Canopy tree density and species influence tree regeneration patterns and woody species diversity in a longleaf pine forest

FOREST ECOLOGY AND MANAGEMENT

卷:490

Article

Johnson, Daniel J.¹  Magee, Lukas¹  Pandit, Karun¹  Bourdon, Jacqueline¹  Broadbent, Eben N.²  Glenn, Kaylyn¹  Kaddoura, Youssef¹  Machado, Siddarth¹  Nieves, Joseph¹  Wilkinson, Benjamin E.¹  Zambrano, Angelica M. Almeyda³  Bohlman, Stephanie A.¹ 

[1] Univ Florida, Sch Forest Resources & Conservat, Gainesville, FL 32611 USA

[2] Univ Florida, Sch Forest Resources & Conservat, Spatial Ecol & Conservat Lab, Gainesville, FL 32611 USA

[3] Univ Florida, Spatial Ecol & Conservat Lab, Ctr Latin Amer Studies, Gainesville, FL 32611 USA

关键词: Canopy gap;    GatorEye;    ForestGEO;    Pinus palustris;    Point-pattern analysis;    Quercus laevis;   

DOI  :  10.1016/j.foreco.2021.119082

来源: Elsevier

【 摘 要 】

Longleaf pine once dominated much of the forested area of the Coastal Plain of the southeastern United States and is a focal forest type for restoration efforts. In these forests, two species dominate the canopy which may influence tree regeneration. Ultimately, the outcomes of habitat filtering, competition, and disturbance manifest in spatial patterns of tree regeneration, including in longleaf pine ecosystems. Understanding regeneration and establishment patterns can aid in restoration efforts. We ask how the dominant species in an established longleaf pine forest are spatially arranged to provide insight into the mechanisms that may be driving tree establishment in longleaf pine forests. We found that longleaf pine saplings were more likely to be found near the other dominant tree species in this forest, turkey oak trees, than in gaps or near to longleaf pine trees. Similarly, turkey oak saplings clustered around turkey oak trees but were dispersed in relation to longleaf pine trees. These findings point towards the interplay between canopy tree composition, leaf litter, and fire behavior as driving mechanisms in the successful establishment of both pines and oaks in this forest.

【 授权许可】

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