Facilitation among plants: A strategy for the ecological restoration of the high-andean forest (Bogotá, D.C.—Colombia)

Gómez-Ruíz, Pilar Angélica; Lindig‐Cisneros, Roberto; Ríos, Orlando Vargas

doi:10.1016/j.ecoleng.2013.04.049

Cited by 28 publications

(18 citation statements)

References 20 publications

Supporting

Mentioning

Contrasting

Unclassified

Order By: Relevance

“…Some of the species registered in the plantations are being used in ecological restoration projects such as: M. tamnifolia [93], M. theaezans [94,95], Lupinus spp. [96], Solanum spp, [97]. However, the biodiversity that has been developed inside these plantations is threatened by the future harvesting of the plantation.…”

Section: Recommendations For Pine Plantation Managementmentioning

confidence: 99%

Comparison of Natural Regeneration in Natural Grassland and Pine Plantations across an Elevational Gradient in the Páramo Ecosystem of Southern Ecuador

Dahik

Marín

Arias

et al. 2019

Forests

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

During the 1980s, reforestation programs using exotic species (Pinus spp.) were established in the páramo ecosystem of Ecuador. The aims of this study were: (1) to compare the natural regeneration between pine plantations (Pi) and natural grassland (NG) across an elevational gradient and (2) to identify the attributes of Pi and soil properties that were influencing herbaceous and woody plant composition and their plant cover. In total, six independent Pinus patula (Schltdl. & Cham. plantations (two per each elevation) were selected and distributed in an elevational range (3200-3400, 3400-3600, 3600-3800 m a.s.l.). Adjacent to Pi, plots in NG were established for recording natural regeneration. Both, namely the attributes and the soil samples, were measured in Pi. The results showed that natural regeneration differs significantly between both types of vegetation. As expected, NG holds more plant diversity than Pi; the elevational range showed a clear tendency that there was more herbaceous richness when elevation range increases, while the opposite was found for woody species. Moreover, attributes of Pi influenced herbaceous and woody vegetation, when saturated hydraulic conductivity (Ksat) in the soil, basal area (BA) and canopy density (CD) increased, herbaceous species richness and its cover decreseased; and when Ksat and the acidity in the soil increased, woody plants richness and its cover decreased. The plantations have facilitated the establishment of shade tolerant species. More studies are needed to evaluate if removal with adequate management of pine plantations can improve the restoration and conservation of the native vegetation of the páramo ecosystem.Forests 2019, 10, 745 2 of 30 diversity of the ecological conditions linked to the glacial geomorphology that has resulted in a large number of different plant associations, each one with their typical species [6].Elevation is an important factor that shapes plant diversity in the páramo. The elevational gradients combine sets of environmental conditions such as: temperature, wind velocity, atmospheric gas composition, water availability, nutrient deposition and cycling, soil weathering and solar radiation, all of which determine the composition and structure of vegetation [7]. Based on the influence of these factors and vegetation structure, the páramo has been divided into three zones, from lowest to highest: subpáramo, páramo (páramo grassland) and superpáramo [8]. The subpáramo, also called páramo forest, shrubby páramo, subpáramo woodland and subpáramo elfin forest [9], is the transition zone (ecotone) between the forest (upper montane cloud forest) and the páramo grassland [8][9][10][11]. The subpáramo is usually an entangle of shrubs and small dispersed trees, gradually reduced in size, that gives way to grasses and herbs [9]. The páramo vegetation zone, also called grass páramo or páramo grassland, is characterized by tussock grasses dominated by species of Calamagrostis and/or Festuca. Finally, above the páramo, there is the superpáramo, which i...

show abstract

Section: Recommendations For Pine Plantation Managementmentioning

confidence: 99%

Comparison of Natural Regeneration in Natural Grassland and Pine Plantations across an Elevational Gradient in the Páramo Ecosystem of Southern Ecuador

Dahik

Marín

Arias

et al. 2019

Forests

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…The results of these positive interactions can be useful when designing ecological restoration practices (Padilla & Pugnaire 2006), and there are an increasing number of examples of the application of facilitation in this regard (G omez-Aparicio 2009;G omez-Ruiz et al 2013). Shrubs have been suggested as a promising tool to accelerate secondary succession and tree establishment, because of the combination of the beneficial effects they exert on abiotic conditions under their canopy and their reduced detrimental effects due to competition: they are not as strong competitors as herbaceous species for underground resources, and not as strong competitors as trees for above-ground resources (Padilla & Pugnaire 2006;L opez et al 2007;G omez-Aparicio 2009).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Facilitation and edge effects influence vegetation regeneration in old‐fields at the tropical Andean forest line

Bueno

Llambí

2015

Applied Vegetation Science

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Questions: Do local plant-plant interactions and facilitation play an important role in vegetation dynamics after disturbance in the high tropical Andes? In particular, does the dominant shrub Baccharis prunifolia have an effect on microclimate and local vegetation structure within old-fields at the upper forest line? Does distance from the border of the surrounding forests also influence community structure within fallow plots? Is there an interaction between facilitation and edge effects on vegetation regeneration?Location: Gavidia Valley, Sierra Nevada de M erida, Venezuela.Methods: Plant cover, species richness and community structure were compared in circular micro-plots placed under the canopy of B. prunifolia shrubs and in open areas (12 micro-plots in each case) both near and far from the forest border within two 10-12 yr successional plots at 3400 m a.s.l. (a total of 96 micro-plots). Additionally, topsoil temperature was monitored for 1 mo in the four situations under study.Results: Average and maximum temperature and temperature amplitudes were lower under the canopy of B. prunifolia shrubs than in open areas; this effect being more marked far from the forest edge. Species richness, vegetation cover and the density of dominant forest trees were higher under the shrubs' canopy than in the inter-shrub spaces. The proximity to the edge of the surrounding forest also had a positive effect on species richness, with no significant interaction with the local sampling situation (under shrub vs outside). Conclusions:Our results suggest that both facilitation and edge effects influence the effectiveness of vegetation regeneration within old-fields in the high tropical Andes. Consequently, these processes should be considered for interpreting vegetation dynamics in environmental change scenarios at the tropical mountain tree line and for the design of ecological restoration strategies in these high-diversity ecotones, which have been subjected to large-scale anthropogenic transformations in recent decades.

show abstract

“…Interactions can be both positive (facilitation) and negative (competition), with the strength of these interactions tending to decrease as the space between plants increases (Tyler & D'Antonio ; Padilla & Pugnaire ). Facilitative interactions between plants occur when some individuals change the microclimate for other individuals by preventing extreme temperature fluctuations, providing shade, buffering wind, improving soil, and reducing herbivory (Holmgren et al ; Gómez‐Ruiz et al ). However, facilitative interactions may shift to competitive interactions as individuals grow, densities increase, or environmental conditions change (Holmgren et al ; Padilla & Pugnaire ; Raventós et al ).…”

Section: Effect Of Spatial Arrangements On Vegetationmentioning

confidence: 99%

Spatially designed revegetation—why the spatial arrangement of plants should be as important to revegetation as they are to natural systems

McCallum

Lowe

Breed

et al. 2018

Restoration Ecology

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

The spatial arrangements of plants, both within and between species, play a key role in natural systems and influence many fundamental ecological processes (e.g. survival, competition, facilitation, pollination, and seed dispersal) and ecosystem functions (e.g. habitat value, erosion, water, and nutrient capture). Despite this knowledge, fine‐scale planting arrangements are rarely considered during restoration plantings, yet manipulation of planting designs has the potential to aid the development of resilient and self‐sustaining ecosystems. Here, we outline how the spatial arrangement of plants can influence processes both at the vegetation level and more broadly at the ecosystem level. The review is focused on woodland systems, but also draws on key examples from grassland ecosystems. Following this synthesis, we identify research gaps in the revegetation literature that could usefully be addressed to help develop this understudied field of research. Finally, we outline components of population and community level arrangements (e.g. spacing, aggregation, community composition) that can be considered during restoration plantings—spatially designed revegetation—which are likely to lead to improved ecological outcomes of woodland and grassy woodland revegetation.

show abstract

Facilitation among plants: A strategy for the ecological restoration of the high-andean forest (Bogotá, D.C.—Colombia)

Cited by 28 publications

References 20 publications

Comparison of Natural Regeneration in Natural Grassland and Pine Plantations across an Elevational Gradient in the Páramo Ecosystem of Southern Ecuador

Comparison of Natural Regeneration in Natural Grassland and Pine Plantations across an Elevational Gradient in the Páramo Ecosystem of Southern Ecuador

Facilitation and edge effects influence vegetation regeneration in old‐fields at the tropical Andean forest line

Spatially designed revegetation—why the spatial arrangement of plants should be as important to revegetation as they are to natural systems

Contact Info

Product

Resources

About