Plant diversity on skid trails in oak high forests: A matter of disturbance, micro-environmental conditions or forest age?

摘要: Increasingly mechanized timber harvesting and the repeated use of skid trail networks may affect ground vegetation differently at subsequent stages in forest rotation. At a fine scale, no studies have yet compared influence micro-environmental factors effects disturbance on flora diversity. We investigated understory diversity patterns trails 30-, 50- 63-year-old oak forests northern half France. Subplots were placed center, wheel track, edge plus an off-trail control. each subplot, we measured soil moisture, compaction (penetration resistance bulk density) photosynthetic active radiation recorded abundance all vascular plants. The richness calculated based classification their life form, seed bank persistence, light preference moisture requirements. For ecological group, found out its best indicator from subplot location, (soil compaction, light) stand attributes (stand type, basal area), then assessed magnitude negligibility effect indicator. (1) Higher to controls was detected tracks stands. Neither nor varied with location whatever type. (2) that showed non-negligible included or compaction. Compared controls, stands richer tree short-term species, while 30-year-old plots had flora. shade-tolerant species also higher trails. Soil positively correlated low- high-humidity transient as well species. Bulk density affected heliophilous richness, penetration related shrub abundance. Skid our research area either impact positive Longer-term are needed validate these main findings.