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1.Using nurse shrubs to improve tree seedling establishment in stressed environments is a common practice in forestry. Recent refinements of the stress‐gradient hypothesis suggest that positive nurse effects occur under intermediate stress and decline in the harshest conditions. Additionally, indirect facilitation (e.g. protection from herbivory) is expected in low‐stressed/productive systems according to the initial stress‐gradient hypothesis. However, there have been fewer investigations into the use of nurse shrubs to decrease herbivore impacts in stressed systems compared with the role of nurses on stress alleviation. This raises the need to clarify conditions in which the use of nurse shrubs would be most appropriate. 2.We conducted a field experiment in the sand dune forest of southwest France characterised by severe summer water shortages and the presence of different types of wild herbivores. In 2015 and 2016, Pinus pinaster seedlings were planted under shrubs (Arbutus unedo) or in shrub‐removed locations, in fenced/unfenced areas. Survival, cause of mortality, and water stress were monitored for one year after plantation. 3.Summer drought was the main cause of mortality. Water stress increased in both years as summer progressed. We found direct facilitation only in July 2016 at intermediate water stress, due to a decrease in vapour pressure deficit under shrubs. These positive effects declined in late summer when stress was at a maximum. Rodent damage occurred under shrubs in spring whereas ungulate browsing was observed in open areas in autumn/winter. Overall seedling survival was equivalent under or outside shrubs during the first year, but was better under shrubs in the second one. 4.Synthesis and applications. Our results partially validate the refinement of the stress‐gradient hypothesis, with a decline of positive interactions in the most water‐stressed conditions. This draws attention to the difficulty of using shrubs as nurses to improve tree regeneration in the most xeric systems. In addition, we show that indirect associational effects, both positive and negative, could be as important as abiotic stress alleviation in a stressful ecosystem, and using shrubs to facilitate seedling survival could be efficient depending on the type of herbivore involved. This highlights the fact that considering plant‐plant interactions can help in the design of management options, providing that up‐to‐date ecological theories are considered and that the different biotic and abiotic constraints are accurately evaluated.
Arthur Guignabert; Laurent Augusto; Maya Gonzalez; Christophe Chipeaux; Florian Delerue. Complex biotic interactions mediated by shrubs: Revisiting the stress‐gradient hypothesis and consequences for tree seedling survival. Journal of Applied Ecology 2020, 57, 1341 -1350.
AMA StyleArthur Guignabert, Laurent Augusto, Maya Gonzalez, Christophe Chipeaux, Florian Delerue. Complex biotic interactions mediated by shrubs: Revisiting the stress‐gradient hypothesis and consequences for tree seedling survival. Journal of Applied Ecology. 2020; 57 (7):1341-1350.
Chicago/Turabian StyleArthur Guignabert; Laurent Augusto; Maya Gonzalez; Christophe Chipeaux; Florian Delerue. 2020. "Complex biotic interactions mediated by shrubs: Revisiting the stress‐gradient hypothesis and consequences for tree seedling survival." Journal of Applied Ecology 57, no. 7: 1341-1350.
Mark R Bakker; Nathalie Udo; Anne Atlan; Céline Gire; Maya Gonzalez; Doug Graham; Alan Leckie; Sylvie Milin; Sylvie Niollet; Jianming Xue; Florian Delerue. Explaining the larger seed bank of an invasive shrub in non-native versus native environments by differences in seed predation and plant size. Annals of Botany 2018, 123, 917 -927.
AMA StyleMark R Bakker, Nathalie Udo, Anne Atlan, Céline Gire, Maya Gonzalez, Doug Graham, Alan Leckie, Sylvie Milin, Sylvie Niollet, Jianming Xue, Florian Delerue. Explaining the larger seed bank of an invasive shrub in non-native versus native environments by differences in seed predation and plant size. Annals of Botany. 2018; 123 (5):917-927.
Chicago/Turabian StyleMark R Bakker; Nathalie Udo; Anne Atlan; Céline Gire; Maya Gonzalez; Doug Graham; Alan Leckie; Sylvie Milin; Sylvie Niollet; Jianming Xue; Florian Delerue. 2018. "Explaining the larger seed bank of an invasive shrub in non-native versus native environments by differences in seed predation and plant size." Annals of Botany 123, no. 5: 917-927.
Symbiosis with ectomycorrhizal (ECM) fungi can be important for regeneration success. In a context of increasing regeneration failures in the coastal forest of maritime pine in Southwest France, we tried to identity whether differences in ECM communities could partly explain the variation of regeneration success and how they are influenced by forest practices and stand characteristics. In particular, we focused on the effects of harvesting methods (comparing mature forest with seed-tree regeneration and clear-cuts) and topography (bottom-, mid-, and top positions). Five field trials (two in regeneration failure areas and three in successful areas) were used to sample 450 one-year-old seedlings. Assessments of ECM of seedling nutrient concentrations and of seedling growth based on exploration types were made. ECM root colonisation was similar in all harvesting treatments, suggesting that enough inoculum remained alive after logging. Harvesting-induced effects modifying soil properties and light availability respectively impacted ECM composition and seedling growth. Topography-induced variations in water and nutrient availability led to changes in ECM composition, but had little impact on seedling growth. Contact, short-distance, and long-distance exploration types improved the nutritional status of seedlings (Ca, K, and N), showing that mycorrhization could play an important role in seedling vitality. However, neither ECM root colonisation nor exploration types could be related to regeneration failures.
Arthur Guignabert; Florian Delerue; Maya Gonzalez; Laurent Augusto; Mark R. Bakker. Effects of Management Practices and Topography on Ectomycorrhizal Fungi of Maritime Pine during Seedling Recruitment. Forests 2018, 9, 245 .
AMA StyleArthur Guignabert, Florian Delerue, Maya Gonzalez, Laurent Augusto, Mark R. Bakker. Effects of Management Practices and Topography on Ectomycorrhizal Fungi of Maritime Pine during Seedling Recruitment. Forests. 2018; 9 (5):245.
Chicago/Turabian StyleArthur Guignabert; Florian Delerue; Maya Gonzalez; Laurent Augusto; Mark R. Bakker. 2018. "Effects of Management Practices and Topography on Ectomycorrhizal Fungi of Maritime Pine during Seedling Recruitment." Forests 9, no. 5: 245.
The importance of competition in low productive habitats is still debated. Studies which simultaneously evaluate preemption of resources and consequences for population dynamics are needed for a comprehensive view of competitive outcomes. We cultivated two emblematic species of European heathlands (Calluna vulgaris and Molinia caerulea) in a nursery for 2 years at two fertility levels, reproducing the productivity gradient found in phosphorus (P)-depleted heathlands in southwest France. The second year, we planted Ulex europaeus seedlings, a ubiquitous heathland species, under the cover of the two species to evaluate its ability to regenerate. Half of the seedlings were placed in tubes for exclusion of competitor roots. We measured the development of the competitors aboveground and belowground and their interception of resources (light, water, inorganic P). Ulex seedlings’ growth and survival were also measured. Our results on resources interception were consistent with species distribution in heathlands. Molinia, which dominates rich heathlands, was the strongest competitor for light and water in the rich soil. Calluna, which dominates poor heathlands, increased its root allocation in the poor soil, decreasing water and inorganic P availability. However, the impact of total competition and root competition on Ulex seedlings decreased in the poor soil. Other mechanisms, especially decrease of water stress under neighbouring plant cover, appeared to have more influence on the seedlings’ response. We found no formal contradiction between Tilman and Grime’s theories. Root competition has a primary role in acquisition of soil resources in poor habitats. However, the importance of competition decreases with decreasing fertility.
Florian Delerue; Maya Gonzalez; David L. Achat; Luc Puzos; Laurent Augusto. Competition along productivity gradients: news from heathlands. Oecologia 2018, 187, 219 -231.
AMA StyleFlorian Delerue, Maya Gonzalez, David L. Achat, Luc Puzos, Laurent Augusto. Competition along productivity gradients: news from heathlands. Oecologia. 2018; 187 (1):219-231.
Chicago/Turabian StyleFlorian Delerue; Maya Gonzalez; David L. Achat; Luc Puzos; Laurent Augusto. 2018. "Competition along productivity gradients: news from heathlands." Oecologia 187, no. 1: 219-231.
Phenotypic plasticity may be advantageous for plants to be able to rapidly cope with new and changing environments associated with climate change or during biological invasions. This is especially true for perennial plants, as they may need a longer period to respond genetically to selective pressures than annuals, and also because they are more likely to experience environmental changes during their lifespan. However, few studies have explored the plasticity of the reproductive life history traits of woody perennial species. This study focuses on a woody shrub, Ulex europaeus (common gorse), and on the response of its reproductive traits to one important environmental factor, shading. The study was performed on clones originating from western France (within the native range of this invasive species) and grown for seven years. We compared traits of plants grown in a shade treatment (with two successive shade levels) vs. full natural light. The traits monitored included flowering onset, pod production and seed predation. All traits studied responded to shading, exhibiting various levels of plasticity. In particular, dense shade induced a radical but reversible decrease in flower and pod production, while moderate shade had little effect on reproductive traits. The magnitude of the response to dense shade depended on the genotype, showing a genetically based polymorphism of plasticity. The level of plasticity also showed substantial variations between years, and the effect of environmental variations was cumulative over time. This suggests that plasticity can influence the lifetime fitness of U. Europaeus and is involved in the capacity of the species to grow under contrasting environmental conditions.
Anne Atlan; Benjamin Hornoy; Florian Delerue; Maya Gonzalez; Jean-Sebastien Pierre; Michele Tarayre. Phenotypic Plasticity in Reproductive Traits of the Perennial Shrub Ulex europaeus in Response to Shading: A Multi-Year Monitoring of Cultivated Clones. PLOS ONE 2015, 10, e0137500 .
AMA StyleAnne Atlan, Benjamin Hornoy, Florian Delerue, Maya Gonzalez, Jean-Sebastien Pierre, Michele Tarayre. Phenotypic Plasticity in Reproductive Traits of the Perennial Shrub Ulex europaeus in Response to Shading: A Multi-Year Monitoring of Cultivated Clones. PLOS ONE. 2015; 10 (9):e0137500.
Chicago/Turabian StyleAnne Atlan; Benjamin Hornoy; Florian Delerue; Maya Gonzalez; Jean-Sebastien Pierre; Michele Tarayre. 2015. "Phenotypic Plasticity in Reproductive Traits of the Perennial Shrub Ulex europaeus in Response to Shading: A Multi-Year Monitoring of Cultivated Clones." PLOS ONE 10, no. 9: e0137500.
Key message Pine fine root biomass, live fraction and specific root length studied after collection with ingrowth cores do not correspond with those collected with ingrowth meshes. Abstract Root studies are a challenging task, yet they are primordial to improve our understanding of biogeochemical cycles in many ecosystems. Methods reducing operator time and minimizing disturbance while permitting adequate assessment of root dimensions in space and time would naturally be of great relevance. Recently, ingrowth meshes have been proposed as a valuable alternative to existing methods, deployable in remote areas and potentially yielding smaller disturbances along with a reduction in time spent per sample. In this study, we used flexible mesh material in Pinus pinaster production forests. The mesh material (pore size 6 by 6 mm) was either applied as cores (15 cm deep, 8 cm diameter) or as linear meshes (15 cm deep, 50 cm long), and left in soils for 9, 24, or 36 months. Roots were retrieved from both devices and separated over plant species (pine and understory species), diameter class and vitality (live or dead). We expected 1) improved assessment of larger diameter roots in the linear meshes due to a larger mesh surface and 2) less disturbance of the soil for the linear meshes. Results indicate that most patterns were similar between both devices and species, but the meshes resulted in lower ingrowth for all diameter classes, and the cores better reflected the standing biomass. The larger surface of the linear meshes resulted in larger disturbance and did not permit to reduce time per sample. Future research may target ingrowth meshes of reduced size and perhaps of more rigid material.
Frida Andreasson; Maya Gonzalez; Laurent Augusto; Mark R. Bakker. Comparison of ingrowth cores and ingrowth meshes in root studies: 3 years of data on Pinus pinaster and its understory. Trees 2015, 30, 555 -570.
AMA StyleFrida Andreasson, Maya Gonzalez, Laurent Augusto, Mark R. Bakker. Comparison of ingrowth cores and ingrowth meshes in root studies: 3 years of data on Pinus pinaster and its understory. Trees. 2015; 30 (2):555-570.
Chicago/Turabian StyleFrida Andreasson; Maya Gonzalez; Laurent Augusto; Mark R. Bakker. 2015. "Comparison of ingrowth cores and ingrowth meshes in root studies: 3 years of data on Pinus pinaster and its understory." Trees 30, no. 2: 555-570.
The identification of an ecological niche specific to the regeneration phase has mobilised significant attention. However, the importance of the regeneration niche concept remains unclear. Our main objective was to study the existence of such a regeneration niche for a leguminous shrub, Ulex europaeus. This study was carried out in southwest France in the context of water and nutrient stresses (mainly phosphorus limitation) due to the presence of nutrient-poor sandy soils. We analysed the regeneration of the species from the germination of seeds and emergence of new seedlings until the seedlings reached young shrub size. Our design included a P fertilisation treatment. We also investigated microsite characteristics (micro-topography and vegetation development) as they can interact with meteorological conditions and determine water availability for seeds and seedlings. We found that P availability controlled seedling growth and the time necessary to reach young shrub size. Water availability appeared to impact the species germination and seedlings survival. We also found that P and water availability depended on the interactions between microsite characteristics and climatic variations. Finally we found evidence that P and water availability are important ecological factors shaping the regeneration niche of the species, but we found weak evidence that any microsite would be appropriate for the regeneration of the species in the long term. Future studies regarding regeneration niches need to distinguish more clearly the ecological factors important for regeneration (the regeneration niche per se) and the physical world where the seedlings appear and develop (the regeneration habitat).
Florian Delerue; Maya Gonzalez; Richard Michalet; Sylvain Pellerin; Laurent Augusto. Weak Evidence of Regeneration Habitat but Strong Evidence of Regeneration Niche for a Leguminous Shrub. PLOS ONE 2015, 10, e0130886 .
AMA StyleFlorian Delerue, Maya Gonzalez, Richard Michalet, Sylvain Pellerin, Laurent Augusto. Weak Evidence of Regeneration Habitat but Strong Evidence of Regeneration Niche for a Leguminous Shrub. PLOS ONE. 2015; 10 (6):e0130886.
Chicago/Turabian StyleFlorian Delerue; Maya Gonzalez; Richard Michalet; Sylvain Pellerin; Laurent Augusto. 2015. "Weak Evidence of Regeneration Habitat but Strong Evidence of Regeneration Niche for a Leguminous Shrub." PLOS ONE 10, no. 6: e0130886.
By overemphasizing the role of overstory trees in forest studies, researchers, managers and policy makers could well ignore an important functional component of the forest ecosystem: the understory. This could be particularly true in forests with relatively open canopies. In maritime pine (Pinus pinaster Ait.) plantation forests in the southwest of France, a considerable amount of the direct radiation is transmitted through the canopy and is available for the growth of understory species. This study focused on five dominant understory species, including three woody species (Calluna vulgaris L., Erica cinerea L. and Cytisus scoparius L.) and two herbaceous perennials species (Molinia caerulea L. (Moench) and Pteridium aquilinum L. Khun). For each species five pine stands with varying amounts of understory were selected to predict biomass for a wide range of values. The number of pine trees and their dimensions were recorded enabling us to estimate the aboveground and root biomass of the pines using allometric relationships. Biometrical measurements of the understory and destructive harvests were carried out in each stand to measure aboveground, coarse and fine root biomass. The results showed that the understory represented an average of 6.8% of total ecosystem aboveground biomass and 27.4% of total ecosystem root biomass, underlining the need for a broader view of this component of the forest ecosystem. Allometric relationships derived from the biometrical data enabled satisfactory predictions of aboveground biomass for all five understory species and for belowground biomass of three species (M. caerulea, P. aquilinum, C. scoparius); allometric relationships failed to predict root biomass for two woody understory species (E. cinerea and C. vulgaris).
Maya Gonzalez; Laurent Augusto; Anne Gallet-Budynek; Jianming Xue; Nathalie Yauschew-Raguenes; Dominique Guyon; Pierre Trichet; Florian Delerue; Sylvie Niollet; Frida Andreasson; David L. Achat; Mark R. Bakker. Contribution of understory species to total ecosystem aboveground and belowground biomass in temperate Pinus pinaster Ait. forests. Forest Ecology and Management 2013, 289, 38 -47.
AMA StyleMaya Gonzalez, Laurent Augusto, Anne Gallet-Budynek, Jianming Xue, Nathalie Yauschew-Raguenes, Dominique Guyon, Pierre Trichet, Florian Delerue, Sylvie Niollet, Frida Andreasson, David L. Achat, Mark R. Bakker. Contribution of understory species to total ecosystem aboveground and belowground biomass in temperate Pinus pinaster Ait. forests. Forest Ecology and Management. 2013; 289 ():38-47.
Chicago/Turabian StyleMaya Gonzalez; Laurent Augusto; Anne Gallet-Budynek; Jianming Xue; Nathalie Yauschew-Raguenes; Dominique Guyon; Pierre Trichet; Florian Delerue; Sylvie Niollet; Frida Andreasson; David L. Achat; Mark R. Bakker. 2013. "Contribution of understory species to total ecosystem aboveground and belowground biomass in temperate Pinus pinaster Ait. forests." Forest Ecology and Management 289, no. : 38-47.
International audienceContext - While many woody perennials grow and reproduce in varying environments, their ability to modify their reproductive allocation under varying resource availability is unclear. Aims - This study aimed to demonstrate the occurrence of plasticity of reproductive allocation in a pioneer woody species (Ulex europaeus). Methods - We studied seed production in 144 plants under different irradiance and population densities. We measured their basal area, their whole shoot biomass and photosynthetic biomass, and their reproductive output (number of fruits per individual and number of seeds per fruit). Results - We found that newly produced photosynthetic biomass was influenced by environmental variation, which in turn determined plants' reproductive output. In addition, in low light conditions investment in reproduction was more reduced than investment in growth indicating plasticity of reproductive allocation. Conclusion - These results provide the first evidence for plasticity of reproductive allocation of a woody plant. It may lead to the ability of this pioneer species to survive and to continue to reproduce even at low rates in non-optimal shady habitats and to maintain a non-empty seed bank in forest systems with long unfavourable periods between two disturbances
Florian Delerue; Maya Gonzalez; Anne Atlan; Sylvain Pellerin; Laurent Augusto. Plasticity of reproductive allocation of a woody species (Ulex europaeus) in response to variation in resource availability. Annals of Forest Science 2013, 70, 219 -228.
AMA StyleFlorian Delerue, Maya Gonzalez, Anne Atlan, Sylvain Pellerin, Laurent Augusto. Plasticity of reproductive allocation of a woody species (Ulex europaeus) in response to variation in resource availability. Annals of Forest Science. 2013; 70 (3):219-228.
Chicago/Turabian StyleFlorian Delerue; Maya Gonzalez; Anne Atlan; Sylvain Pellerin; Laurent Augusto. 2013. "Plasticity of reproductive allocation of a woody species (Ulex europaeus) in response to variation in resource availability." Annals of Forest Science 70, no. 3: 219-228.
Microbial biomass phosphorus (P) can play an important role in P cycling and availability to plants by acting as a source (remineralization) or sink (immobilization) of phosphate ions (iP). To assess the role of the microbial P pools, both the dynamics (i.e. the turnover) and the size of the microbial P pools were studied in forest soils. Combining an isotopic dilution method with a modelling approach, we showed the existence of two pools of microbial P with different dynamics and therefore of different importance in soil P availability and cycling. In particular, we showed that the largest pool of microbial P (80%) had a fast turnover (nine days). Microbial P increased with an increase in soil organic matter and represented up to 53% of total P in contrasting forest soils. By combining these results with the turnover times of microbial P obtained in the modelling study, we evaluated that 8.5–17.3 kg P ha−1 of microbial P could turn over in a few days. This suggests that microbial biomass P is a potentially significant source of available iP, and that micro-organisms can play a major role in P cycling in the forest studied here. However, microbial biomass can also be in competition with the trees since most of the remineralized P could be immobilized again in the microbial turnover.
David L. Achat; Christian Morel; Mark Bakker; Laurent Augusto; Sylvain Pellerin; Anne Gallet-Budynek; Maya Gonzalez. Assessing turnover of microbial biomass phosphorus: Combination of an isotopic dilution method with a mass balance model. Soil Biology and Biochemistry 2010, 42, 2231 -2240.
AMA StyleDavid L. Achat, Christian Morel, Mark Bakker, Laurent Augusto, Sylvain Pellerin, Anne Gallet-Budynek, Maya Gonzalez. Assessing turnover of microbial biomass phosphorus: Combination of an isotopic dilution method with a mass balance model. Soil Biology and Biochemistry. 2010; 42 (12):2231-2240.
Chicago/Turabian StyleDavid L. Achat; Christian Morel; Mark Bakker; Laurent Augusto; Sylvain Pellerin; Anne Gallet-Budynek; Maya Gonzalez. 2010. "Assessing turnover of microbial biomass phosphorus: Combination of an isotopic dilution method with a mass balance model." Soil Biology and Biochemistry 42, no. 12: 2231-2240.
Maya Gonzalez; Sylvie Ladet; Marc Deconchat; Alain Cabanettes; Didier Alard; Gérard Balent. Relative contribution of edge and interior zones to patch size effect on species richness: An example for woody plants. Forest Ecology and Management 2010, 259, 266 -274.
AMA StyleMaya Gonzalez, Sylvie Ladet, Marc Deconchat, Alain Cabanettes, Didier Alard, Gérard Balent. Relative contribution of edge and interior zones to patch size effect on species richness: An example for woody plants. Forest Ecology and Management. 2010; 259 (3):266-274.
Chicago/Turabian StyleMaya Gonzalez; Sylvie Ladet; Marc Deconchat; Alain Cabanettes; Didier Alard; Gérard Balent. 2010. "Relative contribution of edge and interior zones to patch size effect on species richness: An example for woody plants." Forest Ecology and Management 259, no. 3: 266-274.
European gorse (Ulex europaeusL.) is a spiny shrub that grows spontaneously in the understorey of forests and heathlands in western Europe. Gorse is a pioneer species and forms large seed banks that can persist for a long time while buried deeply in the soil. Although many studies have been conducted on gorse seed banks in invasive contexts and in scrubland ecosystems, few data are available on forests in a native context. The aim of the present study was thus to report on the variability of seed-bank density in ‘critical’ stages in the forest management of pine stands (five stands) in south-western France. We examined variations in the number of gorse seeds as a function of soil depth but also of the presence and abundance of adult gorse in the understorey. Seed-bank density did not show a clear decrease in seed number with pine stand age, principally because gorse also appears to be able to establish itself in mature pine stands, probably thanks to local disturbances. In the pine stands in our study, the presence and abundance of seeds in the soil appeared to depend mostly on the presence of adult gorse as seeders in the understorey. Finally, we observed that, contrary to what has generally been found in scrubland ecosystems, most gorse seeds were located in the 5–10 cm soil layer rather than in the 0–5 cm soil layer. This depletion of the first 5 cm may be linked to seed germination that was not compensated for by the production of new seeds.
Maya Gonzalez; Alexis Mathieu; Laurent Augusto; Céline Gire; Mark R. Bakker; Anne Budynek. Gorse seed bank variability in maritime pine stands. Seed Science Research 2009, 20, 31 -38.
AMA StyleMaya Gonzalez, Alexis Mathieu, Laurent Augusto, Céline Gire, Mark R. Bakker, Anne Budynek. Gorse seed bank variability in maritime pine stands. Seed Science Research. 2009; 20 (1):31-38.
Chicago/Turabian StyleMaya Gonzalez; Alexis Mathieu; Laurent Augusto; Céline Gire; Mark R. Bakker; Anne Budynek. 2009. "Gorse seed bank variability in maritime pine stands." Seed Science Research 20, no. 1: 31-38.
The aim of this work was to investigate differences in soil chemistry and understory composition between recent forests (sites afforested in the last 170 years) and ancient forests growing on non-acidic soils. The study was carried out on hardwood forests at moderate elevation (400–600 m asl) in the Jura Mountains (N.E. France) on four main pedological substrates with different characteristics. The floristic composition of 127 stands from recent forests (n = 65) or ancient forests (n = 62) was surveyed. Some functional traits and the Ellenberg indicator values of the surveyed species were recorded. In addition, the topsoil from 30 stands was analysed. The composition of the flora was analysed by Detrended Correspondence Analysis and the species which were typical of one class of forest age were identified using a chi-square (χ2) test. The difference between forest classes for plant traits, their indicator values, or soil chemistry was tested using the generalized linear model and Bonferroni t-tests (or Kruskall–Wallis tests). The floristic composition of the ancient forests was significantly different from that of the recent forests and was characterized by a high occurrence of shrub species in recent forests. These differences were associated with higher specific leaf area, low-range seeds dispersal, and some life forms like geophytes. There was no clear difference in soil chemistry between the two classes of forests, except for δ15N values. The weakness of the difference in the soil between ancient and recent forests suggested that changes in soil chemistry caused by a former agricultural land use were not responsible for the differences in understory composition recorded. The differences in functional traits between the two forest classes supported this conclusion. We finally concluded that (i) past land use modifies the vegetation composition of current forests, even on neutral soils and that (ii) in our context, biological filters were probably responsible for these changes.
Delphine Sciama; Laurent Augusto; Jean-Luc Dupouey; Maya Gonzalez; Concepción Moares Domínguez. Floristic and ecological differences between recent and ancient forests growing on non-acidic soils. Forest Ecology and Management 2009, 258, 600 -608.
AMA StyleDelphine Sciama, Laurent Augusto, Jean-Luc Dupouey, Maya Gonzalez, Concepción Moares Domínguez. Floristic and ecological differences between recent and ancient forests growing on non-acidic soils. Forest Ecology and Management. 2009; 258 (5):600-608.
Chicago/Turabian StyleDelphine Sciama; Laurent Augusto; Jean-Luc Dupouey; Maya Gonzalez; Concepción Moares Domínguez. 2009. "Floristic and ecological differences between recent and ancient forests growing on non-acidic soils." Forest Ecology and Management 258, no. 5: 600-608.
The species–environment relationships for woody species may vary according to the forest layers considered. In fragmented forest, spatial configuration may also influence forest layer composition. We investigated the relationships between four forest layer compositions and environmental conditions, and spatial variables accounting for forest fragmentation, in 59 forest stands. Field and shrub layer compositions were mainly linked to environmental conditions, particularly to soil pH and slope aspect, while the upper layer compositions were principally correlated to the spatial configuration. The distance from the forest edge was correlated with all the forest layer compositions. Our results suggest that woody species respond to factors acting at different spatial and temporal scales, depending on the forest layer they belong to. The species–environment relationship seems to weaken from the lower to upper layer, the upper layer being more closely linked to the spatial configuration and probably to the past management. This study underlines the importance of taking spatial configuration in addition to environmental conditions into account when studying woody plant diversity for different forest layers in stands located in deciduous fragmented forests. Moreover, stand history seems to have a lasting effect on woody plant composition, particularly for the tree layer.
Maya Gonzalez; Marc Deconchat; Gérard Balent. Woody plant composition of forest layers: the importance of environmental conditions and spatial configuration. Plant Ecology 2009, 201, 305 -318.
AMA StyleMaya Gonzalez, Marc Deconchat, Gérard Balent. Woody plant composition of forest layers: the importance of environmental conditions and spatial configuration. Plant Ecology. 2009; 201 (1):305-318.
Chicago/Turabian StyleMaya Gonzalez; Marc Deconchat; Gérard Balent. 2009. "Woody plant composition of forest layers: the importance of environmental conditions and spatial configuration." Plant Ecology 201, no. 1: 305-318.
The species–environment relationships for woody species may vary according to the forest layers considered. In fragmented forest, spatial configuration may also influence forest layer composition. We investigated the relationships between four forest layer compositions and environmental conditions, and spatial variables accounting for forest fragmentation, in 59 forest stands. Field and shrub layer compositions were mainly linked to environmental conditions, particularly to soil pH and slope aspect, while the upper layer compositions were principally correlated to the spatial configuration. The distance from the forest edge was correlated with all the forest layer compositions. Our results suggest that woody species respond to factors acting at different spatial and temporal scales, depending on the forest layer they belong to. The species–environment relationship seems to weaken from the lower to upper layer, the upper layer being more closely linked to the spatial configuration and probably to the past management. This study underlines the importance of taking spatial configuration in addition to environmental conditions into account when studying woody plant diversity for different forest layers in stands located in deciduous fragmented forests. Moreover, stand history seems to have a lasting effect on woody plant composition, particularly for the tree layer.
Maya Gonzalez; Marc Deconchat; Gérard Balent. Woody plant composition of forest layers: the importance of environmental conditions and spatial configuration. Forest Ecology 2009, 305 -318.
AMA StyleMaya Gonzalez, Marc Deconchat, Gérard Balent. Woody plant composition of forest layers: the importance of environmental conditions and spatial configuration. Forest Ecology. 2009; ():305-318.
Chicago/Turabian StyleMaya Gonzalez; Marc Deconchat; Gérard Balent. 2009. "Woody plant composition of forest layers: the importance of environmental conditions and spatial configuration." Forest Ecology , no. : 305-318.
Maya Gonzalez; Marc Deconchat; Gérard Balent; Alain Cabanettes. Diversity of woody plant seedling banks under closed canopy in fragmented coppice forests. Annals of Forest Science 2008, 65, 511 -511.
AMA StyleMaya Gonzalez, Marc Deconchat, Gérard Balent, Alain Cabanettes. Diversity of woody plant seedling banks under closed canopy in fragmented coppice forests. Annals of Forest Science. 2008; 65 (5):511-511.
Chicago/Turabian StyleMaya Gonzalez; Marc Deconchat; Gérard Balent; Alain Cabanettes. 2008. "Diversity of woody plant seedling banks under closed canopy in fragmented coppice forests." Annals of Forest Science 65, no. 5: 511-511.