Title: | Structural Complexity and Ecosystem Functions in a Natural Mixed Forest under a Single-Tree Selection Silviculture |
Authors: | Yoshida, Toshiya Browse this author →KAKEN DB |
Naito, Sayoko Browse this author |
Nagumo, Misato Browse this author |
Hyodo, Natsumi Browse this author |
Inoue, Taiki Browse this author |
Umegane, Hiromitsu Browse this author |
Yamazaki, Haruka Browse this author |
Miya, Hisashi Browse this author |
Nakamura, Futoshi Browse this author →KAKEN DB |
Keywords: | conifer-broadleaved mixed forest |
uneven-aged management |
single-tree selection system |
sustainable yield of timber |
conservation of biodiversity |
Issue Date: | Nov-2017 |
Publisher: | MDPI |
Journal Title: | Sustainability |
Volume: | 9 |
Issue: | 11 |
Start Page: | 2093 |
Publisher DOI: | 10.3390/su9112093 |
Abstract: | The objective of forest management has become broader, and it is essential to harmonize timber production with conservation of the forest ecosystem. Selection cutting is recognized as a major alternative of clear-cutting, because it can maintain the complexity and heterogeneity of a natural forest; however, its long-term evaluations are limited. This study compared various attributes of stand structures, which are indicators of biodiversity and ecosystem carbon stock between managed and unmanaged blocks (12.6 ha area in total) in a natural mixed forest in Hokkaido, the northernmost island of Japan. We found that 30 years' implementation of single-tree selection did not affect the volume, size structure, species diversity nor spatial distribution of overstory trees in the managed stands. Also, the total carbon stock in the managed stands was almost equal to that of the unmanaged stands. In contrast, several structural attributes and indicator elements that are significant for biodiversity (such as large-diameter live trees, dead trees, cavities, epiphytic bryophytes, and some avian guilds) showed marked decrease in the managed stands. We conclude that it is required to leave these structures and elements to some extent for deriving the merit of the management as an alternative silvicultural regime in the region. |
Rights: | ©2017 by the authors; licensee MDPI, Basel, Switzerland. This article is an open access article distributed under the terms and conditions of the Creative Commons Attribution License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/). |
http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ |
Type: | article |
URI: | http://hdl.handle.net/2115/68176 |
Appears in Collections: | 北方生物圏フィールド科学センター (Field Science Center for Northern Biosphere) > 雑誌発表論文等 (Peer-reviewed Journal Articles, etc)
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