Evaluating different harvest intensities over understory plant diversity and pine seedlings, in a Pinus pinaster Ait. natural stand of Spain

Published source details González-Alday J., Martínez-Ruiz C. & Bravo F. (2009) Evaluating different harvest intensities over understory plant diversity and pine seedlings, in a Pinus pinaster Ait. natural stand of Spain. Plant Ecology (formerly Vegetatio 1948-1996), 201, 211-220.
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This study is summarised as evidence for the following.

	Action	Category
	Use clearcutting to increase understory diversity Action Link

Use clearcutting to increase understory diversity

A replicated, randomized, controlled study in 2003-2006 in temperate coniferous forest in Spain (González-Alday, Martínez-Ruiz & Bravo 2009) found that clearcutting reduced the number of maritime pine Pinus pinaster seedlings, and increased annual plant cover and the number of herbaceous plant species. The number of maritime pine seedlings/plot was highest in uncut plots (66). It was higher in closed canopy (16) than in clearcut plots (1), and similar to both in open canopy plots (8). The number of annual species/plot was the highest in clearcut plots (41). It was higher in open canopy (31) than in uncut plots (24) and similar to both in closed canopy plots (29). The number of perennial herbaceous species/plot was highest in clearcut plots (17), and similar in open (11) and closed canopy (10) and uncut plots (9). Annual plant cover was lowest in uncut plots (21%), and similar in closed (37%) and open canopy (40%) and clearcut plots (42%). Perennial herbaceous species cover was higher in clearcut (16%) than open canopy plots (7%), and similar to both in uncut (11%) and closed canopy plots (10%). Three replicates (70 × 70 m) of each of four treatments: uncut; closed canopy (25% of basal area removed); open canopy (50% of basal area removed); clearcut (all trees removed) were established in 2003. Sampling was in 2006.