Friederike Espinoza, Laureline Rossignaud, Amanda Black, Philip E. Hulme
Questions
Habitat fragmentation can promote alien plant invasions by increasing the exposure of the fragment edge to alien plants present in adjacent habitats. Yet, few studies have examined covariates that might exacerbate the effect of fragmentation on plant invasions. Here, we investigated the influence of grazing, fragment size and habitat structure on alien plant invasion of indigenous shrubland while considering plant growth form.
Location
Banks Peninsula, Canterbury, New Zealand.
Methods
We conducted a systematic vegetation survey in 30 fragments of kānuka shrubland (Kunzea ericoides, Myrtaceae). In each fragment, alien plant species richness and cover were recorded across four transects with 2 × 2 m plots positioned in the neighbouring grassland, the fragment edge and interior. We predicted alien species richness and cover from a combination of factors (grazing, fragment size, kānuka canopy cover and tree density) using generalised linear mixed models. Similar models were run investigating the proportion of alien grass species richness and cover.
Results
The edge effect had a significant influence on alien plant invasion, with a higher alien richness and cover in the grassland and fragment edge than in the interior. Alien richness and cover declined with greater kānuka canopy cover. Grassland and edge plots showed greater cover of alien grass species, whereas interior plots showed higher richness and cover of other alien vascular species. Smaller kānuka fragments had a less dense kānuka canopy cover than larger fragments and a higher alien richness and cover.
Conclusions
Most kānuka shrublands occur as small fragments within a matrix of anthropogenic grasslands emphasising the high vulnerability of these ecosystems to alien plant invasion. Alien grass species were filtered out along the grassland-edge-interior gradient whereas other alien vascular species such as shade-tolerant woody species were able to establish in the kānuka interior. Future restoration efforts should attempt to increase the size and intactness of existing fragments.
{"title":"Effects of Habitat Fragmentation on Alien Plant Invasion in Native Shrublands","authors":"Friederike Espinoza, Laureline Rossignaud, Amanda Black, Philip E. Hulme","doi":"10.1111/jvs.70108","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1111/jvs.70108","url":null,"abstract":"<div>\u0000 \u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Questions</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>Habitat fragmentation can promote alien plant invasions by increasing the exposure of the fragment edge to alien plants present in adjacent habitats. Yet, few studies have examined covariates that might exacerbate the effect of fragmentation on plant invasions. Here, we investigated the influence of grazing, fragment size and habitat structure on alien plant invasion of indigenous shrubland while considering plant growth form.</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Location</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>Banks Peninsula, Canterbury, New Zealand.</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Methods</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>We conducted a systematic vegetation survey in 30 fragments of kānuka shrubland (<i>Kunzea ericoides,</i> Myrtaceae). In each fragment, alien plant species richness and cover were recorded across four transects with 2 × 2 m plots positioned in the neighbouring grassland, the fragment edge and interior. We predicted alien species richness and cover from a combination of factors (grazing, fragment size, kānuka canopy cover and tree density) using generalised linear mixed models. Similar models were run investigating the proportion of alien grass species richness and cover.</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Results</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>The edge effect had a significant influence on alien plant invasion, with a higher alien richness and cover in the grassland and fragment edge than in the interior. Alien richness and cover declined with greater kānuka canopy cover. Grassland and edge plots showed greater cover of alien grass species, whereas interior plots showed higher richness and cover of other alien vascular species. Smaller kānuka fragments had a less dense kānuka canopy cover than larger fragments and a higher alien richness and cover.</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Conclusions</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>Most kānuka shrublands occur as small fragments within a matrix of anthropogenic grasslands emphasising the high vulnerability of these ecosystems to alien plant invasion. Alien grass species were filtered out along the grassland-edge-interior gradient whereas other alien vascular species such as shade-tolerant woody species were able to establish in the kānuka interior. Future restoration efforts should attempt to increase the size and intactness of existing fragments.</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 </div>","PeriodicalId":49965,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Vegetation Science","volume":"37 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.7,"publicationDate":"2026-01-24","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10.1111/jvs.70108","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146099331","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"环境科学与生态学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Lukas Rimondini, Jessica Lindgren, Sara A. O. Cousins
Aims
Baltic coastal meadows host unique plant communities that are threatened extensively by environmental change. We re-inventoried the occurrence of Baltic coastal meadow plant specialists after 60 years to examine their response to habitat loss and management continuity and assess large-scale shifts in Baltic coastal meadows plant communities. Ultimately, we aimed to understand what defines losing and winning species in Baltic coastal meadows after 60 years of environmental change.
Location
Swedish Baltic coast.
Methods
In 2024, we re-inventoried 65 Baltic coastal meadows that were originally inventoried in the 1960s, assessing the abundance of eight specialist plant species. We used aerial image interpretation to map all coastal meadows in the region in both time steps, estimating local and landscape-scale habitat extent for the focal meadows. We also determined management continuity in these meadows using all available imagery in between the 1960s and 2024. We explored how management continuity and local and landscape-scale changes in habitat extent affect specialist species occurrence and local extinctions.
Results
Coastal meadow habitat extent across the whole region has decreased by 21% and only 57% of the meadows inventoried in the 1960s are managed today. Six plant species have decreased significantly, of which two were not found at all in 2024. Three species have remained stable in continuously managed meadows, whereas five species have decreased despite continuous management. There were no significant relationships between habitat loss, at either local or landscape scale, and extinction/persistence patterns.
Conclusions
Coastal meadows have disappeared or become smaller in size over 60 years, and our results indicate an extinction debt already in the 1960s due to habitat loss before the original inventory. Baltic coastal meadows are under cross-fire by many drivers of environmental change, likely augmenting biodiversity loss through synergetic interactions. Management continuity is imperative for population persistence, and urgent large-scale restorations are needed to reverse negative biodiversity trends.
{"title":"Losers and Winners Among Baltic Coastal Meadow Plants After 60 Years of Environmental Change","authors":"Lukas Rimondini, Jessica Lindgren, Sara A. O. Cousins","doi":"10.1111/jvs.70112","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1111/jvs.70112","url":null,"abstract":"<div>\u0000 \u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Aims</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>Baltic coastal meadows host unique plant communities that are threatened extensively by environmental change. We re-inventoried the occurrence of Baltic coastal meadow plant specialists after 60 years to examine their response to habitat loss and management continuity and assess large-scale shifts in Baltic coastal meadows plant communities. Ultimately, we aimed to understand what defines losing and winning species in Baltic coastal meadows after 60 years of environmental change.</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Location</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>Swedish Baltic coast.</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Methods</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>In 2024, we re-inventoried 65 Baltic coastal meadows that were originally inventoried in the 1960s, assessing the abundance of eight specialist plant species. We used aerial image interpretation to map all coastal meadows in the region in both time steps, estimating local and landscape-scale habitat extent for the focal meadows. We also determined management continuity in these meadows using all available imagery in between the 1960s and 2024. We explored how management continuity and local and landscape-scale changes in habitat extent affect specialist species occurrence and local extinctions.</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Results</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>Coastal meadow habitat extent across the whole region has decreased by 21% and only 57% of the meadows inventoried in the 1960s are managed today. Six plant species have decreased significantly, of which two were not found at all in 2024. Three species have remained stable in continuously managed meadows, whereas five species have decreased despite continuous management. There were no significant relationships between habitat loss, at either local or landscape scale, and extinction/persistence patterns.</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Conclusions</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>Coastal meadows have disappeared or become smaller in size over 60 years, and our results indicate an extinction debt already in the 1960s due to habitat loss before the original inventory. Baltic coastal meadows are under cross-fire by many drivers of environmental change, likely augmenting biodiversity loss through synergetic interactions. Management continuity is imperative for population persistence, and urgent large-scale restorations are needed to reverse negative biodiversity trends.</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 </div>","PeriodicalId":49965,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Vegetation Science","volume":"37 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.7,"publicationDate":"2026-01-24","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10.1111/jvs.70112","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146096598","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"环境科学与生态学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Eduardo Fuentes-Lillo, Rafael A. García, Jonas J. Lembrechts, Aníbal Pauchard
Questions
Invasive nonnative trees can induce substantial and long-lasting changes in ecosystem structure and environmental conditions. Although numerous management efforts have removed invasive trees, the outcomes have been highly variable, and it remains uncertain whether such interventions are sufficient to restore biodiversity and microclimate. These differences often depend on the invasive species involved and the characteristics of the invaded ecosystem. Here, we evaluate whether the removal of Pinus contorta promotes short-term recovery of microclimate and plant diversity in two contrasting Patagonian vegetation types.
Location
Southern Chile, in Araucaria araucana forests (−38° S) and Patagonian steppe (−45° S).
Methods
We established paired invaded and removal plots along invasion gradients at both sites. Environmental variables (soil and air temperature, moisture, light, canopy cover, litter) and plant diversity were monitored for 2 years before and after mechanical removal of P. contorta. We used linear (LMM) and generalized linear mixed models (GLMM) to test for recovery versus persistent legacy effects.
Results
Removal reduced pine litter and canopy cover, partially restoring microclimatic conditions moderating temperature extremes (i.e., increasing minimum temperatures and lowering maximum temperatures) and increasing soil moisture and light availability. However, native plant richness and abundance showed no signs of recovery, whereas nonnative species significantly increased in the Patagonian steppe.
Conclusions
Our results demonstrate that, despite improvements in physical conditions, legacy effects of P. contorta invasion strongly constrain biodiversity recovery in both ecosystems. Effective management of invasive conifers must therefore move beyond tree removal to include complementary restoration actions that address persistent abiotic and biotic legacies.
{"title":"Beyond Control: Short-Term Legacy Effects of Invasive Nonnative Trees May Halt Biodiversity Recovery","authors":"Eduardo Fuentes-Lillo, Rafael A. García, Jonas J. Lembrechts, Aníbal Pauchard","doi":"10.1111/jvs.70110","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1111/jvs.70110","url":null,"abstract":"<div>\u0000 \u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Questions</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>Invasive nonnative trees can induce substantial and long-lasting changes in ecosystem structure and environmental conditions. Although numerous management efforts have removed invasive trees, the outcomes have been highly variable, and it remains uncertain whether such interventions are sufficient to restore biodiversity and microclimate. These differences often depend on the invasive species involved and the characteristics of the invaded ecosystem. Here, we evaluate whether the removal of <i>Pinus contorta</i> promotes short-term recovery of microclimate and plant diversity in two contrasting Patagonian vegetation types.</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Location</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>Southern Chile, in <i>Araucaria araucana</i> forests (−38° S) and Patagonian steppe (−45° S).</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Methods</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>We established paired invaded and removal plots along invasion gradients at both sites. Environmental variables (soil and air temperature, moisture, light, canopy cover, litter) and plant diversity were monitored for 2 years before and after mechanical removal of <i>P. contorta</i>. We used linear (LMM) and generalized linear mixed models (GLMM) to test for recovery versus persistent legacy effects.</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Results</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>Removal reduced pine litter and canopy cover, partially restoring microclimatic conditions moderating temperature extremes (i.e., increasing minimum temperatures and lowering maximum temperatures) and increasing soil moisture and light availability. However, native plant richness and abundance showed no signs of recovery, whereas nonnative species significantly increased in the Patagonian steppe.</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Conclusions</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>Our results demonstrate that, despite improvements in physical conditions, legacy effects of <i>P. contorta</i> invasion strongly constrain biodiversity recovery in both ecosystems. Effective management of invasive conifers must therefore move beyond tree removal to include complementary restoration actions that address persistent abiotic and biotic legacies.</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 </div>","PeriodicalId":49965,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Vegetation Science","volume":"37 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.7,"publicationDate":"2026-01-24","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146057992","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"环境科学与生态学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Maria Mercedes Caron, Pieter Vangansbeke, Florian Zellweger, Kris Verheyen, Lander Baeten, Radim Hédl, Markus Bernhardt-Römermann, Imre Berki, Jörg Brunet, Guillaume Decocq, Sandra Díaz, Thomas Dirnböck, Tomasz Durak, Thilo Heinken, Bogdan Jaroszewicz, Martin Kopecký, Jonathan Lenoir, Martin Macek, Marek Malicki, František Máliš, Thomas A. Nagel, Petr Petřík, Kamila Reczyńska, Remigiusz Pielech, Wolfgang Schmidt, Krzysztof Świerkosz, Balázs Teleki, Monika Wulf, Naaf Tobias, Francisco Rodríguez-Sánchez, Donald Waller, Pieter De Frenne
Aim
Warming of the climate system is increasing the dominance of warm-adapted species, a process referred to as thermophilisation. In forests, adult trees in the forest canopy experience warmer daytime summer conditions than juveniles in the understorey, but they are less susceptible to warming. These differences can result in differing thermophilisation rates between adults and juveniles. Here, we quantify for the first time the long-term thermophilisation of tree species in temperate European forests, comparing adults with juveniles.
Location
Europe.
Methods
We calculated the thermophilisation of adults and juveniles of forest tree species using layer-specific climatic data, species cover and occurrence data from 2202 resurveyed vegetation plots recorded twice between 1933 and 2017 and located across 12 European countries. We inferred species' thermal profiles from species distribution maps matched to gridded open-air temperature (proxy for above-canopy macroclimate) for adults and to below-canopy microclimate temperature for juveniles.
Results
The thermophilisation rate in the juvenile layer was seven times higher than in the adult tree layer. The thermophilisation rates of both adults and juveniles were primarily driven by gains in relatively warm-adapted species and a concurrent, but less strong, decrease in cold-adapted species.
Conclusion
The compositional change in favour of more warm-adapted species was mainly driven by gains in warm-adapted species. The magnitude of these responses and the influencing variables were different in the community of adults and juveniles. These results underpin the importance of separately quantifying the responses of individuals throughout their life cycle to improve our ability to understand the impacts of environmental change on forest biodiversity and composition and apply targeted management actions.
{"title":"Greater Thermophilisation in Communities of Juveniles Than Adults in Temperate European Forests","authors":"Maria Mercedes Caron, Pieter Vangansbeke, Florian Zellweger, Kris Verheyen, Lander Baeten, Radim Hédl, Markus Bernhardt-Römermann, Imre Berki, Jörg Brunet, Guillaume Decocq, Sandra Díaz, Thomas Dirnböck, Tomasz Durak, Thilo Heinken, Bogdan Jaroszewicz, Martin Kopecký, Jonathan Lenoir, Martin Macek, Marek Malicki, František Máliš, Thomas A. Nagel, Petr Petřík, Kamila Reczyńska, Remigiusz Pielech, Wolfgang Schmidt, Krzysztof Świerkosz, Balázs Teleki, Monika Wulf, Naaf Tobias, Francisco Rodríguez-Sánchez, Donald Waller, Pieter De Frenne","doi":"10.1111/jvs.70111","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1111/jvs.70111","url":null,"abstract":"<div>\u0000 \u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Aim</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>Warming of the climate system is increasing the dominance of warm-adapted species, a process referred to as thermophilisation. In forests, adult trees in the forest canopy experience warmer daytime summer conditions than juveniles in the understorey, but they are less susceptible to warming. These differences can result in differing thermophilisation rates between adults and juveniles. Here, we quantify for the first time the long-term thermophilisation of tree species in temperate European forests, comparing adults with juveniles.</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Location</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>Europe.</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Methods</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>We calculated the thermophilisation of adults and juveniles of forest tree species using layer-specific climatic data, species cover and occurrence data from 2202 resurveyed vegetation plots recorded twice between 1933 and 2017 and located across 12 European countries. We inferred species' thermal profiles from species distribution maps matched to gridded open-air temperature (proxy for above-canopy macroclimate) for adults and to below-canopy microclimate temperature for juveniles.</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Results</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>The thermophilisation rate in the juvenile layer was seven times higher than in the adult tree layer. The thermophilisation rates of both adults and juveniles were primarily driven by gains in relatively warm-adapted species and a concurrent, but less strong, decrease in cold-adapted species.</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Conclusion</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>The compositional change in favour of more warm-adapted species was mainly driven by gains in warm-adapted species. The magnitude of these responses and the influencing variables were different in the community of adults and juveniles. These results underpin the importance of separately quantifying the responses of individuals throughout their life cycle to improve our ability to understand the impacts of environmental change on forest biodiversity and composition and apply targeted management actions.</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 </div>","PeriodicalId":49965,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Vegetation Science","volume":"37 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.7,"publicationDate":"2026-01-24","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146099330","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"环境科学与生态学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
<div> <section> <h3> Aims</h3> <p>Seed rain and the soil seed bank are essential resources for the reproduction and regeneration of grassland vegetation. However, the effects of seasonal rotational grazing—the most common type of grassland management/utilization worldwide—on the regulatory mechanisms of the structure and composition of seed rain and soil seed banks and their relationship with aboveground vegetation are still unclear.</p> </section> <section> <h3> Location</h3> <p>We conducted a 3-year (2020–2022) study of yak seasonal rotational grazing in an alpine meadow on the northeastern Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau.</p> </section> <section> <h3> Methods</h3> <p>We investigated the characteristics of temporal (different years) and spatial (different seasonal pastures) variations in species richness and density of the aboveground vegetation, seed rain, and transient soil seed bank. The similarities between seed rain and soil seed bank and aboveground vegetation composition were also compared.</p> </section> <section> <h3> Results</h3> <p>We found that seasonal rotational grazing significantly impacted the renewal of the aboveground vegetation, seed rain, and the density of the soil seed bank of the alpine meadow. During the warm season (seed-setting period, mid-June to late July), livestock grazing reduced both the richness and density of seed rain species and interrupted its supplementation of the soil seed bank and thus was detrimental to seed reproduction and renewal of alpine-meadow plants. Within the warm-season paddocks, prolongation of the grazing utilization time gradually decreased the density of the upper-layer (0–5 cm) transient seed bank, whereas the density of aboveground vegetation gradually increased. Moreover, grazing led to significant differentiation between the composition of aboveground vegetation and seed rain/soil seed bank, resulting in low similarity between those three categories.</p> </section> <section> <h3> Conclusions</h3> <p>Warm-season grazing is a potential driving force for the shift in aboveground vegetation reproduction mode from sexual (i.e., seeds) to vegetative in alpine meadows. We recommend excluding grazing during the seed-set stage, allowing grazing during the seed maturation period (mid-August to late September), and implementing appropriate rotational grazing among seasonal paddocks as part of an effective management strategy for alpine meadows on the Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau.</p> </section>
{"title":"Moderate Seasonal Grazing During the Seed-Set Stage Is Detrimental to Seed Rain and the Soil Seed Bank in an Alpine Meadow","authors":"Shu-Lin Wang, Fu-Jiang Hou","doi":"10.1111/jvs.70114","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1111/jvs.70114","url":null,"abstract":"<div>\u0000 \u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Aims</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>Seed rain and the soil seed bank are essential resources for the reproduction and regeneration of grassland vegetation. However, the effects of seasonal rotational grazing—the most common type of grassland management/utilization worldwide—on the regulatory mechanisms of the structure and composition of seed rain and soil seed banks and their relationship with aboveground vegetation are still unclear.</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Location</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>We conducted a 3-year (2020–2022) study of yak seasonal rotational grazing in an alpine meadow on the northeastern Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau.</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Methods</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>We investigated the characteristics of temporal (different years) and spatial (different seasonal pastures) variations in species richness and density of the aboveground vegetation, seed rain, and transient soil seed bank. The similarities between seed rain and soil seed bank and aboveground vegetation composition were also compared.</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Results</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>We found that seasonal rotational grazing significantly impacted the renewal of the aboveground vegetation, seed rain, and the density of the soil seed bank of the alpine meadow. During the warm season (seed-setting period, mid-June to late July), livestock grazing reduced both the richness and density of seed rain species and interrupted its supplementation of the soil seed bank and thus was detrimental to seed reproduction and renewal of alpine-meadow plants. Within the warm-season paddocks, prolongation of the grazing utilization time gradually decreased the density of the upper-layer (0–5 cm) transient seed bank, whereas the density of aboveground vegetation gradually increased. Moreover, grazing led to significant differentiation between the composition of aboveground vegetation and seed rain/soil seed bank, resulting in low similarity between those three categories.</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Conclusions</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>Warm-season grazing is a potential driving force for the shift in aboveground vegetation reproduction mode from sexual (i.e., seeds) to vegetative in alpine meadows. We recommend excluding grazing during the seed-set stage, allowing grazing during the seed maturation period (mid-August to late September), and implementing appropriate rotational grazing among seasonal paddocks as part of an effective management strategy for alpine meadows on the Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau.</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000","PeriodicalId":49965,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Vegetation Science","volume":"37 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.7,"publicationDate":"2026-01-24","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10.1111/jvs.70114","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146091383","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"环境科学与生态学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Joshua Erkelenz, Sonya R. Geange, Joe Atkinson, Emil Anderson, Marta Correia, Sam J. Ahler, Pia Bradler, Cora E. Löwenstein, Alexander Elsy, Celesté Maré, Susan Eshelman, Dickson Mauki, Coskun Guclu, Julia Eckberg, Brian Maitner, Ragnhild Gya, Joachim Töpper, Kari Klanderud, Brian J. Enquist, Sean T. Michaletz, Courtenay A. Ray, Jonathan von Oppen, Josep Padullés Cubino, Aud H. Halbritter, Vigdis Vandvik
Aims
Rising ambient air temperatures may have adverse effects on alpine plant communities. To avoid extinction and to mitigate the demographic impacts of climate warming, migration and the ability to adapt become increasingly important. Experimental studies that simulate warming help test the extent and direction of functional adaptation. We ask: (1) To what extent does experimental warming drive intraspecific trait shifts in alpine species? (2) Do these trait responses vary across a precipitation gradient? (3) Do responses vary between forbs and graminoids?
Location
Alpine grasslands along a precipitation gradient in south-western Norway.
Methods
At three alpine sites spanning 1315–3601 mm of annual precipitation, we measured 10 plant functional traits across 17 species of graminoids, perennial forbs and dwarf shrubs. We compared the traits of plants in open-top warming chambers with those under ambient temperature conditions. Effect sizes were estimated using Cohen's d and analysed with respect to precipitation regimes and growth form.
Results
Plant height generally increased in response to warming across all sites for both growth forms. For other traits, warming effects were context-dependent and varied among species. At the medium precipitation site, plants showed shifts toward more conservative resource-use strategies in response to warming, characterised by increased leaf area and leaf dry matter content, along with reduced species leaf area and leaf nitrogen concentration. The enrichment in heavier nitrogen and carbon isotopes with warming is consistent with the expectation that warming selects for individuals with high water-use efficiency. Forbs generally exhibited stronger but more variable responses to warming than graminoids.
Conclusion
Warming induces trait shifts in alpine species, but responses depend on local conditions and growth form. Predicting alpine community responses to climate change requires trait-based approaches and research designs that allow assessing and exploring patterns in both taxonomic and environmental context dependencies.
{"title":"Intraspecific Functional Trait Responses to Experimental Warming Vary With Precipitation and Growth Form","authors":"Joshua Erkelenz, Sonya R. Geange, Joe Atkinson, Emil Anderson, Marta Correia, Sam J. Ahler, Pia Bradler, Cora E. Löwenstein, Alexander Elsy, Celesté Maré, Susan Eshelman, Dickson Mauki, Coskun Guclu, Julia Eckberg, Brian Maitner, Ragnhild Gya, Joachim Töpper, Kari Klanderud, Brian J. Enquist, Sean T. Michaletz, Courtenay A. Ray, Jonathan von Oppen, Josep Padullés Cubino, Aud H. Halbritter, Vigdis Vandvik","doi":"10.1111/jvs.70098","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1111/jvs.70098","url":null,"abstract":"<div>\u0000 \u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Aims</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>Rising ambient air temperatures may have adverse effects on alpine plant communities. To avoid extinction and to mitigate the demographic impacts of climate warming, migration and the ability to adapt become increasingly important. Experimental studies that simulate warming help test the extent and direction of functional adaptation. We ask: (1) To what extent does experimental warming drive intraspecific trait shifts in alpine species? (2) Do these trait responses vary across a precipitation gradient? (3) Do responses vary between forbs and graminoids?</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Location</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>Alpine grasslands along a precipitation gradient in south-western Norway.</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Methods</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>At three alpine sites spanning 1315–3601 mm of annual precipitation, we measured 10 plant functional traits across 17 species of graminoids, perennial forbs and dwarf shrubs. We compared the traits of plants in open-top warming chambers with those under ambient temperature conditions. Effect sizes were estimated using Cohen's <i>d</i> and analysed with respect to precipitation regimes and growth form.</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Results</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>Plant height generally increased in response to warming across all sites for both growth forms. For other traits, warming effects were context-dependent and varied among species. At the medium precipitation site, plants showed shifts toward more conservative resource-use strategies in response to warming, characterised by increased leaf area and leaf dry matter content, along with reduced species leaf area and leaf nitrogen concentration. The enrichment in heavier nitrogen and carbon isotopes with warming is consistent with the expectation that warming selects for individuals with high water-use efficiency. Forbs generally exhibited stronger but more variable responses to warming than graminoids.</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Conclusion</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>Warming induces trait shifts in alpine species, but responses depend on local conditions and growth form. Predicting alpine community responses to climate change requires trait-based approaches and research designs that allow assessing and exploring patterns in both taxonomic and environmental context dependencies.</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 </div>","PeriodicalId":49965,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Vegetation Science","volume":"36 6","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.7,"publicationDate":"2025-12-29","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145905252","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"环境科学与生态学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Nicola J. Findlay, Alan Manson, Guy Thibaud, Paul Gordijn, Sphesihle Mkhungo, Max Rietkerk, Martin J. Wassen, Mariska te Beest
Questions
Fire is a key ecological and evolutionary force in many grassy biomes, including the Afromontane region of South Africa, where it supports critical ecosystem processes such as nutrient cycling. Anthropogenic activities are expected to alter fire regimes, with consequences for grassland nutrient dynamics and, by extension, species composition and productivity. We asked how long-term variation in fire frequency and season of burn influences nutrient concentrations in soils and plant communities, and whether responses differ among plant functional types.
Location
uKhahlamba-Drakensberg montane grasslands, South Africa.
Methods
We assessed the effects of fire frequency and season on soil and plant nutrient dynamics using a subset of five treatments from a 40-year burning trial. Soil samples were collected to 15 cm depth and composited per plot for analysis of total carbon, nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium. Aboveground biomass was harvested from four quadrats per plot and living material analysed by functional type for nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium.
Results
Annual burning significantly affected soil carbon, nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium concentrations; however, frequent fire did not lead to long-term nutrient depletion. Plant nutrient concentrations were generally not correlated with soil nutrient levels and were largely insensitive to fire regime. Grasses displayed a modest positive nutrient response to frequent burning, while forbs showed no response.
Conclusions
Our findings suggest that these montane grasslands are resilient within a range of fire regimes, maintaining nutrient stocks and functional integrity even under frequent burning. These results challenge the assumption that repeated fire necessarily depletes soil nutrients and highlights the importance of long-term experiments in understanding ecosystem responses to fire.
{"title":"Soil and Plant Nutrients Are Maintained—and Can Be Enhanced—by Long-Term Frequent Fire in an Afromontane Grassland","authors":"Nicola J. Findlay, Alan Manson, Guy Thibaud, Paul Gordijn, Sphesihle Mkhungo, Max Rietkerk, Martin J. Wassen, Mariska te Beest","doi":"10.1111/jvs.70102","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1111/jvs.70102","url":null,"abstract":"<div>\u0000 \u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Questions</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>Fire is a key ecological and evolutionary force in many grassy biomes, including the Afromontane region of South Africa, where it supports critical ecosystem processes such as nutrient cycling. Anthropogenic activities are expected to alter fire regimes, with consequences for grassland nutrient dynamics and, by extension, species composition and productivity. We asked how long-term variation in fire frequency and season of burn influences nutrient concentrations in soils and plant communities, and whether responses differ among plant functional types.</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Location</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>uKhahlamba-Drakensberg montane grasslands, South Africa.</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Methods</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>We assessed the effects of fire frequency and season on soil and plant nutrient dynamics using a subset of five treatments from a 40-year burning trial. Soil samples were collected to 15 cm depth and composited per plot for analysis of total carbon, nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium. Aboveground biomass was harvested from four quadrats per plot and living material analysed by functional type for nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium.</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Results</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>Annual burning significantly affected soil carbon, nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium concentrations; however, frequent fire did not lead to long-term nutrient depletion. Plant nutrient concentrations were generally not correlated with soil nutrient levels and were largely insensitive to fire regime. Grasses displayed a modest positive nutrient response to frequent burning, while forbs showed no response.</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Conclusions</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>Our findings suggest that these montane grasslands are resilient within a range of fire regimes, maintaining nutrient stocks and functional integrity even under frequent burning. These results challenge the assumption that repeated fire necessarily depletes soil nutrients and highlights the importance of long-term experiments in understanding ecosystem responses to fire.</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 </div>","PeriodicalId":49965,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Vegetation Science","volume":"36 6","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.7,"publicationDate":"2025-12-28","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10.1111/jvs.70102","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145887751","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"环境科学与生态学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
In the traditional view, the niche of plant species is mainly determined by climatic and edaphic factors. However, this view loses sight of the fact that plant species must be successful in a landscape which comprises a set of habitats of different successional ages and disturbance regimes. Quantitative circumscription of the species disturbance niche has been based either on expert assessment or on data from successional series. Here, we determine to what extent these measures are correlated and linked to species traits expected to be associated with disturbance niche.
Location
The Czech Republic.
Methods
We assembled a species-level data set (812 species) consisting of measures of their disturbance niche based on the expert assessment of disturbance regime of their habitats, from vegetation structure data and from direct observational data on their occurrence in successional series.
Results
The results show that the species disturbance niche is defined by two key species-specific parameters, namely the frequency of disturbance and its severity, and the colonization ability. Each of these is associated with different functional traits of the species. While frequency and severity are mainly related to species lifespan (annuals vs. perennials), and clonal growth type, colonization ability is mainly related to anemochory, seed bank duration, and plant height.
Conclusions
The expert assessment of species disturbance niche and species participation in the successional series are well correlated and their combination provides fuller circumscription of species position along disturbance gradients in the field. While successional series provide reasonable hard data on species response to severe disturbance, we still lack similar quality data on species response to mild and frequent disturbance.
{"title":"Species Occurrence in Successional Series as Field-Based Indicators of Their Disturbance Niche","authors":"Tomáš Herben, Karel Prach","doi":"10.1111/jvs.70104","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1111/jvs.70104","url":null,"abstract":"<div>\u0000 \u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Questions</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>In the traditional view, the niche of plant species is mainly determined by climatic and edaphic factors. However, this view loses sight of the fact that plant species must be successful in a landscape which comprises a set of habitats of different successional ages and disturbance regimes. Quantitative circumscription of the species disturbance niche has been based either on expert assessment or on data from successional series. Here, we determine to what extent these measures are correlated and linked to species traits expected to be associated with disturbance niche.</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Location</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>The Czech Republic.</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Methods</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>We assembled a species-level data set (812 species) consisting of measures of their disturbance niche based on the expert assessment of disturbance regime of their habitats, from vegetation structure data and from direct observational data on their occurrence in successional series.</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Results</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>The results show that the species disturbance niche is defined by two key species-specific parameters, namely the frequency of disturbance and its severity, and the colonization ability. Each of these is associated with different functional traits of the species. While frequency and severity are mainly related to species lifespan (annuals vs. perennials), and clonal growth type, colonization ability is mainly related to anemochory, seed bank duration, and plant height.</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Conclusions</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>The expert assessment of species disturbance niche and species participation in the successional series are well correlated and their combination provides fuller circumscription of species position along disturbance gradients in the field. While successional series provide reasonable hard data on species response to severe disturbance, we still lack similar quality data on species response to mild and frequent disturbance.</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 </div>","PeriodicalId":49965,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Vegetation Science","volume":"36 6","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.7,"publicationDate":"2025-12-23","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145825194","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"环境科学与生态学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Diane Christine Huebner, Christopher S. Potter, Olivia Alexander
Aim
Alaska's boreal forest is experiencing increasingly severe fires, droughts, and pest attacks that may destabilize carbon sequestration. Our aim was to understand boreal forest resilience to changing wildfire regimes using remote-sensed datasets validated with ground-truthing (GT).
Location
Five recently burned boreal forest sites (2010–2019) near Fairbanks, Alaska.
Methods
We used four AVIRIS-NG hyperspectral image datasets (425 spectral bands at 5-nm intervals; 3.5 × 43 km average swath) imaged by NASA in 2017–2018 during the Arctic-Boreal Vulnerability Experiment (ABoVE). Spectral analysis included fire fuel loads and random forest (RF) models constructed from key bands to describe common pre- and postburned vegetation classes. Models were validated with 89 GT plots inside the AVIRIS scenes. GT included tree stem densities, understory cover, soil characteristics, radial growth of 51 spruce trees from cores, and visual damage assays of 668 conifers and deciduous trees.
Results
Spectral evidence of high fuel loads in 2017 pre-dated a 2019 wildfire. Post-GT local models described vegetation more accurately than pre-GT, but accuracy decreased when spectral rulesets were broadened to increase overall classification. Soil temperature, basal area, slope, elevation, and tree density varied widely; thaw depth, soil moisture, moss cover, and canopy height varied mainly by vegetation class. Invasive species and thermokarst were insignificant. Deciduous seedlings were abundant in postburned sites; however, conifer seedling densities were similar to unburned forest. Upland spruce radial growth showed earlier drought sensitivity than lowland spruce.
Conclusion
Spectral analysis revealed fire vulnerability in some areas; however, local and temporal spectral variation presented challenges to accurately classify vegetation in AVIRIS scenes. GT suggests that recovering forests near Fairbanks may lack sufficient conifer recruitment to replace existing stands. Sites with stable seasonal thaw may offset drought stress under global warming.
{"title":"Assessing Climate–Wildfire Effects on Alaskan Boreal Forest Using Ground-Truth Surveys and NASA Airborne Remote Sensing","authors":"Diane Christine Huebner, Christopher S. Potter, Olivia Alexander","doi":"10.1111/jvs.70103","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1111/jvs.70103","url":null,"abstract":"<div>\u0000 \u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Aim</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>Alaska's boreal forest is experiencing increasingly severe fires, droughts, and pest attacks that may destabilize carbon sequestration. Our aim was to understand boreal forest resilience to changing wildfire regimes using remote-sensed datasets validated with ground-truthing (GT).</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Location</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>Five recently burned boreal forest sites (2010–2019) near Fairbanks, Alaska.</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Methods</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>We used four AVIRIS-NG hyperspectral image datasets (425 spectral bands at 5-nm intervals; 3.5 × 43 km average swath) imaged by NASA in 2017–2018 during the Arctic-Boreal Vulnerability Experiment (ABoVE). Spectral analysis included fire fuel loads and random forest (RF) models constructed from key bands to describe common pre- and postburned vegetation classes. Models were validated with 89 GT plots inside the AVIRIS scenes. GT included tree stem densities, understory cover, soil characteristics, radial growth of 51 spruce trees from cores, and visual damage assays of 668 conifers and deciduous trees.</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Results</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>Spectral evidence of high fuel loads in 2017 pre-dated a 2019 wildfire. Post-GT local models described vegetation more accurately than pre-GT, but accuracy decreased when spectral rulesets were broadened to increase overall classification. Soil temperature, basal area, slope, elevation, and tree density varied widely; thaw depth, soil moisture, moss cover, and canopy height varied mainly by vegetation class. Invasive species and thermokarst were insignificant. Deciduous seedlings were abundant in postburned sites; however, conifer seedling densities were similar to unburned forest. Upland spruce radial growth showed earlier drought sensitivity than lowland spruce.</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Conclusion</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>Spectral analysis revealed fire vulnerability in some areas; however, local and temporal spectral variation presented challenges to accurately classify vegetation in AVIRIS scenes. GT suggests that recovering forests near Fairbanks may lack sufficient conifer recruitment to replace existing stands. Sites with stable seasonal thaw may offset drought stress under global warming.</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 </div>","PeriodicalId":49965,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Vegetation Science","volume":"36 6","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.7,"publicationDate":"2025-12-23","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145845994","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"环境科学与生态学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Jinming Yang, Nawatbhrist Kitudom, Ruxiao Wei, Ao Liu, Wei Xue, Jing Li, Huicui Lu, Felipe Bravo
Questions
Understory vegetation is an indispensable part of the forest ecosystem. Yet, the impacts of tree species mixing on understory biomass, diversity, soil carbon, and nitrogen content and their associations remain understudied in coastal shelterbelt forests.
Location
Temperate forest plantations in eastern China.
Methods
Based on the 36 field sample plots of Japanese black pine (Pinus thunbergii)–black locust (Robinia pseudoacacia) mixtures and their respective Japanese black pine and black locust monocultures, this study analyzed the effects of tree mixture on the understory biomass and its diversity, as well as soil carbon and nitrogen.
Results
Species mixture had no significant effect on understory biomass, with herbaceous plants producing greater biomass than shrubs and seedlings. The Pielou index of shrubs was significantly higher in locust monocultures than in pine–locust mixtures and pine monocultures, whereas no significant difference was detected in herbaceous and seedling diversity across stand types. Both soil nitrogen and carbon contents were enhanced in pine–locust mixtures compared to pine monocultures, but lower than in locust monocultures. Shrub biomass was positively correlated with stand age, while shrub diversity showed associations with bulk density and stand type. Lastly, no significant differences were observed in plant functional groups between mixed and monospecific stands.
Conclusions
This study demonstrates that establishing two non-native P. thunbergii and R. pseudoacacia mixed-species plantations does not necessarily enhance the biomass and diversity of understory vegetation, but alleviates soil nutrient limitations of black pine monocultures which occupy a large proportion of forest areas in this region.
{"title":"Mixed Stands of Two Non-Native Tree Species Do Not Enhance the Understory Vegetation Biomass and Diversity in a Coastal Temperate Forest","authors":"Jinming Yang, Nawatbhrist Kitudom, Ruxiao Wei, Ao Liu, Wei Xue, Jing Li, Huicui Lu, Felipe Bravo","doi":"10.1111/jvs.70101","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1111/jvs.70101","url":null,"abstract":"<div>\u0000 \u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Questions</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>Understory vegetation is an indispensable part of the forest ecosystem. Yet, the impacts of tree species mixing on understory biomass, diversity, soil carbon, and nitrogen content and their associations remain understudied in coastal shelterbelt forests.</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Location</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>Temperate forest plantations in eastern China.</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Methods</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>Based on the 36 field sample plots of Japanese black pine (<i>Pinus thunbergii</i>)–black locust (<i>Robinia pseudoacacia</i>) mixtures and their respective Japanese black pine and black locust monocultures, this study analyzed the effects of tree mixture on the understory biomass and its diversity, as well as soil carbon and nitrogen.</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Results</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>Species mixture had no significant effect on understory biomass, with herbaceous plants producing greater biomass than shrubs and seedlings. The Pielou index of shrubs was significantly higher in locust monocultures than in pine–locust mixtures and pine monocultures, whereas no significant difference was detected in herbaceous and seedling diversity across stand types. Both soil nitrogen and carbon contents were enhanced in pine–locust mixtures compared to pine monocultures, but lower than in locust monocultures. Shrub biomass was positively correlated with stand age, while shrub diversity showed associations with bulk density and stand type. Lastly, no significant differences were observed in plant functional groups between mixed and monospecific stands.</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Conclusions</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>This study demonstrates that establishing two non-native <i>P. thunbergii</i> and <i>R. pseudoacacia</i> mixed-species plantations does not necessarily enhance the biomass and diversity of understory vegetation, but alleviates soil nutrient limitations of black pine monocultures which occupy a large proportion of forest areas in this region.</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 </div>","PeriodicalId":49965,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Vegetation Science","volume":"36 6","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.7,"publicationDate":"2025-12-23","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145825193","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"环境科学与生态学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
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