| Abstract Detail
Bryophytes and Lichens of North America: Diversity, Function and Importance Frego, Katherine [1], Pokorski, Mark [1], Mudge, Joseph [1]. Safe inside? Tree islands to conserve bryophytes in the Acadian Forest. In New Brunswick, the mixed forest is being harvested at a rate of over 1% per year, primarily by clear cut with significant investment in plantation forestry. Based on evidence of changes in bryophyte diversity and community composition, especially associated with substrate disturbance as is common in site preparation for planting, we have been working with forest managers to assess strategies to conserve forest floor biodiversity. This presentation summarizes a modified Before-After-Impact-Control study of the conservation value of 1 ha tree islands (patches of temporarily retained trees within a clear-cut impact block). Conservation success includes (1) conservation potential, i.e. the bryophyte species composition of the island relative to that of impact areas, which relates to island placement, (2) short-term conservation effectiveness, i.e. the survival of these species in the 3-5 yrs following harvest of the impact area, which relates to island size and edge effect, and (3) long-term conservation effectiveness, i.e. the contribution of the island to recolonization of the impact area by species of the pre-harvest community. We report the results to Year 3 post-harvest. In order to conserve species characteristic of the upland forest that is the focus of harvest pressure, islands must be created in upland forest. (More detailed results on conservation effectiveness will be presented.) Within islands, richness appears to be stable, and species composition shows no differences in locations >25m from the island edge, however there is evidence that compositional changes even in the centre of the island differ from those in reference areas. Our results are interpreted in the context of forest management practices, and implications for a suite of species of concern.
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1 - University of New Brunswick, Biology, PO Box 5050, Saint John, NB, E2L 4L5, Canada
Keywords:
Bryophyte
conservation
forest management
variable retention harvest.
Presentation Type: Symposium or Colloquium Presentation
Session: S9
Location: 178/Law
Date: Tuesday, July 29th, 2008
Time: 4:10 PM
Number: S9007
Abstract ID:801 |
