Coexistence of ancient forest species as an indicator of high species richness

Stefańska‐Krzaczek, Ewa; Kącki, Zygmunt; Szypuła, Bartłomiej

doi:10.1016/j.foreco.2016.01.012

Cited by 25 publications

(12 citation statements)

References 33 publications

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“…Only seven ancient forest species were observed, 1–2 species per plot (S2 Table). Ancient forest species, which may occur in Scots pine forests, represent only a small part of the ancient forest species pool, because AFS lists were prepared based on rather fertile broadleaved forest studies [17,73,85,86]. However, low number of forest specialists and participation of species tolerant to non-forest conditions may also be a general feature of the acidophilous pine forest [87].…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Species diversity patterns in managed Scots pine stands in ancient forest sites

et al. 2019

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Continuity in forest habitats is crucial for species diversity and richness. Ancient Scots pine forests are usually under forest management, which disturbs vegetation and causes differentiation in terms of tree stand age. To date, vegetation variability in ancient Scots pine forests has not been examined based on tree stand age classes. In the present study the continuity of a large Scots pine forest complex was investigated, and a system of sampling plots established in five tree stand age classes: initiation stands (4–10 years), young stands (20–35 years), middle-aged stands (45–60 years), pre-mature stands (70–85 years) and mature stands (95–110 years). Species composition, including vascular plants, bryophytes and lichens, on soil, tree trunks, and coarse woody debris, was analyzed. Based on existing classifications systems, forest species and ancient forest species groups were distinguished. In the studied ancient Scots pine forests the species pool and richness were relatively low, and the vegetation consisted mostly of generalist species. Cryptogams, which can grow on diverse substrates, were the most abundant species. Moreover, most species could tolerate both forest and non-forest conditions. Age class forests provided different environmental niches for species. Initiation stands were optimal for terrestrial light-demanding species, and in terms of species composition, initiation stands were most specific. Young stands were most preferred by species on coarse woody debris, and at this stage of stand maturation epiphytic species re-appeared. The oldest stands were not rich in forest specialists, i.e. species of closed forest and ancient forest species. Cryptogams of closed forests inhabited different substrates, and they were not associated only with the oldest stands. The low number of forest specialists in the oldest stands may be a general feature of acidophilus pine forests. However, it may also be a result of the lack of species sources in the vicinity of maturing pine stands. In managed forests a frequent diversity pattern is an increase in a species pool and richness after clear-cut logging. In the present study we obtained higher species pools in initiation and young stands, but richness was similar in all tree stand age classes. This resulted from taking into account species of different substrates (terrestrial, epixylous and epiphytic species) which changed their participation in the vegetation of subsequent stages of tree stand development.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Species diversity patterns in managed Scots pine stands in ancient forest sites

et al. 2019

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“…Use of AWIs is widespread both in terms of woodland ecology research (e.g. Kimberley et al 2013;Stefańska-Krzaczek et al 2016) and practical conservation (e.g. Goldberg et al, 2007;Kirby and Goldberg, 2002).…”

Section: Ancient Woodland Indicatorsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Questioning the reliability of “ancient” woodland indicators: Resilience to interruptions and persistence following deforestation

Webb

Goodenough

2018

Ecological Indicators

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Indicator species can provide invaluable insights into environmental conditions but robust empirical testing of their effectiveness is essential. Ancient woodland indicators (AWIs) are plant species considered indicative of sites that have been continuously wooded for a long period by virtue of poor dispersal ability and intolerance of nonwoodland habitats. Many countries now utilise AWI species lists to classify ancient woodlands. Here we use a metastudy approach to test resilience of AWIs to interruptions and persistence following deforestation-and thus the robustness of using AWI lists-using a novel approach. We compare current AWI assemblage with woodland history based on pollen evidence at nine sites across the UK with a robustly-dated and spatially-precise palynological profile. Sites were split into: (1) proven continuous woodland; (2) previously interrupted woodland; and (3) previously but not currently wooded. Vegetation history was >1000 years at most sites. Assessment of ancientness using AWIs agreed with palynologically-proven ancient woodland at two sites, including a species-poor woodland of previously-uncertain age. However, four interrupted woodland sites and three clear-felled sites supported extensive AWI floristic communities. This suggests AWIs are resilient to interruptions, possibly by remaining in the seed bank longer than expected, and persistent following deforestation. Persistence might be due to other species (e.g. heathland plants) acting as pseudo-canopy or because some AWIs are more tolerant of nonwoodland locations than previously thought. We conclude that use of floristic AWIs alone in defining ancient woodland should be reviewed, especially where status links to planning policy and conservation prioritisation. We suggest species on AWI lists be reviewed under expert and local guidance and a system of weighting species based on their strict or strong affinity solely with ancient woodland be developed. The use of multi-taxa indicators is recommended to allow stakeholders globally to make informed decisions about ancient woodland status.

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“…Because forests create a specific environment for plants and animals, a group of species typical of forests can be distinguished. Species in this group are commonly found in long-lasting patches of forest but are virtually absent in recently afforested lands, often due to their limited long-range dispersal ability [8,[14][15][16]. This phenomenon is well known in nature conservation, thus for practical reason an "ancient forest" has been defined as an area continuously forested since some threshold date [10,[17][18][19].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Changes in forest cover in Sudety Mountains during the last 250 years: patterns, drivers, and landscape-scale implications for nature conservation

et al. 2018

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Historical ecology gives a reference point to explain the contemporary state of particular ecosystems as well as entire landscapes. In this study, we examined the quantitative changes in forest cover in the central part of the Sudety Massif (area ca. 1,120 km 2 ) during the last 250 years. The information regarding forest patch distribution and its changes was derived by comparison of maps from 1747 and the 1970s drawn at scales of 1:33,000 and 1:25,000, respectively. To examine the effect of environmental variables (topography and soil conditions) and human population density on forest patch distribution and its changes (afforestation, deforestation), a set of 100 circular plots with a diameter of 1 km was established. The influence of explanatory variables was examined using regression tree methods. Changes at the level of the entire landscape were tested using a set of 25 landscape windows (5 × 5 km each). We found that the overall forest cover increased to 36.4% in the twentieth century from 30.4% in the middle of the eighteenth century. The ancient forests constituted 59% of the total forest area existing more recently. The forests in the eighteenth century occurred mostly on steep slopes, deep valley bottoms, and summits. The land relief explains more than half of the total variation in forest distribution (R 2 = 0.56). The effects of soil type and human population density were negligible. The contemporary forest pattern results from both land relief and the historical pattern of human population density in the middle of the eighteenth century (R 2 = 0.64), while the effect of soil type was negligible. The pattern of deforestation (R 2 = 0.53) and afforestation (R 2 = 0.36) results from both land relief as well as recent and nineteenth-century human population density. About 83% of the recent forest area is in physical contact with patches of the ancient forest, which provides an optimistic outlook for the migration of ancient forest species into new areas. Furthermore, changes in landscape structure reveal increased connectivity among forest patches, with potential benefits for the migration of forest species with long-range dispersal.

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Coexistence of ancient forest species as an indicator of high species richness

Cited by 25 publications

References 33 publications

Species diversity patterns in managed Scots pine stands in ancient forest sites

Species diversity patterns in managed Scots pine stands in ancient forest sites

Questioning the reliability of “ancient” woodland indicators: Resilience to interruptions and persistence following deforestation

Changes in forest cover in Sudety Mountains during the last 250 years: patterns, drivers, and landscape-scale implications for nature conservation

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