A meta-analysis of functional group responses to forest recovery outside of the tropics

© 2015, Society for Conservation Biology. Both active and passive forest restoration schemes are used in degraded landscapes across the world to enhance biodiversity and ecosystem service provision. Restoration is increasingly also being implemented in biodiversity offset schemes as compensation for loss of natural habitat to anthropogenic development. This has raised concerns about the value of replacing old-growth forest with plantations, motivating research on biodiversity recovery as forest stands age. Functional diversity is now advocated as a key metric for restoration success, yet it has received little analytical attention to date. We conducted a meta-analysis of 90 studies that measured differences in species richness for functional groups of fungi, lichens, and beetles between old-growth control and planted or secondary treatment forests in temperate, boreal, and Mediterranean regions. We identified functional-group-specific relationships in the response of species richness to stand age after forest disturbance. Ectomycorrhizal fungi averaged 90 years for recovery to old-growth values (between 45 years and unrecoverable at 95% prediction limits), and epiphytic lichens took 180 years to reach 90% of old-growth values (between 140 years and never for recovery to old-growth values at 95% prediction limits). Non-saproxylic beetle richness, in contrast, decreased as stand age of broadleaved forests increased. The slow recovery by some functional groups essential to ecosystem functioning makes old-growth forest an effectively irreplaceable biodiversity resource that should be exempt from biodiversity offsetting initiatives

Improvement and silviculture of oaks in Hungary

The most important tree species in Hungary are the indigenous oak secies (Quercus sessiliflora, Q robur, Q cerris). They form mixed stands, most frequently with hornbeam (Carpinus betulus) and beech (Fagus sylvatica). They occupy nearly 35% of the Hungarian forests. For oak timber, the allowable cut exceeds demand; it is therefore possible to export the more valuable mixtures. Producing valuable oak timber is of great importance for Hungarian forestry. Veneer logs of good quality can be harvested from mixed 2-storied oak stands (Carpineto quercetum, Querceto fagetum). The majority of these stands should be regenerated naturally. The success of regeneration depends on the acorn yield, the opening of crown closure, as well as the game population. The r.umber of seedlings per ha varies between 50 and 100 thousand, which should be decreased to 150-450 stems per ha by the rotation age of 100-130 yr, depending on site quality. The results of research on natural regeneration and thinning are employed in forestry practice. The yield tables and tending models for unmixed and mixed oak stands have become basic references for valuable oak timber production. The importance of oaks in Hungarian forestry will remain decisive. The recent oak decline has caused considerable damage and is only improving slowly. This does not, however, reduce the importance of oaks which are not only a source of valuable timber, but also an indigenous structural part of stable forest ecosystems.Amélioration et sylviculture des chênes en Hongrie. En Hongrie, les plus importantes essences forestières sont les chênes indigènes (Quercus sessiliflora, Quercus robur, Quercus cerris). Les chênes constituent le plus souvent des peuplements mélangés avec le charme et le hêtre. Ils occupent près de 35% de la surface forestière. La possibilité de l'exploitation du chêne dépasse les besoins du pays et l'on peut exporter les assortiments ayant la plus grande valeur. L'importance de la production de chêne de qualité est décisive pour la sylviculture hongroise. On peut produire des grumes de bonne qualité pour l'industrie de placage, en premier lieu dans les chênaies mélangées à double étage (Carpineto Quercetum, Querceto Fagetum). On doit les régénérer dans la majorité des cas par voie naturelle. Le résultat dépend, outre l'importance de la glandée, de l'ouverture du peuplement et de l'importance du gibier. En général, la densité de semis, qui au départ varie de 50 000 à 100 000 tiges/ha, est progressivement réduite et atteint au moment de la coupe définitive (100 à 130 ans) 150 à 450 tiges/ha (en relation avec le type de station). Dans la pratique, pour la régénération naturelle et les coupes d'amélioration, on utilise couramment les résultats de la recherche. Les tables de production créées pour les chênaies pures et mélangées et les modèles de sylviculture sont devenus des aides essentielles pour la production du chêne de grande valeur. Dans l'avenir, les chênes continueront à avoir une importance décisive pour la sylviculture hongroise, tant par la production de bois de grande valeur, que comme composante essentielle de la stabilité des écosystèmes forestiers. Le dépérissement du chêne, qui a causé au cours des dernières années des dégâts considérables, diminue maintenant

Occupancy and Abundance estimation in the presence of detection error: What can we do with a single survey?

<p>Poster, ICCB/ECCB: 27th International Congress for Conservation Biology, 4th European Congress for Conservation Biology, August 2-6 2015, Montpellier - France</p> <p> </p