Small canopy gaps influence vegetation dynamics and functionality in topographically complex landscapes
Topographic complexity creates fine-scale variability in microclimatic conditions and supports biodiversity in forests. While much is known about the effects of various levels of natural and anthropogenic disturbances on forest biodiversity, less is understood about how small changes in canopy struc...
Elmentve itt :
| Szerzők: | |
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| Dokumentumtípus: | Cikk |
| Megjelent: |
2025
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| Sorozat: | FOREST ECOLOGY AND MANAGEMENT
593 |
| Tárgyszavak: | |
| doi: | 10.1016/j.foreco.2025.122839 |
| mtmt: | 36186659 |
| Online Access: | http://publicatio.bibl.u-szeged.hu/38064 |
| Tartalmi kivonat: | Topographic complexity creates fine-scale variability in microclimatic conditions and supports biodiversity in forests. While much is known about the effects of various levels of natural and anthropogenic disturbances on forest biodiversity, less is understood about how small changes in canopy structure (e.g., canopy gaps) influence certain environmental conditions and biodiversity components at different topographic positions. In this study, we compared the environmental factors, trait composition, as well as species and functional diversity of understorey plant communities in habitats of topographic depressions (i.e., dolines) and the surrounding plateaus. The habitat types were as follows: doline bottoms with closed canopies, doline bottoms with a small canopy gap, plateaus with closed canopies, and plateaus with a small canopy gap. We used both species-based and functional trait-based approaches. Our findings indicate that topographic complexity and the presence of small canopy gaps play a significant role in driving vegetation dynamics and functionality, thus supporting taxonomic and functional diversity in dolines and their surroundings. Small canopy gaps in doline bottoms increased the refugial capacity of this habitat and maintained species and functional traits that were less frequent in the other habitats. On the plateaus, small canopy gaps played a key role in the recruitment of the climate-change-vulnerable tree species Fagus sylvatica. Therefore, creating small canopy gaps in different habitats within topographically complex landscapes may support forest biodiversity by enhancing the capacity of these habitats to serve as ‘safe havens’ during periods of anthropogenic climate change. © 2025 The Authors |
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| Terjedelem/Fizikai jellemzők: | 15 |
| ISSN: | 0378-1127 |