Article
Plant Sciences
Sanne Govaert, Pieter Vangansbeke, Haben Blondeel, Kathy Steppe, Kris Verheyen, Pieter De Frenne
Summary: The understorey layer harbors most of the plant biodiversity in temperate forests and plays crucial roles in ecosystem functions. Climate warming, changes in forest management, and resource availability are key determinants of forest understorey biodiversity change. Experimental warming, light addition, and nitrogen input influenced understorey plant communities, leading to a shift towards warm-adapted species dominance, known as thermophilization. The impact was most pronounced when temperature and/or light availability were enhanced.
JOURNAL OF ECOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Biology
Fabio Alfieri, Leo Botton-Divet, Jan Woelfer, John A. Nyakatura, Eli Amson
Summary: This study reconstructs the evolutionary morphology of the humerus and femur of slow arboreal mammals, finding mosaic evolution at different anatomical spatial scales. It suggests that future macroevolutionary reconstructions should include structural traits to better understand the impact of ecological factors on vertebrate diversification.
COMMUNICATIONS BIOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Ecology
Pieter Sanczuk, Sanne Govaert, Camille Meeussen, Karen De Pauw, Thomas Vanneste, Leen Depauw, Xoaquin Moreira, Jonas Schoelynck, Marthe De Boevre, Sarah De Saeger, Kurt Bollmann, Jorg Brunet, Sara A. O. Cousins, Jan Plue, Martin Diekmann, Bente J. Graae, Per-Ola Hedwall, Giovanni Iacopetti, Jonathan Lenoir, Anna Orczewska, Quentin Ponette, Federico Selvi, Fabien Spicher, Pieter Vermeir, Kim Calders, Hans Verbeeck, Kris Verheyen, Pieter Vangansbeke, Pieter De Frenne
Summary: In addition to macroclimatic conditions, subtle differences in forest microclimate and soil characteristics play a major role in modulating plant defense phenotypes. These findings highlight the importance of local habitat structure and environmental conditions in modulating plant resistance to herbivory.
GLOBAL ECOLOGY AND BIOGEOGRAPHY
(2021)
Article
Forestry
Veronika Oeder, Any Mary Petritan, Jenny Schellenberg, Erwin Bergmeier, Helge Walentowski
Summary: Deadwood is a crucial component of forest habitats and plays an important role in biodiversity conservation. Research shows that the quantity of deadwood in unmanaged forests is two to three times higher than in managed forests. Management practices and annual mean temperature have additive effects on deadwood volume.
FOREST ECOLOGY AND MANAGEMENT
(2021)
Article
Genetics & Heredity
Boyong Liao, Qingmin Que, Xingming Xu, Wei Zhou, Kunxi Ouyang, Pei Li, Huaqiang Li, Can Lai, Xiaoyang Chen
Summary: This study investigated the genetic differentiation and phenotypic variation in chinaberry populations, revealing that populations could be divided into two groups and significant differences in growth traits were observed due to geographic and climate factors.
Article
Ecology
Nils Henriksson, Oskar Franklin, Lasse Tarvainen, John Marshall, Judith Lundberg-Felten, Lill Eilertsen, Torgny Nasholm
Summary: Trees receive growth-limiting nitrogen from their ectomycorrhizal symbionts, but supplying the fungi with carbon can also cause nitrogen immobilization, which hampers tree growth. By modulating carbon provision to fungi, it was found that trees gain additional nitrogen at the expense of their neighbors by supplying more carbon, but this aggravates nitrogen limitation. The shared mycorrhizal network can be likened to the tragedy of the commons, illustrating how rising atmospheric CO2 may lead to greater nitrogen immobilization in the future.
Article
Forestry
Anna M. Stefanowicz, Katarzyna Rozek, Malgorzata Stanek, Kaja Rola, Szymon Zubek
Summary: Different tree species have moderate effects on soil microbial and chemical properties. Significant differences were observed in fungal biomass and microbial community structure among different tree species, while differences were also found in soil pH and base cations concentrations. Broadleaf species tended to have higher microbial biomass than coniferous species.
FOREST ECOLOGY AND 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)
Review
Plant Sciences
Jose Alberto Ramirez-Valiente, Luis Santos del Blanco, Ricardo Alia, Juan J. Robledo-Arnuncio, Jose Climent
Summary: Mediterranean ecosystems are biodiversity hotspots located between temperate mesic climates and semi-deserts and deserts, characterized by a drought season with variable severity and length across regions. Studies show that population genetic differentiation in functional traits and fitness in Mediterranean species, driven by adaptation to contrasting temperature and precipitation regimes, is common. No evidence was found for a trade-off between resource-use strategies within species, calling for further investigation into the evolution of stress tolerance at the expense of growth potential in Mediterranean environments.
JOURNAL OF ECOLOGY
(2022)
Review
Plant Sciences
Travis E. Huxman, Daniel E. Winkler, Kailen A. Mooney
Summary: Global change poses a threat to plant diversity and disrupts its interplay with ecosystem structure and function. To address this challenge, ecology needs to consider interactions between different levels of biological hierarchy and integrate multiple disciplinary perspectives and units of study through empirical work and theoretical development. The use of common gardens is advocated to integrate ecology, evolutionary biology, and ecosystem science, providing opportunities to evaluate important assumptions and tackle the integration of physicochemical and eco-evolutionary foundations in understanding plants and ecosystems.
JOURNAL OF ECOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Marie Spohn, Johan Stendahl
Summary: The aim of this study was to identify the parameters that affect the nitrogen isotope ratio (δN-15) in temperate and boreal forest soils. Two types of δN-15 patterns were identified: type D soils showed a decreasing δN-15 in the mineral soil with depth, while type C soils showed a constant δN-15 throughout the soil profile. Type D soils had higher δN-15 in the organic layer and upper mineral soil, lower atmospheric N deposition, and higher phosphorus concentration than type C soils. The δN-15 of the organic layer was positively correlated with latitude and negatively correlated with mean annual temperature and atmospheric N deposition across Europe.
Article
Soil Science
Christina Steffens, Christian Beer, Stephanie Schelfhout, An De Schrijver, Eva-Maria Pfeiffer, Lars Vesterdal
Summary: Through investigating different tree species in forests, we found that coniferous trees have larger organic carbon and nitrogen stocks in the humus and mineral topsoil compared to other species, while broadleaved species are the opposite. Although forest floor organic carbon and nitrogen stocks increased over the decade, stocks in the mineral soil decreased, indicating short-term changes.
EUROPEAN JOURNAL OF SOIL SCIENCE
(2022)
Editorial Material
Plant Sciences
Susanne Schwinning, Christopher J. Lortie, Todd C. Esque, Lesley A. DeFalco
Summary: These papers highlight the trends in common garden experiments, including the relationship between climate-related traits and fitness optima, as well as discussing various methods for improving common garden studies.
JOURNAL OF ECOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Plant Sciences
Byung Bae Park, Youngtak Ko, Jonathan O. Hernandez, Ser-Oddamba Byambadorj, Si Ho Han
Summary: This study investigated the effects of forest stand and soil characteristics on seedling growth of different tree species. The results showed that deciduous species performed better in abundant light conditions, while evergreen species were less affected by light availability.
Article
Agronomy
Mubarak Mahmud, Tania L. Maxwell, Sixtine Cueff, Romain Schroeder, Stephane Bazot, Nicolas Delpierre, Anne Marmagne, Gaelle Vincent, Laure Barthes
Summary: This study quantified the distribution of nitrogen, dry-matter, and soil-applied (15)N in different compartments of five naturally-growing oak trees. The results showed that the xylem rings compartment contained the most biomass, while branches and coarse roots contained the most nitrogen. The labeled (15)N was found in all compartments except the heartwood, with the majority being in the leaves. Overlooked compartments such as coarse roots, stumps, xylem, and other branches accounted for a significant portion of the (15)N recovery. The study also revealed that (15)N was present in all sapwood rings, with more being found in younger rings compared to older ones. The (15)N allocated to ancient rings could originate from various sources, including direct uptake from the soil, autumnal resorption from leaves, or transport through ray parenchyma. Additionally, the study confirmed the role of microbial biomass as a nitrogen sink in forests.
Article
Environmental Sciences
Danny A. P. Hooftman, Adam Kimberley, Sara A. O. Cousins, Silvia Santamaria Bueno, Olivier Honnay, Patricia Krickl, Jan Plue, Peter Poschlod, Anna Traveset, James M. Bullock
Summary: Ancient semi-natural grasslands in Europe are crucial for providing ecosystem services, and Grassland Green Infrastructure (GGI) surrounding these grasslands can supplement the provision of these services. A study investigated the potential of GGI to deliver various ecosystem services, concluding that GGI had lower delivery for conservation, pollination, and aesthetic appeal, but not for carbon storage. These differences were attributed to fewer plant species and compositional differences in GGI compared to the core grasslands. Improved management of GGI can enhance landscape-wide delivery of nature conservation value and pollination.
JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT
(2023)
Article
Ecology
Ella Z. Daly, Olivier Chabrerie, Francois Massol, Benoit Facon, Manon C. M. Hess, Aurelie Tasiemski, Frederic Grandjean, Matthieu Chauvat, Frederique Viard, Estelle Forey, Laurent Folcher, Elise Buisson, Thomas Boivin, Sylvie Baltora-Rosset, Romain Ulmer, Patricia Gibert, Gabrielle Thiebaut, Jelena H. Pantel, Tina Heger, David M. Richardson, David Renault
Summary: With the increasing level of biological invasions in the Anthropocene, there is still significant debate and lack of clarity on the determinants of success, impact, and sustaining mechanisms of introduced species. Empirical studies show divergent impacts and effects of biotic and abiotic factors, hindering the creation of a unified theory. The proposed synthesis categorizes invasion hypotheses along a timeline, providing a framework to navigate the theories and select appropriate concepts based on the stage of invasion.
Article
Ecology
Heather Wood, Sara A. O. Cousins
Summary: Multiple climatic and landscape drivers are linked to variations in bat body size and wing functional traits. Previous studies mostly used proxies instead of actual climate and land-use data, and rarely explored their interactions. This study investigates the effects of higher summer average temperatures on bat body size and appendage size, as well as the role of temperature and resource availability (such as forest cover) in changes of wing functional traits. The results highlight the importance of considering both climatic and land-use variables when studying bat morphology and exploring interactions.
ECOLOGY AND EVOLUTION
(2023)
Article
Agriculture, Multidisciplinary
Merkebu Getachew, Kris Verheyen, Kassaye Tolassa, Ayco J. M. Tack, Kristoffer Hylander, Biruk Ayalew, Pascal Boeckx, Dries Landuyt, Pieter De Frenne
Summary: Shade trees are widely used in coffee production systems and can have significant impacts on soil biogeochemistry and coffee bean quality. However, quantitative data on these effects are scarce. This study found that N-fixing shade tree species had a negative impact on soil pH and base cation concentrations, while Albizia gummifera L. enhanced phosphorus availability. The study highlights the importance of careful selection and integration of shade tree species for sustaining soil chemical properties in coffee agroecosystems.
AGRICULTURE ECOSYSTEMS & ENVIRONMENT
(2023)
Article
Agronomy
Merkebu Getachew, Pascal Boeckx, Kris Verheyen, Kassaye Tolassa, Ayco J. M. Tack, Kristoffer Hylander, Stijn Luca, Beyene Zewdie, Pieter De Frenne
Summary: The present study aimed to quantify the relative importance of biophysical variables affecting coffee bean quality and evaluate a near infrared spectroscopy-based model for coffee quality prediction. The study found large within farm variability, indicating the importance of coffee plant-level conditions for physical attributes and cupping scores of green coffee beans. Elevation appeared to be the key variable driving all measured coffee bean quality attributes at the farm level, while canopy cover was the most important variable at the coffee plant level.
AGROFORESTRY SYSTEMS
(2023)
Article
Ecology
Irena Adia Koelemeijer, Johan Ehrlen, Pieter De Frenne, Mari Joensson, Peter Berg, Kristoffer Hylander
Summary: Forest fragmentation increases the number of edges in the landscape. Differences in wind, radiation, and vegetation structure create edge-to-interior gradients in forest microclimate. The effects of climate extremes on edge influences are amplified by drought, suggesting that fragmentation effects are aggravated when droughts become more frequent and severe. Dense edges and buffer zones with high canopy cover can mitigate negative drought impacts in forest edges.
ECOLOGICAL APPLICATIONS
(2023)
Article
Plant Sciences
Rozalia E. Kapas, Adam Kimberley, Sara A. O. Cousins
Summary: In recent years, global efforts have been made to restore former grassland sites in order to address the loss of ancient species-rich grasslands and protect grassland biodiversity. This study examined how plant species spontaneously colonize restored grasslands in a small-scale setting. The results showed that grazing activity and distance to adjacent grassland influenced species richness and vegetation cover. Forest-associated plant species declined, while generalist species and some grassland specialists increased. However, not all grassland specialists successfully colonized the restored grasslands and the colonization pattern varied over time. The presence of grazing livestock, continuous seed arrival, and disturbance are crucial for successful colonization and establishment of plant species.
NORDIC JOURNAL OF BOTANY
(2023)
Article
Ecology
Nina Roth, Adam Kimberley, Daniela Guasconi, Gustaf Hugelius, Sara A. O. Cousins
Summary: One of the main reasons for the decline of insect pollinators is the lack of floral resources. Drought poses an increasing threat to the abundance and continuity of flowers in agricultural landscapes. Soil amendments are a novel management tool for Swedish grasslands aiming to mitigate the negative effects of drought on floral resources.
ECOLOGICAL SOLUTIONS AND EVIDENCE
(2023)
Article
Agronomy
Karen De Pauw, Leen Depauw, Kim Calders, Steven Caluwaerts, Sara A. O. Cousins, Emiel De Lombaerde, Martin Diekmann, David Frey, Jonathan Lenoir, Camille Meeussen, Anna Orczewska, Jan Plue, Fabien Spicher, Florian Zellweger, Pieter Vangansbeke, Kris Verheyen, Pieter De Frenne
Summary: The urban heat island effect strongly affects urban forest edges, causing higher temperatures and lower humidity. Forest structure plays a role in microclimate variation, with denser forests able to buffer high temperatures and vapor pressure deficits. There are significant microclimatic differences between urban forest edges and interiors, with edge effects extending up to 50 meters.
AGRICULTURAL AND FOREST METEOROLOGY
(2023)
Article
Plant Sciences
Cristina Gasperini, Elisa Carrari, Sanne Govaert, Camille Meeussen, Karen De Pauw, Jan Plue, Pieter Sanczuk, Thomas Vanneste, Pieter Vangansbeke, Giovanni Iacopetti, Pieter De Frenne, Federico Selvi
Summary: This study investigates the effects of macro- and microclimatic gradients on the juvenile plant communities from the realized seed bank of temperate forests in Italy and Belgium. The results show that taller communities develop at the forest edge due to higher light availability and warmer temperatures. However, the shadier and cooler microclimate of the forest core reduces the mean leaf area, dry weight, height, and leaf number in the communities realized from the edge soil. Global warming may result in a functional shift of the understorey due to early filtering effects and adaptive trait adjustments to temperature increase.
APPLIED VEGETATION SCIENCE
(2023)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Pieter Sanczuk, Karen De Pauw, Emiel De Lombaerde, Miska Luoto, Camille Meeussen, Sanne Govaert, Thomas Vanneste, Leen Depauw, Jorg Brunet, Sara A. O. Cousins, Cristina Gasperini, Per-Ola Hedwall, Giovanni Iacopetti, Jonathan Lenoir, Jan Plue, Federico Selvi, Fabien Spicher, Jaime Uria-Diez, Kris Verheyen, Pieter Vangansbeke, Pieter De Frenne
Summary: Macroclimatic changes have global impacts on ecosystems. Forest floors under dense tree canopies buffer the impacts of macroclimate change on forest biodiversity, while canopy opening exacerbates these impacts. A cross-continental transplant experiment was conducted to understand the role of forest microclimates in shaping future plant distributions.
NATURE CLIMATE CHANGE
(2023)
Article
Education & Educational Research
Frederik Gerits, Hanne Cooreman, Laure Triste, Bert Reubens, Kris Verheyen, Lies Messely
Summary: Learning about natural resources through citizen science projects can promote environmentally friendly behavior. This study explores the learning outcomes of a citizen science project that focused on agrobiodiversity in landscape observatories in Flanders, Belgium. Participants gained practical knowledge and changed their views and actions towards agrobiodiversity, particularly those with less prior knowledge. The tactile tool of the m(2) gardens and frequent communication were considered key learning tools.
ENVIRONMENTAL EDUCATION RESEARCH
(2023)
Article
Plant Sciences
E. Dhiedt, L. Baeten, P. De Smedt, K. Verheyen
Summary: Trees have a strong influence on soil properties, even after they are removed. This study investigated the effects of soil legacies of tree species richness on tree seedling growth and how these legacies interact with irrigation frequency. The results showed that species richness did not have a significant effect on plant performance or response to irrigation frequency. However, the effect of irrigation frequency varied depending on the species identity of the seedlings. These patterns can be attributed to the young age of the forest and the previous agricultural land use, which have a greater impact on soil characteristics and plant response to drought than species diversity.
Article
Plant Sciences
Eline Lorer, Kris Verheyen, Haben Blondeel, Karen De Pauw, Pieter Sanczuk, Pieter De Frenne, Dries Landuyt
Summary: Species are adjusting their phenology in response to warming temperatures. This study focuses on understory plants in forests, which experience different light and temperature conditions compared to open environments due to tree canopy shading. The researchers recorded the flowering patterns of 10 temperate forest understory plant species in mesocosm experiments to understand how phenology is influenced by sub-canopy warming and illumination. They found that flowering onset is advanced by an average of 7.1 days per 1 degree Celsius warming, with warm-adapted species showing greater advances. The study suggests that considering sub-canopy temperature and light availability is crucial for understanding future phenological responses of understory plants.
Article
Ecology
Sanne Govaert, Camille Meeussen, Thomas Vanneste, Kurt Bollmann, Joerg Brunet, Kim Calders, Sara A. O. Cousins, Karen De Pauw, Martin Diekmann, Bente J. Graae, Per-Ola Hedwall, Giovanni Iacopetti, Jonathan Lenoir, Sigrid Lindmo, Anna Orczewska, Quentin Ponette, Jan Plue, Pieter Sanczuk, Federico Selvi, Fabien Spicher, Kris Verheyen, Pieter Vangansbeke, Pieter De Frenne
Summary: This study investigated the relationships between micro-environmental conditions and plant functional traits in the understorey of temperate forests in Europe. The results found that microclimate temperature, light availability, and soil properties were all important predictors of plant functional traits. Additionally, the inclusion of intraspecific trait variation strengthened the relationship between traits and the micro-environment.
GLOBAL ECOLOGY AND BIOGEOGRAPHY
(2023)