Revista: Forest Ecology and Management
Autores: Gertner, N.; Vargas, R.; Salas, C.; Fuentes, A.; Elissetche, J.P.; Rubilar, R.
Fecha: 2025
Abstract
In temperate regions, industrial forestry plantations are increasingly evaluated for their potential to support multifunctional forest systems and sustain ecosystem services, including native plant biodiversity. However significant gaps remain in understanding the environmental and structural drivers of plant biodiversity within plantations, underscoring the need for locally grounded empirical studies. This study evaluated native vascular plant diversity beneath Pinus radiata plantations at two sites in south-central Chile. Species diversity and tree regeneration were quantified across 120 understory plots (25 m² each) established in P. radiata plantations stands (>9 years), using adjacent native forests as reference. Stand structure was characterized across 24 plots (500 m² each), while microsite and soil variables were measured to evaluate their influence on understory plant composition. Data were analyzed using multivariate ordination and generalized linear mixed models to examine relationships among stand structure, environmental variables, and understory vegetation. Stand structure in P. radiata plantations was a significant predictor of native plant species richness under the canopy. Although nearby native forests showed greater richness and regeneration, plantations sustained ∼43–60% of the native species richness recorded in adjacent reference forests, particularly where canopy structure was more open and heterogeneous. These results indicate that management adjustments aimed at increasing structural complexity can improve the ecological compatibility of plantations. Furthermore, they highlight the potential of plantations within transitional silviculture to support ecosystem services and enhance ecological functionality.
Keywords
Plant biodiversity; Structural complexity; Plantation stands; Monterey pine; Environmental drivers; Transitional forestry; Ecosystem services
