Natural Forest Types Research Articles

Respiration of downed logs in four natural evergreen broad-leaved forests in subtropical China

Background and aims Carbon (C) loss from coarse woody debris (CWD) may be important in forest ecosystem C budgets, yet few studies have assessed CWD respiration in natural evergreen broad-leaved forests in subtropical China. The objectives of this study were (1) to quantify the respiration rates of downed logs (Rlog) and Q10 of different tree species at various stages of decay, (2) to assess the effect of microclimatic (log temperature and moisture) variables on Rlog and (3) to estimate annual C flux of the CWD logs in four natural evergreen broad-leaved forest types of Altingia gracilipes Hemsl. (ALG), Tsoongiodendron odorum Chun (TSO), Castanopsis carlesii (Hemsl.) Hayata (CAC) and Cinnamomum chekiangense Nakai (CIC) in southern China.

Recommandations pour une agriculture plus écologique respectant les besoins socio - écono-miques locaux, région du Menabe Central, côte ouest de Madagascar

Recommandations pour une agriculture plus écologique respectant les besoins socio - écono-miques locaux, région du Menabe Central, côte ouest de Madagascar

Soil bacterial communities of different natural forest types in Northeast China

The types of natural forests have long been suggested to shape below-ground microbial communities in forest ecosystem. However, detailed information on the impressionable bacterial groups and the potential mechanisms of these influences are still missing. The present study aims to deepen the current understanding on the soil microbial communities under four typical forest types in Northeast Asia, and to reveal the environmental factors driving the abundance, diversity and composition of soil bacterial communities. Four forest types from Changbai Nature Reserve, representing mixed conifer-broadleaf forest and its natural secondary forest, evergreen coniferous forest, and deciduous coniferous forest were selected for this study. Namely, Broadleaf-Korean pine mixed forest (BLKP), secondary Poplar-Birch forest (PB), Spruce-Fir forest (SF), and Larch forest (LA), respectively. Soil bacterial community was analyzed using bar-coded pyrosequencing. Nonmetric multidimensional scaling (NMDS) was used to illustrate the clustering of different samples based on both Bray-Curtis distances and UniFrac distances. The relationship between environmental variables and the overall community structure was analyzed using the Mantel test. The two mixed conifer-broadleaf forests (BLKP and PB) displayed higher total soil nutrients (organic carbon, nitrogen, and phosphorus) and soil pH, but a lower C/N ratio as compared to the two coniferous forests (SF and LA). The mixed conifer-broadleaf forests had higher alpha-diversity and had distinct bacterial communities from the coniferous forests. Soil texture and pH were found as the principle factors for shaping soil bacterial diversity and community composition. The two mixed conifer-broadleaf forests were associated with higher proportion of Acidobacteria, Verrucomicrobia, Bacteroidetes, and Chloroflexi. While the SF and LA forests were dominated by Proteobacteria and Gemmatimonadetes. Different natural forest type each selects for distinct microbial communities beneath them, with mixed conifer-broadleaf forests being associated with the low-activity bacterial groups, and the coniferous forests being dominated by the so-called high-activity members. The differentiation of soil bacterial communities in natural forests are presumably mediated by the differentiation in terms of soil properties, and could be partially explained by the copiotroph/oligotroph ecological classification model and non-random co-occurrence patterns.

Soil Microbial Biomass, Basal Respiration and Enzyme Activity of Main Forest Types in the Qinling Mountains

Different forest types exert essential impacts on soil physical-chemical characteristics by dominant tree species producing diverse litters and root exudates, thereby further regulating size and activity of soil microbial communities. However, the study accuracy is usually restricted by differences in climate, soil type and forest age. Our objective is to precisely quantify soil microbial biomass, basal respiration and enzyme activity of five natural secondary forest (NSF) types with the same stand age and soil type in a small climate region and to evaluate relationship between soil microbial and physical-chemical characters. We determined soil physical-chemical indices and used the chloroform fumigation-extraction method, alkali absorption method and titration or colorimetry to obtain the microbial data. Our results showed that soil physical-chemical characters remarkably differed among the NSFs. Microbial biomass carbon (Cmic) was the highest in wilson spruce soils, while microbial biomass nitrogen (Nmic) was the highest in sharptooth oak soils. Moreover, the highest basal respiration was found in the spruce soils, but mixed, Chinese pine and spruce stands exhibited a higher soil qCO2. The spruce soils had the highest Cmic/Nmic ratio, the greatest Nmic/TN and Cmic/Corg ratios were found in the oak soils. Additionally, the spruce soils had the maximum invertase activity and the minimum urease and catalase activities, but the maximum urease and catalase activities were found in the mixed stand. The Pearson correlation and principle component analyses revealed that the soils of spruce and oak stands obviously discriminated from other NSFs, whereas the others were similar. This suggested that the forest types affected soil microbial properties significantly due to differences in soil physical-chemical features.

Factors affecting participation of user group members: comparative studies on two types of community forestry in the Dry Zone, Myanmar

Drawing on the example of community forestry in Myanmar's Dry Zone area, this paper conceptualizes and empirically assesses key factors for obtaining the participation of user group members, with emphasis on the implementation stage. More specifically, the study clarifies the commonalities and differences in influential factors between two types of community forestry: agroforestry and natural forest types. Field data were collected by semi-structured interviews with 54 households in four selected user groups, by key informant interviews, by informal interviews, and by direct observations. Our analysis was conducted in accordance with a framework in which selected social/institutional, economic, and physical factors affect participation. The results show that social/institutional factors are the most influential factors in both types, while economic factors are directly related to participation of user groups in the agroforestry type alone. Results indicated that preconditions, such as selection of leaders, should be considered in accordance with the local context in which the people have a shared recognition of what confers legitimacy to leadership. We recommend collaboration of the Forest Department with user group members in providing information regarding the use and selling of forest products from agroforestry-type community forest, as well as frequent communication with user groups to provide incentives regarding property rights stability for future benefits to continue participation of user group members in managing the dry forest.

宁夏贺兰山、六盘山典型森林类型土壤主要肥力特征

采用野外调查结合室内分析的方法,对该区域典型森林类型下土壤的主要剖面肥力特征进行了研究,并对主要理化指标进行了因子分析。结果表明:受森林凋落物的累积、分解和成土母质、气候条件的影响,贺兰山、六盘山主要森林土壤的剖面肥力具有明显差异。其中,土壤孔隙度 (54.50%-72.22%,剖面均值,下同) 受有机质影响显著,随土层加深逐渐减小,容重 (0.72-1.21 g/cm³)、比重 (2.55-2.68 g/cm³) 随土层加深显著增大,且六盘山各样地比重大于贺兰山。受有机质归还作用影响,有机碳 (24.03-65.37 g/kg)、全N (1.48-3.49 g/kg)、NO^-₃-N (1.88-10.50 mg/kg)、NH⁺₄-N (5.02-11.01 mg/kg)、全P (0.37-1.19 g/kg)、有效P (4.82-13.38 mg/kg)、速效K含量 (82.03-244.62 mg/kg) 均随土层加深逐渐降低;全K含量 (18.92-26.14 g/kg) 随土层加深逐渐增大,且六盘山各样地全K含量大于贺兰山。土壤C/N (11.74-19.88) 呈现B层>C层>A层,且贺兰山各样地C/N大于六盘山。土壤CEC (23.94-40.30 cmol/kg) 受有机质的主导作用明显,随土层加深显著减小,pH值 (7.09-8.09)、ESP (0.59%-2.47%)及BSP (51.24%-80.57%) 均随土层加深逐渐增大,且贺兰山各样地pH值、ESP大于六盘山。粘粒 (5.46%-10.20%)、TDS (0.33-1.12 g/kg) 及CaCO₃ (1.44-14.23 g/kg) 均未出现明显积聚,且贺兰山各样地TDS、CaCO₃含量大于六盘山。因子分析显示,对于该区域各样地土壤的肥力特征,可以应用有机质因子、环境因子和NO^-₃-N因子进行综合描述。其中青海云杉、山杨混交林下土壤的有机质因子得分最高,贺兰山各样地环境因子得分显著大于六盘山,NO^-₃-N因子得分则以小叶金露梅灌丛和华北落叶松天然林最高。;The main areas of forest in Ningxia Province lie in the Helan and Liupan mountain ranges. These forests have important ecological and economic significance. The fertility of forest soil in these areas has not been systematically studied. The objective of this study was to evaluate soil fertility under six forest types in the Su-Yukou forest zone of the Helan mountain range and in the Xi-Xia and Die-Diegou forest zones of the Liupan mountain range. The natural forest types were <em>Pinus tabulaeformis</em> × <em>Populus davidiana</em>, <em>Picea crassifolia</em> × <em>Populus davidiana</em>, <em>Potentilla parvifolia</em>, and <em>Larix principis-rupprechtii</em>. The planted forest types were <em>Quercus liaotungensis</em> and <em>Larix principis-rupprechtii</em>. Five separate profiles (replications) were sampled in an 'S' pattern for each soil type. The profiles were divided into A, B, and C horizons and then sampled, making a total of 18 soil samples. Soil physical and chemical properties were measured with conventional methods. The results were analyzed using univariate analysis of variance. Differences among forest types and soil horizons were analyzed with Duncan's test (SSR). Soil fertility characteristics were evaluated using principal component analysis. The results indicated significant differences in soil fertility under the six forest types. These differences can probably be attributed to differences in the accumulation and decomposition of forest litter, in soil parent material, or in climatic conditions. Soil porosity ranged from 54.5 to 72.2% and decreased as soil depth increased. Soil bulk density ranged from 0.72 to 1.21 g/cm³ and particle density ranged from 2.55 to 2.68 g/cm³. Soil bulk density and particle density both increased as soil depth increased. Soil particle density in the Liupan mountains was higher than that in the Helan mountains. Soil organic C (24.03-65.37 g/kg), total N (1.48-3.49 g/kg), NO^-₃-N (1.88-10.50 mg/kg), NH⁺₄-N (5.02-11.01 mg/kg), total P (0.37-1.19 g/kg), available P (4.82-13.38 mg/kg), and available K (82.03-244.62 mg/kg) increased as soil depth increased. Total K (18.92-26.14 g/kg) increased as soil depth increased. Total K concentrations were higher in soil from the Liupan mountains than in soil from the Helan mountains. The soil C : N ratio (11.74 to 19.88) tended to be highest in the B horizon followed by the C and A horizons. The cation exchange capacity (23.94-40.30 cmol/kg) decreased as soil depth increased. In contrast, soil pH (7.09-8.09), exchangeable sodium percentage (0.59%-2.47%) and base saturation percentage (51.24%-80.57%) increased as soil depth increased. Clay content (5.46%-10.20%), total dissolved salt, (0.33-1.12 g/kg), and CaCO₃ content (1.44-14.23 g/kg) did not change significantly with soil depth. The soil C : N ratio, pH, exchangeable sodium percentage, total dissolved salt, and CaCO₃ content of soil from the Helan mountains was higher than that of soil from the Liupan mountains. Factor analysis was used to describe soil fertility under the six forest types. Three soil fertility components (organic matter factor, environmental factor, and NO^-₃-N factor) were derived from 14 physico-chemical soil properties. Component scores showed significant differences among the three fertility components under different forest types. The soil under the <em>Picea crassifolia</em> × <em>Populus davidiana</em> forest had the highest component score for the organic matter factor. Soils from the Helan mountain range had the highest component score for the environmental factor, and soil from the natural <em>Potentilla parvifolia</em> and <em>Larix principis-rupprechtii</em> forest had the highest component score for the NO^-₃-N factor.

Plant diversity patterns in subtropical evergreen broad‐leaved forests of Yunnan and Taiwan

AbstractThe subtropical evergreen broad‐leaved forests of Yunnan and Taiwan were compared along environmental and successional gradients with the aim of identifying important taxon and species diversity as well as the drivers of mountain biodiversity patterns. A detrended correspondence analysis of an exhaustive set of data collected from 105 and 223 plots for Yunnan and Taiwan, respectively, was applied to classify natural mature forest types. Additional data from 72 and 68 plots for Yunnan and Taiwan, respectively, were used for analyses of secondary succession. The floristic richness and diversity index were calculated for each type of forest. In Yunnan, the monsoon forests in mesic‐humid sites had more taxa and tended to show higher species diversity than the other two forest types. In Taiwan, species diversity values were significantly higher in the Machilus–Castanopsis zone in the middle altitudes (500–1500 m) than for the other three forest zones. For both Yunnan and Taiwan, the forests at the middle successional stage showed significantly higher species diversity than those at the early successional stage. Differences in diversity between the middle and late stages were not significant. These findings highlight the high species diversity of the natural mature evergreen broad‐leaved forests of both Yunnan and Taiwan. In the secondary forests, as succession proceeds, species diversity comes to resemble that of the natural mature forests. In both ecosystems, the drivers of species diversity patterns are moisture, altitude, and succession/disturbance.

Using species distribution modeling to improve conservation and land use planning of Yunnan, China

Part of the Himalayan biodiversity hotspot, Yunnan province in China is a highly diverse terrestrial region, particularly in the wide range of natural forest types. These forests are under considerable conversion pressure as land use intensifies with expanding human population and economic development. Conservation strategies based on the geographic patterns of botanical species richness, including the identification of meaningful floristic regions and priority areas for conservation, could improve the effectiveness of forest policy and management. These strategies should also include current threats of loss due to forest conversion to address the more urgent challenges for sustainable development. Here, we produce distribution models at ∼10km2 resolution for 2319 plant species, using geo-referenced herbarium collections, corrected for spatial bias using a null model, and detailed environmental variables. Based on 1996 species with significant non-random habitat preferences, we identify four important aspects of plant species distribution in Yunnan: (1) species diversity hotspots; (2) seven major floristic regions, using a cluster analysis of species presence/absence; (3) priority areas for conservation based on the concept of the ‘irreplaceability’ value of planning units and (4) the percentage remaining natural forest among the species rich and conservation priority areas, to assess the level of endangerment. Our maps provide clear priorities for the development of a sustainable and feasible biodiversity conservation strategy for Yunnan.

Influence of a Large-scale Removal of an Invasive Plant (Melaleuca quinquenervia) on Home-range Size and Habitat Selection by Female Florida Panthers (Puma concolor coryi) within Big Cypress National Preserve, Florida

The control of invasive exotic plants is often deemed important for managing native wildlife, but surprisingly little research exists that evaluates benefits to wildlife, including species of conservation concern. Melaleuca quinquenervia (Melaleuca) is an invasive, non-native, broad-leaved tree that aggressively displaces native plant communities in south Florida. We used land-cover maps to document changes in plant communities and radio-telemetry data to compare habitat selection and mean home-range size of the endangered Puma concolor coryi (Florida Panther) within Big Cypress National Preserve (BCNP) during a Melaleuca removal project's removal phase (1991–1997) and the ensuing maintenance and habitat recovery phase (1998–2006). During the removal phase, Panthers incorporated areas infested by Melaleuca as components of their home range. Following >99.9% removal of Melaleuca, we documented pronounced increases in total cover of native upland forest (227%), wetland forest (211%), and prairie (54%) communities. During the habitat recovery phase, Panther habitat selection in the study area included significantly more upland forest within home-range core areas, and mean home-range size contracted by 16%. However, similar reductions in mean home-range size were not observed during the same time period for the regional population of radio-collared Panthers occupying contiguous conservation lands in south Florida. Although our findings are correlational and do not demonstrate cause and effect, the increase in native plant community cover, the increased use of native plant communities by Panthers, and the reduction in mean home-range size following the removal of Melaleuca are consistent with what would be expected if improvements in habitat quality reduced Panther home-range size requirements. Restoration of native plant communities and particularly native forest types, therefore, may have improved habitat quality for the Florida Panther and resulted in smaller home-range sizes and a potential increase in carrying capacity within BCNP.

A Study of Natural Forest Type Classification for Japanese National Forest Inventory Data(A:General issues in forest planning,POSTER PRESENTATION,Followup and New Challenge for Coming Generations,The Second International Conference on FORCOM,Abstract Proceedings of FORCOM2011)

A Study of Natural Forest Type Classification for Japanese National Forest Inventory Data(A:General issues in forest planning,POSTER PRESENTATION,Followup and New Challenge for Coming Generations,The Second International Conference on FORCOM,Abstract Proceedings of FORCOM2011)

Rubber and pulp plantations represent a double threat to Hainan's natural tropical forests

Hainan, the largest tropical island in China, belongs to the Indo-Burma biodiversity hotspot and harbors large areas of tropical forests, particularly in the uplands. The Changhua watershed is the cradle of Hainan's main river and a center of endemism for plants and birds. The watershed contains great habitat diversity and is an important conservation area. We analyzed the impact of rubber and pulp plantations on the distribution and area of tropical forest in the watershed, using remote sensing analysis of Landsat images from 1988, 1995 and 2005. From 1988 to 1995, natural forest increased in area (979-1040sqkm) but decreased rapidly (763sqkm) over the next decade. Rubber plantations increased steadily through the study period while pulp plantations appeared after 1995 but occupied 152sqkm by 2005. Rubber and pulp plantations displace different types of natural forest and do not replace one another. Because pulp is not as profitable as rubber and existing pulp processing capacity greatly exceeds local supply, considerable pressure exists on remaining upland forests. We recommend for future management that these plantation forests be reclassified as 'industrial', making a clear policy distinction between natural and industrial forestry. Additionally, the local government should work to enforce existing laws preventing forest conversion on marginal and protected areas.

Avian conservation value of pine plantation forests in northern Vietnam

SummaryDecline of native forest cover is a worldwide concern. Recently, overall forest cover in Vietnam has increased, but most of the increase has been attributed to plantations of non-native trees. The conservation value of these plantations for birds is unknown. We compared avian species richness in pine plantations to that in second-growth and mature native forests in Tam Dao National Park, Vietnam. Bird species were classified into two categories: forest specialists or forest generalists. To account for strong heterogeneity in detection probabilities, the number of species in each category was estimated using the Pledger-Huggins estimator. We estimated total species richness and number of forest specialist species to be highest in mature forest (191; 95% CI = 96, 287, and 88; 95% CI = 47, 129 respectively), lower in second-growth forest (158; 95% CI = 87, 245 and 58; 95% CI = 18, 98 respectively), and lowest in pine plantation (106; 95% CI = 52, 158 and 49; 95% CI = 2, 97 respectively). The estimated number of forest generalist species was similar between mature forest and second-growth forest (103; 95% CI = 17, 189 and 100; 95% CI = 42, 158, respectively) and least in pine plantation (57; 95% CI = 31, 82). The maintenance of native forest types should receive priority for conservation in Vietnam and pine plantations should be managed to provide additional structure in the hope of increasing species richness.

인공식재에 의해 교란된 산림의 식생구조 및 생태적 복원기법

The purpose of this study is to investigate the vegetation structure and ecological restoration of disturbed forest due to artificial plant. To this end, 12 plots were set up and surveyed. The result analyzed considering mean importance percentage(M.I.P) showed that the types were divided into three groups which are artificial planted forest type(three plots), natural forest-artificial planted forest type(four plots), natural forest type(five plots). Dominant proportion of artificial planted species were as follows: artificial planted forest type was over 60%, natural forest-artificial planted forest types were 14~49%. The range of Shannon's index of all associations was from 0.7131 to 0.7771(natural forest-artificial planted forest > natural forest > artificial planted forest). Also we suggested restoration method of vegetation for ecological value as follow: Control of density considering step and Remove of Pinus koraiensis seedlings of understory layer and shurb layer.

An Evaluation of Bess Beetles (Passalidae) and Their Resource Base in a Restored Andean Forest

Degraded lands in the Colombian Andes have been restored by means of monospecific tree plantations of native and exotic species, and by abandoning lands to natural regeneration. Both methods rapidly produce a vegetation cover that helps to stabilize soils, but the value of resulting ecosystems for wildlife needs to be evaluated. We assessed the effects of these two restoration methods on the diversity and abundance of bess beetles (Passalidae), which are important deadwood recyclers. We quantified coarse woody debris (logs and branches &gt;10 cm diameter) and associated passalid beetle fauna in 40-year-old Andean alder ( Alnus acuminata) plantations, adjacent natural regeneration and old-forest remnants, at 2430 m of elevation in the Central Andes. The three forest types contained the same number of logs per unit area, but wood volume was lower in alder stands than in natural forest types. Old-forest remnants contained a higher number of occupied logs and individual beetles per transect and per unit wood volume than the two other habitats. We found six species of beetle, three of which were found in the three habitats and the other three in one habitat each. Forest remnants and natural regeneration had four species each, whereas alder plantations had three species. Although beetle abundance was lower in alder stands, in the small-scale mosaic found at this site alder plantations behaved similarly to secondary forest and merged as part of the local habitat heterogeneity. Whether these results apply to larger and more isolated plantations remains to be established.

Effects of slope aspects on forest compositions, community structures and soil properties in natural temperate forests of Garhwal Himalaya

The present study was undertaken in seven natural forest types of temperate zone (1500 to 3100 m, a.s.l.) of Garhwal Himalaya to understand the effects of slope aspects viz., north-east (NE), north-west (NW), south-east (SE) and south-west (SW), on the forest structure, composition and soil characteristics of each selected forest type. The sample plots in each forest type were laid out by using stratified random approach. The indices i.e., the Importance Value Index, Shannon-Wiener diversity index, Simpson’s concentration of Dominance, Simpson diversity index, Pielou equitability and Margalef species richness index were calculated statistically using standard softwares to elucidate the differences in forest structure and composition of forest types on different slope aspects of the sites. The composite soil samples were taken from each forest stand and the physico-chemical properties of the soil i.e., moisture content (MC), water holding capacity (WHC), pH, organic carbon (OC), phosphorus (P), potassium (K) and available nitrogen (N) were analyzed. The results show that the higher values of total basal cover (74.4 m2·ha−1 in Quercus semecarpifolia forest), Concentration of dominance (0.85 in Pinus roxburghii forest) and Tree diversity (1.81 in Quercus floribunda forest) in the forests were recorded in the northern aspects. MC (40.8% in Quercus leucotrichophora forest), WHC (48.9% in Cupressus torulosa forest), OC (3.8% in Cedrus deodara forest), P (31.9 kg·ha−1 in Quercus leucotrichophora forest) and N (1.0% in Pinus roxburghii forest) had also higher values in the soils of northern aspects. Consequently the higher productivity of the forests was also noticed on the northern aspects.

Long-term trends in vegetation changes of managed versus unmanaged Eastern Carpathian beech forests

A vegetation survey of semi-permanent plots was conducted between years 1955–1962 and 2005–2009, and aimed to determine floristic changes occurring in beech forests located on a scarcely populated, dense forest area. The survey encompassed all natural beech forest types within the Polish part of the “Eastern Carpathians” International Reserve of Biosphere. A comparison of trends in changes between unmanaged (Bieszczady National Park) and managed (the remaining part of the Biosphere Reserve) forests was attempted. DCA analysis was used for the determination of changes on the community level. The density of vegetation, species richness, frequency of occurrence and cover, and functional groups of species were determined. Much more profound community changes were determined to have occurred in managed beech forests. However, a similar direction in vegetation changes within both managed and unmanaged forests verifies the existence of a regional pattern of changes in beech forests. This regional pattern involves (1) a decrease in the shares of arborescent species within the shrub layer, (2) disturbance of the canopy layer, (3) acidification of the top layer of the soil, (4) change of light conditions, (5) increase in shares of generalist species and decrease in shares of specialist species. A decreasing anthropogenic pressure, aging of forest stands, functioning of large, dense forest areas and sustainable forest management strategies forestry management system mimicking natural deciduous forest disturbance regime constitute factors shaping the regional changes of the forest vegetation. The undergoing changes can lead to biotic and spatial homogenization of the Eastern Carpathian beech forests.

The Natura 2000 ecological network and forests in Romania: implications on management and administration

SUMMARY The present forestry guidelines and related legislation in Romania promote the natural forest type and seek a sustained yield in terms of both timber production and other forest functions regardless the ownership and administration. Therefore, forest management could be considered compatible with the conservation requirements of the Natura 2000 network. At present, this network covers roughly 18% of the country area. It was implemented without a thorough field analysis and without a proper stakeholder consultation process. Additionally, all sites were declared protected areas although no compensation system exists for owners. The authors propose that, at least for sites covering large areas and including diverse forms of ownership, the administration is more efficient at the level of existing forest districts than at site level. They also stress that, for an efficient Natura 2000 network and a sustainable forest management, financial compensation schemes should cover all types of ownership current...

Tropical reptiles in pine forests: Assemblage responses to plantations and plantation management by burning

Worldwide, the land area devoted to timber plantations is expanding rapidly, especially in the tropics, where reptile diversity is high. The impacts of plantation forestry and its management on native species are poorly known, but are important, because plantation management goals often include protecting biodiversity. We examined the impact of pine ( Pinus caribaea ) plantations, and their management by fire, on the abundance and richness of reptiles, a significant proportion of the native biodiversity in tropical northern Australia, by (i) comparing abundance and diversity of reptiles among pine plantations (on land cleared specifically for plantation establishment), and two adjacent native forest types, eucalypt and Melaleuca woodlands, and (ii) comparing reptile abundance and richness in pine forest burnt one year prior to the study to remove understorey vegetation with pine forest burnt two years prior to the study. We also examined the influence of fire on reptile assemblages in native vegetation, by comparing eucalypt woodland burnt two years prior to the study and unburnt for eight years. To quantify mechanisms driving differences in reptile richness and abundance among forest types and management regimes, we measured forest structure, the temperatures used by reptiles (operative temperature) and solar radiation, at replicate sites in all forest types and management regimes. Compared to native forests, pine forests had taller trees, lower shrub cover in the understorey, more and deeper exotic litter (other than pine), and were cooler and shadier. Reptile assemblages in pine forests were as rich as those in native forests, but pine assemblages were composed mainly of species that typically use closed-canopy rainforest and prefer cooler, shadier habitats. Burning did not appear to influence the assemblage structure of reptiles in native forest, but burning under pine was associated with increased skink abundance and species richness. Burned pine was not warmer or sunnier than unburned pine, a common driver of reptile abundance, so the shift in lizard use after burning may have been driven by structural differences in understorey vegetation, especially amounts of non-native litter, which were reduced by burning. Thus, burning for management under pine increased the abundance and richness of lizard assemblages using pine. Pine plantations do not support the snake diversity common to sclerophyllous native forests, but pine may have the potential to complement rainforest lizard diversity if appropriately managed.

Assessing the long-term species composition predicted by PrognAus

Tree growth models are supposed to contain stand growth laws as so called “emergent properties” which derive from interactions of individual-tree growth and mortality functions. This study investigates whether the evolving tree species composition in a long term simulation by the distance-independent tree growth model PrognAus matches the species composition of the potential natural vegetation type which is expected to occur if one refrains from further management interventions and major disturbances, climate change, and changes in site conditions can be excluded. For this purpose the development of 6933 sample plots of the Austrian National Forest Inventory was predicted for 2500 years. The resulting species proportions, derived from volume per hectare of 15 tree species or species groups, were used to classify every sample plot according to potential natural forest types, following a classification scheme based on expert knowledge. These simulated potential natural vegetation types were compared with expert reconstructions of the sample plots of the Austrian National Forest Inventory. A total of 5789 plots were actually classified with the scheme; in 33% of the cases the classification on the basis of the PrognAus-simulations was identical with the classification by the Austrian National Forest Inventory. A predominantly correct classification was achieved for the subalpine Picea abies-type and the Fagus sylvatica-type although PrognAus showed a tendency to overestimate the proportion of F. sylvatica and P. abies. Weaknesses in the ability to simulate forest types dominated by Quercus spp., Acer spp., and Pinus sylvestris were identified. This shortcoming might be caused by the mortality model which allows a larger diameter at breast height for F. sylvatica or by the ingrowth model whose terms for the consideration of inter-specific competition may lead to a disadvantage of Quercus spp., P. sylvestris, and Abies alba. Moreover, the ingrowth model might be influenced by management effects and the effect of selective browsing.

Restoration of semi-natural forest after clearcutting of conifer plantations in Japan

We reviewed recent studies on the restoration of semi-natural forests after clearcutting of conifer plantations with specific reference to the importance of setting restoration goals, general and specific factors influencing restoration, and the prediction and judgment of successful restoration. For the restoration of semi-natural forests following the clearcutting of conifer plantations, recovery levels and appropriate restoration methods cannot be considered separately from the aims of restoration to provide ecosystem services. Restoration needs to be based on the setting of goals that correspond to the type and degree of ecosystem services targeted. When we aim to restore vegetation dominated by late-seral canopy trees within as short a period after the clearcutting of conifer plantations as possible, advanced regeneration in the pre-logged plantation is the most important and reliable source of post-logging regeneration, just as it is in the recovery of disturbed non-plantation forests. Advanced regeneration is not always present in plantations. Seedling establishment by seed rain from adjacent natural forest patches after a disturbance can contribute to late-seral or canopy species; however, the range of the edge effect is generally short, and the degree of the edge effect depends on the natural forest type and is more pronounced in deciduous forests, such as those in cool-temperate climates, or in forests with a complex forest structure. Thus, advanced regeneration is a better predictor of short-term forest recovery than measures based on seed rain from adjacent seed sources. However, restoration achieved only through advanced regeneration can simplify the species composition, and the recolonization processes of gradual species accession from seeds should be considered in the long-term context of restoration.