Woody Plant Diversity Research Articles

Diverse and larger tree islands promote native tree diversity in oil palm landscapes.

In monoculture-dominated landscapes, recovering biodiversity is a priority, but effective restoration strategies have yet to be identified. In this study, we experimentally tested passive and active restoration strategies to recover taxonomic, phylogenetic, and functional diversity of woody plants within 52 tree islands established in an oil palm landscape. Large tree islands and higher initial planted diversity catalyzed diversity recovery, particularly functional diversity at the landscape level. At the local scale, results demonstrated that greater initial planting diversity begets greater diversity of native recruits, overcoming limitations of natural recruitment in highly modified landscapes. Establishing large and diverse tree islands is crucial for safeguarding rare, endemic, and forest-associated species in oil palm landscapes.

Long-term surveys of ungulates' effects on tree and shrub species in mountainous forests -outcomes and potential limits.

Ungulate herbivory might induce different effects on the diversity and growth of trees and shrubs. The density, distribution, and the species of ungulates as well as plant communities' composition and other factors determine whether ungulate herbivory promotes or limits plants' diversity and growth. The impacts of ungulates on woody plants are commonly surveyed with exclosure-control approaches. In practice, such surveys frequently only cover short periods of time, addressing immediate management needs. Long-term surveys, documenting lasting effects of ungulate herbivory, are highly needed, but still rare. However, the general transferability of outcomes of long-term surveys might be limited due to different disturbing factors. This study addresses two basic aspects of long-term monitoring in mountainous forests, based on a unique 30-year data set: (1) Possible long-term effects of herbivores on forest vegetation (e.g., species/structural diversity of woody plants) and (2) potential differences between short-term and long-term surveys in terms of height growth patterns. In our study, diversity of woody plant species showed great variability with no significant impact of ungulate herbivory. The presence of ungulates had a significantly negative effect on the vertical structural diversity and growth of trees. Due to the slower growth on control plots, it took trees longer to reach a 160 cm height-threshold with their terminal shoots than on exclosure plots. Our long-term control-exclosure data set indicated that long-term survey data indeed might differ from growth patterns represented by short-term surveys. This can be induced by several factors, like site-specific growth patterns of trees, occurrences of natural abiotic disturbances that influence the functional life of exclosures, and others.

Ecological assessment and diversity of woody plants in plantations of frankincense trees (Boswellia papyrifera (Del.) Hochst.) in AlGerri Forest, Blue Nile State, Sudan

هدفت هذه الدراسة إلى تقييم تنوع أنواع الشجيرات والأشجار داخل مزارع اشجار اللبان (Boswellia papyrifera (Del.) Hochst.) في منطقة القري بولاية النيل الأزرق. 18 نمازج دائرية منتظمة حددت لاخذ و تسجيل البيانات تبلغ مساحتة الواحد منها 0.1 هكتار. (نصف القطر = 17.84) مع مسافات تباعد تبلغ 100 متر بين كل نموزج و الاخر، تم استخدامها لجمع البيانات. تم تحديد ما مجموعه 13 نوعًا خشبيًا تنتمي إلى 7 عائلات في مجموعتين من مزارع اشجار اللبان. ساد نوع اشجار اللبان (Boswellia papyrifera) على الأنواع الخشبية في جميع مجتمعات الغطاء النباتي، وتليها انواع الهبيل (Combretum hartmannianum) و الطلح (Acacia seya). كان مؤشرا التنوع في شانون (H) للمجتمع (1) والمجتمع (2) 0.328 و 0.429 على التوالي. كانت قيم مؤشر Pielous Evenness (E) في المجتمع (1) المجتمع (2) 0.344 و 0.429 على التوالي. كثافة المجتمع (1) والمجتمع (2) 609.1 و 309.08 نبات / هكتار. على التوالى. أظهر توزيع الأنواع الخشبية أن 61.54٪ من الأنواع تتواجد في تجمعات في توزيعها و 38.46٪ من الأنواع موزعة عشوائياً. تم استخدام التحليل العنقودي المستند إلى الرابط الفردي Bray-Curtis لتقييم التشابه بين تكوين الأنواع الخشبية عبر 18 نموزج عينة.

Examining Woody Plant Diversity Across Indigenous Agroforestry Practices in the Kellem Wollega Zone, Western Ethiopia

Growing woody plants on farmland not only promotes biodiversity conservation but also supports the livelihood of local communities by offering essential ecosystem services. The present study aimed to assess the woody species diversity within indigenous agroforestry practices in Kellem Wollega Zone, western Ethiopia. From Kellem Wollega, three districts: Dale Sadi, Gawo Qebe,and Sadi Canqa were purposively selected. A total of 135 plots were surveyed, with 45 plots per district across various land use classes, documenting species diversity, evenness, richness, frequency, and important value index. Fifty six (56) woody species from 29 families were counted. Fabaceae family was identified as the most dominant, comprising 7 species (12.5%), followed by Moraceae and Euphorbiaceae families, each with 4 species (7.17%). About 71.43% of species identified species were categorized as trees, while 28.57% were classified as shrubs. This finding confirmed that the indigenous home garden agroforestry exhibited the greatest diversity of woody species, while woodlots exhibited the lowest diversity. Furthermore, the results indicate significant variations in species diversity across different land use categories (p<0.001). These results underscore the contribution of indigenous agroforestry practices in enhancing biodiversity and supporting a number of woody species within their ecosystem.

Distribution, species richness, and relative importance of different plant life forms across drylands in China

Studies on plant diversity are usually based on the total number of species in a community. However, few studies have examined species richness (SR) of different plant life forms in a community along large-scale environmental gradients. Particularly, the relative importance (RIV) of different plant life forms in a community and how they vary with environmental variables are still unclear. To fill these gaps, we determined plant diversity of ephemeral plants, annual herbs, perennial herbs, and woody plants from 187 sites across drylands in China. The SR patterns of herbaceous plants, especially perennial herbs, and their RIV in plant communities increased with increasing precipitation and soil nutrient content; however, the RIV of annual herbs was not altered along these gradients. The SR and RIV of ephemeral plants were affected mainly by precipitation seasonality. The SR of woody plants had a unimodal relationship with air temperature and exhibited the highest RIV and SR percentage in plant communities under the harshest environments. An obvious shift emerged in plant community composition, SR and their critical impact factors at 238.5 mm of mean annual precipitation (MAP). In mesic regions (> 238.5 mm), herbs were the dominant species, and the SR displayed a relatively slow decreasing rate with increasing aridity, which was mediated mainly by MAP and soil nutrients. In arid regions (< 238.5 mm), woody plants were the dominant species, and the SR displayed a relatively fast decreasing rate with increasing aridity, which was mediated mainly by climate variables, especially precipitation. Our findings highlight the importance of comparative life form studies in community structure and biodiversity, as their responses to gradients differed substantially on a large scale.

Woody plant communities in different land management types and implications on mountain biodiversity conservation in central Ethiopia

The prominence of mountains as social-ecological systems and the need for sustainable mountain development have increasingly been recognized in global agendas and international conventions. This study aims to investigate woody plant diversity, composition, and population structure in two different land management types: lands managed by the Wanchi Ecotourism Association (WETA) and non-WETA members at the slopes of Wanchi Mountain. Trees and shrubs with diameter at breast height (DBH) ≥ 5 cm were recorded from 20 m by 20 m plots and those with DBH<5 cm were counted within sub-plots of 10 m by 10 m. Tree seedlings were recorded from five 3 m by 3 m sub-sub-plots. The quasi-Poisson generalized linear model with a log-link function was used to analyze the richness of woody species and their association with environmental variables. Non-metric multidimensional scaling with Bray-Curtis distance in two-dimensional space was employed for the woody species composition. Tree species population structure was analyzed using tree diameter distribution classes. The study identified 104 woody plants belonging to 82 genera and 52 families. Woody species richness in WETA-managed lands is significantly (P=0.009) greater than that of non-WETA-managed lands. The study found that woody species richness significantly declined with increasing anthropogenic disturbance (P<0.001) and slope (P<0.001) in both WETA and non-WETA-managed land. Woody species richness also showed negative associations with aspect. The tree species in both the land management types revealed nearly similar population structures. The study highlighted the importance of sustainable land management practices such as ecotourism in areas of significant natural endowments like that of the Wanchi Mountain. Such practices can guide more sustainable mountain biodiversity conservation while realizing appropriate local livelihood improvement strategies.

How did the diversity of woody plants in urban forests vary with the urban-rural gradient in Qingdao, China?

The distribution and diversity of woody vegetation are crucial for understanding the structure and ecology of urban forests. As urbanization accelerates, the construction and composition of urban forests vary significantly along the urban-rural gradient. Qingdao's urban forests offer an opportunity to test the relationship between the diversity of woody plants and the urban-rural gradient. We classified the urban-rural gradient using imperviousness and construction time, then investigated the diversity of woody plants in Qingdao's urban forests under different urban-rural gradients and tested the reasonableness of their allocation. Correlation analysis found that the diversity index of woody plants in urban forests was highly connected to the urban-rural gradient (by imperviousness: rMargalef Index = −0.589, rShannon-Wiener Index = -0.373, rPielouIndex = −0.170, rSimpson Index = 0.272/by construction time: rMargalef Index = −0.530, rShannon-Wiener Index = −0.360, rPielouIndex = −0.148, rSimpson Index = 0.272/0.174). With a decrease in urbanization density, the Margalef (H), Shannon-Wiener (H′), and Simpson (D) indices all decreased while the Pielou (E) index increased. The four diversity indices showed a substantial correlation with one another, but not with the Margalef and Pielou indices. The analysis utilizing the 10/20/30 rule of empirical demonstrates a clear irrationality in allocating shrub species in Qingdao's urban forests, and the distribution of tree species is reasonable. Based on the study results, strategies for optimizing and enhancing urban forests in Qingdao are proposed for different urban-rural gradients, respectively. This study can provide a scientific framework for urban biodiversity conservation and management in Qingdao and serve as a guide for urban forests and greening with comparable climates.

Woody plants diversity and the associated provisioning ecosystem services across three contrasting forest management regimes in Southwest Ethiopia

Woody plants are a source of provisioning ecosystem services. Coffee management impacts forest composition, structure, and diversity. We studied the effect of coffee management intensification on woody plants and their associated provisioning ecosystem services under three contrasting forest management regimes in southwest Ethiopia. The study employed mixed approaches (vegetation assessment and ethnoecological study) to collect the data. Woody plants were collected from 189 plots and perceived local ecosystem services were identified by 136 individuals through an ethnoecological approach. The total number of woody plants recorded in the natural forest, coffee forest, and coffee agroforest was 971, 945, and 521 respectively. Species richness in natural forest, coffee forest, and coffee agroforest were 57, 54, and 53 respectively. The local people perceived 17 different provisioning ecosystem services collected from the three forest types. The result showed that there is a positive relationship between the diversity and use value of woody plants across the three forest management regimes. Coffee management intensification simplifies the stand structure, woody plant composition, and ecosystem services of the forest. Plant use value increases in coffee agroforests. Coffee agroforests can serve as repositories of diversity and ecosystem services in southwest Ethiopia.

Diversity of Woody Plants in Dak Nong's Natural Forests, Vietnam

Diversity of Woody Plants in Dak Nong's Natural Forests, Vietnam

Impact of transforming karst mountainous forests into urban parks on plant diversity patterns.

The conversion of urban montane forest resources into urban parks requires careful assessment to understand its impacts on plant diversity over time. This study aims to enhance urban biodiversity conservation strategies by analyzing how habitat type and park age affect woody plant diversity. We surveyed woody plant species in 60 sample plots across two different habitats (remnant forest vs. artificial green space) within three mountain parks in Guiyang, China, established at different times. The alpha diversity of saplings/seedlings was significantly higher in remnant forests than in artificial green spaces. Artificial green spaces exhibited more homogenous woody plant composition compared with remnant forests. Newer parks showed greater variation in plant composition between the two habitats than older parks. Indicative species in remnant forests were predominantly native, whereas those in artificial green spaces were mainly ornamental species. The transformation of karst mountainous forests into urban parks leads to the homogenization of woody plant composition and impedes the regeneration of saplings/seedlings. Therefore, it is crucial to manage these conversions carefully and strive to preserve as many native species as possible to support urban plant diversity conservation.

Mammalian community responses in relation to anthropogenic disturbances and resource gradients in the shade coffee forest ecosystem of Southwestern Ethiopia

Understanding the effects of variation in resource availability and habitat disturbance on the ecology of mammals is vital for successful conservation management. In this study, we examined how human disturbances, resource availability and elevation gradients influence mammal assemblages in both managed coffee forest and natural forest of the Belete-Gera National Forest Priority Area, southwestern Ethiopia. We surveyed mammals using motion-detecting infrared camera traps in 90 locations for a total of 4142 camera days. We measured distance from main roads and settlements as disturbance factors, and distance from water sources, key grazing sites, and forest edges and woody plant diversity as resource variables. We assessed the mammal assemblages in coffee forest and natural forests using generalized linear models. Further, we used linear modelling to compare the relationships of mammal detection rates by feeding guilds and body size to resource variables. In total, we recorded 8815 videos identifying 23 different mammal species. The mammal assemblages in coffee forests were negatively associated with increasing distances from key grazing sites, water sources, and elevation. In contrast, the association with increasing distance from the road and woody plant diversity was positive. In addition, herbivores and large (25–200 kg) and very large (≥200 kg) mammals, were all negatively associated with increasing distance from the natural forest edges. With the conversion of natural forest to coffee forest and the intensification of coffee forest management, sustainable management of key grazing sites, water sources, and diverse woody plant species will be essential to the conservation of mammals. In addition, to ensure mammal conservation, adjacent natural forests around coffee forests should also be protected.

Influence of the leaf-cutting ant Atta sexdens Linnaeus (1758) on the taxonomic and functional diversity of woody plants in Atlantic Forest fragments

Influence of the leaf-cutting ant Atta sexdens Linnaeus (1758) on the taxonomic and functional diversity of woody plants in Atlantic Forest fragments

Effect of artisanal gold mining on woody plant diversity in Western Burkina Faso

Although artisanal gold mining strongly contribute to enhance people incomes in West Africa, this activity can lead to habitat fragmentation and loss of woody species. Therefore, studying the impact of artisanal gold mining on woody plant diversity is needed for efficient management of forest resources. In this study, we investigated the impact of artisanal gold mining on woody plant diversity and dynamics in the Kari classified forest in Western Burkina Faso. Forest inventories were carried out at two sites including a gold panning site and a control site, following a systematic sampling design. We identified all woody species and measured all woody species with a diamtere at breast height ≥5 cm. A total 60 plots of 900 m² were surveyed. Diversity indices and dendrometric parameters were calculated and compared between the two sites. The results showed a higher species richness (59 woody species distributing in 39 genera and 18 families) in the control site compared to the gold panning site (38 species distributing in 25 genera and 12 families). The mean values of the number of species per plot and the Shannon diversity index were higher in the control site (15.50 ± 8.80; 2.16 ± 0.43, respectively) than in the artisal mining site (5.47 ± 2.71; 1.40 ± 0.53, respectively), showing that the control site is more diverse than the site that is under gold panning. The control site also had the highest density (683.33 ± 262.99 ft/ha) and stable woody stands compared to the less gold panning site (137.41 ± 102.31 ft/ha) where unstable woody stands were found. While the gold-panning site was characterised by biophysical impacts such as destruction of the plant cover and soil excavation, no visible impact was observed at the control site.Theses findings highlight the negative impact of artisanl gold mining on woody species diversity and structure. The study provides essential information for decision-making on sustainable forest management in the context of mining boom in Burkina Faso's.

Woody plant taxonomic, functional, and phylogenetic diversity decrease along elevational gradients in Andean tropical montane forests: Environmental filtering and arrival of temperate taxa

Mountains are paramount for exploring biodiversity patterns due to the mosaic of topographies and climates encompassed over short distances. Biodiversity research has traditionally focused on taxonomic diversity when investigating changes along elevational gradients, but other facets should be considered. For first time, we simultaneously assessed elevational trends in taxonomic, functional, and phylogenetic diversity of woody plants in Andean tropical montane forests and explored their underlying ecological and evolutionary causes. This investigation covered four transects (traversing ca. 2200 m a.s.l.) encompassing 114 plots of 0.1 ha across a broad latitudinal range (ca. 10°). Using Hill numbers to quantify abundance-based diversity among 37,869 individuals we observed a consistent decrease in taxonomic, functional, and phylogenetic diversity as elevation increased, although the decrease was less pronounced for higher Hill orders. The exception was a slight increase in phylogenetic diversity when dominant species were over-weighted. The decrease in taxonomic and functional diversity might be attributed to an environmental filtering process towards highlands, where the increasingly harsher conditions exclude species and functional strategies. Besides, the differences in steepness decrease between Hill orders suggest that rare species disproportionately contribute to functional diversity. For phylogenetic diversity the shifting elevational trend between Hill orders indicates a greater than previously considered influence in central Andean highlands of tropical lowlands originated species with strong niche conservatism relative to distantly related temperate lineages. This could be explained by a decreasing presence and abundance of temperate, extratropical taxa towards the central Andes relative to northern or southern Andes, where they are more prevalent.

Leaf trait network variations with woody species diversity and habitat heterogeneity in degraded karst forests

Leaf Trait Networks (LTNs) visually display the intricate trait connections in offering insights into how plants adapt to diverse environments. The pervasive environmental heterogeneity can influence plant diversity and functional traits. Various habitats sustain distinct species diversity and leaf trait differentiation, precisely as the degraded karst-heterogenous ecosystem caused by inhomogeneous microhabitats. However, how the LTNs respond to understory habitat heterogeneity and species diversity in degraded karst forests remains unclear. This study selected fifty-three forest plots for plant community survey and habitat investigation in a typical karst topography to visualize LTNs using twenty-one woody leaf traits. LTN architecture variations were analyzed in relation to habitat heterogeneity and species diversity through network-architectural parameters, including edge density, diameter, average path length, and average clustering coefficient, utilizing regression, principal component analysis, and structural equation model. The results showed a 35% variation in modularity across all plots, indicating distinct network architectural modularization differentiation. Network diameter and average path length displayed significant initial decreases followed by increases with ascending PC1 heterogeneity scores, indicating moderate heterogeneity sustained greater network connectivity. In addition, the network diameter, average path length, and average clustering coefficient significantly decreased with increasing species diversity, indicating that high species diversity enables greater connectivity and complexity. Moreover, the habitat heterogeneity significantly affected species diversity directly and affected the average clustering coefficient, diameter, average path length, and edge density indirectly through species diversity effects via SEM pathway analysis. Overall, habitat heterogeneity and woody plant diversity of karst forests significantly influence LTN architectures in degraded karst forests. In conclusion, moderate heterogeneity sustains greater network connectivity while species diversity jointly enhances connectivity and complexity by combining modular regulation of plant functional traits.

Composition and diversity of woody plant species in agro-ecosystems of Uluguru Mountains, Tanzania

Woody plant species are important components of agro-ecosystems that determine their productivity and biodiversity conservation in tropical mountain landscapes. This study investigates woody plant species composition and diversity through simple random sampling of sixty (10 × 10 m) plots in crop fields, hedgerows, and homegardens at Uluguru Mountains, Morogoro, Tanzania. In total, 85 woody plant species, representing 82 genera and 40 families were recorded. The most species-rich families were Proteaceae (with 323 individuals), Lauraceae (205), and Meliaceae (185). Among the woody plant species, Grevillea robusta (Proteaceae) showed the highest importance value index of 41% across different agro-ecosystem types. Shannon (1.87), Simpson (0.82), and evenness (0.91) diversity indices were highest in hedgerows compared to other agro-ecosystems. Hedgerows recorded the maximum richness, followed by homegardens and lastly crop fields. Present agro-ecosystems should be promoted to enhance the restoration and conservation of agro-biodiversity in mountain landscapes.

The landscape scale of effect on the alpha and beta diversities of woody species in a semideciduous tropical forest

ContextMost tropical forest landscapes are highly fragmented, have habitat patches varying in size and shape, and display different degrees of perturbation, but with high conservation values. Therefore, a major goal of landscape ecology is to discover the actual spatial scale at which landscape composition and structure affect biological processes and biodiversity.ObjectiveThis study aimed to determine the landscape scale of effect governing the α and β diversities of woody species in a highly fragmented, semideciduous tropical forest.MethodsWe recorded the diversity of woody species in 19 plots scattered across a highly fragmented, semideciduous tropical forest landscape. Then, we used CART algorithms to evaluate the effects of landscape attributes on the α and β diversities of such species across 100 scales (10–1000 m) and tested continuous effects with generalized additive models.ResultsThe shape and size of habitat patches in the range of 250–470 m determined α diversity. As for β diversity, nestedness was affected by the shape of forest patches at 510 m, whereas landscape heterogeneity affected species turnover within 100 m buffers.ConclusionWhile a previous study in a similar habitat reported effects at 800 m, the number, size, and shape of habitat patches in the current study accounted for the diversity of the focal plots within 100–510 m. Furthermore, CART effectively screened 100 scales, revealing which landscape attributes correlated the most with the diversity of woody plants. The findings provide valuable guidelines for conservation, restoration efforts, and public policies.

Plant Diversity Distribution along an Urbanization Gradient and Relationships with Environmental Factors in Urban Agglomerations of Henan Province, China

Urbanization induces rapid plant environmental modifications, leading to alterations in plant diversity distribution patterns and plant homogenization. However, how plant diversity is distributed along urbanization gradients in regional urban agglomerations and its relationship with environmental factors are not well defined. In three nearby Henan Province Chinese cities—Zhengzhou, Kaifeng, and Zhongmu—along an urbanization gradient, the distribution pattern of plant diversity was quantified. Both native and non-native plants found in urban green spaces were taken into consideration. A total of 176 plant quadrats were selected and separated into three urbanization gradient types using space-constrained hierarchical clustering: urban core, urban suburb, and urban outskirt. Polynomial fitting was used to characterize the spatial distribution patterns of plants along the urbanization gradient, and Pearson correlation and the Mantel test were employed to examine the effects of environmental factors, including longitude, latitude, altitude, distance from the urban center, temperature, and illumination, on plant diversity. A total of 313 vascular plant species, comprising 137 woody species and 176 herbaceous species, were examined. Along the three urbanization gradients, remarkable variations in plant diversity for woody and herbaceous species were observed. The spatial patterns of plant diversity were consistent across cities, whereas woody plants and herbaceous plants displayed the opposite behavior. Distance to the city center and temperature were the most substantial environmental effect factors for the diversity of woody plants, whereas light factors had a major impact on herbaceous plants. These findings show different life-type plants are affected differently by urbanization, and they offer managers and planners a recommendation for increasing urban plant diversity by executing various interventions throughout the urban gradient.

Effects of Selective Harvesting on Diversity, Structure, and Regeneration of Woody Plants in Mixed Plantation of Menagesha Suba Forest, Central Ethiopia

Effects of Selective Harvesting on Diversity, Structure, and Regeneration of Woody Plants in Mixed Plantation of Menagesha Suba Forest, Central Ethiopia

Species diversity and community assembly of woody plants at different life history stages during the natural restoration of degraded karst forests

Species diversity and community assembly of woody plants at different life history stages during the natural restoration of degraded karst forests