scholarly journals The Legacy of the Past Logging: How Forest Structure Affects Different Facets of Understory Plant Diversity in Abandoned Coppice Forests

Diversity ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 12 (3) ◽  
pp. 109 ◽  
Author(s):  
Alessandro Bricca ◽  
Stefano Chelli ◽  
Roberto Canullo ◽  
Maurizio Cutini
Keyword(s):  
Forest Structure ◽  
Management Practices ◽  
Linear Models ◽  
Structural Parameters ◽  
Lateral Spread ◽  
Mountain Areas ◽  
Multifaceted Approach ◽  
Tree Layer ◽  
Understory Plant ◽  
Clonal Traits

Predicting how biodiversity affects ecosystem functioning requires a multifaceted approach based on the partitioning of diversity into its taxonomic and functional facets and thus redundancy. Here, we investigated how species richness (S), functional diversity (FD) and functional redundancy (FR) are affected by forest structure. Sixty-eight abandoned coppice-with-standards plots were selected in two mountain areas of the Apennine chain. We performed linear models to quantify the influence of structural parameters on S, FD and FR of clonal traits. Each diversity facet was affected differently by structural parameters, suggesting a complex interweaving of processes that influence the understory layer. Namely, tree layer density influences S, the height of the standards affects the lateral spread and persistence of clonal growth organs, and diameter of standards affects the FD of the number of clonal offspring. Opposite relationships compared to FD was found for the FR, suggesting how clonal traits play a key role in species assemblage. The observation that structural parameters exert opposite impact on FR seems to indicate a counterbalance effect on ecosystem stability. Multifaceted approaches yield a better understanding of relationship between forest structure and understory, and this knowledge can be exploited to formulate indications for more sustainable management practices.

scholarly journals A multifaceted approach for beech forest conservation: Environmental drivers of understory plant diversity

Flora ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 256 ◽  
pp. 85-91 ◽  
Author(s):  
Gianluigi Ottaviani ◽  
Lars Götzenberger ◽  
Giovanni Bacaro ◽  
Alessandro Chiarucci ◽  
Francesco de Bello ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Plant Diversity ◽  
Forest Conservation ◽  
Beech Forest ◽  
Environmental Drivers ◽  
Multifaceted Approach ◽  
Understory Plant

scholarly journals Effect of Forest Management Operations on Aggregate-Associated SOC Dynamics Using a 137Cs Tracing Method

Forests ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 12 (7) ◽  
pp. 859
Author(s):  
Geng Guo ◽  
Xiao Li ◽  
Xi Zhu ◽  
Yanyin Xu ◽  
Qiao Dai ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Forest Management ◽  
Soil Erosion ◽  
Management Practices ◽  
Negative Impact ◽  
Dynamic Change ◽  
Aggregate Size ◽  
Nutrient Loss ◽  
Vegetation Coverage ◽  
Forest Conversion ◽  
Mountain Areas

Although forest conversions have long been a focus in carbon (C) research, the relationship between soil erosion and the dynamic change of soil organic carbon (SOC) has not been well-quantified. The objective of this study was to investigate the effects of converting CBF (coniferous and broad-leaved mixed forests) to economic forests, including CF (chestnut forest), HF (hawthorn forest), and AF (apple forest), on the soil structure and nutrient loss in the Huaibei Rocky Mountain Areas, China. A 137Cs tracer method was used to provide soil erosion data in order to quantify the loss of aggregate-associated SOC. The results showed that forest management operations caused macro-aggregates to decrease by 1.69% in CF, 4.52% in AF, and 3.87% in HF. Therefore, the stability of aggregates was reduced. The SOC contents in each aggregate size decreased significantly after forest conversion, with the largest decreases occurring in AF. We quantified the loss of 0.15, 0.38, and 0.31 Mg hm−2 of aggregate-associated SOC after conversion from CBF to CF, AF, and HF, respectively. These results suggest that forest management operations have a negative impact on soil quality and fertility. CF has better vegetation coverage and less human interference, making it more prominent among the three economic forests species. Therefore, when developing forest management operations, judicious selection of tree varieties and appropriate management practices are extremely critical. In addition, measures should be taken to increase surface cover to reduce soil erosion and achieve sustainable development of economic forests.

scholarly journals Effects of diverse mangrove management practices on forest structure, carbon dynamics and sedimentation in North Sumatra, Indonesia

2021 ◽  
pp. 107467
Author(s):  
Bayu B. Hanggara ◽  
Daniel Murdiyarso ◽  
Yohanes RS. Ginting ◽  
Yessica L. Widha ◽  
Grace Y. Panjaitan ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Forest Structure ◽  
Management Practices ◽  
Carbon Dynamics ◽  
North Sumatra

scholarly journals Using terrestrial laser scanning to constrain forest ecosystem structure and functions in the Ecosystem Demography model (ED2.2)

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Félicien Meunier ◽  
Sruthi M. Krishna Moorthy ◽  
Marc Peaucelle ◽  
Kim Calders ◽  
Louise Terryn ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Leaf Area ◽  
Forest Structure ◽  
Laser Scanning ◽  
Initial Conditions ◽  
Structural Parameters ◽  
Terrestrial Laser Scanning ◽  
Dimensional Structure ◽  
Forest Site ◽  
Ecosystem Structure ◽  
Area Index

Abstract. Terrestrial Biosphere Modeling (TBM) is an invaluable approach for studying plant-atmosphere interactions at multiple spatial and temporal scales, as well as the global change impacts on ecosystems. Yet, TBM projections suffer from large uncertainties that limit their usefulness. A large part of this uncertainty arises from the empirical allometric (size-tomass) relationships that are used to represent forest structure in TBMs. Forest structure actually drives a large part of TBM uncertainty as it regulates key processes such as the transfer of carbon, energy, and water between the land and atmosphere, but remains challenging to measure and reliably represent. The poor representation of forest structure in TBMs results in models that are able to reproduce observed land fluxes, but which fail to realistically represent carbon pools, forest composition, and demography. Recent advances in Terrestrial Laser Scanning (TLS) techniques offer a huge opportunity to capture the three-dimensional structure of the ecosystem and transfer this information to TBMs in order to increase their accuracy. In this study, we quantified the impacts of integrating structural observations of individual trees (namely tree height, leaf area, woody biomass, and crown area) derived from TLS into the state-of-the-art Ecosystem Demography model (ED2.2) at a temperate forest site. We assessed the relative model sensitivity to initial conditions, allometric parameters, and canopy representation by changing them in turn from default configurations to site-specific, TLS-derived values. We show that forest demography and productivity as modelled by ED2.2 are sensitive to the imposed initial state, the model structural parameters, and the way canopy is represented. In particular, we show that: 1) the imposed openness of the canopy dramatically influenced the potential vegetation, the optimal ecosystem leaf area, and the vertical distribution of light in the forest, as simulated by ED2.2; 2) TLS-derived allometric parameters increased simulated leaf area index and aboveground biomass by 57 and 75 %, respectively; 3) the choice of model structure and allometric coefficient both significantly impacted the optimal set of parameters necessary to reproduce eddy covariance flux data.

scholarly journals Effects of the Management of Extensive Beef Grazing Systems on the Mitigation of Greenhouse Gas Emissions in Semi-arid Rangelands of Central Argentina

2018 ◽  
Author(s):  
María I. Nieto ◽  
Olivia Barrantes ◽  
Liliana Privitello ◽  
Ramón Reiné
Keyword(s):  
Management Practices ◽  
Linear Models ◽  
Ghg Emissions ◽  
Farm Management ◽  
Forage Crops ◽  
Central Argentina ◽  
Livestock Sector ◽  
Arid Rangelands ◽  
On Farm ◽  
Semi Arid

The livestock sector can be a major contributor to the mitigation of greenhouse (GHG) emissions. Within the sector, beef production produces the largest proportion of the livestock sector’s direct emissions. The objective of this study was to assess the on-farm GHG emissions in semi-arid rangelands in Argentina and to identify the relationships between emissions and current farm management practices. A survey recorded detailed information on farm management and characteristics. Assessments of GHG emissions were based on the IPCC Tier 2 protocols [1]. The relationships between farm management and GHG emissions were identified using General Linear Models. Cluster analysis was used to identify groups of farms that differed from others in emissions and farm characteristics. Emissions per product sold were low on farms that had improved livestock care management, rotational grazing, received technical advice, and had high animal and land productivities. Emissions per hectare of farmland were low on farms that had low stocking rates, low number of grazing paddocks, little or no land dedicated to improved pastures and forage crops, and low land productivity. Our results suggest that the implementation of realistic, relatively easy-to-adopt farming management practices has considerable potential for mitigating GHG emissions in semi-arid rangelands of central Argentina.

scholarly journals Relative importance of region, seasonality and weed management practices effects on the functional structure of weed communities in French vineyards

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Marie-Charlotte Bopp ◽  
Elena Kazakou ◽  
Aurelie Metay ◽  
Guillaume Fried
Keyword(s):  
Weed Management ◽  
Management Practices ◽  
Environmental Gradients ◽  
Cropping Systems ◽  
Seed Mass ◽  
Soil Disturbance ◽  
Lateral Spread ◽  
Maximum Height ◽  
Weed Communities ◽  
Mechanical Disturbance

Winegrowers have diversified their weed management practices over the last two decades changing the structure and the composition of weed communities. Complementary to taxonomic studies, trait-based approaches are promising ways for a better understanding of weed communities responses to environmental and agronomic filters. In the present study, the impacts of climate, soil characteristics, seasons and weed management practices (chemical weeding, tillage and mowing) were assessed on weed communities from 46 plots in three French wine-growing regions (Champagne, Languedoc and Rhone valley). These agro-environmental gradients structuring weed communities according to their combinations of traits were highlighted using multivariate analysis (RLQ). The impacts of these filters on Community Weighted Means (CWM) and Community Weighted Variance (CWV) of weed communities were analysed using mixed and null modelling. Our results showed that spatio-temporal and weed management practices variables explained from 13% to 48% of the total variance of CWM (specific leaf area, maximum height, seed mass, flowering onset and duration and lateral spread). Region, seasonality and management practices explained 53%, 28% and 19% of CWM marginal variance, respectively. Weed management impacted CWM and CWV through two main gradients: (i) a soil disturbance gradient with high mechanical disturbance of soil in tilled plots and low mechanical disturbance in chemically weeded plots and (ii) a vegetation cover gradient with high vegetation abundance in mowed plots compared to more bare soils in tilled and chemically weeded plots. In Languedoc, chemical weeding filtered weed communities with ruderal strategy trait values (low seed mass, small-stature) while mowed communities were more competitive (higher seed mass, higher stature and lower SLA). In Languedoc and Champagne, tillage favoured communities with high seed mass that increases the viability of buried seeds and high lateral spread values associated to the ability to resprout after tillage. This study demonstrated that trait-based approaches can be successfully applied to perennial cropping systems such as vineyards, in order to understand community assembly to better guide weed management practices.

scholarly journals Application of the Conservation Planning Tool Zonation to Inform Retention Planning in the Boreal Forest of Western Canada

2020 ◽  
Vol 8 ◽  
Author(s):  
François-Nicolas Robinne ◽  
J. John Stadt ◽  
Christopher W. Bater ◽  
Charles A. Nock ◽  
S. Ellen Macdonald ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Forest Structure ◽  
Conservation Planning ◽  
Management Practices ◽  
Sustainable Forest Management ◽  
Dispersion Analysis ◽  
Primary Objective ◽  
Airborne Lidar ◽  
Post Harvest ◽  
Trade Offs ◽  
Retention Forestry

Retention forestry is an approach in which live trees and other components of forest structure are retained within harvested areas. A primary objective of retention forestry is to maintain biodiversity and to hasten post-harvest recovery of forest structure and function. Retention is now a key element in sustainable forest management practices in many regions of the world. However, locating where retention should be placed to best achieve management objectives is a challenging problem, and evidence-based approaches to operational applications are rare. We suggest here that harvest planners could benefit from the use of systematic conservation planning principles and methods to inform retention design. Specifically, we used a conservation planning—or prioritization—tool, Zonation, to create spatially-explicit scenarios of retention harvesting in a boreal mixedwood forest in northwestern Alberta, Canada. Scenarios were informed by several environmental variables related to site productivity; in particular, we used a metric of wetness (depth-to-water from the Wet Areas Mapping algorithm) that is based on airborne lidar-derived terrain models previously shown to correlate with patterns in post-harvest forest regeneration and biodiversity. The nine retention scenarios examined here related to the placement of retention focused to drier, mesic, or wetter sites in combination with other prioritization constraints. Results were compared with an existing harvest plan to assess differences in the spatial pattern of retention (e.g., percent overlapping area, number of patches, size of the patches). We also tested for the homogeneity of forest attributes (e.g., tree species, deciduous density) between scenarios and the existing harvest plan using multivariate dispersion analysis. Our results showed limited commonalities among scenarios compared to the existing harvest plan; they were characterized as having limited spatial overlap, and more and smaller patches with the use of a timber-cost constraint further affecting retention patterns. While modeling results significantly differed from current retention practices, the approach presented here offers flexibility in testing different scenarios and assessing trade-offs between timber production and conservation goals using a standardized conservation planning toolkit.

scholarly journals Antibiotic stewardship programs and the internist’s role

2016 ◽  
Vol 10 (4) ◽  
pp. 329
Author(s):  
Massimo Giusti ◽  
Elena Cerutti
Keyword(s):  
Management Practices ◽  
Real Life ◽  
Risk Of Infection ◽  
Multifaceted Approach ◽  
Clinical Microbiologist ◽  
Antimicrobial Management ◽  
Medical Wards ◽  
The Cost ◽  
And Control ◽  
The Ideal

Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is a worldwide issue, but with significant epidemiological diversity in different countries. A recently observed phenomenon is represented by the diffusion of AMR, initially confined to intensive-care units, to medical wards. This was predictable, since patients hospitalized in medical units are made up of more than 70% of elderly people (over 75 years of age in 1 case out of 2). They are fragile patients, with significant comorbidity (over a half with at least 3 diseases), weakened immune systems, and consequently a higher risk of infection. Given such a scenario, it becomes therefore both necessary and urgent to adopt a multifaceted approach of antimicrobial stewardship programs in order to prevent, detect and control the emergence of antimicrobial resistant organisms. The ideal antimicrobial program is led by an infectious diseases (ID) physician and clinical pharmacist with ID training, together with a list of other important staff: clinical microbiologist, information systems specialist, infection control professional, and hospital epidemiologist. In real life, not all the Italian hospitals have got an ID physician and therefore the best canditates for antimicrobial management practices are internists if provided with a specific expertise in ID and antibiotic therapy. Adhering to the principles of optimal antimicrobial therapy in their clinical practice, the internist is able to improve the care and help to reduce the resistance of a patient at his bedside. At the same time, he can achieve other key goals reducing the length of stay and reducing the cost and utilization of health care resources.

Regional Suitability Assessment for the Mouseear Hawkweed (Hieracium pilosella) Invasion in Patagonian Rangelands

2016 ◽  
Vol 9 (4) ◽  
pp. 242-251 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ruth B. Rauber ◽  
Pablo A. Cipriotti ◽  
Marta B. Collantes ◽  
Juan P. Martini ◽  
Enrique Frers
Keyword(s):  
Management Practices ◽  
Linear Models ◽  
Regional Scale ◽  
Soil Disturbance ◽  
Field Surveys ◽  
Suitability Assessment ◽  
Hieracium Pilosella ◽  
Critical Areas ◽  
High Level ◽  
The Relationship

Several studies have been carried out to evaluate the main drivers behind biological invasions and their ecological consequences. Nevertheless, it is still extremely difficult to acquire a full understanding of the invasion process due to its high level of complexity. The problems that complicate invasion studies are low detection during the early stages of invasion, and the high survey cost of working over large, inaccessible, and rugged areas. The studies that develop efficient tools to reduce costs and time will help to control or mitigate the invaders' damaging effects. Hieracium pilosella is an aggressive invader of grasslands worldwide. The aim of this work was to conduct a regional assessment for the suitability of H. pilosella invasion in the Fuegian Steppe by combining field surveys, spatial modeling, and geographic information system tools. We recorded the invader cover in 167 sample sites and we determined the relationship between environmental variables and the probability of invasion. This was carried out by the selection of alternative generalized linear models. The best model indicates that disturbance and plant community were the main drivers to predict invasion suitability on a regional scale. Therefore, these two variables were used as main inputs to construct a regional invasion suitability map, which identifies the most critical areas for prevention, control, and further monitoring. This approach corresponds to a tool that permits us to evaluate the suitability of invasion even over large and inaccessible areas. The results especially warn about soil disturbance associated with usual management practices in Fuegian rangelands.

scholarly journals GRACE Satellites Enable Long-Lead Forecasts of Mountain Contributions to Streamflow in the Low-Flow Season

2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (10) ◽  
pp. 1993
Author(s):  
Xingcai Liu ◽  
Qiuhong Tang ◽  
Seyed-Mohammad Hosseini-Moghari ◽  
Xiaogang Shi ◽  
Min-Hui Lo ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Linear Models ◽  
Yellow River ◽  
Low Flow ◽  
Lead Times ◽  
High Mountain ◽  
Streamflow Forecasting ◽  
Mountain Areas ◽  
Model Based ◽  
Monthly Streamflow ◽  
Terrestrial Water

Terrestrial water storage (TWS) in high mountain areas contributes large runoff volumes to nearby lowlands during the low-flow season when streamflow is critical to downstream water supplies. The potential for TWS from GRACE (Gravity Recovery and Climate Experiment) satellites to provide long-lead streamflow forecasting in adjacent lowlands during the low-flow season was assessed using the upper Yellow River as a case study. Two linear models were trained for forecasting monthly streamflow with and without TWS anomaly (TWSA) from 2002 to 2016. Results show that the model based on streamflow and TWSA is superior to the model based on streamflow alone at up to a five-month lead-time. The inclusion of TWSA reduced errors in streamflow forecasts by 25% to 50%, with 3–5-month lead-times, which represents the role of terrestrial hydrologic memory in streamflow changes during the low-flow season. This study underscores the high potential of streamflow forecasting using GRACE data with long lead-times that should improve water management in mountainous water towers and downstream areas.

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