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Forests
Special Issues
Biodiversity in Forests: Management, Monitoring for Conservation
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Biodiversity in Forests: Management, Monitoring for Conservation

A special issue of Forests (ISSN 1999-4907). This special issue belongs to the section "Forest Biodiversity".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 25 November 2024 | Viewed by 3125

Special Issue Editors

Dr. Víctor Rincón

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Guest Editor
Departamento de Farmacología, Farmacognosia y Botánica, Facultad de Farmacia, Universidad Complutense de Madrid, Plaza de Ramón y Cajal, s/n, 28040 Madrid, Spain
Interests: Natura 2000; zoning; biodiversity; conservation; land use; connectivity; MSPA; Index; PC Index; climate change
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Dr. Javier Velázquez Saornil

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Guest Editor
Department of Environment and Agroforestry, Universidad Católica de Ávila, Calle de los Canteros, S/N, 05005 Ávila, Spain
Interests: biodiversity and conservation; connectivity; GIS; land use and environmental planning; remote sensing
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Dr. Derya Gulcin

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Guest Editor Assistant
Department of Landscape Architecture, Faculty of Agriculture, Aydın Adnan Menderes University, Aydın 09010, Turkey
Interests: environment; ecology; spatial analysis; landscape planning; land use; lidar remote sensing

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Biodiversity in forests is essential for environmental balance and the survival of countless species, including humans, and a comprehensive approach covering monitoring, management, and conservation is required to ensure its preservation.

Monitoring involves constant observation of forest biological diversity through various techniques, from systematic sampling to the use of advanced technology, which provides crucial data on the health and evolution of forest ecosystems over time.

Forest management focuses on the careful planning of human activities, such as selective logging or sustainable agriculture, to minimize negative impacts on biodiversity. A balance is sought between the economic exploitation of forest resources and the conservation of natural habitats.

Conservation, on the other hand, involves the active protection of forests and their biological diversity; achieved through the creation of protected areas, the restoration of degraded ecosystems, and the ex situ preservation of endangered species.

The monitoring, management, and conservation of forest biodiversity are essential to ensuring the health of forests, their ability to provide vital ecosystem services, and their value as a refuge for wildlife and a source of human wellbeing.

The purpose of this Special Issue is to analyze the challenges and solutions in the implementation of management strategies for forest conservation. Researchers from various disciplines, such as theoretical ecology, landscape management, policy, and sociology, are invited to contribute papers that address the topics raised in this Special Issue.

Dr. Víctor Rincón
Dr. Javier Velázquez Saornil
Guest Editors

Dr. Derya Gulcin
Guest Editor Assistant

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

  • biodiversity
  • ecosystem services
  • forest fires
  • regeneration
  • forest management
  • climate change
  • conservation
  • connectivity
  • land use

Published Papers (5 papers)

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Research

19 pages, 10664 KiB  
Article
Inter- and Intra-Specific Variation in Leaf Functional Traits at Different Maturity Levels in a Tropical Monsoon Forest
by Miaolan Wu, Yue Liu, Zhihang He, Xiaojuan Gu, Yaohong Yu, Yuzhu Tao, Qing Zhou and Qifeng Mo
Forests 2024, 15(8), 1383; https://doi.org/10.3390/f15081383 - 7 Aug 2024
Viewed by 258
Abstract
Plant functional traits are an important indicator for the comprehensive evaluation of community stability and resilience. Therefore, exploring the variations and relationships among leaf functional traits at different maturity levels during forest restoration can deepen the understanding of plant adaptation strategies and community [...] Read more.
Plant functional traits are an important indicator for the comprehensive evaluation of community stability and resilience. Therefore, exploring the variations and relationships among leaf functional traits at different maturity levels during forest restoration can deepen the understanding of plant adaptation strategies and community assembly. In this study, we measured the leaf area (LA), specific leaf area (SLA), photosynthetic pigments, non-structural carbohydrates (NSCs), leaf nitrogen content (LNC), and leaf phosphorus content (LPC) of dominant tree species in three communities with different maturity levels (defined by species composition, biodiversity and spatial structure) in a monsoon forest located in the northern margin of the tropics in China, and explored the variation and relationships among different leaf traits at individual, species, and community scales. The results showed that maturity levels significantly affected leaf functional traits. With the increase in maturity levels, SLA increased, and leaf SS and NSCs decreased, while other leaf functional traits did not show a consistent pattern. In different communities, NSCs, Chl (a:b), SS:St or Car had a trade-off or synergistic relationship with leaf economic spectrum. Additionally, the LPC, LNC, and starch were the key traits in response to selection pressure at maturity levels, inter-specific and intra-specific scales, respectively, and the trait–trait relationships were stronger or more extreme as the scale was narrowed. Therefore, when evaluating the development and succession of tropical monsoon forest communities, the selection of leaf functional characteristics and the determination of the research scale should be comprehensively and systematically considered. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Biodiversity in Forests: Management, Monitoring for Conservation)
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25 pages, 40940 KiB  
Article
Evolvement of Spatio-Temporal Pattern and Driving Forces Analysis of Ancient Trees Based on the Geographically Weighted Regression Model in Guangzhou and Foshan, China
by Zhenzhou Xu, Qing Xu, Kaiyan Liu, Yan Liu, Jiaheng Du, Kexin Yi, Xiaokang Zhou, Wei Lin and Hui Li
Forests 2024, 15(8), 1353; https://doi.org/10.3390/f15081353 - 2 Aug 2024
Viewed by 326
Abstract
Ancient trees play an important ecosystem service role in high-density cities, revealing the zonal distribution characteristics of vegetation under climate influence. The ancient trees in Guangzhou and Foshan in 2018 and 2023 were taken as study objects to explore the evolution of their [...] Read more.
Ancient trees play an important ecosystem service role in high-density cities, revealing the zonal distribution characteristics of vegetation under climate influence. The ancient trees in Guangzhou and Foshan in 2018 and 2023 were taken as study objects to explore the evolution of their spatio-temporal patterns and to analyze the spatial differentiation characteristics of their driving factors using the geographical weighted regression (GWR) model. The results showed the following: (1) The ancient trees in Guangzhou and Foshan were composed of typical subtropical evergreen broad-leaved forest communities, mainly represented by broad-leaved species of evergreen dicotyledonous plants. The dominant species mainly included Litchi chinensis, Ficus microcarpa, Canarium pimela, Ficus virens, and Dimocarpus longan. However, there was a significant difference between Guangzhou and Foshan. (2) The number of ancient trees in Guangzhou showed negative growth, while Foshan saw a significant increase. However, species diversity in both areas increased, with the highest diversity in the northeast, higher diversity in the south-central part, and lower diversity in the western and northwestern parts. (3) The maximum kernel density of ancient trees in Guangzhou and Foshan differed 22-fold, indicating a spatial distribution pattern of multiple clusters. (4) The GWR model effectively explained the driving factors of the heterogeneity of the spatial distribution of ancient trees. The results showed that artificial disturbance was the most important factor affecting the spatial distribution of ancient trees in high-density urban agglomerations in the same vegetation zone. The study clarified the characteristics of the spatial distribution and species diversity of ancient trees in the region, revealed the driving factors for the evolution of the spatial pattern of ancient trees in highly urbanized areas, and provided guidelines for policies and measures for enhancing biodiversity and conserving germplasm resources in the region. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Biodiversity in Forests: Management, Monitoring for Conservation)
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8 pages, 4572 KiB  
Article
Elite Genotype Characterization and Genetic Structure Analysis of the Medicinal Tree Archidendron clypearia (Jack) I. C. Nielsen Using Microsatellite Markers
by Dandan Li, Siming Gan, Qijie Weng, Mingming Zhou, Changpin Zhou and Mei Li
Forests 2024, 15(7), 1168; https://doi.org/10.3390/f15071168 - 5 Jul 2024
Viewed by 492
Abstract
Archidendron clypearia (Jack) I. C. Nielsen is an important tree species for traditional medicine purposes such as anti-inflammatory, detoxification, uric acid control and neuro-protection. Here, a set of 15 microsatellite markers were used to fingerprint 248 elite genotypes from six origins of A [...] Read more.
Archidendron clypearia (Jack) I. C. Nielsen is an important tree species for traditional medicine purposes such as anti-inflammatory, detoxification, uric acid control and neuro-protection. Here, a set of 15 microsatellite markers were used to fingerprint 248 elite genotypes from six origins of A. clypearia and investigate the genetic structure of these genotypes. A total of 170 alleles were amplified. The elite genotypes showed moderate genetic variability, with mean observed heterozygosity (Ho) and expected heterozygosity (He) being 0.651 and 0.699, respectively. Each of the elite genotypes could be fingerprinted uniquely. The cumulative probability of identity (PI) and the cumulative probability of paternity exclusion (PE) were 2.25 × 10−12 and 0.999992, respectively, demonstrating the extremely high power of the markers for genotype identification. In STRUCTURE and clustering analyses, the same origin of elite genotypes tended to be grouped in a sub-population and clustered closely, but some genotypes from different geographic origins were mixed, suggesting a low level of genetic differentiation between the origins. These results can contribute to the protection and management of the elite genotype resources of A. clypearia and the comprehensive understanding of its genetic structure. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Biodiversity in Forests: Management, Monitoring for Conservation)
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19 pages, 1923 KiB  
Article
Functional Traits Affect the Contribution of Individual Species to Beta Diversity in the Tropical Karst Seasonal Rainforest of South China
by Yanping Wang, Bing Wang, Jianxing Li, Fang Lu, Wanglan Tao, Dongxing Li, Yili Guo, Nianwu Tang, Xiankun Li and Wusheng Xiang
Forests 2024, 15(7), 1125; https://doi.org/10.3390/f15071125 - 28 Jun 2024
Viewed by 499
Abstract
In a community, due to the different characteristics of each species, their contributions to community beta diversity may vary. Quantifying the contribution of each species to overall beta diversity (SCBD) is essential for explaining the patterns of beta diversity. However, there is currently [...] Read more.
In a community, due to the different characteristics of each species, their contributions to community beta diversity may vary. Quantifying the contribution of each species to overall beta diversity (SCBD) is essential for explaining the patterns of beta diversity. However, there is currently limited research linking SCBD with species functional traits, and how species functional traits influence SCBD remains unclear. This study is based on tree census data, species functional traits, and environmental variables from a 15 ha permanent monitoring plot in a tropical karst rainforest in south China. By calculating species-specific SCBD based on abundance and presence–absence data, as well as functional distinctiveness and species ecological niche characteristics (niche position and niche width), we applied structural equation modeling (SEM) to analyze how functional traits, distinctiveness, and niche characteristics jointly influence SCBD. The results revealed that SCBD based on abundance is positively correlated with occupancy and abundance, whereas SCBD based on presence–absence data exhibits a hump-shaped relationship with occupancy and abundance. Species ecological niche characteristics directly influence SCBD, with species occupying central ecological niches having a negative effect on SCBD and niche width having a positive effect. Functional traits and functional distinctiveness indirectly impact SCBD through their influence on species ecological niche characteristics. SEM models based on the presence–absence data provide higher explanatory power. In summary, in the seasonal rainforest communities of northern tropical karst regions in China, the combined effects of species’ functional traits, functional distinctiveness, and ecological niche characteristics determine SCBD. This not only contributes to a deeper understanding of how species traits influence β-diversity, making SCBD a more applicable tool for biodiversity conservation, but also allows for the development of more effective biodiversity protection strategies by elucidating the link between SCBD and ecosystem multifunctionality. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Biodiversity in Forests: Management, Monitoring for Conservation)
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17 pages, 5924 KiB  
Article
Abundance and Species Richness of Lianas in a Karst Seasonal Rainforest: The Influence of Abiotic and Biotic Factors
by Jianxing Li, Fang Lu, Dongxing Li, Bin Wang, Yili Guo, Shujun Wen, Fuzhao Huang, Wanglan Tao, Nianwu Tang, Xiankun Li and Wusheng Xiang
Forests 2024, 15(6), 1011; https://doi.org/10.3390/f15061011 - 10 Jun 2024
Viewed by 748
Abstract
Lianas are a crucial component of karst seasonal rainforests, yet research on them has predominantly focused on non-karst regions. Consequently, their abundance and species richness remain relatively understudied within karst ecosystems. We aimed to document the abundance and species richness of lianas and [...] Read more.
Lianas are a crucial component of karst seasonal rainforests, yet research on them has predominantly focused on non-karst regions. Consequently, their abundance and species richness remain relatively understudied within karst ecosystems. We aimed to document the abundance and species richness of lianas and investigate their relationships with abiotic and biotic factors, based on data from a fully mapped 15 ha plot in a karst seasonal rainforest of Nonggang (SW China). Structural equation models (SEMs) were employed to estimate the path coefficients and variation of dependent variables, enabling a comprehensive analysis of the factors affecting the abundance and species richness of liana. Within the 15 ha plot, a total of 23,819 lianas were identified, encompassing 113 species from 34 families. These lianas constituted 24.16% of the total woody plant density and 33.44% of the species present, but only 4.32% of the total woody plant basal area. Lianas are primarily influenced by abiotic factors, especially elevation and phosphorus (P), with less impact from biotic factors. Our findings reveal that lianas, despite constituting a relatively small percentage of the total woody plant basal area, significantly contribute to the density and diversity of the forest. Notably, abiotic factors such as elevation and phosphorus availability predominantly shape the distribution and richness of lianas, highlighting the importance of these environmental variables. The findings offer valuable insights for future liana studies and the preservation of karst forests’ biodiversity. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Biodiversity in Forests: Management, Monitoring for Conservation)
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