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    Rights statement: This is the peer reviewed version of the following article: Kimberley, A., Alan Blackburn, G., Duncan Whyatt, J. and Smart, S. M. (2014), Traits of plant communities in fragmented forests: the relative influence of habitat spatial configuration and local abiotic conditions. J Ecol, 102: 632–640. doi:10.1111/1365-2745.12222 which has been published in final form at http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/1365-2745.12222/abstract This article may be used for non-commercial purposes in accordance With Wiley Terms and Conditions for self-archiving.

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Traits of plant communities in fragmented forests: the relative influence of habitat spatial configuration and local abiotic conditions

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Traits of plant communities in fragmented forests: the relative influence of habitat spatial configuration and local abiotic conditions. / Kimberley, Adam; Blackburn, George Alan; Whyatt, Duncan et al.
In: Journal of Ecology, Vol. 102, No. 3, 05.2014, p. 632-640.

Research output: Contribution to Journal/MagazineJournal articlepeer-review

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Kimberley A, Blackburn GA, Whyatt D, Smart S. Traits of plant communities in fragmented forests: the relative influence of habitat spatial configuration and local abiotic conditions. Journal of Ecology. 2014 May;102(3):632-640. Epub 2014 Feb 26. doi: 10.1111/1365-2745.12222

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@article{f1bdfbce8e8b47439d3e1e0a8fc0bee4,
title = "Traits of plant communities in fragmented forests: the relative influence of habitat spatial configuration and local abiotic conditions",
abstract = "1. The plant trait composition of forest fragments is thought to be partly determined by forest spatial properties, although the relative importance of habitat configuration and local abiotic drivers is poorly understood.2. To address this issue, large-scale habitat extent data were combined with detailed field survey information for temperate broad-leaved deciduous forest patches to quantify the relative effects of spatial and abiotic filters on plant community mean trait values.3. Local conditions such as shade and soil fertility had the largest effect on mean trait values, but aspects of habitat configuration also had significant partial effects on a number of traits.4. Mean trait values within older forest patches were more strongly influenced by forest spatial configuration than in younger patches.5. Synthesis. Results indicate that, in addition to the effects of greater light availability and competition in small patches and at forest edges, aspects of habitat configuration such as patch size and isolation are themselves important factors limiting the occurrence of forest specialist species. Large areas of core forest habitat contain a greater proportion of rare, poor dispersing species, although these effects were less visible in more recently established forest. This highlights the importance of maintaining existing large and old forest patches as a refuge for forest specialist plants. The results of this comparison of spatial and abiotic variables suggest that controlling the spatial properties of forest patches is likely to prove an effective way of managing plant species diversity, provided that sites with appropriate abiotic conditions are chosen.",
keywords = "Dispersal Traits, Environmental Conditions, Forest Age, Forest Conservation, Habitat Fragmentation, Patch Area, Rarity , Seedbank Persistence, Specific Leaf Area",
author = "Adam Kimberley and Blackburn, {George Alan} and Duncan Whyatt and Simon Smart",
note = "This is the peer reviewed version of the following article: Kimberley, A., Alan Blackburn, G., Duncan Whyatt, J. and Smart, S. M. (2014), Traits of plant communities in fragmented forests: the relative influence of habitat spatial configuration and local abiotic conditions. J Ecol, 102: 632–640. doi:10.1111/1365-2745.12222 which has been published in final form at http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/1365-2745.12222/abstract This article may be used for non-commercial purposes in accordance With Wiley Terms and Conditions for self-archiving.",
year = "2014",
month = may,
doi = "10.1111/1365-2745.12222",
language = "English",
volume = "102",
pages = "632--640",
journal = "Journal of Ecology",
issn = "0022-0477",
publisher = "Blackwell-Wiley",
number = "3",

}

RIS

TY - JOUR

T1 - Traits of plant communities in fragmented forests

T2 - the relative influence of habitat spatial configuration and local abiotic conditions

AU - Kimberley, Adam

AU - Blackburn, George Alan

AU - Whyatt, Duncan

AU - Smart, Simon

N1 - This is the peer reviewed version of the following article: Kimberley, A., Alan Blackburn, G., Duncan Whyatt, J. and Smart, S. M. (2014), Traits of plant communities in fragmented forests: the relative influence of habitat spatial configuration and local abiotic conditions. J Ecol, 102: 632–640. doi:10.1111/1365-2745.12222 which has been published in final form at http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/1365-2745.12222/abstract This article may be used for non-commercial purposes in accordance With Wiley Terms and Conditions for self-archiving.

PY - 2014/5

Y1 - 2014/5

N2 - 1. The plant trait composition of forest fragments is thought to be partly determined by forest spatial properties, although the relative importance of habitat configuration and local abiotic drivers is poorly understood.2. To address this issue, large-scale habitat extent data were combined with detailed field survey information for temperate broad-leaved deciduous forest patches to quantify the relative effects of spatial and abiotic filters on plant community mean trait values.3. Local conditions such as shade and soil fertility had the largest effect on mean trait values, but aspects of habitat configuration also had significant partial effects on a number of traits.4. Mean trait values within older forest patches were more strongly influenced by forest spatial configuration than in younger patches.5. Synthesis. Results indicate that, in addition to the effects of greater light availability and competition in small patches and at forest edges, aspects of habitat configuration such as patch size and isolation are themselves important factors limiting the occurrence of forest specialist species. Large areas of core forest habitat contain a greater proportion of rare, poor dispersing species, although these effects were less visible in more recently established forest. This highlights the importance of maintaining existing large and old forest patches as a refuge for forest specialist plants. The results of this comparison of spatial and abiotic variables suggest that controlling the spatial properties of forest patches is likely to prove an effective way of managing plant species diversity, provided that sites with appropriate abiotic conditions are chosen.

AB - 1. The plant trait composition of forest fragments is thought to be partly determined by forest spatial properties, although the relative importance of habitat configuration and local abiotic drivers is poorly understood.2. To address this issue, large-scale habitat extent data were combined with detailed field survey information for temperate broad-leaved deciduous forest patches to quantify the relative effects of spatial and abiotic filters on plant community mean trait values.3. Local conditions such as shade and soil fertility had the largest effect on mean trait values, but aspects of habitat configuration also had significant partial effects on a number of traits.4. Mean trait values within older forest patches were more strongly influenced by forest spatial configuration than in younger patches.5. Synthesis. Results indicate that, in addition to the effects of greater light availability and competition in small patches and at forest edges, aspects of habitat configuration such as patch size and isolation are themselves important factors limiting the occurrence of forest specialist species. Large areas of core forest habitat contain a greater proportion of rare, poor dispersing species, although these effects were less visible in more recently established forest. This highlights the importance of maintaining existing large and old forest patches as a refuge for forest specialist plants. The results of this comparison of spatial and abiotic variables suggest that controlling the spatial properties of forest patches is likely to prove an effective way of managing plant species diversity, provided that sites with appropriate abiotic conditions are chosen.

KW - Dispersal Traits

KW - Environmental Conditions

KW - Forest Age

KW - Forest Conservation

KW - Habitat Fragmentation

KW - Patch Area

KW - Rarity

KW - Seedbank Persistence

KW - Specific Leaf Area

U2 - 10.1111/1365-2745.12222

DO - 10.1111/1365-2745.12222

M3 - Journal article

VL - 102

SP - 632

EP - 640

JO - Journal of Ecology

JF - Journal of Ecology

SN - 0022-0477

IS - 3

ER -