Alain Paquette was one of a group of researchers to recently publish a paper in Forest Ecology and Management on the importance of shading and species diversity for seedling survival and vitality in dryland forests. Given the difficult growing conditions in these ecosystems (i.e. high temperatures and low soil moisture), the variation in microclimate caused by shading and tree diversity can have a big impact on seedling fitness. The researchers measured the survival and vitality of 17 280 seedlings of 9 native dry Afromontane tree and shrub species across 270 plots of varying shade and species richness in the northern highlands of Ethiopia. The plots are part of the International Diversity Experiment Network with Trees (IDENT) of which the Paqlab is a part of (and we host our own IDENT forest in the West Island of Montreal). The researchers found higher seedling survival rates in shaded plots. Within less shaded areas, they found that species richness aided seedling vitality. Their findings provide important insights into how we might successful restore and maintain dryland forests.

Read the article here.