A century of increasing pine density and associated shifts in understory plant strategies

Laughlin, Daniel C. and Moore, Margaret M. and Fule, Peter Z. (2011) A century of increasing pine density and associated shifts in understory plant strategies. Ecology, 92 (3). pp. 556-561. ISSN 0012-9658

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Abstract

We analyzed one of the longest-term ecological data sets to evaluate how forest overstory structure is related to herbaceous understory plant strategies in a ponderosa pine forest. Eighty-two permanent 1-m2 chart quadrats that were established as early as 1912 were remeasured in 2007. We reconstructed historical forest structure using dendrochronological techniques. Ponderosa pine basal area increased from an average of 4 m2/ha in the early 1900s to 29 m2/ha in 2007. Understory plant foliar cover declined by 21%, species richness declined by two species per square meter, and functional diversity also declined. The relative cover of C4 graminoids decreased by 18% and C3 graminoids increased by 19%. Herbaceous plant species with low leaf and fine root nitrogen concentrations, low specific leaf area, high leaf dry matter content, large seed mass, low specific root length, short maximum height, and early flowering date increased in relative abundance in sites where pine basal area increased the most. Overall, we observed a long-term shift in composition toward more conservative shade- and stress-tolerant herbaceous species. Our analysis of temporal changes in plant strategies provides a general framework for evaluating compositional and functional changes in terrestrial plant communities.

Item Type:	Article
Keywords:	ERI Library, Ecological Research, Functional traits, Functional diversity, Nutrient cycling, Ponderosa pine (Pinus ponderosa), Seed mass, Shade tolerance, Leaf area, Root length, Density
Subjects:	G Geography. Anthropology. Recreation > GE Environmental Sciences S Agriculture > SD Forestry
NAU Depositing Author Academic Status:	Faculty/Staff
Department/Unit:	Research Centers > Ecological Restoration Institute
Date Deposited:	26 Oct 2015 19:39
URI:	http://openknowledge.nau.edu/id/eprint/1450

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