Limited Edge Effects Along a Burned-Unburned Bornean Forest Boundary Seven Years after Disturbance

Abstract

Large parts of the everwet tropics have been burned, leaving many unburned-burned forest edges. Here we studied a Bornean forest edge to determine: (1) how unburned and burned forest differ in vegetation structure, diversity, composition and plant functional traits 7 yr after fire, and (2) if these variables showed significant edge effects. Environmental and inventory data from 120 plots (0.01 ha each), covering both sides of a $1.3 km forest boundary were sampled. Differences in vegetation structure, diversity, composition and plant functional traits were analyzed in relation to disturbance type (Mann-Whitney tests) and edge distance (partial correlation analysis that controlled for confounding effects of elevation, slope and fire intensity). Seven years after fire, burned forest differed significantly from unburned forest in most measured variables while few significant edge effects were detected, i.e., there existed a sharp delimitation between the two forest types. The regeneration of the burned forest depended almost entirely on in situ recruitment with little input of late successional species from the neighboring old growth forest. On the other hand, old growth forest showed few signs of edge degradation. A possible explanation for these results might be related to the absence of a mast fruiting event during these first 7 yr of forest recovery, resulting in low levels of late successional species seed input into the burned forest, combined with the quick development of a closed canopy in the burned forest by early successional species that shielded the unburned forest from adverse edge effects.

Larger fragments have more late‐successional species of woody plants than smaller fragments after 50 years of secondary succession

“…high specific leaf area) compared to large forest patches (Magnago et al, 2014;Muscarella et al, 2017), and harbour low species richness (Chazdon, 2014). In contrast, some other studies have found little evidence for edge effects in regenerating forests (Slik et al, 2011).…”

“…high specific leaf area) compared to large forest patches (Magnago et al, ; Muscarella et al, ), and harbour low species richness (Chazdon, ). In contrast, some other studies have found little evidence for edge effects in regenerating forests (Slik et al, ). Consequently, the effects of habitat fragmentation processes on regenerating forests should be different from those reported on old‐growth forests, which are mostly related to mortality of late‐successional species near edges.…”

“…However, edge effects influenced species composition, biomass, and the proportion of flesh-fruited, shade-tolerant plants in our study, but not other successional indictors. Similarly, some studies have shown that edge effects are limited in regenerating forest fragments (Lawes, Lamb, & Boudreau, 2005;Slik et al, 2011). This is probably due to the rapid formation and closure of forest canopy (mainly pine trees), which result in similar microclimates in the edge and interior habitats at the current stage of succession.…”

Efeito de bordas lineares na fenologia de espécies arbóreas zoocóricas em um remanescente de Mata Atlântica

“…Alguns estudos avaliaram os efeitos de borda em fl orestas tropicais sobre a fenologia das plantas (revisão em Laurance et al 2003) ou sobre a distribuição das síndromes de dispersão (e.g., Tabarelli et al 1999;Slik et al 2011), mas pouco se sabe sobre as respostas combinadas dessas variáveis, o que permitiria avaliar os efeitos de borda sobre a variação temporal na disponibilidade de recursos aos frugívoros. Neste estudo foram registradas as síndromes de dispersão e a fenologia de frutifi cação das espécies arbóreas em bordas lineares e no interior fl orestal de um remanescente de Mata Atlântica, com o objetivo de: i) verifi car se há diferenças na distribuição das síndromes de dispersão entre os ambientes de borda e interior; ii) descrever o comportamento fenológico do conjunto de espécies de cada síndrome; iii.…”

Impacts of climate variability on tree demography in second growth tropical forests: the importance of regional context for predicting successional trajectories

“…) but Slik et al . () found limited edge effects in a burned forest in Borneo suggesting that the interactive effects of edges and fire may differ across regions. Since second growth and forest restoration plantings are more prevalent in human‐modified, fragmented landscapes (Sloan et al .…”