Aboveground and belowground effects of single-tree removals in New Zealand rain forest.

摘要: There has been considerable recent interest in how human-induced species loss affects community and ecosystem properties. These effects are particularly apparent when a commercially valuable is harvested from an ecosystem, such as occurs through single-tree harvesting or selective logging of desired timber natural forests. In New Zealand mixed-species rain forests, the emergent gymnosperm Dacrydium cupressinum, rimu, widespread. This contentious part because possible ecological impacts removal on remainder forest, but many these remain unexplored. We identified area where unintended 40-year "removal experiment" had set up that involved extraction individual trees. measured aboveground belowground variables at distances both live trees stumps 40 years ago. Live above below ground by affecting diversity cover several components vegetation (usually negatively), promoting soil C sequestration, enhancing ratios C:P N:P, structure microflora. extended to 8 m tree base were likely caused poor-quality litter humus produced Measurements for revealed strong legacy prior presence some properties (e.g., understory herbs ferns, N:P ratios), not others fungal biomass, N concentration). results suggest may decades centuries, certainly well over years. They also demonstrate that, while large individuals (and their removal) have important immediate proximity, within should only be localized patches containing high densities Finally, this study emphasizes deliberate particular forest can exert influences if removed different functional role than other plant present.