Effects of forestry treatments on forest site conditions and the biodiversity of different organism groups

Date:
2018/06/15

Time:
14:30

Room:
K305 Alvar

Effects of forestry treatments on forest site conditions and the biodiversity of different organism groups

(Oral and Poster)

Peter Odor
odor.peter@okologia.mta.hu

MTA Centre for Ecological Research, Institute of Ecology and Botany, Vácrátót, Hungary MTA Centre for Ecological Research, GINOP Sustainable Ecosystem Group, Tihany, Hungary, Hungary
,
Bence Kovács
MTA Centre for Ecological Research, Institute of Ecology and Botany, Vácrátót, Hungary, Hungary
,
Gergely Boros
MTA Centre for Ecological Research, GINOP Sustainable Ecosystem Group, Tihany, Hungary Szent István University, Department of Zoology and Animal Ecology, Gödöllő, Hungary, Hungary
,
Ferenc Samu
MTA Centre for Agricultural Research, Agricultural Institute, Budapest, Hungary, Hungary
,
Réka Aszalós
MTA Centre for Ecological Research, Institute of Ecology and Botany, Vácrátót, Hungary, Hungary
,
Flóra Tinya
MTA Centre for Ecological Research, Institute of Ecology and Botany, Vácrátót, Hungary MTA Centre for Ecological Research, GINOP Sustainable Ecosystem Group, Tihany, Hungary, Hungary
,
Zoltan Elek
MTA Centre for Ecological Research, Institute of Ecology and Botany, Vácrátót, Hungary, Hungary

DOI: 10.17011/conference/eccb2018/107617

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There is a paradigm shift in Central Europe from the rotation forestry systems towards continuous cover forestry that provides a diversification of possible management practices. In a mature, temperate sessile oak-hornbeam forest in Northern Hungary, four different forestry treatments were experimentally studied: preparation cutting (30% partial harvest), clear-cutting, retention tree group, and gap-cutting using six replicates in block design. The effects of these treatments were studied on forest site (microclimate and soil) conditions and on community structure (species richness, abundance, species composition) of vascular plants, enchytraeid worms, ground beetles and spiders between 2014 (pre-treatment) and 2016 (post-treatment).

Light availability increased in all treatments; it was the highest in clear-cutting, intermediate in gap-cutting, and the lowest in preparation cutting and retention tree group. Vapour pressure deficit (function of air temperature and humidity) increased only in the clear-cutting. Soil temperature increased mainly in the clear-cutting and retention tree group. Soil water content was the highest in gap-cutting, intermediate in clear-cutting and lowest in preparation cutting and retention tree group.

The treatment effect and the sensitivity of community variables were versatile among organism groups. Plant cover increased in all treatments, especially in the gap-cutting and clear-cutting. The abundance of worms decreased in clear-cutting and retention tree group. The species richness of plants increased in clear-cutting and gap-cutting, for enchytraeids it strongly decreased in retention tree group. The treatment effect on the abundance and species richness of spiders and carabids was weak. The effect of treatments on species composition was significant for all organism groups, but it was relatively strong for spiders and enchytraeids and slight for plants and carabids.

Although plants were very sensitive to the changes of light conditions that resulted considerable increase in the species richness and cover in gap-cutting and clear-cutting, their composition slightly changed due to the survival of perennial forest species. Enchytraeid worms were the most sensitive organism group for treatments, soil temperature and humidity changes resulted deteriorated assemblages in retention tree group and clear-cutting. Good dispersal ability of spiders and carabids could compensate the effect of treatments establishing only compositional differences among the treatments. Based on this short observation period we can conclude that fine-scale forestry treatments like gap-cutting had only moderate effect on forest site, which is favourable for conservational perspectives.

The study was supported by Hungarian Research Found (OTKA 111887) and by the National Research Development and Innovation Office (GINOP-2.3.2-15-2016-00019), website of the Pilis Experiment project is http://piliskiserlet.okologia.mta.hu/en.

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INTRO:
Four different forestry treatments (preparation cutting, clear-cutting, retention tree group, and gap-cutting) were assessed for their impact on site conditions and the biodiversity of different organism groups (vascular plants, enchytraeid worms, ground beetles and spiders) between 2014 and 2016.
MERITS:
OK
CRITIQUE:
The manuscript has no weaknesses or problems.
DISCUSSION:
OK

- - -
INTRO:
The most important content of the abstract text is the description of the study results - the impacts of different forest management treatments on various ecosystem components, such as soil microhabitat parameters, vascular plants and epigeic and soil fauna.
MERITS:
The abstract features an extensive description of highly relevant study results on the effects of forest management on soil microhabitat conditions and biodiversity in Central Europe. The wide scope of sampling over soil, flora and fauna in this study is a merit in particular.
CRITIQUE:
The English language of the abstract text is at times unsatisfactory. Other than that, I see no weaknesses or problems in the text.
DISCUSSION:
The research on different forest management treatments in a paradigm shift towards continuous cover forestry is, to my opinion, highly relevant and timely. The results of studies such as this one are necessary for uncovering the expected impacts on biodiversity and ecosystem functioning, and adaptively planning future, novel forest management strategies. More of such research is necessary across multiple biomes and regions, including boreal, and thereafter such case studies should be brought together in global and regional systematic reviews to refine our overview on the possibilities and consequences of change in forest management.

- - -
INTRO:
The study assesses the effects of four different forest harvesting practices on site microclimate, soils and certain species groups. The effects on microclimate and soil conditions depended on harvest intensity, with clear-cutting having the most drastic impacts. Responses to the treatments varied among studied species groups, with significant impacts on vascular plants and enchytraeids but less pronounced impact on ground-dwelling spiders and carabids.
MERITS:
The studied question is important, and study design appropriate for examining it.

The study covers various species groups as well as environmental factors, which can also be used to explain the patterns in species occurrences. This gives more comprehensive results than assessing only one species group would, since the effects of the treatments vary among groups as seen here.
CRITIQUE:
Results for different species groups are given in a slightly confusing way. This part could be re-organized, for example so that results are presented for one species group at a time.

Also, some information is missing or unclearly presented. It is not apparent how the comparisons are done and whether the observation period 2014-2016 begins before harvest, immediately after harvest or later? I would guess that 2014 is the pre-harvest situation and effects of the treatments are examined in comparison to this, but it is not actually stated in the abstract. In addition, the abstract does not tell whether the treatments were replicated on several stands or if there was only one stand per treatment.

Of the harvest treatments, clear-cutting, retention group, and gap-cutting are easy to understand, but the term preparation cutting should perhaps be explained (as this does not seem to be as established term as the others, and therefore it is not clear what it actually refers to).
DISCUSSION:
The study addresses an interesting question, and can also have practical relevance by providing data on the effects of different management options. However, the observation period of two years is, as the authors state, short; it would be interesting to follow the effects over a longer time period to obtain a better view of the treatment effects.

The abstract could benefit from some re-wording, and the missing information about study methods should be added.

Effects of forestry treatments on forest site conditions and the biodiversity of different organism groups

Date:2018/06/15

Time:14:30

Room:K305 Alvar

Effects of forestry treatments on forest site conditions and the biodiversity of different organism groups

(Oral and Poster)

SEE PEER REVIEW

SEE PEER REVIEW

Date:
2018/06/15

Time:
14:30

Room:
K305 Alvar