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Effect of multi-temporal forest cover change trajectories on forest plant diversity
Citation:
Davis, A., J. Thill, AND R. Meentenmeyer. Effect of multi-temporal forest cover change trajectories on forest plant diversity. International Association of Landscape Ecologists, Asheville, NC, April 04 - 08, 2016.
Impact/Purpose:
Describes how effects of forest cover change on biodiversity should be assessed over multiple temporal intervals instead of relying on a single interval, especially in areas that are known to have experienced repeated cycles of deforestation and reforestation.
Description:
One of the principal tenets of landscape ecology is that forest loss and fragmentation negatively affects biodiversity. However, historical fluctuations in forest cover resulting from repeated cycles of deforestation and reforestation are likely important in influencing patterns of native plant diversity, but are overlooked when forest cover change is assessed using a single time interval. We asked if forest cover change trajectories, assessed over multiple time intervals explain patterns of native plant diversity better than a simple measure of overall forest change. We collected data on plant species richness and abundance at 177 field plots located in forests throughout the Charlotte, NC region in the U.S. Using a longitudinal forest cover dataset spanning 1938-2009, we derived multi-temporal forest cover change trajectories using k-means clustering for nested spatial extents ranging from 100 to 1000 m in diameter surrounding each plot. While accounting for landscape and environmental covariates, we used linear mixed modeling to assess the effects of forest cover change trajectories classes or overall forest cover change measured from 1938 to 2009. Forest cover change trajectory types derived at the 100 m and 200 m spatial extents significantly improved model fit as indicated by likelihood ratio tests, whereas overall forest cover change at any spatial extent had little effect. We conclude that the effects of forest cover change on biodiversity should be assessed over multiple temporal intervals instead of relying on a single interval, especially in areas that are known to have experienced repeated cycles of deforestation and reforestation.
