Can plantations develop understory biological and physical attributes of naturally regenerated forests?

Aubin, Isabelle; Messier, Christian; Bouchard, André

doi:10.1016/j.biocon.2008.07.007

Cited by 92 publications

(79 citation statements)

References 68 publications

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“…There were more woody species in GA than RF; this observation could be as presence of woody species and tree saplings in the under storey of the plantation. Studies from around the world have shown that single-species plantations are at the stand scale, often less diverse than natural or semi-natural forests wit respect to plants (Aubin et al, 2008). Nevertheless, it has been shown that forest plantations can contribute to restoring some of the floristic diversity on abandoned agriculture land (Newmaster et al, 2006; Aubin and some plantations may have a surprisingly diverse understory (Allen et al, 1995;Keenan Oberhauser, 1997) as observed in this study.…”

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 55%

“…Studies from around the world have species plantations are at the stand scale, natural forests with ., 2008). Nevertheless, it has been shown that forest plantations can contribute to restoring some of the floristic diversity on abandoned ., 2006; Aubin et al, 2008) y have a surprisingly diverse ., 1995; Keenan et al, 1997;Oberhauser, 1997) as observed in this study. This is in agreement with Tripathi and Bajrang (2009) who observed that species richness at ground layer was higher in forest plantation than in natural re-growth forest.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Floristic Composition and Structural Diversity of Shasha Forest Reserve in Ile-Ife, Southwestern Nigeria

Akinyemi

Oke

2014

Not Sci Biol

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The floristic composition and structural diversity were studied in two plots, 25 m x 25 m each, in three different sites of varying vegetation physiognomy: Taungya system, Regrowth forest and Gmelina arborea plantation (TS, RF and GA respectively) of Shasha forest reserve in Ile-Ife southwestern Nigeria. A total of 119 plant species belonging to 51 families and 100 genera were identified in the forest reserve. Woody species represented the most diverse life form. Plant species diversity was higher in the GA (H'=3.5) compared to the RF (H'=3.4) and TS (H'=2.9). Woody plant species density also differed significantly (p < 0.05) among the different physiognomy. Mean basal area and mean girth size were higher in RF compared to TS and GA. Species evenness was also quantitatively higher in the TS (E=0.12) compared to RF (E=0.09) and GA (E=0.08). Sorensen index of similarity were 12.12% (TS and RF), 19.71% (TS and GA) and 20.20% (RF and GA), which is an indication of the heterogeneity of the three different sites, as a result of different management systems of the sites. The knowledge about species composition in the forest reserve will go a long way in identifying important elements of plant diversity, protecting and preserving threatened plant species, monitoring and providing effective management of the forest reserve.

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Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 55%

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Floristic Composition and Structural Diversity of Shasha Forest Reserve in Ile-Ife, Southwestern Nigeria

Akinyemi

Oke

2014

Not Sci Biol

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“…The species richness of vascular plants was higher in ash woodlands than in Sitka spruce plantation forests, but similar to Norway spruce plantations. Understory and physical attributes of plantation forests do differ from those of natural woodlands (Aubin et al 2008) and greater habitat complexity in natural woodlands has been shown to provide more suitable habitat than managed forests for some groups (Wiezik et al 2007;Stephens and Wagner 2007;Veinotte et al 2003).…”

Section: Species Diversitymentioning

confidence: 99%

“…These patterns are most likely related to the lower light levels in spruce-dominated plantations. The understory of conifer plantations is typically less structurally complex than in natural woodlands (Aubin et al 2008) where higher light levels can contribute to increased plant diversity and understory structure (Riegel et al 1995). This, in turn, is important for the diversity of many species, particularly invertebrates and birds (Hardtle et al 2003;Messier et al 1998;Sweeney et al 2010;Purchart et al 2013).…”

Section: Species Diversitymentioning

confidence: 99%

The value of plantation forests for plant, invertebrate and bird diversity and the potential for cross-taxon surrogacy

et al. 2014

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As the area of plantation forest expands worldwide and natural, unmanaged forests decline there is much interest in the potential for planted forests to provide habitat for biodiversity. In regions where little semi-natural woodland remains, the biodiversity supported by forest plantations, typically non-native conifers, may be particularly important. Few studies provide detailed comparisons between the species diversity of native woodlands which are being depleted and non-native plantation forests, which are now expanding, based on data collected from multiple taxa in the same study sites. Here we compare the species diversity and community composition of plants, invertebrates and birds in Sitka spruce-(Picea sitchensis-) dominated and Norway spruce-(Picea abies-) dominated plantations, which have expanded significantly in recent decades in the study area in Ireland, with that of oak-and ash-dominated semi-natural woodlands in the same area. The results show that species richness in spruce plantations can be as high as seminatural woodlands, but that the two forest types support different assemblages of species. In areas where non-native conifer plantations are the principle forest type, their role in the provision of habitat for biodiversity conservation should not be overlooked. Appropriate management should target the introduction of semi-natural woodland characteristics, and on the extension of existing semi-natural woodlands to maintain and enhance forest species diversity. Our data show 2 that although some relatively easily surveyed groups, such as vascular plants and birds, were congruent with many of the other taxa when looking across all study sites, the similarities in response were not strong enough to warrant use of these taxa as surrogates of the others. In order to capture a wide range of biotic variation, assessments of forest biodiversity should either encompass several taxonomic groups, or rely on the use of indicators of diversity that are not species based.

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“…Based on previous studies that have documented plant diversity in plantations and unmanaged forest stands (e.g., Aubin et al 2008), we predicted that the composition of the plant and trait communities would initially diverge in hybrid poplar plantations compared to the natural forest. However, the plant and trait communities were expected to gradually converge between the treated and natural sites over the following years (Irwin et al 2014).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Recovery of plant community functional traits following severe soil perturbation in plantations: a case-study

Hébert

Bachand

Thiffault

et al. 2016

International Journal of Biodiversity Science, Ecosystem Servic

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We present a case study in which we assessed the effects of a severe soil perturbation on the plant community and soil variables in young hybrid poplar (Populus sp.) plantations of southern Québec (Canada). Our overall goal was to test if soil perturbation and planting fast-growing species could promote the reestablishment of a relatively diverse plant community. A chronosequence that included three plantations (4, 8, and 12-year old) established after soil scarification, paired with three natural stands representative of the local temperate mixedwood forest comprising both pioneer and late-successional tree species, was implemented. Vegetation surveys and soil collection were performed in 2012 and species traits were provided by the Traits Of Plants In Canada and TRY databases. Principal response curve analyses showed species and functional trait divergence between treated and natural stands at ages 4 and 8, but that those divergences were less at age 12. Species and trait convergences were slower in the scarification furrows than in the scarification berms (mounds between furrows). However, severe site preparation did not appear to affect soil variables on the study sites. Our results suggest that even following severe site preparation, gradual recovery of species and trait composition similar to that of natural stands appears possible in the long term, mainly through fast canopy development by hybrid poplar. However, organic material export and soil erosion risks associated with this type of site preparation need to be evaluated. ARTICLE HISTORY

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Can plantations develop understory biological and physical attributes of naturally regenerated forests?

Cited by 92 publications

References 68 publications

Floristic Composition and Structural Diversity of Shasha Forest Reserve in Ile-Ife, Southwestern Nigeria

Floristic Composition and Structural Diversity of Shasha Forest Reserve in Ile-Ife, Southwestern Nigeria

The value of plantation forests for plant, invertebrate and bird diversity and the potential for cross-taxon surrogacy

Recovery of plant community functional traits following severe soil perturbation in plantations: a case-study

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