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Forests
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Tree Species, as Major Drivers of Forest Ecosystems Functioning
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Tree Species, as Major Drivers of Forest Ecosystems Functioning

A special issue of Forests (ISSN 1999-4907).

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (25 January 2017) | Viewed by 23683

Special Issue Editor

Dr. Laurent Augusto

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
INRA-UMR 1391 ISPA, 71, avenue Edouard Bourlaux, CS 20032, 33882 Villenave d’Ornon, CEDEX, France

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

In comparison to farmers, foresters have only a limited choice of tools for managing forest ecosystems. The choice of tree species is one of these tools. Indeed, in view of expected global change, e.g., altered temperature and precipitation regimes, the rise of CO2 levels in the air and increased nitrogen deposition, many foresters anticipate modifying the specific composition of their stands in order to mitigate, or adapt to, the expected environmental changes. Nevertheless, even though we have known for decades, if not for more than a century, that tree species influence ecosystem functioning, large knowledge gaps still remain. For instance, gymnosperm forests have a different biogeochemical cycling than angiosperm forests. However, this difference is not systematic and its magnitude varies due to strong interactions with local conditions (e.g. soil, climate, and management). Therefore, a better understanding of tree species’ effects on ecosystem functioning, and how these effects are modulated by other factors, is needed if we aim at mitigating global changes and adapting forests to them.

We encourage studies from all fields, including experimental studies, monitoring approaches and models, to contribute to this Special Issue in order to promote knowledge strategies for the preservation, management, and future development of forest ecosystems in the context of global change. Studies about tree diversity effects are also welcome, provided that the relative weight on results of tree species identity versus tree species diversity has been assessed. We will be particularly receptive to studies which have a focus on interactions between tree species’ effects and site conditions or forest management.

Dr. Laurent Augusto
Guest Editor

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Forests is an international peer-reviewed open access monthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2600 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • Spermatophytes
  • Tree species identity
  • Tree species diversity
  • Ecosystem functioning
  • Biogeochemistry
  • Site–species interactions
  • Management–species interactions
  • Non-additives effects

Published Papers (4 papers)

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Research

2008 KiB  
Article
Can Carbon Fluxes Explain Differences in Soil Organic Carbon Storage under Aspen and Conifer Forest Overstories?
by Antra Boča and Helga Van Miegroet
Forests 2017, 8(4), 118; https://doi.org/10.3390/f8040118 - 11 Apr 2017
Cited by 12 | Viewed by 5016
Abstract
Climate- and management-induced changes in tree species distributions are raising questions regarding tree species-specific effects on soil organic carbon (SOC) storage and stability. Quaking aspen (Populus tremuloides Michx.) is the most widespread tree species in North America, but fire exclusion often promotes [...] Read more.
Climate- and management-induced changes in tree species distributions are raising questions regarding tree species-specific effects on soil organic carbon (SOC) storage and stability. Quaking aspen (Populus tremuloides Michx.) is the most widespread tree species in North America, but fire exclusion often promotes the succession to conifer dominated forests. Aspen in the Western US have been found to store more SOC in the mineral soil than nearby conifers, but we do not yet fully understand the source of this differential SOC accumulation. We measured total SOC storage (0–50 cm), characterized stable and labile SOC pools, and quantified above- and belowground litter inputs and dissolved organic carbon (DOC) fluxes during snowmelt in plots located in N and S Utah, to elucidate the role of foliage vs. root detritus in SOC storage and stabilization in both ecosystems. While leaf litterfall was twice as high under aspen as under conifers, input of litter-derived DOC with snowmelt water was consistently higher under conifers. Fine root (<2 mm) biomass, estimated root detritus input, and root-derived DOC fluxes were also higher under conifers. A strong positive relationship between root and light fraction C content suggests that root detritus mostly fueled the labile fraction of SOC. Overall, neither differences in above- and belowground detritus C inputs nor in detritus-derived DOC fluxes could explain the higher and more stable SOC pools under aspen. We hypothesize that root–microbe–soil interactions in the rhizosphere are more likely to drive these SOC pool differences. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Tree Species, as Major Drivers of Forest Ecosystems Functioning)
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913 KiB  
Article
A Tree Species Effect on Soil That Is Consistent Across the Species’ Range: The Case of Aspen and Soil Carbon in North America
by Jérôme Laganière, Antra Boča, Helga Van Miegroet and David Paré
Forests 2017, 8(4), 113; https://doi.org/10.3390/f8040113 - 08 Apr 2017
Cited by 31 | Viewed by 6215
Abstract
Trembling aspen covers a large geographic range in North America, and previous studies reported that a better understanding of its singular influence on soil properties and processes is of high relevance for global change questions. Here we investigate the potential impact of a [...] Read more.
Trembling aspen covers a large geographic range in North America, and previous studies reported that a better understanding of its singular influence on soil properties and processes is of high relevance for global change questions. Here we investigate the potential impact of a shift in aspen abundance on soil carbon sequestration and soil carbon stability at the continental scale by conducting a systematic literature review using 23 published studies. Our review shows that aspen’s effect on soil carbon is relatively consistent throughout the species range. Aspen stores less C in the forest floor but similar amounts in the mineral soil relative to conifers. However, a robust set of indicators of soil C stability, for example, degree of organo-mineral associations, proportion of readily-available or labile C estimated during long-term soil incubations or using hot-water extraction, pattern of soil C distribution, and temperature sensitivity of soil heterotrophic respiration, reveals that the soil organic carbon (SOC) stock under aspen is more stable, rendering it more protected against environmental changes and soil disturbances. Therefore, our continental-scale analysis highlights that an increase in the abundance of trembling aspen in North American forests may increase the resistance and resilience of soil C stocks against global changes. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Tree Species, as Major Drivers of Forest Ecosystems Functioning)
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2413 KiB  
Article
Mixed-Species Effects on Soil C and N Stocks, C/N Ratio and pH Using a Transboundary Approach in Adjacent Common Garden Douglas-Fir and Beech Stands
by Seid Muhie Dawud, Lars Vesterdal and Karsten Raulund-Rasmussen
Forests 2017, 8(4), 95; https://doi.org/10.3390/f8040095 - 23 Mar 2017
Cited by 16 | Viewed by 4547
Abstract
Mixed forest of Douglas-fir and beech has been suggested as one of the possible future forest types in Northwest Europe but the effects of this mixed forest on soil properties relative to monoculture stands are unknown. In a transboundary investigation of adjacent common [...] Read more.
Mixed forest of Douglas-fir and beech has been suggested as one of the possible future forest types in Northwest Europe but the effects of this mixed forest on soil properties relative to monoculture stands are unknown. In a transboundary investigation of adjacent common garden Douglas-fir and beech stands, we determined the effects on topsoil properties. However, responses of C and N stocks, the C/N ratio and pH were site- and soil layer-specific and were mainly single-sided and without synergistic effects. Beech reduced the soil C and N stocks in Douglas-fir at the nutrient-poor site, caused an increase in the C/N ratio in the forest floor and mineral soil at both nutrient-poor and -rich sites, and reduced the acidifying effect of Douglas-fir at the nutrient-poor site. These results do not support the hypothesis that mixture effects would be consistent across sites and soil layers. The lack of synergistic effects may be attributed to the relatively similar litter quality or rooting depth that prevented any larger niche differentiation and complementarity. The results indicate that the transboundary approach within a mature common garden proved useful as a platform to test tree species interactions, and this approach could be explored in soil studies until dedicated mixed-species common gardens reach maturity. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Tree Species, as Major Drivers of Forest Ecosystems Functioning)
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2985 KiB  
Article
Tree Species Identity Shapes Earthworm Communities
by Stephanie Schelfhout, Jan Mertens, Kris Verheyen, Lars Vesterdal, Lander Baeten, Bart Muys and An De Schrijver
Forests 2017, 8(3), 85; https://doi.org/10.3390/f8030085 - 17 Mar 2017
Cited by 60 | Viewed by 7348 | Correction
Abstract
Earthworms are key organisms in forest ecosystems because they incorporate organic material into the soil and affect the activity of other soil organisms. Here, we investigated how tree species affect earthworm communities via litter and soil characteristics. In a 36-year old common garden [...] Read more.
Earthworms are key organisms in forest ecosystems because they incorporate organic material into the soil and affect the activity of other soil organisms. Here, we investigated how tree species affect earthworm communities via litter and soil characteristics. In a 36-year old common garden experiment, replicated six times over Denmark, six tree species were planted in blocks: sycamore maple (Acer pseudoplatanus), beech (Fagus sylvatica), ash (Fraxinus excelsior), Norway spruce (Picea abies), pedunculate oak (Quercus robur) and lime (Tilia cordata). We studied the chemical characteristics of soil and foliar litter, and determined the forest floor turnover rate and the density and biomass of the earthworm species occurring in the stands. Tree species significantly affected earthworm communities via leaf litter and/or soil characteristics. Anecic earthworms were abundant under Fraxinus, Acer and Tilia, which is related to calcium-rich litter and low soil acidification. Epigeic earthworms were indifferent to calcium content in leaf litter and were shown to be mainly related to soil moisture content and litter C:P ratios. Almost no earthworms were found in Picea stands, likely because of the combined effects of recalcitrant litter, low pH and low soil moisture content. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Tree Species, as Major Drivers of Forest Ecosystems Functioning)
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