Applied Vegetation Science最新文献

{"title":"Early Competition From a Local Species Seed Mixture Limits Invasion by the Ornamental Shrub Buddleja davidii","authors":"Fanny Dommanget,&nbsp;Pauline Douce,&nbsp;André Evette,&nbsp;Renaud Jaunatre","doi":"10.1111/avsc.70025","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1111/avsc.70025","url":null,"abstract":"<div>\u0000 \u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Questions</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>One strategy to prevent invasive alien plant species from establishing during the restoration process is to early re-introduce native communities. But can seeding a native herbaceous species mixture of local seeds reduce the establishment of an invasive shrub such as <i>Buddleja davidii</i>? Specifically, we asked: (1) Does competition by native species reduce <i>B. davidii</i> performance? (2) Is this competitive effect on <i>B. davidii</i> more important under higher seed densities? (3) Can it be partly attributed to light competition? (4) How do priority effects moderate this competitive effect?</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Location</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>Disturbed embankment, Isère, France.</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Methods</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>We conducted experiments in controlled conditions, in mesocosms and in the field. We compared the performance of <i>B. davidii</i> when seeded alone or in competition with local seeds, at different densities, when shaded or not and when sown before or simultaneously with respect to native species.</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Results</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>The seeding of a local seed mixture decreased the height, biomass and early-stage survival of <i>Buddleja davidii</i>. Whatever the density, these results were consistent across all three experiments. <i>Buddleja davidii</i>'s survival rate was reduced only under the experimental conditions of high shading. When native species were sown after <i>B. davidii</i>, their competitive effect was very low.</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Conclusions</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p><i>Buddleja davidii</i> appears to be sensitive to competition during the early stages of its invasion, especially when local seedlings benefit from a time advantage, regardless of their density. In restoration contexts, native species can prevent the invasion of <i>B. davidii</i> if sowing is carried out as soon as possible.</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 </div>","PeriodicalId":55494,"journal":{"name":"Applied Vegetation Science","volume":"28 2","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.0,"publicationDate":"2025-05-10","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10.1111/avsc.70025","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143930164","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"环境科学与生态学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Seasonal Dynamics of Dominant Macrophyte Community Seed Banks in a Yangtze River-Connected Floodplain Wetland: Implications for Restoration","authors":"Wen-Jing Sun,&nbsp;Jia-Shun Zhong,&nbsp;Xin-Zhi Guo,&nbsp;Yun-He Cai,&nbsp;Zhi-Yong Hou,&nbsp;Zheng-Miao Deng,&nbsp;Xin-Sheng Chen","doi":"10.1111/avsc.70026","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1111/avsc.70026","url":null,"abstract":"<div>\u0000 \u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Background</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>Seed banks play a crucial role in population replenishment, community succession, and ecosystem resilience. In floodplain wetlands, seed banks may display seasonal dynamics that are influenced by seasonal flooding and temperature; however, seasonal dynamics remain poorly understood.</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Location</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>Two dominant macrophyte communities in the Dongting Lake wetlands, China.</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Methods</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>We investigated seed-bank densities, vertical distributions, and species richness of two dominant macrophyte communities in the Dongting Lake wetlands during November 2017 (after flooding), January (winter), March (spring), and May 2018 (before flooding).</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Results</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p><i>Carex</i> and <i>Miscanthus</i> community seed-bank densities peaked in May (15,307 and 17,330 individuals/m², respectively), decreased from November to March, and were the lowest in January (440 and 627 individuals/m², respectively). <i>Carex</i> and <i>Miscanthus</i> community seed-bank densities declined rapidly with soil depth during May from 13,414 and 16,535 individuals/m² in the 0–5 cm soil layer to 254 and 42 individuals/m² in the 10–20 cm soil layer, respectively. The species richness of <i>Carex</i> and <i>Miscanthus</i> community seed banks peaked during May (7 and 8 species, respectively). However, species similarity with extant communities was low (0.23 and 0.27, respectively).</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Conclusions</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>The results of this study emphasize the significance of seasons and stratification in the utilization of soil seed banks for floodplain wetland restoration. Supplementary measures such as bud banks and introduced seedlings should be adopted for the successful restoration of macrophyte communities because of the low density and richness of perennial species in seed banks.</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 </div>","PeriodicalId":55494,"journal":{"name":"Applied Vegetation Science","volume":"28 2","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.0,"publicationDate":"2025-05-08","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143919423","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"环境科学与生态学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Land Use Modulates Herbivory on Juvenile Stages of Woody Species in a Chaco Dry Forest","authors":"Julián Medrano Santos,&nbsp;María Lucrecia Lipoma,&nbsp;Lucas Enrico","doi":"10.1111/avsc.70023","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1111/avsc.70023","url":null,"abstract":"<div>\u0000 \u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Aims</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>Land use modifies natural forest herbivore assemblages by cattle introduction and structural alteration that impact invertebrate diversity. This land use and herbivory combined effect is particularly relevant for woody plant juveniles, which are key stages for regeneration. We aimed to understand how herbivory on juvenile woody plants is affected by land use. In this study, we analyzed how vertebrate and invertebrate herbivory patterns on seedlings and saplings change between land uses in winter and summer seasons.</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Location</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>Southernmost Gran Chaco region, Córdoba province, central Argentina.</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Methodology</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>We assessed the invertebrate and vertebrate herbivory on seedlings and saplings of woody species during summer and winter seasons at four different land use types of a Chaco dry forest. Land use types were classified according to the increasing intensity of disturbance (logging and grazing) they are subjected to: Conserved Forest (CF; no disturbance), Secondary Forest (SF; low disturbance), Closed Species-rich Shrubland (CS; intermediate disturbance), and Open Shrubland (OS; high disturbance).</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Results</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>We found that total herbivory was consistently higher in SF and CS in both seasons. Vertebrate herbivory was higher than invertebrate herbivory in winter (except in CF), with the inverse pattern in summer. Differences between seedling and sapling stages were scarce, with not consistent patterns of herbivory between seasons.</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Conclusions</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>This study shows a pronounced effect of land use on seasonal herbivory patterns and dynamics. The vegetation structure of communities under low and intermediate disturbance intensities would promote diversity of invertebrate herbivores, which, combined with cattle introduction, could result in herbivory complementation and additivity. Understanding how environmental filters, like anthropic activities and herbivory, interplay and affect early growth stages is crucial to achieving land use practices that do not compromise forest resilience and regeneration.</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 </div>","PeriodicalId":55494,"journal":{"name":"Applied Vegetation Science","volume":"28 2","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.0,"publicationDate":"2025-04-29","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143884050","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"环境科学与生态学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Large Boulders Provide Refuge for Browse-Sensitive Species and Reveal a Legacy of Overbrowsing and Shifting Baselines","authors":"Gillian G. Revenis,&nbsp;Ryan Utz,&nbsp;Rose-Marie Muzika,&nbsp;Thomas P. Diggins,&nbsp;Walter P. Carson","doi":"10.1111/avsc.70021","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1111/avsc.70021","url":null,"abstract":"<div>\u0000 \u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Question</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>Overbrowsing by abundant deer reshapes the composition of forests from palatable native species to browse-tolerant species, leading to simplified understories with reduced biodiversity. Here, we ask whether geologic refugia (e.g., tall boulders) will provide a haven for vulnerable plant species to escape browsing pressure from high populations of native deer.</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Location</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>Huron Mountains, Michigan, USA.</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Methods</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>We compared the percent cover, species richness, and Shannon diversity of all plant species on tall boulders to adjacent fenced exclosures and to forest floor reference plots to quantify the degree to which deer impact one of the largest remaining tracts of old-growth forests in the Eastern United States.</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Results</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>We found that boulders contained 60% higher richness and diversity than reference plots, as well as a more diverse mix of midstory species, shrubs, and forbs. Seven-year-old exclosure and reference plots were nearly indistinguishable from each other and were dominated by <i>Acer saccharum</i> and other browse-tolerant species.</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Conclusions</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>This study demonstrates that boulders are a highly effective, though rarely used, proxy or bioassay of the degree to which chronic overbrowsing creates impoverished understories composed of browse-tolerant or unpalatable species. Our findings highlight the significance of refugia as a haven from overbrowsing for vulnerable plant species and emphasize the importance of using exclosures alongside refugia.</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 </div>","PeriodicalId":55494,"journal":{"name":"Applied Vegetation Science","volume":"28 2","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.0,"publicationDate":"2025-04-29","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143888994","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"环境科学与生态学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Hydrologic Restoration of Retired Cranberry Farms Leads to Species Rich Wetlands","authors":"Sarah M. Klionsky,&nbsp;Christopher Neill,&nbsp;Anastasia M. Pulak,&nbsp;Beth Lawrence","doi":"10.1111/avsc.70024","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1111/avsc.70024","url":null,"abstract":"<div>\u0000 \u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Questions</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>Formerly cultivated lands are common targets for wetland restoration, but human interventions needed to achieve diverse plant communities in sites with agricultural legacies are not well understood. We studied pre-restoration seed banks and pre- and post-restoration plant communities of former cranberry farms, whose native peat was covered with anthropogenically placed sand during cultivation and that underwent hydrologic restoration.</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Location</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>Three retired cranberry (<i>Vaccinium macrocarpon</i> Aiton) farm complexes in southeast Massachusetts, USA, that underwent hydrologic restoration between 2017 and 2020.</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Methods</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>We quantified seed germination from sand and peat collected from former farms in a greenhouse under three hydrologic treatments (inundated, saturated, and well-drained) to assess the pre-restoration seed bank composition. In the field, we surveyed plant species presence and cover both before and after restoration at permanent 9 m² plots. We assessed species composition, richness, and diversity in seed bank treatments and <i>in situ</i>. We also measured changes in <i>in situ</i> vegetation over time and compared seed bank and <i>in situ</i> vegetation.</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Results</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>The 30 species that germinated from retired cranberry farm seed banks were primarily native, perennial, wetland-adapted, and occurred in the sand but not peat. Highest germination rates and species richness occurred in saturated substrate, with very little germination in the well-drained treatment. Seed banks were not predictive of post-restoration <i>in situ</i> species richness, but post-restoration vegetation was similarly native, perennial, and wetland-adapted. Restoration increased <i>in situ</i> total plant and wetland-adapted plant species richness compared with pre-restoration, and this richness persisted for multiple years post-restoration. Wetland plant cover was more variable and likely affected by year-to-year changes in growing season precipitation.</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Conclusions</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>Vegetation responses to wetland restoration at formerly cultivated sites indicate that diverse, native plant communities can regenerate following hydrologic restoration in sites with sandy, nutrient-poor soils.</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 </div>","PeriodicalId":55494,"journal":{"name":"Applied Vegetation Science","volume":"28 2","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.0,"publicationDate":"2025-04-26","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10.1111/avsc.70024","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143875555","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"环境科学与生态学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Woody Vegetation Dynamics in a Protected African Savanna: Insights From Vegetation Resurvey of the Gonarezhou National Park, Zimbabwe","authors":"Bob Mandinyenya,&nbsp;Robert Cunliffe,&nbsp;Riccardo Testolin,&nbsp;Fabio Attorre","doi":"10.1111/avsc.70020","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1111/avsc.70020","url":null,"abstract":"<div>\u0000 \u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Aims</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>This study assessed changes in woody vegetation cover, richness, diversity, and species composition in Gonarezhou National Park (GNP) between 2010 and 2023, focusing on the impacts of fire and elephants. Analyses were conducted for the entire park and its main vegetation types and ecoregions.</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Location</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>GNP is located in southern Zimbabwe, bordering Mozambique, covering approximately 5000 km².</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Methods</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>In 2010, 313 sampling areas were surveyed, and a resurvey was conducted in 2022/2023 using a plotless method. For each area, woody species cover was recorded in four height classes. Indices for total woody cover, species richness, diversity (Shannon), and evenness (Pielou) were calculated for both surveys across the park, ecoregions, and vegetation types. Differences between surveys were analyzed with paired t-tests. Species composition changes were analyzed using NMDS and PERMANOVA, while the effects of fire frequency, slope, and distance from rivers on species composition were tested with a mixed linear model. The change in dominant species occurrence was also examined.</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Results</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>Species richness significantly declined, with no changes in woody vegetation cover, diversity, or evenness, except in the alluvial ecoregion, where diversity decreased. Changes across height layers revealed increased richness and diversity in the &lt; 1 m layer and declines in the 1–3 m and 3–5 m layers. Species composition changes were significant across ecoregions and influenced by fire frequency. A decrease in dominant tree species was observed, varying by species' resilience to current pressures.</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Conclusions</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>GNP is undergoing simplification in woody vegetation, likely due to the combined effects of elephants and fire. This is leading to shrubbier vegetation and changes in species composition, particularly in trees. To prevent further degradation, actions must be implemented, such as the use of individual protection systems from debarking, the development of a fire management system, and the creation of ecological corridors in the Greater Limpopo Transfrontier Conservation Area to facilitate the movement of elephants.</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 </div>","PeriodicalId":55494,"journal":{"name":"Applied Vegetation Science","volume":"28 2","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.0,"publicationDate":"2025-04-08","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10.1111/avsc.70020","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143801535","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"环境科学与生态学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Nontarget Plant Community and Biomass Responses in Northern Mixed Grassland Treated With Indaziflam for Invasive Annual Brome Control","authors":"Anabel Dombro,&nbsp;Lisa Raatz,&nbsp;Edward W. Bork","doi":"10.1111/avsc.70019","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1111/avsc.70019","url":null,"abstract":"&lt;div&gt;\u0000 \u0000 \u0000 &lt;section&gt;\u0000 \u0000 &lt;h3&gt; Aims&lt;/h3&gt;\u0000 \u0000 &lt;p&gt;To understand how northern temperate grassland vegetation responds to indaziflam herbicide treatment used to control invasive annual bromegrass, we studied the initial and longer-term effects of indaziflam on plant species composition, richness, diversity, and biomass. We additionally assessed the influence of indaziflam on the recruitment of perennial grasses and forbs from the seedbank, and root and shoot biomass of young perennial grass plants.&lt;/p&gt;\u0000 &lt;/section&gt;\u0000 \u0000 &lt;section&gt;\u0000 \u0000 &lt;h3&gt; Location&lt;/h3&gt;\u0000 \u0000 &lt;p&gt;Dry Mixed Grassland of Alberta, Canada.&lt;/p&gt;\u0000 &lt;/section&gt;\u0000 \u0000 &lt;section&gt;\u0000 \u0000 &lt;h3&gt; Methods&lt;/h3&gt;\u0000 \u0000 &lt;p&gt;Plant biomass and cover composition were monitored over 4 years after indaziflam application in fall and spring at concentrations of 0, 37.5, 75, and 150 g ai ha&lt;sup&gt;−1&lt;/sup&gt; across two field sites, with four replication blocks for each concentration. Seedling emergence was assessed in the greenhouse using soil cores from fall plots two seasons after treatment. Root and shoot biomass of greenhouse-cultivated perennial grasses treated with indaziflam at 2 months age were quantified 2 months later.&lt;/p&gt;\u0000 &lt;/section&gt;\u0000 \u0000 &lt;section&gt;\u0000 \u0000 &lt;h3&gt; Results&lt;/h3&gt;\u0000 \u0000 &lt;p&gt;Indaziflam did not affect the cover, richness, or diversity of non-brome plant species until the fourth year after treatment. In the fourth year, indaziflam reduced plant richness and diversity and affected the cover of the three most abundant grasses but not the cover of the three most abundant forbs. Total shoot biomass decreased in the second year, increased in the third, and stabilized by the fourth year following indaziflam treatment. Perennial grass biomass either increased or remained the same but did not decline under any indaziflam treatment in any year. Forb biomass was not affected. In the greenhouse, indaziflam-treated soil had reduced seedling emergence of forbs but not perennial grasses, and indaziflam applied at 2 months of age reduced root and shoot biomass of four-month-old perennial grasses.&lt;/p&gt;\u0000 &lt;/section&gt;\u0000 \u0000 &lt;section&gt;\u0000 \u0000 &lt;h3&gt; Conclusions&lt;/h3&gt;\u0000 \u0000 &lt;p&gt;Our study provides an improved understanding of how indaziflam affects nontarget plant community composition and biomass within northern mixed grasslands where native vegetation is relatively intact but under increasing risk of invasion by annual bromegrasses. Land managers considering indaziflam application will have to weigh small reductions in diversity and subtle changes in perennial grass composition against the beneficial control of annual brom","PeriodicalId":55494,"journal":{"name":"Applied Vegetation Science","volume":"28 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.0,"publicationDate":"2025-03-17","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10.1111/avsc.70019","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143632795","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"环境科学与生态学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Long-Term Deer Exclusion Releases Dwarf Bamboo, Reducing Vascular Plant Diversity","authors":"Lisa Petersson,&nbsp;Carl Salk,&nbsp;Daniel Jensen,&nbsp;Göran Thor,&nbsp;Tatsuhiro Ohkubo","doi":"10.1111/avsc.70018","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1111/avsc.70018","url":null,"abstract":"<div>\u0000 \u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Aims</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>Overgrazing by excessive deer populations harms native plant communities across most north temperate and boreal regions. In regions where deer impact is particularly severe, fencing is sometimes employed as a conservation measure to safeguard rare and threatened species and ecosystems. Here we examine how forest vascular plant communities have been affected by 21 years of sika deer exclusion by fencing of a 900 ha area.</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Location</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>Nikko National Park, Tochigi prefecture, Japan.</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Methods</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>We surveyed vascular plant cover in 240 plots and measured forest density on both sides of the fence in stands dominated by larch (<i>Larix kaempferi</i>) and oak (<i>Quercus crispula</i>).</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Results</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>Vascular plant species richness was found to be lower in forest areas protected by the fence. At the same time, dwarf bamboo, often the most abundant understory component in Japanese open forests, was taller and denser inside the fence where deer had been excluded. In addition, the lack of natural tree regeneration inside the fence, likely due to strong dwarf bamboo competition, was also notable. This suggests that deer exclusion has benefitted dwarf bamboo while inhibiting the competition of other species, thereby lowering vascular plant richness. Vascular plant communities outside the fence instead seem to be strongly shaped by abundant sika deer; several species found there are known to be unpalatable or grazing tolerant, and there were few tree seedlings.</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Conclusion</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>These results show that fencing to protect forest flora against overgrazing may have unintended consequences where there is a risk that competitive species can dominate understory plant communities. Instead of fencing, improved game management to maintain moderate deer populations may be a better strategy for large-scale conservation of forest flora and for promoting natural tree regeneration.</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 </div>","PeriodicalId":55494,"journal":{"name":"Applied Vegetation Science","volume":"28 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.0,"publicationDate":"2025-03-14","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10.1111/avsc.70018","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143612519","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"环境科学与生态学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Multiple Effects of Capybaras on Vegetation Suggest Impending Impacts of Jaguar Reintroduction","authors":"Ana Belen Avila,&nbsp;María Jose Corriale,&nbsp;Debora Di Francescantonio,&nbsp;Pablo Ignacio Picca,&nbsp;Emiliano Donadio,&nbsp;Mario Santiago Di Bitetti,&nbsp;Agustín Paviolo,&nbsp;Carlos De Angelo","doi":"10.1111/avsc.70017","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1111/avsc.70017","url":null,"abstract":"<div>\u0000 \u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Aims</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>A key challenge in applied vegetation science is understanding the impact of herbivory on plant communities. Herbivores often reduce dominant species' abundance (biomass, cover), making resources available for new species and increasing plant diversity. This understanding is crucial in systems undergoing ecological restoration through trophic rewilding. In Iberá National Park, Argentina, jaguars (<i>Panthera onca</i>) are being reintroduced after a 70-year absence, and it is critical to assess the role of herbivores in shaping plant communities for evaluating future potential trophic cascades. Capybaras (<i>Hydrochoerus hydrochaeris</i>), the park's most abundant herbivore and an important prey for jaguars, likely exert significant pressure on vegetation. This study aims to investigate how capybara herbivory affects vegetation height, biomass, diversity, and composition, providing insights into how jaguar reintroduction might indirectly influence plant communities and restore ecosystem functionality through capybaras' demographic or behavioral responses.</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Location</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>Iberá National Park, Corrientes, Argentina.</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Methods</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>We simulated the absence of capybara foraging pressure by establishing 10 3 m x 3 m herbivore exclosures with adjacent unfenced control plots in the capybara's grazing lawns. Vegetation attributes—height, biomass, plant diversity, and species composition—were monitored over 4 years to assess the impact of capybara exclusion on plant communities.</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Results</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>Excluding capybaras significantly increased vegetation height and biomass, which, in turn, altered plant diversity and species composition. The exclosures' vegetation height and biomass were consistently higher than those in control plots. A decrease in species diversity accompanied this shift, as the abundance of common species declined and the dominance of a few species increased, generating new communities.</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Conclusions</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>Capybaras significantly influence vegetation dynamics, demonstrating their role in shaping plant communities. Excluding capybaras leads to species composition and structural shifts, highlighting herbivory's importance in maintaining ecosystem heterogeneity. These findings provide critical baseline data for understanding the potential indirect impacts of the jaguar's reintroduction on plant communities and ecosystem processes. This study contributes valuable insights into the ecological mechan","PeriodicalId":55494,"journal":{"name":"Applied Vegetation Science","volume":"28 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.0,"publicationDate":"2025-03-04","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143533347","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"环境科学与生态学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Mixing Green Manure With Native Seeds in the Same Row Enhances Species Establishment in Restoration Areas of the Brazilian Cerrado","authors":"Maria Luciana Zequim Colado,&nbsp;Letícia Koutchin Reis,&nbsp;Angélica Guerra,&nbsp;Natalia Guerin,&nbsp;Judit Kriszta Szabo,&nbsp;Letícia Couto Garcia","doi":"10.1111/avsc.70015","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1111/avsc.70015","url":null,"abstract":"<div>\u0000 \u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Aims</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>This study investigates the effectiveness of different spatial arrangements of green manure and native species in promoting native seedling emergence and reducing invasive grass cover in restoration efforts, particularly within agricultural landscapes.</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Location</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>Cerrado biome (savanna), Brazil.</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Methods</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>We tested four experimental setups by direct seeding: (1) native species only (control), (2) native species and green manure mixed in the same row (<i>N</i> + GM [mixture]), (3) green manure and native species planted in separate rows (<i>N</i> + GM [rows]), and (4) native species intercropped with wider strips of green manure (<i>N</i> + GM [strips]). We evaluated richness, seedling abundance, invasive grass cover, and cost-effectiveness 540 days (a year and a half) post planting.</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Results</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>The <i>N</i> + GM (mixture) treatment yielded the best cost-effectiveness, highest species richness (three species) and seedling abundance (10,267 individuals/ha), along with the lowest invasive grass cover (50%). <i>Hymenaea stigonocarpa</i> Mart. ex Hayne and <i>Astronium fraxinifolium</i> Schott ex Spreng had the highest emergence rates across all treatments. However, green manure alone did not entirely prevent invasive grass, requiring further weed control. <i>N</i> + GM (rows) showed the lowest cost, but should be considered only with ongoing maintenance.</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Conclusions</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>Mixing green manure with native species in the same row (<i>N</i> + GM [mixture]) is a practical and cost-effective method for increasing native species emergence in the early stages of restoration, particularly in agricultural settings, where mechanized planting is feasible.</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 </div>","PeriodicalId":55494,"journal":{"name":"Applied Vegetation Science","volume":"28 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.0,"publicationDate":"2025-03-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143521932","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"环境科学与生态学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}