scholarly journals Trophic selectivity of litter saprophages (Diplopoda, Isopoda) in natural forests in the steppe conditions

2019 ◽  
Vol 30 (1) ◽  
pp. 24-28
Author(s):  
A. P. Pokhylenko ◽  
O. O. Didur ◽  
Yu. L. Kulbachko ◽  
Yu. Yu. Ovchynnykova
Keyword(s):  
Regression Model ◽  
Leaf Litter ◽  
Tree Species ◽  
Steppe Zone ◽  
Soil Invertebrate ◽  
Natural Forests ◽  
Linear Quadratic ◽  
Porcellio Scaber ◽  
Trophic Activity ◽  
Trophic Preferences

The forest litter serves as a bridge between the above ground forest flora and fauna with the soil. Trophic activity of soil invertebrates affects the decomposition processes of plant organic residues and, thus, on the forest soils fertility. It is a natural mechanism that positively influences on maintenance and improvement of natural soils properties. The object of this study is the representatives of Diplopoda Rossiulus kessleri (Lohmander, 1927) and Isopoda Porcellio scaber (Latreille, 1804). The aim of the paper is to qualify the trophic preferences of the saprophages, as soil invertebrate representatives, of natural forest ecosystems in conditions of the steppe zone of Ukraine. To identify the ecological role of millipedes and woodlice as primary destructors of leaf litter, we made a field experiment studying their trophic preferences with the use of microcosms. Microcosms (containers) were filled with soil free from invertebrates; after it added a certain mixture of leaf litter and saprophages representatives. To analyze the decomposition rate of leaf litter the percentage of consumed litter was determined by calculating air-dry mass of leaf litter in the beginning and at the end of experiment. A regression model that reflects the trophic selectivity of saprophages for the following mixture components of such tree species as the common maple (Acer campestre (L.), little-leaved linden (Tilia cordata (Mill.), common oak (Quercus robur (L.), European white elm (Ulmus laevis (Pall.), European ash (Fraxinus excelsior (L.) is proposed. Among other regression model types (linear, quadratic, special cubic), permissible statistical estimates revealed a special cubic mathematical model and it allowed to conclude on the saprophages trophic selectivity. The special cubic regression model has a relatively high performance (the determination coefficient is 87.5 %) and adequately approximates empirical data with a significance level of less than 0.05. It was found out that common maple and European white elm litter is consumed in a greater quantity than any other litter from suggested. It is confirmed by their main effects coefficients in the regression equation. Thus, the saprophages trophic selectivity  persistence in natural forests under the conditions of the steppe zone has been proved. Consequently, the saprophages trophic activity increases with the presence of the maple and European white elm in natural forests, which makes expedient the use of these tree species, in the design of forest stands.

Climate resilience through natural regeneration in degraded natural forests of south-eastern hilly region of Bangladesh

2019 ◽  
Vol 48 (3) ◽  
pp. 417-425
Author(s):  
Md Khayrul Alam Bhuiyan ◽  
Md Akhter Hossain ◽  
Abdul Kadir Ibne Kamal ◽  
Mohammed Kamal Hossain ◽  
Mohammed Jashimuddin ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Tree Species ◽  
Natural Regeneration ◽  
Diversity Indices ◽  
Acacia Auriculiformis ◽  
Quantitative Structure ◽  
Natural Forests ◽  
Climate Resilience ◽  
Hilly Region ◽  
Major Cluster ◽  
Ecological Dominance

A study was conducted by using 5m × 5m sized 179 quadrates following multistage random sampling method for comparative regenerating tree species, quantitative structure, diversity, similarity and climate resilience in the degraded natural forests and plantations of Cox's Bazar North and South Forest Divisions. A total of 70 regenerating tree species were recorded representing maximum (47 species) from degraded natural forests followed by 43 species from 0.5 year 39 species from 1.5 year and 29 species from 2.5 year old plantations. Quantitative structure relating to ecological dominance indicated dominance of Acacia auriculiformis, Grewia nervosa and Lithocarpus elegans seedlings in the plantations whereas seedlings of Aporosa wallichii, Suregada multiflora and Grewia nervosa in degraded natural forests. The degraded natural forests possess higher natural regeneration potential as showed by different diversity indices. The dominance-based cluster analysis showed 2 major cluster of species under one of which multiple sub-clusters of species exists. Poor plant diversity and presence of regenerating exotic species in the plantations indicated poor climate resilience of forest ecosystem in terms of natural regeneration.

Langfristige Entwicklung von zwei Waldgesellschaften im Białowieża-Urwald

2008 ◽  
Vol 159 (4) ◽  
pp. 80-90 ◽  
Author(s):  
Bogdan Brzeziecki ◽  
Feliks Eugeniusz Bernadzki
Keyword(s):  
Species Composition ◽  
Tree Species ◽  
Stand Structure ◽  
Temporal Dynamics ◽  
Structural Parameters ◽  
Forest Communities ◽  
Natural Forests ◽  
Tree Species Composition ◽  
Strong Trend ◽  
Long Term Study

The results of a long-term study on the natural forest dynamics of two forest communities on one sample plot within the Białowieża National Park in Poland are presented. The two investigated forest communities consist of the Pino-Quercetum and the Tilio-Carpinetum type with the major tree species Pinus sylvestris, Picea abies, Betula sp., Quercus robur, Tilia cordata and Carpinus betulus. The results reveal strong temporal dynamics of both forest communities since 1936 in terms of tree species composition and of general stand structure. The four major tree species Scots pine, birch, English oak and Norway spruce, which were dominant until 1936, have gradually been replaced by lime and hornbeam. At the same time, the analysis of structural parameters indicates a strong trend towards a homogenization of the vertical stand structure. Possible causes for these dynamics may be changes in sylviculture, climate change and atmospheric deposition. Based on the altered tree species composition it can be concluded that a simple ≪copying≫ (mimicking) of the processes taking place in natural forests may not guarantee the conservation of the multifunctional character of the respective forests.

Restoration of floral diversity through plantations on abandoned agricultural land

2006 ◽  
Vol 36 (5) ◽  
pp. 1218-1235 ◽  
Author(s):  
Steven G Newmaster ◽  
F Wayne Bell ◽  
Christopher R Roosenboom ◽  
Heather A Cole ◽  
William D Towill
Keyword(s):  
Plant Diversity ◽  
Tree Species ◽  
Agricultural Land ◽  
Structural Diversity ◽  
Geographic Region ◽  
Natural Forests ◽  
Community Interactions ◽  
Long Term Study ◽  
Floral Diversity ◽  
The Impact

Plantations have been claimed to be "monocultures", or "biological deserts". We investigated these claims in the context of a long-term study on plant diversity within plantations with different indigenous tree species, spacings, and soil types that were compared with 410 native stands. Soil type had no influence on plantation species diversity or abundance, and wider spacing resulted in higher richness, lower woody plant abundance, slightly higher cover of herbaceous plants, and large increases in cryptogam cover. We also found a canopy species × spacing interaction effect, where the impact of increased spacing on understory vegetation was more pronounced in spruce than in pine plantations. The dynamic community interactions among species of feathermoss appear to be in response to the physical impediment from varying amounts of needle rain from the different tree species. High light interception and needle fall were negatively correlated with understory plant diversity, as was lack of structural diversity. This study indicates that through afforestation efforts agricultural lands can be restored to productive forests that can harbour nearly one-half of the plant species found in equivalent natural forests within the same geographic region in as little as 50 years. We recommend applying afforestation using indigenous conifer species as a first step towards rehabilitating conifer forests that have been converted to agriculture and subsequently abandoned.

Leaf litter of invasive Chinese tallow (Triadica sebifera) negatively affects hatching success of an aquatic breeding anuran, the Southern Leopard Frog (Lithobates sphenocephalus)

2012 ◽  
Vol 90 (8) ◽  
pp. 991-998 ◽  
Author(s):  
C.K. Adams ◽  
D. Saenz
Keyword(s):  
Dissolved Oxygen ◽  
Leaf Litter ◽  
Tree Species ◽  
Quality Parameters ◽  
Leopard Frog ◽  
Stages Of Development ◽  
Triadica Sebifera ◽  
Chinese Tallow ◽  
Invasive Tree ◽  
Invasive Tree Species

Chinese tallow (Triadica sebifera (L.) Small) is an aggressive invasive tree species that can be abundant in parts of its non-native range. This tree species has the capability of producing monocultures, by outcompeting native trees, which can be in or near wetlands that are utilized by breeding amphibians. Existing research suggests that leaf litter from invasive Chinese tallow reduces survival in larval anurans. The purpose of this study was to determine the effects of Chinese tallow leaf litter on anuran eggs. We exposed eggs of the Southern Leopard Frog ( Lithobates sphenocephalus (Cope, 1886)) at various stages of development to different concentrations of Chinese tallow leaf litter to determine survival. Eggs in the earliest stages of development that we exposed to tallow leaf litter died, regardless of concentration; however, some more-developed eggs exposed to tallow leaf litter did hatch. We determined that the greater the concentration of tallow leaf litter, the lower the dissolved oxygen and pH levels we observed. We suggest that changes in these water-quality parameters are the cause of the observed mortality of anuran eggs in our experiments. Eggs exposed to water containing tallow leaf litter with dissolved oxygen <1.59 mg/L and a pH <5.29 did not survive to hatching.

scholarly journals The conservation value of South East Asia's highly degraded forests: evidence from leaf-litter ants

2011 ◽  
Vol 366 (1582) ◽  
pp. 3256-3264 ◽  
Author(s):  
Paul Woodcock ◽  
David P. Edwards ◽  
Tom M. Fayle ◽  
Rob J. Newton ◽  
Chey Vun Khen ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Species Richness ◽  
Leaf Litter ◽  
Oil Palm ◽  
Species Turnover ◽  
Spatial Scales ◽  
Forest Conversion ◽  
Conservation Value ◽  
Natural Forests ◽  
Ant Communities ◽  
Logged Forest

South East Asia is widely regarded as a centre of threatened biodiversity owing to extensive logging and forest conversion to agriculture. In particular, forests degraded by repeated rounds of intensive logging are viewed as having little conservation value and are afforded meagre protection from conversion to oil palm. Here, we determine the biological value of such heavily degraded forests by comparing leaf-litter ant communities in unlogged (natural) and twice-logged forests in Sabah, Borneo. We accounted for impacts of logging on habitat heterogeneity by comparing species richness and composition at four nested spatial scales, and examining how species richness was partitioned across the landscape in each habitat. We found that twice-logged forest had fewer species occurrences, lower species richness at small spatial scales and altered species composition compared with natural forests. However, over 80 per cent of species found in unlogged forest were detected within twice-logged forest. Moreover, greater species turnover among sites in twice-logged forest resulted in identical species richness between habitats at the largest spatial scale. While two intensive logging cycles have negative impacts on ant communities, these degraded forests clearly provide important habitat for numerous species and preventing their conversion to oil palm and other crops should be a conservation priority.

Leaf litter age regulates the effect of native and exotic tree species on understory herbaceous vegetation of riparian forests

2020 ◽  
Vol 48 ◽  
pp. 11-25
Author(s):  
Paloma de las Heras ◽  
Silvia Medina-Villar ◽  
M.Esther Pérez-Corona ◽  
Beatriz R. Vázquez-de-Aldana
Keyword(s):  
Leaf Litter ◽  
Tree Species ◽  
Riparian Forests ◽  
Herbaceous Vegetation ◽  
Exotic Tree

scholarly journals Nutrients (N, P and K) dynamics associated with the leaf litter of two agroforestry tree species of Bangladesh

2009 ◽  
Vol 2 (5) ◽  
pp. 183-186 ◽  
Author(s):  
H Mahmood ◽  
SH Limon ◽  
MS Rahman ◽  
AK Azad ◽  
MS Islam ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Leaf Litter ◽  
Tree Species
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