The impact of secondary forests conversion into larch plantations on soil chemical and microbiological properties

Background and aims

Conversion of natural forests to plantations often results in a considerable loss of plant species and thus likely a reduction in quantity and quality of plant debris entering the soil. Larch plantation is widespread in northeastern China, but its ecological impacts receive little attention. This study aimed to assess soil quality under larch stands against the secondary forest stands using a suite of soil chemical and microbiological properties.

Methods

Four pairs of larch plantations and secondary forests were randomly selected from a mountainous area and mineral soils of top 15 cm were collected from each field.

Results

Soil carbon (C) and nitrogen (N) concentrations, microbial biomass, C and N mineralization and the activities of hydrolytic enzymes were significantly lower in the larch plantations than those in the secondary forests. However, light fraction C as a proportion of soil C was greater in the larch plantations, suggesting less accumulation and stabilization of soil C to heavy fraction in the larch plantations compared to the secondary forests. We also used δ¹⁵N records in light and heavy fractions to derive the relative stability of soil C and found that soil C stability was lower in the larch plantations. This was supported by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy analysis because carboxylate stretching, which might result from microbial oxidation, was less abundant in the larch plantations.

Conclusions

The differences in soil organic matter quality between the larch plantations and the secondary forests were reliably reflected in soil microbial properties and microbially-mediated processes. Our results indicated that the larch plantations reduced soil quality as well as nutrient cycling rate.     

不同林龄、树种落叶松人工林径向生长与气候变化的关系

研究人工林径向生长与气候变化的关系对全球气候变暖背景下人工林合理经营有着重要的意义。该文对在辽东山区广泛栽培的黄花落叶松(Larix olgensis)和日本落叶松(Larix kaempferi)人工林, 运用树木年轮气候学方法建立了辽宁草河口和湾甸子林场落叶松人工林年表, 分析了落叶松径向生长对气候变化的响应以及气候条件、树种、立地条件和林分因子(林龄、密度、蓄积量等)的相对影响程度。结果发现在影响年轮-气候关系的因素中, 气象因子的潜在蒸发散(PET)的影响力最大; 林龄、密度和蓄积量同时也具有重要的影响作用。中龄落叶松人工林径向生长主要与气温呈正相关关系, 成熟落叶松人工林径向生长主要与气温呈负相关关系; 而其他因素, 如树种、立地条件等的影响作用不大。这表明在气候变暖背景下随着林龄增加, 林分会逐渐受到气温升高导致的水分亏缺的限制, 导致明显的生长下降趋势, 因而气候变暖对成熟落叶松人工林威胁更为严重, 所以要注重对成熟林的优先保护, 同时可以预测, 随着东北地区今后气候进一步变暖, 可能将逐步影响到林龄更小的林分的生长, 因此需要进一步研究如何在落叶松人工林经营中采取科学的措施来更好地应对未来气候变化。     

卧龙自然保护区落叶松林不同恢复阶段的嗜尸性甲虫物种多样性

在四川卧龙国家自然保护区,以天然落叶阔叶林（约100年生）为对照,选择新种植（5年生）、幼年（15年生）和成熟（45年生）的3种落叶松种植林,采用引诱法分别在地表和地上1.5 m处取样,研究处于不同恢复阶段林地中的嗜尸性甲虫物种多样性及其变化格局。共采集甲虫标本3 066号,其中隐翅虫、球蕈甲和埋葬甲科分别占总个体数的43.71%、31.83%和17.97%。嗜尸性甲虫的多度格局呈对数正态分布,随着落叶松林树龄的增长,其分布格局更加接近天然林。物种丰富度和多样性在3种落叶松林内均显著低于天然林,且在3种落叶松林中,新种植的最低。主坐标分析排序和聚类分析表明,不同树龄的落叶松林和天然阔叶林间的嗜尸性甲虫群落组成存在显著差异。以上结果表明,落叶松种植林尚无法取代天然落叶阔叶林在维持嗜尸性甲虫物种多样性中的作用。     

Soil microbial biomass carbon and nitrogen in forest ecosystems of Northeast China: a comparison between natural secondary forest and larch plantation

Aims Natural secondary forest (NSF) and larch plantation are two of the predominant forest types in Northeast China. However, how the two types of forests compare in sustaining soil quality is not well understood. This study was conducted to determine how natural secondary forest and larch plantation would differ in soil microbial biomass and soil organic matter quality.Methods Microbial biomass carbon (MBC), microbial biomass nitrogen (MBN), soil organic carbon (SOC) and total nitrogen (TN) in the 0- to 15-cm and 15- to 30-cm soil layers were investigated by making chemical and biological measurements in the montane region of eastern Liaoning Province, Northeast China, during the growing season of 2008 in stands of NSF and Larix olgensis plantation (LOP).Important findings We found that soil MBC and MBN were significantly lower in the LOP than in the NSF. Both MBC and MBN declined significantly with increasing soil depth in the two types of stands. The ratios of MBC to SOC (MBC/SOC) and MBN to TN (MBN/TN) were also significantly lower in the LOP than in the NSF. Moreover, the values of MBC, MBC/SOC, and MBN/TN significantly varied with time and followed a similar pattern during the growing season, all with an apparent peak in summer. Our results indicate that NSF is better in sustaining soil microbial biomass and nutrients than larch plantation in the temperate Northeast China. This calls for cautions in large-scale conversions of the native forests to coniferous plantations as a forest management practice on concerns of sustaining soil productivity.     

Potential contribution of the seed bank in coniferous plantations to the restoration of native deciduous forest vegetation

In this study, we compared the soil seed bank and current vegetation under coniferous plantations and adjacent native deciduous forests. The objective was to assess how much of the initial plant diversity is retained in such plantations, and the potential to restore this initial plant community from seed bank in case of reversion to broadleave stands. Four stands growing side by side and with different dominant species were selected at two locations (site of Haye: Quercus petraea, Pseudotsuga menziesii, Pinus sylvestris and Picea abies; site of La Petite-Pierre: Quercus petraea, Fagus sylvatica, Pinus sylvestris and Picea abies). In each stand, ground vegetation was surveyed and soil seed bank was sampled. Composition of ground flora and seed bank of stands were quite different: only 11 to 30 % of the species were in both the ground flora and the seed bank. Composition of the seed bank was mainly influenced by site location and sylvicultural practices such as the type of afforestation or the tree cover. Species richness of seed banks and vegetation were higher in the site of Haye than in the site of La Petite-Pierre. Seedling density strongly decreased with stand age. Whereas between 65 and 86 % of species found in the ground vegetation of native deciduous stand were also present in the understory or the seed bank of mature coniferous stands, this was only about 50 % in young coniferous stands. Species of deciduous stands which were absent from coniferous stands were typical of old forests. In contrast, species mainly found in the coniferous stands were often ruderal. In the studied areas, it would be possible to restore up to 86 % of the native deciduous forest vegetation, but some plant species typical of ancient forests may have disappeared during the coniferous stage.     

林龄对红松和落叶松人工林土壤温室气体通量的影响

探讨人工林发育过程中土壤温室气体排放及其机制,可为森林温室气体通量估算提供理论依据.采用室内培养方法研究了黑龙江省帽儿山地区不同林龄(15、30和50年生)红松(Pinus koraiensis)和落叶松(Larix gmelinii)人工林土壤温室气体排放/吸收速率及其调控因素.结果 表明:30年生红松和落叶松人工林...     

Rates of spontaneous hybridization and hybrid recruitment in co-existing exotic and native mature larch populations

Exotic larch (Larix decidua Mill., Larix kaempferi (Lamb.) Carr. and Larix sibirica Ledeb.) and their hybrids have been introduced into Canada to test adaptation and growth for reforestation purposes. For tree breeding operations, provenance trials and seed orchards of exotic larches and their hybrids have been established in arboreta adjacent to natural forest stands of the indigenous species Larix laricina (Du Roi) K. Koch. This proximity offers an opportunity to measure spontaneous hybridization and the recruitment of hybrids. Using a combination of two chloroplast and three mitochondrial DNA markers, we estimated the rate of spontaneous hybridization taking place between native (L. laricina) and exotic (L. decidua, L. kaempferi, L. sibirica) species of larch in two arboreta. More than 5,000 seeds and 1,000 recruits from the two experimental sites were sampled and genetically identified. The occurrence of spontaneous hybridization between L. laricina and the exotics was found both in seeds and from recruits freely established near the plantations. A low hybridization rate (3 % or less) was observed among the seeds of L. laricina maternal trees. Spontaneous native-exotic hybrids were also observed to establish and survive in the environment under the current climatic conditions at a similarly low rate. However, a much higher and variable rate of establishment was observed for recruits with exotic components (up to 34.6 % at one site). These results indicate that the spontaneous hybridization and the recruitment of hybrid and exotic recruits do occur and should be taken into consideration in the management and establishment of plantations of fast-growing species with exotic components.     

Effects of thinning and excluding deer browsing on sapling establishment and growth in larch plantations

Monoculture plantations with rapidly growing trees are often used for reforestation schemes on abandoned land. There is evidence that in some cases, reforestation facilitates forest succession toward natural species composition. However, the success of a scheme varies according to site conditions, and systematic investigations are required for adaptive management. Monoculture plantations were used to reforest abandoned pastures at the study site in Hokkaido, northern Japan. At the study site—a 40-year-old nonnative larch (Larix kaempferi) plantation—the effects of thinning and deer-browsing exclusion treatments on the demography of understory saplings were analyzed to achieve appropriate management planning for reforestation. After deer-browsing exclusion, saplings of various species became established, and species composition corresponded closely to that of a natural conifer–broadleaved mixed stand. Saplings of shade-tolerant species, such as Abies sachalinensis and Acer mono, were abundant. Thinning influenced the demography of saplings over an 8-year period and significantly affected the height growth rate of A. sachalinensis saplings, which show strong variations in response to varying light conditions. There were also negative effects of thinning, such as increased mortality and decreased height growth rate of broadleaved saplings, the growth of which was suppressed by facilitated growth of A. sachalinensis. Thus, treatments used for reforestation must take into account differences in demographic traits of tree species by including long-term monitoring.     

Dynamics of structure and biological productivity of post-fire larch forests in the Northern Mongolia

Peculiarities of forming and growth of post-fire larch (Larix sibirica Ledeb.) forests at the southern range of their distribution in the Northern Mongolia were studied. Regularities of the stand structure and dynamics of biological productivity are analyzed and discussed in the paper. It has been proved that the structure of the organic mass of the post-fire herb-carex type larch tree stands at the southern border of forest vegetation distribution is closely related to their biometric indices as-age, density, and productivity. In comparison with tree stands from the other areas of forest vegetation, the total phytomass stock of larch phytocenoses appropriately increases by zonal gradient from forest-tundra border to the Transbaikalian southern taiga and northern regions of Mongolia. Regeneration of forest cover by edificator and formation of the original larch coenopopulation is a positive trend from an environmental point of view, because the Siberian larch in young and middle-age period in the area has a sufficiently high growth energy and rate of phytomass production, with more than twice exceeding mature forests in fixed carbon of the atmosphere and has positive values of carbon balance and total destruction of organic matter by the “input-output” parameters.     

白桦和落叶松苗木对其纯林土壤养分的生物检测

利用35年生白桦、落叶松纯林土壤分别栽植白桦、落叶松1年生苗木,通过对苗木生长、生物量、叶片养分及土壤养分变化的研究,对两种土壤的肥力进行评价,探讨白桦、落叶松混交林种间互作机制.结果表明:白桦纯林土壤全氮、碱解氮含量显著高于落叶松纯林土壤(P<0.05),落叶松纯林土壤全磷、全钾、速效磷含量显著高于白桦纯林土壤(P<0.05).盆栽第1年,白桦纯林土壤上的白桦苗木苗高、地径和生物量分别比在落叶松纯林土壤上增加69%、52%和65%(P<0.05),落叶松苗木分别增加12%、8%和37%(P>0.05).以白桦纯林土壤为基质时,白桦、落叶松苗木叶片氮浓度高于落叶松纯林土壤,而磷浓度低于落叶松纯林土壤.白桦凋落量大且分解速度快,落叶松对土壤磷具有活化作用,导致白桦纯林土壤氮素有效性较高,落叶松纯林土壤有效磷含量较高.推测两树种混交时,土壤氮、磷的互补作用可能对林分产量产生有益的作用.     

Short‐term response of snowshoe hares to western larch restoration and seasonal needle drop

Old‐growth western larch has been degraded throughout much of its historic range due to extensive timber harvest and fire suppression. We examined the effects of a restoration treatment of western larch on snowshoe hares, a denizen of the boreal forest serving as a focal animal species to indicate the health of the restored ecosystem. We implemented a restoration treatment using “doughnut thinning” to accelerate development of old‐growth attributes in larch stands and simultaneously examined the short‐term effects on snowshoe hare density, survival, and movement. Although typical forest management activities tend to have adverse effects on hares especially in the short term, we found that the restoration treatment did not affect hare density or survival in the short term. In addition, despite significant decreases in cover coinciding with the larch needle drop, we found evidence of year‐round immigration into larch stands by hares suggesting larch stands are suitable year‐round hare habitat. Taken together, our findings suggest that a larch restoration treatment designed to accelerate the development of old‐growth attributes can be implemented so as to have no measurable short‐term detrimental effects on hares.     

Leaf nutrient dynamics and nutrient resorption: a comparison between larch plantations and adjacent secondary forests in Northeast China

Aims Conversion of secondary forests to pure larch plantations is a common management practice driven by the increasing demand for timber production in Northeast China, resulting in a reduction in soil nutrient availability after a certain number of years following conversion. Nutrient resorption prior to leaf senescence was related to soil fertility, an important nutrient conservation strategy for plants, being especially significant in nutrient-poor habitats. However, the seasonal dynamics of leaf nutrients and nutrient resorption in response to secondary forest conversion to larch plantations is not well understood.Methods A comparative experiment between larch plantations (Larix spp.) and adjacent secondary forests (dominant tree species including Quercus mongolica, Acer mono, Juglans mandshurica and Fraxinus rhynchophylla) was conducted. We examined the variations in leaf nutrient (macronutrients: N, P, K, Ca and Mg; micronutrients: Cu and Zn) concentrations of these tree species during the growing season from May to October in 2013. Nutrient resorption efficiency and proficiency were compared between Larix spp. and the broadleaved species in the secondary forests.Important findings Results show that the seasonal variation of nutrient concentrations in leaves generally exhibited two trends, one was a downward trend for N, P, K, Cu and Zn, and another was an upward trend for Ca and Mg. The variations in foliar nutrient concentrations were mainly controlled by the developmental stage of leaves rather than by tree species. Resorption of the observed seven elements varied among the five tree species during leaf senescence. Nutrient resorption efficiency varied 6–75% of N, P, K, Mg, Cu and Zn, while Ca was not retranslocated in the senescing leaves of all species, and Mg was not retranslocated in Larix spp. Generally, Larix spp. tended to be more efficient and proficient (higher than 6–30% and 2–271% of nutrient resorption efficiency and resorption proficiency, respectively) in resorbing nutrients than the broadleaved species in the secondary forests, indicating that larch plantations had higher leaf nutrient resorption and thus nutrient use efficiency. Compared with Larix spp., more nutrients would remain in the leaf litter of the secondary forests, indicating an advantage of secondary forests in sustaining soil fertility. In contrast, the larch plantation would reuse internal nutrients rather than lose nutrients with litter fall and thus produce a positive feedback to soil nutrient availability. In summary, our results suggest that conversion from secondary forests to pure larch plantations would alter nutrient cycling through a plant-mediated pathway.     

Carbon and nitrogen status of litterfall, litter decomposition and soil in even-aged larch, red pine and rigitaeda pine plantations

The carbon (C) and nitrogen (N) status in forest ecosystems can change upon establishment of plantations because different tree species have different nutrient cycling mechanisms. This study was carried out to evaluate C and N status of litterfall, litter decomposition and soil in three adjacent plantations consisting of one deciduous (larch: Larix leptolepis) and two evergreen (red pine: Pinus densiflora; rigitaeda pine: P. rigida × P. taeda) species planted in the same year (1963). Both the pine plantations showed comparatively higher C input from needle litter but significantly lower N concentration and input than the larch plantation (P < 0.05). During the decomposition process, the deciduous larch needle litter showed low C concentration and C remaining in soil, but high N concentration and N remaining in soil compared to the two evergreen pine needle litters. However, the soil C and N concentration and their content at a soil depth of 0–10 cm were not affected significantly (P > 0.05) by the plantation type. These results demonstrate the existence of considerable variation in C and N status resulting from needle litter input and litter decomposition in these three plantations grown at sites with similar environmental conditions.     

Woody Species Diversity in Forest Plantations in a Mountainous Region of Beijing,China: Effects of Sampling Scale and Species Selection

The role of forest plantations in biodiversity conservation has gained more attention in recent years. However, most work on evaluating the diversity of forest plantations focuses only on one spatial scale; thus, we examined the effects of sampling scale on diversity in forest plantations. We designed a hierarchical sampling strategy to collect data on woody species diversity in planted pine (Pinus tabuliformis Carr.), planted larch (Larix principis-rupprechtii Mayr.), and natural secondary deciduous broadleaf forests in a mountainous region of Beijing, China. Additive diversity partition analysis showed that, compared to natural forests, the planted pine forests had a different woody species diversity partitioning pattern at multi-scales (except the Simpson diversity in the regeneration layer), while the larch plantations did not show multi-scale diversity partitioning patterns that were obviously different from those in the natural secondary broadleaf forest. Compare to the natural secondary broadleaf forests, the effects of planted pine forests on woody species diversity are dependent on the sampling scale and layers selected for analysis. Diversity in the planted larch forest, however, was not significantly different from that in the natural forest for all diversity components at all sampling levels. Our work demonstrated that the species selected for afforestation and the sampling scales selected for data analysis alter the conclusions on the levels of diversity supported by plantations. We suggest that a wide range of scales should be considered in the evaluation of the role of forest plantations on biodiversity conservation.     

The role of native forest plantations in the conservation of Neotropical birds: the case of the Andean alder

The gradual increase in reforested areas worldwide, as a strategy for mitigating native forest loss, has stressed the need of assessing their real value as habitat for native species. Forest plantations, particularly those based on native species, could be valuable for conservation purposes, especially in heavily fragmented and disturbed ecosystems. We evaluated the value of a monoculture of a native tree species, the Andean alder (Alnus acuminata), for the conservation of avifauna in the Central Andes region, which is considered a bird species diversity hotspot but also suffers from high anthropogenic disturbance levels. Our results suggest that alder plantations are valuable for conservation from three points of view: (1) they have similar or greater bird species richness and abundance than secondary native forests; (2) low community similarities are found between this type of forest compared to secondary forest stands (with 27 species exclusive to alder plantations); and (3) three near threatened species (Odontophorus hyperythrus, Eriocnemis derbyi, and Cyanolyca viridicyanus). Further, 27 out of the 85 species found at the alder plantations were of least concern but showing decreasing population trends. While forest plantations do not replace native forests, they offer habitat for many bird species, some of them being of conservation concern (i.e., included in an IUCN threat category) or with decreasing populations. Hence establishing native species plantations among native forest remnants – especially in heavily fragmented landscapes – could have a positive effect in the conservation of threatened avifauna.     

Influence of Forest Types and Effects of Forestry Activities on Species Richness and Composition of Chrysomelidae in the Central Mountainous Region of Japan

Species richness and composition of the Chrysomelidae (Coleoptera) were studied in larch (Larix kaempheri [Lamb.] Carrière) plantations, secondary forests, and primary forests. In addition, the effects of forest management practices, such as thinning and long rotation, were examined in the larch plantation. The species richness of Chrysomelidae was higher in the larch plantation than in the secondary forest or in the primary forest. Among the larch plantations, the species richness in old-aged plantations was higher than that in middle-aged plantations. The composition of the beetle assemblages in the larch plantation differed from that in the secondary forest or in the primary forest. Exosoma akkoae (Chujo), Batophila acutangula Heikertinger, and Calomicrus nobyi Chujo were caught with a bias toward the larch plantation. Longitarsus succineus (Foudras) and Sphaeroderma tarsatum Baly were caught more in the secondary forest and the primary forest, respectively. More B. acutangula and S. tarsatum were caught in stands where their host plants occurred at higher rates. Species richness of understory plants was an important factor for chrysomlid species richness, and frequency of host occurrence affected the number of individuals of leaf beetles examined. It seems that forest types and forest management practices affect host plants as well as Chrysomelidae, and that these effects on the host plants also influence chrysomelid assemblages.     

Diversity of understory birds in old stands of native and Eucalyptus plantations

We compared the vegetation structure between old (>70 year) stands of planted diversified native forests and stands of Eucalyptus tereticornis embedded in a mosaic of Eucalyptus stands. We then tested for differences in the abundance, species richness, species composition, and ecological traits (forest dependence, sensitivity to forest fragmentation, and diet) of the understory bird assemblages inhabiting both kinds of stands. We expected differences in the structure of the bird assemblages because of the different origins and management strategies (contrary to native stands, Eucalyptus stands were selectively logged in the past). Three stands of each habitat (native and Eucalyptus) were sampled with mist nets during 11 months. Eucalyptus stands had a denser understory, whereas native plantations had a more developed vertical structure and a greater density of native trees. The abundance distribution of bird species was more homogeneous in Eucalyptus than in native stands. Eucalyptus had slightly higher species richness (36 species) than native stands (32 species). The composition of species and the occurrence of the diet, forest dependence, and sensitivity to forest fragmentation categories were similar between habitats. Some bird species (e.g. Turdus leucomelas), however, were more abundant in one habitat over the other. Old stands of Eucalyptus and planted native forest can harbor a diverse bird community similar in structure but not exactly equivalent for individual bird species. Planting native diversified forests and keeping set‐aside stands of the exotic tree should be viewed as complementary rather than alternative strategies for maintaining bird diversity within plantations.     

Native tree regeneration in native tree plantations: understanding the contribution of Araucaria angustifolia to biodiversity conservation in the threatened Atlantic Forest in Argentina

Deforestation is a global process that has strongly affected the Atlantic Forest in South America, which has been recognised as a threatened biodiversity hotspot. An important proportion of deforested areas were converted to forest plantations. Araucaria angustifolia is a native tree to the Atlantic Forest, which has been largely exploited for wood production and is currently cultivated in commercial plantations. An important question is to what extent such native tree plantations can be managed to reduce biodiversity loss in a highly diverse and vulnerable forest region . We evaluated the effect of stand age, stand basal area, as a measure of stand density, and time since last logging on the density and richness of native tree regeneration in planted araucaria stands that were successively logged over 60 years, as well as the differences between successional groups in the response of plant density to stand variables. We also compared native tree species richness in planted araucaria stands to neighbouring native forest. Species richness was 71 in the planted stands (27 ha sampled) and 82 in native forest (18 ha sampled) which approximate the range of variation in species richness found in the native forests of the study area. The total abundance and species richness of native trees increased with stand age and time since last logging, but ecological groups differed in their response to such variables. Early secondary trees increased in abundance with stand age 3–8 times faster than climax or late secondary trees. Thus, the change in species composition is expected to continue for a long term. The difference in species richness between native forest and planted stands might be mainly explained by the difference in plant density. Therefore, species richness in plantations can contribute to local native tree diversity if practices that increase native tree density are implemented.     

Short-term effects of thinning and liming on forest soils of pitch pine and Japanese larch plantations in central Korea

The influences of thinning (50% of standing density) and liming (Ca+Mg, 2 Mg ha⁻¹) on soil chemical properties were investigated for 2 years (2001, 2002) in 40-year-old pitch pine (Pinus rigida Mill.) and 44-year-old Japanese larch (Larix leptolepis Gord.) plantations established on similar soils. In general, soil properties varied significantly among plantations and treatments. For both plantations, thinning significantly increased soil organic C (SOC) concentrations whereas there were no significant changes in soil pH and Ca and Mg concentrations. In addition, thinning increased total soil N and Na concentrations for the pitch pine plantation and available P concentration for the Japanese larch plantation in the second year after the treatment. Liming did not affect soil chemical characteristics for the pitch pine plantation except for Na concentration. However, for the Japanese larch plantation, liming significantly increased soil pH and K, Ca and Mg concentrations and decreased SOC and total soil N concentrations. For both plantations, soil Al concentration did not change after thinning and liming and decreased exponentially with increased pH values. The increases in SOC and total soil N concentrations after thinning were possibly due to increases in decomposition of organic matter and root death. Although differences were not statistically significant, soil available P concentration tended to increase at early stages of liming for both plantations. These results suggested that thinning and liming seemed to regulate soil chemical properties for pitch pine and Japanese larch plantations established on similar soils.     

The effect of evergreen and deciduous coniferous plantations on the field layer and seed bank of native woodlands

Vegetation and seed bank changes due to the replacement of a native woodland 29 yr ago by coniferous plantations (evergreen coniferous Pinus: radiata and deciduous coniferous Larix kaempferi ) were studied in a replicated experiment in the Basque Country, northern Spain In the vegetation the species richness was lower in both coniferous plantations than in the native woodland but there was no significant difference in species richness between the two coniferous plantations The highest similanty between the vegetation and the seed bank was in the P radiata plantations (0 51) There was higher vegetation similarity between the native woodland and the larch plantation (0 65) than that with the pine plantation (0 58) Seed bank species richness was higher in the larch plantation than in the native woodland but species richness in the seed bank did not differ between the coniferous plantations The seed bank showed no difference in the species similarity between the plantations and the native woodland This was mainly due to the similanty between the broad ranged species In the coniferous plantations the vegetation diversity was lower than in the native woodland, however, in the seed bank the diversity was higher Coniferous plantations affected mainly the shade-tolerant and shade-intolerant vernals ( Caltha palustris, Galium odoratum, Heleborus viridis and Saxifraga hirsula ), which disappeared from the field layer of plantations while the shade-intolerant not vemals were favoured by the plantations ( Blackstonia perfoliata, Danthonia decumbens, Deschampsia flexuosa, Hypericum androsaemum, Holcus lanatus, Lotus cormiculatus and Plantago lanceolata ) There was no significant difference in vegetation or seed bank between the two types of coniferous plantations