Article
Forestry
Shubo Huang, Lixiang Wen, Shuai Yin, Meng Guo, Fangbing Yu
Summary: This study analyzed the characteristics of coarse woody debris decomposition in Larix gmelinii forests over 33 years after a fire, revealing a positive correlation between decay rate and decay class. Factors such as nutrient content, density, and water content explained the variance in decay rate, and the decomposition process was mainly influenced by the structural component of the debris and its nitrogen and water contents. This paper quantified indicators affecting CWD decay to explain the decomposition process.
JOURNAL OF FORESTRY RESEARCH
(2021)
Article
Biodiversity Conservation
Zhihui Wang, Mingzhen Xu, Fei Li, Yi Bai, Jianfeng Hou, Xuqing Li, Rui Cao, Yuyue Deng, Yurui Jiang, Huaibin Wang, Wanqin Yang
Summary: This study investigated the composition and diversity of the soil bacterial community beneath debris with varying decay classes and diameters in six different successional forests. The results showed that the composition and functional groups of the soil bacterial communities varied greatly with forest succession, decay classes, and debris diameters. The structure of the bacterial communities varied significantly among different forest successions and diameters, but not decay classes. The presence of nitrogen-fixing bacteria in highly decayed wood debris indicated that the existence of coarse woody debris in forest ecosystems could stimulate nitrogen fixation.
GLOBAL ECOLOGY AND CONSERVATION
(2023)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Zhaohua Dai, Carl C. Trettin, Andrew J. Burton, Martin F. Jurgensen, Deborah S. Page-Dumroese, Brian T. Forschler, Jonathan S. Schilling, Daniel L. Lindner
Summary: A process-based model, CWDDAT, accurately predicts the decomposition of Coarse Woody Debris (CWD) in forests under varying conditions. The model was validated using data from nine Experimental Forests in the USA, demonstrating its applicability for large-scale assessments of CWD dynamics and fine-scale considerations regarding CWD carbon fate.
Article
Ecology
Brian J. Roberts, Natalie A. Griffiths, Jeffrey N. Houser, Patrick J. Mulholland
Summary: The study evaluated the ecological effectiveness of adding coarse woody debris to streams and found that heavily disturbed streams responded most strongly to the additions. However, the benefits of CWD additions were only short-term, as continued high erosion rates resulted in the burial of added CWD and a return to pre-addition levels of ecosystem metabolism rates. Therefore, future restoration efforts should consider the intensity of disturbances in selecting restoration locations.
Article
Forestry
D. V. Karelin, D. G. Zamolodchikov, A. V. Shilkin, S. Yu. Popov, A. S. Kumanyaev, V. O. Lopes de Gerenyu, N. O. Tel'nova, Michael L. Gitarskiy
Summary: Long-term field studies in north-western European Russia showed that CO2 fluxes in an old-growth spruce forest were affected by climate change, bark beetle attacks, and windfall events. The decrease in annual carbon uptake and evapotranspiration was attributed to progressive tree mortality. However, specific ecosystem respiration was not significantly reduced despite increased mortality. The respiration of the damaged forest was mainly from soil, living vegetation, hotspots, and decomposition of woody debris.
EUROPEAN JOURNAL OF FOREST RESEARCH
(2021)
Article
Geosciences, Multidisciplinary
Wojciech Piaszczyk, Jaroslaw Lasota, Ewa Blonska, Kacper Foremnik
Summary: The study found that habitat moisture has a significant impact on the decomposition process of wood samples, with the greatest mass loss recorded under fresh habitat conditions. Higher moisture content slows down wood decomposition, with weight loss averaging 34% in boggy habitats. Fine woody debris can serve as a useful source of nutrients in forest ecosystems.
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
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
Environmental Sciences
Matthew J. Pringle, Steven G. Bray, John O. Carter
Summary: The study found that various factors, such as years since clearing, clearing method, bioregion, and number of times burned, strongly influence the disappearance of CWD following a land clearing event in Queensland. In typical conditions, it was predicted to take 38 years for 95% of CWD to disappear, but uncertainty in the data and model could lead to a range of 5 to >100 years for CWD disappearance. Contrary to official greenhouse gas reporting in Australia, it was found that a significant amount of CWD may not be burned soon after clearing, leading to delayed CO2 emissions.
CARBON BALANCE AND MANAGEMENT
(2021)
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
Forestry
Ivan Romashkin, Ekaterina Shorohova, Ekaterina Kapitsa, Natalia Galibina, Ksenia Nikerova
Summary: By studying a 66-year decomposition process in an old-growth mixed boreal forest, researchers found that the dynamics of carbon, nitrogen, cellulose, and lignin in downed logs were influenced by the availability of nitrogen, which positively impacted wood bulk density loss and cellulose degradation. The study highlights the importance of considering tree species specific traits in decomposition studies in old-growth boreal forests.
FOREST ECOLOGY AND MANAGEMENT
(2021)
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
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
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Zhaohua Dai, Carl C. Trettin, Andrew J. Burton, Martin F. Jurgensen, Deborah S. Page-Dumroese, Brian T. Forschler, Jonathan S. Schilling, Daniel L. Lindner
Summary: The decomposition of coarse woody debris is strongly influenced by climate, geographical location, and altitude, which regulate the activity of microbial and invertebrate wood decomposers. The decomposition rate of woody debris increases with temperature and precipitation, but decreases with latitude and altitude. Fungi are identified as the most important decomposers of woody debris, while termites play a significant role in tropical and some subtropical regions.
Article
Remote Sensing
Shukhrat Shokirov, Michael Schaefer, Shaun R. Levick, Tommaso Jucker, Justin Borevitz, Ilhom Abdurahmanov, Kara Youngentob
Summary: The study used LiDAR technology to assess CWD in a grassy woodland ecosystem, finding that model performance varied with different sensor types, vegetation types, and ground cover biomass. Ground cover density had a negative impact on accuracy for TLS and FLS data.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF REMOTE SENSING
(2021)
Article
Forestry
Autumn E. Sabo, Jodi A. Forrester, Julia Burton, Phillip D. Jones, David J. Mladenoff, Eric L. Kruger
FOREST ECOLOGY AND MANAGEMENT
(2019)
Article
Plant Sciences
Julia Burton, David J. Mladenoff, Jodi A. Forrester, Murray K. Clayton
Summary: Deer play a significant role in mediating the response of forest ground-layer plant communities to canopy gap size, particularly impacting forb productivity. Canopy gaps increase community heterogeneity, but this effect is only observed in the absence of deer. The study suggests that the maintenance of biodiversity in forest plant communities may hinge on deer herbivory, with implications for community dynamics and species turnover.
JOURNAL OF VEGETATION SCIENCE
(2021)
Article
Soil Science
Lili Perreault, Jodi A. Forrester, Nina Wurzburger, David J. Mladenoff
SOIL BIOLOGY & BIOCHEMISTRY
(2020)
Article
Ecology
Lili Perreault, Jodi A. Forrester, David J. Mladenoff, Tera E. Lewandowski
Summary: The study found that adding downed woody debris (DWD) can increase the diversity of soil microbial community (SMC) and impact soil temperature and bacterial abundance, enhancing spatial heterogeneity of soil microenvironments.
Article
Forestry
K. A. Bakken, J. A. Forrester, D. J. Mladenoff, Z. Leggett, J. Juzwik, R. M. Jetton
Summary: Bitternut hickory experienced extensive mortality in a northern hardwood forest in Wisconsin, mainly due to a pathogenic fungus and hickory bark beetle. Regeneration of hickory seedlings declined, with lasting consequences on the species' persistence.
FOREST ECOLOGY AND MANAGEMENT
(2021)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Lili Perreault, Jodi A. Forrester, David J. Mladenoff, Stith T. Gower
Summary: The study evaluated the effects of adding downed woody debris on soil GHG fluxes in northern hardwood forests and found that the decay level of the debris and canopy condition influenced soil microbial activity and fluxes, potentially resulting in higher soil uptake under closed canopy conditions.
Article
Forestry
Zoe Read, Shawn Fraver, Jodi A. Forrester, Jay Wason, Christopher W. Woodall
Summary: Understanding the forest carbon cycle and the decomposition process is crucial for addressing climate change. This study examined CO2 emissions from red spruce stumps over time and found that CO2 flux rates were influenced mainly by the time since harvest.
FOREST ECOLOGY AND MANAGEMENT
(2022)
Article
Ecology
Caitlin E. E. Hicks Pries, Richard Lankau, Grace Anne Ingham, Eva Legge, Owen Krol, Jodi Forrester, Amelia Fitch, Nina Wurzburger
Summary: As global change alters the species composition of forests, understanding the effects of tree species characteristics on soil organic matter cycling is crucial for predicting soil carbon storage. Recent studies have suggested that whether a tree species forms a symbiosis with arbuscular (AM) or ectomycorrhizal (EcM) fungi can strongly influence soil carbon storage, but there is variability within EcM systems. This study investigated how mycorrhizal associations and the species composition of canopy trees and mycorrhizal fungi relate to soil carbon and nitrogen content and the carbon to nitrogen ratio in four different sites. The findings showed that soil properties were strongly correlated with the composition of canopy trees and fungal species, rather than simply the presence of AM or EcM symbiosis.
Article
Forestry
Phillip D. Jones, Autumn E. Sabo, Jodi A. Forrester, David J. Mladenoff, Marc E. McDill
Summary: This study examines the effects of deer on the survival and growth of sugar maple and ash seedlings in a Northern hardwood forest. The results show that the survival of seedlings is positively correlated with initial root collar diameter and is higher in transition zones. The study also finds that soil nitrogen positively influences the height growth of sugar maple but has no effect on ash growth.
FOREST ECOLOGY AND MANAGEMENT
(2023)
Article
Ecology
Samuel P. Reed, Dustin R. Bronson, Jodi A. Forrester, Leah M. Prudent, Anna M. Yang, Austin M. Yantes, Peter B. Reich, Lee E. Frelich
Summary: Despite the large body of theory concerning multiple disturbances, few attempts have been made to test the interactions between disturbances. This study investigated the linkages between earthworm invasion, canopy gap creation, and white-tailed deer browsing in North American temperate forests. The findings revealed that earthworm invasion is linked to the presence of deer and gap-creating disturbances, providing new insights in multiple disturbance theory and forest management.
Article
Ecology
J. A. Forrester, S. Fraver, D. J. Mladenoff, S. T. Gower, A. W. D'Amato, D. L. Lindner
Summary: This study conducted a field experiment in a mature northern hardwood forest to investigate the effects of canopy gaps and downed wood on detrital mass loss. The results showed that both canopy gaps and downed wood increased detrital mass loss, but their combined effect was not significant. It was also found that leaf litter had significantly greater mass loss within canopy gaps compared to non-gap treatments.
Article
Forestry
Autumn E. Sabo, Jodi A. Forrester, Eric L. Kruger, David J. Mladenoff
Summary: There is a growing interest in adapting forest management to increase diversity and restore old-growth characteristics. Efficient and effective measurements for evaluating the quality of natural areas are elusive. This study used herbaceous species to assess the sensitivity of different metrics and the effects of gap-generating disturbances and abundant deer on the understory of a northern hardwood forest. The results showed that height was the best metric and adding downed woody material helped mitigate micro-climates and/or deer pressure.
FOREST ECOLOGY AND MANAGEMENT
(2023)
Article
Ecology
Lili Perreault, Jodi A. Forrester, Daniel L. Lindner, Michelle A. Jusino, Shawn Fraver, Mark T. Banik, David J. Mladenoff
Summary: Decomposition transfers carbon from detrital organic matter to soil and atmospheric pools. Forest harvesting can lead to reductions in deadwood, which affects wood-inhabiting fungi (WIF) community and their role in carbon and nutrient cycling.
Article
Forestry
Jacks M. T. Hausle, Jodi A. Forrester, Trevor D. Walker
Summary: Branches reduce stem quality, and the effect is determined by geometry, size, and number of knots. Quantifying branchiness is difficult. Acoustic velocity (AV) is correlated with wood stiffness and affected by knots. This study tested AV as a metric for branchiness by measuring AV, height, diameter, and counting branches on longleaf pine trees. AV was correlated with height and slenderness. AV was moderately correlated with large living branches, but not total branches. AV may be suitable for comparing populations, but not individual tree branchiness.
CANADIAN JOURNAL OF FOREST RESEARCH
(2023)
Article
Forestry
Jacks M. T. Hausle, Jodi A. Forrester, Christopher E. Moorman, Melissa R. Martin
Summary: Planting rates and density affect the ecological and timber quality aspects of longleaf pine plantations. Higher planting density results in smaller tree diameters and larger stand basal area, while higher planting rates lead to lower branch density and lower straightness grades. Increasing stand density reduces canopy openness and ground cover, decreasing herbaceous plant cover.
FOREST ECOLOGY AND MANAGEMENT
(2023)
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)