The effects of logs, stumps, and root throws on understory communities within 28-year-old aspen-dominated boreal forests

2001 ◽  
Vol 79 (8) ◽  
pp. 905-916 ◽  
Author(s):  
Philip Lee ◽  
Kelly Sturgess
Keyword(s):  
Boreal Forests ◽  
Forest Floor ◽  
Vascular Plants ◽  
Woody Debris ◽  
Vascular Plant ◽  
Detrended Correspondence Analysis ◽  
Tree Seedlings ◽  
Understory Composition ◽  
Colonization Patterns ◽  
Understory Communities

This study examined the role of logs, stumps, and root throws on the understory composition of aspen-dominated boreal forests. Measures of microsite coverage and suitability, and vascular plant composition and abundance were taken from 28-year-old wildfire and harvest sites. Larger logs (>20 cm diameter) with soft surfaces were the most suitable for colonization by vascular plants. These logs covered more than five times the area of stumps or root throws in both harvest and wildfire sites. Detrended correspondence analysis revealed that logs and stumps were colonized by a significantly different assemblage of vascular plants than the forest floor of either disturbance type. Contrary to studies in other forest types, assemblages of plants on root throw pits and mounds were similar to those on the forest floor. Initial colonization patterns on logs and stumps in both wildfire and harvest sites were similar. However, on more decayed logs assemblages of vascular plants were more similar to their respective wildfire or harvest forest floor assemblages. Ordination of species suggested that tree seedlings and shade-tolerant herbs were disproportionately more abundant on logs and stumps.Key words: plant community assemblages, deadwood resources, coarse woody debris, root throws, logs, boreal forest.

Vascular plant communities of a polar oasis at Alexandra Fiord (79° N), Ellesmere Island, Canada

1989 ◽  
Vol 67 (4) ◽  
pp. 1126-1136 ◽  
Author(s):  
M. Muc ◽  
B. Freedman ◽  
J. Svoboda
Keyword(s):  
Cluster Analysis ◽  
Plant Species ◽  
Plant Community ◽  
Plant Communities ◽  
Vascular Plants ◽  
Vascular Plant ◽  
Detrended Correspondence Analysis ◽  
High Arctic ◽  
Ellesmere Island ◽  
Community Types

A cluster analysis was used to apportion 136 stands in a High Arctic lowland among six vascular plant community types. These communities are described on the basis of the average prominence values of vascular species and the total cover of macroalgae, bryophytes, lichens, and vascular plants within the designated clusters of stands. The relationships among the community types was explored by a detrended correspondence analysis. The ordination of stands showed considerable floristic overlap among the most widespread plant communities on the lowland. This largely reflects the microtopographic heterogeneity of the sites, the relatively depauperate flora of the High Arctic, and the considerable ecological amplitude of the most prominent vascular plant species.

The importance of coarse woody debris for vascular plants in temperate mixed deciduous forests

2015 ◽  
Vol 45 (9) ◽  
pp. 1154-1163 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ewa Chećko ◽  
Bogdan Jaroszewicz ◽  
Katarzyna Olejniczak ◽  
Anna J. Kwiatkowska-Falińska
Keyword(s):  
Vascular Plants ◽  
Woody Debris ◽  
Vascular Plant ◽  
Deciduous Forests ◽  
Seedling Density ◽  
Tree Seedling ◽  
Northeastern Poland ◽  
Ecological Filter ◽  
Species Richness And Abundance ◽  
Natural Dynamics

Deadwood in various stages of decomposition and diverse spatial arrangements provides habitat for numerous organisms. However, knowledge on the colonization of deadwood by vascular plants in mixed deciduous forests is insufficient. We carried out our study in an oak–lime–hornbeam forest in northeastern Poland. Downed logs were colonized by 49 vascular plant species, a number higher than reported from any other type of forest. Species richness and abundance of plants increased with log diameter and decomposition. The former was higher on broadleaf deadwood than on coniferous deadwood (46 vs. 38 species). The frequency and abundance on logs were higher for small-seeded plants (<1 mg) than for bigger, heavier seeded plants. Deadwood surface served as an ecological filter, keeping small seeds in cracks, but allowing bigger seeds to roll down. Tree seedling density increased with wood decomposition. However, for eight of nine species, it was higher on the ground than on deadwood. Only spruce seedlings were recorded almost exclusively on deadwood, constituting a crucial substrate for spruce regeneration in meso-eutrophic forests. Therefore, we stress the importance of constant deadwood supply, on the scale of decades, to ensure the diversity of this substrate and to allow the natural dynamics of deadwood-dependent species populations.

Sphagnum establishment and expansion in black spruce (Picea mariana) boreal forests

2007 ◽  
Vol 85 (1) ◽  
pp. 43-50 ◽  
Author(s):  
Nicole J. Fenton ◽  
Catherine Béland ◽  
Sylvie De Blois ◽  
Yves Bergeron
Keyword(s):  
Picea Mariana ◽  
Coarse Woody Debris ◽  
Boreal Forests ◽  
Forest Floor ◽  
Partial Correlation ◽  
Black Spruce ◽  
Woody Debris ◽  
Community Change ◽  
Control Factor ◽  
Canopy Openness

Boreal forest bryophyte communities are made up of distinct colonies of feathermosses that cover the forest floor. In some black spruce ( Picea mariana (Mill.) BSP) boreal forests, Sphagnum spp. establish colonies on the forest floor 30–40 years after the feathermosses, and ultimately expand to dominate the community. The mechanisms that permit the Sphagnum spp. to establish and expand are unknown. The objectives of this study were to examine the establishment and expansion substrates of Sphagnum spp., and the conditions correlated with colony expansion. Forty colonies, in six stands, of Sphagnum capillifolium (Ehrh.) Hedw. were dissected to determine their substrates, and the environmental conditions in which all colonies present were growing were measured. Coarse woody debris was the dominant establishment and early expansion substrate for Sphagnum capillifolium colonies. With age as the control factor, large colonies showed a significant partial correlation with canopy openness, and there were fewer individuals per cm3 in large colonies than there were in small colonies. These results suggest that Sphagnum establishment in these communities is dependent on the presence of coarse woody debris, and expansion is linked to the stand break-up, which would allow an increase in light intensity, and rainfall to reach the colony. Consequently the community change represented by Sphagnum establishment and expansion is initially governed by a stochastic process and ultimately by habitat availability and species competition.

Significance of current velocity gradients for distribution patterns of charophytes versus mosses and vascular plant communities in a lowland stream

2015 ◽  
Vol 44 (2) ◽  
Author(s):  
Emilia Jakubas ◽  
Maciej Gąbka
Keyword(s):  
Species Composition ◽  
Correspondence Analysis ◽  
Current Velocity ◽  
Vascular Plants ◽  
Vascular Plant ◽  
Detrended Correspondence Analysis ◽  
Water Current ◽  
Chara Vulgaris ◽  
Lowland Stream ◽  
Chara Globularis

AbstractThe study focused on the relationships between charophytes and the surrounding species composition and environmental factors in a lowland stream (Flinta stream, Western Poland). A total of 32 vegetation plots (4 m × 4 m) and 13 environmental variables were tested. Detrended correspondence analysis (DCA) and canonical correspondence analysis (CCA) were used to describe the relationships between the species composition and the selected variables. Dominance curves of aquatic plants, response curves (GAMs model) of charophytes and other macrophytes to the velocity gradient (the most important environmental factor, the Monte Carlo test) were prepared. In this study, 2 species of charophytes were recorded: Chara vulgaris and Chara globularis and 5 other co-occurring macroscopic algae, 2 mosses and 10 vascular plants. In the studied stream, charophytes occupied the separate niche. Chara vulgaris stands with moss vegetation were found in stream sections with the highest velocity of the water current (0.29 m s-1 mean), and the Chara globularis (with dominant Potamogeton species), preferred sections with the smallest water current velocity (0.19 m s-1 mean).Charophytes seem to respond to ecological gradients differently from mosses and vascular plants. These differences are related to current velocity, pH, conductivity and organic matter in bottom sediments, and to the niche differentiation associated with them.

Establishment of tree seedlings and water-soluble nutrients in coarse woody debris in an old-growth Picea-Abies forest in Hokkaido, northern Japan

2000 ◽  
Vol 30 (7) ◽  
pp. 1148-1155 ◽  
Author(s):  
Masamichi Takahashi ◽  
Yoshimi Sakai ◽  
Reiko Ootomo ◽  
Masao Shiozaki
Keyword(s):  
Picea Abies ◽  
Coarse Woody Debris ◽  
Forest Floor ◽  
Woody Debris ◽  
Tree Seedlings ◽  
Class Iii ◽  
Tree Seedling ◽  
Decay Class ◽  
Tree Seedling Establishment ◽  
Northern Japan

Forest floor microsite conditions and tree seedling establishment were studied at an old-growth Picea-Abies forest in Hokkaido Island, northern Japan. Tree seedlings were established abundantly on coarse woody debris (CWD) from decay class III, a class indicating moderate decay, to class V, the most advanced decay class. The height-class distribution of tree seedlings indicates that the recruitment of Picea glehnii (Fr. Schm.) Masters and Picea jezoensis (Sieb. et Zucc.) Carr. seedlings on CWD started on decay class II and was mostly restricted to CWD decay class III. Seedlings of Abies sachalinensis (Fr. Schm.) Masters also favored establishment on CWD but had a wide adaptability to most of the microsites. Although CWD functioned as a suitable seedbed, water extracts from CWD were acidic and had quite low mineral nutrient concentrations. Tree seedling establishment did not necessarily require high levels of nutrient content in microsites. Although the forest floor was largely covered by CWD, with 2056 m2·ha-1 of the total projected area covered by CWD, CWD decay class III covered only 366 m2·ha-1 of the forest floor, indicating that CWD as a functioning seedbed is limited by time and space on the forest floor.

The importance of forest floor disturbance in the early regeneration patterns of the boreal forest of western and central Quebec: a wildfire versus logging comparison

2000 ◽  
Vol 30 (9) ◽  
pp. 1353-1364 ◽  
Author(s):  
Thuy Nguyen-Xuan ◽  
Yves Bergeron ◽  
Dan Simard ◽  
Jim W Fyles ◽  
David Paré
Keyword(s):  
Forest Floor ◽  
Prescribed Burning ◽  
Sustainable Forest Management ◽  
Black Spruce ◽  
Vascular Plant ◽  
Correlation Coefficients ◽  
Detrended Correspondence Analysis ◽  
Clear Cut ◽  
Clear Cutting ◽  
Forest Floor Disturbance

The nonvascular and vascular plant composition of the early regenerating vegetation present following wildfires and clear-cut logging has been compared separately in three areas of the black spruce (Picea mariana (Mill.) BSP) - feathermoss (Pleurozium schreberi (Brid.) Mitt.)) forest of western and central Quebec. In each area, a detrended correspondence analysis successfully differentiated the burned and logged stands along the first ordination axis. This separation mainly resulted from the greater abundance of pioneer species or lichens after fire and the greater abundance of residual species after clear-cutting. Spearman's correlation coefficients were calculated to relate variables characterizing physical disturbance of the forest floor and general site conditions to the two first differentiating axes. Variables characterizing forest floor disturbance severity were strongly associated with the first ordination axis in two of the study areas but not in the third one. The interpretation of compositional differences in the light of plant reproductive strategies led to the identification of regeneration patterns that illustrated the influence of disturbance type and severity on post-disturbance vegetation composition. These results suggest that certain forestry practices such as careful logging with the protection of regeneration and soil, scarification, and prescribed burning may differ in their capability to address sustainable forest management issues.

scholarly journals Effects of reindeer density on vascular plant diversity on North Scandinavian mountains

Rangifer ◽  
2005 ◽  
Vol 25 (1) ◽  
pp. 5 ◽  
Author(s):  
Johan Olofsson ◽  
Lauri Oksanen
Keyword(s):  
Species Richness ◽  
Vascular Plants ◽  
Vascular Plant ◽  
Detrended Correspondence Analysis ◽  
Diversity Indices ◽  
Rare Plants ◽  
Strong Impact ◽  
Total Species Richness ◽  
Species Lists ◽  
Mountain Chain

We studied the effects of reindeer grazing on species richness and diversity of vascular plants on dolomite influenced low alpine sites in the species rich northern part of the Scandes using 8 sites with different reindeer densities. Two sites were situated inside Malla Strict Nature Reserve, where reindeer grazing have been totally prohibited since 1981, and strongly restricted since 1950s. The six other sites were located in other species rich hotspot sites standardized to be as similar to the dolomite-influenced sites in Malla Strict Reserve as possible but varying in reindeer densities commonly found in the Fennoscandian mountain chain. Each site with a habitat complex especially rich in rare vascular plants (the Dryas heath – low herb meadow complex) was systematically sampled in four plots of 2 m x 10 m. The plots were divided to 20 squares of 1 m x 1 m, and complete species lists of vascular plants were compiled for each of the squares. The first DCA (detrended correspondence analysis) axis was strongly related to an index of reindeer grazing, indicating that grazing has a strong impact on the composition of the vegetation. None of the characteristics indices of biodiversity (species richness, evenness or Shannon-Wiener H’) was correlated with reindeer density. The local abundances of categories consisting of relatively rare plants (Ca favored plants and red listed plants of Finland) showed significant, positive correlation with the intensity of reindeer grazing. We conclude that even though the density of reindeer has no influence on the total species richness or diversity of vascular plants, reindeer may still be important for regional biodiversity as it seems to favour rare and threatened plants. Moreover, our results imply that standard diversity indices may have limited value in the context of conservation biology, as these indices are equally influenced by rarities and by trivial species.Abstract in Swedish / Sammandrag: Vi studerade hur renbete påverkar kärlväxtflorans artrikedom och diversitet på dolomitpåverkade lågalpina lokaler i de artrikaste delarna av norra Fennoskandien. Vi inventerade 8 lokaler med olika rentätheter. Två lokaler ligger inom Malla Nationalpark, där renar har varit förbjudna sedan 1981 och starkt begränsade sedan 1950-talet. De sex andra lokalerna ligger i andra artrika områden med samma dolomitdominerade berggrund, men är betade av renar. Rentätheterna vid de studerade lokalerna varierar från helt obefintligt till bland de högsta rentätheter man kan finna i Fennoskandien. Inventeringen utfördes genom att systematiskt undersöka fyra 2 m x 10 m stora ytor i varje lokal i en habitattyp som är speciellt rik i ovanliga kärlväxter (fjällsippehed-lågörtsäng komplex). Varje yta delades upp i 20 småytor (1 m x 1 m), och en total artlista upprättades för var och en av dessa småytor. Den första axeln i DCA (detrended correspondence analyses) analysen korrelerade med rentätheten. Det visar att renar påverkar sammansättningen av växtsamhället. Ingen av de vanliga måtten på biodiversitet (artrikedom eller Shannon-Wiener diversitetsindex) var korrelerade med rentätheten. Trots detta, var tätheterna av Ca-gynnade växter och arter rödlistade i Finland positivt korrelerade med rentätheten. Trots att renarna inte påverkade totala artrikedommen, kan de vara betydelsefulla för regionala biodiversiteten eftersom de gynnar ovanliga och hotade arter. De vanliga måtten på biodiversitet har begränsat värde för bevarandebiologiska frågeställningar, eftersom de är lika känsliga för ovanliga och vanliga arter.

Comparisons of photosynthesis-related traits among understory lichens, mosses, and vascular plant leaves in a high-elevation subalpine forest

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Zhe Wang ◽  
Xin Liu ◽  
Zhangming Zhu ◽  
Wenzhang Ma ◽  
Weikai Bao
Keyword(s):  
Forest Floor ◽  
Vascular Plants ◽  
Nitrogen Concentration ◽  
Vascular Plant ◽  
High Elevation ◽  
Subalpine Forest ◽  
Physiological Status ◽  
Plant Leaves ◽  
Response Curves ◽  
Nitrogen And Phosphorus

Abstract Many mosses and lichens thrive in high-elevation subalpine forests and even become dominant species on the forest floor. Although they play an irreplaceable ecological role in the forest, less is known about their eco-physiological status, and how their photosynthesis-related functional traits differ from those of co-occurring vascular plants. We determined the carbon, nitrogen, and phosphorus concentrations and stoichiometric ratios, tissue mass per area, chlorophyll concentrations, and photosynthetic light-response curves of three lichens, three mosses, and four vascular plants in a subalpine forest in the eastern Tibetan Plateau of China. Trait values were compared among and within each group. The lichens possessed a higher nitrogen concentration than that of mosses. In addition, the two poikilohydric groups exhibited lower concentrations of nitrogen, phosphorus, and chlorophyll, light-saturated assimilation rates, and photosynthetic nutrient use efficiencies, and higher light compensation points than those of vascular plant leaves. Furthermore, variations in photosynthesis-related traits for lichen species reflect their different adaptation strategies to their corresponding environments. In contrast, the differences were weak among the three forest-floor mosses and the three herb species. These results demonstrate that the high abundance of understory lichens and mosses in the high-elevation subalpine forest cannot be explained by the photosynthesis-related traits.

scholarly journals Effects of nitrogen fertilization on the forest floor carbon balance over the growing season in a boreal pine forest

2013 ◽  
Vol 10 (12) ◽  
pp. 8223-8231 ◽  
Author(s):  
D. B. Metcalfe ◽  
B. Eisele ◽  
N. J. Hasselquist
Keyword(s):  
Boreal Forests ◽  
Forest Floor ◽  
Nitrogen Availability ◽  
Environmental Changes ◽  
Vascular Plant ◽  
Growing Season ◽  
Carbon Fluxes ◽  
Nitrogen Addition ◽  
Sink Strength ◽  
Understorey Vegetation

Abstract. Boreal forests play a key role in the global carbon cycle and are facing rapid shifts in nitrogen availability with poorly understood consequences for ecosystem function and global climate change. We quantified the effects of increasing nitrogen availability on carbon fluxes from a relatively understudied component of these forests – the forest floor – at three intervals over the summer growing period in a northern Swedish Scots pine stand. Nitrogen addition altered both the uptake and release of carbon dioxide from the forest floor, but the magnitude and direction of this effect depended on the time during the growing season and the amount of nitrogen added. Specifically, nitrogen addition stimulated net forest floor carbon uptake only in the late growing season. We find evidence for species-specific control of forest floor carbon sink strength, as photosynthesis per unit ground area was positively correlated only with the abundance of the vascular plant Vaccinium myrtillus and no others. Comparison of understorey vegetation photosynthesis and respiration from the study site indicates that understorey vegetation photosynthate was mainly supplying respiratory demands for much of the year. Only in the late season with nitrogen addition did understorey vegetation appear to experience a large surplus of carbon in excess of respiratory requirements. Further work, simultaneously comparing all major biomass and respiratory carbon fluxes in forest floor and tree vegetation, is required to resolve the likely impacts of environmental changes on whole-ecosystem carbon sequestration in boreal forests.

Differentiation of new coenomorph in context of the Belgard’s ecomorph system development

2017 ◽  
Vol 28 (1-2) ◽  
pp. 28-35 ◽  
Author(s):  
B. A. Baranovski
Keyword(s):  
Environmental Factors ◽  
Plant Species ◽  
Vascular Plants ◽  
Deciduous Forest ◽  
System Development ◽  
Vascular Plant ◽  
Tabular Form ◽  
Ecological Scales ◽  
The One ◽  
Different Levels

Nowadays, bioecological characteristics of species are the basis for flora and vegetation studying on the different levels. Bioecological characteristics of species is required in process of flora studying on the different levels such as biotopes or phytocenoses, floras of particular areas (floras of ecologically homogeneous habitats), and floras of certain territories. Ramensky scale is the one of first detailed ecological scales on plant species ordination in relation to various environmental factors; it developed in 1938 (Ramensky, 1971). A little later (1941), Pogrebnyak’s scale of forest stands was proposed. Ellenberg’s system developed in 1950 (Ellenberg, 1979) and Tsyganov’s system (Tsyganov, 1975) are best known as the systems of ecological scales on vascular plant species; these systems represent of habitat detection by ecotopic ecomorphs of plant species (phytoindication). Basically, the system proposed by Alexander Lyutsianovich Belgard was the one of first system of plant species that identiified ectomorphs in relation to environmental factors. As early as 1950, Belgard developed the tabulated system of ecomorphs using the Latin ecomorphs abbreviation; he also used the terminology proposed in the late 19th century by Dekandol (1956) and Warming (1903), as well as terminology of other authors. The article analyzes the features of Belgard’s system of ecomorphs on vascular plants. It has certain significance and advantages over other systems of ecomorphs. The use of abbreviated Latin names of ecomorphs in tabular form enables the use shortened form of ones. In the working scheme of Belgard’s system of ecomorphs relation of species to environmental factors are represented in the abbreviated Latin alphabetic version (Belgard, 1950). Combined into table, the ecomorphic analysis of plant species within association (ecological certification of species), biotope or area site (water area) gives an explicit pattern on ecological structure of flora within surveyed community, biotope or landscape, and on environmental conditions. Development and application by Belgrard the cenomorphs as «species’ adaptation to phytocenosis as a whole» were completely new in the development of systems of ecomorphs and, in this connection, different coenomorphs were distinguished. Like any concept, the system of ecomorphs by Belgard has the possibility and necessity to be developed and added. Long-time researches and analysis of literature sources allow to propose a new coenomorph in the context of Belgard’s system of ecomorphs development: silvomargoant (species of forest margin, from the Latin words margo – edge, boundary (Dvoretsky, 1976), margo – margin, ad margins silvarum – along the deciduous forest margins). As an example of ecomorphic characterization of species according to the system of ecomorphs by Belgard (when the abbreviated Latin ecomorph names are used in tabular form and the proposed cenomorph is used), it was given the part of the table on vascular plants ecomorphs in the National Nature Park «Orelsky» (Baranovsky et al). The Belgard’s system of ecomorphs is particularly convenient and can be successfully applied to data processing in the ecological analysis of the flora on wide areas with significant species richness, and the proposed ecomorph will be another necessary element in the Belgard’s system of ecomorphs. 

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