Are bird density,species richness and community structure similar between native woodlands and non-native plantations in an area with a generalist bird fauna?

This study compared the bird assemblages of native semi-natural woodlands and non-native Sitka spruce (Picea sitchensis) plantations in Ireland to identify what vegetation variables most influenced birds and to identify management targets in plantations to maximise future bird conservation. Point counts were conducted in 10 Oak (Quercus spp.) and 10 Ash (Fraxinus excelsior) native woodlands and in five Mid-rotation (20–30 years old) and five Mature (30–50 years old) Sitka spruce plantations. Ordination was used to characterise woodland types according to their constituent bird species. Total bird density (calculated using Distance software) and species richness were assessed for the different woodland types. Oak and Ash woodland bird assemblages were separated from Mid-rotation and Mature plantations by the ordination. There was no difference in total bird density between any of the woodland types. Oak woodlands had significantly higher species richness than either Mid-rotation or Mature Sitka spruce plantations. Ash had higher species richness than Mature Sitka spruce plantations. Understorey vegetation was negatively associated with total bird density, which also varied with survey year. Understorey vegetation was positively associated with species richness. Reasons for the relationships between vegetation and bird assemblages are discussed. Management should seek to increase shrub and understorey vegetation in the Mid-rotation phase to improve the contribution of plantations to bird conservation.     

Shrub invasion into subalpine vegetation: implications for restoration of the native ecosystem

The ability of plant communities to recover after non-native species invasion will depend upon the nature of their soil seed bank and seed rain characteristics. This study assessed changes in the soil seed bank and seed rain associated with the invasion of the non-native shrub Cytisus scoparius in subalpine vegetation. Soil seed bank and seed rain composition, density and richness were investigated at three areas of different stages of invasion: (i) recent (8–10 years), (ii) mature (15–16 years) and (iii) long-term (25 years). There were few changes in seed bank composition or richness regardless of invasion stage. By contrast, the seed rain composition, richness and density was substantially different within long-invaded areas. Very few seeds were able to colonise the dense barrier characteristic of larger, more mature C. scoparius stands. Some prominent herbs from the native vegetation were under-represented or absent from the seed bank, both in invaded and uninvaded areas. Laboratory germination experiments demonstrated that most native species germinate easily, which may imply a transient seed bank, rather than a persistent one. The majority of herbaceous and shrub species were capable of resprouting vegetatively. Therefore, regeneration appeared more reliant on the bud and tuber bank than a persistent soil seed bank. The dominance of graminoid species and C. scoparius rather than other herbaceous, shrub or tree species suggests that the regenerating vegetation will be dominated by grass species and/or C. scoparius. Hence, in areas where long-invaded C.␣scoparius stands are present the recovery of native subalpine vegetation maybe difficult. Recovery may only be possible through wind dispersal from the surrounding intact vegetation or through actively reseeding the area. This study highlights the importance of early intervention in invasive species management.     

Patterns of Plant Invasions: A Case Example in Native Species Hotspots and Rare Habitats

Land managers require landscape-scale information on where exotic plant species have successfully established, to better guide research, control, and restoration efforts. We evaluated the vulnerability of various habitats to invasion by exotic plant species in a 100,000 ha area in the southeast corner of Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument, Utah. For the 97 0.1-ha plots in 11 vegetation types, exotic species richness (log₁₀) was strongly negatively correlated to the cover of cryptobiotic soil crusts (r = −0.47, P < 0.001), and positively correlated to native species richness (r = 0.22, P < 0.03), native species cover (r = 0.23, P < 0.05), and total nitrogen in the soil (r = 0.40, P < 0.001). Exotic species cover was strongly positively correlated to exotic species richness (r = 0.68, P < 0.001). Only 6 of 97 plots did not contain at least one exotic species. Exotic species richness was particularly high in locally rare, mesic vegetation types and nitrogen rich soils. Dry, upland plots (n = 51) had less than half of the exotic species richness and cover compared to plots (n = 45) in washes and lowland depressions that collect water intermittently. Plots dominated by trees had significantly greater native and exotic species richness compared to plots dominated by shrubs. For the 97 plots combined, 33% of the variance in exotic species richness could be explained by a positive relationship with total plant cover, and negative relationships with the cover of cryptobiotic crusts and bare ground. There are several reasons for concern: (1) Exotic plant species are invading hot spots of native plant diversity and rare/unique habitats. (2) The foliar cover of exotic species was greatest in habitats that had been invaded by several exotic species.(3) Continued disturbance of fragile cryptobiotic crusts by livestock, people, and vehicles may facilitate the further invasion of exotic plant species. This revised version was published online in July 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Evaluating dominance as a component of non-native species invasions

Many studies have quantified plant invasions by determining patterns of non‐native species establishment (i.e. richness and absolute cover). Until recently, dominance has been largely overlooked as a significant component of invasion. Therefore, we re‐examined a 6‐year data set of 323 0.1 ha plots within 18 vegetation types collected in the Grand Staircase‐Escalante National Monument from 1998 to 2003, including dominance (i.e. relative cover) in our analyses. We specifically focused on the non‐native species Bromus tectorum, a notable dominant annual grass in this system. We found that non‐native species establishment and dominance are both occurring in species‐rich, mesic vegetation types. Therefore, non‐native species dominance may result despite many equally abundant native species rather than a dominant few, and competitive exclusion does not seem to be a primary control on either non‐native species establishment or dominance in this study. Unlike patterns observed for non‐native species establishment, relative non‐native species cover could not be predicted by native species richness across vegetation types (R² < 0.001; P = 0.45). However, non‐native species richness was found to be positively correlated with relative non‐native species cover and relative B. tectorum cover (R² = 0.46, P < 0.01; R² = 0.17, P < 0.01). Analyses within vegetation types revealed predominantly positive relationships among these variables for the correlations that were significant. Regression tree analyses across vegetation types that included additional biotic and abiotic variables were a little better at predicting non‐native species dominance (PRE = 0.49) and B. tectorum dominance (PRE = 0.39) than at predicting establishment. Land managers will need to set priorities for control efforts on the more productive, species‐rich vegetation types that appear to be susceptible to both components of invasion.     

Multi-scale analysis of plant species richness in Serengeti grasslands

Aim To assess scale dependence between environmental factors and plant species richness. Additionally, we aimed to identify the scales at which niche relations and habitat heterogeneity, as hypothesized by A. Shmida & M.V. Wilson (1985) Journal of Biogeography, 12 , 1–20, operate in the savanna grasslands that were the focus of this study. Location Savanna grassland plant communities of Serengeti National Park, Tanzania. Methods Plant species richness was sampled in 102 modified Whittaker plots and tested for associations with two climate factors, mean annual rainfall (MAP) and potential evapotranspiration (PET), and two landscape variables, plot aspect (ASP) and topographic variation (TOPO), using multiple regressions. Scale dependence was assessed by conducting regressions after altering three aspects of spatial scale: grain, extent and focus. Grain was altered by analysing plant richness at 1, 10, 10² and 10³ m²; extent was investigated by restricting the maximum distance between samples to 75, 100, 125 and 150 km; and focus was manipulated by averaging samples spatially according to geographical land regions. Within the context of our data, we assumed that niche relations were represented by climate factors and habitat heterogeneity by landscape factors. Results Across all 102 plots, plant species richness between 1 and 10² m² had a negative relation to PET and a weak positive relation to MAP. Plant species richness at 10³ m² had a positive association with TOPO and weaker associations with climate factors. ASP stayed in the model between grains of 10 and 10³ m², but had a very weak positive association with richness. When the focus was changed to land regions, associations between plant species richness and explanatory variables strengthened, but were not qualitatively different. At spatial extents of 75 and 100 km, PET was the strongest correlate of plant species richness across all spatial grains. At spatial extents ≥ 125 km, PET explained the majority of the model variance at spatial grains ≤ 10² m², whereas TOPO explained equal amounts or more of the model variance at spatial grains of 10³ m². Main conclusions Both climate and topographic variation explained plant species richness in Serengeti grasslands, but specific patterns depended on grain, extent and, to a lesser degree, focus. Consistent with the ideas of Shmida & Wilson (1985) , determinants of plant species richness shifted from niche relations to habitat heterogeneity between spatial grains of 1 and 10³ m², although this occurred only at relatively large spatial extents (≥ 150 km). Finally, the signs, strength and shape of plant species richness relationships in Serengeti closely match those that describe macro‐scale patterns of woody plant species richness across the entire African continent.     

Composition and seasonal flux of the soil seed bank of species-rich Themeda triandra grasslands in relation to burning history

Abstract. Most species-rich grasslands dominated by Themeda triandra in southeastern Australia have been ungrazed and frequently burnt for decades. The seedling emergence technique was used to determine the size and taxonomic composition of the soil seed bank of five grasslands that had different fire histories (i.e. burnt at 1 yr, 3 yr and > 10 yr intervals) and this was compared to the standing vegetation at each site. A nested sampling design (subplot, plot, site) was used to determine the effect of spatial scale on the patterns observed in both the vegetation and the seed bank. Temporal variation in the seed bank was assessed by repeated soil sampling over a two year period. 61 native and 30 exotic species were recorded in the vegetation. Richness varied more between sites than within sites. Sites were therefore internally homogeneous for species richness. However, no correlation between burning frequency and richness was found. DCA ordination separated the sites into distinct groups, but sites with similar fire history did not necessarily group closely. 60 taxa germinated from the soil seed bank, comprising 32 native and 28 exotic species; 11 species, mostly therophytes, were restricted to the seed bank. The richness of the seed bank was significantly lower than the vegetation at all spatial scales. No correlation between seed bank richness and fire history was found. The seed bank of species-rich grasslands is dominated by a limited number of widespread, highly clumped, annual, native and exotic monocots. Most native hemicryptophytes, and perennials in general, were represented in the soil by a transient seed bank. Only 12 % of study species, all therophytes, were considered to form large, persistent seed banks, the size of which was greater in unburnt grasslands at all times of the year. The distinct floristic patterns observed in the vegetation are less clearly represented in the seed bank. The seed bank represents a floristically distinct (and less variable) component of the vegetation when compared to the standing flora. The size of the long-term soil seed bank suggests that it has little functional importance for many native species and probably contributes little to seedling regeneration processes following disturbance. Altering established fire regimes is likely to only change the composition and small-scale richness of the existing site vegetation and will not re-integrate species previously lost from the vegetation due to past management. It is suggested that the maintenance of vegetation remnants and processes that encompass a range of long-term burning histories will be necessary if the flora is to be conserved in situ. Restoration of degraded grasslands cannot rely on the soil seed bank but rather, will be dependent on the reintroduction of propagules.     

Vegetation-environment relationships in a Negev Desert erosion cirque

The relationship of desert vegetation to topographic and edaphic factors in Makhtesh Ramon, an erosional cirque in the Negev Desert of Israel, was analyzed using redundancy analysis ordination. Altitude and geological substrate had the most significant correlations with vegetation patterns. In particular, significant and monotonic increases in both total species richness and the percentage of annual species were found with increasing altitude. A comparison was made of the effectiveness of Whittaker's diversity sampling plots (Shmida 1984) versus the log-series survey method of McAuliffe (1990). We concluded that at small sample sizes, the Mc Auliffe plots were more likely to yield interpretable ordination results, even though they included only the perennial flora.     

Life-history Habitat Matching in Invading Non-native Plant Species

We briefly reviewed the literature on habitat matching in invading non-native plant species. Then we hypothesized that the richness and cover of native annual and perennial plant species integrate complex local information of vegetation and soils that would help to predict invasion success by similarly adapted non-native plant species. We tested these ‘life-history habitat matching’ relationships in 603 0.1-ha plots, including 294 plots in Colorado, which were relatively high for the cover of native perennial plant species, and for 309 0.1-ha plots in southern Utah, which were relatively high in the cover of native annual plant species. We found strong positive relationships between the richness and foliar cover for both native and non-native species, whether they were annual or perennial species (0.34 > r ² < 0.53; P < 0.0001). We also found significant positive relationships between the cover of native annual species at a site and the richness (r ² = 0.13; P < 0.0001) and the foliar cover (r ² = 0.06; P < 0.0001) of non-native annual species. The proportion of non-native annual species in the flora of a plot also increased significantly with the foliar cover of native annual species. Conversely, the richness and cover of non-native annual species were significantly negatively associated with the foliar cover of native perennial species (r ² = 0.05 and 0.06, respectively; P < 0.0001). The cover of non-native annual or perennial species was not significantly correlated with soil texture variables, %N, or %C. We conclude that there may be a high degree of life-history habitat matching by non-native annual species in these study sites. Information on native annual and perennial species richness and cover may help characterize the complex soils, climate, and disturbance environment in which similarly adapted non-native plant species establish and gain foliar cover.     

Impact of land use on plant biodiversity and measures for biodiversity conservation in the Loess Plateau in China – a case study in a hilly-gully region of the Northern Loess Plateau

The Loess Plateau is a special natural–cultural unit in northern China. Intensive land use in the past has had, and forestation and grass planting at present will have inevitable impacts on plant biodiversity in the Loess Plateau. Based on the analysis of floristic features within three sampling sites with different land use practices and analysis of species richness among different land use types, we discuss impacts of land use on species richness and floristic features in the Northern Loess Plateau. The results drawn from this case study are as follows: (1) It appears that forestation and grass planting have had a positive influence on the local species diversity, but they have contributed little to the native vegetation in terms of conserving its floristic features. (2) Caragana intermedia shrubland, Pinus tabulaeformis forestland, and natural grassland have made important contributions to supporting indigenous species and maintaining local plant biodiversity. (3) There is a significant positive correlation between land use diversity and species richness. These results imply that practicing biodiversity conservation in situ is feasible and the suitable choice for the Loess Plateau. Concrete measures for biodiversity conservation in the area can include setting up small nature reserves and diversifying land use patterns to maintain as much habitat as possible for native vegetation. The artificial Hippophae rhamnoides shrubland should not be further promoted, considering its negative influence on biodiversity conservation.     

Long‐term phosphite application maintains species assemblages,richness and structure of plant communities invaded by Phytophthora cinnamomi

The impact of the plant pathogen Phytophthora cinnamomi and the fungicide phosphite on species assemblages, richness, abundance and vegetation structure was quantified at three sites in Kwongkan communities in the Southwest Australian Floristic Region. Healthy and diseased vegetation treated with phosphite over 7–16 years was compared with non‐treated healthy and diseased vegetation. After site differences, disease had the greatest effect on species assemblages, species richness and richness within families. Disease significantly reduced cover in the upper and lower shrub layers and increased sedge and bare ground cover. Seventeen of 21 species assessed from the families Ericaceae, Fabaceae, Myrtaceae and Proteaceae were significantly less abundant in non‐treated diseased vegetation. In diseased habitats, phosphite treatment significantly reduced the loss of shrub cover and reduced bare ground and sedge cover. In multivariate analysis of species assemblages, phosphite‐treated diseased plots grouped more closely with healthy plots. Seven of 17 susceptible species were significantly more abundant in phosphite‐treated diseased plots compared with diseased non‐treated plots. The abundance of seven of 10 Phytophthora‐susceptible species was significantly higher along transects in phosphite‐treated vegetation. Comparison of the floristics of healthy non‐treated with healthy‐treated plots showed no significant differences in species assemblages. Of 21 species assessed, three increased in abundance and only one decreased significantly in phosphite‐treated healthy plots. In three Kwongkan communities of the SWAFR, P. cinnamomi had a profound impact on species assemblages, richness, abundance and vegetation structure. There was no evidence of adverse effects of phosphite treatment on phosphorus‐sensitive species, even after fire. Treatment with phosphite enhanced the survival of key susceptible species and mitigated disease‐mediated changes in vegetation structure. In the absence of alternative methods of control in native communities, phosphite will continue to play an important role in the protection of high priority species and communities at risk of extinction due to P. cinnamomi.     

Long‐term changes in semi‐arid vegetation: Invasion of an exotic perennial grass has larger effects than rainfall variability

Abstract. Questions: This paper examines the long‐term change in the herbaceous layer of semi‐arid vegetation since grazing ceased. We asked whether (1) there were differences in the temporal trends of abundance among growth forms of plants; (2) season of rainfall affected the growth form response; (3) the presence of an invasive species influenced the abundance and species richness of native plants relative to non‐invaded plots, and (4) abundance of native plants and/or species richness was related to the time it took for an invasive species to invade a plot. Location: Alice Springs, Central Australia. Methods: Long‐term changes in the semi‐arid vegetation of Central Australia were measured over 28 years (1976–2004) to partition the effects of rainfall and an invasive perennial grass. The relative abundance (biomass) of all species was assessed 25 times in each of 24 plots (8 m × 1 m) across two sites that traversed floodplains and adjacent foot slopes. Photo‐points, starting in 1972, were also used to provide a broader overview of a landscape that had been intensively grazed by cattle and rabbits prior to the 1970s. Species’abundance data were amalgamated into growth forms to examine their relationship with environmental variation in space and time. Environmental variables included season and amount of rainfall, fire history, soil variability and the colonization of the plots by the exotic perennial grass Cenchrus ciliaris (Buffel grass). Results: Constrained ordination showed that season of rainfall and landscape variables relating to soil depth strongly influenced vegetation composition when Cenchrus was used as a covariate. When Cenchrus was included in constrained ordination, it was strongly related to the decline of all native growth forms over time. Univariate comparisons of non‐invaded vs impacted plots over time revealed unequivocal evidence that Cenchrus had caused the decline of all native growth form groups and species richness. They also revealed a contrasting response of native plants to season of rainfall, with a strong response of native grasses to summer rainfall and forbs to winter rainfall. In the presence of Cenchrus these responses were strongly attenuated. Discussion: Pronounced changes in the composition of vegetation were interpreted as a response to removal of grazing pressure, fluctuations in rainfall and, most importantly, invasion of an exotic grass. Declines in herbaceous species abundance and richness in the presence of Cenchrus appear to be directly related to competition for resources. Indirect effects may also be causing the declines of some woody species from changed fire regimes as a result of increased fuel loads. We predict that Cenchrus will begin to alter landscape level processes as a result of the direct and indirect effects of Cenchrus on the demography of native plants when there is a switch from resource limited (rainfall) establishment of native plants to seed limited recruitment.     

An exotic woody weed in a pastoral landscape provides habitat for many native species,but has no apparent threatened species conservation significance

Exotic woody plants are often used by native organisms, but may also be targets of expensive control justified by nature conservation. We determine the use of a weed of national significance, Gorse (Ulex europaeus L.), by native mammals, birds, reptiles and vascular plants in pastoral areas in an Australian biodiversity hotspot. Large numbers of fauna species were observed using Gorse within our 43 × 1 ha sample sites in riparian, woodland and pasture vegetation. Gorse cover and/or height positively influenced: the detection of mammals as a whole in an interaction with visibility at 50–75 cm above ground, but not their species richness or individual species abundances; bird abundance, but not richness; and, reptile richness but not abundance. In terms of flora, Gorse cover and/or height positively affected: non‐native plant species richness and the height and fecundity, but not the richness, of native grasses and forbs—but Gorse cover negatively influenced the height of native herbs. The only species of conservation significance using Gorse were three mammals, only one of which, the Tasmanian Pademelon (Thylogale billardieri), was sufficiently common to analyse. Its abundance had no relationship with Gorse cover or height. Even in the wider context of complementary work, there is no strong threatened species conservation justification for retaining Gorse thickets in the Northern Midlands pastoral landscape. Equally, expending scarce conservation resources to remove Gorse, as is taking place, is unlikely to achieve any threatened species conservation outcome but may help reduce long‐term loss of native animal and plant species.     

Environmental and vegetation variables have a greater influence than habitat fragmentation in structuring lizard communities in remnant urban bushland

Abstract The expansion of urban areas and adjacent farming land into natural landscapes modifies habitats and produces small isolated pockets of native vegetation. This fragmentation of the natural habitat subdivides animal communities, reduces population sizes and increases vulnerability to extinction. In this paper we investigate whether fragmentation decreases lizard species richness, composition, overall abundance and abundance at the species level. Urban remnants consisting of five small (< 10 ha) and four large (> 10 ha) fragments of natural bushland were paired with continuous bushland areas located near Hobart, Tasmania, Australia. These remnants were surveyed six times, using pitfall traps, from November 2001 to March 2002. Lizard species richness and abundance were not significantly influenced by habitat fragmentation or fragment size. Egernia whitii was the only lizard species significantly influenced by fragment size, and was only present in large fragments and continuous bush. Vegetation type and structure as well as environmental variables (geology and aspect) influenced the structure of reptile communities. Lizard species that were able to use a number of different habitat types were found to persist at most sites, irrespective of fragment size. Edge environment did not significantly influence lizard species richness or abundance in remnant areas. Lizard species richness was significantly lower in sites that had a high ratio of exotic to native plant species. Therefore, if remnants continue to be invaded by exotic plants, lizard species that require native plant communities will become increasingly vulnerable to local extinction. Our results suggest that lizard species requiring specialized habitats, such as E. whitii, may persist in large urban remnants rather than small urban remnants because large reserves are more likely to encompass rare habitats, such as rocky outcrops. Habitat heterogeneity, rather than size, may be the key to their persistence.     

The effects of urban or rural landscape context and distance from the edge on native woodland plant communities

The increasing rate of urban sprawl continues to fragment European landscapes threatening the persistence of native woodland plant communities. The dynamics of woodland edges depend on the characteristics of woodland patches and also on landscape context. Our aim was to assess the extent of edge influences on the understorey vegetation of small native woodlands in rural and urban landscapes. The study was carried out in two cities of north-western France. Ten comparable woodlands, each of about 1.5 ha, were surveyed; five were situated adjacent to crops and five adjacent to built-up land. Vascular plant species were recorded in 420 3 × 3 m plots placed at seven different distances from the edge (from 0 to about 45 m from the edge). Soil pH, light levels, level of disturbance and tree and shrub cover were also recorded. Plant species were first classified as non-indigenous or indigenous and then three groups of indigenous species were distinguished according to their affinity for forest habitat (forest specialists, forest generalists and non-forest species). We inferred certain ecological characteristics of understorey vegetation by using Ellenberg values. An inter-class correspondence analysis was carried out to detect patterns of variation in plant community composition. Linear mixed models were used to test the effects of adjacent land use, distance from the edge and their interactions on the species richness of the different groups and on the ecological characteristics of vegetation. Total species richness, richness of forest generalists and of non-forest species decreased from edge to interior in both urban and rural woodlands. The number of non-indigenous species depended mainly on urban–rural landscape context. Urban woodland edges were not as rich in forest specialists as rural edges. More surprisingly, the number of forest specialists was higher in rural edges than in rural interiors. Community composition was mainly affected by urban–rural context and to a lesser degree by the edge effect: the community composition of urban edges resembled that of urban interiors whereas in rural woodlands vegetation near edges (up to 10 m) strongly differed from interiors with a pool of species specific to edges. Urban woodland vegetation was more nitrophilous than rural vegetation in both edges and interiors. A major difference between urban and rural vegetation was the distribution of basiphilous species according to distance from the edge. Generally edge vegetation was more basiphilous than interior vegetation however the presence of basiphilous species fell off quickly with distance from the edge in rural woodlands (in the first 10–15 m) and more slowly (from 25 m onwards) in urban woodlands. This pattern was linked to variation in measured soil pH. As regards the conservation of flora in small native woodlands, it appeared that invasion of exotic and non-forest species was currently limited in both urban and rural landscape contexts but might pose problems in the future, especially in urban woodlands. Forest species were not negatively affected by the edge effect and indeed edges seemed to provide important habitats for this group. Hence conservationists should pay particular attention to the protection of edges in urban woodlands.     

Manipulation of vegetation communities on the Abu Dhabi rangelands. II. The effects of topsoiling and drip irrigation

The effect of topsoiling on the vegetation communities of Abu Dhabi coastal desart rangelands with sand taken from an inland area of rangeland supporting a different vegetation community, was investigated. The study was carried out on ghanada Island, an inshore desert island which had been extensively topsoiled in the previous 5 years. Parts of the island also had been drip irrigated. Perennial vegetation communities on Ghanada were markedly different on topsoiled areas compared to non-topsoiled areas. However not all the species common in the topsoil source area were subsequently found to be common on the topsoiled areas. Zygophyllum hamiense, thought to be a colonizer of disturbed soil in the source areas, was common on the topsoiled areas. Annual plant species richness was greater on topsoiled areas compared to untreated native soil indicating (i) that the source areas had a greater annual species richness than Ghanada, and (ii) annual species propagules successfully survived the processes of topsoiling. Annual and perennial species richness was not significantly different between irrigated and non-irrigated areas. The perennial percentage cover was greatest on drip irrigated areas and the perennial which benefited the most was Heliotropium kotschyi, probably due to its rhizomous growth habit.     

Influence of spoil type on afforestation success and natural vegetative recolonization on a surface coal mine in Appalachia,United States

Surface mining has altered a vast land area in the Appalachian Region, threatening highly biodiverse native forest, contributing to habitat fragmentation, and generating severely disturbed sites that are unsuitable for succession to native ecosystems. Although there are many factors that influence species colonization and establishment on these sites, selection of topsoil substitutes suitable for native species is of particular concern. A series of experimental plots was installed in 2005 on a reclaimed mine site in eastern Kentucky, United States, to examine the suitability of three spoil types (unweathered GRAY sandstone, weathered BROWN sandstone, and MIXED sandstone/shale) as topsoil substitutes. Bareroot 1:0 seedlings of four native hardwood species (Fraxinus pennsylvanica, Quercus rubra, Q. alba, and Liriodendron tulipifera) were planted in the spoil. Seed required for ground cover was not applied so that natural colonization could be evaluated. Two years after installation, researchers concluded that tree growth was highest on BROWN; in addition, species richness and ground cover of volunteer vegetation were higher on BROWN. In 2013, tree volume was over 50 times higher in BROWN than GRAY. In addition to planted hardwoods, naturally colonizing vegetation provided nearly 100% cover on BROWN compared to 20% on MIXED and less than 10% on GRAY plots. Species richness of volunteer vegetation continued to be higher on BROWN (41) than GRAY (30) or MIXED (30), with native species comprising 65–70% of total species richness on all plots. Findings suggest that when topsoil substitutes are used, weathered spoils are more favorable to reforestation than unweathered spoil.     

Native vegetation structure,landscape features and climate shape non-native plant richness and cover in New Zealand native shrublands

Aim

Studies investigating the determinants of plant invasions rarely examine multiple factors and often only focus on the role played by native plant species richness. By contrast, we explored how vegetation structure, landscape features and climate shape non-native plant invasions across New Zealand in mānuka and kānuka shrublands.

Location

New Zealand.

Method

We based our analysis on 247 permanent 20 × 20-m plots distributed across New Zealand surveyed between 2009 and 2014. We calculated native plant species richness and cumulative cover at ground, understorey and canopy tiers. We examined non-native species richness and mean species ground cover in relation to vegetation structure (native richness and cumulative cover), landscape features (proportion of adjacent anthropogenic land cover, distance to nearest road or river) and climate. We used generalized additive models (GAM) to assess which variables had greatest importance in determining non-native richness and mean ground cover and whether these variables had a similar effect on native species in the ground tier.

Results

A positive relationship between native and non-native plant species richness was not due to their similar responses to the variables examined in this study. Higher native canopy richness resulted in lower non-native richness and mean ground cover, whereas higher native ground richness was associated with higher native canopy richness. Non-native richness and mean ground cover increased with the proportion of adjacent anthropogenic land cover, whereas for native richness and mean ground cover, this relationship was negative. Non-native richness increased in drier areas, while native richness was more influenced by temperature.

Main Conclusions

Adjacent anthropogenic land cover seems to not only facilitate non-native species arrival by being a source of propagules but also aids their establishment as a result of fragmentation. Our results highlight the importance of examining both cover and richness in different vegetation tiers to better understand non-native plant invasions.     

Effects of different cultivation types on native and alien weed species richness and diversity in Moravia (Czech Republic)

Changes in weed species richness and beta-diversity are partly attributable to different types and intensity of disturbance and partly to broad-scale variation in environmental conditions. We compiled a data set of 434 vegetation plots of weed vegetation in root crop and cereal fields in Moravia (eastern Czech Republic) to compare the effects of environmental conditions and different disturbance regimes on species richness and beta-diversity. To detect changes in species richness, we related the variation in species richness to individual environmental conditions. To assess differences in beta-diversity between the vegetation of cereal and root crop fields, we used Whittaker's measure of beta-diversity. The relative importance of each environmental variable for the variation in species composition was evaluated using canonical correspondence analysis. All analyses were done for all vascular plant species and separately for native species, archaeophytes and neophytes. A comparison of weed vegetation of root crops and cereals showed a distinct dichotomy between these two types of weed vegetation. There was no significant difference in total species richness and native species richness; however, cereal fields were richer in archaeophytes and root crop fields were richer in neophytes. The beta-diversity of weed vegetation was higher in root crops. Environmental factors explained a significant part of the variability in richness of both natives and aliens. The richness of native species increased and beta-diversity decreased with increasing precipitation. The opposite relationship was found for archaeophytes, in both cereals and root crops. These results confirmed the importance of climatic factors and management practices for changes in weed species composition. They also showed a distinct pattern of species richness and beta-diversity of native and alien weed species.     

Understory vegetation response to mechanical mastication and other fuels treatments in a ponderosa pine forest

Questions: What influence does mechanical mastication and other fuel treatments have on: (1) canopy and forest floor response variables that influence understory plant development; (2) initial understory vegetation cover, diversity, and composition; and (3) shrub and non‐native species density in a second‐growth ponderosa pine forest. Location: Challenge Experimental Forest, northern Sierra Nevada, California, USA. Methods: We compared the effects of mastication only, mastication with supplemental treatments (tilling and prescribed fire), hand removal, and a control on initial understory vegetation response using a randomized complete block experimental design. Each block (n=4) contained all five treatments and understory vegetation was surveyed within 0.04‐ha plots for each treatment. Results: While mastication alone and hand removal dramatically reduced the midstory vegetation, these treatments had little effect on understory richness compared with control. Prescribed fire after mastication increased native species richness by 150% (+6.0 species m²) compared with control. However, this also increased non‐native species richness (+0.8 species m²) and shrub seedling density (+24.7 stems m²). Mastication followed by tilling resulted in increased non‐native forb density (+0.7 stems m²). Conclusions: Mechanical mastication and hand removal treatments aided in reducing midstory fuels but did not increase understory plant diversity. The subsequent treatment of prescribed burning not only further reduced fire hazard, but also exposed mineral soil, which likely promoted native plant diversity. Some potential drawbacks to this treatment include an increase of non‐native species and stimulation of shrub seed germination, which could alter ecosystem functions and compromise fire hazard reduction in the long‐term.     

粤港澳大湾区不同恢复模式植物群落结构与生态系统健康的动态变化

基于长期定位监测数据,量化揭示了红锥纯林（Castanopsis hystrix）、10种与30种乡土树种混交林等3种乡土人工林植物群落的生物量、物种多样性、生物热力学健康水平（eco-exergy）和土壤理化性状在种植后13年内的发展动态,并与尾叶桉（Eucalyptus urophylla）纯林,以及自然恢复系统（灌草坡）进行了比较。结果表明：（1）研究期间,5种恢复模式的植物群落生物量均呈现波动上升趋势,但在发展节率上有所差异。13龄时的尾叶桉纯林与两种乡土树种混交林生物量显著高于其各自1龄时的水平,且显著高于自然恢复灌草坡;相较于其他人工林,红锥纯林生物量增长缓慢,但快于灌草坡;（2）5种恢复模式植物群落的物种多样性（物种丰富度、Shannon-Wiener指数、Pielou均匀度指数）在6至13龄间均呈下降趋势,且30种乡土树种混交林下降趋势最为显著。13龄时,两种混交林Shannon-Wiener指数略高于两种纯林,显著高于灌草坡;10种乡土树种混交林的Pielou均匀度指数略高于红锥纯林与30种乡土树种混交林,显著高于尾叶桉纯林与灌草坡。（3）4种人工林的植物群落生物热力学健康水平皆在6至13龄间显著增加;13龄时两种乡土混交林群落生态显著高于两种纯林,两种纯林显著高于灌草坡,且该差异主要源自于乔木层生态的差异。（4）不同植被恢复模式中,10种乡土树种混交林土壤养分的累积效果最佳,13龄时其土壤总氮含量显著高于红锥纯林和自然恢复灌草坡,但与30种乡土树种混交林和尾叶桉纯林无显著差异。（5）冗余分析结果显示,研究期间植被与土壤间的相关关系逐步建立,土壤理化性状对地上植被结构变化的解释度由1龄时的73.3%逐步上升至13龄时的82.0%,但只有土壤有机碳含量在13龄时与地上植被结构的相关性达到显著水平。上述结果表明,乡土种人工林与外来种人工纯林群落结构、生物热力学健康水平、及植被与土壤间关系的发展规律相似,且相对而言,混交林优于纯林,纯林优于自然恢复灌草坡。植被恢复的起始物种丰富度并不是越高越好;发展到13龄时,10种乡土树种混交林在植被结构与土壤改良方面均优于30种乡土树种混交林。植被与土壤间相关关系的建立是一个长期的过程,不同植被恢复模式对土壤理化性状的差异性影响难以在短期内有所显现。