Does restoration help the conservation of the threatened forest of Robinson Crusoe Island? The impact of forest gap attributes on endemic plant species richness and exotic invasions

Vargas, Rodrigo; Gärtner, Stefanie; Álvarez, Miguel; Hagen, Erin; Reif, Albert

doi:10.1007/s10531-013-0461-0

Cited by 23 publications

(15 citation statements)

References 38 publications

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“…In addition, for each study I determined whether the patches were created by human activities – either habitat loss or conversion of the matrix from natural to human‐dominated covers (or both). I also identified the cases where the patches were ephemeral or highly dynamic, for example stones in the inter‐tidal zone (Londoño‐Cruz & Tokeshi, ), tree gaps that will fill in (Vargas et al, ), or patches created by clear‐cuts that are allowed to re‐grow (Lindenmayer et al, ). I found no evidence for the predictions that SL > SS becomes more prevalent with increasing time since patch creation, and that instances of SS > SL should be more commonly observed shortly after patch creation.…”

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Why do several small patches hold more species than few large patches?

Fahrig

2020

Global Ecol Biogeogr

193

148

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Background The principle that a single large habitat patch should hold more species than several small patches totalling the same area (SL > SS) is used by conservation agencies to favour protection of large, contiguous areas. Previous reviews of empirical studies have found the opposite, SS > SL, creating the single large or several small (SLOSS) debate. Aims Review the empirical and theoretical SLOSS literature; identify potential mechanisms underlying the SS > SL pattern; evaluate these where possible. Location Global. Time period 1976–2018. Major taxa Plants, invertebrates, vertebrates. Methods Literature review. Results Like previous reviews, I found that SS > SL dominates empirical findings. This pattern remained, although it was somewhat weakened, in studies where sampling intensity was proportional to patch size. I found six classes of theory, and conducted five preliminary evaluations of theory. None of the predictions was supported. The SS > SL pattern held for specialist species groups, suggesting it does not result from incursion by generalists into small patches. I found no evidence for the prediction that the reverse pattern (SL > SS) becomes more common over time since patch creation, through gradual species losses from SS. I found no difference between results for natural and anthropogenic patches. There was also no evidence for predictions that SL > SS is more common when the matrix is more hostile, or for stable than ephemeral patches. Main conclusions Most empirical comparisons find SS > SL. While there are several potential causes, more empirical work is needed to identify those at play. Meanwhile, conservation practitioners should understand that there is no ecological evidence supporting a general principle to preserve large, contiguous habitat areas rather than multiple small areas of the same total size.

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Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Why do several small patches hold more species than few large patches?

Fahrig

2020

Global Ecol Biogeogr

193

148

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“…Here they seem to have higher establishment and growth rates. Gaps in this size range are commonly found in the forests of RCI where 1-3 gapmakers frequently create openings of less than 500 m 2 (Arellano, 2011;Vargas et al, 2013). The cover of ferns was positively associated with the performance of M. fernandeziana in the borders of gaps larger than 200 m 2 .…”

Section: What Influences the Density And Performance Of M Fernandezimentioning

confidence: 97%

“…For our study we used the expanded gap areas (i.e., canopy gap plus the adjacent area extending to the bases of the surrounding border trees >12 m high; Runkle, 1982). About one quarter of the forest canopy in the study area is affected by gaps that range in size between 46 and 777 m 2 , and are created mainly by senescent trees falling (Arellano, 2011;Vargas et al, 2013). These gaps are created at a yearly rate of ca 2% of the forest surface (Smith-Ramirez et al, 2013).…”

Section: Study Areamentioning

confidence: 99%

Tree regeneration in the threatened forest of Robinson Crusoe Island, Chile: The role of small-scale disturbances on microsite conditions and invasive species

G.¹,

Gärtner²,

Hagen³

et al. 2013

Forest Ecology and Management

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“…This research was carried out on Robinson Crusoe (RC) Island, which has the fourth most invaded island forests, in relation to its surface area, reported worldwide (Smith‐Ramírez et al ). On RC Island, most of the invasive species are found on slopes ≥20° (Díaz ; Vargas et al ). At present, small areas with invasive plants (130 m 2 on average) that were controlled at the end of the 1990s now have totally covered soil, mainly with native ferns and a giant herb (Vargas et al ).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…On RC Island, most of the invasive species are found on slopes ≥20° (Díaz ; Vargas et al ). At present, small areas with invasive plants (130 m 2 on average) that were controlled at the end of the 1990s now have totally covered soil, mainly with native ferns and a giant herb (Vargas et al ). However, areas controlled 5, 6, and even 7 years ago are still denuded, especially areas larger than 300 m 2 .…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Impact of invasive plant control on soil loss: a case study on Robinson Crusoe Island

Castillo

Smith‐Ramírez

2018

Restoration Ecology

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Mechanical and chemical controls are the most common methods used to detain the advance of plant invasions. In some areas, clear-cutting of invasive plants produces soil loss, one of the worst impacts on ecosystems. It has been argued that cutting invasive plants in small areas with root retention could be an adequate control management strategy to deal with this problem. In this study, the soil loss in small gaps after cutting two invasive woody species with root retention is compared with the soil loss in the invasive surrounding scrubland. On Robinson Crusoe Island, 15 small canopy gaps of 36 m 2 were created in an area covered with invasive species. The gaps had three slope ranks including 15-20 ∘ , 20-25 ∘ , and 25-35 ∘ . Annual soil loss was measured both in these gaps and the invasive scrubland over 1 year with graduate erosion pins. In spite of the small size of clear-cutting areas, we found erosion to be severe, to extremely severe, after plant control with root retention inside the small gaps with slope ranks between 25 and 35 ∘ . On the other hand, in slopes less than 25 ∘ soil loss was similar in the small clear-cut gaps and invasive scrublands. Thus, we recommend precaution if the intention is to avoid erosion through clear-cutting control with root retention in fragile soils and slope areas, even in small areas. Implications for Practice• We recommend clear-cutting with root retention of invasive species in small and low-slope areas. • In areas with steeper slopes, however, additional measures should be taken to detain erosion until soil coverage with the desired species is achieved.

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Does restoration help the conservation of the threatened forest of Robinson Crusoe Island? The impact of forest gap attributes on endemic plant species richness and exotic invasions

Cited by 23 publications

References 38 publications

Why do several small patches hold more species than few large patches?

Why do several small patches hold more species than few large patches?

Tree regeneration in the threatened forest of Robinson Crusoe Island, Chile: The role of small-scale disturbances on microsite conditions and invasive species

Impact of invasive plant control on soil loss: a case study on Robinson Crusoe Island

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