Selective logging enhances ecosystem multifunctionality via increase of functional diversity in a Pinus yunnanensis forest in Southwest China

Abstract

Background The impacts of selective logging on ecosystem multifunctionality (EMF) remain largely unexplored. In this study, we analyzed the response of nine variables related to four ecosystem functions (i.e. nutrient cycling, soil carbon stocks, decomposition, and wood production) to five selective logging intensities in a Pinus yunnanensis-dominated forest. We included a control group with no harvest to evaluate the potential shifts in EMF of the P. yunnanensis forests. We also assessed the relationship between above- and belowground biodiversity and EMF under these different selective logging intensities. Additionally, we evaluated the effects of biotic and abiotic factors on EMF using a structural equation modeling (SEM) approach. Results Individual ecosystem functions (EFs) all had a significant positive correlation with selective logging intensity. Different EFs showed different patterns with the increase of selective logging intensity. We found that EMF tended to increase with logging intensity, and that EMF significantly improved when the stand was harvested at least twice. Both functional diversity and soil moisture had a significant positive correlation with EMF, but soil fungal operational taxonomic units (OTUs) had a significant negative correlation with EMF. Based on SEM, we found that selective logging improved EMF mainly by increasing functional diversity. Conclusion Our study demonstrates that selective logging is a good management technique from an EMF perspective, and thus provide us with potential guidelines to improve forest management in P. yunnanensis forests in this region. The functional diversity is maximized through reasonable selective logging measures, so as to enhance EMF.

Selective logging destabilizes the functioning and composition of forest ecosystems at multiple spatial scales

“…We acknowledge that there are some limitations to this study, although our experimental unit is extensive compared with several other smaller selective logging experiments (Martin et al 2015, Huang et al 2020). According to the experience gained in previous studies, (BSRs) are affected by the spatial extent and grain size (Zhang et al 2018).…”

“…By removing a limited number of individual trees while leaving the rest intact, selective logging may change the composition and relative abundance of species, resulting in an increase or decrease in species diversity (Martin et al 2015, Geng et al 2021). As some individuals are removed leading to sparse stands, selective logging may change the original forest microclimate, soil moisture and nutrient status, and thus lead to changes in the processes affecting tree biology (Oldén et al 2019, Huang et al 2020). A growing number of studies have shown that high logging intensities may reduce biodiversity, disrupt forest structure, and impair the functioning of ecosystems (Asner et al 2004, Martin et al 2015, Huang et al 2020).…”

“…As some individuals are removed leading to sparse stands, selective logging may change the original forest microclimate, soil moisture and nutrient status, and thus lead to changes in the processes affecting tree biology (Oldén et al 2019, Huang et al 2020). A growing number of studies have shown that high logging intensities may reduce biodiversity, disrupt forest structure, and impair the functioning of ecosystems (Asner et al 2004, Martin et al 2015, Huang et al 2020). However, there is still a lack of research linking selective logging, biodiversity, and stability of forest ecosystems.…”

Using taxonomic and phylogenetic diversity to select the optimal Pinus yunnanensis community configuration

“…Zavaleta et al [22] obtained in the study of testing the impact of species diversity on the function of grassland ecosystems that more diverse communities tend to consistently provide higher levels of multiple ecosystem functions over long periods of time. Traditional research in biodiversity and ecosystem functioning has primarily focused on the number and distribution of species as the primary metric for biodiversity measurement [23][24][25][26] . However, many studies have demonstrated that evolutionary history also plays a crucial role in influencing ecosystem functioning [16,23,27] .…”

Soil Fungal Composition Drives Ecosystem Multifunctionality after Long-Term Field Nitrogen and Phosphorus Addition in Alpine Meadows on the Tibetan Plateau

“…The relationship between biodiversity and ecosystem multifunctionality (BEMF) has become a new research hotspot in recent years. Species diversity is widely used in BEMF [ 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 , 5 , 6 ]. For example, Hector and Bagchi [ 7 ] quantitatively analyzed the impact of species diversity on EMF and concluded that maintaining higher EMF requires more species.…”