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Diversity of woody plant seedling banks under closed canopy in fragmented coppice forests

Une banque de semis diversifiée sous canopée fermée dans des taillis fragmentés

Annals of Forest Science volume 65, page 511 (2008)Cite this article

Abstract

  • • Seedling banks of woody species established under closed canopy have received little consideration in coppice forests despite their potential importance for natural regeneration.

  • • This study aimed to evaluate the influences of canopy composition and of distance from the nearest forest edge on the abundance and species richness of the seedling bank, for different ecological groups of seedlings (age, successional status and dispersal vector) in 68 fragmented coppice stands.

  • • Seedlings were found in 67 stands, with 19 species identified. Eight species present as older seedlings were lacking as first-year old seedlings, suggesting temporal variability of species recruitment. Seedling abundances of species with low-dispersal ability were positively correlated with the abundances of their conspecific adults. Seedling abundance of mid-successional species was negatively correlated with the distance from the nearest forest edge, while mid-to-late successional species seedling abundance presented the opposite pattern.

  • • Our results showed that woody species were able to establish frequently under closed canopy in these fragmented coppices and form a seedling bank which may be used for natural regeneration.

Résumé

  • • Peu d’études ont porté sur les banques de semis de ligneux installés sous canopée fermée dans des taillis, malgré leur importance potentielle pour la régénération naturelle.

  • • Nous avons exploré le lien entre l’abondance et la richesse des semis de ligneux, et la composition de la canopée et la distance à la lisière la plus proche, dans 68 peuplements gérés en taillis. Les semis ont été regroupés en fonction de leur âge, et les espèces en fonction de leur mode de dispersion et de leur place a priori dans la succession forestière.

  • • Nous avons trouvé des semis dans 67 peuplements, appartenant à 19 espèces distinctes. Huit espèces présentes sous forme de semis plus âgés, manquent sous forme de semis de l’année, suggérant une variabilité temporelle du recrutement des espèces. L’abondance des semis des espèces à dispersion limitée est corrélée à celle des adultes. L’abondance des semis des espèces post-pionnières nomades, capable de s’installer en pleine lumière, est négativement corrélée à la distance à la lisière, tandis que celle des semis des espèces post-pionnières, plus sciaphiles présente le patron opposé.

  • • Nos résultats indiquent que plusieurs espèces de plantes ligneuses sont capables de s’établir fréquemment sous canopée fermée dans ces taillis fragmentés, formant ainsi une banque de semis potentiellement utilisable pour la régénération naturelle de ces forêts.

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Author notes

  1. Maya Gonzalez

    Present address: UMR 1220 Transfert Sol-Plante et Cycle des Éléments Minéraux dans les Écosystèmes Cultivés, INRA, ENITAB, 1, cours du Général de Gaulle, CS 40201, 33175, Gradignan Cedex, France

Authors and Affiliations

  1. UMR1201 Dynamiques Forestières dans l’Espace Rural, INRA, INPT-ENSAT, Chemin de Borde Rouge, BP 52627, 31326, Castanet-Tolosan, France

    Maya Gonzalez, Marc Deconchat, Gérard Balent & Alain Cabanettes

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  1. Maya Gonzalez
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  2. Marc Deconchat
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  3. Gérard Balent
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  4. Alain Cabanettes
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Correspondence to Maya Gonzalez.

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Gonzalez, M., Deconchat, M., Balent, G. et al. Diversity of woody plant seedling banks under closed canopy in fragmented coppice forests. Ann. For. Sci. 65, 511 (2008). https://doi.org/10.1051/forest:2008029

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Annals of Forest Science

ISSN: 1297-966X