Effects of forest clear-cutting and soil disturbance on the biology of small forest brooks

Holopainen, Anna‐Liisa; Huttunen, Pertti

doi:10.1007/978-94-011-2745-5_48

Cited by 14 publications

(9 citation statements)

References 7 publications

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“…Light limitation of primary production during late spring and summer is common in small streams in forested catchments, and is the basis for predictions of low rates of primary productivity in low-order streams in the River Continuum Concept (Vannote et al, 1980). The importance of light limitation has been demonstrated in several studies in which increases in stream algal growth occurred after forest clear-cutting (Holopainen & Huttunen, 1992;Kiffney et al, 2003), insect defoliation of riparian trees (Sheath et al, 1986), and experimental light addition (Steinman, 1992;Hill et al, 1995). Several cross-site studies have shown that light is the primary driver of autochthonous production in streams (Bott et al, 1985;Mulholland et al, 2001).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Stream ecosystem responses to the 2007 spring freeze in the southeastern United States: unexpected effects of climate change

Mulholland

Roberts

Hill

et al. 2009

Global Change Biology

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Some expected changes in climate resulting from human greenhouse gas emissions are clear and well documented, but others may be harder to predict because they involve extreme weather events or heretofore unusual combinations of weather patterns. One recent example of unusual weather that may become more frequent with climate change occurred in early spring 2007 when a large Arctic air mass moved into the eastern United States following a very warm late winter. In this paper, we document effects of this freeze event on Walker Branch, a well-studied stream ecosystem in eastern Tennessee. The 2007 spring freeze killed newly grown leaf tissues in the forest canopy, dramatically increasing the amount of light reaching the stream. Light levels at the stream surface were sustained at levels considerably above those normal for the late spring and summer months due to the incomplete recovery of canopy leaf area. Increased light levels caused a cascade of ecological effects in the stream beginning with considerably higher (twothree times) rates of gross primary production (GPP) during the late spring and summer months when normally low light levels severely limit stream GPP. Higher rates of stream GPP in turn resulted in higher rates of nitrate (NO 3 À ) uptake by the autotrophic community and lower NO 3 À concentrations in stream water. Higher rates of stream GPP in summer also resulted in higher growth rates of a dominant herbivore, the snail Elimia clavaeformis. Typically, during summer months net NO 3 À uptake and snail growth rates are zero to negative; however, in 2007 uptake and growth were maintained at moderate levels. These results show how changes in forest vegetation phenology can have dramatic effects on stream productivity at multiple trophic levels and on nutrient cycling as a result of tight coupling of forest and stream ecosystems. Thus, climate change-induced changes in canopy structure and phenology may lead to large effects on stream ecosystems in the future.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Stream ecosystem responses to the 2007 spring freeze in the southeastern United States: unexpected effects of climate change

Mulholland

Roberts

Hill

et al. 2009

Global Change Biology

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“…In particular, while both the hydrological and limnological impact of forest clear-cutting have been described in many studies (e.g. Gurtz and Wallace, 1984;Wallace and Gurtz, 1986;Golladay et al, 1989;Bilby and Bisson, 1992;Garman and Moring, 1993;Ormerod et al, 1993), only a few have dealt with the ecological impact of forest drainage on lotic ecosystems (Bergquist et al, 1984;Holopainen and Huttunen, 1992;Vuori and Joensuu, 1996).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 98%

Forest drainage: a threat to benthic biodiversity of boreal headwater streams?

Vuori

Joensuu

Latvala

et al. 1998

Aquatic Conserv: Mar. Freshw. Ecosyst.

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“…These effects of increasing light on benthic metabolism may be exacerbated when coincident with elevated nutrient concentrations [77]. Consistent with this, studies of clear-cutting in boreal streams show increases in benthic algal and bacterial productivity that correspond to both elevated incident light, and increases in stream nutrient availability [78,79]. Tree harvesting and near-stream management can also greatly impact sediment delivery and inputs of woody debris, both of which can have long-term effects on channel structure [80], and play a key role in the ecology and biogeochemistry of forest streams [81].…”

Section: Impacts Of Tree Harvestingmentioning

confidence: 60%

Consequences of More Intensive Forestry for the Sustainable Management of Forest Soils and Waters

Laudon

Sponseller

Lucas

et al. 2011

Forests

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Additions of nutrients, faster growing tree varieties, more intense harvest practices, and a changing climate all have the potential to increase forest production in Sweden, thereby mitigating climate change through carbon sequestration and fossil fuel substitution. However, the effects of management strategies for increased biomass production on soil resources and water quality at landscape scales are inadequately understood. Key knowledge gaps also remain regarding the sustainability of shorter rotation periods and more intensive biomass harvests. This includes effects of fertilization on the long-term weathering and supply of base cations and the consequences of changing mineral availability for future forest production. Furthermore, because soils and surface waters are closely connected, management efforts in the terrestrial landscape will potentially have consequences for water quality and the ecology of streams, rivers, and lakes. Here, we review and discuss some of the most pertinent questions related to how increased forest biomass production in Sweden could affect soils and surface waters, and how contemporary forestry goals can be met while minimizing the loss of other ecosystem services. We suggest that the development of management plans to promote the sustainable use of soil resources and water quality, while maximizing biomass production, will require a holistic ecosystem approach that is placed within a broader landscape perspective

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Effects of forest clear-cutting and soil disturbance on the biology of small forest brooks

Cited by 14 publications

References 7 publications

Stream ecosystem responses to the 2007 spring freeze in the southeastern United States: unexpected effects of climate change

Stream ecosystem responses to the 2007 spring freeze in the southeastern United States: unexpected effects of climate change

Forest drainage: a threat to benthic biodiversity of boreal headwater streams?

Consequences of More Intensive Forestry for the Sustainable Management of Forest Soils and Waters

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