Effects of gaps on regeneration of woody plants: a meta-analysis

Zhu, Jiaojun; Lu, Deliang; Zhang, Wensheng

doi:10.1007/s11676-014-0489-3

Cited by 115 publications

(94 citation statements)

References 68 publications

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“…Recruitment of generalist species can be facilitated by a wide pathway gap, which would benefit from highly variable ecological conditions found at the edge of the main road (Forman & Alexander 1998), resulting in species dominance (Denslow 1980), as demonstrated by the low evenness found in the main road. An increase in 10 m between the secondary and main road widths can be sufficient to determine differences in species composition, which emphasizes the importance of the gap size in the structuring of local plant communities (Denslow 1980;Zhu et al 2014).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Accordingly, the wider pathway was characterized by a low frequency of zoochorous and a high density of anemochorous species. Gap size also determines the abundance of shrubs and small trees, since these life forms have greater densities in large rather than in small gaps (Zhu et al 2014), as demonstrated by the higher densities of individuals smaller than 1m height in the wider pathways.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Pathways affect vegetation structure and composition in the Atlantic Forest in southeastern Brazil

et al. 2017

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Although impacts generated by gaps can aff ect vegetation, few studies have addressed these impacts in the Atlantic Forest. Our aim was to investigate the eff ects of pathways of varying widths on vegetation structure and composition, considering dispersal syndromes, diversity, life forms, successional categories and threatened and exotic species occurrence in the Atlantic Forest. We studied three pathways with widths of 2, 10 and 20 m, intersecting a protected area in southeastern Brazil. To assess edge eff ects, plots were established adjacent to paths (edge) and 35 m from the edge (neighborhood), and in a control area without pathways. Wider pathways (10 and 20 m) exhibited reduced tree height and diameter, high liana density, exotic species, and a high proportion of pioneer and anemochorous species. In conclusion, our results indicate that the vegetation structure of narrow pathways (2 m) is similar to the control area, and that wide linear gaps cause negative eff ects on vegetation and extend to a distance of at least 35 m into the forest interior. Considering that linear gaps generate permanent eff ects to vegetation and may aff ect other organisms, we suggest that these eff ects must be considered for successful management of protected areas, including planning and impact mitigation.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Pathways affect vegetation structure and composition in the Atlantic Forest in southeastern Brazil

et al. 2017

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“…Initially, we developed an a priori hypothetical model based on theoretical and empirical evidence. In the model (Figure 2), we hypothesized that the variations in Abies faxoniana regeneration could be explained by the direct and indirect effects of exogenous variables (habitat characteristics and elevation), and biotic and abiotic conditions, such as the ground herbs cover (%) and mean annual temperature ( • C) [15,28]. Second, all conditional independence claims present between variables (gap characteristics, elevation, environmental factors, and Abies faxoniana regeneration) were identified and tested to determine whether the hypothesized pathways could reflect variation present in the data by using directional separation tests.…”

Section: Structural Equation Modelingmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Moreover, although many studies have evaluated the effects of elevation or forest gaps on plant regeneration [16,23,28], the methodology is still a considerable limitation for exploring the internal mechanisms in current forest gap studies. For example, the influence of abiotic factors on regeneration is simultaneously induced by elevation and forest gaps.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Accordingly, we tested the effects of gap/non-gap plots, gap size and elevation on Abies faxoniana regeneration in a subalpine coniferous forest in southwestern China. Our hypothesis was that the variables of habitat characteristics and elevation cause microenvironment heterogeneity and thus affect Abies faxoniana regeneration at a landscape scale [3,15,28,29,32]. In short, this paper proposes a simple and reliable quantitative method for assessing Abies faxoniana regeneration based on 34 plots distributed along an elevation gradient in a subalpine coniferous forest under a "direct effects and indirect effects" analytical framework.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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How Forest Gap and Elevation Shaped Abies faxoniana Rehd. et Wils. Regeneration in a Subalpine Coniferous Forest, Southwestern China

Chen

Liu

2018

Forests

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Abstract:Focusing on the underlying ecological mechanisms of dominant species regeneration in forest gaps at a landscape scale can provide detailed understanding for gap-based forest management. The individual effects of forest gaps or elevation on the regeneration of Abies faxoniana Rehd. et Wils. are well known, although elucidating how gap characteristics and elevation concurrently influence regeneration remains an important challenge. In this paper, we present an explorative study using structural equation models (SEMs) to assess the direct and indirect effects of forest gaps and elevation on Abies faxoniana Rehd. et Wils. regeneration. Four of the predicted SEMs showed the following results: (1) Temperature, photosynthetic photon flux density (PPFD), soil total carbon, gap openness, shrub layer cover, herb layer cover, and moss layer thickness in forest gaps were associated with Abies faxoniana regeneration along an elevation gradient in subalpine coniferous forest. (2) Elevation had a generally negative and indirect effect on Abies faxoniana regeneration. Forest gaps positively affected regeneration when compared with non-gap plots and gap size was positively related to small tree regeneration density and the ratio of height to diameter at breast height (HD ratio) of the tallest Abies faxoniana small trees but was negatively related to Abies faxoniana sapling regeneration density. (3) In forest gaps, the Abies faxoniana sapling density and HD ratio of the tallest Abies faxoniana small trees were mainly indirectly influenced by elevation, and Abies faxoniana small tree regeneration density was directly associated with the dominance of the sapling regeneration density. In summary, Abies faxoniana regeneration was negatively and largely affected by elevation (total effect), although forest gaps enhanced Abies faxoniana regeneration by multiple pathways (direct and indirect effects).

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Forest gaps increase true bug diversity by recruiting open land species

et al. 2023

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Forests canopy gaps play an important role in forest ecology by driving the forest mosaic cycle and creating conditions for rapid plant reproduction and growth. The availability of young plants, which represent resources for herbivores, and modified environmental conditions with greater availability of light and higher temperatures, promote the colonization of animals. Remarkably, the role of gaps on insect communities has received little attention and the source of insects colonizing gaps has not been studied comprehensively. Using a replicated full-factorial forest experiment (treatments: Gap; Gap + Deadwood; Deadwood; Control), we show that following gap creation, there is a rapid change in the true bug (Heteroptera) community structure, with an increase in species that are mainly recruited from open lands. Compared with closed-canopy treatments (Deadwood and Control), open canopy treatments (Gap and Gap + Deadwood) promoted an overall increase in species (+ 59.4%, estimated as number of species per plot) and individuals (+ 76.3%) of true bugs, mainly herbivores and species associated to herbaceous vegetation. Community composition also differed among treatments, and all 17 significant indicator species (out of 117 species in total) were associated with the open canopy treatments. Based on insect data collected in grasslands and forests over an 11-year period, we found that the species colonizing experimental gaps had greater body size and a greater preference for open vegetation. Our results indicate that animal communities that assemble following gap creation contain a high proportion of habitat generalists that not occurred in closed forests, contributing significantly to overall diversity in forest mosaics.

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Effects of gaps on regeneration of woody plants: a meta-analysis

Cited by 115 publications

References 68 publications

Pathways affect vegetation structure and composition in the Atlantic Forest in southeastern Brazil

Pathways affect vegetation structure and composition in the Atlantic Forest in southeastern Brazil

How Forest Gap and Elevation Shaped Abies faxoniana Rehd. et Wils. Regeneration in a Subalpine Coniferous Forest, Southwestern China

Forest gaps increase true bug diversity by recruiting open land species

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