Woody Species In Forest Research Articles

Woody Species Population Structure and Regeneration Status of Hereje Natural Forest, Southwest Ethiopia

Determining the population structure and regeneration status of woody species in Hereje Natural Forest, Ethiopia, is essential for identifying potential management interventions to mitigate the adverse effects of deforestation and forest degradation. Three parallel transect lines (every 100 m) were established along altitudinal gradients, and 45 plots of 20 m x 20 m were used to collect vegetation data. Living woody species diameter breast height (DBH) was measured in each plot for those with height ≥2 m and DBH ≥ 2.5 cm at about 1.3 m from the ground. For this study seedlings and saplings inventory was made using five subplots of 2 m X 2m, four on each corner of the main plots and one in the center, In this study we have used appropriate formulas to analyze basal area, density, regeneration status and important value index. A total of 44 plant species were identified and classified into 41 genera and 28 families. The most relatively dominant species in the Hereje forest were Syzygium guineense (24.47%), Ficus sur (20%), Combretum molle (18.58%), Croton macrostachyus (18.11%), and Terminalia schimperiana (9.29%). According to this study, the density of tree species in the forest decreases as DBH classes increase. The predominance of small DBH classes is due to the excessive cutting of certain size classes by the local communities, indicating extensive changes in the woody plant diversity and age structure. The result of the study also revealed that diameter and height class distribution showed an inverted J-shape indicating the majority of the species had the highest number of individuals at lower DBH. Maytenus gracilipes has the highest number of seedlings in the study area. However, the overall regeneration status of the study forest was in fair condition. Hence, immediate conservation is required for these species with poor regeneration and least IVI should be given conservation priority.

Correlation between Woody Species and Environmental Variables in a Tropical Forest in Central Laos

The tropical forest biome serves as a significant focal point for conservation endeavors. However, understanding the variations in woody plant composition and the underlying driving factors remains limited. The vegetation gradient within Phou Khao Khouay (PKK) National Park in central Laos presents an intriguing environmental model for investigating these patterns. This study, conducted within PKK National Park, aims to classify woody plant communities of three different forest types: mixed deciduous forest (MDF), dry evergreen forest (DEF), and mixed coniferous forest (MCF), utilizing both the phytosociology approach and multivariate analysis. Data from 32 permanent plots (each measuring 50 m × 50 m) were analyzed, revealing 5,477 tree individuals with a diameter at breast height (DBH) ≥ 5 cm, representing 194 woody species from 64 families and 133 genera. The results indicate significant diversity at the family and genus levels, identifying four distinct plant communities and 44 indicator species based on Tichy and Chytry's phi coefficient method. Stability characterizes the MCF forest type, while the stands of DEF and MDF exhibit differentiation into three communities each. Notably, high heterogeneity in species composition and environmental conditions is evident, with elevation and soil nutrient levels (specifically total phosphorus and total potassium) emerging as primary influencers on species coexistence. The study also highlights correlations between woody plant species composition and topographic and soil variables. These findings underscore the importance of identifying microhabitats conducive to growing and conserving woody plant species within PKK National Park for future research and conservation efforts.

Changes in Leaf Functional Traits with Leaf Age for Coexisting Woody Species in Temperature Forest of Northern China

Leaf-trait variation has traditionally been focused on both within and among species along environmental gradients, while leaf age has received less attention. By measuring leaf morphological, stomatal, and stoichiometric traits of 40 coexisting woody species in temperate forest in northern China, we analyzed their variation pattern and the correlations among different plant life forms and leaf age. We found that leaf age has significant effects on leaf functional traits. The young leaves of both shrub and tree species revealed a lower stoma density (SD) and a higher stoma length (SL), stoma width (SW), and leaf N content (LNC) than mature leaves. Shrub species have a higher SLA and SD than tree species for both young and mature leaves. The traits of young leaves generally revealed a higher variation than those of mature leaves. Although correlations between traits are similar between young leaves and mature leaves, the slopes of the SLA–SD and SD–LNC relationships were significantly affected by leaf age. These findings elucidate the adaptive changes of leaf traits during leaf maturation and underscore the trade-off between stomatal safety and efficiency, as well as the trade-off between leaf hydraulic and economic traits in temperate woody species during leaf development. We conclude that variation in leaf traits with age may play a potentially important role in understanding the ecological function of woody species in temperate forests.

Estimation of carbon stocks of woody plant species in church forests of West Gojjam zone, Northwestern Ethiopia: Implications for climate change mitigation

Forests, particularly church forests, play a crucial role in mitigating climate change by absorbing and storing CO2, preserving biodiversity, and acting as carbon sinks. This study aimed to estimate the biomass and carbon stocks of various woody species in church forests in the West Gojjam zone. Twenty-six church forests were selected based on agroecology, elevation, size, and proximity to population centers. Vegetation data were collected using a systematic sampling technique, with 20 m x 20 m (400 m2) plots established along transect lines oriented at 120° intervals at 60°, 180°, and 300° within each church forest. Measurements of diameter at breast height (DBH) and height were taken for all matured woody plants with a DBH ≥ 2.5 cm. Data analysis was performed using one-way ANOVA to evaluate the effects of altitude, forest size, and human disturbance on aboveground biomass (AGB) and carbon stocks. Additionally, linear regression was applied to investigate the relationship between vegetation structure (species richness, density, and diversity) and biomass accumulation. The results revealed a total of 111 woody species, dominated by indigenous species particularly from the Fabaceae family. The study church forests had Shannon diversity index and richness ranging from 1.73 to 3.47 and 7 to 45, respectively. The results showed that the 26 church forests had an average aboveground biomass (AGB) of 31.97 ± 3.31 tons ha-1 and a CO2 equivalence of 97.15 ± 10.47 tons ha-1. The AGB and aboveground carbon (AGC) values varied among the church forests, of which Debre Mihret Mesk Kidanemihret had the highest AGB with 99.00 tons ha-1 and 49.50 tons ha-1 AGC, indicating their substantial capacity for carbon storage. Conversely, Korch Silassie church forest displayed the lowest AGB, suggesting ecological challenges that necessitate targeted conservation efforts. These findings underscore the critical role of church forests as carbon sinks, capable of sequestering atmospheric CO2 and contributing to the mitigation of climate change. The findings of the present study suggest the integration of church forests into national and international climate policies, such as REDD+ to leverage their potential in reducing emissions from deforestation and forest degradation.

Use of woody species in the Caatinga dry forest may lead to higher vulnerability to extirpation: An assessment based on ethnobiological, reproductive and conservation criteria

Tropical forests play an important role in maintaining, replenishing and conserving a large portion of the planet's biodiversity. However, these forests have been converted into anthropic landscapes, threatening the persistence of wildlife. The exploitation of forest products can result in different ecological impacts at different levels of biological organization. In this study, we propose a vulnerability index to examine the susceptibility of woody plants used by locals in a human-modified landscape of the Caatinga dry forest (i.e., the Catimbau National Park). We contrasted patterns of (1) plant use by local people (risk of use, collection risk, local importance, and diversity of use), (2) plant reproductive strategies (pollination, sexual and reproductive systems, dispersal mode, flowering and fruiting phenology), and (3) the conservation status of the plant species. We combined this information to propose a vulnerability index expressing species sensitivity to human disturbances in 14 regenerating and 14 old-growth forest stands. We tested the hypothesis that regenerating forest stands will harbor more vulnerable plant species compared to old-growth forest stands. Among the 119 plant species registered in regenerating and old-growth forest stands, 80 species (67.2 %) were recorded as useful for local people in Caatinga. Specifically, about 71.8 % and 70.5 % are exploited by the rural population for some type of use in regenerating and old-growth forest stands, respectively. The most frequent type of use was medicinal, followed by construction and fuel in both regenerating and old-growth forest stands. Regarding the potentially collected plant parts, the total removal of the individual and collection of leaves exhibited similar and higher relevance in regenerating, while leaves were the most collected part in old-growth forest stands. Of the 80 plant species analyzed, 62 % and 58.5 %, respectively, were classified as exhibiting moderate and high vulnerability to extirpation in regenerating and old-growth forest stands; thus not supporting our hypothesis. Our results suggest that in the Caatinga dry forest, (1) woody plant species responsible for forest regeneration in the context of slash-and-burn agriculture are exploited for multiple uses, (2) medicinal use is the main type of use of woody plants occurring in regenerating and old-growth forest stands, (3) total removal of the individual and collection of leaves were the most collected plant parts, and (4) both regenerating and old-growth forest stands showed a high vulnerability to human disturbances in the study area. In the long term, the exploitation of vulnerable plant species may negatively affect the composition and structure of the community and, consequently, the rate and trajectory of succession. It can be expected that as populations of vulnerable plant species are reduced or extirpated from the community, ecological interactions such as pollination and dispersal, which are key to ecosystem maintenance, will change along with the services provided.

Composition and Structural Diversity of Woody Species in the Wof Ayzurish Forests, the Dry Afromontane Forest of the Northern EthiopiaI

Dry Afromontane Forest (DAF) is the largest Afromontane section and plays a fundamental role in preservation of species biodiversity. Despite its biodiversity, DAF is the most altered and threatened in the Ethiopian ecosystem. With the exception of a few isolated pockets left in some sacred places and protected areas of the country, most of forests are inaccessible. The scenario is not different for the present study forest. Therefore, the objective of the present study is to investigate woody species diversity, structure and regeneration status of Wof Ayzurish Forest, which is a dry Afromonatane in North Shewa of Ethiopia. A systematic method was employed whereby 67 quadrats set in 8 parallel lines transecting at 300-meter intervals and quadrats at 150-m distance. All trees and shrubs with diameters of breast height > 2.5 cm and height > 2 m were measured. The results revealed that Wof Ayzurish Forest harbors 76 species of woody plants that belong to 68 genera and 47 families, with Asteraceae, Fabaceae, and Solanaceae displaying the highest diversity. Shrubs had the highest composition than trees. The most abundant plants were Dodonaea viscosa subsp. angustifolia, Carissa spinarum, Juniperus procera, Olinia rochetiana and Olea europaea subsp. cuspidata. Dodonaea viscosa subsp. angustifolia was the most prominent plant, occurring in 98.5 % of all sample plots. The DBH and height classification pattern exhibited that the forest had a classic inverted J-shape, dominated by smaller trees and shrubs, indicating a secondary stage of regeneration. Total basal area (BA) for trees and shrubs DBH > 2.5 cm was 18.03 m2 ha−1. Remarkably, five species accounted for 57.45 % of the basal area, indicating that higher numbers of individuals concentrated in lower DBH classes. By using R software, agglomerative hierarchical cluster analysis and Canonical Correspondence Analysis (CCA) has done to identify plant community types and examine the relationship between plant community types and environmental variables, respectively. Three significantly different (p < 0.05) plant community types were identified. The CCA results showed that species diversity and community composition among community types were significantly influenced by altitude and human disturbance such as expansion of agriculture, cuttings, and grazing. Therefore, it is recommended that community-based methods and awareness creation should be devised in order to implement sustainable forest conservation.

Differences in germination traits of time-separated seed collections of dry forest species from Central Zambia and the potential role of climate

Abstract Time-separated seed collections with a separation period of 12–18 years were used to study recent changes in germination traits and the role of climate factors in seven tropical dry forest (TDF) woody species in Zambia, southern Africa. In all the species, peak and final germination were lower in recent (2016–2021) seed collections than in historic (1998–2005) seed collections during the first germination season. However, in species with seed dormancy, both peak and final germination after one year burial were higher in recent seed collections than in historic seed collections. Three monthly climate factors had significant effects on final germination in the different species and the timing of most of these factors was during seed development and ripening that suggest that these factors operated through mother plants. In species with seed dormancy, post-first-year germination of buried seeds responded to climate factors in the regeneration niche. Climate factors that significantly affected germination included those that changed over the separation period between historic and recent seed collections. This indicates that short-time climatic changes may have the potential to impact germination in TDF woody species of southern Africa. The germination responses to climate factors were both positive and negative and it is not clear whether these are adaptations or not. Further research is required to assess the adaptive significance of these changes in germination traits in TDF species of southern Africa.

Broadcast burning has persistent, but subtle, effects on understory composition and structure: Results of a long-term study in western Cascade forests

Approaches to forest management have changed markedly in the Pacific Northwest in recent decades, yet legacies of past management persist on the landscape. Following clearcut logging, woody residues were typically burned to reduce future fire hazard, create planting spots, facilitate natural recruitment, and retard growth of competing vegetation. We asked whether legacies of broadcast burning persist in the forest understory during the early stages of stand closure, how they manifest structurally or compositionally, whether they are altered by subsequent management (pre-commercial thinning), and how they vary with gradients in the physical environment or stand structure. We used data from 44 pairs of burned and unburned plots sampled 37–42 years after clearcut logging of mature and old-growth forests in western Oregon and Washington. Burning had persistent, but mostly subtle effects on community structure and composition. Burned plots had greater cover of early-seral species and lower cover of woody forest species. Among the latter, tall shrubs showed consistently negative responses to burning. Smaller-statured woody and herbaceous species were more variable in their responses, reflecting a greater diversity of regenerative traits. For some understory attributes, effects of burning were contingent on thinning history. For example, burning enhanced species richness and reduced species evenness, but only in unthinned sites. Conversely, burning increased the spatial variability of tall shrub cover, but only in thinned sites. In some instances, thinning compounded the effects of burning, resulting in a four-fold increase in cover of early-seral herbs and a 50% reduction in cover of forest tall shrubs relative to plots that received neither treatment. For most understory attributes, regional variation in the magnitude of the burn effect was not easily explained by burn severity, site environment, or stand structure. Collectively, our results highlight the persistent, but highly variable, effects of broadcast burning on the post-harvest development of the forest understory. They suggest that, where it is feasible, controlled burning can be used in regeneration-harvest units to achieve a variety of management objectives, with minimal effect on the forest understory.

The relationship between the abundance of non-native tree species and the community structure of resident woody species in tropical montane forest of West Usambara Mountains, Tanzania

Non-native tree species are globally claimed as liable to the encroachment of natural forests in their proximity resulting to the loss of biodiversity. This study was conducted in Magamba Nature Forest Reserve (MNFR) in West Usambara Mountains of Tanzania. A total of 96 (20 m x 20 m) plots were established to record all woody plants with Diameter at Breast Height (DBH) ≥ 5 cm while two nested plots of 2 m x 5 m were set to measure any plant with DBH ≥ 1 cm but less than 5 cm. Furthermore, two nested plots of 1 m x 1 m were established within the bigger plot in order to assess and record seedlings (DBH < 1 cm). Generalized Linear Models (GLMs) were used to assess the relationship between total abundance, species diversity, richness, evenness, and biomass of resident species and the abundance of Acacia melanoxylon and Eucalyptus grandis. Findings show a significant (p < 0.05) decrease of abundance of all resident woody species, adults, saplings and seedlings with an increase in the abundance of A. melanoxylon. The study also showed that the species richness and diversity of all resident species decreased with increasing the abundance of non-native species (p < 0.05). The abundance of E. grandis did not show significant (p > 0.05) association when assessed against the total abundance, species diversity, richness and evenness of all the resident woody species. This non-significant result may not necessarily mean no effect. This is because the P-value does not explain the size of the effect in biological data. Further analysis revealed that, the biomass of resident species was negatively related to the abundance of non-native species A. melanoxylon (p = 0.003) and E. grandis (p = 0.038). The negative relationship between the abundance, richness, diversity, evenness, and biomass of the resident woody species and the abundance of non-native species portrayed in this study raise an alarm. Therefore, there is need for setting monitoring and control mechanism to stop further spread of the non-native tree species in MNFR and hence, save the remaining biodiversity of the area.

Climatic differentiation: Variability in leaf functional and stoichiometry traits among different woody species in semi-arid forests

Structural and nutrient traits of foliage are important for understanding plant ecological strategies. Understanding structural variations of trees in different environmental conditions helps to reveal adaptation mechanisms. We investigated morphological, chemical and stoichiometric traits in the foliage of four dominant woody species in sub-humid vs. semi-arid of the Zagros forests, west of Iran. Dry matter content, specific leaf area (SLA), stomatal length (SL), stomatal width (SW), density (SD) and stomatal pore index (SPI) traits were higher in the trees growing in a sub-humid climate. In Pistacia atlantica (PA) growing in the semi-arid climate, leaf length, SLA, SD and SPI traits were higher than the sub-humid climate. Leaf phosphorus content of Crataegus aronia (CA) was higher in the sub-humid, whereas PA was higher in the semi-arid climate. In PA and CA, the highest leaf C: P and N: P were in the sub-humid and the semi-arid climate. The relationship between SLA and leaf carbon content was significantly negative in PA. Among the different species, carbon content, nitrogen and phosphorus and their stoichiometry had strong positive and negative relationships in two climates. These results show the response of leaf functional traits to climate changes and how trees function under these changes. Furthermore, the leaf traits showing greater variability due to changes in the environmental can be determined. This improved understanding will assist in determining the most important adaptive parameters of trees to climate changes, to provide inputs to global environmental models.

Soil water availability strongly drives the differentiation of acquisitive and conservative strategies for coexisting woody species in a Chinese subtropical evergreen forest

AbstractQuestionsTrait–environment relationships hold great promise for elucidating the mechanisms that drive community assembly. We asked to what extent does functional trait coordination underlie the differentiation of acquisitive–conservative strategies along environmental gradients? Also, to what extent does soil water availability determine trait combinations and subsequently shape microhabitat preferences for species with distinct ecological strategies?LocationYunnan Province, southwest China.MethodsPearson correlation and trait network analyses were used to quantify trait associations. A combined RLQ–fourth‐corner analysis and a spatial autoregressive error model were employed to examine trait–environment relationships and explain species distribution along environmental gradients.ResultsLeaf and stem traits were tightly coordinated along the first RLQ axis. Herein, traits representing construction cost exhibited trade‐offs against traits representing resource acquisition rate, underlying an acquisitive–conservative strategy differentiation along the environmental gradients. Significant overall and bivariate trait–environment relationships were found. In addition, the topographic wetness index contributed substantially to the environmental variation, and significantly influenced most traits alone. These results supported the hypothesis that soil water availability was the key environmental factor in selecting trait combinations and driving the differentiation of acquisitive and conservative strategies for coexisting species compared with other environmental factors. Finally, deciduous and a proportion of the evergreen species were acquisitive, whereas the remaining evergreen species were conservative, preferring wetter and drier microhabitats, respectively.ConclusionsOur findings indicate that soil water availability plays a central role in shaping both the trait combinations and microhabitat preferences of species with different ecological strategies rather than different leaf habits. These findings also highlight the fundamental significance of functional traits in facilitating the differentiation between acquisitive and conservative strategies along environmental gradients.

Responses of plant carbon and nitrogen assimilations to nitrogen addition in a subtropical forest: Canopy addition vs. understory addition

The global atmospheric nitrogen (N) deposition has intensified in recent years, resulting in a complex impact on forest ecosystems. This study investigated the effects of canopy (CAN) and understory additions of N (UAN) on leaf carbon (C) and N assimilations, as well as growth parameters of representative woody plant species in an evergreen broad-leaved forest, i.e. Castanea henryi, Schefflera heptaphylla, Blastus cochinchinensis, and Lasianthus chinensis. The results showed that leaf N assimilation key enzyme nitrate reductase (NR) activities of B. cochinchinensis and S. heptaphylla were significantly decreased by UAN, and were significantly decreased by CAN for C. henryi. CAN significantly decreased the nitrite reductase activity of C. henryi, while significantly increased that of L. chinensis. However, the Amax values of each woody species were not significantly different among control (CK), CAN, and UAN. Community surveys demonstrated that CAN and UAN inhibited the growth (diameter at breast height, height, or crown width) of the representative large tree, C. henryi, while promoting the growths of understory woody species (B. cochinchinensis and L. chinensis). Overall, N addition was found to change the physiological processes of N and C metabolisms of the dominant woody species in an evergreen broad-leaved forest. The community of subtropical evergreen broad-leaved forests may further decline and its C fixation capacity may be detrimentally changed under N deposition in the future.

Exploring a New O3 Index as a Proxy for the Avoidance/Tolerance Capacity of Forest Species to Tolerate O3 Injury

Tropospheric ozone (O3) is a detrimental air pollutant causing phytotoxic effects. Several O3 indices are used to assess the risk for vegetation, e.g., the exposure-based AOT40 (accumulated ozone exposure over a threshold of 40 ppb) and the stomatal-flux based POD1 (Phytotoxic Ozone Dose above a threshold of 1 nmol m−2 s−1). Leaf Mass per Area (LMA) is recommended as a simple index to explain the plant tolerance capacity to O3. We therefore tested a new species-specific O3 index (Leaf Index Flux—LIF: calculated as stomatal O3 flux/LMA) as a proxy of the avoidance/tolerance capacity against O3 stress according to datasets of visible foliar injury (VFI) in forest monitoring and a manipulative Free-Air Controlled Exposure (FACE) experiment. For the forest monitoring, AOT40, POD1, and LIF were calculated from hourly O3, soil moisture, and meteorological measurements at nine Italian forest sites over the period 2018–2022. The results were tested for correlation with the O3 VFI annually surveyed at the same sites along the forest edge (LESS) or inside the forest (ITP) and expressed as relative frequency of symptomatic species in the LESS (SS_LESS) and Plant Injury Index per tree in the plot (PII_ITP). Based on VFI occurrence at ITP and LESS, Fagus sylvatica was considered the most O3-sensitive species, whereas conifers (Pinus pinea and Picea abies) and other deciduous/evergreen broadleaf (Quercus petraea, Q. cerris, Q. ilex, and Phyllirea latifolia) showed rare and no O3 VFI. Shrub species such as Rubus spp. and Vaccinium myrtillus were O3-sensitive, as they showed VFI along the LESS. AOT40 did not show significant correlations with the VFI parameters, POD1 increased with increasing SS_LESS (p = 0.005, r = 0.37) and PII_ITP (p &lt; 0.001, r = 0.53), and LIF showed an even higher correlation with SS%_LESS (p &lt; 0.001, r = 0.63) and PII_ITP (p &lt; 0.001, r = 0.87). In the FACE experiment, PII was investigated for five deciduous and three evergreen tree species following one growing season of exposure to ambient and above-ambient O3 levels (PII_FACE). Moreover, PII_FACE resulted better correlated with LIF (r = 0.67, p &lt; 0.001) than with POD1 (r = 0.58, p = 0.003) and AOT40 (r = 0.35, p = 0.09). Therefore, LIF is recommended as a promising index for evaluating O3 VFI on forest woody species and stresses high O3 risk potential for forest species with high stomatal conductance and thin leaves.

Effects of warming on seed germination of woody species in temperate secondary forests.

Seed germination, a critical stage of the plant life cycle providing a link between seeds and seedlings, is commonly temperature-dependent. The global average surface temperature is expected to rise, but little is known about the responses of seed germination of woody plants in temperate forests to warming. In the present study, dried seeds of 23 common woody species in temperate secondary forests were incubated at three temperature sequences without cold stratification and after experiencing cold stratification. We calculated five seed germination indices and the comprehensive membership function value summarized the above indicators. Compared to the control, +2 °C and +4 °C treatments without cold stratification shortened germination time by 14% and 16% and increased the germination index by 17% and 26%, respectively. For stratified seeds, +4 °C treatment increased germination percentage by 49%, and +4 °C and +2 °C treatments increased duration of germination, germination index, and shortened mean germination time by 69%, 458%, 29% and 68%, 110%, 12%, respectively. The germination of Fraxinus rhynchophylla and Larix kaempferi were most sensitive to warming without and with cold stratification, respectively. Seed germination of shrubs were the least sensitive to warming among functional types. These findings indicate warming (especially extreme warming) will enhance the seedling recruitment of temperate woody species primarily via shortening germination time, particularly for seeds undergone cold stratification. In addition, shrubs might narrow their distribution.

Chemical composition and energy potential of woody species in dry forest: subsidies for sustainable forest management

Energy demand, especially in developing countries, is partly supplied by firewood and charcoal from natural forests. However, there are not always previous studies of energy quality, with implications for forest management. This study aimed to characterize the energy potential of the wood of six shrub-tree species from the Caatinga and the influence of the circumference class on their chemical properties and energy potential to subsidize forest management. Thus, Anadenanthera colubrina var. cebil (Angico), Cenostigma bracteosum (Catingueira), Cnidoscolus quercifolius (Faveleira), Mimosa ophthalmocentra (Jurema branca), Mimosa tenuiflora (Jurema preta) and Aspidosperma pyrifolium (Pereiro) from an area of ??Dry Forest (Caatinga) in Floresta, Pernambuco state, Brazil, were analyzed. Each species had three individuals sampled in five circumference classes (I a V) at 1.30 m from the ground. Carbon, hydrogen, nitrogen, insoluble lignin, and ash contents, as well as higher and lower calorific values, apparent and energetic densities and energy production were evaluated. Then, a completely randomized design in a factorial arrangement (species x circumference classes) with three replications, and comparison of means (Tukey’s test, p &lt; 0.05) were considered in the statistical analysis. A Cluster analysis was also performed aiming at joint analysis of variables. The results showed that the biomass of M. ophthalmocentra and M. tenuiflora have the highest energy density and amount of energy per unit of mass. C. quercifolius and A. pyrifolium were lower when compared to the other species. In addition, M. ophthalmocentra, M. tenuiflora, A. colubrina and C. bracteosum stood out for energy generation. Classes IV and V can be indicated as biomass for combustion, while class I has disadvantages due to higher nitrogen content and lower upper and lower calorific values.

Complementary belowground strategies underlie species coexistence in an early successional forest.

Unravelling belowground strategies is critical for understanding species coexistence and successional dynamics; yet, our knowledge of nutrient acquisition strategies of forest species at different successional stages remains limited. We measured morphological (diameter, specific root length, and root tissue density), architectural (branching ratio), physiological (ammonium, nitrate, and glycine uptake rates) root traits, and mycorrhizal colonisation rates of eight coexisting woody species in an early successional plantation forest in subtropical China. By incorporating physiological uptake efficiency, we revealed a bi-dimensional root economics space comprising of an 'amount-efficiency' dimension represented by morphological and physiological traits, and a 'self-symbiosis' dimension dominated by architectural and mycorrhizal traits. The early pioneer species relied on root-fungal symbiosis, developing densely branched roots with high mycorrhizal colonisation rates for foraging mobile soil nitrate. The late pioneer species invested in roots themselves and allocated effort towards improving uptake efficiency of less-mobile ammonium. Within the root economics space, the covariation of axes with soil phosphorus availability also distinguished the strategy preference of the two successional groups. These results demonstrate the importance of incorporating physiological uptake efficiency into root economics space, and reveal a trade-off between expanding soil physical space exploration and improving physiological uptake efficiency for successional species coexistence in forests.

Diversity, abundance, and conservation status of woody species in a West African dry forest

AbstractThis study presents data on woody plant species richness and diversity of an inaccessible dry forest of Tula Mountains Woodland (TMW) located in the northeast of Nigeria. TMW supports a minimally disturbed mosaic of dry forest‐woodland. We sampled woody species in 190 plots of size 0.01‐ha, spaced 50 m apart on series of line transects. We found a total of 133 woody species belonging to 88 genera and 39 families in 1.9 ha area sampled in total. Out of 133 species, 120 were identified to species level, and 113 were recorded as trees, shrubs and lianas with diameter at breast height (dbh) ≥ 5 cm. Species accumulation curve was non‐asymptotic. Fisher's logseries model suggests that the plots sampled in the dry forest communities of TMW are represented by a high number of rare species. Of 120 identified species, 46 (38%) lacked evaluation on conservation status by IUCN. Out of 74 (62%) evaluated species, 2 were listed as critically endangered, 3 were vulnerable, and 69 were of least concern. In the TMW, 27% of woody species were restricted to Sudanian savannah biome, 61% occurred in Sudanian and Zambezian savannah biome. TMW serves as refugia for native plant species and plant communities in northeastern Nigeria.

Floristic composition and community analysis of woody species in Hereje Natural Forest, southwest Ethiopia

The floristic composition, diversity, and conservation status of woody plant species in Ethiopia are determined in this study. Data on vegetation are collected using a systematic random sampling method from 45 20 m × 20 m (400m2) plots laid every 100 m along four parallel transect lines running from south to north. The Flora of Ethiopia and Eritrea identification key (Volume I–VIII) is used to identify the scientific names of all woody plant species. The Shannon–Wiener diversity index is used to calculate species diversity, whereas Sorensen's similarity coefficient is used to assess similarities and differences among plant communities. The studied forest contains 44 plant species from 29 families and 40 genera. The Fabaceae is the most dominant family, followed by the Rubiaceae and Combretaceae. In terms of habit, the collected woody species consisted of 30 (68.2%) trees and 14 (31.8%) shrubs. The two most frequent species are Syzygium guineense (51.11%) and Maytenus gracilipes (46.66%). Three plant community types are identified using Agglomerative Hierarchical Cluster Analysis. Most species (Calpurnia aurea-Combretum molle) are observed in community type two. The study is generally limited to the floristic and diversity of woody plant species. Therefore, a thorough investigation of all species' floristic composition, population structure, regeneration status, and ecological aspects is recommended.

Aridity mediates the effect of wood extraction on the reproductive output of an endemic disturbance‐adapted woody species (Cenostigma microphyllum, Leguminosae) in the Caatinga dry forest

AbstractChronic anthropogenic disturbances and climate change have been recognized as drivers of biological reorganization across human‐modified tropical landscapes, also negatively affecting the reproductive output of some plant species. Here, we investigated to what extent these drivers affect the reproductive output of Cenostigma microphyllum, a disturbance‐adapted tree species endemic to the Caatinga dry forest. The production of flowers/inflorescence, fruits and seeds was estimated for 105 plants (≥3 cm diameter at soil height) across 11 forest stands (20 × 50 m each), covering gradients of chronic disturbances (e.g. goat and livestock herbivory; wood extraction; and removal of non‐timber forest products) and aridity at the Catimbau National Park. We documented that when the drivers were analysed in isolation, the fruit‐set was positively associated with increased wood extraction, and the fruit‐set and total number of seeds/plots were reduced under increasing aridity. We also verified a complex interaction between wood extraction and aridity emerged. In forest stands, the combination of high levels of aridity and wood extraction leads to a decrease in the fruit‐set and total number of seeds/plots. Conversely, the fruit‐set and total number of seeds/plots increased in stands exposed to lower aridity but high levels of wood extraction. Our results suggest that chronic disturbances and aridity affect plant fitness in a complex way including both negative and positive effects on attributes related to plant reproductive performance, which could result in both proliferation and population decline in the same landscape. Although C. microphyllum benefits from anthropogenic disturbances and is considered a disturbance‐adapted species, it apparently does not benefit from increases in aridity, which is an expected future scenario for the Caatinga dry forest.

Plant characteristics drive ontogenetic changes in herbivory damage in a temperate forest

Abstract Understanding ontogenetic differences in plant defenses and herbivory damage is crucial for obtaining a better understanding of plant life‐history strategies, community assembly, and dynamics. Although many studies have compared plant defenses or herbivory damage between ontogenetic stages (e.g. sapling vs. adult), how the effects of plant characteristics on leaf herbivory damage change during plant ontogeny has rarely been examined across species or in a species‐rich natural community. To elucidate the effects of plant characteristics, we compared the relationships of leaf herbivory by insects with stem density, plant size, and leaf traits between saplings and adults for almost all co‐occurring woody species (56 species, ranging from rare to abundant) in a Japanese temperate forest. In most species, adults were larger, fewer in number, and had leaf traits that were potentially less favorable to herbivores (e.g. stronger, or with more phenolics). In contrast, we observed species‐specific directions of changes in herbivory damage between adults and saplings with plant phylogeny or density having no clear effect. The relationships between some plant traits and herbivory damage were ontogeny dependent, indicating a shift from chemical to physical defense as plants mature, although most of the species characteristics studied were highly correlated between stages. Such ontogeny‐dependent relationships between plant traits and herbivory damage could cause variation in the ontogenetic changes in herbivory damage among species depending on the value of plant traits. Moreover, the direction and magnitude of the effects of ontogenetic differences in species traits on the ontogenetic differences in herbivory damage varied depending on the traits. Together, these factors could have caused the observed ontogenetic changes in herbivory damage among species. Synthesis. Our study demonstrated how relationships between plant characteristics and herbivory damage can change ontogenetically across many coexisting woody species in a forest community, suggesting that plant traits may perform different functions related to herbivory at different ontogenetic stages. This has rarely been considered in previous dualistic comparisons of individual traits and herbivory damage between ontogenetic stages, and it is vital for understanding plant life‐history strategies across stages in relationships with herbivores in natural communities.