Clearcutting and selective logging have inconsistent effects on liana diversity and abundance but not on liana–tree interaction networks

Understanding the effects of forest management on lianas and their
interaction with trees is an important step towards effective forest
management. Our study therefore aimed at quantifying the patterns of liana
diversity and abundance, and liana-tree interaction network structure in
response to logging disturbance in a moist semi-deciduous forest in Ghana.
We sampled lianas (diameter at 1.3 m ≥ 1 cm) and their host trees
(diameter at breast height ≥ 5 cm) in 90 20 × 20 m plots among three
forest management regimes: clearcut-logged, selectively-logged and
old-growth forests. Liana species diversity and abundance in the
selectively-logged forest was similar to that of the old-growth forest,
while that in clearcut-logged forest was significantly lower than both
above-mentioned forest types. Liana-tree interaction networks showed
anti-nested structure, which is a form of nonrandom community
organization. There were significant modularity and degree of
specialization, but no significant connectance in the network structure.
Largely, most of the species were peripherals, while a few species acted
as structurally important species (i.e. module hubs, network hubs and
connectors) in the three networks. A different set of species acted as
structurally important species in the different forest management regimes.
Our findings call for a re-examination of clearcutting logging in forest
management in view of its negative effects on lianas, and we recommend
prioritizing important modules in liana-tree network for future
conservation.