Homogenization of Temperate Mixed Deciduous Forests in Białowieża Forest: Similar Communities Are Becoming More Similar

Abstract

Many studies show the significant impact of direct and indirect human activity on the functioning of terrestrial ecosystems, including forests. The increase in the number of invasive species, changes caused by climate change, or eutrophication of habitats resulting from air pollution can irrevocably affect biodiversity, species composition, or species interactions. Many of these effects cannot be seen in commercial forests due to the significant impact of direct human use of the forest and the high degree of transformation of forest ecosystems. In this work, we ask: how have forest communities changed over the past 70 years? What was the reason for these changes? To answer the above questions, we conducted research on repeated observations in the core area of the Białowieża National Park, which is characterized by one of the highest degrees of naturalness in Europe, where ecological processes have occurred without direct human intervention since the last glaciation. Studies have shown directional changes in species composition and biotic homogenization of three forest communities. Directional changes were found to be associated with both eutrophication of habitats as well as with changes in humidity and temperature. However, the observed changes in species composition were opposite to the hypotheses based on the observed global change. In contrast, changes in the species composition of the stand and the ability to shade and buffer the temperature and humidity under the canopy caused changes in the species composition of forest communities. In the mixed deciduous forest, homogenization occurred along with the simultaneous change of species composition of forest communities. This was caused by an increase in fertility caused by increased nitrogen deposition and changes in environmental conditions prevailing under the canopy of trees, which, however, were caused by changes in the species composition of the stand.