Native plantations as an important element for biodiversity in vanishing forested landscapes: A study of the near threatened araucaria tit spinetail (Leptasthenura setaria,Furnariidae)

Although forest loss is still a problem worldwide, estimated rates of deforestation have declined in the last decade, primarily because of an increase in the area of tree plantations. This leads to the central question of how suitable plantations are for indigenous species. Native plantations are thought to have higher value for biodiversity than plantations of non‐native trees; however, not all studies support this view. We assessed occupancy and density of the araucaria tit spinetail (Leptasthenura setaria, Furnariidae), a near threatened species, in the highly endangered araucaria forests of north‐eastern Argentina and in araucaria plantations, which comprise 90% of the remaining habitat for this species. All natural forest remnants were occupied by araucaria tit spinetails. Only 85% of the plantations were occupied; however, density was almost threefold higher in plantations compared with natural forests. Our models indicated that stand age was the most important factor in determining occupancy and density of this bird species in plantations. Plantations <10 years old exhibited lower densities than older plantations. This species does not occur in plantations of non‐native trees, but our results indicate that native plantations may provide important habitat for the araucaria tit spinetail, particularly given that most native forest has been removed. Restoration of natural remnants and conservation of old, connected plantations may assure the protection of significant populations of spinetails. The role of native araucaria plantations as habitat for other species merits further examination.     

Fast-growing hybrids do not decrease understorey plant diversity compared to naturally regenerated forests and native plantations

Plantations of fast-growing hybrid trees, such as hybrid poplars and hybrid larch, are increasingly used for wood and timber production, but they are also believed to impair forest biodiversity. Most studies that have assessed how such plantations may alter the diversity and composition of understorey plants were established in agricultural landscapes or have compared tree plantations with old-growth natural forests. Moreover, many important aspects of biodiversity have been overlooked in previous studies, such as functional and beta-diversity. Here, we present results from a study that was aimed at quantifying alpha- and beta-diversity of understorey plant species and functional groups in hybrid poplar (9–10 years) and hybrid larch plantations (16 years) located within a forested landscape of Quebec, Canada. These hybrid plantations were compared to naturally regenerated secondary forests and to native plantations of black spruce of the same origin (clear cut) and similar age. Our results indicate that fast-growing hybrid plantations do not present lower taxonomic and functional alpha-biodiversity indices, but may harbour more diverse communities, in part through the introduction of plant species that are associated with open habitats. We provide further evidence that planted forests may be as heterogeneous as naturally regenerated forests in terms of understorey plant composition. Plant species and functional composition differed slightly between stand types (naturally regenerated forests, native and fast-growing hybrid plantations), with plantations offering a greater potential for colonisation by ruderal species, while being detrimental to species of closed forest habitats. Lastly, plantations of fast-growing hybrids do not induce greater changes in understorey vegetation relative to native plantations of black spruce, at least during the first stand rotation.     

Bats of the Chilean temperate rainforest: patterns of landscape use in a mosaic of native forests,eucalyptus plantations and grasslands within a South American biodiversity hotspot

Forestry plantations represent about 4 % of the global land cover and demand for wood is steadily increasing worldwide. Impacts of forest plantations on biodiversity are controversial; forest plantations could positively influence biodiversity by producing a buffer zone between native forests and agriculture, while replacement of native forests with plantations could reduce biodiversity. Chile is one of the main producers of wood worldwide, and production is largely based on intensively managed monocultures of exotic tree species. Only a few studies have looked at the effects of forestry plantations on biodiversity in Chile, mainly focusing on pine plantations. The aim of this study was to characterize habitat use and richness of bats between native forests, eucalyptus plantations and grasslands in a biodiversity hotspot in southern Chile to determine how land use affects an important mammalian taxa. We found no difference in use or richness of bats in eucalyptus plantations versus native forests. Regional context within the larger Valdivian watershed (Andes, central valley, coastal range) had a stronger influence on bat activity and richness than land use type (native forest, plantation, grassland), with the Andean region being the most diverse and where most bat activity is concentrated. Our results suggest that the composition and structure of the surrounding landscape mosaic may be fundamental to determine the impacts of forestry and human land use on biodiversity.     

Soil carbon stocks in plantations and natural forests of the sub-tropics

PurposeSoil carbon (C) storage plays an important role in the mitigation of atmospheric CO₂ emission. Soil C pools under different vegetation are distinct and need to be investigated. However, there are still large quantities of data shortages, which should be remedied by field and systematic studies.Materials and methodsSoil was collected at 0–10 cm depth from subtropical natural vegetation and plantations both in southeast China and southeast Queensland, Australia, respectively. Soil samples were assayed for soil organic C; organic N and inorganic N; and mineralization of SOC; total C, N, and P; and pH.Results and discussionOur results suggested soil C concentrations in natural vegetation ranged from 6.25% to 9.20%, whereas soil C concentrations in plantations ranged from 1.08% to 2.69%. No significant differences were found among vegetation along altitudinal gradients, whereas plantations with different tree species had different soil C concentrations, being higher in broadleaf-species plantations than in coniferous-species plantations. But there were no differences in soil C between single-species plantations and mixed-species plantations. Soil C concentrations in plantations were correlated with soil moisture, soil pH and dissolved organic C concentrations; Whereas soil C concentrations in natural vegetation were significantly correlated with soil moisture, soil pH and NO₃⁻ concentrations.ConclusionsThese results can contribute to the remedy of data shortages and provide the data necessary for model projections and informed decisions in the future.     

A meta‐analysis of bird and mammal response to short‐rotation woody crops

Short‐rotation woody cropping (SRWC) refers to silvicultural systems designed to produce woody biomass using short harvest cycles (1–15 years), intensive silvicultural techniques, high‐yielding varieties, and often coppice regeneration. Recent emphasis on alternatives to fossil fuels has spurred interest in producing SRWC on privately owned and intensively managed forests of North America. We examined potential bird and small mammal response at the stand level to conversion of existing, intensively managed forests to SRWCs using meta‐analysis of existing studies. We found 257 effect sizes for birds (243 effect sizes) and mammals (14 effect sizes) from 8 studies involving Populus spp. plantations. Diversity and abundance of bird guilds were lower on short‐rotation plantations compared with reference woodlands, while abundance of individual bird species was more variable and not consistently higher or lower on SRWC plantations. Shrub‐associated birds were more abundant on SRWC plantations, but forest‐associated and cavity‐nesting birds were less abundant. Effects on birds appeared to decrease with age of the SRWC plantation, but plantation age was also confounded with variation in the type of reference forest used for comparison. Both guilds and species of mammals were less abundant on SRWC plantations. These conclusions are tentative because none of these studies directly compared SRWC plantations to intensively managed forests. Plantations of SRWCs could contribute to overall landscape diversity in forest‐dominated landscapes by providing shrubby habitat structure for nonforest species. However, extensive conversion of mature or intensively managed forests to SRWC would likely decrease overall diversity, especially if they replace habitat types of high conservation value.     

林茶间作下的光照条件与茶树生理生态研究综述

林茶间作下的光照条件与茶树生理生态研究综述周志翔（华中农业大学林学系,武汉４３００７０）ＲｅｖｉｅｗｏｎＬｉｇｈｔＶａｒｉａｔｉｏｎｉｎＴｅａａｎｄＯｔｈｅｒＷｏｏｄｙＰｌａｎｔｓＩｎｔｅｒｃｒｏｐｐｅｄＰｌａｎｔａｔｉｏｎｓａｎｄＥｃｏ－ｐｈｙｓｉ...     

Reforestation of abandoned pasture on Hokkaido, northern Japan: effect of plantations on the recovery of conifer-broadleaved mixed forest

When pasture land is abandoned, there are, in many cases, inhibitory factors that slow the rate of transition to a natural vegetation. Accordingly, the planned management of restoration has become an important issue in various parts of the world, where environmental conditions can vary widely. Although tree plantations are widely used as a management tool for restoration, there have been few studies addressing the practical aspects of the procedure. I examined effects of tree plantations within the framework of an evaluation of methods for restoring abandoned pasture on Hokkaido, northern Japan. I developed and analyzed vegetation maps spanning the past 57 years for the old-growth site influenced by artificial disturbance; the procedure revealed the pattern of change in the vegetation cover. Matrix model analysis showed that intensive use of plantations contributed to reduction of the area occupied by dwarf bamboo and pasture land (i.e., superior to simple abandonment). Furthermore, the field study of vegetation types and changes in species composition over 20 years suggests that plantations have contributed to a reduction in the effects of factors that inhibit revegetation. However, the establishment of monoculture plantations is frequently viewed skeptically as a procedure that is applied without fundamental ecological knowledge. For sustained management, adequate historical and ecological information on the restoration site should be provided to all stakeholders. An erratum to this article can be found at     

Community Comparison and Determinant Analysis of Understory Vegetation in Six Plantations in South China

Plantations cover large areas in many countries, and the enhancement of plantation biodiversity is an increasingly important ecological concern. Many studies have demonstrated that overstory composition is important because it influences understory regeneration. To compare the understory vegetation and analyze its determinant factors, six typical plantations in South China were investigated: Acacia mangium plantation, Schima superba plantation, Eucalyptus citriodora plantation, E. exserta plantation, mixed‐coniferous plantation, and mixed native species plantation. The results show that native species plantations shaded out more grasses and herbs than exotic species plantations, mixed‐species plantations recruited more understory species than monoculture plantations, the leguminous species plantation had higher soil nitrogen than nonleguminous species plantations, and understory vegetation in the mixed‐coniferous plantation was similar to that of mixed, native broadleaf species plantation. Although light is the crucial environmental factor affecting the understory community and diversity among the 14 measured factors, other environmental variables such as soil nutrients and soil moisture are also important.     

西南亚高山森林植被变化对流域产水量的影响

国内曾有许多研究认为,长江上游亚高山地区的森林具有增加流域年径流量的作用,所以多年来一直以此来指导该区域的森林恢复与经营实践.将以往的径流场和集水区的观测数据结合起来,应用加权平均插值方法,建立了森林采伐后产水量变化的时间序列;使用SEBAL模型、液流测定结果和水量平衡方程,根据以往研究结果,计算了各森林植被类型的年蒸散量和年产水量.分析结果表明:西南亚高山老龄暗针叶林蒸散低,具有较高的产水量;老龄林采伐后产水量增加,但随着次生植被的快速恢复,产水量增加的持续时间很短,6a后即恢复到原有水平;之后伴随着演替进入灌丛、次生阔叶林、针阔混交林或人工云杉林阶段,产水量会进一步下降并长期处于相对较低的水平,而且会持续百年以上.以往研究中该区森林可以增加年径流量的结论,只适用于其所研究的老龄暗针叶林,不适用于原始林采伐后恢复起来的天然次生林和人工营造的云杉林.在天然次生林和人工林占主导的区域,森林覆盖率增加导致产水量减少,人工林减少尤甚.为深入认识西南亚高山森林的生态水文功能,应采用配对集水区试验长期观测研究,才能为亚高山森林的恢复和经营管理提供决策支持.     

Effects of Logging and Oil Palm Expansion on Stream Frog Communities on Borneo,Southeast Asia

The conversion of tropical rain forests to oil palm plantations is a major threat to Southeast Asia's rich biodiversity. Fostering forest species communities in secondary forests, agroforestry systems, and plantations is therefore increasingly becoming a conservation focus. This study uses standardized transect‐based sampling to compare species richness, density and community composition of stream anuran assemblages among primary forests, repeatedly logged forests and oil palm plantations in northern Borneo. In primary forest streams, we recorded an average of 19 frog species, compared to 15 species in logged forests and 11 species in oil palm plantation streams. However, the high percentage of canopy cover above the plantation streams mitigated this loss to some extent. This study corroborates numerous studies that oil palm plantations have mainly negative effects on the region's biodiversity. However, our results also demonstrate the high conservation value of logged forests for Bornean stream‐dependent anurans. We conclude that palm plantations have a largely unused potential to promote regional anuran biodiversity.     

The effects of plantation practice on soil properties based on the comparison between natural and planted forests: a meta‐analysis

Aim The effects of planted forests on soils are of great concern in the context of the increasing demands for timber production and atmospheric CO₂ sequestration. However, the effects of plantations on soil properties have not well been quantified. We determined the effects of plantation practice on soil properties based on a comparison between natural forests and plantations. Locations All the continents except for Antarctica. Methods The meta‐analysis approach was used to examine the differences in 14 soil variables in the mineral layer, including pH, bulk density, C, N, P, K, Ca, Mg, Na and Al concentrations, C/N ratio, cation exchangeable capacity, base saturation, and moisture between plantations and their adjacent natural forests from 73 published studies. Results Plantations did not differ from natural forests in soil pH or soil Na and Al concentrations. Soil bulk density below plantations increased by 12.5%, and soil C and N concentrations decreased by 36.0% and 26.5%, respectively, relative to natural forests. The other eight variables were 8.4–30.6% lower in plantations than in natural forests. The general patterns also held true for planted trees from the genus Pinus and for study regions in China. The patterns for soil bulk density and C and N concentrations were not different between the two groups in relation to various factors: stand age (< 25 years versus ≥ 25 years), leaf form (broadleaved versus coniferous) and leaf seasonality (deciduous versus evergreen), tree species origin (native versus exotic), land‐use history (afforestation versus reforestation) and site preparation for plantations (burnt versus un‐burnt treatment), and biogeographic zone (tropical versus temperate). Main conclusions Our results suggest that the level of soil fertility in plantations is unlikely to restore to the level in natural forests, implying that the replacement of natural forests by plantations may be a practice best avoided to maintain the ecosystem sustainability.     

三峡库区不同林龄人工橘林土壤异养呼吸及其温度敏感性

土壤异养呼吸是土壤碳库净输出的主要途径, 其对气候变暖的响应已引起国内外学者的广泛关注。对森林生态系统来说, 林龄是影响生态系统碳平衡的一个重要因素。柑橘作为三峡库区第一大支柱产业, 种植面积极广, 对维持该区域的生态平衡起着巨大的调节作用。该文以三峡库区宜昌市郊区种植年限不同的3个橘林土壤为研究对象, 采用室内培养法, 研究在不同温度条件下, 不同林龄土壤的异养呼吸及其温度敏感系数的差异, 探讨该区域生态系统对未来气候变化的潜在响应。结果显示, 随着种植年限的增加, 橘林土壤pH值减小, 有机质和全氮含量显著增加, 土壤微生物生物量碳呈下降趋势。无论在低温、常温还是高温条件下, 林龄较小的橘树土壤异养呼吸及其累积释放量较低。与其他研究相比, 该区域人工橘林土壤异养呼吸的温度敏感系数Q₁₀值相对较低(1.45-1.69), 且随着培养时间的变化而变化。随着种植年限的增加, 人工橘林土壤异养呼吸的温度敏感性逐渐降低, 表明在未来全球气候变暖条件下, 幼龄人工橘林要比成熟林对温度的反应敏感。     

杉木(Cunninghamia lanceolata)连栽地力退化和杉阔混交林的土壤改良作用

收集了有关杉木连栽的地力退化和连栽杉阔混交林的对比研究文献,并进行分析表明,杉阔混交林土壤容重平均比杉木纯林降低5％;连栽杉木人工林随代数的增加呈现容重变大的趋势,2代比1代平均增加6％,3代比2代平均增加9％。这种容重的变化使看似具有可比性的对比样地之间失去了可比性,可能导致对杉木连栽人工林地力退化和杉阔混交林的土壤改良作用的评价产生偏差。通过对这种容重变化产生的影响进行校正,对杉木连栽人工林地力退化和杉阔混交林的土壤改良作用进行了重新评估。结果表明,采用固定深度采样的杉阔混交林与对照的杉木纯林、多代连栽杉木人工林不同代次问土壤有机碳和全氮贮量的相对变化均出现不同程度的低估现象。固定深度采样时,与对照的纯林相比,杉阔混交林对土壤的改良作用被低估,土壤有机碳和全氮贮量的相对变化平均低估6％和5％;杉木连栽引起的地力退化也被低估,土壤有机碳和全氮贮量从1代到2代分别低估5％和7％,从2代到3代分别低估7％和8％。经t-检验表明,杉阔混交林与对照的杉木纯林、多代连栽杉木人工林不同代次间土壤有机碳和全氮贮量的相对变化在土壤容重影响校正前后有明显差异（P=0．05）。     

Environmental Consequences of the Demise in Swidden Cultivation in Southeast Asia: Carbon Storage and Soil Quality

The effects of swidden cultivation on carbon storage and soil quality are outlined and compared to the effects of the intensified production systems that swidden systems of Southeast Asia transform into. Time-averaged aboveground carbon stocks decline by about 90% if the long fallow periods of traditional swidden cultivation are reduced to 4 years and by about 60% if swidden cultivation is converted to oil palm plantations. Stocks of soil organic carbon (SOC) in tree plantations are 0–40% lower than stocks in swidden cultivation, with the largest losses found in mechanically established oil palm plantations. Impacts of tree plantations on soil quality are to a large extent determined by management. Conversion of swiddening to continuous annual cropping systems brings about substantial losses of time-averaged aboveground carbon stocks, reductions of SOC stocks and generally leads to declining soil quality. Knowledge of carbon storage in belowground biomass of tree based systems of the tropics is sparse but failure to include this pool in carbon inventories may significantly underestimate the total biomass of the systems. Moreover, studies that consider the ecological reasons behind farmers’ land use decisions as well as spatial variability in biogeophysical and edaphological parameters are needed to evaluate the effects of the ongoing land use transitions in Southeast Asia.     

Microclimate and habitat heterogeneity through the oil palm lifecycle

The rapid expansion of oil palm cultivation and corresponding deforestation has invoked widespread concern for biodiversity in Southeast Asia and throughout the tropics. However, no study explicitly addresses how habitat characteristics change when (1) forest is converted to oil palm, or (2) through the dynamic 25–30-year oil palm lifecycle. These two questions are fundamental to understanding how biodiversity will be impacted by oil palm development.Our results from a chronosequence study on microclimate and vegetation structure in oil palm plantations surrounding the Pasoh Forest Reserve, Peninsular Malaysia, show dramatic habitat changes when forest is converted to oil palm. However, they also reveal substantial habitat heterogeneity throughout the plantation lifecycle. Oil palm plantations are created by clear-cutting forests and then terracing the land. This reduces the 25 m-tall forest canopy to bare ground with a harsh microclimate. Eight-year-old oil palm plantations had 4 m open-canopies; 22-year-old plantations had 13 m closed-canopies. Old plantations had significantly more buffered microclimates than young plantations. Understory vegetation was twice as tall in young plantations, but leaf litter depth and total epiphyte abundance were double in old plantations. Nonetheless, leaf litter coverage was patchy throughout the oil palm life cycle due to the stacking of all palm fronds. Overall, oil palm plantations were substantially hotter (+2.84 °C) and drier (+0.80 hPa vapor pressure deficit), than forests during diurnal hours. However, there were no nocturnal microclimate differences between forests and plantations. Finally, we describe how the variable retention of old palm trees during crop rotation can retain habitat features and maintain more stable microclimate conditions than clear-cutting senescent plantations. We discuss the implications of habitat changes for biodiversity and introduce three methods to utilize temporal habitat heterogeneity to enhance the quality of the oil palm landscape matrix.     

不同景观斑块结构对茶园节肢动物多样性的影响

以小区随机样方的田间调查方式,研究了茶园不同景观斑块环境对茶园节肢动物群落的影响.结果表明： 小乔木斑块茶园(QM)与台湾相思树斑块茶园(XS)中蜘蛛类占节肢动物的比例最高,分别达到62.3% 和 69.5%,显著高于稻田斑块茶园(DT)和人居生活区斑块茶园(RJ)(P<0.05).QM的节肢动物多样性和丰富度指数最高,均匀度指数、优势度指数与其他斑块茶园间差异不显著(P>0.05).QM与XS的天敌资源较丰富,多样性指数、均匀度指数和丰富度指数的大小顺序为QM＞XS＞DT＞RJ.表明景观斑块结构对茶园节肢动物群落结构和多样性有较大影响.     

Scots pine plantations growth adaptation to climate warming in locations at the southernmost distribution limit of the species

Under the current climate change conjuncture, understanding the forest plantations capacity of acclimation to warming and increased drought stress is crucial for forest managers. To get some understanding of their adaptability, plantations of similar provenance but located in climatically contrasting sites can be compared. Here we study the growth dynamics and their relationship with climate and drought in two Scots pine (Pinus sylvestris L.) plantations located in the center (Sierra de Guadarrama, wetter site) and south (Sierra Nevada, drier site) of Spain, the latter situated at the southernmost distribution limit of the species. Our objectives are to quantify the trends in radial growth of these plantations, to quantify the influence of climate on growth, and to project the plantations growth as a function of forecasted climate. Results reveal that the plantations from the drier site show lower, and less responsive to climate, growth and greater resilience than those from the wetter site. Furthermore, if the current climate-growth relationships continue in the future, these plantations would maintain the current limited growth rate during the 21st century. On the contrary, plantations from the wetter site show higher growth rate and more resistance to drought, and they are projected to increase growth under the warmer conditions forecasted for the 21st century. Our study shows that plantations in drier sites may have a great capacity to acclimate to local climate conditions and would not be negatively impacted by the projected climate warming.     

Effects of alien pine plantations on small mammal community structure in a southern African biodiversity hotspot

Commercial plantations and alien tree invasions often have substantial negative impacts on local biodiversity. The effect of plantations on faunal communities in the fire‐adapted fynbos vegetation of the Cape Floristic Region biodiversity hotspot is not yet well quantified. We studied small mammal community structure in alien Pinus radiata plantations and adjacent fynbos regenerating after clear‐felling of plantations on the Cape Peninsula, South Africa. Small mammal sampling over 1,800 trap‐nights resulted in 480 captures of 345 individuals (excluding recaptures) representing six species. Significantly more species, individuals (12 X) and biomasses (29 X) of small mammals occurred on recovering fynbos sites compared to plantations. This was commensurate with a higher diversity of plant growth forms, vegetation densities and live vegetation biomass. Only one small mammal species, the pygmy mouse (Mus minutoides), was consistently trapped within plantations. Fynbos sites were dominated by three small mammal species that are ecological generalists and early successional pioneer species, rendering the recovering fynbos slightly depauperate in terms of species richness and evenness relative to other studies done in pristine fynbos. We make three recommendations for forestry that would facilitate the restoration of more diverse natural plant communities and progressively more diverse and dynamic small mammal assemblages in a key biodiversity hotspot.     

Can <Emphasis Type="Italic">Pinus</Emphasis> plantations facilitate reintroduction of endangered cloud forest species?

Coniferous plantations have been widely used by reforestation programs seeking to mitigate the effects of deforestation in mountainous areas in different parts of the world. However, some studies show that pine plantations can simulate natural mechanisms of succession, thereby facilitating the incorporation of other native species of mid- and late-successional stages. Existing pine plantations could function as a substitute habitat and facilitate the establishment of native and endangered cloud forest species. To test this hypothesis, we planted two endangered species from the family Juglandaceae (Juglans pyriformis and Oreomunnea mexicana) under twelve-year-old canopy plantations of Pinus patula and compared them to individuals planted in open (control) sites and recorded their survival and growth. The results show that the survival of J. pyriformis and O. mexicana was significantly higher below the canopy of P. patula plantations than in the open site. However, growth rates varied significantly among species and sites. Although pine plantations may favor the survival of seedlings, they cannot ensure the growth of plants without additional forest management.     

Response of soil microbial biomass and activity in early restored lands in the northeastern Brazilian Atlantic Forest

Intensive land use of the Brazilian Atlantic Forest accelerated with the rise of sugar cane plantations in the northeastern part of Brazil. Consequently, many ecosystems were destroyed, including riparian forests. The number of studies of riparian restoration has increased but comparative studies on the belowground effects of common reforestation strategies are rare. Here, we compared soil microbial properties among four different land use types: native rainforest, sugar cane plantation, single species reforestation, and mixed species reforestation, each replicated at two spatially independent sites. Soil samples were taken in 2013 and 2014, that is 2 and 3 years after reforestation, respectively. In both years, land use types had a significant effect on basal respiration, microbial biomass, and specific respiration (whereas specific respiration was marginally affected in 2014). In 2013, basal respiration in sugar cane plantations was significantly lower (?65%) when compared to native forests. In 2014, basal respiration (+60%) and soil microbial biomass (+90%) were significantly higher in mixed species reforestation compared to sugar cane, whereas single species reforestation had comparable values as in sugar cane plantations. Our results indicate that soil microbial biomass and activity respond rapidly to land use change when mixed species reforestation is used. Thus, using mixed species reforestation may enhance the provisioning of ecosystem services already in the short term.