Coppice abandonment had negative consequences for biodiversity of forest vegetation and several groups of invertebrates. Most coppicing restoration studies have focused only on a single trophic level despite the fact that ecosystems are characterized by interactions between trophic levels represented by various groups of organisms. To address the patterns of functional diversity in the perspective of coppicing restoration, we studied the short-term effects of conservation-motivated tree canopy thinning in an abandoned coppice-with-standards in Central Europe, a region where such attempts have been rare so far. The functional diversity of vascular plants and spiders, chosen as two model trophic groups within a forest ecosystem, was compared between thinned and control forest patches. To characterize functional patterns, we examined several functional traits. These traits were assigned into two contrasting categories: response traits reflecting a change of environment (for both vascular plants and spiders) and effect traits influencing the ecosystem properties (only for vascular plants). Functional diversity was analysed by CCA using two measures: community-weighted means (CWM) and Rao's quadratic diversity (RaoQ). CCA models revealed that the canopy thinning had a positive effect on diversity of the response traits of both trophic groups and negatively influenced the diversity of effect traits. In addition, we found distinct seasonal dynamics in functional diversity of the spider communities, which was probably linked to leaf phenology of deciduous trees and therefore an effect trait not directly examined in this study. We conclude that canopy thinning affected functional diversity across trophic groups during the initial phase of coppicing restoration. With necessary precautions, careful canopy thinning can be effectively applied in the restoration of functional diversity in abandoned coppices.

Department of Biology and Ecology Faculty of Science University of Ostrava Chittussiho 10 710 00 Ostrava Czech Republic

Department of Botany Faculty of Science Palacký University Šlechtitelů 27 783 71 Olomouc Czech Republic

Department of Forest Protection and Wildlife Management Faculty of Forestry and Wood Technology Mendel University in Brno Zemědělská 3 613 00 Brno Czech Republic

Department of Vegetation Ecology Institute of Botany Czech Academy of Sciences Lidická 25 27 602 00 Brno Czech Republic

Department of Zoology Fisheries Hydrobiology and Apiculture Faculty of Agronomy Mendel University in Brno Zemědělská 1 613 00 Brno Czech Republic

Institute of Botany and Zoology Faculty of Science Masaryk University Kotlářská 2 611 37 Brno Czech Republic

Nature Conservation Agency of the Czech Republic Kotlářská 51 602 00 Brno Czech Republic

Zobrazit více v PubMed

Aarssen LW, Schamp BS. Predicting distributions of species richness and species size in regional floras: Applying the species pool hypothesis to the habitat templet model. Perspect Plant Ecol Evol Syst. 2002;5:3–12.

Adrian A, Berryman SD, Puettmann KJ. Understory vegetation response to thinning disturbance of varying complexity in coniferous stands. Appl Veg Sci. 2009;12:472–487.

Anderson MC. Studies of the woodland light climate: I. The photographic computation of light conditions. J Ecol. 1964;52:643–663.

Ash JE, Barkham JP. Changes and variability in the field layer of a coppiced woodland in Norfolk, England. J Ecol. 1976;64:697–712.

Ares A, Berryman SD, Puettmann KJ. Understory vegetation response to thinning disturbance of varying complexity in coniferous stands. Appl Veg Sci. 2009;12:472–487.

Atkinson B, Bailey S, Vaughan IP, Memmott J. A comparison of clearfelling and gradual thinning of plantations for the restoration of insect herbivores and woodland plants. J Appl Ecol. 2015 doi: 10.1111/1365-2664.12507. DOI

Aubert M, Alard D, Bureau F. Diversity of plant assemblages in managed temperate forests: a case study in Normandy (France) For Ecol Manage. 2003;175:321–337.

Bartemucci P, Messier C, Canham CD. Overstory influences on light attenuation patterns and understory plant community diversity and composition in southern boreal forests of Quebec. Can J For Res. 2006;36:2065–2079.

Battles JJ, Shlisky AJ, Barrett RH, Heald RC, Allen-Diaz BH. The effect of forest management on plant species diversity in a Sierran conifer forest. For Ecol Manage. 2001;146:211–222.

Bailey JD, Mayrsohn C, Doescher PS, Pierre ES, Tappeiner JC. Understory vegetation in old and young Douglas-fir forests of western Oregon. For Ecol Manage. 1998;112:289–302.

Beggs LR. Vegetation response following thinning in young Douglas-fir forests of Western Oregon: can thinning accelerate development of late-successional structure and composition? M.Sc. thesis; Oregon State University, Corvallis, OR, USA: 2005.

Benes J, Cizek O, Dovala J, Konvicka M. Intensive game keeping, coppicing and butterflies: the story of Milovicky Wood, Czech Republic. For Ecol Manage. 2006;237:353–365.

Buckley GP, editor. Ecology and management of coppice woodlands. Chapman & Hall; London, UK: 1992.

Buchar J, Ruzicka V. Catalogue of Spiders of the Czech Republic. Peres; Praha, Czech Republic: 2002.

Buckley GP, Mills J. Coppice silviculture: from the Mesolithic to 21st century. In: Kirby KJ, Watkins C, editors. Europe's changing woods and forests: from wildwood to managed landscapes. CABI; Wallingford, UK: 2015a. pp. 77–92.

Buckley GP, Mills J. The flora and fauna of coppice woods: winners and losers of active management or neglect. In: Kirby KJ, Watkins C, editors. Europe's changing woods and forests: from wildwood to managed landscapes. CABI; Wallingford, UK: 2015b. pp. 129–139.

Collins BM, Moghaddas JJ, Stephens SL. Initial changes in forest structure and understory plant communities following fuel reduction activities in a Sierra Nevada mixed conifer forest. For Ecol Manage. 2007;239:102–111.

Collins BS, Pickett STA. Demographic responses of herb layer species to experimental canopy gaps in a northern hardwoods forest. J Ecol. 1988;76:437–450.

Coyle JR, Halliday FW, Lopez BE, Palmquist KA, Wilfahrt PA, Hurlert AH. Using trait and phylogenetic diversity to evaluate the generality of the stress-dominance hypothesis in eastern North American tree communities. Ecography. 2014;37:814–826.

Decocq G, Aubert M, Dupont F, Alard D, Saguez R, Wattez-Franger A, de Foucault B, Delelis-Dusollier A, Bardat J. Plant diversity in a managed temperate deciduous forest: understorey response to two silvicultural systems. J Appl Ecol. 2004;41:1065–1079.

Dodson EK, Peterson DW, Harrod RJ. Understory vegetation response to thinning and burning restoration treatments in dry conifer forests of the eastern Cascades, USA. For Ecol Manage. 2008;255:3130–3140.

Ellenberg H, Weber HE, Düll R, Wirth V, Werner W, Paulißen D. Zeigerwerte von Pflanzen in Mitteleuropa. Scr Geobot. (2nd ed) 1992;18:1–258.

Gerisch M, Agostinelli V, Henle K, Dziock F. More species, but all do the same: contrasting effects of flood disturbance on ground beetle functional and species diversity. Oikos. 2012;121:508–515.

Goldblum D. The effects of treefall gaps on understory vegetation in New York State. J Veg Sci. 1997;8:125–132.

Griffis KL, Crawford JA, Wagner MR, Moir WH. Understory response to management treatments in northern Arizona ponderosa pine forests. For Ecol Manage. 2001;146:239–245.

Gundale MJ, DeLuca TH, Fiedler CE, Ramsey PW, Harrington MG, Gannon JE. Restoration treatment in a Montana ponderosa pine forest: Effects on soil physical, chemical and biological properties. For Ecol Manage. 2005;213:25–38.

Hambler C, Speight MR. Biodiversity conservation in Britain: science replacing tradition. British Wildlife. 1995a;6:137–147.

Hambler C, Speight MR. Seeing the wood for the trees. Tree News. 1995b:8–11.

Hédl R, Kopecký M, Komárek J. Half a century of succession in a temperate oakwood: from species-rich community to mesic forest. Divers Distrib. 2010;16:267–276.

Hédl R, Šipoš J, Chudomelová M, Utinek D. Dynamics of herbaceous vegetation during three years of experimental coppice introduction. Folia Geobot. this issue. PubMed PMC

Hodecek J, Kuras T, Sipos J, Dolny A. Post-industrial areas as successional habitats: Long-term changes of functional diversity in beetles communities. Basic Appl Ecol. 2015 doi: 10.1016/j.baae.2015.06.004. DOI

Hutchison BA, Matt DR. The distribution of solar radiation within a deciduous forest. Ecol Monogr. 1977;47:185–207.

Kasal P, Kaláb V. Arachnobase of the Czech Spiders. [Accessed 27 October 2015];2015 Available at: http://www.arachnobaze.cz/en/info.

Kašák J, Mazalová M, Šipoš J, Kuras T. The effect of alpine ski-slopes on epigeic beetles: does even a nature-friendly management make a change? J Insect Conserv. 2013;17:975–988.

Kašák J, Mazalová M, Šipoš J, Kuras T. Dwarf pine: invasive plant threatens biodiversity of alpine beetles. Biodivers Conserv. 2015 doi: 10.1007/s10531-015-0929-1. DOI

Kaye JP, Hart SC. Ecological restoration alters nitrogen transformations in a ponderosa pine – bunchgrass ecosystem. Ecol Appl. 1998;8:1052–1060.

Kirby KJ, Watkins C, editors. Europe's changing woods and forests: from wildwood to managed landscapes. CABI; Wallingford, UK: 2015.

Kleyer M, Bekker RM, Knevel IC, Bakker JP, Thompson K, Sonnenschein M, Poschlod P, van Groenendael JM, Klimeš L, Klimešová J, Klotz S, et al. The LEDA Traitbase: a database of life-history traits of the Northwest European flora. J Ecol. 2008;96:1266–1274.

Klotz S, Kühn I, Durka W. BIOLFLOR – Eine Datenbank mit Biologisch-Ökologischen Merkmalen zur Flora von Deutschland. Bundesamt für Naturschutz; Bad Godesberg, DE: 2002.

Knapp EE, Schwilk DW, Kane JM, Keeley JE. Role of burning season on initial understory response to prescribed fire in a mixed conifer forest. Can J Forest Res. 2007;37:11–22.

Kopecký M, Hédl R, Szabó P. Non-random extinctions dominate plant community changes in abandoned coppices. J Appl Ecol. 2013;50:79–87. PubMed PMC

Lavorel S, Garnier E. Predicting changes in community composition and ecosystem functioning from plant traits: revisiting the Holy Grail. Funct Ecol. 2002;16:545–556.

Lindh BC. Flowering of understory herbs following thinning in the western Cascades, Oregon. For Ecol Manage. 2008;256:929–936.

Lavorel S, Díaz S, Cornelissen JHC, Garnier E, Harrison SP, McIntyre S, Pausas JG, Pérez-Harguindeguy N, Roumet C, Urcelay C. Plant Functional Types: Are We Getting Any Closer to the Holy Grail? In: Canadell JG, Pataki DE, Pitelka LF, editors. Terrestrial Ecosystems in a Changing World. Springer; Berlin, Heidelberg: 2007. pp. 149–164.

Mason CF, MacDonald SM. Responses of ground flora to coppice management in an English woodland – a study using permanent quadrats. Biodivers Conserv. 2002;11:1773–1789.

Mason NWH, Mouillot D, Lee WG, Wilson JB. Functional richness, functional evenness and functional divergence: the primary components of functional diversity. Oikos. 2005;111:112–118.

McDonald B. Effects of vegetation structure on foliage dwelling spider assemblages in native and non-native Oklahoma grassland habitats. Proc Okla Acad Sci. 2015;87:85–88.

Mori AS, Shiono T, Haraguchi TF, Ota AT, Koide D, Ohgue T, Kitagawa R, Maeshiro R, Aung TT, Nakamori T, Hagiwara Y, et al. Functional redundancy of multiple forest taxa along an elevational gradient: predicting the consequences of non-random species loss. J Biogeogr. 2015;42:1383–1396.

Mouchet MA, Villeger S, Mason NWH, Mouillot D. Functional diversity measures: an overview of their redundancy and their ability to discriminate community assembly rules. Funct Ecol. 2010;24:867–876.

Müllerová J, Hédl R, Szabó P. Coppice abandonment and its implications for species diversity in forest vegetation. For Ecol Manage. 2015;343:88–100. PubMed PMC

Müllerová J, Szabó P, Hédl R. The rise and fall of traditional forest management in southern Moravia: A history of the past 700 years. For Ecol Manage. 2014;331:104–115. PubMed PMC

Nature Conservation Agency of the Czech Republic. Děvín–Kotel–Souteska National Nature Reserve. [Accessed 19 November 2015];2015 Available at: http://www.cittadella.cz/europarc/index.php?p=index&site=NPR_devin_kotel_souteska_en.

Niedobová J, Fric ZF. The Adequacy of Some Collecting Techniques for Obtaining Representative Arthropod Sample in Dry Grasslands. Acta Univ Agric Silvic Mendelianae Brun. 2014;62:167–174.

Ohgushi T. Herbivore-induced indirect interaction webs on terrestrial plants: the importance of non-trophic, indirect, and facilitative interactions. Entomol Exp Appl. 2008;128:217–229.

Pakeman RJ. Multivariate identification of plant functional response and effect traits in an agricultural landscape. Ecology. 2011;92:1353–1365. PubMed

Pearson CV, Dyer LA. Trophic diversity in two grassland ecosystems. J Insect Sci. 2006;6:1–11. PubMed PMC

Pianka ER. On r and K selection. Am Nat. 1970;104:592–597.

Price PW, Bouton CE, Gross P, McPheron BA, Thompson JN, Weis AE. Interactions among three trophic levels: Influence of plants on interactions between insect herbivores and natural enemies. Ann Rev Ecol Syst. 1980;11:41–65.

Purchart L, Tuf IH, Hula V, Suchomel J. Arthropod assemblages in Norway spruce monocultures during a forest cycle - A multi-taxa approach. Forest Ecol Manage. 2013;306:42–51.

Roscher Ch, Schumacher J, Gubsch M, Lipowsky A, Weigelt A, Buchmann A, Schmid B, Schulze E. Using Plant Functional Traits to Explain Diversity–Productivity Relationships. PLoS ONE. 2012;7:1–11. PubMed PMC

Roth RR. Spatial heterogeneity and bird species diversity. Ecology. 1976;57:773–82.

Scanga SE. Population dynamics in canopy gaps: nonlinear response to variable light regimes by an understory plant. Pl Ecol. 2014;215:927–935.

Schmitz OJ, Suttle KB. Effects of top predator species on direct and indirect interactions in a food web. Ecology. 2001;82:2072–2081.

Schuldt A, Bruelheide H, Härdtle W, Assmann T. Predator assemblage structure and temporal variability of species richness and abundance in forests of high tree diversity. Biotropica. 2012;44:793–800.

Spitzer L, Konvicka M, Benes J, Tropek R, Tuf IH, Tufova J. Does closure of traditionally managed open woodlands threaten epigeic invertebrates? Effects of coppicing and high deer densities. Biol Cons. 2008;141:827–837.

Southwood TRE. Habitat, the templet for ecological strategies? J Anim Ecol. 1977;46:337–365.

Southwood TRE. Tactics, strategies and templets. Oikos. 1988;52:3–18.

Szabó P. Driving forces of stability and change in woodland structure: A case-study from the Czech lowlands. For Ecol Manage. 2010;259:650–656.

Szabó P, Müllerová J, Suchánková S, Kotačka M. Intensive woodland management in the Middle Ages: spatial modelling based on archival data. J Hist Geogr. 2015;48:1–10. PubMed PMC

Townsend CR, Hildrew AG. Species traits in relation to a habitat templet for river systems. Freshwater Biol. 1994;31:265–275.

Tilman D. Niche tradeoffs, neutrality, and community structure: a stochastic theory of resource competition, invasion, and community assembly. Proc Natl Acad Sci USA. 2004;101:10854–10861. PubMed PMC

Tscharntke T, Tylianakis JM, Rand TA, Didham RK, Fahrig L, Batáry P, Bengtsson J, Clough Y, Crist TO, Dormann CF, Ewers RM, et al. Landscape moderation of biodiversity patterns and processes – eight hypotheses. Biol Rev. 2012;87:661–685. PubMed

Ter Braak CJF, Šmilauer P. Canoco reference manual and user's guide: software for ordination, version 5.0. Microcomputer Power; Ithaca, USA: 2012.

Valverde T, Silvertown J. Variation in the demography of a woodland understorey herb (Primula vulgaris) along the forest regeneration cycle: projection matrix analysis. J Ecol. 1998;86:545–562.

Van Calster H, Baeten L, De Schrijver A, De Keersmaeker L, Rogister JE, Verheyen K, Hermy M. Management driven changes (1967–2005) in soil acidity and the understorey plant community following conversion of a coppice-with-standards forest. For Ecol Manage. 2007;241:258–271.

Van Calster H, Endels P, Antonio K, Verheyen K, Hermy M. Coppice management effects on experimentally established populations of three herbaceous layer woodland species. Biol Conserv. 2008;141:2641–2652.

Verschuyl J, Riffell S, Miller D, Wigley TB. Biodiversity response to intensive biomass production from forest thinning in North American forests – A meta-analysis. For Ecol Manage. 2011;261:221–232.

Vild O, Roleček J, Hédl R, Kopecký M, Utinek D. Experimental restoration of coppice-with-standards: Response of understorey vegetation from the conservation perspective. For Ecol Manage. 2013;310:234–241. PubMed PMC

Wayman RB, North M. Initial response of a mixed-conifer understory plant community to burning and thinning restoration treatments. For Ecol Manage. 2007;239:32–44.

Wellnitz T, Poff NL. Functional redundancy in heterogeneous environments: implications for conservation. Ecol Lett. 2001;4:177–179.

Whigham DF. Ecology of woodland herbs in temperate deciduous forests. Annual Review of Ecology, Evolution, and Systematics. 2004;35:583–621.

Wilsey BJ, Potvin C. Biodiversity and ecosystem functioning: importance of species evenness in an old field. Ecology. 2000;81:887–892.

Zheng SX, Ren HY, Lan ZC, Li WH, Wang KB, Bai1 YF. Effects of grazing on leaf traits and ecosystem functioning in Inner Mongolia grasslands: scaling from species to community. Biogeoscience. 2010;7:1117–1132.