Edge effect on ground vegetation in clear-cut edges of pine-dominated forests

Abstract

This study investigated the spatial and temporal patterns of edge effect following forest harvesting in pine-dominated hemiboreal forests. The aim of the study was to determine how the edge influenced ground vegetation and how it changed over successional time. The chronosequence approach was used for the description of the succession by taking sites in similar environments but in different periods after cutting. Five transects were established in each type of edge. All ground vegetation was recorded and the percentage cover of each species was estimated. The impact of edge effect to overall species composition was evaluated by canonical correspondence analysis. The variety of species composition along the distance from the edge was highest in clear-cut Á/mature stand edges. The highest species richness was found at the edges of older clear-cuts. The cover of herb layer was highest in older clear-cuts and young stands. The cover of moss layer was lower in clear-cutting areas than in nearby standing mature stands. Edge influence was still detectable up to 40 years after clearcutting, when forest interior conditions have not yet formed.

The forest structure and ecosystem quality in conditions of anthropogenic disturbance along productivity gradient

“…Many of the negative effects of management on biodiversity are indirect, and confounded with other ecological processes. For example, understorey vegetation, epiphytic lichen or insect diversity are not a direct www.elsevier.com/locate/foreco Forest Ecology and Management 250 (2007) [34][35][36][37][38][39][40][41][42][43][44][45][46] object of management, but management effects are mediated via changes in the upper layers, substrate availability and oldgrowth legacies, as well as stand age and historical continuity (Foster et al, 1996;Lawesson et al, 1998;Bergstedt and Milberg, 2001;Kuuluvainen, 2002;Marozas et al, 2005). Oldgrowth forest specialist species are shown to be sensitive to particular forest structural aspects, such as amount of coarse woody debris, multi-species stand, burnt trees, or multi-aged stand structure (Berg et al, 1994;Jonsell et al, 1998;Gustafsson, 2002;Similä et al, 2003).…”

Factors influencing the species composition and richness of herb layer in old boreo-nemoral forests

“…See on erinev ka metsakoosluste arengust fragmenteeritud ja sekundaarsetes metsamaastikes, kus on näidatud puistu rohurinde suktsessiooni jätkumist ka küpsetes metsades (Brunet & Oheimb, 1998;Vellend, 2003;Kohv & Liira, 2005). Metsade ajaline ja ruumiline järjepidevus on oluline eelkõige vähese levikuvõimega ja kitsalt vanade metsade struktuuriga kohastunud liikidele püsimisele kooslustes (Berg et al, 1994; Vanade salumetsade rohurinde koosseis ja seda mõjutavad tegurid Unauthenticated Download Date | 5/12/18 5:17 PM Hermy et al, 1999;Nilsson et al, 2001;Flinn & Vellend, 2005;Marozas et al, 2005). Paistab, et salumetsade taimede levik uuritud kooslustesse ja koosluse sees ei ole olnud limiteeritud, sest uurimisalad paiknesid suurema metsamaastiku sees, tagades liigifondi liikide kättesaadavuse.…”

Temporal persistence of edge effects on bryophytes within harvested forests

“…Therefore, there may be an interesting interaction between species seral stage and the strength of forest influence that impacts on the effect of forest influence persisting through time. However, the persistence of forest influence is relatively unstudied across all taxa, and to our knowledge, has only been addressed in bryophytes by a single study from Lithuania (Marozas et al, 2005). This paper examines how forest influence impacts bryophyte community composition in forests regenerating after harvesting and assesses which species are the most impacted.…”