Response of understory vegetation over 10 years after thinning in an old-growth cedar and cypress plantation overgrazed by sika deer in eastern Japan
Background Forest management strategies such as thinning have long been used to enhance ecosystem functions, especially in plantations. Thinning in plantations with high deer density, however, may not yield a desired increase in understory vegetation because deer graze on germinating plants after t...
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doaj-cb9f11813bfb42118a364c54424a702a2020-11-24T21:16:06ZengSpringerOpenForest Ecosystems2095-63552197-56202017-01-01410.1186/s40663-016-0088-1Response of understory vegetation over 10 years after thinning in an old-growth cedar and cypress plantation overgrazed by sika deer in eastern JapanAtsushi Tamura0Masanobu Yamane1Division of Forest Research and Nature Restoration Planning, Kanagawa Prefecture Natural Environment Conservation CenterDivision of Forest Research and Nature Restoration Planning, Kanagawa Prefecture Natural Environment Conservation CenterBackground Forest management strategies such as thinning have long been used to enhance ecosystem functions, especially in plantations. Thinning in plantations with high deer density, however, may not yield a desired increase in understory vegetation because deer graze on germinating plants after thinning. Here, we examine the changes in understory vegetation after thinning in plantations that have been overgrazed by sika deer to provide insight into the effects of thinning on ecosystem functions such as soil conservation and biological diversity. Methods We conducted our survey in the Tanzawa Mountains of eastern Japan. We surveyed the change in understory vegetation within and outside of three deer exclosures on a single slope with three levels of understory vegetation cover: sparse (1%, exclosure “US”), moderate (30%, exclosure “MM”), and dense (80%, exclosure “LD”) over 10 years after a 30% thinning of an old-growth cedar and cypress plantation which was overgrazed by sika deer. Results Understory vegetation cover, biomass and species richness increased within and outside the “US” and “MM” exclosures after thinning, and biomass was greater within than outside the exclosures at 10 years after thinning. Unpalatable species dominated both “US” and “MM” exclosures before thinning, and trees and shrubs dominated within the exclosures over time after thinning. In contrast, unpalatable, grazing-tolerant, perennial, and annual species increased outside the “US” and “MM” exclosures. No noticeable changes were observed within and outside the “LD” exclosure when compared with the “US” and “MM” exclosures. Conclusions Our results suggest that thinning a stand by 30% based on volume resulted in an increase in understory vegetation cover mainly composed of both unpalatable and grazing-tolerant species in a plantation forest where understory vegetation is sparse or moderate and sika deer density is high. We emphasize that establishing deer exclosures or controlling deer is essential to maintaining similar understory vegetation both within and outside exclosures.https://forestecosyst.springeropen.com/articles/10.1186/s40663-016-0088-1BiomassDeer exclosureGrazing-tolerant speciesUnderstory coverUnpalatable species |
collection |
DOAJ |
language |
English |
format |
Article |
sources |
DOAJ |
author |
Atsushi Tamura Masanobu Yamane |
spellingShingle |
Atsushi Tamura Masanobu Yamane Response of understory vegetation over 10 years after thinning in an old-growth cedar and cypress plantation overgrazed by sika deer in eastern Japan Forest Ecosystems Biomass Deer exclosure Grazing-tolerant species Understory cover Unpalatable species |
author_facet |
Atsushi Tamura Masanobu Yamane |
author_sort |
Atsushi Tamura |
title |
Response of understory vegetation over 10 years after thinning in an old-growth cedar and cypress plantation overgrazed by sika deer in eastern Japan |
title_short |
Response of understory vegetation over 10 years after thinning in an old-growth cedar and cypress plantation overgrazed by sika deer in eastern Japan |
title_full |
Response of understory vegetation over 10 years after thinning in an old-growth cedar and cypress plantation overgrazed by sika deer in eastern Japan |
title_fullStr |
Response of understory vegetation over 10 years after thinning in an old-growth cedar and cypress plantation overgrazed by sika deer in eastern Japan |
title_full_unstemmed |
Response of understory vegetation over 10 years after thinning in an old-growth cedar and cypress plantation overgrazed by sika deer in eastern Japan |
title_sort |
response of understory vegetation over 10 years after thinning in an old-growth cedar and cypress plantation overgrazed by sika deer in eastern japan |
publisher |
SpringerOpen |
series |
Forest Ecosystems |
issn |
2095-6355 2197-5620 |
publishDate |
2017-01-01 |
description |
Background
Forest management strategies such as thinning have long been used to enhance ecosystem functions, especially in plantations. Thinning in plantations with high deer density, however, may not yield a desired increase in understory vegetation because deer graze on germinating plants after thinning. Here, we examine the changes in understory vegetation after thinning in plantations that have been overgrazed by sika deer to provide insight into the effects of thinning on ecosystem functions such as soil conservation and biological diversity.
Methods
We conducted our survey in the Tanzawa Mountains of eastern Japan. We surveyed the change in understory vegetation within and outside of three deer exclosures on a single slope with three levels of understory vegetation cover: sparse (1%, exclosure “US”), moderate (30%, exclosure “MM”), and dense (80%, exclosure “LD”) over 10 years after a 30% thinning of an old-growth cedar and cypress plantation which was overgrazed by sika deer.
Results
Understory vegetation cover, biomass and species richness increased within and outside the “US” and “MM” exclosures after thinning, and biomass was greater within than outside the exclosures at 10 years after thinning. Unpalatable species dominated both “US” and “MM” exclosures before thinning, and trees and shrubs dominated within the exclosures over time after thinning. In contrast, unpalatable, grazing-tolerant, perennial, and annual species increased outside the “US” and “MM” exclosures. No noticeable changes were observed within and outside the “LD” exclosure when compared with the “US” and “MM” exclosures.
Conclusions
Our results suggest that thinning a stand by 30% based on volume resulted in an increase in understory vegetation cover mainly composed of both unpalatable and grazing-tolerant species in a plantation forest where understory vegetation is sparse or moderate and sika deer density is high. We emphasize that establishing deer exclosures or controlling deer is essential to maintaining similar understory vegetation both within and outside exclosures. |
topic |
Biomass Deer exclosure Grazing-tolerant species Understory cover Unpalatable species |
url |
https://forestecosyst.springeropen.com/articles/10.1186/s40663-016-0088-1 |
work_keys_str_mv |
AT atsushitamura responseofunderstoryvegetationover10yearsafterthinninginanoldgrowthcedarandcypressplantationovergrazedbysikadeerineasternjapan AT masanobuyamane responseofunderstoryvegetationover10yearsafterthinninginanoldgrowthcedarandcypressplantationovergrazedbysikadeerineasternjapan |
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