Plant and soil seed bank diversity across a range of ages of Eucalyptus grandis plantations afforested on arable lands

Aims

Plantation forests are often assumed to have reduced biodiversity relative to unmanaged forests. However, existing knowledge is based on studies of rotation-aged tree crops. We investigated how Eucalyptus afforestation of agricultural land affected plant species composition and biodiversity across a range of plantation ages (1–10 years). We also studied whether the soil seed bank could contribute to regeneration of existing vegetation in such plantations.

Methods

We used a chronosequence approach to evaluate plant and seed species composition and diversity in forests and soil seed banks. We also quantified the similarity of seed banks and aboveground vegetation within plantation sites of a given age. Plantation sites were also compared to a nearby, mature pine forest.

Results

Total plant species number, density and diversity in Eucalyptus grandis plantations increased for the first 3 years plantation establishment, then stabilized or decreased for the next 1–2 years and then increase significantly over the following years. Species number and density in soil seed bank increased significantly with plantation age only after an initial 6-year decrease. Shannon–Wiener index of total species diversity did not significantly differ with plantation age. The understory vegetation and soil seed bank were dominated by pioneer species in the first 3 years, but intermediate-successional and shade-tolerant species gradually invaded as plantations developed further. After 7 years, E. grandis plantation understories were composed of mainly shade-tolerant species. Nevertheless, the diversity of the diversity of intermediate-successional in soil seed banks were higher than that of shade-tolerant species in soil seed banks at this age range (7–10 year). Among species successfully germinated from soil seed banks, 48 % were not found in the aboveground plant community. Similarities between the species in the soil seed bank and the aboveground vegetation were low for both plantation and control forests and did not significantly change with plantation ages.

Conclusions

E. grandis likely produces a changing microclimate during plantation development, which in turn drives composition and diversity dynamics in understory vegetation and soil seed banks after the afforestation of agricultural land. The first 4 years after plantation establishment is associated with lower plant and soil seed bank diversity, meriting a greater focus on biodiversity stabilization and possibly longer rotation periods.