Article
Forestry
Liudmila Mukhortova, Natalia Pashenova, Maria Meteleva, Leonid Krivobokov, Georg Guggenberger
Summary: The study demonstrates that the death of trees in forest ecosystems leads to the formation of coarse woody debris (CWD), which can be a significant source of methane and carbon dioxide emissions. The CO2 and CH4 fluxes from CWD show strong correlations with temperature, moisture, decomposition stage, and wood type, with methane flux being more sensitive at higher temperatures. This research highlights the importance of understanding greenhouse gas emissions from decomposing wood in boreal forests.
Article
Soil Science
Apolline Benoist, Daniel Houle, Robert L. Bradley, Jean-Philippe Bellenger
Summary: The contribution of Coarse Woody Debris (CWD) to N inputs in boreal ecosystems has been reported, but data from Eastern Canadian forests is scarce. This study evaluated the contribution of CWD to total biological nitrogen fixation (BNF) in two forest sites and tested factors that can affect the conversion ratio for N-2-fixation estimates. The results showed that N-2-fixation by CWD in balsam fir and black spruce from eastern boreal forest is low compared to other estimates, and moss-covered CWD can significantly contribute to CWD N-2-fixation.
SOIL BIOLOGY & BIOCHEMISTRY
(2022)
Article
Biodiversity Conservation
Francesco Parisi, Michele Innangi, Roberto Tognetti, Fabio Lombardi, Gherardo Chirici, Marco Marchetti
Summary: The relationships between structural complexity, deadwood abundance, microhabitat type, and species-diversity indicators are crucial tools for monitoring biodiversity in forest ecosystems. However, the impact of these factors on beetle communities can vary in different forest environments. Our study highlights the significance of ecological attributes in tracking changes in beetle biodiversity in specific forest contexts.
GLOBAL ECOLOGY AND CONSERVATION
(2021)
Article
Forestry
Jianwei Zhang, Deborah S. Page-Dumroese, Martin F. Jurgensen, Matt Busse, Kim G. Mattson
Summary: The long-term effects of harvesting on carbon pools in a dry pine forest were assessed, revealing significant impacts on coarse woody debris and soil carbon pools, while live tree carbon pool showed little change. This highlights a tradeoff between harvesting and environmental conservation.
Article
Forestry
Saskia C. Hart, Teresita M. Porter, Nathan Basiliko, Lisa Venier, Mehrdad Hajibabaei, Dave Morris
Summary: This study compared the fungal community and physical and chemical properties of coarse woody debris (CWD) across three tree species, five decay classes, and two stand development stages. It found that fungal diversity was highest in decay class 4 CWD and that factors such as Mn and K concentrations, total carbon, C/N ratio, N/P ratio, and moisture content influenced fungal composition. The study suggests that forest management guidelines should consider both quantity and quality of deadwood to support a broader range of fungal species and communities during stand development after disturbances.
CANADIAN JOURNAL OF FOREST RESEARCH
(2023)
Article
Forestry
Cornelia C. Pinchot, Alejandro A. Royo, John S. Stanovick, Scott E. Schlarbaum, Ami M. Sharp, Sandra L. Anagnostakis
Summary: This study examines the impact of browsing on planted chestnuts and suggests that protective measures are necessary to reduce herbivory in areas with high deer densities.
FOREST ECOLOGY AND MANAGEMENT
(2022)
Article
Forestry
Mari Jonsson, Jan-Olov Weslien, Lena Gustafsson
Summary: Retaining trees in small patches at final harvest is a common forest conservation measure to maintain diversity. In this study, we found that most small retention patches did not experience severe tree mortality and had a consistent amount of coarse woody debris over time. Wetland and rocky areas had higher volumes of CWD compared to other patch types.
FOREST ECOLOGY AND MANAGEMENT
(2023)
Article
Forestry
Guillaume Moreau, Catherine Chagnon, Malcolm J. L. Cecil-Cockwell, David Pothier, Alexis Achim, Steve Bedard, Francois Guillemette, John Caspersen
Summary: In northern hardwood forests, a simplified tree marking system that prioritizes the removal of trees with crown dieback and larger trees that have maintained their quality is recommended based on recent research. This system not only facilitates stand improvement by removing low-vigour trees, but also recovers more value at the stand scale.
Article
Geography, Physical
Kailey V. V. Adams, Jean L. L. Dixon, Andrew C. C. Wilcox, Dave McWethy
Summary: Interactions between vegetation and sediment in post-fire landscapes are important for sediment connectivity. Previous research focused on vegetation removal but overlooked the effects of coarse woody debris (CWD) added after fires. Our study investigates the impacts of CWD on hillslope sediment storage and highlights its role in limiting rapid sediment movement. We propose a new conceptual model, conduct tilt table experiments, and estimate hillslope sediment storage capacity in a burned catchment using high-resolution topographic data and digitization of downed logs. The results suggest that fire-produced CWD serves as an important source of sediment disconnectivity in catchments and should be incorporated into models of sediment connectivity.
EARTH SURFACE PROCESSES AND LANDFORMS
(2023)
Article
Forestry
Jessica L. Wikle, Anthony W. D'Amato
Summary: The spatial arrangement of trees is influenced by various factors, and these patterns play a crucial role in determining adaptive capacity. Our study focuses on analyzing tree spatial patterns in second-growth northern hardwood forests under different climate adaptation management approaches. We found that strategies aimed at future adaptation lead to more variable tree spacing and clumping, while those focused on maintaining current conditions result in less pattern variation. This highlights the importance of uneven-aged regeneration methods in altering resource availability patterns and adaptation space in forest stands.
CANADIAN JOURNAL OF FOREST RESEARCH
(2023)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Mark A. Bradford, G. F. Ciska Veen, Ella M. Bradford, Kristofer R. Covey, Thomas W. Crowther, Nicholas Fields, Paul T. Frankson, Javier Gonzalez-Rivero, Fiona V. Jevon, Sara E. Kuebbing, Steven McBride, Jacqueline E. Mohan, Emily E. Oldfield, Angela M. Oliverio, Alexander Polussa, Corinna Steinrueck, Michael S. Strickland, Elisabeth B. Ward, Carl Wepking, Daniel S. Maynard
Summary: This study investigates the effect of downed coarse woody material (CWM) on the decomposition rates of fine woody material (FWM). The results show that the presence of CWM accelerates the decomposition of FWM, and this effect becomes stronger over time.
Article
Forestry
Angela L. Larsen-Gray, Susan C. Loeb, Matina C. Kalcounis-Rueppell
Summary: This study found that experimental manipulations of coarse woody debris in South Carolina did not significantly affect rodent population and community dynamics over the long-term. Variations in captures of cotton mice and southern flying squirrels were observed across seasons and years, but overall, the experimental treatments had minimal effects on the rodent community composition and structure.
FOREST ECOLOGY AND MANAGEMENT
(2021)
Article
Forestry
Alison E. E. Ochs, Mike R. R. Saunders, Robert K. K. Swihart
Summary: Timber harvesting has strong effects on terrestrial salamanders, particularly clearcutting and patch cutting. Vegetation recovery and coarse woody debris protect salamanders, while declining levels of CWD and drought contribute to declines in salamander abundance. Shelterwood harvests do not lead to declines, suggesting canopy retention can prevent negative impacts.
FOREST ECOLOGY AND MANAGEMENT
(2022)
Article
Forestry
Andrzej Mazur, Radoslaw Witkowski, Robert Kuzminski, Roman Jaszczak, Mieczyslaw Turski, Hanna Kwasna, Piotr Lakomy, Janusz Szmyt, Krzysztof Adamowicz, Andrzej Labedzki
Summary: This study describes assemblages of saproxylic beetles in pine stands of western Poland based on dead wood resources. The results show higher species diversity indicators in unmanaged stands and a prevalence of xylophagous beetles in managed stands. Despite increased CWD resources in unmanaged stands, it does not lead to a significant increase in biodiversity indicators.
Article
Soil Science
Andrew C. Eagar, Kurt A. Smemo, Richard P. Phillips, Christopher B. Blackwood
Summary: Dominant tree mycorrhizal associations with the environment play a significant role in shaping belowground microbial communities and nutrient cycling. The interaction between mycorrhizal types and site location explains more variation in fungal community composition, richness, and function than specific soil properties. The relative abundance of plant pathogens is particularly responsive to tree mycorrhizal dominance, with increased presence around arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) trees compared to ectomycorrhizal (ECM) trees.
SOIL BIOLOGY & BIOCHEMISTRY
(2023)
Article
Soil Science
Chelsea J. Carey, Nicholas C. Dove, J. Michael Beman, Stephen C. Hart, Emma L. Aronson
SOIL BIOLOGY & BIOCHEMISTRY
(2016)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
S. M. Aciego, C. S. Riebe, S. C. Hart, M. A. Blakowski, C. J. Carey, S. M. Aarons, N. C. Dove, J. K. Botthoff, K. W. W. Sims, E. L. Aronson
NATURE COMMUNICATIONS
(2017)
Article
Ecology
Nicholas C. Dove, Stephen C. Hart
Article
Ecology
Edith C. Hammer, Carlos Arellano-Caicedo, Paola Micaela Mafla-Endara, E. Toby Kiers, Tom Shimizu, Pelle Ohlsson, Kristin Aleklett
Summary: This study used microfluidic chips to investigate foraging strategies and habitat modification of Rhizophagus irregularis symbiotically associated with carrot roots. The researchers found that AMF hyphae can forage over long distances, prefer straight passages, and show branching induction when encountering obstacles. They also observed bi-directional transport of cellular content inside the hyphae and strategic allocation of biomass within the mycelium. Additionally, the AMF hyphae modified the pore-spaces in the chips by clogging them with irregularly shaped spores. These findings have important implications for understanding the impact of AMF on water retention in soils.