Topography and planting density affect understory plant diversity in conifer plantations through development of stand canopy closure.
Saved in:
| Title: | Topography and planting density affect understory plant diversity in conifer plantations through development of stand canopy closure. |
|---|---|
| Authors: | Matsushita, Michinari1 (AUTHOR) matsushita@affrc.go.jp, Takashima, Yuya1 (AUTHOR), Tamura, Akira1 (AUTHOR) |
| Source: | Canadian Journal of Forest Research. 11/20/2025, Vol. 55, p1-10. 10p. |
| Subject Terms: | *Biodiversity, *Botany, *Forest density, *Species diversity, *Reforestation, Topography, Coniferous forests, Plant spacing |
| Abstract: | Sustainably managed plantations not only provide high-quality timber but also contribute to biodiversity. Clarifying the direct and indirect effects of planting density and topography on the development and diversity of understory vegetation is important from the perspective of the diversity-retaining function of young plantations. This study conducted a vegetation survey in plantation stands of Japanese cedar, 4–7 years after planting. These plantations varied in initial planting density (ranging 1000–3000 trees/ha), and contained topographic variations from ridges to lower slopes. The direct and indirect effects of initial planting density and topography on species composition, diversity, and height growth of understory vegetation were investigated. Topographic variation affected stand canopy closure and the mean height growth rates of planted cedars. Topography effect was directly related to vegetation height. High initial planting density accelerated stand canopy closure through crown development of planted trees. Through stand canopy closure, initial planting density and topography indirectly affected plant diversity, although their direct effects were not significantly detected. Initial planting density and topography impacted vegetation diversity mainly through the degree of canopy closure, rather than directly. These findings are useful when planning reforestation schedules and spatial designs within the landscape while taking diversity into consideration. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR] |
| Copyright of Canadian Journal of Forest Research is the property of Canadian Science Publishing and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites without the copyright holder's express written permission. Additionally, content may not be used with any artificial intelligence tools or machine learning technologies. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.) | |
| Database: | GreenFILE |
| FullText | Text: Availability: 0 |
|---|---|
| Header | DbId: 8gh DbLabel: GreenFILE An: 189395266 AccessLevel: 6 PubType: Academic Journal PubTypeId: academicJournal PreciseRelevancyScore: 0 |
| IllustrationInfo | |
| Items | – Name: Title Label: Title Group: Ti Data: Topography and planting density affect understory plant diversity in conifer plantations through development of stand canopy closure. – Name: Author Label: Authors Group: Au Data: <searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Matsushita%2C+Michinari%22">Matsushita, Michinari</searchLink><relatesTo>1</relatesTo> (AUTHOR)<i> matsushita@affrc.go.jp</i><br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Takashima%2C+Yuya%22">Takashima, Yuya</searchLink><relatesTo>1</relatesTo> (AUTHOR)<br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Tamura%2C+Akira%22">Tamura, Akira</searchLink><relatesTo>1</relatesTo> (AUTHOR) – Name: TitleSource Label: Source Group: Src Data: <searchLink fieldCode="JN" term="%22Canadian+Journal+of+Forest+Research%22">Canadian Journal of Forest Research</searchLink>. 11/20/2025, Vol. 55, p1-10. 10p. – Name: Subject Label: Subject Terms Group: Su Data: *<searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Biodiversity%22">Biodiversity</searchLink><br />*<searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Botany%22">Botany</searchLink><br />*<searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Forest+density%22">Forest density</searchLink><br />*<searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Species+diversity%22">Species diversity</searchLink><br />*<searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Reforestation%22">Reforestation</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Topography%22">Topography</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Coniferous+forests%22">Coniferous forests</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Plant+spacing%22">Plant spacing</searchLink> – Name: Abstract Label: Abstract Group: Ab Data: Sustainably managed plantations not only provide high-quality timber but also contribute to biodiversity. Clarifying the direct and indirect effects of planting density and topography on the development and diversity of understory vegetation is important from the perspective of the diversity-retaining function of young plantations. This study conducted a vegetation survey in plantation stands of Japanese cedar, 4–7 years after planting. These plantations varied in initial planting density (ranging 1000–3000 trees/ha), and contained topographic variations from ridges to lower slopes. The direct and indirect effects of initial planting density and topography on species composition, diversity, and height growth of understory vegetation were investigated. Topographic variation affected stand canopy closure and the mean height growth rates of planted cedars. Topography effect was directly related to vegetation height. High initial planting density accelerated stand canopy closure through crown development of planted trees. Through stand canopy closure, initial planting density and topography indirectly affected plant diversity, although their direct effects were not significantly detected. Initial planting density and topography impacted vegetation diversity mainly through the degree of canopy closure, rather than directly. These findings are useful when planning reforestation schedules and spatial designs within the landscape while taking diversity into consideration. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR] – Name: AbstractSuppliedCopyright Label: Group: Ab Data: <i>Copyright of Canadian Journal of Forest Research is the property of Canadian Science Publishing and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites without the copyright holder's express written permission. Additionally, content may not be used with any artificial intelligence tools or machine learning technologies. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract.</i> (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.) |
| PLink | https://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&site=eds-live&db=8gh&AN=189395266 |
| RecordInfo | BibRecord: BibEntity: Identifiers: – Type: doi Value: 10.1139/cjfr-2025-0080 Languages: – Code: eng Text: English PhysicalDescription: Pagination: PageCount: 10 StartPage: 1 Subjects: – SubjectFull: Biodiversity Type: general – SubjectFull: Botany Type: general – SubjectFull: Forest density Type: general – SubjectFull: Species diversity Type: general – SubjectFull: Reforestation Type: general – SubjectFull: Topography Type: general – SubjectFull: Coniferous forests Type: general – SubjectFull: Plant spacing Type: general Titles: – TitleFull: Topography and planting density affect understory plant diversity in conifer plantations through development of stand canopy closure. Type: main BibRelationships: HasContributorRelationships: – PersonEntity: Name: NameFull: Matsushita, Michinari – PersonEntity: Name: NameFull: Takashima, Yuya – PersonEntity: Name: NameFull: Tamura, Akira IsPartOfRelationships: – BibEntity: Dates: – D: 20 M: 11 Text: 11/20/2025 Type: published Y: 2025 Identifiers: – Type: issn-print Value: 00455067 Numbering: – Type: volume Value: 55 Titles: – TitleFull: Canadian Journal of Forest Research Type: main |
| ResultId | 1 |
