woodpeckers. In addition to conservation importance, southern old forests have social and economic values that are in danger of further impoverishment if these systems are lost to future generations. Summarizing the findings from a recenatus and values, identify current threats, and describe potential strategies to promote greater long-term conservation of old forests across the South.

Habitat prediction model for three-toed woodpecker and its implications for the conservation of biologically valuable forests

We studied habitat selection of three-toed woodpecker (TTW) in relation to forest structural variables, habitat types and hydrological conditions in north-eastern Poland. Based on known locations of 34 breeding pairs and the data on location of forest areas with high conservation value (referred to as Biologically Important Forests), we created a habitat prediction model for TTW using a Maxent algorithm. We found that this species most often selected breeding sites characterized by high contribution of old-growth stands with uneven vertical structure and considerable amount of very old trees of previous generations, as well as boreal spruce-dominated bogs and riverine forests. Such sites were preferred regardless of their actual protection status, which leads to the following conclusion: although existing forest reserves are very important to three-toed woodpecker, suitable habitats with similar characteristics can still be found outside protected areas and are also utilized by the species. However, such sites outside reserves are threatened by fragmentation due to timber extraction. Therefore it is recommended to protect these sites by either including them into existing reserves or putting them under special management schemes.The presented model can be applied in similar environmental conditions across lowland Europe, allowing for identification of representative habitat network for future conservation planning at landscape scale.

Stand-replacing wildfires?: The incidence of multi-cohort and single-cohort Eucalyptus regnans and E. obliqua forests in southern Tasmania

The natural age structure of wet eucalypt forest has important implications for biodiversity conservation and the mode of wood production. Southern Tasmanian wet eucalypt forests were sampled to describe age class variation and to test the following hypotheses that relate to it: (1) Eucalyptus regnans stands are more likely to be single-cohort than Eucalyptus obliqua and mixed stands; (2) old-growth trees are associated with multi-cohort wet eucalypt forests; (3) the E. regnans stands are more multi-cohort than Victorian E. regnans stands. Data from 762 stands, all with either E. obliqua or E. regnans were analysed to determine how stand characteristics related to forest type and to the presence of old-growth trees. Over half the stands studied were multi-cohort. Stands with E. regnans had a lesser tendency towards multi-cohortness than stands lacking this species, although most old-growth stands, including those dominated by E. regnans, were multi-cohort. In contrast, most regrowth stands of all species combinations were single-cohort. The proportions of E. regnans stands that were multi-cohort were similar to some estimates from the same type of forest in Victoria. Modifications of forestry regimes in wet eucalypt forests could help to maintain the existence of these biodiverse multi-cohort forests in the landscape.

Forest recovery after swidden cultivation across a 40-year chronosequence in the Atlantic forest of southern Bahia, Brazil

Tree species composition and structure of a 40-year chronosequence of secondary forests was compared with old-growth forests in southern Bahia, Brazil. Twelve stands were randomly selected that represented three age classes: 10, 25, and 40 year old with four replications in each class. All stands selected had been established after abandonment from swidden cultivation and were surrounded by old-growth forests. In every stand, ten 0.01-ha transects were established and all stems (≥5 cm diameter at breast height) were measured and identified. Results were compared with the dataset of two neighboring old-growth sites. Mean diameter, total height, and stand basal area increased with age. Number of trees/ha peaked in 40 year old stands. The results showed that secondary forests in this region take much more than 40 years to recover the structure of old-growth forests. In contrast, species richness recovery was rapid with a continuous accumulation of species with age in secondary forests. Species richness and diversity increased with age as did similarity between secondary stands and old-growth stands. More than half of the species found in the 40 year old stands were shared with the neighboring old-growth forests. However, species richness and diversity were higher in old growth sites.