Sugarcane and Eucalyptus plantation equally limit the movement of two forest‐dependent understory bird species

Habitat fragmentation results in landscape configuration, which affects the species that inhabit it. As a consequence, natural habitat is replaced by different anthropogenic plantation types (e.g. pasture, agriculture, forestry plantations and urban areas). Anthropogenic plantations are important for biodiversity maintenance because some species or functional groups can use it as a complementary habitat. However, depending on plantation permeability, it can act as a barrier to the movement of organisms between habitat patches, such as forest fragments, reducing functional connectivity for many species. Anthropogenic plantations are becoming the most common land use and cover type in the Anthropocene and biodiversity conservation in fragmented landscapes requires information on how different plantation types affect the capacity of the species to move through the landscape. In this study, we evaluated the influence of the type and structure of plantations on the movement of two forest‐dependent understory bird species – plain antvireo (Dysithamnus mentalis) and flavescent warbler (Myiothlyps flaveola) – within a highly fragmented landscape of Atlantic Forest hotspot. Knowing that forestry plantation is assumed to be more permeable to dependent forest bird species than open ones, we selected six study areas containing a forest fragment and surrounding plantation: three with sugarcane plantation and three with Eucalyptus sp. plantation. We used playback calls to stimulate the birds to leave forest fragments and traverse the plantations. Control trials were also carried out inside the forest fragments to compare the distances crossed. We observed that individuals moved longer distances inside forest than between plantation types, which demonstrate that plantations do constrict the movements of both species. The two plantation types equally impeded the movements of the species, suggesting the opposite of the general assumption that forestry plantations are more permeable. Our results indicate that, for generalist species, plantation type does not matter, but its presence negatively impacts movement of these bird species. We highlight that plantations have negative influences on the movements of common bird species, and discuss why this is important when setting conservation priorities.     

Desynchronizing effects of lightning strike disturbances on cyclic forest dynamics in mangrove plantations

Plantations released from management are vulnerable to transient oscillations until cohort dynamics are broken and the vertical and horizontal structures of the plantation are transformed to those of more natural forests. Cohort-desynchronizing factors such as canopy disturbances are expected to accelerate this process. Using well-established mangrove plantations in Can Gio (Viet Nam) as an example, we tested whether lightning gaps can affect transition dynamics of plantations to more natural forests by damping the amplitude or by shortening the period of oscillations in tree densities. This was done by applying point pattern analyses to remotely sensed data, and by further combining statistical and individual-based modelling. The occurrence of lightning gaps was biased by the forest matrix, which presented a challenge for the point pattern analysis. This problem was solved by using the scattered forest area as a binary mask. A Matern cluster process model was found to be suitable for describing the lightning regime. This statistical model was incorporated into the individual-based mangrove model KiWi, and simulation experiments revealed that: (i) the evenly spaced distribution of the tree cohorts in the plantation supports non-linear transition behaviour, i.e. oscillation of tree density, and (ii) the lightning regime in Can Gio damps the oscillation amplitude but is not sufficient to prevent the latter nor to decrease the length of the period of oscillations.     

Nitrogen Relations in a Forest Plantation--Soil Organic Matter Ecosystem Model

Two previously published models, after minor modification, areamalgamated to give a model that describes the major carbonand nitrogen pools and fluxes in a plantation forest soil system.The first model is a transport-resistance model of forest growthand dry-matter partitioning. The second is a soil organic mattermodel that was constructed for temperate grasslands. The combinedmodel is used to examine the relations between plantation growth,soil organic matter content, nitrogen deposition rate from theatmosphere, mineralization flux, nitrogen uptake by the plantation,dry matter partitioning between foliage and root, litter productionand the timing and quantity of fertilizer application. The highdemand for N by even-aged plantations during the period of canopybuilding is highlighted. The marked ontogenetic shifts in thegrowth pattern during plantation development is emphasized,indicating several phases of forest development. The resultsindicate that the potential growth of even-aged plantationsmay be greater than that realized in poor soils with commonlevels of atmospheric N deposition and normal fertilizer regimes.The simulations show how the concentrations of soil mineralN change during the development of a plantation, and point towardsthe importance of atmospheric N deposition. They also show thatfertilizer application must be accurately matched to growthstage if fertilizer is to be used efficiently. The nitrogencycle (N-uptake by plant     

采伐林窗对白云山3种人工林林下植物多样性的早期影响

马尾松、杉木和毛竹是长江流域低山丘陵地区的主要用材树种,其人工林群落结构简单和生物多样性低下是普遍存在的生态学问题.为了解采伐林窗对3种人工林林下植物多样性的影响,选择生境条件基本一致的3种林分,以林下为对照,比较了通过采伐获得的不同大小林窗间植物生活型构成和多样性差异.结果表明: 采伐林窗后2年,3种林分中杉木林的植物种类最多,达57种,其次是毛竹林(53种)和马尾松林(41种).在采伐林窗初期,杉木林和毛竹林林窗内物种数显著高于对照,但马尾松林林窗与对照没有显著差异.500 m²林窗内的高位芽植物比例显著高于其他林窗,250 m²林窗内地面芽和一年生植物比例较高,而50 m²林窗内地下芽植物的比例较高.相同林分不同大小林窗之间物种相似度高于其与对照之间,也高于与其他林分林窗之间;林分林窗与其他林分对照的相似度普遍较低.不同大小林窗下物种丰富度、Simpson生态优势度、Shannon多样性指数均存在显著差异;林分类型对物种丰富度和Shannon多样性指数有显著影响,但对Simpson生态优势度没有影响;林窗大小和林分类型的交互作用对所有指数均无显著影响.通过采伐林窗,林下植物生活型谱发生了变化,植物多样性水平有所提高.     

川西亚高山65年人工云杉林种子雨、种子库和幼苗定居研究

川西亚高山人工针叶林已成为亚高山森林的重要组成部分, 它们是否具有持续的自然更新能力, 是决定川西亚高山针叶林群落演替方向和维持该区针叶林大面积存在的基础。以川西米亚罗亚高山人工云杉(Picea asperata)林(65 a)为研究对象, 对种子雨量年际变化、土壤种子库动态、种子萌发和幼苗定居等更新过程的关键环节进行了连续7年(2002-2008年)的野外观测, 以研究人工云杉林更新潜力及影响其更新的限制因素。结果表明: 该区云杉林种子雨一般从每年的10月初开始下落, 一直到翌年的1月底或2月初结束; 云杉种子散落存在明显的大小年现象, 种子散落周期为4年, 且大小年之间种子产量差异极大; 云杉种子从下落到土壤到种子完全失去活力不到1年时间, 属于Thompson和Grime定义的第II类土壤种子库类型。腐烂死亡和动物取食是土壤种子库损耗的主要因素, 而种子通过萌发真正转化为幼苗的比例非常低, 仅占2002年下落种子总量的3.6%。种子萌发后, 环境筛的作用导致云杉幼苗大量死亡, 尤其是在种子萌发后的一个生长季节内, 其死亡率高达78%。凋落物和苔藓是构成人工云杉林下地表的两种主要地被物类型, 二者占所有调查幼苗数量的93%左右; 两种地被物类型上0-2 cm层幼苗存活率最高, 分别占存活幼苗总数的76.07%和86.72%, 随地被物厚度增加, 幼苗存活率呈明显下降趋势, 而幼苗死亡率呈明显升高的趋势, 表明林下地被物厚度也是影响云杉幼苗定居的重要因素。两种地被物对幼苗生长的影响不同, 除株高之外, 分布在苔藓上的云杉幼苗生长参数(地径、分枝数、干重以及干重年增长率)明显高于分布于凋落物上的幼苗, 表明苔藓地被物更有利于云杉幼苗定居。尽管该区大量云杉种子下落, 但由于种子的高损耗率、幼苗的低输出率以及萌发幼苗的高死亡率, 使得人工云杉林下种子通过萌发转为实生幼苗的数量非常少, 最终真正能补充到云杉种群的个体数量非常有限。     

海南天然林与橡胶林蜘蛛多样性比较

为探索天然林和橡胶林蜘蛛多样性现状,于2010年8月在海南黎母山自然保护区选取天然林和橡胶林,采用扫网法、陷阱法和单位面积法收集蜘蛛标本,分析两种林型之间蜘蛛组成、多样性和功能群差异,并以蜘蛛科和数量分布为属性进行主成分分析(PCA),探讨林型中样方之间蜘蛛群落的相似性。共采集蜘蛛标本3609头,用于统计分析的成蛛969头,归属于23科,162种。天然林20科,100种,优势类群为跳蛛科、球蛛科和园蛛科;橡胶林17科,87种,优势类群为肖蛸蛛科、狼蛛科和猫蛛科。从蜘蛛的数量分布看,橡胶林蜘蛛个体密度显著高于天然林;而天然林多样性指数和丰富度指数显著高于橡胶林。橡胶林中结圆网型和游猎型蜘蛛显著高于天然林,结皿网型显著低于天然林,伏击型不存在显著性差异。PCA分析结果表明,24个样方趋于分成天然林和橡胶林2组,并且天然林样方之间相似性极高,而橡胶林样方之间相似性相对较低。以上结果表明:(1)橡胶林替代天然林后蜘蛛群落结构发生变化,多样性降低;(2)增加生境结构的复杂性和减少人为干扰对保护和恢复物种多样性有重要意义。     

Leaf-Litter Arthropods in Restored Forests in the Colombian Andes: A Comparison Between Secondary Forest and Tree Plantations

Tree monocultures of native and exotic species are frequently used as tools to catalyze forest recovery throughout the tropics. Although plantations may rapidly develop a canopy cover, they need to be evaluated as habitat for other organisms. We compared samples of leaf‐litter arthropods from two elevations in restored forest in the Colombian Andes. At the upper elevation (2,430 m), we compared native Andean alder (Alnus acuminata) plantation and secondary forest, and at the lower elevation (1,900 m) exotic Chinese ash (Fraxinus chinensis) plantation and secondary forest. Samples were obtained in two periods, March–April and September 1995. Species richness and abundance of arthropods were highest in secondary forest at the lower elevation. There were no differences in richness between both plantations and high‐elevation forest. Arthropod richness and abundance increased in the second sampling period in both secondary forest types and the ash plantation but not in the alder plantation, reflecting population recovery after the dry season. Alder leaf litter apparently buffered seasonal variations in arthropod richness and abundance. Composition of morphospecies was different among forest types. Although arthropod richness was lower in ash plantations compared to secondary forest, plantations still provided habitat for these organisms. On the other hand, the alder plantation was not different from secondary forest at the same elevation. At our site, plantations are embedded in a forested landscape. Whether our results apply to different landscape configurations and at different spatial scales needs to be established. The use of plantations as a restoration tool depends on the objectives of the project and on local conditions of forest cover and soils.     

秦岭西部山地次生林和人工林大型土壤动物群落结构特征

人类对次生林生态系统的长期扰动必然会对地下生态过程产生深刻影响,而土壤动物群落结构和功能多样性对地下生态过程的演变有重要的指示意义.本文以小陇山林区恢复近30年的次生林和栽植近30年的油松、日本落叶松、欧洲云杉和粗枝云杉林为对象,通过对5种林型土壤动物群落密度调查,采用PCA排序和方差分析等方法,探讨了不同林型土壤动物群落结构特征和营养结构.结果表明:油松林和日本落叶松林土壤动物群落密度是次生林的3.0和2.1倍;油松和日本落叶松人工林土壤动物群落中消费者/分解者比值明显高于次生林,油松林和日本落叶松林消费者/分解者的比值显著高于欧洲云杉林和粗枝云杉林;不同人工林土壤动物群落结构存在明显差异,油松林和日本落叶松林土壤动物群落密度是粗枝云杉林的4.5和3.1倍,而油松林土壤动物群落类群丰富度是欧洲云杉林和粗枝云杉林的1.5倍.     

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.     

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。     

Influence of the exclusion distance among trees on gap fraction and foliage clumping index of forest plantations

Key message

A hypergeometric model is proposed explicitly instead of two previous stochastic models (the Poisson model and Neyman-A model) to describe the topological relationship of trees and the influence of the exclusion distance on gap fraction and clumping index of forest plantation canopies.

Abstract

Gap fraction (GF) and clumping index (CI) play key roles in plant light interception, and therefore they have strong impacts on plant growth and canopy radiative transfer processes. Trees are usually assumed to be randomly distributed in natural forests in many previous studies. However, few studies have shown how trees are distributed in forest plantations and how these distribution patterns affect GF and CI in these forests. In this paper, a simple and general distance factor defined as relative allowable shortest distance between centers of two adjacent crowns divided by the mean diameter of the crowns (RASD) is proposed to describe quantitatively the degree of mutual exclusion among trees in forest plantations of various tree distribution patterns. A hypergeometric model is proposed instead of two previous stochastic tree distribution models (the Poisson model and Neyman-A model) to describe the topological relationship of trees and the influences of the exclusion distance on the GF and CI of the forest plantation canopies. The results show that: (1) the hypergeometric model is more suitable than the Poisson model and Neyman-A model for describing the topological relationship of trees in forest plantations; (2) the exclusion distance has strong impacts on GF and CI: there are significant differences between the results of the hypergeometric model and the Poisson model. Larger RASD causes lower GF and larger CI. The simulations are verified by field measurements in four forest plantation stands. Similarly, impacts of RASD on GF and CI are also found for other two crown shapes (prolate and oblate ellipsoids).

     

Arthropod assemblages deep in natural forests show different responses to surrounding land use

Many contemporary landscapes have vast areas of production land-uses within landscape mosaics, which may impact species dispersal and occurrence. Here, we determined the extent to which commercial exotic plantation forests affect arthropod diversity associated with natural Afrotemperate forests in the southern Cape Afrotemperate landscape mosaic, South Africa. Natural forests and fynbos vegetation naturally coexist here, with the addition of exotic plantation forests to form a heterogeneous landscape. Epigaeic arthropods were collected by means of pitfall trapping at stations along transects from inside natural Afrotemperate forest, across the edge and into the surrounding land use, which included natural fynbos vegetation, mature forestry plantation blocks (Pinus radiata) and areas where plantations have been clear-felled. Stations were set at 5, 10, 20, 30 and 50 m to both sides of the forest edge with the addition of 100 m stations situated in the natural forest. Arthropod assemblages were distinct in all land-use types. Natural edge effect between forest and fynbos, as measured by arthropod compositional changes, was 20 m into natural forests, yet when bordered by plantations this edge increased up to 30 m into the forest. Once plantations were clear-felled, edge effects increased up to 50 m into natural forests. Responses in terms of assemblage composition and species richness were however taxon specific. Results show that (1) pine plantations are not alternative habitat for native Afrotemperate forest arthropods, (2) there were stark changes in arthropod assemblage composition at edges between these land-use types and (3) that the effects of timber plantation practices (re: clear-felling) also penetrate deep into surrounding natural forests and need to be considered in regional landscape planning. The need for an effective rehabilitation strategy of clear-felled areas is identified as key priority for bordering natural forests. Ongoing monitoring in both the disturbed area and the adjoining natural forest should be undertaken to ensure sufficient recovery.     

Impact of Logging and Forest Conversion to Oil Palm Plantations on Soil Bacterial Communities in Borneo

Tropical forests are being rapidly altered by logging and cleared for agriculture. Understanding the effects of these land use changes on soil bacteria, which constitute a large proportion of total biodiversity and perform important ecosystem functions, is a major conservation frontier. Here we studied the effects of logging history and forest conversion to oil palm plantations in Sabah, Borneo, on the soil bacterial community. We used paired-end Illumina sequencing of the 16S rRNA gene, V3 region, to compare the bacterial communities in primary, once-logged, and twice-logged forest and land converted to oil palm plantations. Bacteria were grouped into operational taxonomic units (OTUs) at the 97% similarity level, and OTU richness and local-scale α-diversity showed no difference between the various forest types and oil palm plantations. Focusing on the turnover of bacteria across space, true β-diversity was higher in oil palm plantation soil than in forest soil, whereas community dissimilarity-based metrics of β-diversity were only marginally different between habitats, suggesting that at large scales, oil palm plantation soil could have higher overall γ-diversity than forest soil, driven by a slightly more heterogeneous community across space. Clearance of primary and logged forest for oil palm plantations did, however, significantly impact the composition of soil bacterial communities, reflecting in part the loss of some forest bacteria, whereas primary and logged forests did not differ in composition. Overall, our results suggest that the soil bacteria of tropical forest are to some extent resilient or resistant to logging but that the impacts of forest conversion to oil palm plantations are more severe.     

人工林与天然林破碎化过程差异对比——以美国华盛顿州和密西西比州为例

森林损失和破碎化一直是国际社会普遍关注的重大环境问题之一。根据Forman景观变化包括穿孔、分割、破碎化、收缩和消失5种空间过程的理论,利用ArcGIS Modeler建立森林破碎化过程模型用以明确描述森林景观破碎化的空间过程和生态进程。基于NLCD2001、2006、2011 3期数据,以美国华盛顿州和密西西比州为研究区,利用森林破碎化过程模型,将森林损失斑块分为4种破碎化过程(分割类型因其线状特征被归入破碎化类型),对比分析天然林和人工林的破碎化过程在时空上的差异性。研究表明天然林破碎化斑块多分布于城市/森林、耕地/森林、以及灌木/森林的交界处,而人工林破碎化斑块分布格局较为零散;天然林中破碎化斑块和收缩斑块大多发生在上阶段收缩、破碎化以及穿孔斑块的边缘,而人工林中4种空间过程的承接关系不像天然林那么明显,但两者整体上都呈现相似的"收缩-消失-穿孔/破碎化"变化规律,主要表现为收缩类型占主导然后慢慢消退,穿孔和破碎化逐渐增多占据新的主导。     

Spillover of Insects from Rain Forest into Adjacent Oil Palm Plantations

Conversion of natural forest to oil palm plantations is a major threat to biodiversity in Southeast Asia. The retention of natural forest habitats within plantations has been proposed as a method to reduce biodiversity losses in agricultural areas, and we examined whether forest areas resulted in spillover of species into adjacent oil palm plantations. We sampled ants and butterflies along two 2‐km transects across an ecotone from plantation into adjacent forest in Sabah, Malaysian Borneo. Species richness of both taxa was reduced in plantations, but to a greater extent in butterflies (54% reduction) than in ants (25% reduction). Butterfly diversity increased in plantations with increasing proximity to forest primarily due to spillover of ‘vagrant’ forest species (whose larval host plants do not occur in plantations), although richness of species that could potentially breed in plantations also increased near to forest. By contrast, ants showed no spillover effects and were less sensitive to land‐use changes, with much higher levels of similarity in species assemblages across habitats than for butterflies. Our results for butterflies suggest that despite the negative impacts of plantations on diversity, proximity to forest could improve diversity in adjacent plantations for some taxa. Spillover of forest species implies that retaining forest areas within plantations may be important for facilitating dispersal of some species through the landscape.     

南亚热带退化植被重建中土壤动物群落变化

在广东省中部的鹤山市鹤山丘陵综合试验场,分别在草坡、松林、荷木混交林(荷混林)、马占相思林(马占林)和豆科混交林(豆混林)选取5块样地,分别代表5种处理方式(重建植被类型)。在2003~2004年的4个不同季度内分3层取土样,利用Tullgren干漏斗法采集土壤动物,并分析土壤动物群落个体数量、类群丰度和DG指数的变化。研究结果表明,季节、植被类型和土层深度对土壤动物群落的各项指标都有极显著影响(P<0·01,three-way-ANOVA):土壤动物群落指标,在秋季显著为高(P<0·05,DMRT),而夏季显著为低(P<0·05,DMRT);随土层加深而逐级显著降低;不同植被类型比较,豆混林>马占林>荷混林、松林和草坡。此外,植被类型还与季节和土层间存在显著的交互作用:土壤动物群落各项指标秋季最高,不同植被类型间的差异也最大;而土壤动物群落各项指标较高的植被类型内不同土层间的差异也较大。由此推测,对退化生态系统进行人工改造是有积极意义的,而不同植被类型间土壤动物的差异可能与凋落物的数量与质量密切相关。     

Roles of fragmented and logged forests for bird communities in industrial Acacia mangium plantations in Indonesia

Industrial timber plantations severely impact biodiversity in Southeast Asia. Forest fragments survive within plantations, but their conservation value in highly deforested landscapes in Southeast Asia is poorly understood. In this study, we compared bird assemblages in acacia plantations and fragmented forests in South Sumatra to evaluate each habitat’s potential conservation value. To clarify the impact of habitat change, we also analyzed the response of feeding guild composition. Five habitat types were studied: large logged forest (LLF), burnt logged forest (BLF), remnant logged forest (RLF), 4-year-old acacia plantation (AP4), and 1-year-old acacia plantation (AP1). Estimated species richness (Chao 2) was highest in LLF then AP4 and BLF, while AP1 and RLF had lower estimated species richness. Community composition was roughly divided into two groups by non-metric multidimensional scaling ordination: acacia plantation and logged forest. Sallying substrate-gleaning insectivores, such as drongos, broadbills, and some flycatchers, were restricted to LLF, whereas acacia plantation hosted many terrestrial frugivores, such as doves. Although fragmented forests in our study site lacked several common tropical forest species, these fragments provide an important habitat for some sallying and terrestrial insectivores. A network of small riparian remnant forests could be a complementary habitat for some species, while the conservation value of burnt forest might be low. In conclusion, the highly fragmented forests in plantations are suboptimal habitats for birds but are still very important, because large primary forest blocks have been nearly lost in the surrounding landscape.     

Taxonomic and functional β-diversity of ants along tree plantation chronosequences differ between contrasting biomes

The replacement of natural by anthropogenic habitat changes biological communities in any biome. Variations in environmental conditions along the chronosequence of tree plantations may act as a gradient of environmental filtering where the gain or loss of species occurs. It is expected that environmental filtering increases with the decrease in environmental similarity between the plantations and the natural habitat. Young tree plantations are structurally more similar to grasslands than to mature plantations, which in turn are structurally more similar to subtropical forest than young plantations. This study compares patterns of beta diversity across exotic pine plantation chronosequences in contrasting biomes. We predict that taxonomic and functional beta diversity between plantation and the natural habitat assemblages increase with plantation age in grasslands and decrease in the subtropical forest. We sampled epigean ants and measured environmental variables at 54 plantations of different ages and natural habitats in grassland and forest biomes in Argentina. Taxonomic and functional beta diversity between natural habitat and pine plantations were estimated through dissimilarity indexes of turnover and nestedness. To assess the response of beta diversity estimators to plantation age we performed general linear and non-linear models. Results revealed opposite beta diversity patterns between biomes along the plantation cycle. Turnover increased and nestedness decreased with declining environmental similarity between pine plantations and the natural habitats; changes in the identity of the species were coupled to changes in their functional characteristics. Thus, a given environmental gradient may produce different diversity patterns depending on the regional species pool. Forestry practices that generate environmental conditions similar to natural environments could help to conserve species from the natural habitat.     

不同类型城市森林对土壤肥力的影响

以东北林业大学城市林业示范研究基地中9种人工林(兴安落叶松林、樟子松林、黑皮油松林、黄波罗林、胡桃楸林、水曲柳林、白桦林、蒙古栎林、针阔混交林)及附近的农耕地和撂荒地土壤为研究对象,通过对林地土壤不同层次pH值、有机质及主要养分含量的测定分析,研究了不同林型对土壤肥力的影响.结果表明：阔叶林(除蒙古栎林)的土壤趋于中性,针阔混交林、兴安落叶松林、樟子松林和黑皮油松林的土壤呈微酸性,蒙古栎林的土壤呈酸性;随土壤深度增加,土壤有机质、水解氮、速效钾、有效磷、全氮、全磷含量均呈下降趋势.不同林地土壤同一层次化学指标整体差异显著(P＜0.05).土壤肥力优劣为：水曲柳林>黄波罗林>针阔混交林>胡桃楸林>白桦林>撂荒地>农耕地>樟子松林>兴安落叶松林>蒙古栎林>黑皮油松林,说明阔叶林(除蒙古栎林)和针阔混交林中的土壤肥力增加,而针叶林的土壤肥力趋于下降.     

Changes in Macrofungal Communities Following Forest Conversion into Tree Plantations in Southern Brazil

Conversion of diverse native forests to tree monocultures remains an ongoing, worldwide threat to biodiversity. Although the effects of forest conversion have been studied in a wide range of taxonomic groups, the effects on macrofungal communities remain poorly understood. We sampled macrofungal fruiting bodies in the National Forest of São Francisco de Paula in Southern Brazil over 12 months in four different forest habitats: native Araucaria angustifolia forest, A. angustifolia plantation, Pinus taeda or P. elliottii plantation, and Eucalyptus saligna plantation. The distribution of macrofungal species in different functional groups varied among habitats: the macrofungal species composition of the A. angustifolia plantation was more similar to that of the native forest, while the exotic Pinus or Eucalyptus plantations were less similar to the native forest. The conversion of native forest to exotic tree plantations reduced the number of macrofungal decomposer species, probably due to changes in substrate availability and quality. We conclude that fungal diversity and ecosystem functionality require the preservation of native, mature forests and suggest a shift of Brazilian forestry guidelines to encourage the plantations of native species instead of exotics.