Relationships between the species composition of forest field‐layer vegetation and environmental drivers, assessed using a national scale survey

Abstract

Summary1 Simulation models of forest stand dynamics have increased understanding of over-storey vegetation functioning, and have facilitated the development of tools capable of assessing possible successional trajectories. However, few models incorporate the response of the field layer vegetation despite it being another key component of forest ecosystems. 2 Our main objective was to assess the degree to which field-layer vegetation composition in forests is determined by variables operating at different scales, from regional (e.g. climate, location) to local factors (e.g. basal area of canopy trees, management). 3 We used data gathered during a nationwide forest survey to assess the relative effects of a broad spectrum of environmental variables on species composition. Variation partitioning was used to examine the relative contribution of subsets of environmental variables such as site spatial variation, boundary type and presence of herbivores. 4 Ordination confirmed hypotheses that field layer vegetation is primarily structured by two composite geo-climatic gradients. However, variation partitioning demonstrated that site-and plot-scale management factors also strongly influence the floristic composition of forest patches. 5 Disturbance variables (site boundary type/regional presence of deer) accounted for considerable species variation, exceeding that due to either site spatial variation or forest structure. 6 This is the first time variation attributable to such a comprehensive range of environmental variables has been quantified for forests surveyed at a national scale. We thus provide a context within which regional studies, or analyses considering a more limited range of factors, can be viewed, and a framework from which robust models of floristic response to gradual and episodic natural and anthropogenic disturbances may be developed. 7 The methodology we present, including a novel technique for the identification and removal of outliers in large data sets, provides a unique and standardized means of assessing the relative importance of diverse environmental drivers across a range of habitat types at the landscape scale, and is readily applicable elsewhere.

Decreasing deer browsing pressure influenced understory vegetation dynamics over 30 years

“…Ranking the main drivers of shifts in plant community composition is a key issue for the global assessment of the changes currently occurring in the biosphere and more specifically in vegetation communities (Corney et al 2006). Yet, the deer browsing factor has not been precisely tested in many cases because of a lack of adequate measurements.…”

Effect of plantations on plant species diversity in the Darabkola, Mazandaran Province, North of Iran

“…Also, using native species in plantations could decrease the concern of adaptation and being infected the pests and diseases. The study on plantation in Iran and the other part of the world was extended in recent decades (Abdy and Mayhead 1992;Allen et al 1995;Menalled et al 1998;Ferris et al 2000;Coroi et al 2004;Lindenmayer and Hobbs 2004;Yamashita et al 2004;Lee et al 2005;Lemenih and Teketay 2005;Pourbabaei et al 2005;Corney et al 2006;Ginsberg 2006;Mosayeb Neghad et al 2007;Pourbabaei and Roostami Shahraji 2007;Poorbabaei and Poorrahmati 2009).…”

The floral characteristics of the road edge effect on the example of a road with low traffic volume in the “Puszcza Notecka” Forest

“…: Bernhardt et al, 2004;Corney et al, 2006;Delgado et al, 2007;Hawbaker et al, 2006;Suárez-Esteban et al, 2013). At the investigated road DW 150 a decisive role could have been played by light conditions, while in the immediate vicinity it may have also been accompanied by the diverse microrelief.…”

“…They results from the changes in lighting, moisture content, wind force, soil fertility, noise, vibrations as well as air and soil pollution etc. (Bernhardt et al, 2004;Corney et al, 2006;Delgado et al, 2007;Hawbaker et al, 2006;Suárez--Esteban et al, 2013).…”