Influence of the spatial variability of soil type and tree colonization on the dynamics of Molinia caerulea (L.) Moench in managed heathland

Mobaied, Samira; Ponge, Jean‐François; Salmon, Sandrine; Lalanne, Arnault; Riéra, Bernard

doi:10.1016/j.ecocom.2012.05.002

Cited by 8 publications

(7 citation statements)

References 25 publications

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“…Our results did not refute the importance of a possible plant–soil feedback and tended to confirm previous studies that showed that heathlands with thinner O‐horizons had a greater risk of grass invasion (Mobaied et al. ).…”

Section: Discussioncontrasting

confidence: 49%

Hints for alternative stable states from long‐term vegetation dynamics in an unmanaged heathland

Ransijn

Kepfer‐Rojas

Verheyen

et al. 2014

J Vegetation Science

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Questions: How does heathland vegetation composition change during ca. 100yr of succession in the absence of management? Is succession divergent or mono-directional? Do soil conditions and land-use history explain the variation in vegetation dynamics? Is there evidence for alternative stable states? Location: NOrholm hede, a 350-ha heathland in southwest Denmark that was abandoned in 1895 and left to develop naturally via succession. Methods: Permanent vegetation inventory plots were established and have been revisited 11 times between 1921 and 2012. Soil conditions were recorded in 2012. We used clustering, linear mixed models, linear models, ANOVA and multivariate techniques (redundancy analysis and principal response curves) to investigate changes in the plant community and how differences in plant community composition related to soil conditions and disturbance history. Results: Ericaceous dwarf shrubs dominated most of the heathland initially. A dominance shift from dwarf shrubs to grasses occurred on about half of the plots. The other half of the plots remained dominated by dwarf shrubs, although Empetrum nigrum expanded at the expense of Calluna vulgaris. Lichen cover decreased dramatically across all plots. The divergent successional pattern was not explained by nutrient concentrations. Grasses mainly expanded in areas where they already had a substantial presence, and this initial presence was largely correlated with historical soil disturbance. Plots where dwarf shrubs remained dominant had a relatively thick O-horizon. Conclusions: Vegetation dynamics during heathland succession were not deterministically determined by soil conditions. Grass and tree expansion occurred slowly and dwarf shrub dominance was stable for more than 100yr on large parts of the heath, even in the absence of management. Management actions that disturb stable dwarf shrub vegetation may enhance grass and tree colonization

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Section: Discussioncontrasting

confidence: 49%

Hints for alternative stable states from long‐term vegetation dynamics in an unmanaged heathland

Ransijn

Kepfer‐Rojas

Verheyen

et al. 2014

J Vegetation Science

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“…This maintenance is becoming more and more difficult due to the spatial configuration of the many heathland fragments, which are interspersed within a large matrix of conifer and deciduous forests. The most economical management methods, such as regular mechanical cuttings and woody species removal, are inadequate to maintain specific species in a heathland fragment in the middle of a forest matrix as we showed in previous studies [11,21]. These conditions require additional methods to better preserve this habitat.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 95%

“…Due to edge effects, the estimated values of soil depth at the plot edges might be subject to higher levels of uncertainty than other points within the plot boundaries. Three classes of soil depth were distinguished, in approximated accordance with observed soil horizons in this region [21]: shallow soils (0-20 cm), medium-depth soils (21-40 cm), and deep soils (greater than 40 cm). We used this interpolated map as a soil depth map as shown in Figure 2a.…”

Section: Soil Surveymentioning

confidence: 99%

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The Spatiotemporal Dynamics of Forest–Heathland Communities over 60 Years in Fontainebleau, France

Mobaied

Machon

Lalanne

et al. 2015

IJGI

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According to the EU Habitats Directive, heathlands are "natural habitats of community interest". Heathland management aims at conserving these habitats threatened by various changes, including successional processes leading to forest vegetation. We investigate the dynamics of woody species to the detriment of heathland over a period of 60 years in the Fontainebleau forest and we examine the effects of soil types, soil depth and topography parameters on heathland stability. We assess changes in forest cover between 1946 and 2003 by comparing vegetation maps derived from aerial photographs coupled to GIS analyses. The results show the loss of more than 75% of heathland during 1946-2003 due to tree colonisation of abandoned heathland. We detected differences in the dynamics of colonisation between coniferous and deciduous trees. The colonisation of heathland by coniferous species was faster over the last 20 years of our study period. Tree encroachment was faster in north-facing areas and in areas of acidic luvisols. While this dynamic was very slow in acid sandstone soils, heathland stability was more important in shallow soils on flat and south facing areas. Our study has the potential to assist land managers in selecting those heathland areas that will be easier to conserve and/or to restore by focusing on areas and

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“…Changes in the light environment and soil properties can lead to loss or decrease of typical heathland species, (Sørensen & Tybirk ), expansion of grasses (Mobaied et al. ) and changes in the functional composition of the vegetation (Curt et al. ; Mantilla‐Contreras et al.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Indirect effects of land‐use legacies determine tree colonization patterns in abandoned heathland

Kepfer‐Rojas

Verheyen

Johannsen

et al. 2015

Applied Vegetation Science

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Questions: How do land-use legacies and distance to forest patches influence tree colonization at a post-agricultural heathland? Are colonizing species with different life-history traits affected differently by these factors? Is the effect of increased nutrient availability from land-use legacies mediated by the understorey vegetation? Location: NOrholm hede, a 350-ha heathland in southwest Denmark developing naturally after abandonment of traditional agricultural practices in 1895. Methods: Using 140 plots (0.03ha), we quantified the vegetation structure, soil properties and natural recruitment of tree/shrubs in the heathland. Further, we used high-resolution LiDAR data to classify the vegetation and identify forest patches. In the analysis, we first used a logistic mixed model to test whether colonization of tree and shrub species differed between areas with different land-use history and whether it was influenced by the distance to forest patches and life-history traits (seed mass) of colonizing species. Then, to determine how different factors influence colonization, we explored the direct and indirect relationships among nutrient availability, density of adult trees, canopy cover, cover of Deschampsia flexuosa and the probability of seedling colonization in each plot using a confirmatory multilevel path analysis. Results: The probability of seedling colonization for small- and large-seeded species decreased with distance to forest patches. This response was more pronounced at the previously cultivated area. Multilevel path analysis showed that colonizing species with different life-history traits were affected by different factors. Small-seeded species were negatively affected by increased nutrient availability mediated by an increase in the cover of D.flexuosa. This effect was not found for large-seeded species. Moreover, the density of trees/shrubs (>2m) increased the probability of colonization of small-seeded species, whereas higher canopy cover had a positive effect on large-seeded species. Conclusions: Our analyses demonstrate that the interactions between abiotic factors, biotic interactions and life-history traits of colonizing species can lead to distinct patterns of tree colonization. Land-use legacies can have long-lasting, indirect effects on tree colonization by altering the composition of the understorey vegetation, which in turn can delay tree encroachment and slow down the succession from heathland to forest

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Influence of the spatial variability of soil type and tree colonization on the dynamics of Molinia caerulea (L.) Moench in managed heathland

Cited by 8 publications

References 25 publications

Hints for alternative stable states from long‐term vegetation dynamics in an unmanaged heathland

Hints for alternative stable states from long‐term vegetation dynamics in an unmanaged heathland

The Spatiotemporal Dynamics of Forest–Heathland Communities over 60 Years in Fontainebleau, France

Indirect effects of land‐use legacies determine tree colonization patterns in abandoned heathland

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