Abstract
This study examines the impact of high intensity crop tree release (HICTR) on the understory communities of northern hardwood forests in Central Ontario. Specifically, it examines whether or not late successional understory story plants can survive in refugia produced by retained crop trees. Understanding the impacts of new silvicultural methods on understory communities is important for protecting the biodiversity of forest understories and for securing an appropriate understory environment for the regeneration of the next generation of commercially valuable trees. Cover data was collected from both the understory communities both within and without the refugia. Harvest was conducted in 2014 and data was collected in 2015 and 2016. These data were analyzed using a mixed linear effects model to compare community level statistics. Species indicator analysis was used to examine whether certain species were associated with the refugia or not. Late successional plants were found to produce significantly more cover in the refugia in 2015 but not in 2016; however, the refugia excluded early successional plants in both years. Diversity was greater in the open areas as compared to the refugia, likely due to the presence of both early and late successional plants. Two late successional plant species were associated with refugia: Trillium erectum and Viburnum alnifolium. Several species were associated with open areas including Rubus idaeus. While the data support the existence of a refugia effect, it is unclear whether this effect will persist. A duplicate of this experiment in ~10 years would address this question. In the intervening time caution should be taken in applying high intensity crop tree release. Precautionary measures could include only applying HICTR in small areas within larger cut blocks or by retaining clusters of trees dispersed throughout HICTR blocks.
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Claims 10
Claim · model-written summary
Late successional plants had significantly more cover in refugia in 2015.
Verbatim
e0“Late successional plants were found to produce significantly more cover in the refugia in 2015 but not in 2016”
Claim · model-written summary
Late successional plant cover in refugia was not significantly greater in 2016.
Verbatim
e0“Late successional plants were found to produce significantly more cover in the refugia in 2015 but not in 2016”
Claim · model-written summary
Refugia excluded early successional plants in both years.
Verbatim
e0“the refugia excluded early successional plants in both years.”
Claim · model-written summary
Understory diversity was greater in open areas than refugia.
Verbatim
e0“Diversity was greater in the open areas as compared to the refugia”
t0“understory plants”
Claim · model-written summary
Trillium erectum was associated with refugia.
- Taxon
- Trillium erectum
Trillium erectume0 - Outcome
- associated with refugiae0
- Direction
- associatede0
- Setting
- refugiae0
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e0“Two late successional plant species were associated with refugia: Trillium erectum and Viburnum alnifolium.”
Claim · model-written summary
Viburnum alnifolium was associated with refugia.
Verbatim
e0“Two late successional plant species were associated with refugia: Trillium erectum and Viburnum alnifolium.”
Claim · model-written summary
Rubus idaeus was associated with open areas.
- Taxon
- Rubus idaeus
_Rubus_idaeus_-_Feuillage.jpg?width=60)
Rubus idaeuse0 - Outcome
- associated with open arease0
- Direction
- associatede0
- Setting
- open arease0
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
_Rubus_idaeus_-_Feuillage.jpg?width=500)
Verbatim
e0“Several species were associated with open areas including Rubus idaeus.”
Claim · model-written summary
The authors advised caution when applying high intensity crop tree release.
Verbatim
e0“In the intervening time caution should be taken in applying high intensity crop tree release.”
t0“understory plants”
Claim · model-written summary
The authors suggested limiting high intensity release to small areas within larger cut blocks.
Verbatim
e0“Precautionary measures could include only applying HICTR in small areas within larger cut blocks”
t0“understory plants”
Claim · model-written summary
The authors suggested retaining dispersed clusters of trees in release blocks.
Verbatim
e0“or by retaining clusters of trees dispersed throughout HICTR blocks.”
t0“understory plants”