A comprehensive framework for vegetation succession

Ecosphere, Journal Year: 2024, Volume and Issue: 15(4)

Published: April 1, 2024

Abstract Succession is defined as a directional change in species populations, the community, and ecosystem at site following disturbance. fundamental concept ecology it links different disciplines. An improved understanding of succession urgently needed Anthropocene to predict widespread effects global on recovery, but comprehensive successional framework (CSF) lacking. A CSF synthesize results, draw generalizations, advance theory, make decisions for restoration. We first show that an integral part socio‐ecological system dynamics driven by social ecological factors operating spatial scales, ranging from patch globe. then present local scale (patch landscape) which takes place explain underlying processes mechanisms scale. The reflects increasingly broader perspective includes recent theoretical advances not only focusing replacement also development, considering system, taking effect past current land use, landscape context, biotic interactions, feedback loops into account. discuss how can be used integrate studies, its implications

Language: Английский

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Persistent Effects of Landscape Context on Recruitment Dynamics During Secondary Succession of Tropical Forests

Global Change Biology, Journal Year: 2025, Volume and Issue: 31(1)

Published: Jan. 1, 2025

ABSTRACT Large‐scale reforestation is promoted as an important strategy to mitigate climate change and biodiversity loss. A persistent challenge for efforts restore ecosystems at scale how accelerate ecological processes, particularly natural regeneration. Yet, despite being recognized barrier the recovery of diverse plant communities in tropical agricultural landscapes, impacts dispersal limitation on regeneration secondary forests—and especially this changes these forests grow older—are still poorly studied. In a region where animals have been shown be dominant seed dispersers, we evaluate proximity connected network narrow streamside strips forest (SSF) recruitment 1–40‐year‐old forests. We used 8 years annual census data from 45 sites with paired plots, one directly adjoining SSF other further uphill (henceforth “landscape context”), null model approach test effects SSFs basal area, while accounting variation soil, topography, distance between plots stand structure. general, found that landscape context affects multiple aspects recruitment, including species diversity proportion rarer less‐widely distributed among recruits. Unexpectedly, effect did not weaken over time, fast increase area diversity. This suggests development first decades succession may sufficient attract disperse tree species. Our results provide empirical evidence guide restoration initiatives landscapes regions, principally prioritizing corridor networks along streams, also highlighting knowledge gap about restoring animal dispersers

Language: Английский

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Tropical forest succession increases tree taxonomic and functional richness but decreases evenness

Global Ecology and Biogeography, Journal Year: 2024, Volume and Issue: 33(8)

Published: June 8, 2024

Abstract Aim Successional changes in functional diversity provide insights into community assembly by indicating how species are filtered local communities based on their traits. Here, we assess successional taxonomic and richness, evenness redundancy along gradients of climate, soil pH forest cover. Location Neotropics. Time period Last 0–100 years. Major taxa studied Trees. Methods We used 22 chronosequence studies 676 plots across the Neotropics to analyse Hill's trees, these vary with continental‐scale precipitation, surrounding Results Taxonomic richness increased, while decreased over time. Functional changed strongly when not accounting for but more weakly after statistically that largely driven richness. Nevertheless, increases correcting may indicate environmental heterogeneity limiting similarity increase during succession. The taxonomically‐independent decreases stronger filtering competition select dominant similar trait values, many rare traits added community. Such also lead increased redundancy. varied resource availability were harsh, resource‐poor environments, weak benign, productive environments. Hence, facilitation important, whereas weaker abiotic allows high initial changes. Main conclusion found succession, mainly caused increasing number due arrival new changing (a)biotic filters.

Language: Английский

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Drivers and benefits of natural regeneration in tropical forests

Published: April 21, 2025

Language: Английский

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Persistent effects of landscape connectivity on recruitment dynamics in secondary forests

Published: May 19, 2024

Large scale reforestation is promoted as an important strategy to mitigate climate change and biodiversity loss. A persistent challenge for efforts restore ecosystems at how accelerate ecological processes, particularly natural regeneration. Yet, despite being recognized barrier the recovery of diverse plant communities in agricultural landscapes, impacts dispersal limitation on regeneration secondary forests – especially this changes these grow older still poorly studied local landscape scales. Here, we evaluate multi-scale proximity a connected network forest fragments recruitment 1–40-year-old forest. We used eight years annual census data from 45 sites with paired plots, one directly adjoining streamside fragment other further uphill, null model approach test effects basal area fragments. In general, found that enhanced multiple aspects across spatial scales, including species diversity proportion rarer less-widely distributed among recruits. Unexpectedly, effect did not weaken over time, fast increase stand area, canopy complexity diversity. This suggests successional structure may be sufficient attract animals disperse tree species. Our results provide empirical evidence guide restoration initiatives landscapes tropical regions, principally prioritizing corridor networks along streams, while also highlighting knowledge gap about restoring animal dispersers forests.

Language: Английский

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Species- and community-level demographic responses of saplings to drought during tropical secondary succession

Published: May 31, 2024

Naturally regenerating secondary vegetation dominates the tropical forest landscapes, showing a remarkable capacity to sequester carbon, but such role is threatened by increasing drought predicted with climate change. To understand how species and communities respond drought, we leverage long-term chronosequence of successional forests from Central Panama that coincided 2015/16 El Niño extreme event analyse diameter growth mortality 113,505 saplings 60 under water stress. As expected, negatively impacted most in either growth, mortality, or both. However, additionally found neighbourhood basal area ameliorated exacerbated effect on some species. These species-level demographic responses aggregated community-level shift dominance drought-susceptible more drought-tolerant during stand development. Our study highlights sapling older were less sensitive drought: they suffered reduction possibly due denser canopies mitigated evapotranspiration, also experienced lower higher relative abundance drought-resistant Saplings young overall susceptible their highly variable, suggesting potential understanding why are drought-tolerant, knowledge can be leveraged restore resilient necessary withstand future increased frequency severity changing climate.

Language: Английский

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15 Years Ecological Long-Term Monitoring of the Artificial Catchment Chicken Creek – a Brief Summary

Published: Jan. 1, 2024

Language: Английский

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Change in the general aboveground phytomass as a basis for modeling dynamics of recovery of vegetative cover

Biosystems Diversity, Journal Year: 2024, Volume and Issue: 32(2), P. 225 - 232

Published: May 20, 2024

Our study was focused on changes in the general aboveground phytomass during restoration of vegetative cover. The objective to analyze as an indicator autogenic ecosystem dynamics. Therefore, we set following goals: detect that occurred amount while natural vegetation reco­vered; develop a mathematical model would describe process dynamics progressive successions; parameter based recovery vegetation. To achieve our goals, conducted series eight stationary experiments lasted from 2005 2014 territory central Polissia. Also, carried out geobotanical studies, measuring outside plots. As disturbed areas recovered, naturally increased. Function logarithm is change phytomass. In this model, regression coefficient “a” represents initial conditions when started. For secondary ecological successions, higher than for one. Regression “b” indicated rates production With time, predicted trend becomes more likely deviate.. Increase most cases accompanies succession, and its decline, except rare cases, accompanies/ homogenic succession. Accumulation maximum possible storage time interval corresponds state energy (climatic) climax, stopping at lower values – catastrophic climax. basis further development integral theory Prediction algorithms have been developed proposed can be useful environmental audit or decision making nature protection assessing whether area requires strict regime.

Language: Английский

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Legacy effects of Phragmites australis and herbicide treatments can reduce survival but do not prevent native plant establishment

Restoration Ecology, Journal Year: 2024, Volume and Issue: unknown

Published: Sept. 2, 2024

Introduced Phragmites australis represents a widespread threat to North American wetlands. Management agencies invest millions of dollars annually manage the species, mostly by applying herbicides, mitigate and prevent negative impacts. The often temporary reduction P. rarely increases native diversity, long‐term legacy effects repeat herbicide treatments are unknown. We used coordinated management program targeting small populations in Adirondack Park New York State, United States, assess potential for such effects. planted individuals three species as sentinels into treated untreated, uninvaded reference wetlands after unassisted succession had occurred treatment areas. Sentinel plants survived grew areas, suggesting its did not permanently limit establishment plants. However, responses were variable among sentinel with or neutral impacts on survival rates positive growth. Species‐specific large variation between sites indicate that site factors dominant influence Importantly, frequency increased, one decreased significantly, indicating repeated applications. Additional replanting initial plant may enable more diverse communities return, including able recruit from local seed banks sources. it remains unclear if active transplanting will suppression .

Language: Английский

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Multiscale Effects of Slash-and-Burn Agriculture Across the Tropics: Implications for the Sustainability of an Ancestral Agroecosystem

Sustainability, Journal Year: 2024, Volume and Issue: 16(22), P. 9994 - 9994

Published: Nov. 16, 2024

Slash-and-burn agriculture (SBA) is critical to maintaining rural peoples’ livelihoods. Yet, it causes environmental degradations that challenge its sustainability. Such are often underestimated, as they usually assessed at the local (stand) scale, overlooking larger-scale impacts. Here, we drew upon existing SBA and landscape ecology knowledge assess multiscale abiotic biotic effects of SBA. This agroecosystem involves four stages (slashing vegetation, burning farming, forest recovery) but research biased towards impacts, especially during recovery. Despite importance for key (e.g., soil fertility) species richness) attribute recovery, this stage typically too short (<10 years) compensate degradation caused by previous stages. Successional theory suggests such compensatory dynamics can promote sustainability in landscapes dominated old-growth forests. when loss exceeds certain boundaries, impacts may compromise conservation value ancient agroecosystem. We highlight should be comprehensively including landscape-scale variables percent cover) biodiversity patterns processes where practiced.

Language: Английский

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