Forest Ecosystems最新文献

{"title":"Demystifying field application of Critical Height Sampling in estimating stand volume","authors":"Hsiao-Chi Lo,&nbsp;Tzeng Yih Lam","doi":"10.1016/j.fecs.2025.100298","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.fecs.2025.100298","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Critical Height Sampling (CHS) estimates stand volume free from any model and tree form assumptions. Despite its introduction more than four decades ago, CHS has not been widely applied in the field due to perceived challenges in measurement. The objectives of this study were to compare estimated stand volume between CHS and sampling methods that used volume or taper models, the equivalence of the sampling methods, and their relative efficiency. We established 65 field plots in planted forests of two coniferous tree species. We estimated stand volume for a range of Basal Area Factors (BAFs). Results showed that CHS produced the most similar mean stand volume across BAFs and tree species with maximum differences between BAFs of 5–18 ​m³·ha⁻¹. Horizontal Point Sampling (HPS) using volume models produced very large variability in mean stand volume across BAFs with the differences up to 126 ​m³·ha⁻¹. However, CHS was less precise and less efficient than HPS. Furthermore, none of the sampling methods were statistically interchangeable with CHS at an allowable tolerance of ≤55 ​m³·ha⁻¹. About 72% of critical height measurements were below crown base indicating that critical height was more accessible to measurement than expected. Our study suggests that the consistency in the mean estimates of CHS is a major advantage when planning a forest inventory. When checking against CHS, results hint that HPS estimates might contain potential model bias. These strengths of CHS could outweigh its lower precision. Our study also implies serious implications in financial terms when choosing a sampling method. Lastly, CHS could potentially benefit forest management as an alternate option of estimating stand volume when volume or taper models are lacking or are not reliable.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":54270,"journal":{"name":"Forest Ecosystems","volume":"13 ","pages":"Article 100298"},"PeriodicalIF":3.8,"publicationDate":"2025-01-23","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143071604","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Drought resilience and legacy effects in two forest tree species on Loess Plateau of China: Growth and water-use efficiency under different drought conditions","authors":"Lu Han ,&nbsp;J. Julio Camarero ,&nbsp;Guodong Jia ,&nbsp;Zhiqiang Zhang ,&nbsp;Lixin Chen","doi":"10.1016/j.fecs.2025.100297","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.fecs.2025.100297","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>As droughts become more frequent and severer, understanding tree resilience and its role in mediating drought legacy effects (LEs) is critical for predicting forest ecosystem responses to future droughts and informing forest management. Both <em>Pinus tabuliformis</em> and <em>Populus davidiana</em> are widely distributed in the Loess Plateau region of western China and play important roles in provision of ecosystem services. In this study we quantified the LEs and resilience, including resistance (Rt) and recovery (Rc), of radial growth (BAI, basal area increment) and intrinsic water use efficiency (iWUE) of the two species, determined the external and internal factors influencing Rt and Rc, and disentangled the respective contribution of Rt and Rc to LEs in the these two tree species. We found either negative or positive legacy effects in BAI (LE_BAI) and iWUE (LE_iWUE) in both species, mostly lasting for 1–3 years. Species differences were only detected in LE_iWUE during the severer drought event. But species variation in resilience did not differ. <em>P</em>. <em>tabuliformis</em> exhibited lower Rt but higher Rc than <em>P. davidiana</em>. Tree diameter and drought intensity were negatively correlated with Rt and Rc; whereas tree age and growth variability positively influenced both resilience components. In <em>P. tabulaeformis</em>, the influence of Rt was stronger on LE than on Rc during the milder droughts, whereas during the severer droughts LE was affected by Rc. The reversed patterns of the effects were exhibited by <em>P. davidiana</em>. Our findings help advance current understanding on the factors driving resilience and how trees use different resilience strategies under different drought conditions to alleviate negative LEs.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":54270,"journal":{"name":"Forest Ecosystems","volume":"13 ","pages":"Article 100297"},"PeriodicalIF":3.8,"publicationDate":"2025-01-20","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143402727","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"The influence of the Eurasian beaver's gnawing activity on the structure of riparian forests in three Italian rivers","authors":"Giovanni Trentanovi ,&nbsp;Thomas Campagnaro ,&nbsp;Alessandro Campanaro ,&nbsp;Alessio Giovannelli ,&nbsp;Silvia Gisondi ,&nbsp;Alice Lenzi ,&nbsp;Giuseppe Mazza ,&nbsp;Maria Laura Traversi ,&nbsp;Andrea Viviano ,&nbsp;Emiliano Mori","doi":"10.1016/j.fecs.2025.100296","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.fecs.2025.100296","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>The Eurasian beaver (<em>Castor fiber</em> Linnaeus, 1758) can be considered a hydrological ecosystem engineer as it shapes environmental characteristics through its building activities and feeding behaviour. Even if several studies have so far reported beaver impact on multi-taxon biodiversity and forest regeneration, there is a lack of research on forest stand structure evolution following beaver direct activity on trees. This represents a pivotal topic for predicting restoration outcomes and reccommending sound silvicultural and management practices to maintain specific forest conditions. Specifically, the study aims at investigating forest stand structure and tree species diversity changes considering river variability, distance from the riverbank and beaver's gnawing activity intensity. The Eurasian beaver is only recently recolonising the three analysed Mediterranean rivers, but stand structure seems to be already significantly impacted by the species. The number of trees was reduced, increasing mean diameter at breast height at stand level, as most of the youngest and/or smaller trees are entirely cut down. Strongest structural variations can be detected in intensively impacted stands and in the forest portions closer to the riverbank. The absence of a significant effect on most of the diversity indices is likely due to the initially homogeneous composition of the tree layer in each stand and to the limited variety of beaver's diet within the sites. Future resprouting of secondary tree shoots, as well as beaver gnawing activity changes in intensity over time and space, can further produce variations in structural parameters and woody species diversity in the medium- and long-term period. Therefore, it will be crucial to further monitor the long-term effects, as structural shifts can produce significant effects on riparian ecosystem functions.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":54270,"journal":{"name":"Forest Ecosystems","volume":"13 ","pages":"Article 100296"},"PeriodicalIF":3.8,"publicationDate":"2025-01-17","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143183228","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Species-specific influences of competition and tree size on drought sensitivity and resistance for three planted conifers in northern China","authors":"Rui Deng ,&nbsp;Jinglei Liao ,&nbsp;Tim Rademacher ,&nbsp;Zhongqi Xu ,&nbsp;Mingchao Du ,&nbsp;Jianwei Zheng ,&nbsp;Lihua Fu ,&nbsp;Xianliang Zhang","doi":"10.1016/j.fecs.2025.100295","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.fecs.2025.100295","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Droughts have caused tree growth decline and high tree mortality across temperate forests, however, how to manage planted forests to alleviate drought stress is still challenging. We used tree-ring and forest inventory data from different density stands to investigate how competition, tree diameter at breast height (DBH), tree age, and their interactions influence drought sensitivity and resistance for three widely-distributed and planted conifer species (<em>Larix principis-rupprechtii</em>, <em>Picea meyeri</em>, and <em>Pinus sylvestris</em> var. <em>mongolica</em>). Our results showed that the drought sensitivity of the three species was influenced by competition, tree size, and their interactions. Large <em>L.</em> <em>principis-rupprechtii</em> trees were particularly sensitive to drought during the growing season in medium to high-density stands, while the growth of large <em>P. sylvestris</em> var. <em>mongolica</em> was most affected by precipitation at low to medium density stands. Drought resistance of <em>L. principis-rupprechtii</em> trees decreased as tree size increased. Large <em>L.</em> <em>principis-rupprechtii</em> trees had lower drought resistance than small trees in all stands. Drought resistance of large <em>P. meyeri</em> trees exhibited high resistance to drought only in high-density stands. However, drought resistance of <em>P. sylvestris</em> var. <em>mongolica</em> trees was affected by tree size, competition, and their interactions. These results indicated that targeted silvicultural interventions, such as thinning, can be implemented to enhance drought resistance specifically for large <em>L. principis-rupprechtii</em> trees and small <em>P. sylvestris</em> var. <em>mongolica</em> trees in medium and high competition stands, and small <em>P. meyeri</em> trees in high competition stands. Our results highlight that properly conducted thinning can in some cases enhance growth resistance to droughts, depending on stand density, tree size, and tree species.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":54270,"journal":{"name":"Forest Ecosystems","volume":"13 ","pages":"Article 100295"},"PeriodicalIF":3.8,"publicationDate":"2025-01-16","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143035223","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Increased positive tree species mixture effects on the abundance and richness of Collembola with stand development in Canadian boreal forests","authors":"Yakun Zhang ,&nbsp;Sai Peng ,&nbsp;Zilong Ma ,&nbsp;Chen Chen ,&nbsp;Bilei Gao ,&nbsp;Xinli Chen ,&nbsp;Han Y.H. Chen","doi":"10.1016/j.fecs.2025.100294","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.fecs.2025.100294","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>It is well established that species mixtures could enhance ecosystem functioning in diverse ecosystem types, with these benefits increasing over time. However, the impact of tree mixtures on Collembola communities following stand development in natural forests remains unclear, despite the critical roles Collembola plays in litter decomposition and nutrient cycling. We investigated the effects of tree species mixtures on Collembola abundance, diversity, and community structure by sampling pure and mixed jack pine (<em>Pinus banksiana</em> Lamb.) and trembling aspen (<em>Populus tremuloides</em> Michx.) of 15-year-old and 41-year-old stands in natural boreal forest. In total, 6,620 individuals of Collembola were identified as belonging to 39 species/morphospecies. Our results showed significant effects of stand types on Collembola with higher abundance and richness in conifer and mixed stands than in broadleaf stands. Additionally, with stand development, we observed increased Collembola abundance and richness. In 15-year-old stands, Collembola abundance, richness, and evenness in mixed-species stands were comparable to those in single-species stands. However, as stands developed, tree mixture effects became more pronounced, resulting in higher Collembola abundance and richness in mixed-species stands compared to the average of single-species stands in 41-year-old stands. Further, we observed positive associations between the mixture effects on Collembola abundance and richness with soil nutrient contents. We conclude that tree species mixtures can significantly enhance Collembola abundance and diversity, particularly in older stands and those with elevated soil nutrient levels.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":54270,"journal":{"name":"Forest Ecosystems","volume":"13 ","pages":"Article 100294"},"PeriodicalIF":3.8,"publicationDate":"2025-01-07","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143183227","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Variable growth responses of four tree species to climate and drought in a Madrean pine-oak forest","authors":"Marín Pompa-García ,&nbsp;J. Julio Camarero ,&nbsp;Cristina Valeriano ,&nbsp;Eduardo Daniel Vivar-Vivar","doi":"10.1016/j.fecs.2025.100292","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.fecs.2025.100292","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>The tolerance of tree growth to drought in diverse mixed forests subjected to seasonal water shortage is understudied despite their ecological and economic relevance. By combining intra- and inter-annual analyses of radial growth responses to climate and drought at daily and monthly scales, different strategies to acclimate to hydroclimate variability of coexisting conifers and broadleaves were unveiled. We analyzed the growth patterns and responses to hydroclimate variability in two conifers (<em>Pinus engelmannii</em>, <em>Juniperus deppeana</em>) and two broadleaves (<em>Quercus grisea</em>, <em>Arbutus arizonica</em>) co-occurring in a Madrean pine-oak forest located in NW México. The strongest positive response to daily precipitation was found in the two conifers, but this response peaked earlier in <em>J. deppeana</em> than in <em>P. engelmannii</em>, which presented a more delayed formation of radially-enlarging tracheids. The latest negative response to temperature was found in <em>Q. grisea</em>, which agrees with its more delayed xylogenesis than <em>A. arizonica</em>. <em>P. engelmannii</em> presented the highest responsiveness to water shortage, driven by lower precipitation and high maximum temperatures, responding to longer droughts ending in autumn (<em>r</em> ​= ​0.72), whilst <em>A. arizonica</em> showed the lowest responsiveness to short spring droughts (<em>r</em> ​= ​0.39). Growth of <em>P. engelmannii</em> was linked to climate-atmospheric circulation patterns over the near Pacific Ocean. Overall, <em>P. engelmannii</em> and <em>A. arizonica</em> showed high growth rates and earlier growth onset, whilst <em>J. deppeana</em> and <em>Q. grisea</em> showed slower growth rates and later growth onset. The Vaganov-Shashkin growth model evidenced that winter-spring soil moisture was the key driver of growth. Under more arid conditions and more frequent and hotter droughts, pine stands could rapidly shift towards mixed pine-oak forests.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":54270,"journal":{"name":"Forest Ecosystems","volume":"12 ","pages":"Article 100292"},"PeriodicalIF":3.8,"publicationDate":"2025-01-02","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142967826","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"The patterns of forest soil particulate and mineral associated organic carbon characteristics with latitude and soil depth across eastern China","authors":"Yunlong Hu ,&nbsp;Gukailin Ao ,&nbsp;Jiguang Feng ,&nbsp;Xiao Chen ,&nbsp;Biao Zhu","doi":"10.1016/j.fecs.2024.100291","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.fecs.2024.100291","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Forest ecosystems function as the largest carbon (C) sink in terrestrial ecosystems, and nearly half of the C in forest ecosystems is stored in forest soils. However, the patterns of two main fractions of soil organic C, particulate organic C (POC) and mineral-associated organic C (MAOC), across various types of forest ecosystems remain unclear. In this study, soil samples were collected from depths of 0–100 ​cm at eight sites located between 18° and 48° north latitude in eastern China. The soil samples were then separated into particulate organic matter (POM) and mineral-associated organic matter (MAOM) based on particle size to analyze the distribution of C within each fraction. The results showed that the C stored as POC increased with latitude and decreased with soil depth. Specifically, 28.1%, 38.5% and 55.6% of C was stored as POC in the topsoil (0–30 ​cm) of tropical, subtropical and temperate forests, respectively, while 24.0%, 24.3% and 38.9% of C was stored as POC in the subsoil (30–100 ​cm) of the corresponding forests, respectively. MAOC experienced a higher degree of microbial processing (indicated by differences in δ¹³C, δ¹⁵N and C:N between POM and MAOM) than POC, with a more pronounced difference in microbial processing between MAOC and POC at lower latitudes than at higher latitudes. These findings contribute to a comprehensive understanding of the characteristics of forest SOC and offer potential strategies for enhancing forest C sequestration.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":54270,"journal":{"name":"Forest Ecosystems","volume":"12 ","pages":"Article 100291"},"PeriodicalIF":3.8,"publicationDate":"2024-12-27","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142925337","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Assessing the combined effects of forest management and climate change on carbon and water fluxes in European beech forests","authors":"Vincenzo Saponaro ,&nbsp;Miquel De Cáceres ,&nbsp;Daniela Dalmonech ,&nbsp;Ettore D'Andrea ,&nbsp;Elia Vangi ,&nbsp;Alessio Collalti","doi":"10.1016/j.fecs.2024.100290","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.fecs.2024.100290","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>The consequences of climate change continue to threaten European forests, particularly for species located at the edges of their latitudinal and altitudinal ranges. While extensively studied in Central Europe, European beech forests require further investigation to understand how climate change will affect these ecosystems in Mediterranean areas. Proposed silvicultural options increasingly aim at sustainable management to reduce biotic and abiotic stresses and enhance these forest ecosystems' resistance and resilience mechanisms. Process-based models (PBMs) can help us to simulate such phenomena and capture early stress signals while considering the effect of different management approaches. In this study, we focus on estimating sensitivity of two state-of-the-art PBMs forest models by simulating carbon and water fluxes at the stand level to assess productivity changes and feedback resulting from different climatic forcings as well as different management regimes. We applied the 3D-CMCC-FEM and MEDFATE forest models for carbon (C) and water (H₂O) fluxes in two sites of the Italian peninsula, Cansiglio in the north and Mongiana in the south, under managed vs. unmanaged scenarios and under current climate and different climatic scenarios (RCP4.5 and RCP8.5). To ensure confidence in the models’ results, we preliminary evaluated their performance in simulating C and H₂O flux in three additional beech forests of the FLUXNET network along a latitudinal gradient spanning from Denmark to central Italy. The 3D-CMCC-FEM model achieved <em>R</em>² values of 0.83 and 0.86 with RMSEs of 2.53 and 2.05 for C and H₂O fluxes, respectively. MEDFATE showed <em>R</em>² values of 0.76 and 0.69 with RMSEs of 2.54 and 3.01. At the Cansiglio site in northern Italy, both models simulated a general increase in C and H₂O fluxes under the RCP8.5 climate scenario compared to the current climate. Still, no benefit in managed plots compared to unmanaged ones, as the site does not have water availability limitations, and thus, competition for water is low. At the Mongiana site in southern Italy, both models predict a decrease in C and H₂O fluxes and sensitivity to the different climatic forcing compared to the current climate; and an increase in C and H₂O fluxes when considering specific management regimes compared to unmanaged scenarios. Conversely, under unmanaged scenarios plots are simulated to experience first signals of mortality prematurely due to water stress (MEDFATE) and carbon starvation (3D-CMCC-FEM) scenarios. In conclusion, while management interventions may be considered a viable solution for the conservation of beech forests under future climate conditions at moister sites like Cansiglio, in drier sites like Mongiana conservation may not lie in management interventions alone.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":54270,"journal":{"name":"Forest Ecosystems","volume":"12 ","pages":"Article 100290"},"PeriodicalIF":3.8,"publicationDate":"2024-12-24","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143172608","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Tree mycorrhizal strategies regulate diversity–productivity relationships across forest strata along soil fertility","authors":"Ying Che ,&nbsp;Guangze Jin","doi":"10.1016/j.fecs.2024.100289","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.fecs.2024.100289","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>The symbiotic relationships between trees and different mycorrhizal fungi affect the biodiversity-ecosystem functioning relationships within forest communities, particularly across different strata from the understorey to the overstorey. However, current research on this relationship has not yet reached a definitive conclusion. In this study, we used regression analyses and structural equation modelling based on a 9-ha mixed broadleaved-Korean pine (<em>Pinus koraiensis</em>) forest plot to explore the effects of different types of mycorrhizal fungi (arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) and ectomycorrhizal (EM) fungi) on the relationship between tree species diversity and productivity. The study found that the dominance and productivity of AM species increased in the understorey with increasing soil nutrients, whereas the productivity of EM species declined despite increasing diversity. In the overstorey, the productivity of AM species continued to increase with increasing soil nutrients, while that of EM species decreased due to increased competition. As for diversity-productivity relationships (DPRs), in the understorey, both AM and EM tree species demonstrated a positive DPR, suggesting the presence of the niche complementarity effect. In the overstorey, AM species continue to exhibit positive DPR due to their competitive advantage in nutrient-rich environments. In contrast, EM species exhibit negative DPR due to increased competition or less efficient resource use. Additionally, slope influenced forest productivity indirectly by altering the accumulation and distribution of soil nutrients, thereby affecting species distribution and growth conditions. This indirect effect highlights the potential negative impact of slope on soil nutrients within forest ecosystems, as well as its influence on the relationships between biodiversity and ecosystem functions. The study reveals how AM and EM trees influence forest productivity through distinct adaptability and competitive strategies across different forest strata, with a particular emphasis on the strata-dependent effects of mycorrhizal association on DPRs. This finding offers a new perspective on how mycorrhizal types modulate the complex relationships between biodiversity and ecosystem functions across various strata in temperate forests.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":54270,"journal":{"name":"Forest Ecosystems","volume":"12 ","pages":"Article 100289"},"PeriodicalIF":3.8,"publicationDate":"2024-12-21","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143172607","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Ungulate browsing patterns and forage abundance determine the regeneration of palatable tree species: Using new perspectives in assessing ungulate browsing pressure in temperate forests","authors":"Aklilu Bajigo Madalcho ,&nbsp;Anna Gazda ,&nbsp;Jerzy Szwagrzyk","doi":"10.1016/j.fecs.2024.100288","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.fecs.2024.100288","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Herbivorous ungulates are vital elements of forest ecosystems, yet their impact on tree regeneration and forest dynamics is challenging to assess. Despite their significant influence, few studies measure browsing pressure independently of precise ungulate population data. This study aimed to determine the regeneration mechanisms of palatable tree species in natural forest ecosystems by measuring the forage abundance from young trees of focal species and estimating the browsing pressure exerted by ungulates. We analyzed an extensive dataset of 2,838 tree saplings in two national parks in Poland to examine relationships between variables using a zero-intercept linear regression, and multiple linear regression models, and performed parametric and nonparametric tests. We found that the browsing intensity index (BI) is a good predictor of browsing pressure. Both total abundance and twig dry mass loss due to ungulate browsing were more pronounced in shorter saplings, with these effects decreasing as sapling height increased. <em>Picea abies</em> was the most abundant browse source in the Tatra National Park (TNP), whereas <em>Fagus sylvatica</em> dominated in the Roztocze National Park (RNP). <em>Acer pseudoplatanus</em> and <em>Sorbus aucuparia</em> experienced significantly higher browsing pressure in the TNP, whereas <em>Carpinus betulus</em> was more heavily browsed than other species in the RNP. The increase in browse abundance rapidly reduced ungulate browsing pressure on highly palatable tree species. We conclude that despite the high browsing pressure on the palatable species, the contribution of browse from focal species helps to mitigate this pressure and supports their regeneration in the forest canopy. Therefore, this finding provides valuable insights for managing and conserving tree species vulnerable to ungulate browsing in natural forest ecosystems. In addition, the method we used in this study is novel to estimate browsing pressure and assess the recruitment potential of vulnerable tree species; hence, it can be applied in large-scale studies with similar scenarios.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":54270,"journal":{"name":"Forest Ecosystems","volume":"12 ","pages":"Article 100288"},"PeriodicalIF":3.8,"publicationDate":"2024-12-15","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142874198","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}