The effects of windthrow on plant species richness in a Central European beech forest |
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Authors: | Goddert von Oheimb Agnes Friedel Annette Bertsch Werner Härdtle |
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Institution: | (1) Institute of Ecology and Environmental Chemistry, University of Lüneburg, Scharnhorststr. 1, 21335 Lüneburg, Germany |
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Abstract: | The effects of soil disturbance caused by the uprooting of a single or a few canopy trees on species richness and composition
of vascular plant species and bryophytes were examined in a temperate beech forest (Fagus sylvatica) in northern Germany. We recorded the vegetation in 57 pairs of disturbed and adjacent undisturbed plots and established
a chronosequence of mound ages to study the effect of time since microsite formation on plant species richness and composition.
We found significant differences in plant species richness and composition between disturbed and adjacent undisturbed plots.
Species richness of both vascular plants and bryophytes was higher in the disturbed than in the undisturbed plots, but these
differences were more pronounced for bryophytes. We suggest that three main factors are responsible for this differential
response. The availability of microsites on the forest floor that are suitable for the recruitment of bryophytes is lower
than for vascular plants. Establishment of bryophytes in disturbed microsites is favoured by a greater abundance of propagules
in the close vicinity and in the soil of the disturbed microsites, as well as by a greater variety of regeneration strategies
in bryophytes than in vascular plants. Time since mound formation was a major factor determining plant species richness and
composition. A significant decrease in the mean number of species was found from young mounds to intermediate and old mounds.
However, differences were observed between vascular plants and bryophytes in the course of changes through time in species
richness and composition. A large number of exclusive and infrequent vascular plant species was observed on young mounds,
among them several disturbance specialists. We suggest that the establishment of many vascular plant species was infrequent
and short-lived due to unfavourable light conditions and a low abundance of propagules. By contrast, the development of a
litter layer was the main reason for the decreased mean number of bryophytes on old mounds. Our study supports the view that
groups of species differing in important life history traits exhibit different responses to soil disturbance. |
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Keywords: | Bryophytes Fagus sylvatica Pits and mounds Small-scale disturbance Tree uprooting Vascular plant species |
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