Vegetation diversity and vertical structure as indicators of forest disturbance

Different indices of diversity and evenness were used to evaluate the effects of human-induced traditional management disturbance levels on plant species cover and diversity in temperate forests. The study was performed in the mountainous area of Bizkaia, Basque Country, northern Spain. The indices...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Forest ecology and management 2004-07, Vol.195 (3), p.341-354
Main Authors: Onaindia, M, Dominiguez, I, Albizu, I, Garbisu, C, Amezaga, I
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Animal and plant ecology
Animal, plant and microbial ecology
anthropogenic activities
Betula pubescens
Biological and medical sciences
Blechnum spicant
botanical composition
Calluna vulgaris
Castanea sativa
clearcutting
Daboecia
Daboecia cantabrica
Erica vagans
forest ecology
forest management
forest regeneration
Forestry
Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology
General forest ecology
Generalities. Production, biomass. Quality of wood and forest products. General forest ecology
Geranium
Geranium robertianum
grazing
Lamium galeobdolon
mixed stands
Quercus robur
Ruscus aculeatus
shrubs
stand structure
Synecology
Terrestrial ecosystems
Vaccinium myrtillus
Veronica officinalis
woodlands
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Summary:Different indices of diversity and evenness were used to evaluate the effects of human-induced traditional management disturbance levels on plant species cover and diversity in temperate forests. The study was performed in the mountainous area of Bizkaia, Basque Country, northern Spain. The indices employed were species richness, Shannon's diversity index, Simpson's diversity index, Simpson's evenness index, and Pielou's evenness index, all of which were calculated for all plant species, growth forms, and vertical layers. Simpson's diversity index was best for explaining differences among disturbance groups, showing its highest values in woodlands in an advanced stage of regeneration. Among the two evenness indices, only Simpson's was capable of reflecting disturbance levels, although both evenness indices were effective for shrubs when analyzed by growth forms. In terms of vertical structure, diversity was affected by disturbance group mainly in the case of the intermediate third layer, with maximum values at both old-growth and grazed woodlands.
ISSN:0378-1127
1872-7042
DOI:10.1016/S0378-1127(04)00205-1