Influence of Environmental Factors on Forest Understorey Species in Northern Mexico
<i>Background</i>: Understorey plants are key to maintaining forest structure and functioning. They protect the soil, improve its structure and fertility, reduce water run-off and sustain the below-ground biota, amongst other ecological services. However, little is known about the enviro...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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MDPI AG
2021-09-01
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| Series: | Forests |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/1999-4907/12/9/1198 |
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| author | Juan F. Maciel-Nájera M. Socorro González-Elizondo José Ciro Hernández-Díaz Carlos A. López-Sánchez Claudia Edith Bailón-Soto Artemio Carrillo-Parra Christian Wehenkel |
| author_facet | Juan F. Maciel-Nájera M. Socorro González-Elizondo José Ciro Hernández-Díaz Carlos A. López-Sánchez Claudia Edith Bailón-Soto Artemio Carrillo-Parra Christian Wehenkel |
| author_sort | Juan F. Maciel-Nájera |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | <i>Background</i>: Understorey plants are key to maintaining forest structure and functioning. They protect the soil, improve its structure and fertility, reduce water run-off and sustain the below-ground biota, amongst other ecological services. However, little is known about the environmental conditions that regulate the occurrence of these plants. This study focuses on determining how canopy cover influences the occurrence of understorey species and identifying the most important soil properties that affect these species. The study area was a pine-oak forest in the Sierra Madre Occidental, an important source of ecological services for northwestern Mexico. <i>Methods</i>: To assess the conditions influencing the presence of herbaceous and shrub species, 25 soil variables were examined in relation to the species occurring in forest gaps and under the canopy. Sampling was conducted in five plots, each of 100 × 100 m. In each plot, 4 subplots, each of 20 × 20 m, were each subdivided in a grid of 2 × 2 m units, in which the presence-absence of herbaceous and shrub species was recorded (2000 units in total). Soil samples were extracted for analysis from the central point in each subplot. Data were analyzed using a Binomial Logistic Model (BLM) and Random Forest (RF) classification. <i>Results</i>: Understorey species were more strongly affected by soil variables than by their location in gaps or below canopy. The concentrations of Ca, P, K, Fe, Na, C, Zn, Mn, nitrates, organic matter, sand, silt, and percentage water saturation were statistically significantly associated with the presence of some plant species, whilst no significant differences were found in regard to preference for gaps or canopy, although several species were more frequent in open areas. <i>Conclusions</i>: Given the importance of the understorey cover in forest system functioning, we propose that understorey should be considered in integrated management and conservation practices for the temperate forests of northern Mexico. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-10T07:39:49Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-9a0e54c4d0ae49df866fadcd6816a6f3 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1999-4907 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-10T07:39:49Z |
| publishDate | 2021-09-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Forests |
| spelling | doaj.art-9a0e54c4d0ae49df866fadcd6816a6f32023-11-22T13:07:32ZengMDPI AGForests1999-49072021-09-01129119810.3390/f12091198Influence of Environmental Factors on Forest Understorey Species in Northern MexicoJuan F. Maciel-Nájera0M. Socorro González-Elizondo1José Ciro Hernández-Díaz2Carlos A. López-Sánchez3Claudia Edith Bailón-Soto4Artemio Carrillo-Parra5Christian Wehenkel6Programa Institucional de Doctorado en Ciencias Agropecuarias y Forestales, Universidad Juárez del Estado de Durango, Durango 34120, MexicoCentro Interdisciplinario de Investigación para el Desarrollo Integral Regional, Instituto Politécnico Nacional, Durango 34234, MexicoInstituto de Silvicultura e Industria de la Madera, Universidad Juárez del Estado de Durango, Durango 34120, MexicoDepartment of Biology of Organisms and Systems, Mieres Polytechnic School, University of Oviedo, 33600 Mieres, SpainInstituto de Silvicultura e Industria de la Madera, Universidad Juárez del Estado de Durango, Durango 34120, MexicoInstituto de Silvicultura e Industria de la Madera, Universidad Juárez del Estado de Durango, Durango 34120, MexicoInstituto de Silvicultura e Industria de la Madera, Universidad Juárez del Estado de Durango, Durango 34120, Mexico<i>Background</i>: Understorey plants are key to maintaining forest structure and functioning. They protect the soil, improve its structure and fertility, reduce water run-off and sustain the below-ground biota, amongst other ecological services. However, little is known about the environmental conditions that regulate the occurrence of these plants. This study focuses on determining how canopy cover influences the occurrence of understorey species and identifying the most important soil properties that affect these species. The study area was a pine-oak forest in the Sierra Madre Occidental, an important source of ecological services for northwestern Mexico. <i>Methods</i>: To assess the conditions influencing the presence of herbaceous and shrub species, 25 soil variables were examined in relation to the species occurring in forest gaps and under the canopy. Sampling was conducted in five plots, each of 100 × 100 m. In each plot, 4 subplots, each of 20 × 20 m, were each subdivided in a grid of 2 × 2 m units, in which the presence-absence of herbaceous and shrub species was recorded (2000 units in total). Soil samples were extracted for analysis from the central point in each subplot. Data were analyzed using a Binomial Logistic Model (BLM) and Random Forest (RF) classification. <i>Results</i>: Understorey species were more strongly affected by soil variables than by their location in gaps or below canopy. The concentrations of Ca, P, K, Fe, Na, C, Zn, Mn, nitrates, organic matter, sand, silt, and percentage water saturation were statistically significantly associated with the presence of some plant species, whilst no significant differences were found in regard to preference for gaps or canopy, although several species were more frequent in open areas. <i>Conclusions</i>: Given the importance of the understorey cover in forest system functioning, we propose that understorey should be considered in integrated management and conservation practices for the temperate forests of northern Mexico.https://www.mdpi.com/1999-4907/12/9/1198BLMrandom forestenvironmentalsoilcanopy forestgap forest |
| spellingShingle | Juan F. Maciel-Nájera M. Socorro González-Elizondo José Ciro Hernández-Díaz Carlos A. López-Sánchez Claudia Edith Bailón-Soto Artemio Carrillo-Parra Christian Wehenkel Influence of Environmental Factors on Forest Understorey Species in Northern Mexico Forests BLM random forest environmental soil canopy forest gap forest |
| title | Influence of Environmental Factors on Forest Understorey Species in Northern Mexico |
| title_full | Influence of Environmental Factors on Forest Understorey Species in Northern Mexico |
| title_fullStr | Influence of Environmental Factors on Forest Understorey Species in Northern Mexico |
| title_full_unstemmed | Influence of Environmental Factors on Forest Understorey Species in Northern Mexico |
| title_short | Influence of Environmental Factors on Forest Understorey Species in Northern Mexico |
| title_sort | influence of environmental factors on forest understorey species in northern mexico |
| topic | BLM random forest environmental soil canopy forest gap forest |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/1999-4907/12/9/1198 |
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