Effect of forest management on alpha diversity of ground vegetation in boreal forests: a model approach

The effect of various forest management types on the alpha diversity of ground vegetation was studied with an ecological simulation model. With this model, stand characteristics were simulated during different management programmes and were then used to calculate the diversity of the ground vegetation. Alpha diversity was expressed as Simpson's reciprocal, which was estimated using stand attributes. The diversity model was estimated using generalised linear models (GLMs). The significant variables in the diversity model were site type, stage of development (clearcut area or other), stand basal area and proportions of pine, aspen and willow as number of stems. In alternative management programmes, the type, interval and intensity of thinning were varied. In managed forests, the most intensive thinning produced the highest diversity of ground vegetation during a rotation. Differences in the diversity of ground vegetation between management programmes were, however, small.