Recovery of plant community functional traits following severe soil perturbation in plantations: a case-study

Abstract

We present a case study in which we assessed the effects of a severe soil perturbation on the plant community and soil variables in young hybrid poplar (Populus sp.) plantations of southern Québec (Canada). Our overall goal was to test if soil perturbation and planting fast-growing species could promote the reestablishment of a relatively diverse plant community. A chronosequence that included three plantations (4, 8, and 12-year old) established after soil scarification, paired with three natural stands representative of the local temperate mixedwood forest comprising both pioneer and late-successional tree species, was implemented. Vegetation surveys and soil collection were performed in 2012 and species traits were provided by the Traits Of Plants In Canada and TRY databases. Principal response curve analyses showed species and functional trait divergence between treated and natural stands at ages 4 and 8, but that those divergences were less at age 12. Species and trait convergences were slower in the scarification furrows than in the scarification berms (mounds between furrows). However, severe site preparation did not appear to affect soil variables on the study sites. Our results suggest that even following severe site preparation, gradual recovery of species and trait composition similar to that of natural stands appears possible in the long term, mainly through fast canopy development by hybrid poplar. However, organic material export and soil erosion risks associated with this type of site preparation need to be evaluated. ARTICLE HISTORY

Structural Characteristics, Ecology, and Dynamics of Plant-Communities in Toffo Forest Plantations (Benin, West Africa): Lessons Learnt for Forest Sites Identification, Forest Productivity, and a Sustainable Management of the Forest Resources

“…According to Bremer and Farley [30], the degree of biodiversity conservation by plantations in comparison with the original soil cover depends on whether we are dealing with the conversion of a pasture, a shrubby cover, a secondary forest or primary forest into plantations and whether the species used in plantations are exotic or endogenous. According to Humphrey et al [31], Carnus et al [32], Eycott et al [33] and Hébert et al [34], the stages of development of the plantations, their topographical positions, the silvicultural practices, the age of the plantations, their density, the origin of the planted species, the density of the canopy, the logging methods such as clear-cutting etc. affect the biodiversity of forest plantations and highlight the need to take into account the history of land use when assessing the species richness of forest plantations.…”

Issues and perspectives on the use of exotic species in the sustainable management of Canadian forests

“…Productivity of exotic tree plantations can however be up to five times that of natural forests and is usually higher than that of indigenous species plantations (Elfving et al 2001;Rytter and Stener 2005;Paquette and Messier 2010;Nelson et al 2011;Tullus et al 2012). The rapid canopy closure in exotic tree plantation can accelerate successional processes (Hébert et al 2016), and favor the establishment of tree regeneration (Brockerhoff et al 2008). Exotic tree productivity is however highly dependent upon site characteristics and management practices; these must be well adapted to the species autecology so they present the expected growth rates (Tab.…”