Diverging effects of two contrasting tree species on soil and herb layer development in a chronosequence of post-agricultural forest

Thomaes, Arno; Keersmaeker, Luc De; Calster, Hans Van; Schrijver, An De; Vandekerkhove, Kris; Verstraeten, Gorik; Verheyen, Kris

doi:10.1016/j.foreco.2012.04.026

Cited by 25 publications

(15 citation statements)

References 66 publications

Supporting

Mentioning

Contrasting

Order By: Relevance

“…Namely, Calvaruso et al (2011) saw a soil acidifying effect of beech, while Ewald (2000), Langenbruch et al (2012) and Verstraeten et al (2013) observed this effect in the presence of spruce, and Finch & Szumelda (2007) for Douglas-fir. Aubert et al (2004) saw an increasing occurrence of acidophilous species during beech stand maturation, while Thomaes et al (2012) concluded the same for oak stands. Table 1.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 92%

See 1 more Smart Citation

Disentangling tree species identity and richness effects on the herb layer: first results from a German tree diversity experiment

Ampoorter

Baeten

Vanhellemont

et al. 2015

J Vegetation Science

Self Cite

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Questions: The forest herb layer provides a multitude of ecosystem services as a result of its species-rich character. Herb layer diversity and biomass are both influenced by tree layer composition and species richness through species-specific influences on environmental conditions. The results of observational studies on richness-biomass relationships between tree and herb layer have not been unequivocal. We examined tree species identity and richness effects on herb layer species richness, composition, biomass and nutrient concentrations in young experimental tree plantations. Location: BIOTREE tree diversity experiment, site Kaltenborn, Germany Methods: Sixteen plots were planted in 2004, using a pool of four tree species (beech, oak, douglas-fir, spruce) and four richness levels comprised of all possible species combinations. In this way, complete dilution was avoided, allowing separation of tree species identity and richness effects. Mixed plots consisted of a matrix of monospecific patches. One permanent vegetation quadrat of 1 m2 was established in the centre of four patches per plot. The herb layer was monitored in 2004 and 2010, in 2010 light measurements were performed in each quadrat, and in 2011 aboveground biomass was sampled on 0.25 m2 within the quadrat. Results: Community composition shifted markedly between 2004 and 2010. Tree species identity did not yet influence temporal compositional turnover or herb-layer species richness in 2004 and 2010. Ellenberg N indicated a temporal shift towards lower soil fertility under all tree species, whereas Ellenberg R indicated decreasing soil acidity under beech and douglas-fir. Ellenberg L and F showed no shift from 2004 to 2010. Apart from the significantly lower Ellenberg N for beech, none of the Ellenberg indicators indicated interspecific differences. Douglas-fir and especially spruce negatively influenced total aboveground herb layer biomass. Douglas-fir also induced lower relative light availability, higher potassium, magnesium and nitrogen concentrations and lower carbon:nitrogen ratios in the total biomass. Higher tree species richness positively affected graminoid and total biomass and also slightly increased plot level herb layer species richness. Conclusions: Despite the young age of the experiment, tree species identity and richness effects on the herb layer could be discerned. We expect these relations to become stronger with time

show abstract

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 92%

“…() saw an increasing occurrence of acidophilous species during beech stand maturation, while Thomaes et al. () concluded the same for oak stands. Augusto et al.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 94%

Disentangling tree species identity and richness effects on the herb layer: first results from a German tree diversity experiment

Ampoorter

Baeten

Vanhellemont

et al. 2015

J Vegetation Science

Self Cite

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…First, higher microtopographic heterogeneity (Frouz et al, 2018) of spontaneously revegetated sites favours species diversity in contrast to traditional forestry reclaimed sites that are levelled prior to tree planting (Gilland & McCarthy, 2014;Mudrák, Doležal, & Frouz, 2016;Řehounková et al, 2016). Second, increased shading from densely planted trees together with thick litter layers alters site characteristics in forestry reclaimed sites, thus resulting in a decline in species numbers (Thomaes et al, 2012). Shading increases also on spontaneously revegetated sites as they develop towards woodlands (Řehounková, Lencová, & Prach, 2018), but the canopy is not as dense, which favours more species in the herb layer (Mudrák et al, 2016 (Sitzia, Campagnaro, Dainese, & Cierjacks, 2012).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Spontaneous revegetation versus forestry reclamation—Vegetation development in coal mining spoil heaps across Central Europe

et al. 2018

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Comparison of spontaneous revegetation and forestry reclamation can provide valuable information about the trajectories and rate of vegetation development applicable to restoration practice over broader geographical scales. In the current study, we sampled terrestrial vegetation in spontaneously revegetated and forestry reclaimed spoil heaps after brown coal mining differing in age in three regions across Central Europe (Germany, the Czech Republic, and Hungary). The main objective was to compare the course of vegetation development and species richness between the two restoration methods over a large geographical scale. In all geographical regions, species richness was higher on spontaneously revegetated sites. Although the starting point differed across regions, trajectories to woodland development converged with time. In addition, spontaneous revegetation was comparably as fast as forestry reclamation in developing towards woodland. Spontaneous revegetation proved to be more valuable and cost‐effective in terms of nature conservation and should be considered as an alternative restoration strategy to forestry reclamation in Central Europe.

show abstract

“…We then calculated the shade-casting ability (SCA) and litter quality (LQ) of the tree layer, weighted by basal area, for each plot (cf. Van Calster et al 2007, 2008, Baeten et al 2009). The ordinal indices SCA and LQ describe the shade-casting ability, from 1 (low) to 6 (high), and litter quality, from 1 (slow) to 5 (fast litter decomposition), of tree and shrub species (see electronic appendix 1).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Thimonier et al 1992, Lameire et al 2000, Bernhardt-Römermann et al 2007, changes in forest management, canopy cover and composition (e.g. Van Calster et al 2007, 2008, Baeten et al 2009, Hédl et al 2010, and changes in the abundance of large herbivores (e.g. Kirby & Thomas 2000, Rooney 2009, Royo et al 2010.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Relating changes in understorey diversity to environmental drivers in an ancient forest in northern Belgium

Vanhellemont¹,

Baeten²,

Verheyen³

2014

Plecevo

Self Cite

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Background and aims - A renewed interest in the functional role and dynamics of forest understorey plant communities has lead to an increasing number of publications that present the results of understorey resurveys. However, studies looking at the possible causes of temporal changes in the understorey often lack data on soil and tree layer conditions for the old survey. We investigated how changes in the tree layer, soil, and understorey were related in two contrasting forest types. Methods - Full re-inventory of the tree layer (1997, 2010) and resurvey of the soil and understorey in 40 plots on a permanent grid (1993, 2011) in an ancient temperate deciduous forest. The 1.83 ha study area consisted of a part dominated by oak (Quercus robur) and beech (Fagus sylvatica) and a part dominated by ash (Fraxinus excelsior). Key results - Overall, the basal area and shade-casting ability of the tree layer had increased. In the oak-beech forest, the soil pH had decreased; below ash, the topsoil pH had increased. The understorey species richness had increased, and the change in species richness was correlated with the change in soil pH and basal area, the latter in the oak-beech forest only. The observed patterns in understorey dissimilarity were different for the dataset including or excluding the regeneration of woody species. Conclusions - The changes in soil and understorey differed between the two forest types, and there were some indications of recovery from soil acidification in the ash forest

show abstract

Diverging effects of two contrasting tree species on soil and herb layer development in a chronosequence of post-agricultural forest

Cited by 25 publications

References 66 publications

Disentangling tree species identity and richness effects on the herb layer: first results from a German tree diversity experiment

Disentangling tree species identity and richness effects on the herb layer: first results from a German tree diversity experiment

Spontaneous revegetation versus forestry reclamation—Vegetation development in coal mining spoil heaps across Central Europe

Relating changes in understorey diversity to environmental drivers in an ancient forest in northern Belgium

Contact Info

Product

Resources

About