Conservation management of complex natural forest and plantation edge effects |
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| Authors: | James S Pryke Michael J Samways |
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| Institution: | (1) Department of Conservation Ecology and Entomology, Stellenbosch University, Private Bag X1, Matieland, 7602, South Africa |
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| Abstract: | Timber plantation forestry is a major threat to indigenous grassland biodiversity, with ecological networks (ENs) currently
being used to mitigate this threat. Being composed mostly of linear corridors, ENs create more edge than would occur naturally.
To determine the minimum width of corridors for maximising biodiversity conservation, we need first to establish the extent
of edge effects from plantation blocks into corridors. We compared arthropod diversity along transects that ran from within
plantation blocks into grassland corridors. We also studied the edge effects of natural forest adjacent to natural grasslands
within ENs. Sites in grasslands of neighbouring protected areas acted as natural reference sites against which the biodiversity
of the EN transects were compared. Two types of exotic plantation trees and various tree age classes were studied. We found
a 32 m edge zone from plantation blocks into grassland corridors. Few significant edge effects from plantation blocks occurred
at greater distances than this, which suggested that grassland corridors with a width <64 m are essentially all edge. However,
and importantly, this situation was complex, as different arthropod taxonomic groups responded differently to edges of plantation
blocks and natural forest patches. Natural forest supported many additional species, not just within the forest, but also
in associated grassland corridors. This means that maintaining natural forest imbedded within the ENs will protect both indigenous
grassland and indigenous forest species as well as help maintain biodiversity across this timber production landscape. |
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