DOI: 10.1016/j.foreco.2013.07.010
Scopus记录号: 2-s2.0-84881291818
论文题名: Human impacts on forest structure and species richness on the edges of a protected mountain forest in Uganda
作者: Sassen M. ; Sheil D.
刊名: Forest Ecology and Management
ISSN: 0378-1127
出版年: 2013
卷: 307 起始页码: 206
结束页码: 218
语种: 英语
英文关键词: Conservation
; East Africa
; Forest structure
; Human disturbance
; Tree diversity
; Tropical forest
Scopus关键词: East Africa
; Forest structure
; Human disturbances
; Tree diversity
; Tropical forest
; Agriculture
; Charcoal
; Conservation
; Reforestation
; anthropogenic effect
; basal area
; clearcutting
; disturbance
; forest edge
; grazing
; human activity
; montane forest
; old-growth forest
; population density
; regeneration
; restoration ecology
; species diversity
; species richness
; transect
; tropical forest
; Agriculture
; Charcoal
; Conservation
; Reforestation
; Mount Elgon National Park
; Uganda
英文摘要: We investigated how local scale variation in human impacts influenced forest structure and tree species richness within Mt Elgon National Park, Uganda. We assessed basal area (BA), stem density, diameter at breast height (dbh) and indicators of human activity in 343 plots in four study sites, on transects running inwards from the boundary of the park. Mt Elgon hosts the only remaining natural forest in a densely populated region (150-1000p/km2). All study sites suffered past encroachment for agriculture and were in various stages of recovery or renewed-clearing at the time of the study. Areas recovering from encroachment had lower mean BA (BA=3-11m2/ha), dbh and often also lower stem densities than forest that had never been cleared (BA=21-43m2/ha), even 35years after abandonment and with restoration planting. Human impacts were found beyond 2km into the park. Although most activities decreased with distance inside the boundary, their prevalence varied among sites. High coefficients of variation in BA (Cv=0.8-1.1) and stem density (Cv=1.0-2.2) within sites, together with the evidence of sustained human activities, suggest that forest use histories strongly influenced local forest structure. Mean BA increased with distance inside the boundary in all sites, but stem densities reflected more complex patterns. Large trees (dbh≥20cm) were most affected by former clearing for agriculture. The collection of stems used as crop-supports reduced regeneration and the density of smaller stems at one site. In another site, charcoal making was associated with the smallest mean BA and marked variability in forest structure. Grazed forest consisted of large trees with very little regeneration. On forest margins in two sites grazing, generally together with fire and tree-cutting, had eroded the forest edge and prevented regeneration. Human impacts as well as natural gradients had major impacts on species richness patterns. Several areas in intermediate states of disturbance showed higher tree species richness than either old-growth forest or more severely degraded areas. This study illustrates the fine scale variation due to local impacts within one forest. © 2013 Elsevier B.V. Citation statistics:
资源类型: 期刊论文
标识符: http://119.78.100.158/handle/2HF3EXSE/66546
Appears in Collections: 影响、适应和脆弱性
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作者单位: Wageningen University, Po Box 430, 6700AK Wageningen, Netherlands; School of Environment, Science and Engineering, Southern Cross University, Po Box 157, Lismore, NSW 2480, Australia; Institute of Tropical Forest Conservation (ITFC), Po Box 44, Kabale, SW, Uganda; Center for International Forestry Research (CIFOR), Po Box 0113, BOCBD, Bogor 16000, Indonesia
Recommended Citation:
Sassen M.,Sheil D.. Human impacts on forest structure and species richness on the edges of a protected mountain forest in Uganda[J]. Forest Ecology and Management,2013-01-01,307