Article
Microbiology
Taicong Liu, Zhe Chen, Li Rong, Xingwu Duan
Summary: The Dry-Hot Valley in southwestern China is facing issues of land degradation and soil erosion due to steep-slope cultivation and land-use changes. This study found that the conversion of maize land to sugarcane land and abandonment of maize land could decrease soil fertility and reduce bacterial community diversity. The impact of land-use changes on bacterial communities was greater than on fungal communities in the Dry-Hot Valley.
Article
Environmental Sciences
Yan Gao, Jonathan V. Solorzano, Ronald C. Estoque, Shiro Tsuyuzaki
Summary: The tropical dry forest is rapidly disappearing as one of the most threatened ecosystems. Although shifting cultivation helps maintain forest coverage, it leads to lower density. This study investigated the dynamics of tropical dry forests and found an equilibrium between forest loss and gain under the influence of shifting cultivation. The topographic variable of slope and the anthropogenic variable of distance to roads were identified as factors affecting the occurrence of both forest loss and gain.
Article
Biodiversity Conservation
Isabela Botelho Cardoso, Marina do Vale Beirao, Pablo Cuevas-Reyes, Yurixhi Maldonado-Lopez, Joan Sebastian Aguilar-Peralta, Patricia de Abreu Moreira
Summary: The study found that habitat disturbance has a negative impact on plant fitness, leading to decreased seed nutritional quality, germination percentage, and increased germination time. However, there were differences in the growth of seedlings (such as root dry weight and total dry weight) produced from seeds in different areas.
ECOLOGICAL INDICATORS
(2021)
Article
Forestry
Andres Velastegui-Montoya, Nestor Montalvan-Burbano, Gina Pena-Villacreses, Aline de Lima, Gricelda Herrera-Franco
Summary: Tropical ecosystems are important for the environment, providing various ecosystem services. Understanding land use and land cover change in tropical forests helps to address deforestation, degradation, erosion, desertification, and biodiversity loss. The study found a significant increase in research on land use and land cover, involving 74 countries, and identified 14 themes and seven research areas. Future research should consider the relationship between sustainable development goals and land use and cover in tropical forests, as well as the environmental impacts of economic activities.
Article
Ecology
Stephanie P. George-Chacon, Jean Francois Mas, Juan Manuel Dupuy, Miguel Angel Castillo-Santiago, Jose Luis Hernandez-Stefanoni
Summary: Spatial information on forest age can be accurately assessed from Landsat time series, and the combination of stand age with chronosequence data can reduce the overestimation of aboveground biomass of recovering forests commonly found in remotely sensed data. The distribution of young forests in dry tropical forests in the Yucatan peninsula varies among different forest types, with lower producer accuracy values indicating a potential underestimation of young forest extensions.
REMOTE SENSING IN ECOLOGY AND CONSERVATION
(2022)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Edison A. Diaz-Alvarez, Cesar Manrique, Karina Boege, Ek del-Val
Summary: Coleopterans, especially in tropical dry forests, show different responses to vegetation change over the course of forest succession. The abundance and richness of Coleopteran morphospecies are greatest in pastures, and the most abundant family is Chrysomelidae. Herbivores are the most abundant trophic guild, followed by predators and saprophages beetles. To preserve the maximum number of species associated with tropical dry forests, large tracts of forest should be protected to allow natural successional dynamics.
Article
Environmental Sciences
Rogelio O. Corona-Nunez, Alma Mendoza-Ponce, Julio Campo
Summary: The study indicates that carbon losses in seasonally dry tropical forests are mainly influenced by socioeconomic drivers, rather than biophysical characteristics such as topography and climate. Published above ground biomass maps can be used to capture biomass distribution patterns and guide landscape management.
JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT
(2021)
Article
Soil Science
Francois Maillard, Briana Beatty, Maria Park, Sylwia Adamczyk, Bartosz Adamczyk, Craig R. See, Jeannine Cavender-Bares, Sarah E. Hobbie, Peter G. Kennedy
Summary: This study examined the decomposition rates of fungal necromasses in experimental monocultures of 12 tree species in Minnesota, USA. The results showed that the decomposition rates were primarily influenced by the initial chemical composition, with higher initial melanin content leading to slower decay. Soil bacterial richness and fungal community composition also played a significant role in predicting the remaining mass of necromasses. Additionally, there were positive relationships between the remaining fungal necromass and soil carbon and nitrogen concentrations, suggesting potential impacts on soil carbon sequestration and nutrient availability.
SOIL BIOLOGY & BIOCHEMISTRY
(2023)
Article
Environmental Studies
Sebastian Aguiar, Matias E. Mastrangelo, Marcos Texeira, Patrick Meyfroidt, Jose N. Volarte, Jose M. Paruelo
Summary: Dry forests, particularly the forests of the South American Gran Chaco, are highly threatened due to agricultural expansion. This study employs a theory-driven approach to identify the drivers and mechanisms explaining the unequal spatial distribution of forest loss and maintenance in the Argentine Dry Chaco. The results show that infrastructural drivers, as well as a combination of drivers, have the highest explanatory power.
Article
Environmental Sciences
Izaya Numata, Andrew J. Elmore, Mark A. Cochrane, Cangjiao Wang, Jing Zhao, Xin Zhang
Summary: The expansion of oil palm plantations in Indonesia has caused large-scale deforestation and carbon emissions. Understanding the spatio-temporal dynamics of plantation expansion and the age structure of plantations is crucial for reducing deforestation and improving management strategies.
ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH LETTERS
(2022)
Review
Engineering, Civil
Naomie M. Kayitesi, Alphonce C. Guzha, Gregoire Mariethoz
Summary: This review paper examines the effects of spatiotemporal changes in climate and land use/land cover on river hydro-morphology in tropical regions. Through analyzing 60 case studies, it is found that land use/land cover change has limited impact on hydrological variables, and other factors such as catchment heterogeneity play an important role. Future projections suggest similar trends will continue, though with differences based on land use and climate scenarios. Despite significant changes taking place in tropical regions, there is still limited research on the hydro-morphology responses, highlighting the need for further studies to enhance our understanding.
JOURNAL OF HYDROLOGY
(2022)
Article
Forestry
Gabriela Rodrigues-Eklund, Matthew C. Hansen, Alexandra Tyukavina, Stephen Stehman, Klaus Hubacek, Giovanni Baiocchi
Summary: Recent studies in Haiti using high resolution imagery showed a net increase in tree cover equivalent to 5.0% of the land area between 2002 and 2010. Gross gains and losses accounted for 9.0% and 4.0% of the territory, respectively. This challenges previous narratives about ongoing forest or tree cover loss in Haiti.
Article
Environmental Sciences
Bhagawat Rimal, Hamidreza Keshtkar, Nigel Stork, Sushila Rijal
Summary: The study highlights the increasing trend of forest area, both in the Lumbini Province of Nepal and globally. Scientific models predict a continued increase in forest cover in 2026 and 2036, with the support of policy, planning, and management factors.
Article
Ecology
Jack H. Hatfield, Cristina Banks-Leite, Jos Barlow, Alexander C. Lees, Joseph A. Tobias
Summary: Seed dispersal is crucial for tropical forest resilience, but the extent of defaunation and its impact on restoring degraded areas remain poorly understood. Using field survey data from Brazil, we found that current bird assemblages have lower functional diversity compared to predictions, indicating the potential loss of seed-dispersing birds in tropical forest landscapes.
FUNCTIONAL ECOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Ecology
Raimunda G. S. Soares, Patricia A. Ferreira, Danilo Boscolo, Ana C. Rocha, Luciano E. Lopes
Summary: The study found that the interaction between forest cover and non-forest landscape heterogeneity plays a crucial role in pollination, with high forest cover and low heterogeneity favoring pollination, and low forest cover and high heterogeneity also promoting pollination. Heterogeneity of land-uses can partially compensate for forest loss in landscapes with low forest cover, providing complementary resources for pollinators.
Article
Ecology
Francisco Mora, Patricia Balvanera, Eduardo Garcia-Frapolli, Alicia Castillo, Jenny M. Trilleras, Daniel Cohen-Salgado, Oscar Salmeron
ECOLOGY AND SOCIETY
(2016)
Article
Forestry
Mayra E. Gavito, Ana Lidia Sandoval-Perez, Karem del Castillo, Daniel Cohen-Salgado, Maria Elena Colarte-Aviles, Francisco Mora, Angelica Santibanez-Renteria, Ilyas Siddique, Claudia Urquijo-Ramos
FOREST ECOLOGY AND MANAGEMENT
(2018)
Article
Geosciences, Multidisciplinary
Daniel Cohen-Salgado, Eduardo Garcia-Frapolli, Francisco Mora, Florence Crick
Summary: Social capital is crucial for communities to cope with hurricanes, with bonding relationships being recognized as most important and linking relationships also fundamental for long-term responses.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF DISASTER RISK REDUCTION
(2021)
Article
Biodiversity Conservation
Sofia Monroy-Sais, Eduardo Garcia-Frapolli, Francisco Mora, Margaret Skutsch, Alejandro Casas, Peter R. W. Gerritsen, Daniel Cohen-Salgado, Oscar Ugartechea-Salmeron
ECOSYSTEMS AND PEOPLE
(2020)
Article
Development Studies
Eduardo Garcia-Frapolli, Rogelio Garcia-Contreras, Ulyses J. Balderas, Gabriela Gonzalez-Cruz, Diego Astorga-De Ita, Daniel Cohen-Salgado, Ernesto Vega
SOCIETY & NATURAL RESOURCES
(2013)
Article
Forestry
Sadadi Ojoatre, Jos Barlow, Suzanne R. Jacobs, Mariana C. Rufino
Summary: This study evaluates the changes in a forest complex in Kenya and finds that within 20 years of disturbance, there is rapid recovery of aboveground biomass and carbon accumulation, and the species diversity remains high in these previously disturbed fragments.
FOREST ECOLOGY AND MANAGEMENT
(2024)
Article
Forestry
Astor Torano Caicoya, Peter Biber, Miren del Rio, Ricardo Ruiz-Peinado, Catia Arcangeli, Robert Matthews, Hans Pretzsch
Summary: This study analyzed the effects of site and climate on the self-thinning line in Scots pine forests in Europe. The results showed that species tolerance, temperature, and precipitation influenced the slope of the self-thinning line. In terms of the intercept, latitude and radiation had compensating effects. Time did not show significant trends in the self-thinning line. The study highlights the need to adapt management strategies and models based on self-thinning to different latitudes. Climate change has not yet significantly impacted the self-thinning trajectory, but a continuous rise in temperature and high precipitation may accelerate the self-thinning process and result in increased biomass accumulation.
FOREST ECOLOGY AND MANAGEMENT
(2024)
Article
Forestry
Haonan Zhang, Jianing Xu, Weiqi Meng, Zhonglin Li, Yanyan Ni, Weijie Li, Hao Chen, Xingshuo Zhang, Huanhuan Yuan, Zhi Wang
Summary: Secondary forests play a crucial role in ecosystem dynamics and biodiversity recovery. This study investigated the mechanisms underlying secondary succession in a restored secondary forest and found that deciduous tree species transition from diversity accumulators to repellents as they progress through different life history stages, while evergreen tree species can act as accumulators or remain neutral. The study also revealed the effects of density dependence on the mortality and regeneration of different tree species, and highlighted the importance of early-arriving tree species in facilitating the establishment and diversity of late-arriving counterparts.
FOREST ECOLOGY AND MANAGEMENT
(2024)
Article
Forestry
Yierxiati Abulaiti, Zijian Huang, Guojiao Xie, Xiaojuan Zou, Qin Luo, Minhuang Wang, Qiong Yang, Ping Hu, Shixiao Yu
Summary: In this study, the resistance to pest infestation of native and exotic mangrove species was compared based on their traits and spectral reflectance. The results showed that exotic species exhibited higher resistance to pest infestation compared to native species.
FOREST ECOLOGY AND MANAGEMENT
(2024)
Article
Forestry
Thomas Feiss, Vincent Robin, Delphine Aran, Joseph Levillain, Thierry Paul, Jean-Luc Dupouey
Summary: Fagus sylvatica L. is a competitive tree in European temperate deciduous forests, but often sporadic or absent in present-day stands where Quercus spp. are dominant. Through soil charcoal analysis in the Lorraine Plateau in France, the presence of Fagus and Quercus in mature Quercus stands was confirmed. Radiocarbon dating results indicated that historical forest management caused the replacement of Fagus by Quercus, starting from the Bronze Age.
FOREST ECOLOGY AND MANAGEMENT
(2024)
Article
Forestry
Paula Halbig, Anne-Sophie Stelzer, Peter Baier, Josef Pennerstorfer, Horst Delb, Axel Schopf
Summary: The incidence of oak processionary moth in Central Europe has been increasing, posing severe threats to oak trees, humans, and animals. To address this issue, researchers have developed an online early warning system that provides phenological forecasts and decision support for the protection of oak trees and human health.
FOREST ECOLOGY AND MANAGEMENT
(2024)
Article
Forestry
Jean-Baptiste Ndamiyehe Ncutirakiza, Sylvie Gourlet-Fleury, Philippe Lejeune, Xavier Bry, Catherine Trottier, Frederic Mortier, Adeline Fayolle, Francois Muhashy Habiyaremye, Leopold Ndjele Mianda-Bungi, Gauthier Ligot
Summary: This study examines the influence of canopy structure on tropical tree growth using data collected through unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) and field measurements. The results show that combining UAV and field data can improve the prediction of tree diameter increment. Diameter at breast height and crown area are complementary predictors, and crown-based competition indices significantly enhance prediction models. The calibrated model at one site can accurately predict growth at another site.
FOREST ECOLOGY AND MANAGEMENT
(2024)
Article
Forestry
Abebe Damtew, Emiru Birhane, Christian Messier, Alain Paquette, Bart Muys
Summary: Restoring degraded dryland requires a diverse mixture of trees and shrubs. Shading and species diversity can improve seedling survival and vitality. Shaded conditions led to higher seedling survival, vitality, and chlorophyll content, while increasing species richness improved seedling vitality in non-shaded conditions.
FOREST ECOLOGY AND MANAGEMENT
(2024)
Article
Forestry
Francois Hebert, Isabelle Delisle, Marc Tremblay, Pascal Tremblay, Jean- Francois Boucher, Yan Boucher, Daniel Lord
Summary: Regeneration failures in the closed-crown boreal forest, resulting in the creation of open lichen woodlands, can be restored through clear-cutting, scarification, and natural seeding. Clear-cutting combined with scarification promotes seedling establishment, and scarification creates suitable microsites for germination. Seedling growth in lichen woodlands is higher when logging and scarification are combined, but lower compared to feather moss stands. Afforestation through natural seeding following scarification could be a cost-effective option for restoring lichen woodlands.
FOREST ECOLOGY AND MANAGEMENT
(2024)
Article
Forestry
Bianca Wulansari Kassun, A. Maarit I. Kallio, Erik Tr Omborg, Meley Mekonen Rannestad
Summary: Mapping and analyzing forest ecosystem services in dry and mountain forests can provide valuable knowledge for sustainable forest management strategies.
FOREST ECOLOGY AND MANAGEMENT
(2024)
Article
Forestry
Michael Premer, Eric Turnblom, Aaron Weiskittel
Summary: Managed forests serve as a natural climate change solution by sequestering carbon and storing it in harvested wood products, while also providing ecosystem services and wildlife habitat. This study focused on the stem sinuosity of juvenile coastal Douglas-fir and found that genetic improvement, silviculture practices, and local growing conditions can impact stem sinuosity. Factors such as tree spacing, vegetation control, and climate variables also affect the severity of stem sinuosity.
FOREST ECOLOGY AND MANAGEMENT
(2024)
Article
Forestry
Bronwyn Lira Dyson, Rhea Herpel, Peter Karasch, Jorg Mueller, Dominik Thom, Claus Baessler
Summary: The study aimed to assess the effects of different forest management strategies, dead wood types, and microclimates on Fomes fomentarius. The results showed that the occupancy of Fomes fomentarius was lower in control stands, while the percent cover occupied on snags under a closed canopy was higher. Increasing the number of snags and maintaining dense forest canopies could enhance the presence of Fomes fomentarius as well as provide important microhabitats for various arthropods.
FOREST ECOLOGY AND MANAGEMENT
(2024)
Article
Forestry
Di Liu, Chaofan Zhou, Xiao He, Xiangdong Lei, Huiru Zhang, Xianzhao Liu
Summary: Canopy structure plays a significant role in the distribution and growth of saplings. Traditional canopy metrics are inadequate in irregular stands. The innovative framework of canopy triangular units provides a comprehensive understanding of the canopy's three-dimensional attributes. Through this framework, we can analyze the differences in various triangular unit types and the spatial dispersion of saplings.
FOREST ECOLOGY AND MANAGEMENT
(2024)
Article
Forestry
Amalia Valeria Ibanez Moro, Fabian Borghetti, Leonardo Galetto, Juan M. Cellini, Sandra J. Bravo
Summary: This study evaluated the size and persistence of soil seed banks (SSB) of six native woody species in dry subtropical forests of the western Argentine Chaco region. The results showed that SSB size was influenced by different sites and sampling years, and forest disturbances had varying effects on SSB.
FOREST ECOLOGY AND MANAGEMENT
(2024)
Article
Forestry
Stephanie Landry, Marc-Andre Villard, Gaetan Pelletier, Martin-Hugues St-Laurent
Summary: In many regions of the world, excessive browsing by ungulates has reached unsustainable levels, threatening biodiversity and forest regeneration. Moose, as ecological engineers, have severe impacts on forest structure and composition through overbrowsing. The distribution of forage and cover patches affects moose browsing pressure, and this relationship has been explored in conifer-dominated stands but not in hardwood-dominated landscapes.
FOREST ECOLOGY AND MANAGEMENT
(2024)