Black locust (Robinia pseudoacacia L.) is a widespread alien tree species commonly thought to inf... more Black locust (Robinia pseudoacacia L.) is a widespread alien tree species commonly thought to influence plant assemblages. The aim of this study was to compare the plant diversity between black locust and native recent secondary stands within the European Mediterranean Mountains environmental zone. Spontaneous reforestation was detected by comparing historical aerial photographs and the most recent images. Distributed throughout a 2700 km2 hilly and piedmont area, 32 black locust and 32 paired native stands were selected and all vascular plant species were surveyed in a 100 m2 area. Analyses of the α and β-diversity were performed separately for six identified plant groups. Despite a clear difference in the tree diversity between the black locust and native recent secondary stands and a homogenisation of the tree layer by the black locust stands, we found only inconsistent hints for homogenisation of the ground-layer vegetation by the black locust stands. There is no evidence to suggest that the presence of black locust in recent secondary stands plays a major role in shaping the diversity of the understory plant groups compared to native stands.
In: Hedgerow Futures, edited by John Dover, pp. 135-146, 2012
Here we summarise the findings of a study investigating the environmental, management, and land u... more Here we summarise the findings of a study investigating the environmental, management, and land use factors that influence patterns of biodiversity in field margins in the Po Plain, Italy, and evaluate these habitats for their cultural and biodiversity value. We highlight four traditional management techniques of woody vegetation in field margins on the Po Plain, Italy, and make recommendations for further study to investigate the ecosystem services and cultural significance of these features
Research on changes in biodiversity due to the abandonment of forestry is important in understand... more Research on changes in biodiversity due to the abandonment of forestry is important in understanding the role of reserves in conservation. The aim of this study was to investigate whether changes have occurred in species richness, abundance and composition of ground, longhorn and bark beetles due to habitat changes as a result of the cessation of forest management. We surveyed ten managed and ten abandoned forest plots in two watersheds located in the north-eastern Italian alpine region, which share a common history of use, climate regimes, stand structure and topography. Ground beetles, and longhorn and bark beetles were collected with pitfall and flight-intercept window traps, respectively, from May to mid-October 2010. The three beetle taxa responded differently to changes in habitat features and management cessation. Differences in individual species responses between the two watersheds may indicate a role of management abandonment through its impact on forest habitat structure. For instance, ground beetle species mainly responded negatively to soil moisture and positively to understorey vegetation cover. Unexpectedly, saproxylic species re- sponded variably, and often negatively, to deadwood fea- tures in these forests, but did respond positively to the volume of standing Abies alba trees. The assemblages of carabids and bark beetles differed between the two water- sheds. Our results confirmed that 50 years of forest man- agement cessation resulted in changes in the biodiversity of beetles in alpine forests, likely due to their response to changes in habitat structure. Moreover, we expect that where the unplanned abandonment of forestry practices and habitat rewilding are undergoing, like in many mar- ginal areas of Europe, similar habitat structure dynamics and beetle responses are likely to occur spontaneously.
Black locust (Robinia pseudoacacia L.) is a widespread alien tree species commonly thought to inf... more Black locust (Robinia pseudoacacia L.) is a widespread alien tree species commonly thought to influence plant assemblages. The aim of this study was to compare the plant diversity between black locust and native recent secondary stands within the European Mediterranean Mountains environmental zone. Spontaneous reforestation was detected by comparing historical aerial photographs and the most recent images. Distributed throughout a 2700 km2 hilly and piedmont area, 32 black locust and 32 paired native stands were selected and all vascular plant species were surveyed in a 100 m2 area. Analyses of the α and β-diversity were performed separately for six identified plant groups. Despite a clear difference in the tree diversity between the black locust and native recent secondary stands and a homogenisation of the tree layer by the black locust stands, we found only inconsistent hints for homogenisation of the ground-layer vegetation by the black locust stands. There is no evidence to suggest that the presence of black locust in recent secondary stands plays a major role in shaping the diversity of the understory plant groups compared to native stands.
In: Hedgerow Futures, edited by John Dover, pp. 135-146, 2012
Here we summarise the findings of a study investigating the environmental, management, and land u... more Here we summarise the findings of a study investigating the environmental, management, and land use factors that influence patterns of biodiversity in field margins in the Po Plain, Italy, and evaluate these habitats for their cultural and biodiversity value. We highlight four traditional management techniques of woody vegetation in field margins on the Po Plain, Italy, and make recommendations for further study to investigate the ecosystem services and cultural significance of these features
Research on changes in biodiversity due to the abandonment of forestry is important in understand... more Research on changes in biodiversity due to the abandonment of forestry is important in understanding the role of reserves in conservation. The aim of this study was to investigate whether changes have occurred in species richness, abundance and composition of ground, longhorn and bark beetles due to habitat changes as a result of the cessation of forest management. We surveyed ten managed and ten abandoned forest plots in two watersheds located in the north-eastern Italian alpine region, which share a common history of use, climate regimes, stand structure and topography. Ground beetles, and longhorn and bark beetles were collected with pitfall and flight-intercept window traps, respectively, from May to mid-October 2010. The three beetle taxa responded differently to changes in habitat features and management cessation. Differences in individual species responses between the two watersheds may indicate a role of management abandonment through its impact on forest habitat structure. For instance, ground beetle species mainly responded negatively to soil moisture and positively to understorey vegetation cover. Unexpectedly, saproxylic species re- sponded variably, and often negatively, to deadwood fea- tures in these forests, but did respond positively to the volume of standing Abies alba trees. The assemblages of carabids and bark beetles differed between the two water- sheds. Our results confirmed that 50 years of forest man- agement cessation resulted in changes in the biodiversity of beetles in alpine forests, likely due to their response to changes in habitat structure. Moreover, we expect that where the unplanned abandonment of forestry practices and habitat rewilding are undergoing, like in many mar- ginal areas of Europe, similar habitat structure dynamics and beetle responses are likely to occur spontaneously.
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