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.

Leaf diversity of three vegetation types of Tenerife, Canary Islands

Abstract: At three contrasting sites on Tenerife (Canary Islands), the plant species in a 0.5 ha plot were inventoried for the following characters: leaf size, fresh and dry weight (yielding Leaf Area Development and Specific Leaf Weight), leaf colour characteristics, and stomatal size and density. Variation in most characters was least in the mesic lauriphyll forest in the Anaga mountains, especially when tree layer and undergrowth were treated separately. In the coastal succulent scrub at Teno, species diversity and leaf character diversity were both high. In the alpine desert of the Canadas, species diversity was much lower but leaf character diversity was as high as that at Teno. We hypothesize that leaf character diversity is high at these two sites because of the release from competitive pressure by drought-induced low growth rates and frequent disturbances. We also hypothesize that guild sizes become smaller under harsh conditions while guild structure of the community is still maintained.

Seasonal changes of the Hazel Grouse Tetrastes bonasia habitat requirements in managed mountain forests (Western Carpathians)

Abstract: We studied the differences between spring and winter sites of Hazel Grouse Tetrastes bonasia in a managed, temperate forest in the Beskid Mountains (Western Carpathians, Poland). The study of seasonal requirements of this species in this type of habitat was innovatory. Spring territories must provide birds with appropriate conditions for breeding and winter ones must give good habitat for wintering. The environmental variables of spring and winter sites were collected in three layers in a 100 m radius from the place of recording of the Hazel Grouse: canopy, understory and undergrowth. According to our study, the proportion of deciduous trees was greater in spring territories in comparison to winter territories in all studied layers. Conversely, greater species richness in the undergrowth and understory in spring sites of Hazel Grouse was found in comparison to winter sites. Moreover, a greater proportion of birch, poplar, willow, wild cherry and bird cherry were found in the spring sites of Hazel Grouse in comparison to winter sites. Generalized Linear Model models showed that the occurrence of overgrown clearings, clearfellings with deadwood and higher richness of grass and herbs and their cover in the forest were important habitat factors for Hazel Grouse in both spring and winter sites. Sites of Hazel Grouse were strongly affected by the proportions of beech, sycamore, fir, spruce and larch in the canopy layer in both seasons. Moreover, a greater proportion of tree species producing nuts, drupes or winged seeds was important in both spring and winter sites. Bush cover was important for winter sites of the Hazel Grouse. Food resources, mainly in winter sites are important factors for habitat selection. Summarizing, we found habitat differences between spring territory and winter sites of Hazel Grouse. In both seasons, higher habitat heterogeneity was an important factor for occurrence of this species.

Diversity of flora in the undergrowth of park afforestations, rural plantings and oak-hornbeam forests

Abstract: The process of forest fragmentation has been observed in many countries, where plant species had adapt to different habitats, such as for example manor parks and rural plantings. A number of scientists have studied the parks as sites where waning environments and landscapes find their shelter. In 2011–2012, research was undertaken on diversity of vegetation in afforestations of parks, rural plantings and oak-hornbeam forests in Sandomierz Basin. In order to compare the means obtained univariate analysis of variance (one-way ANOVA) was used with juxtaposing divided by each of the two criteria: size (the small, and large parks) and conservation(cultivated parks and nonclutivated parks). Tukey’s test was used to examine the significance of differences between respective groups. Analyses were with STATISTICA 9.1. software. Plants classified as forest species, grassland species and those of synanthropic commu nities were observed in all the afforestations. The parks with high wooded and not mowed areas and oak-hornbeam forests were more forest-like than other types of afforestations studied.