Undergrowth

About: Undergrowth is a research topic. Over the lifetime, 795 publications have been published within this topic receiving 11911 citations. The topic is also known as: understorey & underbrush.

Eighty-eight years of change in a managed ponderosa pine forest

Abstract: This publication gives an overview of structural and other ecological changes associated with forest management and fire suppression since the early 1900's in a ponderosa pine forest, the most widespread forest type in the Western United States. Three sources of information are presented: (1) changes seen in a series of repeat photographs taken between 1909 and 1997 at 13 camera points; (2) knowledge from 19 authors who have investigated effects of recent ecosystem-based management treatments; integrated with (3) findings of forest changes related to earlier treatments and to succession. The contributing authors discuss effects of historical silviculture and recent ecosystem-based management treatments, including an evaluation of various burning prescriptions in terms of tree response, undergrowth, soils, wildlife habitat, and esthetics and public acceptance.

Movement trajectories and habitat partitioning of small mammals in logged and unlogged rain forests on Borneo.

Abstract: Summary 1 Non-volant animals in tropical rain forests differ in their ability to exploit the habitat above the forest floor and also in their response to habitat variability. It is predicted that specific movement trajectories are determined both by intrinsic factors such as ecological specialization, morphology and body size and by structural features of the surrounding habitat such as undergrowth and availability of supportive structures. 2 We applied spool-and-line tracking in order to describe movement trajectories and habitat segregation of eight species of small mammals from an assemblage of Muridae, Tupaiidae and Sciuridae in the rain forest of Borneo where we followed a total of 13 525 m path. We also analysed specific changes in the movement patterns of the small mammals in relation to habitat stratification between logged and unlogged forests. Variables related to climbing activity of the tracked species as well as the supportive structures of the vegetation and undergrowth density were measured along their tracks. 3 Movement patterns of the small mammals differed significantly between species. Most similarities were found in congeneric species that converged strongly in body size and morphology. All species were affected in their movement patterns by the altered forest structure in logged forests with most differences found in Leopoldamys sabanus. However, the large proportions of short step lengths found in all species for both forest types and similar path tortuosity suggest that the main movement strategies of the small mammals were not influenced by logging but comprised generally a response to the heterogeneous habitat as opposed to random movement strategies predicted for homogeneous environments. 4 Overall shifts in microhabitat use showed no coherent trend among species. Multivariate (principal component) analysis revealed contrasting trends for convergent species, in particular for Maxomys rajah and M. surifer as well as for Tupaia longipes and T. tana, suggesting that each species was uniquely affected in its movement trajectories by a multiple set of environmental and intrinsic features.

Undergrowth vegetation effects on the nutrient content of litterfall and soils in red pine and birch stands in Northern Minnesota.

Abstract: The role of hazel shrub and herbaceous undergrowth layers in nutrient cycling was studied in two red pine (Pinus r esinosa Ait) and two paper birch (Betula papyrifera Marsh) stands on similar soil types in northern Minnesota The annual litterfall produced by these undergrowths and by the overstory was sampled at 15 points in each stand as was the forest floor; the top 3 cm of mineral soil was sampled at 7 of the points In the pine stands both undergrowth layers significantly added to the total dry weight of litterfall Under hazel there was significantly more N, Ca, and Mn, and under herbs there was more than twice the amount of K in the litterfall than where these undergrowth layers were absent In the birch stands the differences in the nutrient content of the litterfall beneath these undergrowth layers were not great, and undergrowth layers had less effect on the nutrient cycle Although greater amounts of nutrients occurred in the litterfall under hazel and herbaceous layers, the amounts of total nutrients in the forest floor under each undergrowth type were not significantly different nor were total N, available P, or exchangeable K, Ca, Mg, and Mn in the top 3 cm of mineral soil Turnover rates were different under each type of undergrowth and in red pine stands the forest floor under hazel and herbs appeared to decompose more rapidly than the forest floor of pure pine, but not as rapidly as the forest floor under either hazel or herbs in the birch stands