Factors affecting the dynamics of tree diversity in agroforestry parklands of cereal and cotton farming systems in Burkina Faso

Despite their socio-economic and ecological role, many studies have shown that the parklands are degrading very rapidly. Therefore, there is a need to undertake restoration actions for both production and environmental services. To do so, there is a need to identify factors that are affecting the dynamics of parkland systems. The present study aimed at characterizing and quantifying tree diversity of parkland systems taking into consideration the household’s wealth status, land uses, market access and the type of farming system (cereal based on the “Plateau Central” and cotton based in “Boucle du Mouhoun”). Six villages (Kienfangué, Ipelcé, and Kuizili with easy access to the market and, Karang-Tanghin, Nionsna and Targho with poor access to the market) in the “Plateau Central” and six villages (Bondoukuy, Ouahabou and Yaho with easy access to the market and, Dora, Fakéna and Mamou with poor access to the market) in “Boucle du Mouhoun” were studied. In each village, the Participatory Analysis of Poverty and Livelihood Dynamics method was used by rural farmers to rank farmer households of their communities and that gave three groups of wealth status that are poor, fairly well-off and well-off. Five households representing each of the three wealth groups in each village, giving a total of 15 households per village, were randomly selected by wealth group. Tree/shrub inventories were conducted in all land use types (house fields, village fields and bush fields) of the 180 selected households for the 12 studied sites. The number of species in the different land use types ranged from 96 to 102, but the majority of species were represented by less than 10 individuals. This indicates the selection effect made by the farmers to the parklands. Land use and farming system showed a clear effect on tree diversity in parklands. The effect of accessibility to market was evident in some cases whereas wealth status did not show any effect. Despite the statistical significant effect of farming system and land use type, the ANOVA models accounted for relatively little variation, indicating that other factors may contribute to tree diversity in parkland systems. The most threatened species were Adansonia digitata, Afzelia africana, Bombax costatum, Celtis integrifolia, Ficus asperifolia, Ficus iteophylla, Lannea velutina, and Parkia biglobosa. These species were represented in the largest diameter class (≥80 cm) or showed very few individuals in the different diameter classes. Due to the increasing degradation of the parklands, a domestication and conservation strategy of key threatened species needs to be developed and implemented with the participation of local communities.     

The role of land tenure in conservation of tree and shrub species diversity in miombo woodlands of southern Malawi

Biodiversity is declining throughout southern African miombo woodlands due to poor land use practices that are detrimental to soil, vegetation and habitat. We aimed at examining tree and shrub species diversity and distribution in Uapaca kirkiana-dominated woodlands under three land tenure types; forest reserves, customary and leasehold land. The study was conducted at different forest sites within similar agroecological zone in southern Malawi. Study sites were located at a range of altitudes between 900 and 1,200 m a.s.l. Three circular plots each with 32.60 m radius were established at each study site to sample tree and shrub species composition, structure and distribution under three land tenure types. We found that forest reserves had higher species diversity with an average of 16 tree families, 27 genera and 34 species as compared to only 10 tree families, 6 genera and 6 species on customary forest lands. Comparisons of diameter at breast height size class distributions showed that customary land had significantly low numbers of small (5.0–10.0 cm) and very large (≥30 cm) diameter classes suggesting lower levels of regeneration and high rate of anthropogenic activities. The high species diversity and richness in forest reserves and leasehold land indicate high potential for protected lands to restore tree species diversity. It is concluded that levels of human activities as influenced by land tenure type reduce tree species diversity, composition and distribution at the different sites, and this confirms the hypothesis that open access lands are not compatible with conservation of tree and shrub species diversity because of high anthropogenic activities.     

Effect of livestock grazing and human uses on herbaceous species diversity in oriental beech （Fagus orientalis Lipsky） forests,Guilan, Masal,northern Iran

Plant diversity plays key ecological roles in forest ecosystems, including influencing succession, resilience and nutrient cycling. This study was conducted to investigate the effect of livestock grazing and human uses on herbaceous species diversity. We surveyed 50 ha of protected area and 50 ha of unprotected area to evaluate herbaceous species diversity in oriental beech （Fagus orientalis Lipsky） forests in northern Iran. We calculated and compared three indices each of diversity and evenness, and species richness between the two areas. Herbaceous cover was higher in the unprotected area while leaf litter depth and tree canopy cover were higher in the protected area. The diversity indices, H （Shan- non-Wiener index ）, N~ （McArthur index）, N2 （Hill＇s index）, EQ （Modified Nee index）, E,ar （Smith-Wilson index）, E5 （modified index of Hill） and R=S （species richness） and species richness R=S were greater in the protected area than in the unprotected area, suggesting that protection from grazing results in increased numbers of plants and species. The effect of land protection on plant diversity was more pronounced for evenness than for species richness and the positive correlation between diversity and evenness indices was higher than that between diversity and richness.     

Ethnicity, land use and woody vegetation: a case study from south-western Burkina Faso

Woody vegetation in cultivated landscapes in Burkina Faso is influenced by agricultural activities that are in turn influenced by institutional arrangements. Research was undertaken in a village in south-west Burkina Faso to investigate the relationship between species composition, diversity, density, species accumulation and land use category. Additionally the relationship between number of trees, size of farmed land and farmer ethnicity was investigated. Indigenous Tiéfo farmers had on average more than double the number of large (>4 m) trees of Vitellaria paradoxa Gaertn. f., Parkia biglobosa (Jacq.) R. Br. Ex G. Don and Anacardium occidentale L. than farmers belonging to other ethnic groups, but this was partly explained by a larger area being available. Differences between ethnic groups were not significant when expressed per ha. Botanical inventories of fallows more than 4 years old, cultivated parklands and plantations of Mangifera indica L. and A. occidentale showed that tree density and Simpson’s index of diversity for trees were highest in the fallow. Simpson’s index was not significantly different for regeneration, but sample-based species accumulation curves indicated that species accumulation in parklands was faster than in plantations when expressed per individual. The average regeneration density was 12,605, 1,995 and 6,772 seedlings ha^-1 for fallow, parklands and plantations, respectively. This low density for parklands means that species accumulation is slow compared to the other land uses when expressed per unit area. Fallow seems the most efficient way of keeping tree diversity in the agricultural landscape.     

Status and Regeneration of Himalayan Maple in the Himachal Pradesh: Honing Red List of Plants

The population status and regeneration of a data-deficient tree species were examined in both protected and unprotected areas. The target species was found in six habitat types, seven aspects between 2,100- to 3,300-m altitude, and sites dominated by different species. The species was best represented in a shady moist habitat, north and northwest aspects, altitudinal range >2,700 m, and sites dominated by Acer caesium in both protected and unprotected sites; but the generalized linear model indicated nonsignificant effect of sites, habitat, altitude, and dominance except for aspects. Difference in sapling and seedling density among aspects and sites only was significant. Probability of use and resource use index indicated poor preference and less pressure as fuel. It can be concluded that the species is not under any significant threat in the study area. But, further studies on population status, regeneration, and relationship with environmental factors in a wider geographic region are suggested to evaluate species and place under suitable priority category.     

Effect of management and spatial characteristics on plant species richness of Castanea sativa Mill. woodlots in the NW Iberian Peninsula

This paper analyzes the effect of the spatial characteristics and intensity of land use on vascular plant species richness in Castanea (Chestnut) woodlots of the northwestern Iberian Peninsula included in the category “9260 Castanea sativa woodland” (Annex I, DC 92/43 European Community). Digital maps were used to characterize 30 woodlots for which land use intensity was estimated and all plants found were inventoried. The results show that woodlot shape and land use intensity have a significant effect on vascular plant richness and indicator species number. However, an analysis of the interaction between woodlot characteristics and land use intensity suggests that the response of vascular plant species to land use intensity does not exhibit a uniform pattern and that it is modulated by the shape of the woodlots. We conclude that restricting the use of these types of woods to traditional practices must be determined in keeping with the specific characteristics of each woodlot, since the moderate management of Castanea sativa woodlots of the northwest Iberian Peninsula may continue to play an important role to maintaining plant species diversity in this area.     

Land-use impacts on the composition and diversity of the Baikiaea– Guibourtia–Pterocarpus woodlands of north-western Zimbabwe

Variation in floristic composition of recovering Baikiaea–Guibourtia–Pterocarpus woodlands was studied in different development stages (from early regrowth to mature woodland) under different land-use systems (protected areas, timber harvesting, pole and firewood collection, and abandoned crop fields), in the Gwayi and Tsholotsho areas in north-western Zimbabwe. A total of 150 nested circular plots were sampled representatively in four different development stages related to the land-use systems. The DBH (stem diameter at 1.3 m above ground level) and tree height were recorded by species for all stems of tree species with DBH ≥ 15 cm in a 30-m-radius plot (0.283 ha) and for trees with DBH 5.0–14.9 cm in a 11.3-m-radius plot (0.04 ha) (both centred around the same midpoint). Stems with DBH < 5 cm were counted by species in an inner sub-plot of 5.65 m (0.01 ha) radius. Tree data (stem DBH ≥ 5 cm) and regeneration data (stem DBH < 5 cm) by stem counts per species per plot, were used separately to run TWINSPAN (TWo-way INdicator SPecies ANalysis) classifications of species assemblages. Importance values were calculated for all tree species per community. Shannon–Wiener diversity indices were calculated for each community and tested for differences using one-way ANOVA in SPSS version 21. Detrended correspondence analysis (DCA) implemented in the CANOCO ordination software was used to determine the extent of variation amongst the identified communities. The classification identified 12 tree communities and 13 regeneration communities, clustering plots from different land uses together. Baikiaea plurijuga was the most important tree species in all tree communities, except where Combretum collinum, C. apiculatum, Commiphora mossambicensis and Pterocarpus angolensis were dominant. Pterocarpus angolensis showed low importance in most communities, except for communities from undisturbed sites (mostly mature trees) and abandoned fields (mostly young trees). Baikiaea plurijuga was most important in most regeneration communities, except in communities dominated by Baphia massaiensis, C. collinum, C. apiculatum and P. angolensis. Species diversity differed significantly (p < 0.05) amongst tree communities. The DCA ordination showed little variation amongst the communities. The cumulative contribution of environmental factors explaining variation in species composition was 22.6% for tree communities and 26.1% for regeneration communities, suggesting that recovery from disturbance after different land uses may explain more of such variation.     

Exotic Pinus carbaea causes soil quality to deteriorate on former abandoned land compared to an indigenous Podocarpus plantation in the tropical forest area of southern China

Soil properties under an exotic plantation (Pinus caribaea) and an indigenous plantation (Podocarpus imbricatus) were compared with adjacent secondary forests and abandoned land in the tropical forest areas of Jianfengling National Nature Reserve in Hainan province, southern China. The surface soil (0–0.2 m) under Pi. caribaea has higher bulk density, lower soil organic carbon, total N, total K, available N, microbial biomass carbon, and smaller soil microbial communities (as indicated by soil Biolog profiles) than under Po. imbricatus. Both land use types showed negative cumulative soil deterioration index (DI) compared to secondary forests. However, compared to abandoned land (DI = –262), the soil quality of Po. imbricatus showed improvement (DI = –194) while that of Pi. caribaea showed deterioration (DI = –358). These results demonstrated that these exotic pine plantations can significantly and negatively influence soil properties. By contrast, our results showed that adoption of indigenous species in plantations, or natural regeneration, can improve soil quality.     

关帝山次生林区典型植物群落物种多样性垂直分布研究

为了分析和探讨海拔对植物多样性的影响,沿海拔梯度(1600–2600m),设定14个样地,对每个样地内对植物物种进行调查。结果表明:随海拔升高,群落优势种变化依次为:辽东栎、油松、白桦、红桦、华北落叶松和云杉。群落内乔木树种的平均树高和胸径表现为先增大后减小,最大树高和胸径表现为单峰变化。群落内不同生活型树种(针叶树和阔叶树)的最大树高表现为先增大后减小.阔叶树最大胸径无明显变化规律,针叶树最大胸径不断减小。中海拔群落内,针叶树种的最大树高和胸径高于阔叶树种。群落的Shannon-wiener指数和Margalef指数均表现为单峰变化,中海拔群落(1900–2200m)植物多样性最高,高于低海拔群落(1600–1900m)和高海拔群落(2200–2600m)。Shannon-wiener指数和Margalef指数反映出的植物α多样性变化与海拔高度显著相关。在研究地区,植物多样性变化与群落所处的海拔显著相关,此外,还与群落结构、物种组成、树种特性和人为干扰有关。图8表3参13。     

Plant diversity of secondary forests in response to anthropogenic disturbance levels in montane regions of northeastern China

The effects of anthropogenic disturbances on forest structure and plant diversity of secondary forest ecosystems were evaluated based on the classification by site factors in the montane regions of northeastern China. Forty-five sample plots containing 720 sub-plots of overstory species (8 m × 8 m), 1,440 quadrats of understory species (2 m × 2 m), and 1,440 quadrats of herbaceous layer species (1 m × 1 m) were clustered into five groups (G1, G2, G3, G4 and G5) by site variables with Hierarchical Cluster Analysis. Meanwhile, the disturbance levels corresponding to the five groups were determined according to the factors influencing human disturbances (D0-G2, D1-G1, D2-G3, D3-G5, and D4-G4). Species diversities of overstory, understory, herbaceous layer and overall species were evaluated using species number, Margalef index, Pielou index, Shannon–Wiener index, and Simpson index; and β-diversities (Whittaker index, Cody index). Basal area of stands exhibited a decreasing trend along the disturbance level due to a gradual increase in the extraction of timber by the human disturbances. The indices of species diversity suggested that overstory and understory species were distributed evenly among the groups or disturbance levels. There were no absolutely dominant tree species in the secondary forest ecosystems. The differences in site factors and the current disturbance intensities were not intense enough to lead to loose changes in overstory and understory species. The species diversity indices exhibited the maximum values at D3 (G5) for herbaceous layer species; this may suggest that the current disturbance intensities were intense enough to lead the changes of herbaceous layer species. Three rare and endangered species (Juglans mandshurica, Fraxinus mandshurica and Acanthopanax senticosus) were found within the secondary forests. These rare and endangered species appeared in each clustered group or disturbance level, which suggested that the current disturbance intensity in the study area was not strong enough to influence the distribution of rare and endangered species. The current disturbances in the secondary forests may not lead to a decrease in stability and complexity of the overstory and understory species, but the higher disturbance level may be intense enough to change the habitat fitness for the herbaceous species. Electronic supplementary material  The online version of this article (doi:) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized authors.     

Structure and species diversity of subtropical evergreen broad-leaved forest in northern Okinawa Island, Japan

The structure and tree species diversity of a subtropical evergreen broad-leaved forest in northern Okinawa Island, Japan, were studied. Enumeration of the six sampling plots revealed an average density of 5,580 individuals with DBH≧3.0 cm/ha, having an average basal area of 55 m². The large-size trees of DBH≧20 cm contributed 10% of the total individuals, and 49% of the total basal area. The forest showed a high diversity of tree species, which is comparable to some tropical rain forests. A total of 54 over-story species of 24 families and a total of 63 understory species of 26 families were identified in the six sampling plots. Fagaceae and Theaceae were the most important families;Castanopsis sieboldii, Schima wallichii andDistylium racemosum were the most important species. The diversity index and equitability index of species were 4.15 and 0.72 for the overstory plots, and 4.72 and 0.79 for the understory subplots, respectively. The diversity index for the overstory was significantly correlated to the total basal area of trees over 20 cm DBH (p<0.05) and the importance value ofC. sieboldii (p<0.001), while for understory, the diversity index was not correlated to the structural parameters (allp>0.16). The size distribution pattern and age structure indicated differences in regeneration strategies for canopy dominants. In population dynamics of the succession process,C. sieboldii andD. racemosum were self-maintaining types, andS. wallichii was a gap- or opening-dependent type. This study was made possible by support from the Japanese Ministry of Education, Sciences, Sports and Culture, which provided a Monbusho scholarship to X.N. Xu.     

Effects of thinning on plant species diversity and composition of understory herbs in a larch plantation

The effects of thinning on plant species diversity and composition of understory herbs in a larch plantation were investigated. The relationships between plant species diversity and composition of understory herbs and light conditions were established. Twenty-five 1 m × 1 m plots and fifteen 13 m × 1 m transects were set up in unthinned and thinned stands, respectively. All the transects in the thinned stands were set across the thinned rows and unthinned rows, and each of them was divided into nine 1 m × 1 m sub-plots. The herb diversity and light conditions were observed in each plot and sub-plot. The results show that there was a significant difference in herb diversity between the thinned and unthinned stands. All biodiversity indices except for evenness index in the thinned stand were higher than those of the unthinned stand, i.e., the herb diversity increased after thinning. According to the changes in herb densities and whether one species could be found in a stand or not before and after thinning, all herb species were classed into three types: positive, neutral and negative species, which referred to a species newly appeared and having an obviously increased density after thinning, with no obvious changes in its appearance and density after thinning, and disappeared and having an obviously decreased density after thinning, respectively. Many new species were found in the thinned stand like Corydalis pallida, Prenanthes tatarinowii, Vicia unijuga and Sonchus brachyotus etc. However, most species found in both the thinned and unthinned stands were negative species. In all nine subplots, only 11 and 10 species were found in spring and in autumn respectively, accounting for 17.74% and 15.15% of all the species in the thinned stand, respectively. All biodiversity indices were the highest in the center sub-plots and most of them tended to reduce from middle to side sub-plots. There was a close correlation between most of the three types of species and light conditions which was similar to each other in the thinned and unthinned stands. __________ Translated from Chinese Journal of Ecology, 2006, 25(10): 1201–1207 [译自: 生态学杂志]     

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     

埃塞俄比亚东南部Dello Menna森林植被的植物区系和结构分析(英文)

描述了埃塞俄比亚东南部Dello Menna森林植被的植物区系组成和植被结构。鉴定和描述了50个20m×20m的样方的植物群落类型、物种多样性、丰富度和均匀性,分析了已鉴定植物群落类型与环境因子的相关性,还描述了木本植物种群结构。每个样方内,均记录木本植物的物种、丰富度、高度和胸径以及海拔、坡度。利用PC-ORD软件对植被进行分类。用Sorensen相似性系数探测群落之间的差异性。计算Shannon-Wiener多样性指数、物种丰富度、Shannon均匀性来描述各种植物群落的物种多样性。共记录了53个科的171个维管植物种。豆科植物是主要的优势植物科系,包括13个属26种(1 5%),其次依次是菊科、唇形科和槭树科,各包括8个物种(4.6%)。根据植物分类结果,识别并描述了3个植物群落(Dalbergia microphylla群落、Grewia bicolar-Acaciabrevispica群落、Combretum molle-Combretum collinum群落)。植物区系之间的物种丰富度、多样性和均匀性存在差异。物种丰富度和多样性随海拔变化呈现出贝尔型分布。群落间植物随海拔梯度有一定的变化,表明海拔是决定植物群落分布的重要因素之一。Dalbergia microphylla群落物种丰富度和多样性均最高。优势种群落结构呈现出各种模型。植被可持续利用是今后的研究方向。     

Relationship between species diversity and biomass of eucalyptus plantation in Guangxi, south China

To reveal the relationship between species diversity and biomass in a eucalyptus (Eucalyptus urophylla × E. grandis) plantation located in the Dongmen State Forestry Farm of Guangxi, south China, 18 sample plots were established and the total biomass, arbor layer biomass and undergrowth biomass of communities were subsequently harvested. The results were as follows: 1) Species richness in eucalypt plantation had remarkable positive correlation with biomass of arbor layer, undergrowth and community (α = 0.001), its correlation coefficients were 0.6935, 0.7028 and 0.7106 respectively. 2) Leaf area index (LAI) had remarkable positive correlation with species richness and undergrowth biomass (α = 0.001). Its correlation coefficients were 0.7310 and 0.6856, respectively. 3) Arbor layer biomass had remarkable correlation with soil organic matter and hydrolysable N, its correlation coefficients was 0.6416 and 0.6203 respectively. Species richness had remarkable correlation with soil organic matter and correlation coefficient was 0.6359. Among them, the correlation was significant at the 0.1 level. Undergrowth biomass had little correlation with nine soil nutrients and correlation coefficients were under 0.4. To sum up, species diversity was advantageous to the promotion of the biomass of the eucalyptus plantation, and the variation of LAI and soil nutrient in small-scales could result in the difference of species diversity and biomass in different sample plots. Translater from Scientia Silvae Sinicae, 2008, 44(4): 14–19 [译自: 林业科学]     

Farming does not necessarily conflict with tree diversity in the mid-Zambezi valley,Zimbabwe

We tested whether cultivation and fallowing have any significant effect on tree species diversity and dominance in semi-arid Zimbabwe. To this end, we quantified tree species diversity and physiognomy on two soil types (mutapo and bandati) stratified into three land-use categories, i.e., cultivated land, fallow land and woodland. Results showed that tree species diversity was significantly different on the two soil types. Tree species diversity was high on bandati soil and low on mutapo soil. Results also showed that there was significant difference in tree species diversity among the three land-use categories on mutapo soil but no differences on bandati soil. Pairwise comparisons revealed significant differences in species diversity between paired categories on mutapo soil but no significant differences on bandati soil. Tree physiognomy was significantly different among all three land use categories. Colophospermum mopane and Diospyros kirkii were the dominant species within woodlands, while Acacia tortilis subsp. spirocarpa replaced them as the dominant species within the fallow land category. These results indicate that woodland conversion for cultivation purposes has no immediate significant effect on tree species diversity on bandati soil, while it has a pronounced effect on mutapo soil, at least in the short term.     

Impact of the invasion of pinewood nematode and the following different removal disturbance intensities on the plant diversity of Masson pine community

Reported in this paper are our findings of the study on changes in species diversity of different Masson pine communities after the invasion of Bursaphelenchus xylophilus (Steiner and Buhren) Nickle and subsequent and different removal disturbance management approaches. Based on the results, the species diversity indices for the arbor layers of the different communities can be arranged in the following order (from high to low): 1) broad-leaved stand after the removal of all infected pine trees in the pure pine stand in Fuyang; 2) lightly infected Masson pine and Schima superba mixed stand in Fuyang; 3) uninfected stand mixture of Masson pine and Castanopsis fargesii as a control; 4) lightly infested pure Masson pine stand in Fuyang; 5) Quercus variables stand formed following the selective removal of infected pine trees from a mixed Masson pine and Q. variables stand in Zhoushan Islands; 6) pure young Masson pine stand formed following the removal of all infected pine trees from a pure Masson pine stand; 7) pure Liquidambar formosana stand after the removal of infected pine trees from a pure pine stand in Zhoushan Islands; 8) a mixed stand consisting of Pinus thunbergii and the Masson pine in Zhoushan Island; and 9) moderately infected Masson pine stand in Zhoushan Islands. All the three diversity indices (R ₀ = richness, H′ = Shannon-Wiener index, and E = evenness) for the shrub layer did not show any significant differences among the various communities except for the pure pine stand in Zhoushan Island, which had the lowest diversity. The three indices for the herb layer of the pure young Masson pine, Q. variables stand, and L. formosana stand were higher than that of other stands. The integrated analysis showed that the Masson pine forest in different geographical situations and extent of damage had distinct disparity, just as in different disturbance degrees and restoring manners. We created the “index of disturbing intensity of stump and fallen woods” (IDISFW) to represent the degree of disturbance of tree removal to plant diversity. We found that the relationship between the species diversity index and the IDISFW shows both a lower and higher degree of removal disturbance that follows the “mid-altitude bulge” theory. Specifically, both excessive and insufficient removal of infected trees will cause a decline of plant species diversity to a certain degree. Covariance analysis indicated that different IDISFW had no significant effects on the species diversity of the arbor layer, but had different impacts on that of the shrub and herb layers, and therefore can be used to assess changes in species diversity of different Masson pine communities after the invasion of pine wood nematode. __________ Translated from Chinese Journal of Applied Ecology, 2006, 17(7): 1,157–1,163 [译自: 应用生态学报]     

Microhabitat use of wood mice ranging from a reserved belt with evergreen broad-leaved trees to a coniferous plantation

Wood mice Apodemus speciosus and Apodemus argenteus are potentially important seed dispersers and predators of Quercus and Castanopsis in Japan. We investigated the existence of two species of wood mice in warm-temperate forests ranging from a reserved belt of evergreen broad-leaved trees to a coniferous plantation, and analyzed the relationship between wood mouse occurrence and environmental factors to confirm their microhabitat use. We used two-way analysis of variance to analyze differences in the captured number of each wood mouse species in two trapping seasons as well as two stand types to confirm the interaction between the stand type and trapping season. Apodemus speciosus were often captured in the reserved belt, while captures of A. argenteus were independent of season and stand types. It is reasonable to conclude from the results of the trends in occurrence that the two species of wood mice showed different uses of the microhabitat. The result of linear discriminant analysis made it clear that the distance from the reserved belt had much to do with the difference in microhabitat use between the two species in the fruiting season of Quercus and Castanopsis. On average, A. speciosus moved 19.9 m during nonfruiting and 61.3 m during fruiting, while A. argenteus moved 8.1 m during nonfruiting, and 29.0 m during fruiting from analysis of the recapture position. The results indicate that both species of mice move around during the fruiting season more than in the nonfruiting season.     

Effects of bamboo Fargesia murielae on plant diversity in fir forest on mountain Shennongjia

Simultaneous flowering caused a gregarious dieback of umbrella bamboo (Fargesia murielae) all over the world in 1993–2000. Mountain Shennongjia in Central China’s Hubei Province is the only native home of umbrella bamboo, where it dominates the understorey of the farges fir (Abies fargesii) forest between 2 400 and 3 100 m, covering the ground for more than one century before a periodically flowering death. Data from 20 quadrats along a vegetation sequence revealed that the density, coverage, and height of umbrella bamboo negatively affected the species richness, diversity, and evenness of vascular plants in the forest. Local climax community of fir-bamboo was the poorest in species diversity, while the bamboo-free communities (i.e. shrubs and meadows) were bearing a higher species diversity. The simultaneous dieback of umbrella bamboo is an ecological release, which can periodically promote the plant diversity in the fir forest.     

Composition and characteristics of natural secondary forests in Shenzhen,South China

The composition and structure of five natural secondary forests in Shenzhen were studied based on data of plots and were compared with Hong Kong zonal forest, so as to detect their succession stage and species diversity level. According to succession process of subtropical forest and ecological characteristics of dominant species, the authors speculate that five communities are at different stages. Sinosideroxylon community dominated by heliophilous evergreen broad-leaved tree (Sinosideroxylon wightianum) and conifer tree (Pinus massoniana) is at the third stage. Itea Acronychia community dominated by two evergreen broad-leaved heliophytes (Itea chinensis and Acronychia pedunculata) is at the fourth stage. The others, i.e., Schefflera,Sterculia and Cleistocalyx Sterculia community are at the fifth stage where some mesophytes are dominant but heliophytes have a weighed percentage of importance value. Due to succession stage and different forest management and conservation models, the species diversity of five communities is significantly lower than that of Endospermum community in Hong Kong. The values of Shannon-Wiener index and Pielous evenness index of five communities are 2.04-2.953 and 64.2%-74% respectively, but those of the Endospermum community are 4.74 and 79％ respectively. The current situation of these communities suggests that the necessary measures should be taken to protect and restore the communities.