Species abundance in floor vegetation of managed coppice and abandoned forest

The species abundance in floor vegetation was compared among three developmental stages (early, middle and late) of managed coppices and two types of abandoned forest (broadleaved and pine). The studied coppices, which mainly consisted of Quercus acutissima, were maintained to produce charcoal, and had been cut periodically about once every decade. The abandoned forests appeared to have been left for at least 30 years. A hierarchical Bayesian model was constructed to estimate the probability distributions of presence for each species and each condition (forest type, management, stand age, and floor cleaning). The results showed that species abundance was higher in the managed coppices than in the abandoned forests and higher before floor cleaning (early and middle stages) than after clearing (late stages) within the coppices. In the coppices, a number of deciduous shrub, grass and herbaceous species were highly likely to be present while evergreen understory and shrub species were likely to be present in the abandoned forests. A simulation using the results of the model was conducted to estimate which management plan would maintain the abundance of floor species in coppices. The simulation showed that keeping a mosaic structure consisting of at least two levels of stand age would maintain a stable and rich abundance of species.

► Periodical clear cutting would prevent the dominance of evergreen subtree species.
► Periodical partial clear cutting would form shifting mosaics.
► Coppice management can contribute to keep floor species abundance.