Effects of abandonment of subalpine hay meadows on plant and invertebrate diversity in Transylvania, Romania

Recent changes in agriculture (intensification or abandonment) have resulted in a critical reduction of semi-natural grasslands in Eastern Europe. Subalpine semi-natural grasslands in Transylvania, Romania, harbour a high diversity of plants and invertebrates, including endemics, and are considered refugia for numerous threatened open-land species. We investigated effects of land abandonment by examining species richness, species abundance, proportion of open-land, endemic and threatened vascular plants, gastropods, and diurnal and nocturnal Lepidoptera in extensive hay meadows (initial stage), and three seral stages of succession (early stage of abandoned hay meadow, naturally growing birch forest, and mature forest) in the mountainous region of Baisoara in Transylvania. A total of 626 species (225 vascular plants, 16 gastropods, 68 diurnal and 317 nocturnal Lepidoptera) were found in the 16 study sites (four replicates per successional stage). The four taxonomic groups differed in their response to the abandonment of hay meadows. Each stage of succession harboured the maximum species richness for one taxonomic group: extensive hay meadows for vascular plants, abandoned hay meadows for diurnal Lepidoptera, birch forests for nocturnal Lepidoptera, and mature forests for gastropods. In all four taxonomic groups the complementarity of species composition increased with successional age, whereas the number of characteristic open-land species decreased with successional age. The four successional stages did not differ in proportion of red-listed plant and diurnal Lepidoptera species. In nocturnal Lepidoptera, however, the proportion of red-listed species increased with successional age. Furthermore, successional stages did not differ in number of plant species endemic to the Carpathians and Eastern Europe. Our results indicate the high conservation value of all stages of subalpine grassland succession for the indigenous biodiversity of Transylvania. To prevent losses of characteristic species, we suggest a rotational grassland management program that maintains different successional stages.     

Dynamics of hardwood patches in a conifer matrix: 54 years of change in a forested landscape in Coastal Oregon, USA

Changes to minor patch types in forested landscapes may have large consequences for forest biodiversity. The effects of forest management and environment on these secondary patch types are often poorly understood. For example, do early-to-mid successional minor patch types become more expansive as late successional forest types are fragmented or do they also become more fragmented in managed landscapes? We evaluated the dynamics of early-to-mid successional hardwood patches in a conifer-dominated landscape in relation to environment and land ownership in the central Coast Range of Oregon, USA, from the time of early logging to the present-day using scanned and georeferenced aerial photographs and a GIS. Hardwood patches declined in size, number, total area, and within-patch cover-type heterogeneity, and became more irregular in shape. Patch turnover and fragmentation was high, with most patches present at the historical date disappearing by the present-day. Land ownership was important to hardwood patch dynamics: hardwoods declined on lands owned by the USDA Forest Service, increased on non-industrial private lands, and were at similar levels at both dates on private forest industry lands. Patch locations became more restricted to near-stream, lower elevation areas where hardwoods are competitive. The relatively extensive distribution of hardwood patches at the historical date probably resulted from earlier fire, selective logging, and grazing. In recent decades, forest management that includes fire suppression and intensive management, and ecological constraints have resulted in a landscape in which early-to-mid successional hardwood patches have been reduced in size, fragmented, and restricted to particular locales.     

Changes in plant diversity,biomass and soil C,in alpine meadows at different degradation stages in the headwater region of three rivers,China

Field surveys and experiment analyses were applied to detect the relationships between plant diversity, community biomass and soil resources at different degradation successional stages in the headwater region of three rivers in an alpine meadow. The chronosequence approach (space‐for‐time substitution) is a viable tool for obtaining integrated information within successional studies. The experimental plots were located in the Guoluo area, which is part of the source region for the Yangtze and Yellow Rivers. The results showed not only that the quantities of roots and soil that are ‘carriers’ for cultivating soil roots were altered not only by disturbance (including overgrazing) and environmental factors but also that the proportion of the rhizome to soil at the 0–10 cm soil layer was enhanced by disturbance in heavy degradation. The plant community composition changed, and the number of plant species and the proportions of fine forage decreased. Moreover, soil fertility levels decreased remarkably, and the soil was degenerated. Plant community biomass levels at different degradation successional stages affected the soil microbial biomass carbon, soil organic carbon and also affected soil fertility conditions. Soil organic carbon and soil total nitrogen declined with grassland degeneration, and the distribution of soil organic carbon was influenced greatly. The alpine species Kobresia pygmaea was at different degradation successional stages, and the plant community biomass was significantly related to soil nutrients. In the positive successional series, the composition of plant functional groups became complex gradually, plant species richness was gradually enhanced, and the change in the composition of each plant functional group also reflected the restoration degree plant community structure. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Microalgal species variation at different successional stages in biological soil crusts of the Gurbantunggut Desert,Northwestern China

Biological soil crusts (BSC), most notably lichen crusts, develop and diversify in the Gurbantunggut Desert, the largest fixed and semi-fixed desert in China. Four different successional stages of BSC, including bare sand, microalgal crusts, lichen crusts, and moss crusts, were selected to determine successional changes in microalgal species composition and biomass and formation of BSC. A 10 × 10-m observation plot was established in an interdune region of the Gurbantunggut Desert and data were collected over an 8-year study period. The main results were: (1) different successional stages of BSC significantly affected the content of soil organic C and total and available N but not the total and available P and K content of soil; (2) composition of microalgal communities differed among the four successional stages; (3) significant differences in microalgal biomass were observed among the four successional stages; (4) bare sand was mainly uncompacted sand gains; (5) filamentous cyanobacteria, particularly Microcoleus vaginatus, were the dominant species in the early phase of crust succession. The presence of fungal mycelium and moss rhizoids prevented water and wind erosion.     

National parks and other protected areas in North America in relation to those in Norway and Sweden

In Scandinavia, national parks are mostly restricted to wilderness areas, usually without roads. Most of them are in the mountains and are visited by relatively few people. The problem of ecological balance in national parks in North America is discussed. While, for instance, forest fires have been avoided in the national parks of the United States since the first such park was founded in 1872, the new ecological park policy allows attempts at controlled fires and thinning of dense forest by logging. Success in experiments of this kind requires good knowledge of the ecological potential of the species and successional trends involved—knowledged found only in experienced ecologists. The need is stressed for a strong national park administration, with a high degree of influence of ecologists, in the Scandinavian countries—both to avoid unbalanced use of the parks in the future, and to restrict nature-disturbing activities to areas of lesser interest for purpose of conservation.     

Soil organic matter,C and N accumulation during natural succession and reclamation in an opencast sand quarry (southern Poland)

Abstract

The work presents study results on the formation of humus horizons, the accumulation of organic carbon and nitrogen as well as humus composition in successional and reclaimed soils in a sand mine cast in southern Poland. Research plots were designed in chronosequence: 5, 17, 20 and 25 years. Increased thickness of humus horizon and accumulation of organic carbon was reported both in successional soils and in reclaimed soils. However, in corresponding age groups of reclaimed soils these characteristics were two times as high as in successional soils. The estimated accumulation rate of organic carbon (C_org) was three times higher and total nitrogen (N_t) five times higher in reclaimed soils than in successional soils. In both types of soils there was an increase in the amount of carbon trapped with humic and fulvic acid (C_Ha + C_Fa) and structure of humic acids. Studies indicated that reclamation treatment significantly accelerated soil-formation in opencast sand mine.     

Phylogenetic diversity analyses reveal disparity between fungal and bacterial communities during microbial primary succession

Early community assembly of fungi and bacteria differ in many ways, including their contrasting successional trajectories. We examined if fungal and bacterial primary successional dynamics are phylogenetically constrained. Microbial communities were queried across a recently deglaciated forefront using three measures of phylogenetic diversity. We analyzed these data at the Kingdom (fungi) and Domain (bacteria) levels plus at less-inclusive taxonomic hierarchies (Phylum and Class) as well as selected, well-defined functional groups (N-fixing and photosynthetic bacteria). Fungi and bacteria differed in their phylogenetic distributions across successional age. Phylogenetic diversity estimates did not change over successional age for fungi, whereas bacteria were strongly structured phylogenetically over successional age. Further, our results suggest that analyses at Kingdom or Domain levels may prove inadequate to understand successional dynamics. Investigations should include both broad (Kingdom or Domain) and less inclusive groups (perhaps metabolically distinct taxa) to better dissect community dynamics.     

Interactions among functional groups in the cycling of,carbon, nitrogen and phosphorus in the rhizosphere of three successional species of tropical woody trees

During the natural revegetation process, which occurs after rain forest destruction, there are different types of successional groups of woody tree species (pioneer (PN), early secondary (ES), late secondary (LS) and climax). A study of interactions among these plant groups, and the functional groups of microorganisms, is fundamental in improving revegetation programs in south Brazil. The revegetation processes are related directly to the functional communities of microorganisms, because several stages of the nutrient cycle are mediated exclusively by microorganisms, and some of these microorganisms can participate in one or more biogeochemical cycles. The interactions between some successional groups of woody species inoculated with native arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungi and the C, P and N cycling functional groups of microorganisms were assessed. The results showed that the AM fungi play an important role in regulating the cycling functional populations in the plant rhizosphere. The characteristics of the plant successional groups also influenced the functional microbial groups. Two populations of free-living N-fixing bacteria were evaluated. Inhibition occurred in the community that used glucose as a carbon source in the pioneer rhizosphere, whereas no differences were observed in the community of N-fixing bacteria that used malate as carbon source.     

An ecological survey of the royal Karnali-Bardia Wildlife Reserve,Nepal. Part I: Vegetation,modifying factors,and successional relationships

The vegetation of a newly created tiger sanctuary in south-western Nepal is described in detail. Six major vegetational associations were identified. It was found that several subtypes of Shorea robusta forest covered over 70% of the land area of the reserve. Open grassland, savannah, and riverine forest accounted for the rest. Modifying factors which have altered vegetational composition and wildlife habitat are discussed. The most serious of these influences have been man's activities in relation to clearing for cultivation, grazing of domestic stock, and uncontrolled burning. A model of successional patterns observed within the Karnali-Bardia Wildlife Reserve is proposed.     

Soil Properties of Boreal Riparian Plant Communities in Relation to Natural Succession and Clear-Cutting,Peace River Lowlands,Wood Buffalo National Park,Canada

Thirteen study sites on the floodplain and terraces ofthe lower Peace River, Wood Buffalo National Park,Canada, were examined for the effects of naturalforest succession and logging on physical and chemicalsoil properties. The principal changes in substratecharacteristics along the natural successional pathwaywere (i) development of a forest floor and (ii) burialof organic layers by floodwater deposition. Thephysical soil parameters of the forest floor andmineral soil were closely related to floodingfrequency, soil texture, stand closure, and forestfloor build-up. Significant differences in a number ofchemical soil properties between early (Barren Silt,Establishing) and late (Mature, Old-growth)successional stages were evident. The rising influenceof the developing plant community on chemical soilparameters was obvious. Organic carbon, totalnitrogen, cation exchange capacity, exchangeablecalcium, magnesium and potassium and extractablephosphorus level of forest floor and mineral soilswere highest in Mature sites; whereas pH and basesaturation were lowest. Physical and chemical soilproperties at three clear-cut sites were compared tosix undisturbed Mature/Old-growth stands. Removingvegetation had an effect on the physical soilproperties. A significant decrease in forest floornitrogen, cation exchange capacity, calcium andphosphorus occurred due to clear-cutting. Nosignificant change of chemical soil parameters wasobserved in the mineral soil at 0–20 cm depthfollowing harvesting. Significant impacts on chemicalsoil characteristics appeared to be limited to theforest floor. The absence of post-cutting sitepreparations makes the study area a useful benchmarkfor comparison with logged and scarified borealriparian sites elsewhere.     

Mapping and monitoring land degradation risks in the Western Brazilian Amazon using multitemporal Landsat TM/ETM+ images

Mapping and monitoring land degradation in areas under human‐induced stresses have become urgent tasks in remote sensing whose importance has not yet been fully appreciated. In this study, a surface cover index (SCI) is developed to evaluate and map potential land degradation risks associated with deforestation and accompanying soil erosion in a Western Brazilian Amazon rural settlement study area. The relationships between land‐use and land‐cover (LULC) types and land degradation risks as well as the impacts of LULC change on land degradation are examined. This research indicates that remotely sensed data can be effectively used for identification and mapping of land degradation risks and monitoring of land degradation changes in the study area. Sites covered by mature forest and advanced successional forests have low land degradation risk potential, while some types of initial successional forests, agroforestry/perennial agriculture and pasture have higher risk potential. Deforestation and associated soil erosion are major causes leading to land degradation, while vegetation regrowth reduces such problems. Copyright © 2006 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Patterns of species diversity in rural herbaceous communities under different management regimes, Chiba, central Japan

The patterns of plant species diversity in herbaceous vegetation subjected to various human activities were studied in most of the landscape elements in a rural area of Chiba, central Japan. Twenty-eight transects were sampled in four types of human management-regime (cultivation, trampling, mowing, and abandonment) and were grouped into seven vegetation types using TWINSPAN and DCA analyses. The DCA axis 1 arranged all the transects into a successional order along which biomass and the degree of succession increased. Accumulated number of species increased in a stepwise pattern along the DCA axis 1, in which the dominant plant life-forms were replaced from annuals, to perennials and perennials/tree-saplings depending on different management regimes. The unique species which were confined to a certain management regime, were identified in each site. It is suggested that the coexistence of various successional communities under different human management regimes enhance regional species diversity through maintaining these unique species. Among four types of management regime, mowing sites (especially traditional verge meadows) had most abundant unique, rare species specially adapted to regular cutting. It is suggested that maintaining such traditional mown sites is important to conserve the unique biodiversity of the studied area.     

Magnitude of Species Diversity Effect on Aboveground Plant Biomass Increases Through Successional Time of Abandoned Farmlands on the Eastern Tibetan Plateau of China

Recent empirical and theoretical studies have shown that magnitude and direction of biodiversity effects on ecosystem functioning can shifts over time. Here, we used species richness and plant abundance (total individual plant stem density) as proxies for species diversity and aboveground biomass for productivity. We used an analytical approach combining both chronosequence and 6 year of vegetation monitoring in a subalpine ecosystem as a model system to assess temporal species richness–abundance–aboveground biomass relationships at different successional stages and spatial scales. We observed that both species richness and plant aboveground biomass increased rapidly early in succession after land abandonment, then after 10 years of abandonment reached a steady state. We found that the relationship between species richness and plant abundance with aboveground biomass was strengthening over successional time. In all successional stages, species richness had stronger positive effects as compared with plant abundance on plant aboveground biomass. Species richness was linearly correlated with aboveground biomass, whereas plant abundance showed a humped‐back relationship with aboveground biomass across all successional stages. Our results showed an increase in the effect of plant diversity over time, and a combination of both plant species richness and abundance is correlated with plant productivity throughout successional time, knowledge that maybe important to managing ecological restoration and conservation. Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Responses of birds of different biogeographic origins and habitat requirements to agricultural land abandonment in northern Spain

Agricultural land-use changes in Europe have taken two opposing directions: towards agricultural intensification or land abandonment. While in the Mediterranean region land abandonment is a main cause of avian diversity decline, in northern Europe species diversity often increases with successional age. We examined the hypothesis that the biogeographic origin of the avifauna determines whether abandonment brings conservation benefits or detriment by studying the bird community of agricultural land in northern Spain, at the boundary of the Mediterranean and Eurosiberian regions. Using a successional gradient, we examined landscape-scale effects of agricultural abandonment on birds during the breeding and non-breeding seasons.The trend in avian diversity with successional stage differed little between Mediterranean and Eurosiberian species in winter. In the spring, however, there was an increase in diversity with stage in abandonment for Eurosiberian birds but not for Mediterranean species. Analysis of individual species showed a preference among Eurosiberian birds for more wooded habitats whereas Mediterranean birds preferred open areas and shrubland.The introduction of agricultural policies to geo-political units that do not coincide with eco-regions cannot be assumed to bring uniform conservation benefits. In the Mediterranean region, agricultural mosaics of low intensity cultivation maintain the highest diversity of priority bird species. Agricultural land abandonment should not be assumed to benefit conservation.     

Soil amino acid composition across a boreal forest successional sequence

Soil amino acids are important sources of organic nitrogen for plant nutrition, yet few studies have examined which amino acids are most prevalent in the soil. In this study, we examined the composition, concentration, and seasonal patterns of soil amino acids across a primary successional sequence encompassing a natural gradient of plant productivity and soil physicochemical characteristics. Soil was collected from five stages (willow, alder, balsam poplar, white spruce, and black spruce) of the floodplain successional sequence on the Tanana River in interior Alaska. Water-extractable amino acid composition and concentration were determined by HPLC. Irrespective of successional stage, the amino acid pool was dominated by glutamic acid, glutamine, aspartic acid, asparagine, alanine, and histidine. These six amino acids accounted for approximately 80% of the total amino acid pool. Amino acid concentrations were an order of magnitude higher in coniferous-dominated late successional stages than in early deciduous-dominated stages. The composition and concentration of amino acids were generally constant throughout the growing season. The similar amino acid composition across the successional sequence suggests that amino acids originate from a common source or through similar biochemical processes. These results demonstrate that amino acids are important components of the biogeochemical diversity of nitrogen forms in boreal forests.     

Decomposition and macroinvertebrates in experimental litter along a secondary chronosequence of tropical montane forest

This paper presents the results of a decomposition experiment performed in a secondary chronosequence of tropical montane cloud forest in Mexico. The experiment was designed to explore whether the age of the forest influences the decomposition process and macroinvertebrate community independently of the quality of the decomposition resources. Fresh Pinus chiapensis needles and Persea americana leaves were set to decompose in each of four successional stages (15, 45, 75 and 100 years old). Results do not support the hypothesis that decomposition rate declines with increasing nutrient deficiency as forest succession proceeds. However, the chemical composition in decomposing leaves differed between successional stages. Higher availability of Ca in the 15-year-old forest appears to promote a positive feedback in the release of this nutrient from Persea americana leaves. Additionally, in old forests, a soil community that is more capable of breaking down recalcitrant material (acid detergent lignin) appears to have developed compared to early successional stages. The diversity of macroinvertebrates and abundance of predatory (Aranea and Diplura), detrivorous (Diplopoda) and geophagous (Enchytaeidae) taxa were different between boxes placed in different successional stages. We conclude that the decomposition and associated biota differ between successional stages. Apart from differences in litter quality, other factors associated with the age of the forest, such as small differences in soil temperature and long-lasting effects of disturbance, may also play influential roles.     

崇明东滩不同演替阶段湿地土壤有机碳汇聚能力的差异性及其微生物机制

旨在阐明崇明东滩不同演替阶段湿地土壤有机碳汇聚能力的差异性及其机制,以期为优化湿地的管理与保育措施,进而保持和提升湿地的碳汇功能提供理论指导和决策依据。研究结果表明,4个不同演替阶段湿地土壤有机碳含量和微生物呼吸强度有显著差异（P〈O．05）,中高潮滩处的土壤有机碳汇聚能力最高,这是由于其具有较高的有机碳输入（植物枯落物）和相对较低的碳输出（土壤呼吸）。PCR-DGGE分析和系统进化树结果表明,4个不同演替阶段土壤的微生物群落结构存在差异,一些特异性优势菌的存在可能是影响土壤微生物呼吸强度,并最终影响土壤有机碳汇聚能力的重要原因。出现在高潮滩的噬纤维菌和假单胞属菌具有较高降解纤维素等有机质的能力,它们的存在可能强化了高潮滩的土壤呼吸作用,从而降低了高潮滩土壤的有机碳汇聚能力。     

Response of collembolan assemblages to plant species successional gradient

It has been acknowledged that soil organisms play a significant role in nutrient cycling and thus may affect productivity and competition within plant assemblages with potential effects on vegetation trajectories. However, few studies have considered a single conceptual framework referring to both above–belowground linkages and plant succession. Consequently, we lack knowledge on the effects of plant successional processes on the dynamics of soil biota. Given this dearth of information, our study aimed to describe the dynamics of a major group of soil fauna, namely collembola, during the secondary succession on chalky slopes edging the Seine River. We selected five different plant assemblages as representative of a chronosequence: short grassland, tall grassland, encroached grassland, shrubland and forest. Our results clearly highlighted a strong response of collembolan assemblages to vegetation gradient. The changes in collembolan diversity were due to a high turnover rate in early successional stages and to nestedness in late successional stages. In addition, each collembolan life form had a specific response to vegetal succession. Euedaphic assemblages increased progressively during the succession while epedaphic did not follow a clear pattern. Our results also indicated a link between the dynamics of collembolan assemblages and plant life forms (e.g. trees and graminoids) rather than plant diversity. A focus on life forms, for plants and soil biota, seems to provide a good framework to study linkages between above and belowground biota.     

Parasitoids (Hymenoptera, Ichneumonoidea) of Saproxylic beetles are affected by forest successional stage and dead wood characteristics in boreal spruce forest

The habitat requirements and effects of forest management on insects belonging to higher trophic levels are relatively unknown in forest ecosystems. We tested the effect of forest successional stage and dead wood characteristics on the saproxylic parasitoid (Hymenoptera, Ichneumonoidea) assemblage in boreal spruce-dominated forests in northern Sweden. Within each of nine areas, we selected three sites with different management histories: (1) a clear-cut (2) a mature managed forest and (3) an old-growth forest. Parasitoids were collected in 2003 using eclector traps mounted on fresh logs, which were either untreated (control), burned, inoculated with fungi, or naturally shaded, and on artificially-created snags.Both forest type and dead wood characteristics had a significant effect on parasitoid assemblages. Grouped idiobionts and some species, such as Bracon obscurator and Ontsira antica, preferred clear-cuts, while others, such as Cosmophorus regius (Hym., Braconidae) and other koinobionts, were associated with older successional forest stages. No single dead wood substrate was sufficient to support the entire community of parasitoids in any forest type, even when the regular host was present. In particular, snags hosted a different assemblage of species from other types of dead wood, with parasitoids of Tetropium spp. such as Rhimphoctona spp. (Hym., Ichneumonidae) and Helconidea dentator (Hym., Braconidae) being abundant. These results indicate that a diversity of dead wood habitats is necessary to support complete assemblages of beetle-associated parasitoids from early successional stages of dead wood and that parasitoids may be more sensitive to habitat change than their hosts.     

Inferring biological soil crust successional stage using combined PLFA, DGGE, physical and biophysiological analyses

Arid areas are highly sensitive to climate change and are ideal model systems to study the potential impact of climate change on species' community structure. Biological soil crust (BSC) formation plays an ecological role in a number of key processes in the development of dry ecosystems. It was hypothesized that BSC succession and function are affected by aridity level and limited by rainfall. Furthermore, it is possible to infer the direction of the BSC succession based on aridity level, and the latter can imitate future climate change scenarios. The objectives of this study were to investigate the microbial biomass and diversity of the BSC structure in three sites differing in aridity level (semiarid, arid and hyper-arid), by combining physical and biophysiological measurements with 16S rRNA gene fragment and phospholipid fatty acid (PLFA) analyses. Physical and biophysiological parameters of the BSC were significantly influenced by aridity level. Total protein and polysaccharide contents were strongly correlated with total PLFA-based microbial biomass. Gram-positive biomarkers and microbial biomass were significantly higher in the wettest (semiarid) site than in the driest (hyper-arid) one. Multivariate-analysis based ordination of the PLFA data segregated the cluster of semiarid data from that of the hyper-arid site, while data from the arid site were dispersed between the two. The phylogenetic distribution of prominent 16S rRNA bacterial gene sequences along the aridity levels was in agreement with the PLFA analysis: the hyper-arid site was dominated by the cyanobacterium Microcoleus vaginatus, while diverse populations of cyanobacteria and soil bacteria were found in the other sites. These complementary tools allowed a simple and sensitive measurement of the influence of aridity levels on BSC successional stage. The results demonstrate that different aridity levels correspond to different BSC successional stages and those differences can be used as parameters for global change scenarios.