Root biomass and productivity in dominant plantation populations in the mountainous area in western Sichuan

This study investigated root biomass and productivity in dominant populations in western Sichuan, China. A total of 4 plots (Picea balfouriana plantation for 22 age in Maerkang, 9 trees, mean DBH of population for 10.4 cm and height for 10.5 m; Larix maxteriana plantation for 22 age in Wolong, 9 trees, mean DBH of population for 17.0 cm and height for 13.8 m; Abies fabri plantation for 35 age in Ebian, 18 trees, mean DBH of population for 14.1 cm and height for 11.9 m; Larix kaempferi plantation for 23 age in Miyaluo, 8 trees, mean DBH of population for 17.4 cm and height for 14.5 m; a 20 m×25 m plot located on each of the 4 types in western Sichuan, China) were randomly selected and excavated to a depth of 60 cm for each of the 4 plantation types. To estimate the root biomass of an individual tree using D ² H, an exponential model was selected with the highest coefficient ranging from 0.94 to 0.99. The total root biomass per hm² varied among plantation population types following the order: L. kaempferi (37.832 t/hm²) > A. fabri (24.907 t/hm²) > L. maxteriana (18.320 t/hm²) > P. balfouriana (15.982 t/hm²). The biomass fractions of a given root size class compared to the total root biomass differed among plantation population types. For all 4 studied plantation types, the majority of the roots were distributed in the top 40 cm of soil, e.g., 97.88% for P. balfouriana population, 96.78% for L. maxteriana, 95.65% for A. fabri, and 99.72 for L. kaempferi population. The root biomass fractions distributed in the top 20 cm of soil were 77.13% for P. balfouriana, 77.13% for L. maxteriana, 65.02% for A. fabri and 80.66% for L. kaempferi, respectively. The root allocation in the 0–20, 20–40, and 40–60 cm soil layers gave ratios of 34:12:1 for P. balfouriana, 24:6:1 for L. maxteriana, 15:7:1 for A. fabri, and 64:4:1 for L. kaempferi populations. The root biomass density of dominant plantation population was 10.782 t/(hm²·m) for P. balfouriana, 8.230 t/hm²·m) for L. maxteriana, 24.546 t/(hm²·m) for A. fabri, and 13.211 t/(hm²·m) for L. kaempferi population, respectively. The root biomass productivity was found to be 0.57 t/(hm²·year) for P. balfouriana, 0.83 t/(hm²·year) for L. maxteriana, 0.71 t/(hm²·year) for A. fabri and 1.64 t/(hm²·year) for L. kaempferi population, respectively. __________ Translated from Acta Ecologica Sinica, 2006, 26(2): 542–551 [译自: 生态学报, 2006, 26(2): 542–551]     

造林密度对米老排人工林初期生长的影响

[目的]探讨不同造林密度对米老排人工林生长的影响规律,为米老排人工林定向培育过程中的密度控制提供参考。[方法]以广东省云浮市造林后6年生米老排人工林为研究对象,对不同造林密度(625、833、1 111、1 667、2 500株·hm~(-2))林分平均树高、优势木高、胸径、保留率和枝下高等生长指标进行连续4年调查。[结果]表明:随着造林密度的增大,米老排林分平均胸径、胸径连年生长量、保留率、单株材积和材积连年生长量均显著减小,而枝下高、林分蓄积量和蓄积连年生长量显著增加。在一定密度范围内,造林密度对林分高生长的影响比较小。造林后第6年,密度1 667株·hm~(-2)林分的平均树高最大(11.4 m),优势木高以密度1 111株·hm~(-2)林分的最大(13.3m),树高连年生长量以密度625株·hm~(-2)林分的最大(1.5 m·a~(-1));密度625株·hm~(-2)林分的平均胸径、胸径连年生长量、单株材积和材积连年生长量均最大,分别为14.3 cm、2.5 cm·a~(-1)、0.097 3 m~3和0.038 2 m~3·a~(-1),比密度2 500株·hm~(-2)林分的分别增加27.7%、81.0%、49.0%和82.4%;密度2 500株·hm~(-2)林分的枝下高、蓄积量和蓄积连年生长量均最大,分别为6.0 m、149.4 m~3·hm~(-2)和44.8 m~3·hm~(-2)·a~(-1),分别是密度625株·hm~(-2)林分的2.61、2.52、1.95倍。[结论]分析了造林密度对米老排初期生长的影响,对米老排人工林的培育具有理论指导意义。     

Growth characteristics of multipurpose tree species, crop productivity and soil properties in agroforestry systems under subtropical humid climate in India

Multipurpose tree species （MPTs） were studied in an agroforestry arboretum under subtropical humid climate in Northeast India. Out of 12 MPTs planted under agroforestry systems, Acacia auriculiformis in spacing of 2 m × 2 m （2500 stems·hm^-2） could have the potentiality to meet the timber/fuelwood requirement due to its high wood production of 635 m^3·hm^-2 with mean annual increment （MAI） of 2.54×10^-2 m^3.treel.a^-1 in a short rotation period of 10 years. Thus, A. auriculiformis is a short rotation forest tree species suitable to grow in subtropical humid climate. On the other hand, at 16 years of age, Eucalyptus hybrid and Michelia champaca in spacing of 3 m × 3 m （1111 stems.hm^2） produced appreciably high timber volume of 315 m^3.hm^-2 and 165 m^3.hm^-2 with MAI of 1.77×10^-2 m^3.tree^-1·a^-1 and 0.92×10.2 m^3.tree^-1.a^-1, respectively. At 16 years of age, Gmelina arborea produced a timber volume of 147 m^3.hm^-2 with MAI of 1.47×10^-2 m^3.tree^-1.a^-1 followed by Samania saman （140 m^3.hm^-2）, Albizziaprocera （113 m^3·hm^-2） and Tectona grandis （79 m3.hm^-2） with MAI of 1.40, 1.13 and 0.78 × 10^-2 m^3 .tree^-1a^-1, respectively in 4 m × 4 m spacing （625 stems.hm^-2）. Gliricidia maculata and Leucaena leucocephala could be used as live fences around the farm boundary to supply their N-rich leaves for mulch as well as manure to crops. In agroforestry arboretum, direct seeded upland rice （Oryza sativa - variety, AR-11）, groundnut （Arachis hypogaea - variety, JL-24） and sesamum （Sesamum indicum - variety, B-67） were grown during the initial period upto 8 years of tree establishment. Under other MPTs, there was a reduction in crop productivity as compared to open space. After 8 years of tree establishment, horti-silvi and silvi-pastoral systems were developed and pineapple （Ananas comosus - variety Queen）, turmeric （Curcuma longa -variety RCT -1） and cowpea （Vigna sinensis - variety Pusa Barsati） as forage crop were raised. The productivity of p     

Distribution patterns of vegetation biomass and nutrients bio-cycle in alpine tundra ecosystem on Changbai Mountains, Northeast China

A study was conducted to test the correlation between biomass and elevation and the differences in concentration and storks of nutrients among five vegetation types （Felsenmeer alpine tundra vegetation-FA, Lithic alpine tundra vegetation-LA, Typical alpine tundra vegetation-TA, Meadow alpine tundra vegetation-MA, and Swamp alpine tundra vegetation-SA） on alpine tundra of Changbai Mountains, Jilin Province, China in growing seasons of 2003, 2004 and 2005. The biomass of 43 mono-species and soil nutrients in alpine tundra ecosystem were also investigated. Dominant species from Ericaceae （such as Rhododendron chrysanthum and Vaccinium jliginosum var. alpinum） were taken to analyze organ biomass distribution. Result showed that the biomass and elevation had a significant correlation （Biomass-237.3 in（Elevation） ＋494.36; R^2=0.8092; P〈0.05）. No significant differences were found in phosphorus and sulphur concentrations of roots, stems and leaves among the five vegetation types. There were significant differences in nitrogen and phosphorus stocks of roots, stems and leaves and in sulphur stock of stems and leaves among TA, MA, and SA vegetation types （p〈0.05）. The nutrient stock of five vegetations was averagely 72.46 kg.hm^-2, of which N, P, S were 48.55, 10.33 and 13.61 kg·hm^-2, respectively. Soil N and S concentrations in meadow alpine tundra soil type was significantly higher than those in other four soil types （Cold desert alpine tundra soil, Lithic alpine tundra soil, Peat alpine tundra soil, and Gray alpine tundra soil）. Phosphorous concentration in SA type was higher （p〈0.05） than in other types. Soil nutrient stock （0-20cm） was averagely 39.59 t.hm^-2, of which N, P, S were 23.74, 5.86, 9.99 t·hm^-2, respectively.     

A new methodology for estimating forest NPP based on forest inventory data—A case study of Chinese pine forest

Accurately estimating forest net primary productivity (NPP) plays an important role in study of global carbon budget. A NPP model reflecting the synthetic effects of both biotic (forest stand age, A and stem volume, V) and climatic factors (mean annual actual evapotranspiration, E) was developed for Chinese pine (Pinus tabulaeformis) forest by making full use of Forest Inventory Data (FID) and dynamically assessing forest productivity. The NPP of Chinese pine forest was estimated by using this model and the fourth FID (1989–1993), and the spatial pattern of NPP of Chinese pine forest was given by Geography Information System (GIS) software. The results indicated that mean NPP value, of Chinese pine forest was 7.82 t m⁻²·a⁻¹ and varied at the range of 3.32–11.87 t hm⁻²·a⁻¹. NPP distribution of Chinese pine forests was significantly different in different regions, higher in the south and lower in the north of China. In terms of the main distribution regions of Chinese pine, the NPPs of Chinese pine forest in Shanxi and Shaanxi provinces were in middle level, with an average NPP of 7.4 t hm⁻²·a⁻¹, that in the southern and the eastern parts (e.g. Shichuang Hunan, Henan, and Liaoning provinces) was higher (over 7.7 t hm⁻²·a⁻¹), and that in the northern part and western part (e.g. Neimenggu and Ningxia provinces) was lower (below 5 t hm⁻²·a⁻¹). This study provides an efficient way for using FID to understand the dynamics of foest NPP and evaluate its effects on global climate change. Foundation item: This study was supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (Nos. 30028001, 49905005), National Key Basic Research Specific Foundation (G1999043407); the Chinese Academy of Sciences (KSC2-1-07). Biography: ZHAO Min (1973-), female, Ph. D. in Laboratory of Quantitative Vegetation Ecology, Institute of Botany, the Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100093, P. R. China. Responsible editor: Zhu Hong     

甘肃兴隆山主要森林类型凋落物累积量及其影响因子

[目的]为了阐明森林凋落物累积量与主要影响因子的关系。[方法]2013-2014年,采用时空互代法和标准样地调查法,研究了兴隆山山杨-白桦-青杄林演替过程中山杨-白桦-青杄中龄林、青杄中龄林和青杄近熟林3种森林群落凋落物累积量及其主要影响因子。[结果]表明:1)随森林正向演替的进行,森林凋落物层厚度和总累积量先减小后增加,3种森林群落凋落物层厚度均值依次为5.26、5.03和5.59 cm,总累积量均值依次为57.08、51.44、56.34 t·hm^-2; 2)随海拔高度的升高,青杄近熟林凋落物总累积量不断增加,海拔2300、2400和2500 m均值依次为48.56、55.93和64.55 t·hm^-2;林分密度大的、坡度小的青杄中龄林凋落物总累积量较大,林分密度为2133、1705和1065株·hm^-2的均值依次为49.87、48.59和45.36 t·hm^-2,坡度为22°、32°和41°的均值依次为58.35、49.90和48.59 t·hm^-2; 3)凋落物未分解层与林分胸径、树高、针叶树密度呈显著相关性。[结论]森林凋落物累积量影响因子较多,其大小是众多因子共同作用的结果。在林分和立地因子中,海拔影响较为明显,随海拔高度的升高而不断增加;林分密度、坡度等因子均有影响,但作用不明显;林分胸径、树高、针叶树密度与未分解层累积量呈显著负相关性,而与已分解层呈显著正相关性。     

Function and value of water conservation in different age classes of Acacia mangium plantations

For this paper, we studied the water-holding capacity of canopy, vegetation layer under canopy and litter layer, the water-holding capacity and permeability of soil as well as their changes with growth of stands in Acacia mangium plantations of three different age classes (four-, seven-and 11-year-old). Results show that total water-holding above ground in the order of 11-year stand age (52.86 t/hm²)>seven-year stand age (41.90 t/hm²)>seven-year stand age (25.78 t/hm²), the increment tendency increased with stand age. Similar sequence also obtained on the water-holding capacity and permeation capacity of soil (0–40 cm). The total water-storage capacity both above ground and soil in four-year-old, seven-year-old and 11-year-old of A. mangium plantations were 2,023.0, 2,158.4 and 2,260.4 t/hm², respectively, and the all value of water conservation were 1,372.70, 1,474.42 and 1,549.91 yuan (RMB)/hm², respectively. Therefore, A. mangium plantation had a good ability to modify soil structure and good water conservation function. __________ Translated from Journal of Soil and Water Conservation, 2006, 20(5): 5–8, 27 [译自: 水土保持学报]     

Structural diversity of English yew (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Taxus baccata</Emphasis> L.) populations

In Europe, the English yew species (Taxus baccata L.) is endangered. Intensive human land-use, including forest management, has caused a decrease of the yew populations all over Europe. In Austria, gene conservation forests are used for the in situ conservation of populations of this rare tree species by silvicultural treatments. In order to improve the conservation management in these gene conservation forests, this study addresses the relation between competition and viability of yew populations through the use of structural diversity indices. The structural indices, which include mingling, tree–tree distance, diameter, and tree height differentiation, were determined for a structural group of four trees as well as the neighbouring trees of the male and female yews at the monitoring plots on a regular grid in three gene conservation forests. Although the three study sites provided quite different environmental conditions for English yew, the vitality of each individual yew was influenced by the inter-specific competition of the neighbouring tree species at all sites. Low vitality was associated with a small mean distance to neighbours and large tree height differentiation. In conclusion, we suggest that a combination of different structural indicators is needed for an integrative assessment of conservation status in the gene conservation forests. This would help improve the evaluation of the impact management has on yew population viability.     

尾叶桉纸浆林造林密度控制技术的研究

对 5 9年生尾叶桉纸浆林生长分析表明 :(1)密度与树高、胸径呈反比。 3种密度的树高、胸径大小均为密度B >C >D。两配置树高、胸径也以配置B >A。 (2 )密度对单株材积的影响与对胸径影响的规律一致。 5 9年生时单株材积生长量以密度B最高 ,达到 0 0 85 33m3·株 - 1,是最低单株材积密度D的 2 0 4倍。两配置单株材积以配置B >A。 (3) 4 7年生时单位面积蓄积量大小为密度B >C>D ,密度B达到 94 185m3·hm- 2 ,是最低D处理蓄积量的 1 15倍 ;5 9年生时蓄积量最大者为密度C ,达到 12 7 6 0m3·hm- 2 ,是最低蓄积密度D的 1 17倍。随着时间的变化 ,密度控制尤为重要。 4 7、5 9年生时单位面积蓄积均以配置B >A ,配置B分别比配置A高 2 4 82 %、2 3 5 3%。 (4)对胸径D和冠幅CW 值用方程进行回归拟合 ,结果以乘幂CW=a×Db 拟合最好。方程表达式为CW=0 4 72 4×D0 6 715。 (5 )编制的经营密度表反映出 ,随着胸径D的递增 ,基本经营密度N0 逐渐下降 ;当D≥ 18cm时 ,N0 的下降趋势渐趋平缓     

Tree productivity and water potential productivity in returning farmland to forest project in Datong County,Qinghai Province

From 2002 to 2003, based on the investigation of sample plots and stem analysis of remained plantation communities in the areas of returning farmland to forest in the 1980s in Datong County, Qinghai Province, this paper studies tree productivity and moisture potential productivity of six types of plantations on the land of returning farmland to forest, such as green poplar (Populus cathayana Rehd.) and shrub mixed forest, Asia white birch (Betula platyphylla) and China spruce (Picea asperata) mixed forest, Dahurian larch (Larix gmelinii) pure forest, China spruce pure forest and Asia white birch pure forest and so on. The results show that: in sub-humid region of Loess Plateau, 3 000 trees per hm² is a proper standard of planting density. Under current condition, the productivity index of green poplar and shrub mixed forest, Asia white birch pure forest, China spruce pure forest, and Asia white birch and China spruce mixed forest with the density of 2 100–3 333 trees per hm² can serve as potential productivity standard of actual biomass of arbor established forest. In sub-humid area, Thornthwaite Model is adopted to estimate plant climate potential productivity, which is about 8 462 kg&#8226;hm^–2&#8226;a^–1. The actual potential water productive efficiency of Purplecone spruce (Picea purpurea) and Asia white birch pure established forest are 17.22 and 22.14 kg&#8226;mm^–1&#8226;hm^–2&#8226;a^–1 respectively, and that of green poplar and shrub mixed established forest, and Asia white birch and China spruce mixed established forest are 21.14 and 19.09 kg&#8226;mm^–1&#8226;hm^–2&#8226;a^–1 respectively. The potential productivity of green poplar and shrub mixed forest, Asia white birch and China spruce mixed forest, China spruce pure forest and Asia white birch pure forest which have grown into forest with the density of 3 000 trees per hm² have attained or been close to that of local climax community, which is local maximum tree productivity at present. These types of forestation models are the developing direction of the returning farmland to forest project.     

黑龙江省穆棱自然保护区东北红豆杉种群特征的研究

在74条样带436.872hm2面积上进行野外调查,对黑龙江穆棱东北红豆杉自然保护区内天然东北红豆杉种群数量、种群分布与生态因子的相互关系进行了研究。结果表明:在保护区34544hm2范围内天然东北红豆杉种群数量庞大,而且天然东北红豆杉种群的分布对海拔、坡向、坡位和坡度等生态因子具有选择性。700m-800m是种群的最适海拔范围;分布在阴坡的天然种群数量明显高于阳坡;山地的中部和上部更适合东北红豆杉生长;东北红豆杉种群多数分布在坡度15度以下的山地,随着坡度的增加,天然种群的数量明显减少。图3表4参18。     

Growing stock variation in different teak （Tectona grandis） forest stands of Mizoram,India

The growing stock assessment of three different teak forest stands （Tuirial： 500 m asl, Sairang： 200 m asl and Phunchawng： 550 m asl） was done in 2006 in Mizoram, India. Five diameter classes were arbitrarily established for knowing the volume attribute data and population structure, viz. a （10-20 cm）, b （20-30 cm）, c （30-40 cm）, d （40-50 cm）, and e （50-60 cm）. Results revealed that the density of the individuals among the studied stands varied from 280 stems/ha to 620 stems/ha. The average diameter of all the individuals ranged between 27.48 cm and 35.43 cm. Similarly, the average height was oscillated between 17.87 m and 22.24 m. The total basal area was recorded between 24.28 m2.ha-1 and 45.80 m2.ha＂l. The maximum and minimum values of total growing stock under all the diameter classes were 669.01 m3.ha-1 and 284.7 m3.ha-1, respectively. The representation of population structure of different stands explained that the perpetuation of this species was ensured for a quite long time.     

阔叶红松林倒木贮量动态研究

本文研究了中国吉林省长白山区阔叶红松林倒木贮量的动态变化规律。阔叶红松林倒木贮量包括其现有倒木及其年输入量等贮量的变化规律。阔叶红松林现有倒木贮量开始为16.25 t·hm-2,以后随时间减少,到100年分解掉其干重的85%左右,300年后所剩无几。倒木年输入量平均约为0.6 t·hm-2,其贮量是随时间而增加,200年后稳定在31 t·hm-2,可保持到该群落的顶级时期。倒木总贮量的变化在初期呈增加趋势,而后随着现有倒木的完全分解,倒木贮量就与其倒木的年输入趋于一致,最后稳定在上述水平上。图4表2参9。     

Traditional agroforestry systems as tools for conservation of genetic resources of Milicia excelsa Welw. C.C. Berg in Benin

The potential contribution of agroforestry systems to the management and genetic resources conservation in iroko (Milicia excelsa), an important and valuable timber tree species in sub-Saharan Africa, is addressed in this paper. The structure and dynamics of traditional agroforestry systems and the ecological structure of Milicia excelsa populations in farmlands were studied through a survey carried out in 100 farmlands covering the natural range of iroko in Benin. Forty-five species belonging to 24 plant families were recorded in traditional agroforestry systems. Average tree density varied from 1 to 7 stems ha⁻¹ with diversity index ranging from 2.6 to 2.9. Milicia excelsa occurred sparsely in agroforestry systems in all regions, with density ranging from 1 to 4 stems ha⁻¹; stand basal area varying from 33.10⁻⁴ to 129.10⁻⁴ m² ha⁻¹, and negligible seedling regeneration. However, male and female trees were apparently evenly distributed on farmlands in all regions (F/M > 0). Iroko trees produced viable seeds with moderate germination rate and early growth (germination rate 22% and height 7.29 cm after 3 months). Suggestions are made regarding optimal densities for iroko conservation in farmlands, according to farmers’ socioeconomic conditions in different regions, in order to improve traditional agroforestry systems and their use as biological corridors in conservation of Milicia excelsa genetic resources.     

森林生态效益经济补偿综合评估(英文)

长期以来人们忽视了森林产品的非市场价值,从经济角度上来看, 这将导致保护森林资源的难度加大。本文在以前研究的基础之上,综合了恩格尔系数和逻辑斯谛曲线构造了补偿系数,计算了长白山地区森林生态效益的经济补偿值。结果表明,1999 年应支付的总补偿值为637.93 元/公顷,其中70%将直接支付给当地居民和其它相关利益者。这一数值远远高于现有的补偿值。从当前的形势看,中央政府不可能承担所有的森林保护费用和支付所有的保护森林的开支。本文提出可以利用当地政府的财政投资以及将补偿费用纳入到现行财政体系中解决方法。图1 表2参17。     

桉属树种/种源试验

广东省江门地区为调整人工林树种结构 ,提高人工林的产量和质量 ,发展以阔叶树种为主的人工林。现桉树 ( Eucalyptusspp.)已成为该市营造短轮伐期工业用材林的主要树种 [1] 。本试验的目的在于通过从澳大利亚引进桉属树种 ,进行桉属树种 /种源试验 ,为江门市选出更适合当地生长的优良桉树树种和优良种源 ,促进该地区桉树人工林的发展。1　试验地概况　　试验地位于广东省开平市镇海林场 ,2 2°2 5′～ 2 2°40′N,112°15′～ 112°45′E。属南亚热带气候 ,年平均温度 2 2 .1℃ ,极端最高温度 38.3℃ ,极端最低温度 1℃ ,年平均降水量 182…     

Relationship and its ecological significance between plant species diversity and ecosystem function of soil conservation in semi-humid evergreen forests, Yunnan Province, China

In recent years, the relationship between biodiversity and ecosystem stability, productivity, and other ecosystem functions has been extensively studied by using theoretical approaches, experimental investigations, and observations in natural ecosystems; however, results are controversial. For example, simple systems were more stable than complex systems in theoretical studies, and higher productivity was observed in human-made ecosystems with poorer species composition, etc. The role of biodiversity in the ecosystem, such as its influence on sustainability, stability, and productivity, is still not understood. Because accelerated soil-erosion in various ecosystems has caused a decrease of primary productivity, a logical way used in the study of the relationship between biodiversity and ecosystem function can be used to study the relationship between plant species diversity and soil conservation. In addition, biodiversity is a product of evolutionary history, and soil erosion is a key factor controlling the evolution of modern environment on the surface of the Earth. A study on the relationship between biodiversity and soil-erosion processes could help us understand the environmental evolution of Earth. Fifteen 10 m × 40 m standard runoff plots were established to measure surface runoff, soil erosion, and total P loss in different secondary communities of semi-humid evergreen broad-leaved forests that varied in composition, diversity, and level of disturbance and soil erosion. The following five communities were studied: AEI (Ass. Elsholtzia fruticosa + Imperata cylindrical), APMO (Ass. Pinus yunnanensis + Myrsine africana + Oplismenus compsitus), APLO (Ass. Pinus yunnanensis + Lithocarpus confines + Oplismenus compsitus), AEME (Ass. Eucalyptus smith + Myrsine africana + Eupatorium adenophorum), and ACKV (Ass. Cyclobalanopsis glaucoides + Keteleeria evelyniana + Viola duelouxii). Tree density, the diameter of the tree at breast height, and the hygroscopic volume of plant leaves were determined in each plot. Results indicated that surface runoff, soil erosion, and total P loss decreased as a power function with increase in plant species diversity. Their average values for three years were 960.20 m³/(hm² · year), 11.4 t/(hm² · year), and 127.69 kg/(hm² · year) in the plot with the lowest species diversity, and 75.55 m³/(hm² · year), 0.28 t/(hm² · year), and 4.71 kg/(hm² · year) in the plot with the highest species diversity, 12, 50, and 25 times respectively lower compared with the lowest species diversity plots. The coefficients of variation of surface runoff, soil erosion, and total P loss also followed a power function with the increase of plant species diversity, and were 287.6, 534.21, and 315.47 respectively in the lowest species diversity plot and 57.93, 187.94, and 59.2 in the highest species diversity plot. Enhanced soil conservation maintained greater stability with increased plant species diversity. Plant individual density increased linearly and the canopy density and cross section at breast height increased logarithmically with the increase of plant species diversity. The hydrological function enhanced as the plant species diversity increased. There were obviously relationships between plant species diversity and rainfall interception, coverage, and plant individual density, which was related to soil conservation functions in the five forest communities. The complex relationships between plant species diversity and the above-mentioned ecological processes indicated that plant species diversity was an important factor influencing the interception of rainfall, reducing soil erosion and enhancing the stability of soil conservation, but its mechanism is not known. This experiment showed that plant species diversity promoted soil and nutrient conservation and ultimately lead to the increase of the primary productivity of the ecosystem, and was thus a good way to study the relationship between biodiversity and ecosystem stability. Rainfall interception could be assessed easily using the hygroscopic volume of plant leaves. Because there were strong correlations between plant species diversity and soil conservation functions, the patterns of plant species diversity will show a certain level of predictability on the interactions of life systems with surface processes of the Earth. __________ Translated from Journal of Plant Ecology, 2006, 30(3): 392–403 [译自: 植物生态学报     

Micropropagation and callus culture of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Saussurea laniceps</Emphasis>, an alpine medicinal plant

Cottonhead windhairdaisy (Saussurea laniceps Hand.-Mazz.) is one of the most famous and important medicinal herbs in China. Illegal collection from wild populations is increasingly threatening the present environment of S. laniceps. Establishment of an efficient method for micropropagation is the best way to change its endangered situation. When mature seeds of S. laniceps were cultured on hormone-free MS medium, plantlets were formed from germinated seeds in 7–10 d. Then 0.5 cm × 0.5 cm leaf explants were transplanted to MS medium supplemented with 1-naphthalene-acetic acid (NAA)/2,4-D and benzyladenine (BA)/KT and callus was achieved 10 d after transfer. Shoot bud regeneration occurred from callus cultured on MS medium supplemented with different growth regulators 20 d after culturing. The regeneration percentages varied with the different components of plant growth regulators. The percent regeneration from callus pretreated at low temperature of 5°C increased significantly compared with those incubated at 23/20°C directly. Optimal regeneration was observed with explants on media supplemented with 1.5 mg&#8226;L^–1 BA plus 0.2 mg&#8226;L^-1 NAA. In the presence of 0.2 mg&#8226;L^–1 NAA in half-strength MS, 78% of the shoots formed roots. Plantlets from explants showed 63% survival after acclimatization.     

日本北海道北部寒温带森林流域林冠层凋落物及其养分归还量的景观格局(英文)

Within a forested watershed at the Uryu Experimental Forest of Hokkaido University in northern Hokkaido, overstory litterfall and related nutrient fluxes were measured at different landscape zones over two years. The wetland zone covered with Picea glehnii pure stand. The riparian zone was deciduous broad-leaved stand dominated by Alnus hirsuta and Salix spp., while the mixture of deciduous broadleaf and evergreen conifer dominated by Betula platyphylla, Quercus crispula and Abies sachalinensis distributed on the upland zone. Annual litterfall averaged 1444, 5122, and 4123 kg.hm^-2·a^-1 in the wetland, riparian and upland zones, respectively. Litterfall production peaked in September-October, and foliage litter contributed the greatest amount （73.4%-87.6 %） of the annual total litterfall. Concentrations of nutrients analyzed in foliage litter of the dominant species showed a similar seasonal variation over the year except for N in P glehnii and A. hirsuta. The nutrient fluxes for all elements analyzed were greatest on riparian zone and lowest in wetland zone. Nutrient fluxes via litterfall followed the decreasing sequence： N （11-129 kg.hm-2.aq） 〉 Ca （9-69） 〉 K （5-20） 〉 Mg （3-15） 〉 P （0.4-4.7） for all stands. Significant differences were found in litterfall production and nutrient fluxes among the different landscape components. There existed significant differences in soil chemistry between the different landscape zones. The consistently low soil C：N ratios at the riparian zone might be due to the higher-quality litter inputs （largely N-fixing alder）.     

Vertical variation and storage of nitrogen in an aquic brown soil under different land uses

The vertical variation and storage of nitrogen in the depth of 0–150 cm of an aquic brown soil were studied under 14 years of four land use patterns, i.e., paddy field, maize field, fallow field and woodland in Shenyang Experimental Station of Ecology, Chinese Academy of Sciences in November of 2003. The results showed that different land uses had different profile distributions of soil total nitrogen (STN), alkali N, ammonium (NH₄ ⁺-N) and nitrate (NO₃ ⁻-N). The sequence of STN storage was woodland>maize field>fallow field>paddy field, while that of NO₃ ⁻-N content was maize field>paddy field>woodland>fallow field, suggesting the different root biomass and biological N cycling under various land uses. The STN storage in the depth of 0–100 cm of woodland averaged to 11.41 t·hm⁻¹, being 1.65 and 1.25 times as much as that in paddy and maize fields, respectively, while there was no significant difference between maize and fallow fields. The comparatively higher amount NO₃ ⁻-N in maize and paddy fields may be due to nitrogen fertilization and anthropogenic disturbance. Soil alkali N was significantly related with STN, and the correlation could be expressed by a linear regression model under each land use (R ²≥0.929,p<0.001). Such a correlation was slightly closer in nature (woodland and fallow field) than in agro ecosystems (paddy and maize fields). Heavy N fertilization induced an excess of crop need, and led to a comparatively higher amount of soil NO₃ ⁻-N in cultivated fields than in fallow field and woodland. It is suggested that agroforestry practices have the potential to make a significant contribution to both crop production and environment protection. Foundation item: The project was supported by the Knowledge Innovation Program of Chinese Academy of Sciences (KZCX2-413-9) and Fund of Shenyang Experimental Station of Ecology, CAS (STZ0204) Biography: ZHANG Yu-ge, (1968-), female, Ph.D. candidate, associate research fellow in Institute of Applied Ecology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shenyang 110016, P.R. China. Responsible editor: Song Funan