Replacement of native oak and hickory tree species by the introduced American chestnut (Castanea dentata) in southwestern Wisconsin

1989 ◽  
Vol 67 (12) ◽  
pp. 3457-3469 ◽  
Author(s):  
Frederick L. Paillet ◽  
Philip A. Rutter

American chestnut was introduced at West Salem, Wisconsin, about 1880 and had begun to replace native tree species in adjacent oak-hickory woodland before 1930. Chestnut is now an important canopy species over about 20 ha of forested ridge extending north and south of the original plantation. A smaller area of less than 5 ha is dominated by chestnut in both the canopy and understory. Chestnut seedlings and small saplings are more numerous along woodland edges and in recently disturbed soil, they are rare in the interior of ungrazed pasture and entirely absent from intensively grazed areas adjacent to chestnut-dominated woodland. Random sampling of recently established seedlings indicates that from 1 to 5 seedlings/(year ∙ ha) became established in undisturbed woodland between 1986 and 1988. The general pattern of chestnut distribution indicates the importance of woodland edges in chestnut propagation and the effects of livestock grazing in excluding chestnut. Replacement of native species by chestnut appears to have occurred in two steps: isolated groups of trees became established at favorable locations, after which many additional chestnut stems became established in the understory. The recent discovery and treatment of blight indicates that the West Salem site may not be available for study of blight-free chestnut in the future.

PeerJ ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 7 ◽  
pp. e6531 ◽  
Author(s):  
Steven D. Frank ◽  
Kristi M. Backe ◽  
Casey McDaniel ◽  
Matthew Green ◽  
Sarah Widney ◽  
...  

Urban trees serve a critical conservation function by supporting arthropod and vertebrate communities but are often subject to arthropod pest infestations. Native trees are thought to support richer arthropod communities than exotic trees but may also be more susceptible to herbivorous pests. Exotic trees may be less susceptible to herbivores but provide less conservation value as a consequence. We tested the hypotheses that native species in Acer and Quercus would have more herbivorous pests than exotic congeners and different communities of arthropod natural enemies. The density of scale insects, common urban tree pests, was greatest on a native Acer and a native Quercus than exotic congeners in both years of our research (2012 and 2016) and sometimes reached damaging levels. However, differences in predator and parasitoid abundance, diversity, and communities were not consistent between native and exotic species in either genus and were generally similar. For example, in 2012 neither predator nor parasitoid abundance differed among native and exotic Acer congeners but in 2016 a native species, A. saccharum, had the least of both groups. A native, Q. phellos, had significantly more predators and parasitoids in 2012 than its native and exotic congeners but no differences in 2016. Parasitoid communities were significantly different among Acer species and Quercus species due in each case to greater abundance of a single family on one native tree species. These native and exotic tree species could help conserve arthropod natural enemies and achieve pest management goals.


Author(s):  
Leeladarshini Sujeeun ◽  
Sean C. Thomas

Many tropical invasive species have allelopathic effects that contribute to their success in native plant communities. Pyrolyzed biomass (“biochar”) can sorb toxic compounds, including allelochemicals produced by invasive plants, potentially reducing their inhibitory effects on native species. Strawberry guava (Psidium cattleianum) is among the most important allelopathic invasive species in tropical islands and recognized as the most serious invasive species threat in the global biodiversity hotspot of Mauritius. We investigated the effects of additions of locally produced biochar on native tree species in a field experiment conducted in areas invaded by strawberry guava within Mauritius’ largest national park. Growth and survivorship of native tree species were monitored over 2 ½ years in plots subjected to four treatments: non-weeded, weeded, weeded + 25 t/ha biochar and weeded + 50 t/ha biochar. Native tree growth and survivorship were strongly suppressed by strawberry guava. Biochar treatments dramatically increased native tree performance, with more than a doubling in growth, and substantially increased native tree survivorship and species diversity, while suppressing strawberry guava regeneration, consistent with growth-promoting properties and sorption of allelochemicals. We conclude that biochars, including “sustainable biochars” produced from locally accessible biomass using low-tech pyrolysis systems, have considerable potential to counteract effects of allelopathic invaders and increase the capacity for native species regeneration in tropical island ecosystems.


2021 ◽  
Vol 8 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Elisabeth Pötzelsberger ◽  
Martin M. Gossner ◽  
Ludwig Beenken ◽  
Anna Gazda ◽  
Michal Petr ◽  
...  

AbstractFor non-native tree species with an origin outside of Europe a detailed compilation of enemy species including the severity of their attack is lacking up to now. We collected information on native and non-native species attacking non-native trees, i.e. type, extent and time of first observation of damage for 23 important non-native trees in 27 European countries. Our database includes about 2300 synthesised attack records (synthesised per biotic threat, tree and country) from over 800 species. Insects (49%) and fungi (45%) are the main observed biotic threats, but also arachnids, bacteria including phytoplasmas, mammals, nematodes, plants and viruses have been recorded. This information will be valuable to identify patterns and drivers of attacks, and trees with a lower current health risk to be considered for planting. In addition, our database will provide a baseline to which future impacts on non-native tree species could be compared with and thus will allow to analyse temporal trends of impacts.


2008 ◽  
pp. 29-39 ◽  
Author(s):  
Cheryl Batistel ◽  
Victor Asio

The study evaluated the effects of incorporation and subsequent decomposition of leaves of exotic tree species (Gmelina arborea, Swietenia macrophylla and Tectona grandis) and native tree species (Pterocarpus indicus, Dipterocarpus validus and Parashorea plicata) on the quality of forest soil. Forty-two pots containing an acidic and clayey forest soil and added with fresh leaves of the different tree species were setup in an open area in Mt. Pangasugan. Retrieval of the first three pots for each treatment was done after two months and the remaining three pots, five months later. Soil samples were collected from each pot and were analyzed for soil respiration rate, pH, OM, total N and available P. Findings showed that in general the exotic tree species did not change the soil pH while the native species appeared to decrease it. Regardless of tree species, leaf decomposition significantly increased available soil phosphorus. The leaves of the exotic tree species decomposed faster than those of the native tree species.


2021 ◽  
Vol 22 (11) ◽  
Author(s):  
Edgardo P. Lillo ◽  
ARCHIEBALD B. MALAKI ◽  
STEVE MICHAEL T. ALCAZAR ◽  
RAAMAH ROSALES ◽  
BERNARDO R. REDOBLADO ◽  
...  

Abstract. Lillo EP, Malaki AB, Alcazar SMT, Rosales R, Redoblado BR, Diaz JLB, Pantinople EM, Buot Jr. IE. 2021. Inventory of native and mother trees in Key Biodiversity Areas of Cebu Island, Philippines for species selection in local reforestation programs. Biodiversitas 22: 4740-4749. Forest restoration is the counterforce of deforestation and forest degradation. Yet, despite promoting natural recovery after forest harvest, afforestation and reforestation efforts, tropical forest ecosystems still experience a poor ratio of forest loss to forest gain. The study assessed the native tree species and potential mother trees in different Cebu Island Key Biodiversity Areas (KBAs) as well as their distribution and habitat preferences which can be used in local reforestation programs. A vegetation survey was conducted in three KBAs in Cebu Island, namely Nug-as forest, Mount Lantoy and Mount Capayas to inventory all native species. Assessment based on the phenotypic characteristics of adult trees was also conducted for indicating mother trees. This study in Cebu Island KBAs recorded a total of 292 species, categorized into 125 families and 203 genera, which can be classified into native trees (210), vines and lianas (18), shrub (37), and herbs (27). Out of the 292 species, 214 were recorded in Nug-as forest, 172 in Mount Lantoy, and 145 in Mount Capayas. Of the 210 native tree species, Nug-as forest had 145 species, Mount Lantoy 131 species, and Mount Capayas 109 species. A total of 241 mother trees were identified in the three KBAs, corresponding to 77 species in which Nug-as forest had 143 trees correspond to 52 species, Mount Lantoy had 68 trees correspond to 29 species, and Mount Capayas had 31 trees correspond to 6 species. Such native tree species are recommended for reforestation programs as planting materials that could reduce the risks of failure due to its high adaptability to the environment.


2021 ◽  
Vol 33 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Inda Mihu ◽  
Dipankar Borah ◽  
Sumpam Tangjang

Increasing human population and various developmental activities in the Indian state of Arunachal Pradesh, which lies in one of the most bio-diverse regions of the world, has caused large-scale deforestation, pushing a large number of native tree species to the serious verge of elimination from their native forest. In such tribal-dominated landscapes around the world, myriads of studies have emphasized the potential of homegardens as a site for local biodiversity conservation as they are known to have a huge Indigenous Knowledge System (IKS) on the use of diverse native floras. The present study was, therefore, undertaken to investigate if the native communities of the Mishmi tribe conserved native indigenous tree species in their homegardens and if they are grown then what is the future of these tree species? It was hypothesized that harbouring greater indigenous knowledge implies greater domestication of tree species in their homegardens. Altogether, 103 species of trees were recorded from 243 homegardens in the present study. Although the native species constituted more than half of the species diversity, they, however, greatly lagged in all other aspects of the study such as population share, frequency distribution and regeneration potential. Native tree species constituted just 37% of the total tree population. Only two species, Bauhinia variegata L. and Alnus nepalensis D. Don, made up the major bulk of the native population. In terms of frequency distribution, only a handful of native species maintained a decent presence in the homegardens. Most of the native species grew naturally in unmanaged homegardens. The regeneration potential of all native species was very poor, including B. variegata. The study demonstrates that out of the 76 native species recorded from the region, only 7 species can rightfully be regarded as being domesticated by virtue of IKS of the Mishmi community. Our study concludes that the native species do exist in large number in homegardens of the rural tribal areas, but most of the native wild species exist in the rural homegardens not because they are planted/preferred but because they just happen to randomly grow there since most of the homegardens of tribal household are unmanaged or poorly managed, thereby giving way to wild species to germinate, at least until the owner decides to weed them out.


Forests ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 11 (8) ◽  
pp. 885
Author(s):  
Rustum Aguilos ◽  
Conrado Marquez ◽  
Henry Adornado ◽  
Maricar Aguilos

Selection of native tree species for commercial purposes is a continuing challenge and an opportunity in tropical silviculture. Because of this, we explored domesticating 33 native species in the Philippines that were tested for survival rate, total height, and diameter-at-ground-level (dgl) increments. The first five years (2014–2018) of assessment showed that 13 species (40%) of the 33 native species reached a survival rate of more than 80%. Grouped as ‘slow’-, ‘medium’- and ‘fast’-growing field trial species, a 709 cm average total height at five years was attained by the fast-growing cluster where Bagalunga (Melia dubia L.) and Kupang (Parkia javanica (D.C.) Merr.) were among the fastest-growing species. Slow-growing trees like Tindalo (Afzelia rhomboidei (Blanco)) and Kamagong (Diospyros blancoi (Willd)) were among the slowest-growing with an average height of 193.8 cm. Dipterocarps like Yakal (Shorea stylosa (Foxw.)), Tanguile (Shorea polysperma (Blanco)) and Mayapis (Shorea squamata (Blanco) Merr.) had the lowest diameter at ground level (dgl) increments (average 25.9 mm) while diametric expansion of fast-growing species spanned up to 93.5 mm. Overall, height and dgl increments were almost five times the original measurement five years after planting. A sudden surge in the rate of change in total height (83%) and dgl (72%) occurred a year after planting, yet a sudden decline occurred in the fifth year with only 21% for height and 23% for diameter growth suggesting the first 3–4 years as the crucial stage in seedling development. Survival rate is better correlated with the changes in dgl increment (R2 = 0.19, p < 0.05) than the height growth (R2 = 0.12, p < 0.05). Increasing rainfall and optimum air temperature significantly correlated with height and diameter growth while any increase in recorded wind speed slightly reduced the growth of the species. Our findings are initial steps towards developing appropriate silvicultural and management interventions when planning for the massive plantation development of domesticated Philippine native trees in the future.


2017 ◽  
Vol 24 (2) ◽  
Author(s):  
Tadas Vaidelys ◽  
Lina Straigytė

The grow season length of native species is a good indicator of the changing environment, especially in urban green spaces. The  aim was to determine the  length of the grow season for native tree species in different types of green spaces. Tree vegetation was observed in Kaunas city green spaces and peri-urban forests in 2013–2015. It was found that types of green spaces less affected the  grow season length of pedanculate oak (Quercus robur L.). The differences of the oak vegetation duration between the types of green spaces were not significant for all three research years. The types of green spaces more affected the grow season length of Norway maple (Acer platanoides L.), small-leaved lime (Tilia cordata Mill.) and silver birch (Betula pendula Roth). The growth duration (for maple 6–12 days, for lime 10–15 days and for birch 5–9 days) was longer in broad street greeneries than in peri-urban forests. All differences of the growth duration between peri-urban forests and broad street greeneries were statistically significant. Pedanculate oak from peri-urban forests had the  longest vegetation in 2013, while the vegetation of small-leaved lime from street greeneries was shortest in 2015. Pedanculate oak is the most suitable tree species to grow in urban parks and street greeneries because it has the longest grow season. Small-leaved lime is the least suitable tree species to grow in urban parks and street greeneries because it has the shortest grow season, especially in street greeneries.


2021 ◽  
Vol 9 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jinhuan Luo ◽  
Wenjun Hong ◽  
Jindian Yang ◽  
Kai Jiang ◽  
Zhaoyuan Tan ◽  
...  

Reforestation is an effective way to alleviate deforestation and its negative impacts on ecosystem services. It is widely recognized that the most key step for reforestation is using suitable native species, but selecting suitable native tree species is much more complex and challenging than the selection of non-native tree species that have been widely used for reforestation. Here, we quantify whether the native tree species (Bombax ceiba) can be suitable for performing reforestation to restore a 0.2 km2 highly degraded tropical monsoon forest in Baopoling Mountain (BPL), Sanya, China, due to 20 years of limestone mining for cement production. We found that stomatal closure helped Bombax ceiba develop higher drought stress tolerance than the most dominant native tree species (Bridelia tomentosa) in an undisturbed tropical rainforest in BPL, thereby better adapting well to drought stress in the dry season. These characteristics in turn facilitated it to have high survival rate (92% ± 4%) and fast growth rate, after three years of monoculture in BPL. Thus, Bombax ceiba is very suitable for performing reforestation to recover highly degraded tropical forests in Hainan Island, China.


2015 ◽  
Vol 22 (2) ◽  
pp. 50-64 ◽  
Author(s):  
Gábor Ónodi ◽  
Tibor Csörgő

AbstractThis study was carried out in Hungary, in an old, unmanaged, riparian poplar-willow forest, where two invasive tree species, the green ash and the boxelder maple are presented and reproduce more effectively therefore are more abundant than the native species in the study area. There are also invasive hybrid wild grapes to be found. These invasive plants cause widespread problems in floodplain forests in Central Europe. We studied Great-spotted and Lesser-spotted Woodpeckers. We investigated the following questions: Which tree species are preferred by the foraging birds? How are the foraging birds distributed spatially between the microhabitats? Are there any differences in terms of foraging niche utilization between the two studied species? We gathered our data through weekly standard observations throughout two whole years. Based on our findings we could determine that both species preferred the less abundant native trees rather than the invasive ash and maple trees, though Lesser-spotted Woodpeckers preferred hybrid wild grapes the most. Great-spotted Woodpeckers preferred the middle heights of the trees, they also moved mainly on trunks. Lesser-spotted Woodpeckers used the thinnest branches in the canopy. Based on our results we predict that the decrease of the native tree species may create a suboptimal habitat compared to the current situation. As the studied species are the major cavity excavators, the above mentioned changes will probably have significant effects on numerous cavity dependent species.


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