Forest management affects ecosystem functioning (predation and herbivory) but not ecosystem stability: A comparative study across four forest ecosystems around the world

JUAN ANTONIO HERNANDEZ-AGUERO; LDEFONSO RUIZ-TAPIADOR; GARIBALDI, LUCAS A.; MIKHAIL V. KOZLOV; MARCOS EZEQUIEL NACIF; NORMA SALINAS; VITALI ZVEREV; ELENA ZVEREVA; LUIS CAYUELA

Global Ecology and Biogeography

WILEY-BLACKWELL PUBLISHING, INC

Lugar: Londres; Año: 2023

1466-822X

Forest management can affect both the functioning and stability of ecosystems. These effects can be highly variable and change across forest ecosystems. We studied the effects of forest management on the strength of resource–consumer interactions (bird predation and insect herbivory) as important measures of ecosystem functioning, as well as on their stability throughout the years in four different forested regions (Andean forest, boreal forest, Mediterranean forest, and Patagonian forest). Within each region, we selected (i) heavily managed or plantation forests, and (ii) urban/peri-urban forests or urban plantings and paired them with pristine/semi-natural forests. The probability of bird predation was estimated using Plasticine caterpillars with different colors. The proportions of chewer, galler, and miner herbivory on leaves were estimated for 15 plants (shrubs and trees) per study site. Ecosystem stability was quantified as the invariability of both predation and herbivory during a period of three years. We found no consistent responses in terms of either predation or herbivory to forest management practices across forest ecosystems. Bird predation was higher in urban/peri-urban forests than pristine/semi-natural forests in Patagonian and boreal forest, with intermediate levels of predation in managed or plantation forests. Chewing insect herbivory was higher in managed or plantation and pristine/semi-natural forests than urban/peri-urban forests, but no differences were found in other types of herbivory. These differences might be explained by the contrasting temperatures between urban and non-urban areas (i.e., urban heat effect) affecting the performance of ectotherm species, but also by the differences in climate and species compositions among regions. In addition, we consistently found no effects of forest management practices on predation invariability and herbivory, thereby demonstrating the high resilience of forests to different management practices across regions. These findings improve our knowledge of the generalized effects of forest management on ecosystem functions and stability by establishing a connection between the ecology and management and conservation of plantations and natural forests.