Selective and clear-cut logging have varied imprints on tree community structure in a moist semi-deciduous forest in Ghana
Logging-induced disturbance can be an important agent of change in tropical forests. Understanding the relative impacts of specific logging regimes on tree community structure is essential for forest management and biodiversity conservation. In this study, we assessed the response of tree community...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Elsevier
2022-11-01
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| Series: | Heliyon |
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| Online Access: | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2405844022026810 |
| _version_ | 1811213840469196800 |
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| author | Patrick Addo-Fordjour Isaac Sarfo Afram Jennifer Oppong |
| author_facet | Patrick Addo-Fordjour Isaac Sarfo Afram Jennifer Oppong |
| author_sort | Patrick Addo-Fordjour |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Logging-induced disturbance can be an important agent of change in tropical forests. Understanding the relative impacts of specific logging regimes on tree community structure is essential for forest management and biodiversity conservation. In this study, we assessed the response of tree community structure to selective and clear-cut logging in a moist semi-deciduous forest in Ghana. We quantified the diversity, composition, density and basal area of trees (diameter at breast height ≥5 cm) in 30 20 × 20 m plots in each of three forest management systems (selectively logged, clear-cut logged, old-growth). Our results showed that the two logged forests harboured significantly lower tree species diversity than the old-growth forest. Nevertheless, the selectively logged forest supported significantly higher tree species diversity than the clear-cut logged forest. Similarly, both logging regimes caused shifts in tree species composition, but the shift was higher in the clear-cut forest than the selectively logged forest, indicating a better recovery in the selective logging stands. Selective and clear-cut logged forests supported similar stem density of trees, but they were lower than that of the old-growth forest. Finally, the old-growth forest exhibited significantly higher basal area than the selectively logged forest, which in turn, had significantly higher basal area than the clear-cut logged forest. Overall, selective logging imprints on tree community structure were lower than clear-cut logging due to faster recovery by the former. Our findings suggest that logged tropical forests may require a long period to fully recover. |
| first_indexed | 2024-04-12T05:54:12Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-9f9db418d18647429c9169453b765d55 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2405-8440 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-04-12T05:54:12Z |
| publishDate | 2022-11-01 |
| publisher | Elsevier |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Heliyon |
| spelling | doaj.art-9f9db418d18647429c9169453b765d552022-12-22T03:45:13ZengElsevierHeliyon2405-84402022-11-01811e11393Selective and clear-cut logging have varied imprints on tree community structure in a moist semi-deciduous forest in GhanaPatrick Addo-Fordjour0Isaac Sarfo Afram1Jennifer Oppong2Department of Theoretical and Applied Biology, College of Science, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Kumasi, Ghana; Corresponding author.;Cocoa Health and Extension Division (CHED), COCOBOD, GhanaDepartment of Theoretical and Applied Biology, College of Science, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Kumasi, GhanaLogging-induced disturbance can be an important agent of change in tropical forests. Understanding the relative impacts of specific logging regimes on tree community structure is essential for forest management and biodiversity conservation. In this study, we assessed the response of tree community structure to selective and clear-cut logging in a moist semi-deciduous forest in Ghana. We quantified the diversity, composition, density and basal area of trees (diameter at breast height ≥5 cm) in 30 20 × 20 m plots in each of three forest management systems (selectively logged, clear-cut logged, old-growth). Our results showed that the two logged forests harboured significantly lower tree species diversity than the old-growth forest. Nevertheless, the selectively logged forest supported significantly higher tree species diversity than the clear-cut logged forest. Similarly, both logging regimes caused shifts in tree species composition, but the shift was higher in the clear-cut forest than the selectively logged forest, indicating a better recovery in the selective logging stands. Selective and clear-cut logged forests supported similar stem density of trees, but they were lower than that of the old-growth forest. Finally, the old-growth forest exhibited significantly higher basal area than the selectively logged forest, which in turn, had significantly higher basal area than the clear-cut logged forest. Overall, selective logging imprints on tree community structure were lower than clear-cut logging due to faster recovery by the former. Our findings suggest that logged tropical forests may require a long period to fully recover.http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2405844022026810Clear-cuttingDisturbanceSpecies compositionSpecies diversityTree stem density |
| spellingShingle | Patrick Addo-Fordjour Isaac Sarfo Afram Jennifer Oppong Selective and clear-cut logging have varied imprints on tree community structure in a moist semi-deciduous forest in Ghana Heliyon Clear-cutting Disturbance Species composition Species diversity Tree stem density |
| title | Selective and clear-cut logging have varied imprints on tree community structure in a moist semi-deciduous forest in Ghana |
| title_full | Selective and clear-cut logging have varied imprints on tree community structure in a moist semi-deciduous forest in Ghana |
| title_fullStr | Selective and clear-cut logging have varied imprints on tree community structure in a moist semi-deciduous forest in Ghana |
| title_full_unstemmed | Selective and clear-cut logging have varied imprints on tree community structure in a moist semi-deciduous forest in Ghana |
| title_short | Selective and clear-cut logging have varied imprints on tree community structure in a moist semi-deciduous forest in Ghana |
| title_sort | selective and clear cut logging have varied imprints on tree community structure in a moist semi deciduous forest in ghana |
| topic | Clear-cutting Disturbance Species composition Species diversity Tree stem density |
| url | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2405844022026810 |
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