Research Highlights: Thinning and tree species alter the forest floor microclimate by modifying canopy cover, radiation, wind, and humidity. Thus, forest management can directly influence the edaphic mesofauna responsible for decomposing coarse woody debris (CWD). Background and Objectives: This research was carried out in the Southwestern Pyrenees Mountains (Northern Spain) and aimed to determine the influence of forest thinning and canopy type (pure Pinus sylvestris L. or a mix of P. sylvestris and Fagus sylvatica L.) on CWD colonization by edaphic fauna. Materials and Methods: CWD samples were collected belonging to intermediate and advanced decomposition stages, approximately 10 cm long and 5 cm in diameter. Using a design of three thinning intensities (0%, 20%, and 40% of basal area removed), with three replications per treatment (nine plots in total), four samples were taken per plot (two per canopy type) to reach 36 samples in total. Meso- and macrofauna were extracted from CWD samples with Berlese–Tullgren funnels, and individuals were counted and identified. Results: 19 taxonomic groups were recorded, the most abundant being the mesofauna (mites and Collembola). Mixed canopy type had a significant positive influence on richness, whereas advanced decay class had a positive significant influence on total abundance and richness. In addition, there were non-significant decreasing trends in richness and abundance with increasing thinning intensity. However, interactions among thinning intensity, canopy type, and decay class significantly affected mesofauna. Furthermore, some taxonomic groups showed differential responses to canopy type. CWD water content was positively correlated with total invertebrate abundance and some taxonomic groups. Our results suggest that stand composition has the potential to directly affect invertebrate communities in CWD, whereas stand density influence is indirect and mostly realized through changes in CWD moisture. As mesofauna is related to CWD decomposition rates, these effects should be accounted for when planning forest management transition from pure to mixed forests.

Deforestation caused by gold mining in the Ecuadorian Amazon has increased by 300% in the last decade, leading to severe environmental degradation of water and land resources. Effective remediation and revegetation technologies are still needed to address this issue. This study aimed to foster revegetation on 0.5 hectares of degraded land in Naranjalito, a mining site in the Ecuadorian Amazon, by applying plant-based biocompost and biochar and planting Ochroma pyramidale and Arachis pintoi, two pioneer species. The project’s objective was to evaluate the impact of these treatments on vegetation cover recovery through physicochemical and microbiological improvements in the soil. Four blocks and sixteen experimental plots were established: eight plots received treatments with varying doses of biocompost+biol (BIOC), four plots included plantations without biocompost (Not-BIOC), and four served as control plots (bare land). Over six months, dasometric characteristics of O. pyramidale and the expansion of A. pintoi were recorded. The data were analyzed using multivariate methods. The results revealed significant differences between treatments, with BIOC plots T4 and T1 showing greater improvements in vegetation development compared to Not-BIOC plots T3 and T2, confirming the positive influence of biocompost+biol. The BIOC treatment favored not only the planted species but also the secondary successional plant communities including certain grasses, leguminous plants, and other shrub and tree species, thus accelerating the revegetation process. This study demonstrates that biocompost application is an effective strategy to enhance plant recolonization on land severely degraded by gold mining in the Ecuadorian Amazon.

Background and Objectives: The forest in the Southwestern Pyrenees Mountains (Northern Spain) is mainly composed of pure Pinus sylvestris L. or a mix of P. sylvestris and Fagus sylvatica L. The most common forest management technique to harvest pine is the application of forest thinning with different intensities. It promotes a change in the forest composition and structure. Taking into consideration this region as a site specific research about this topic, we aimed to understand the CWD invertebrate composition response to different thinning intensities and canopy type of these tree species. Materials and Methods: CWD samples were collected belonging to intermediate and advanced decay classes, approximately 10 cm long and 5 cm in diameter. Using a design of three thinning intensities (0%, 20%, and 40% of basal area removed), with three replications per treatment (nine plots in total), four samples were taken per plot (two per canopy type) to reach 36 samples in total. Meso- and macrofauna were extracted from CWD samples with Berlese–Tullgren funnels, and individuals were counted and identified. Results: Most of the taxonomic groups belonged to mesofauna, mainly to Acari and Collembola orders. On the other hand, the macrofauna represented a minimum percentage of the community composition. Our results indicated that although thinning intensities did not significantly affect the invertebrate community, canopy type and CWD water content influenced significantly. It is imperative to consider in forest management the responses of canopy type and thinning intensities in CWD water content, this disturbance could also slow down the organic matter decomposition process in the soil, thus affecting in the long term the natural cycle of nutrients.