Predicting the retreat and migration of tidal forests along the northern Gulf of Mexico under sea-level rise

Tidal freshwater forests in coastal regions of the southeastern United States are undergoing dieback and retreat from increasing tidal inundation and saltwater intrusion attributed to climate variability and sea-level rise. In many areas, tidal saltwater forests (mangroves) contrastingly are expanding landward in subtropical coastal reaches succeeding freshwater marsh and forest zones. Hydrological characteristics of these low-relief coastal forests in intertidal settings are dictated by the influence of tidal and freshwater forcing. In this paper, we describe the application of the Sea Level Over Proportional Elevation (SLOPE) model to predict coastal forest retreat and migration from projected sea-level rise based on a proxy relationship of saltmarsh/mangrove area and tidal range. The SLOPE model assumes that the sum area of saltmarsh/mangrove habitat along any given coastal reach is determined by the slope of the landform and vertical tide forcing. Model results indicated that saltmarsh and mangrove migration from sea-level rise will vary by county and watershed but greater in western Gulf States than in the eastern Gulf States where millions of hectares of coastal forest will be displaced over the next century with a near meter rise in relative sea level alone. Substantial losses of coastal forests will also occur in the eastern Gulf but mangrove forests in subtropical zones of Florida are expected to replace retreating freshwater forest and affect regional biodiversity. Accelerated global eustacy from climate change will compound the degree of predicted retreat and migration of coastal forests with expected implications for ecosystem management of State and Federal lands in the absence of adaptive coastal management.     

Field and model studies of the fate of particulate carbon in mangrove‐fringed Hinchinbrook Channel,Australia

A field and model study was undertaken in 1996/1997 of the dynamics of water, fine sediment and particulate carbon in the northern region of the mangrovefringed Hinchinbrook Channel, Australia. The currents were primarily tidal and modulated by the wind. Biological detritus acted as a coagulant for the fine cohesive sediment in suspension in the mangrovefringed, muddy coastal waters. Plankton and bacteria were the major aggregating agents at neap tides, and mangrove detritus at spring tides. The microaggregates were typically several hundreds of micrometer in diameter and enhanced the settling rate. The fate of fine sediment and particulate carbon was controlled by the dynamics of the coastal boundary layer, a turbid shallow coastal water zone along the mangrovefringed coast. A tidallymodulated, turbidity maximum zone was found in this layer. Wind stirring increased the turbidity by a factor of five.The channel behaves as a sink trapping fine sediment and particulate carbon. However, the sink was leaky because the dynamics of the coastal boundary layer generated a net outflow of fine sediment out of the channel along the western coast. The biologically enhanced settling of cohesive sediment limited the offshore extent of the muddy suspension to within a few hundreds of meters from the coast.At spring flood tides, some of this particulate carbon was advected into the mangrove forest where it would remain trapped. On a yearly basis about six times as much particulate carbon was exported out of Hinchinbrook Channel through the coastal boundary layer than was trapped in the fringing mangroves.     

Fine root respiration in the mangrove Rhizophora mangle over variation in forest stature and nutrient availability

Root respiration uses a significant proportion of photosynthetically fixed carbon (C) and is a globally important source of C liberated from soils. Mangroves, which are an important and productive forest resource in many tropical and subtropical countries, sustain a high ratio of root to shoot biomass which may indicate that root respiration is a particularly important component in mangrove forest carbon budgets. Mangroves are often exposed to nutrient pollution from coastal waters. Here we assessed the magnitude of fine root respiration in mangrove forests in Belize and investigated how root respiration is influenced by nutrient additions. Respiration rates of excised fine roots of the mangrove, Rhizophora mangle L., were low (4.01 +/- 0.16 nmol CO(2) g(-1) s(-1)) compared to those measured in temperate tree species at similar temperatures. In an experiment where trees where fertilized with nitrogen (N) or phosphorus (P) in low productivity dwarf forests (1-2 m height) and more productive, taller (4- 7 m height) seaward fringing forests, respiration of fine roots did not vary consistently with fertilization treatments or with forest stature. Fine roots of taller fringe trees had higher concentrations of both N and P compared to dwarf trees. Fertilization with P enhanced fine root P concentrations in both dwarf and fringe trees, but reduced root N concentrations compared to controls. Fertilization with N had no effect on root N or P concentrations. Unlike photosynthetic C gain and growth, which is strongly limited by P availability in dwarf forests at this site, fine root respiration (expressed on a mass basis) was variable, but showed no significant enhancements with nutrient additions. Variation in fine root production and standing biomass are, therefore, likely to be more important factors determining C efflux from mangrove sediments than variations in fine root respiration per unit mass.     

Mangrove community recovery potential after catastrophic disturbances in Bangladesh

The objective of this study was to compare the variation in the soil seed banks and the aboveground vegetation in relation to three habitats, i.e., swamp forests, grassland and sand dunes within the Sundarbans mangrove forests of Bangladesh. We collected vegetation data (species and their percentage cover) by using quadrat sampling: 10 m × 10 m for swamp forests and 5 m × 5 m for grassland and sand dunes. We estimated the density of viable seeds of species in the seed bank by counting germinants from soil cores in a germination chamber. Species richness and composition of both aboveground vegetation and the soil seed banks differed significantly among habitats. We identified a total of 23 species from the soil seed bank. Of these, two were true mangrove species and the remaining were non-mangrove species, including halophytic grasses, herbs and mangrove associate species. Our results confirm that mangrove species do not possess a persistent soil seed bank. The presence of high-density non-mangrove and associated mangrove species in the soil seed bank implies that after frequent catastrophic disturbances which limit incoming propagules from adjacent forest stand, large canopy gaps can easily become invaded by non-mangrove and mangrove associate species. This would result in the formation of a cover of non-mangrove species and cryptic ecological degradation in mangrove habitats. We suggest that forest managers should actively consider gap plantations with mangrove species in the large canopy gaps created after catastrophic disturbances to counteract the invasion of non-mangrove species and cryptic ecological degradation.     

城市近郊林土壤种子库研究

对沈阳、抚顺两城市交接的近郊林区不同林分类型土壤种子库进行研究.结果表明:不同林分类型土壤种子库均具有较好的储量和活力,其储量大小顺序为:乔木林地＞灌木林地＞宜林荒地,土壤种子库物种多样性指数大小顺序为:灌木林地＞乔木林地＞宜林荒地,种子种类以乡土树种为主;数量化分析表明坡位对乔木林地及灌木林地中土壤种子库储量和活力影响较大,而植被覆盖度对宜林荒地中土壤种子库储量和活力影响较大.     

中国热带次生林分布、类型与面积研究

热带林的保护问题已受到世界各国的高度重视,由于占世界热带林面积约三分之一的热带次生林,其经济和生态效益通常较差,处于相对被忽视的状态,因此也往往被进一步破坏。将次生林经营纳入可持续经营的轨道,是实现热带林可持续经营目标的重要战略。通过对中国热带森林研究、经营和统计资料的分析,结合本项目实施过程的实地调研取得的结果,文章对中国热带地区次生林分布、面积和类型作了阐述。热带森林主要分布在海南、广东、广西、云南、台湾,以及福建和西藏的部分地区,包括124个县市的全部和50个县市的部分地区。据可认可的资料统计,中国热带林地面积（不含台湾省）约1125．66万hm^2。其中有林地面积1074．49万hm^2,次生林面积544万hm^2。次生林占热带地区林地面积的48．33％,占有林地总面积的50．63％。中国热带林地和次生林的实际数字估计要比这一数值大6％以上,因为中国这几年高度重视林业建设,森林植被特别是热带森林植被恢复得很快,林地和次生林一直在不断增加。热带森林类型主要有：热带雨林（包括湿润雨林、山地雨林）;热带季雨林（包括半常绿季雨林、落叶季雨林、石灰岩季雨林）;南海珊瑚岛植被;海岸红树林等。从森林经理的角度,中国热带次生林的类型可分为：（1）次生阔叶林,包括次生常绿阔叶雨林、次生季雨林和次生季风常绿阔叶林;（2）次生灌木林;（3）次生针叶林;（4）次生红树林及次生珊瑚岛林等四大类型。     

Natural regeneration status of commercial mangrove species (Rhizophora apiculata and Bruguiera gymnorrhiza) in the mangrove forest of Tanjung Bungin, Banyuasin District, South Sumatra

In the mangrove forest areas of Sumatra, Rhizophora apiculata (Bl.) and Bruguiera gymnorrhiza (L.) Lmk., the two most economically important commercial species of mangrove trees, have been intensively exploited for their valuable wood and tannin since the Dutch colonization in the 16th century. The mangrove forest areas of Tanjung Bungin, Banyuasin District, South Sumatra belong to the production forest. Typical Rhizophora-dominated stands were sampled from two inundation classes (Watson, 1928, III and IV) of the virgin mangrove forest of Tanjung Bungin. The sampling method used a 20 × 10-m quadrat for tress. A 5 × 5-m subplot and a 1 × 1-m sublot, for saplings and seedlings respectively, were made in each of the main plots at 10-m intervals. The distribution pattern of R. apiculata and B. gymnorrhiza seedlings studied indicates that regeneration of R. apiculata by seedling establishment is generally sufficient to ensure local propagation in inundation III subplots where Acrostichum aureum is absent. Due to the abundance of A. aureum as a weed in inundation IV zones, the regeneration of both commercial mangrove species is inadequate. This has given rise to considerable concern for their survival. Finally, the presence of regenerating virgin mangrove forest in Tanjung Bungin provides strong argument for this area to be set aside as a conservation area.     

柞蚕场封山育林对植被恢复的影响

对柞蚕场、柞蚕场封山育林6a、9a的植被调查数据进行了分析,结果表明:柞蚕场封山育林可明显促进蒙古栎等乔木的生长和郁闭,但由于萌生,林木的水平分布多呈现聚集于母树的丛状分布;封育后由于林分郁闭,林内光照降低,灌木和草本植物的盖度有所减少;通过多样性指数测度,封育后乔木层、灌木层、草本层的多样性指数均高于柞蚕场;封育后由于森林凋落物的增加使枯落物存储量不断增加,可改善土壤肥力、提高林地涵养水分的功能.     

涪江流域江岸防护林带淤沙固岸效果的研究

在涪江中下游典型江岸营造1000亩淤沙林带,江岸防护林系统经1988年洪水淹后林带内淤积泥沙,在1981年特大洪灾冲成裸露的卵石滩上重新淤地300亩,现已在林间点种农作物;在凸岸营造的淤沙林带,一次洪水淹没后,淤泥沙普遍在20cm以上;凸岸林带内淤沙与乔木胸高断面积成正相关,数学模型:Y=0.0448+0.8558X(Y:淤沙厚度,X:胸高断面积)。当胸径达8cm时,测定单株树干对洪水阻力为6kg,全部冲成倒伏状。凹岸营造固岸林带后,一次洪水淘深河床20cm;固岸林生物工程组合乔草型林网结构与防洪堤水利工程配套后,造成堤与林带区域淤积。     

Trema micrantha (L.) Blume (Ulmaceae): A promising neotropical tree for site amelioration of deforested land

The genus Trema includes many species that are fast growing, short living pioneer trees common in early successional vegetation and large recent gaps of many tropical moist forests. They establish themselves and grow in open sites with microclimatic and soil conditions which are contrasting to those prevailing in dense forests. With time they change the environmental conditions by attenuating the wide alternations of soil temperature and lower midday air relative humidity characteristic of open places. At the same time, soil moisture and organic matter content, as well as nutrient levels increase due to the reestablishment of an organic cycle in the soil. Consequently they help generating an environment that permits the establishment of mature forest species that often do not survive under the environmental conditions of open places. The propagules of mature forest trees can be reintroduced from conserved areas nearby. The biological and ecological traits related to the potential use of T. micrantha for site amelioration previous to the reintroduction of mature forest trees are presented in this paper. Furthermore, some preliminary experiences in the field are cited. The same use may apply to other fast growing short living pioneers.This revised version was published online in November 2005 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Plant-soil-water relations in forestry and silvopastoral systems in Oregon

Plant-soil-water relations of a silvopastoral system composed of a Douglas-fir (Pseudotsuga menziesii) timber crop, subterranean clover (Trifolium subterraneum) as a nitrogen-fixing forage, and tall fescue (Festuca arundinacea) as a forage crop were investigated near Corvallis, Oregon, during 1983–1986. Treatments included all possible combinations of two tree-planting patterns (trees planted 2.4 m apart in a grid, and groups of five trees spaced 7.6 m between clusters) and two grazing/understory management systems (agroforests were seeded to subclover and grazed by sheep; forests were unseeded and ungrazed).Mean twig xylem water potential (XWP) for Douglas-fir trees ranged from –0.3 to –1.5 MPa on forest plots and from –0.3 to –1.2 MPa on agroforest sites. Pre-dawn and sunset XWP were more negative for forest than for agroforest plots during dry summer periods. Midday XWP was similar for both agroforest and forest plots on all dates. Soil water content at 50–100 cm depth was greater under agroforest plots as compared to forest plots in 1984, but not in 1985 (unusually dry spring). Average foliage nitrogen content of tree needles was 1.54% vs. 1.43% for agroforests vs. forests, respectively.Our data are consistent with the hypotheses that: (1) grazing of understory vegetation may reduce water stress of trees during dry periods by reducing transpirational water use by the forage plants; and (2) nitrogen-fixing vegetation combined with grazing increases nitrogen uptake of associated trees. However, neither mean foliar N nor average XWP differences experienced by trees in agroforest versus forest plantations were sufficient to have an effect on tree growth. Our data demonstrate that it is possible to produce a second crop (i.e. forage grazed by sheep) in timber plantations without reducing the growth of the main tree crop.Submitted as Oregon Agrocultural Experiment Station Technical Paper No. 10109.     

中国林业传统与林业文化

本文用两分法，将中国林业传统分为保护森林、合理利用森林资源的传统和破坏森林、大量消耗林木的传统。前者是以对动、植物的图腾崇拜为开端；后者是以火的使用为开端。在两种传统的形成与发展中，产生了丰富多彩并具有中国特色的林业文化，包括各类树木及竹文化、花卉文化、园林文化和岩栖山居与森林游乐文化等。     

Distribution patterns of tree,understorey, and detritus biomass in coniferous and broad-leaved forests of Western Himalaya,India

Forest biomass pools are the major reservoirs of atmospheric carbon in both coniferous and broad-leaved forest ecosystems and thus play an important role in regulating the regional and global carbon cycle. In this study, we measured the biomass of trees, understorey, and detritus in temperate (coniferous and broad-leaved) forests of Kashmir Himalaya. Total ecosystem dry biomass averaged 234.2 t/ha (ranging from 99.5 to 305.2 t/ha) across all the forest stands, of which 223 t/ha (91.9–283.2 t/ha) were stored in above- and below-ground biomass of trees, 1.3 t/ha (0.18–3.3 t/ha) in understorey vegetation (shrubs and herbaceous), and 9.9 t/ha (4.8–20.9 t/ha) in detritus (including standing and fallen dead trees, and forest floor litter). Among all the forests, the highest tree, understorey, and detritus biomass were observed in mid-altitude Abies pindrow and Pinus wallichiana coniferous forests, whereas the lowest were observed in high-altitude Betula utilis broad-leaved forests. Basal area has showed significant positive relationship with biomass (R² = 0.84–0.97, P < 0.001) and density (R² = 0.49–0.87). The present study will improve our understanding of distribution of biomass (trees, understorey, and detritus) in coniferous and broad-leaved forests and can be used in forest management activities to enhance C sequestration.     

Deciduous trees affect small-scale floristic diversity and tree regeneration in conifer forests

Abstract

There is a growing interest in the effects of deciduous trees on biodiversity, soil processes and long-term productivity in boreal, conifer-dominated forests. This study investigated whether individual birch trees allowed to grow to maturity in the coniferous forest can have a local effect on floristic richness and regeneration of tree saplings. The ground vegetation was compared in 2?m radius plots around the stem under the canopies of matched conifer–deciduous trees in a mature, conifer-dominated forest, and included in the analysis variables that could potentially mediate the tree effect (soil pH, cover of lichens, bryophytes, leaf and needle litter). The field layer vegetation was more species rich under birch (Betula pendula and B. pubescens) than under conifers (Picea abies and Pinus sylvestris), and several vascular plant species (including saplings of tree species) occurred more often under birch than under conifers. However, when the effect of the number of subordinate trees was taken into account the difference between birch and pine was not significant. The number of tree regenerations (saplings) was lowest under pines, but did not differ between spruce and birch. There were no effects of the canopy species on soil pH or on cover of lichens and bryophytes. The difference in diversity may be caused by the different effects of leaf and needle litter, and it is also likely that canopy structure has an influence via interception and throughfall and by affecting the light and microclimate.     

Effect of forest vegetation on runoff and sediment production in sloping lands of Loess area

According to fixed-position data for 1985–2003 from nine runoff plots of Caijiachuan watershed which lies in Jixian County of Shanxi Province in Loess area, this paper studied the relationship between vegetation and runoff and sediment production in sloping lands in detail, which helps to provide scientific basis for vegetation re-construction and studies on environmental transformation of water and sediment in watersheds of Loess area. Although, many study results testify that forest vegetation has an important function in soil and water conservation and cutting runoff, the effect of vegetation on runoff and sediment transmission is complicated, and this needs to be studied in depth. The results of the paper showed the following. Firstly, the natural secondary forest performs better function of soil and water conservation than artificial Robinia pseudoacacia forest, and runoff and sediment produced in the former in individual rainfall were 65%–82% and 23%–92% of those produced in the latter. At the same time, better correlative relationship between runoff and sediment production and rainfall and rainfall intensity were testified by multiple regression, but the correlation decreased gradually with the increase of canopy density of forest. Secondly, the difference of runoff and sediment production in several land use types was very distinct, and the amount of runoff and sediment produced from Ostryopsis davidiana forest and natural secondary forest were the least, and runoff and sediment produced from in artificial Robinia pseudoacacia forest and Pinus tabulaeformis forest were 5-fold as much as those from O. davidiana forest. Besides, runoff and sediment produced in mixed planting of apple trees and crops were 16.14-fold and 2.96-fold than those of O. davidiana forest, respectively, but the amount decreased obviously after high-standard soil preparation in the case of the former. Thirdly, based on gray cognate analyses of factors affecting runoff and sediment production in sloping land, the factors of stand canopy density and herb and litter biomass were the most significant ones, whose gray incidence degree exceeded 0.6. Therefore, mixed forest with multi-layer stand structure and shrub forest should be developed in vegetation re-construction of Loess area, which will help to increase coverage and litter thickness in order to cut down the runoff and sediment dramatically in sloping land. __________ Translated from Chinese Journal of Applied Ecology, 2005, 16(9): 1,613–1,617 [译自: 应用生态学报, 2005, 16(9): 1,613–1,617]     

江苏虞山国家森林公园的天然植被

江苏虞山国家森林公园的森林覆盖率达96%以上.根据样地调查研究,将虞山国家森林公园约占山地面积为74.8%的天然林依群落优势种划分14类群系,为7类植被型.虞山天然林以马尾松林和马尾松、阔叶树混交林为主,山麓有落叶阔叶林和小面积的常绿、落叶阔叶林.论述虞山天然植被的组成、结构、演替和多样性指数,分析虞山天然林顺向演替的稳定性群落.结果表明:依立地环境可分3种不同类型.从演替规律来研究分析虞山植被,从而提出保护和可持续发展该森林公园植被的建议,并从旅游观光角度提出虞山部分森林类型改造的原则和方法.     

Plant communities, species diversity, richness, and regeneration of a traditionally managed coastal forest, Kenya

The Kenyan coastal forests make up one of the World 25 Biodiversity Hotspots. They consist of over 140 fragments (the majority with areas less than 0.5 km²) of the once extensive Zanzibar-Inhambane lowland moist forest. The over 60 known Mijikenda sacred Kaya forests and groves scattered along the coastal hinterland form the greater part of this ecosystem. The forests are of biological and cultural significance, and this has been recognized nationally and internationally, with some now listed as World Heritage Sites. The forests are protected by councils of Kaya elders who regulate use of their resources. Increasing human population and subsequent rise in demand for forest products and land for settlement has put a strain on these relic forests. Farm encroachment and extraction of forest products in different Kaya forests have affected the vegetation ecology at varying levels. This study investigated the spatial species distribution, association and regeneration potential of commonly utilized plants in one of these traditionally managed ecosystems. A modified nested plot method was used to collect data in the field.Using TWINSPAN multivariate, and indicator species analysis, two plant communities (Asteranthe and Bridelia) and an undifferentiated vegetation type were identified. Species association in Asteranthe consisted largely of forest dependant species, with a significant presence of woody climbers. It was comprised of two sub-communities namely Manilkara and Scorodophloeos. In contrast the second plant community, Bridelia, was dominated by light demanding species. It comprised one sub-community (Catunaregam) and a seral stage (Keetia). The species diversity and richness was higher in the Asteranthe community compared to Bridelia. Some of the forest species commonly utilized by the local people were observed to regenerate both in open and closed forest habitats while others had seedling recruitment confined to closed forest.Despite some coastal forests showing physiognomic similarity, detailed study shows intra-variation linked to topography, exposition, type and intensity of human perturbation both currently and in the distant past. Clearly, vegetation patterns of coastal forests of eastern Africa change at fairly short intervals.Recruitment of forest specialists is likely to decline if closed forests are opened up by farm encroachment, however their less specialized counterparts can pioneer in re-colonization of disturbed sites if conservation is strengthened. There is need to invigorate traditional management systems of forests with cultural significance by recognizing and giving increased legal mandates to the local custodians.     

广东竹林自然区划续报

论述广东3条气候带的竹类植物分布情况,并提供广东竹类植物名录。     

Vertical accretion and shallow subsidence in a mangrove forest of southwestern Florida,U.S.A.

Simultaneous measurements of vertical accretion from artificial soilmarker horizons and soil elevation change from sedimentation-erosion table(SET) plots were used to evaluate the processes related to soil building infringe, basin, and overwash mangrove forests located in a low-energy lagoonwhich receives minor inputs of terrigenous sediments. Vertical accretionmeasures reflect the contribution of surficial sedimentation (sedimentdeposition and surface root growth). Measures of elevation change reflectnot only the contributions of vertical accretion but also those ofsubsurface processes such as compaction, decomposition and shrink-swell. Thetwo measures were used to calculate amounts of shallow subsidence (accretionminus elevation change) in each mangrove forest. The three forest typesrepresent different accretionary environments. The basin forest was locatedbehind a natural berm. Hydroperiod here was controlled primarily by rainfallrather than tidal exchange, although the basin flooded during extreme tidalevents. Soil accretion here occurred primarily by autochthonous organicmatter inputs, and elevation was controlled by accretion and shrink-swell ofthe substrate apparently related to cycles of flooding-drying and/or rootgrowth-decomposition. This hydrologically-restricted forest did notexperience an accretion or elevation deficit relative to sea-level rise. Thetidally dominated fringe and overwash island forests accreted throughmineral sediment inputs bound in place by plant roots. Filamentous turfalgae played an important role in stabilizing loose muds in the fringeforest where erosion was prevalent. Elevation in these high-energyenvironments was controlled not only by accretion but also by erosion and/orshallow subsidence. The rate of shallow subsidence was consistently3–4 mm y^–1 in the fringe and overwash island forests butwas negligible in the basin forest. Hence, the vertical development ofmangrove soils was influenced by both surface and subsurface processes andthe processes controlling soil elevation differed among forest types.The mangrove ecosystem at Rookery Bay has remained stable as sea levelhas risen during the past 70 years. Yet, lead-210 accretion data suggest asubstantial accretion deficit has occurred in the past century (accretionwas 10–20 cm < sea-level rise from 1930 to 1990) in the fringe andisland forests at Rookery Bay. In contrast, our measures of elevation changemostly equalled the estimates of sea-level rise and our short term estimatesof vertial accretion exceeded the estimates by the amount of shallowsubsidence. These data suggest that (1) vertical accretion in this system isdriven by local sea-level rise and shallow subsidence, and (2) the mangroveforests are mostly keeping pace with sea-level rise. Thus, the vulnerabilityof this mangrove ecosystem to sea-level rise is best described in terms ofan elevation deficit (elevation change minus sea-level rise) based on annualmeasures rather than an accretion deficit (accretion minus sea-level rise)based on decadal measures.     

林火干扰对广东省2种典型针叶林森林生物碳密度的影响

[目的]定量研究不同林火干扰对森林生物碳库的变化规律,揭示林火干扰对森林生物碳密度的影响机制,为林火干扰后森林生态系统碳汇管理提供参考依据。[方法]以广东省亚热带2种典型针叶林为研究对象,采用相邻样地比较法,以野外调查采样与室内试验分析为主要手段,定量测定不同林火干扰强度对森林生物碳库(植被碳库和凋落物碳库)碳密度与碳分配格局的影响。[结果]林火干扰对亚热带2种典型针叶林的植被和凋落物碳密度有影响,均表现为对照>轻度林火干扰>中度林火干扰>重度林火干扰。轻度林火干扰对植被碳密度的影响差异不显著(P<0.05),而中度和重度林火干扰则显著降低了植被碳密度(P<0.05).相同林火干扰强度下,植被各组分碳密度的变化均表现为乔木最大。乔木碳密度在不同林火干扰强度下均呈现为对照>轻度林火干扰>中度林火干扰>重度林火干扰,而草本碳密度则呈现与乔木碳密度相反的变化趋势。林火干扰显著影响乔木和草本碳密度,亦对灌木碳密度产生了影响。不同林火干扰强度对凋落物碳密度的影响有所差异,但不同林火干扰强度均显著减少了凋落物碳密度(P<0.05),并随林火干扰强度的增加其减少幅度增大。[结论]林火干扰减少了植被和凋落物碳密度,进而对森林生态系统的碳密度产生重要影响。