Soil seed banks provide a storage effect in post-logging regrowth forests of southeastern Australia DOI Creative Commons
Anu Singh, Craig R. Nitschke, Francis K. C. Hui

et al.

Forest Ecology and Management, Journal Year: 2023, Volume and Issue: 548, P. 121389 - 121389

Published: Sept. 7, 2023

Despite the importance of soil seed banks in diversity maintenance, our understanding plant response to changes resource availability is largely limited above-ground vegetation. We investigated how forest structure and edaphic properties influenced vegetation following logging montane regrowth forests dominated by Eucalyptus regnans Central Highlands southeastern Australia. surveyed vegetation, banks, across 20 harvest units, aged 16 years. A total 80 species were identified with 72 bank, only 34% co-occurring both species' pools. Climate, soil, topography, light shaped composition but relative these varied among individual pools (combined, above-ground, life form). Annual heat moisture index (AHMI) was most important factor that community all positively associated AHMI. Acacia, not stem density further moderated via effects on nitrogen at exclusion phase stand development. Structurally mediated controls flow through bank below-ground composition. For combined pool, frequently related Acacia average explained 20% model variation. Soil nutrients accounted for variation (26%), (20%) non-woody (32%) diversity, AHMI accounting woody (18%). The differential gradients different forms clearly demonstrates a storage effect wet temperate Australia promotes post-disturbance recruitment persistence. Our work suggests interacts broad environmental shape diversity. key role as biotic filter provides opportunity future management interventions such thinning early stages With native harvesting set end from 2024, findings provide information patterns logged recover over time, opportunities shaping composition, potential impacts wildfire.

Language: Английский

Short-Interval, High-Severity Wildfire Depletes Diversity of Both Extant Vegetation and Soil Seed Banks in Fire-Tolerant Eucalypt Forests DOI Creative Commons
Sabine Kasel, Thomas A. Fairman, Craig R. Nitschke

et al.

Fire, Journal Year: 2024, Volume and Issue: 7(4), P. 148 - 148

Published: April 19, 2024

Many plant species are well-adapted to historical fire regimes. An increase in the severity, frequency, and extent of wildfires could compromise regenerative capacity species, resulting permanent shifts diversity. We surveyed extant vegetation soil seed banks across two forest types with contrasting regimes—Shrubby Dry Forest (fire return interval: 10–20 years) Sub-Alpine Woodland (50–100 years). Over past 20 years, both forests have been subject repeated, high-severity at intervals significantly shorter than their intervals. examined bank response fire-cued germination, whether diversity demonstrated similar responses short-interval, wildfires. The a positive heat combination smoke, for Woodland, this was limited sites more frequently burnt by fire. With an there decline richness Shannon’s Diversity shift composition bank. frequency effects on relative trait associations were restricted Shrubby Forest, included short-lived obligate seeders, wind-dispersed ant-dispersed shrubs long unburnt Graminoids most abundant component Woodlands, increased frequent fire, trend (p = 0.06) vegetation. Clear regimes suggest that emerging pushing ecosystems beyond range variability, including potentially flammable states buffering banks.

Language: Английский

Citations

4
Short-interval, high-severity wildfires cause declines in soil seed bank diversity in montane forests of south-eastern Australia DOI Creative Commons

Emily Duivenvoorden,

Benjamin Wagner, Craig R. Nitschke

et al.

Forest Ecology and Management, Journal Year: 2023, Volume and Issue: 553, P. 121627 - 121627

Published: Dec. 8, 2023

Wildfires in forested ecosystems are increasing severity and extent. The adaptations many plants have acquired response to their natural fire regime may not be sufficient allow some species persist. This could impact the forest understorey its seed bank, which vital reservoirs of biodiversity, resilience face global change. We present a case study montane forests south-eastern Australia, an area subjected increase frequency fires. utilise field surveys soil bank germination investigate if short-interval, high-severity wildfires affect diversity forests, extant vegetation exhibit contrasting responses. consider plant functional traits explore long unburned sites, sites with one, two or three fires past 25 years. With frequency, we found decrease total richness, Shannon's diversity, richness resprouters lack vegetation. Increased shifted composition groups both towards clonal grasses other upright herbs. wind-dispersed perennials short-lived seeders exotics increased sharply following single high burn, particularly remained elevated relative unburnt subsequent fire. combined (extant plus bank) pool mirrored shifts bank. These findings highlight importance considering when examining effects on fire-prone forests. Although buffering effect shift suggests this cannot maintained indefinitely. abundance characteristic early successional states has implications for flammability potential positive feedbacks between future fire, especially warming drying climate. were independent strategy eucalypt canopy raising significant questions whether artificial re-seeding programs should extend beyond current focus obligate seeding tree.

Language: Английский

Citations

8
Acacia Density, Edaphic, and Climatic Factors Shape Plant Assemblages in Regrowth Montane Forests in Southeastern Australia DOI Open Access
Anu Singh, Sabine Kasel, Francis K. C. Hui

et al.

Forests, Journal Year: 2023, Volume and Issue: 14(6), P. 1166 - 1166

Published: June 5, 2023

A fundamental requirement of sustainable forest management is that stands are adequately regenerated after harvesting. To date, most research has focused on the regeneration dominant timber species and to a lesser degree plant communities. Few studies have explored impact success tree community composition diversity. In this study, we quantified influence variability in density climatic edaphic factors diversity montane regrowth forests dominated by Eucalyptus regnans Central Highlands Victoria southeastern Australia. We found Acacia shaped biodiversity more than density. Edaphic factors, particularly soil nutrition moisture availability, played significant role shaping turnover occurrence. Our findings suggest key biotic filter influences occurrence many understorey shapes turnover. This should be considered when assessing impacts both natural anthropogenic disturbances

Language: Английский

Citations

7
Soil seed banks provide a storage effect in post-logging regrowth forests of southeastern Australia DOI Creative Commons
Anu Singh, Craig R. Nitschke, Francis K. C. Hui

et al.

Forest Ecology and Management, Journal Year: 2023, Volume and Issue: 548, P. 121389 - 121389

Published: Sept. 7, 2023

Despite the importance of soil seed banks in diversity maintenance, our understanding plant response to changes resource availability is largely limited above-ground vegetation. We investigated how forest structure and edaphic properties influenced vegetation following logging montane regrowth forests dominated by Eucalyptus regnans Central Highlands southeastern Australia. surveyed vegetation, banks, across 20 harvest units, aged 16 years. A total 80 species were identified with 72 bank, only 34% co-occurring both species' pools. Climate, soil, topography, light shaped composition but relative these varied among individual pools (combined, above-ground, life form). Annual heat moisture index (AHMI) was most important factor that community all positively associated AHMI. Acacia, not stem density further moderated via effects on nitrogen at exclusion phase stand development. Structurally mediated controls flow through bank below-ground composition. For combined pool, frequently related Acacia average explained 20% model variation. Soil nutrients accounted for variation (26%), (20%) non-woody (32%) diversity, AHMI accounting woody (18%). The differential gradients different forms clearly demonstrates a storage effect wet temperate Australia promotes post-disturbance recruitment persistence. Our work suggests interacts broad environmental shape diversity. key role as biotic filter provides opportunity future management interventions such thinning early stages With native harvesting set end from 2024, findings provide information patterns logged recover over time, opportunities shaping composition, potential impacts wildfire.

Language: Английский

Citations

1