Understory Vegetation Dynamics of North American Boreal Forests

Hart, Stephen A.; Chen, Han Y. H.

doi:10.1080/07352680600819286

Cited by 352 publications

(388 citation statements)

References 175 publications

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“…One significant cause of the dissimilarity is the features of the litter. Deciduous leaf litter may function as a physical barrier for many bryophytes, a barrier that inhibits the capture of light and throughfall precipitation by bryophytes (Beatty and Scholes 1988;Schumacher 2000;Hart and Chen 2006). It is also important that compared to coniferous forest litter, deciduous leaf litter is much higher in base cations and pH, which increase soil fertility (Paré et al 1993) and the rates of nutrient cycling (Côté et al 2000).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…It is also important that compared to coniferous forest litter, deciduous leaf litter is much higher in base cations and pH, which increase soil fertility (Paré et al 1993) and the rates of nutrient cycling (Côté et al 2000). This in turn facilitates the growth of vascular plants which is the limiting factor for the occurrence of terricolous bryophytes (Ingerpuu et al 1998;Hart and Chen 2006). Hence, bryophytes that prefer substrates that are composed of decaying wood debris and live tree trunks were predominant in the deciduous forest plots.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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How do ditches contribute to bryophyte diversity in managed forests in East-Central Europe?

2016

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The study focuses on identifying and assessing the effect of the presence of drainage and roadside ditches on the diversity of bryophytes in managed forests. We compared the composition of moss and liverwort species, their richness and abundance in plots that are located in ditches as well as corresponding control plots in the surrounding forests with regard to the forest type (coniferous, mixed and deciduous). ANOVA demonstrated the pronounced impact that the presence of ditches in managed forests has on an increase in bryophyte species richness. A comparison of forest and ditch types using DCA pointed to a correlation between the number of deciduous trees in the stands and an increased dissimilarity of ditch bryophytes when compared to the bryophytes of the corresponding control plots. Using the ecological indicator values, CCA confirmed the special significance of ditch settlements for hygrophilous species, which at present cannot otherwise find favorable conditions in managed forests. The study proves that ditches, and especially those with intermittent pools of stagnant water, may become a significant source of microhabitat diversity. Their presence may provide a welcome preserve for rare and protected species that cannot find suitable substrates in managed forests.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

How do ditches contribute to bryophyte diversity in managed forests in East-Central Europe?

2016

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“…Tree dynamics strongly affect variations in fuel material with TSF [66][67][68][69]. It is therefore important to first understand Clay Belt tree dynamics to discuss fine aerial, DWD, and duff dynamics.…”

Section: Fuel Load Dynamics With Tsfmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Fine aerial vegetation establishment and growth rates are primarily limited by the understory light availability that is created by the overstory canopy [67][68][69]. The shady understory environment provided by coniferous species [77] results in less abundant fine aerial vegetation in coniferous forests [68,70].…”

Section: Fuel Load Dynamics With Tsfmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…We explain these differences in observations by the facts that our data cover a larger variability of TSF and our forests were not pure JP forests. Few studies have compared CWD dynamics in different cover types [69]. Differences in DWD dynamics between coniferous forests and TA forests may be induced by the lower pre-fire tree productivity (Figure 2) and the presence of woody debris with higher flammability [83][84][85][86] in coniferous forests.…”

Section: Fuel Load Dynamics With Tsfmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Influence of Fuel Load Dynamics on Carbon Emission by Wildfires in the Clay Belt Boreal Landscape

Terrier

Paquette

Gauthier

et al. 2016

Forests

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Old-growth forests play a decisive role in preserving biodiversity and ecological functions. In an environment frequently disturbed by fire, the importance of old-growth forests as both a carbon stock as well as a source of emissions when burnt is not fully understood. Here, we report on carbon accumulation with time since the last fire (TSF) in the dominant forest types of the Clay Belt region in eastern North America. To do so, we performed a fuel inventory (tree biomass, herbs and shrubs, dead woody debris, and duff loads) along four chronosequences. Carbon emissions by fire through successional stages were simulated using the Canadian Fire Effects Model. Our results show that fuel accumulates with TSF, especially in coniferous forests. Potential carbon emissions were on average 11.9 t·ha −1 and 29.5 t·ha −1 for old-growth and young forests, respectively. In conclusion, maintaining old-growth forests in the Clay Belt landscape not only ensures a sustainable management of the boreal forest, but it also optimizes the carbon storage.

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Retrieval of seasonal dynamics of forest understory reflectance from semiarid to boreal forests using MODIS BRDF data

et al. 2016

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Spatial and temporal patterns of forest background (understory) reflectance are crucial for retrieving biophysical parameters of forest canopies (overstory) and subsequently for ecosystem modeling. In this communication, we retrieved seasonal courses of understory normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI) from multiangular Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer bidirectional reflectance distribution function (MODIS BRDF)/albedo data. We compared satellite‐based seasonal courses of understory NDVI to understory NDVI values measured in different types of forests distributed along a wide latitudinal gradient (65.12°N–31.35°N). Our results indicated that the retrieval method performs well particularly over open forests of different types. We also demonstrated the limitations of the method for closed canopies, where the understory signal retrieval is much attenuated.

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Understory Vegetation Dynamics of North American Boreal Forests

Cited by 352 publications

References 175 publications

How do ditches contribute to bryophyte diversity in managed forests in East-Central Europe?

How do ditches contribute to bryophyte diversity in managed forests in East-Central Europe?

Influence of Fuel Load Dynamics on Carbon Emission by Wildfires in the Clay Belt Boreal Landscape

Retrieval of seasonal dynamics of forest understory reflectance from semiarid to boreal forests using MODIS BRDF data

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