Pedunculate oak (Quercus robur L.) silviculture in natural stands of NW Spain: Environmental conditioners

Forest management is often carried out in different ways, without any appropriate environmental restrictions. Stands of pedunculate oak (Quercus robur L.) in Galicia (NW Spain) have been harvested by alternating high forest and, mainly, coppice forest. However, some totally inappropriate silvicultural treatments have been used, such as thinning of the best trees and inadequate pruning. The objective of the present study was to analyse how environmental characteristics affect the management of oak forests in Galicia. For this, a botanical inventory was carried out in 39 selected stands of Q. robur and a total of 42 parameters were measured, 4 of which were physiographical, 12 climatic, 19 edaphic and 7 silvicultural. In order to analyse the possible relationships among these variables, the silvicultural data were compared with the other data, by canonical correlation analysis. All parameters were correlated with the silvicultural regime, although the correlation was weak for the floristic data. It is therefore evident that the environmental conditions affect how forest stands should be managed, although this does not imply that more profitable use of the stands cannot be achieved than at present, and alternative silvicultural methods must be found to enable appropriate management and conservation of oak stands.     

Soil changes induced by Acacia mangium plantation establishment: Comparison with secondary forest and Imperata cylindrica grassland soils in South Sumatra,Indonesia

Acacia plantation establishment might cause soil acidification in strongly weathered soils in the wet tropics because the base cations in the soil are translocated rapidly to plant biomass during Acacia growth. We examined whether soils under an Acacia plantation were acidified, as well as the factors causing soil acidification. We compared soils from 10 stands of 8-year-old Acacia mangium plantations with soils from 10 secondary forests and eight Imperata cylindrica grasslands, which were transformed into Acacia plantations. Soil samples were collected every 5–30 cm in depth, and pH and related soil properties were analyzed. Soil pH was significantly lower in Acacia plantations and secondary forests than in Imperata grasslands at every soil depth. The difference was about 1.0 pH unit at 0–5 cm and 0.5 pH unit at 25–30 cm. A significant positive correlation between pH and base saturation at 0–20 cm depth indicated that the low pH under forest vegetation was associated with exchangeable cation status. Using analysis of covariance (ANCOVA), with clay content as the covariate, exchangeable Ca (Ex-Ca) and Mg (Ex-Mg) stocks were significantly lower in forested areas than in Imperata grasslands at any clay content which was strongly related to exchangeable cation stock. The adjusted average Ex-Ca stock calculated by ANCOVA was 249 kg ha⁻¹ in Acacia plantations, 200 kg ha⁻¹ in secondary forests, and 756 kg ha⁻¹ in Imperata grasslands at 0–30 cm. Based on a comparison of estimated nutrient stocks in biomass and soil among the vegetation types, the translocation of base cations from soil to plant biomass might cause a decrease in exchangeable cations and soil acidification in Acacia plantations.     

Driving factors for natural tree rejuvenation in anthropogenic pine (Pinus sylvestris L.) forests of NE Germany

The rejuvenation ecology of three main tree species in anthropogenic pine (Pinus sylvestris L.) forests is explored in our study. We focus on the scale of micro-plots, which provide the safe sites for tree rejuvenation. We thrive on the multi-factorial relationship of tree establishment and driving ecological factors using a large dataset from pine stands in NE Germany and applying multivariate analyses. The success of the establishment of the investigated focal tree species Fagus sylvatica L., Quercus petraea Liebl. and Pinus sylvestris L. is, on general, mostly affected by three factors, i.e. water balance of the upper soil layers, browsing pressure, and diaspore sources. Our investigations on the micro-plot scale revealed species-specific differences. For beech saplings <50 cm growth height, primarily the availability of water, indicated by available water capacity (AWC), thickness, quality, and structure of the organic layer, silt and humus content in the topsoil, and the lack of a dense competitive herb layer, were identified as most important factors. On the contrary, oak seems hardly be restricted by hydrologic and/or trophic deficits in the topsoil or humus layer. In conclusion and comparison to Fagus sylvatica L., we assume for Quercus petraea Liebl. advantages in natural regeneration processes under sub-continental climate conditions and thus under the scenarios of climate change. Pinus sylvestris L. regeneration in our investigation area occurs only in a narrow niche. We conclude with regard to future forest development and the objective of stand conversion with low management intensity that oak should be favoured within natural stand regeneration.     

Canopy gap dynamics and development patterns in secondary Quercus stands on the Cumberland Plateau, Alabama, USA

Forest disturbances of various spatial extents and magnitudes shape species composition, structure, and stand development patterns. The disturbance regimes of most complex stage hardwood stands of the deciduous forests of eastern North America are typified by asynchronous and localized disturbance events. The overwhelming majority of gap-scale disturbance studies in hardwood forests of the region have analyzed late-successional stands. As such, there is a paucity of data on gap dynamics in hardwood stands prior to a complex developmental stage. We quantified biophysical characteristics of 60 canopy gaps in secondary Quercus stands on the Cumberland Plateau in Alabama to analyze gap-scale disturbance processes in developing systems. We found most gaps (90%) were caused by the removal of a single tree. Of the three gap formation mechanisms, snag-formed gaps were most common (40%). However, based on the number of uprooted and snapped stems we speculate that wind was also an important disturbance agent in these stands. Gap size and shape patterns were similar to what has been reported in other hardwood forests of the southern Appalachian Highlands. We did not find differences in gap size or shape based on formation mechanisms; a finding that may be related to the number of single-tree gap events. Gaps projected to close via subcanopy recruitment were significantly larger than those projected to close through lateral crown expansion. Most gaps (65%) were projected to close by lateral crown expansion of gap perimeter trees. However, the number of gaps projected to fill by subcanopy recruitment indicated the stands were approaching a transition in their developmental stage. Gap-scale processes modify residual tree architecture and stand structure. Through time these alterations result in progressively larger gaps, eventually reaching a size when most will fill by subcanopy recruitment, thus marking the complex stage of development. Gap capture by Quercus was restricted to relatively xeric sites that did not contain abundant shade-tolerant mesophytes in the understory. However, the majority of gaps contained abundant subcanopy Fagusgrandifolia, Acer saccharum, and Acer rubrum leading us to project that the forest will undergo a drastic composition shift under the current disturbance regime. Liriodendron tulipifera was projected to capture several relatively small gaps illustrating the role of topography on gap closure mechanisms.     

Canopy gaps and regeneration in old-growth Oriental beech (Fagus orientalis Lipsky) stands, northern Iran

Virgin beech Fagus orientalis forests in northern Iran provide a unique opportunity to study the disturbance regimes of forest ecosystems without human influence. The aim of this research was to describe characteristics of natural canopy gaps and gap area fraction as an environmental influence on the success of beech seedling establishment in mature beech stands. All canopy gaps and related forest parameters were measured within three 25 ha areas within the Gorazbon compartment of the University of Tehran’s Kheyrud Experimental Forest. An average of 3 gaps/ha occurred in the forest and gap sizes ranged from 19 to 1250 m² in size. The most frequent (58%) canopy gaps were <200 m². In total, canopy gaps covered 9.3% of the forest area. Gaps <400 m² in size were irregular in shape, but larger gaps did not differ significantly in shape from a circle. Most gaps (41%) were formed by a single tree-fall event and beech made up 63% of gap makers and 93% of gap fillers. Frequency and diversity of tree seedlings were not significantly correlated with gap size. The minimum gap size that contained at least one beech gap-filling sapling (<1.3 m tall) was 23.7 m². The median gap size containing at least one beech gap-filling sapling was 206 m² and the maximum size was 1808 m². The management implications from our study suggest that the creation of small and medium sized gaps in mixed beech forest should mimic natural disturbance regimes and provide suitable conditions for successful beech regeneration.     

Understory succession in post-agricultural oak forests: Habitat fragmentation affects forest specialists and generalists differently

The herbaceous understory forms the richest stratum in temperate broadleaved forests in terms of plant diversity. Understanding the process of understory succession is thus of critical importance for the development of management guidelines for biodiversity restoration in post-agricultural plantation forests.We studied effects of stand age, forest fragmentation, and soil and canopy conditions on species richness and abundance of four species groups in the understory of post-arable oak plantations in southern Sweden: herbaceous forest specialists, habitat generalists and open-land species, and woody species.The group of forest specialists may approach the richness of continuously forested sites after 60-80 years in non-fragmented plantations, but many forest species were sensitive to habitat fragmentation. Open-land species richness decreased during succession, while the richness of woody species and of generalists remained stable, and was not affected by fragmentation. Abundance of generalists gradually decreased in non-fragmented plantations, probably due to competition from colonizing forest specialists. Soil pH in post-arable stands remained consistently higher than in continuously forested stands, which maintained differences in species composition. The development of a shrub layer seemed to imply a competitive advantage for forest specialists compared to generalist species.For successful recovery of a rich understory, we suggest that post-arable plantations should be established on loamy soils of intermediate to high pH proximate to older forest with source populations, and that a continuous overstory canopy cover of 70-80% is maintained by regular light thinnings and promotion of a shrub layer.     

Age and growth of a fire prone Tasmanian temperate old-growth forest stand dominated by Eucalyptus regnans, the world's tallest angiosperm

Forests are key components of the global carbon cycle, with deforestation being an important driver of increased atmospheric carbon dioxide. Temperate old-growth forests have some of the highest above ground stores of carbon of any forest types on Earth. Unlike tropical forests, the ecology of many temperate forests is dominated by episodic disturbance, such as high intensity fire. An exemplar of a particularly carbon dense temperate forest system adapted to infrequent catastrophic fires is the Eucalyptus regnans forests of south eastern Australia. Knowledge of the growth and longevity of old-growth trees is crucial to understanding the carbon balance and fire regimes of these forest systems. In an old-growth E. regnans stand in the Styx Valley in southern Tasmania we used dendrochronological techniques and radiocarbon dating to determine the age and stem growth of E. regnans and Phyllocladus aspleniifolius, an understorey rainforest conifer. Our analysis revealed that an even-aged cohort of E. regnans and P. aspleniifolius established in 1490–1510AD, apparently after a stand-replacing fire. The stem growth rates of E. regnans in the first 100 years were very rapid compared to the co-occurring P. aspleniifolius. That the longevity of E. regnans is >500 years challenges the suggested 350–450 year timeframe proposed for the widely held model of succession from eucalypt to rainforest. These forests not only have the potential to store vast amounts of carbon, but can also maintain these high carbon densities for a long period of time. Estimates of the capacity of these forests to sequester and store carbon should explicitly consider past harvesting and fire regimes and the potential increases in the risk of fire associated with climate change.     

小陇山不同经营措施下次生锐齿栎天然林物种多样性研究

采用固定样地和样方法调查了小陇山林区百花林场3个实施不同经营措施的锐齿栎天然林林分特征和物种组成,运用4种常用的物种多样性指数对调查林分的乔木层、灌木层和草本层的物种多样性进行对比分析,结果表明:3种类型锐齿天然林的灌木层相对于其乔木层和草本物种组成丰富,多样性高;长期封育后的锐齿栎天然林群落在3种天然林类型中物种组成最丰富,乔木层、灌木层和草本层的Shannon-Wiener指数、Pielou指数和Margalef指数值在3个林分中最高;近自然技术单株经营后的锐齿栎天然林各层次的物种组成相对较少,多样性较低,但其林分中保留的乔木树种个体较大;结构优化抚育后的锐齿栎天然林的物种组成和多样性介于二者之间.抚育经营措施对林分的影响与抚育经营强度密切相关,适当的抚育经营强度能够促进林分多样性提高,否则会带来不利的影响,结构化森林经营技术是一种有效的经营方法.     

我国栓皮栎分布及其生态学研究

栓皮栎作为广泛分布的树种之一,在全球气候变化的大环境下,成为研究树木生长应对气候变化的重要树种。文中分析了我国栓皮栎水平分布和垂直分布的特点及其与气候的关系,栓皮栎在不同地区的森林类型,主要包括栓皮栎纯林、松栎混交林、栎类混交林等类型;综述了我国对栓皮栎生态学、群落结构、更新等研究的最新进展和主要结论;提出今后开展栓皮栎研究的重点和方向,以期为栓皮栎生理生态学及其对气候变化响应研究提供参考。     

Species substitution for carbon storage: Sessile oak versus Corsican pine in France as a case study

Species choice is potentially an important management decision for increasing carbon stocks in forest ecosystems. The substitution of a slow-growing hardwood species (Quercus petraea) by a fast-growing conifer plantation (Pinus nigra subsp. laricio) was studied in central France. Simulations of carbon stocks in tree biomass were conducted using stand growth models Fagacées for sessile oak and PNL for Corsican pine. The changes in soil carbon were assessed using the Century model and data from two European soil monitoring networks: 16 km × 16 km grid and RENECOFOR. Carbon in wood products was assessed with life cycle analysis and lifespan of final products. However, only carbon stocks and their variation were accounted for: effects of energy-consuming materials or fossil fuel substitution are excluded from the analysis. To compare the growth of these two types of forest stands, an important part of the study was to assess the productivity of both species at the same site, using National Forest Inventory data.     

Drought and fire suppression lead to rapid forest composition change in a forest-prairie ecotone

Altered fire regimes and increased drought can lead to major vegetation changes, especially in ecotones. A decrease in fire can lead to woody species encroachment in prairies and increasing forest stand density. The threat of global climate change raises questions about potential increases in the length, severity, and incidence of droughts substantially altering species composition. Re-measured upland forests in south-central North America's midcontinent forest-prairie ecotone exhibited major changes in woody species composition and structure over fifty years and successional trajectories appeared to favor invasive Juniperus virginiana L. over the previous dominant Quercus species. The objective of this study was to determine whether climate and fire exclusion affected the recruitment history of dominant woody species in these upland forests located near the xeric western edge of the eastern deciduous forest biome of North America. We removed cores and cross-sections from 992 J. virginiana, Quercus marilandica Münchh. and Q. stellata Wangenh. trees from eleven forest stands located across central and northwest Oklahoma, and determined their ages using standard dendrochronological methods. Recruitment of all species increased following a severe mid-20th century drought, but a rapid increase in J. virginiana recruitment and decrease in Quercus recruitment appeared to be linked to a decrease in fire. Future fire regime changes and increased drought due to global climate change could lead to widespread shifts from Quercus- to Juniperus- dominated forests and cause substantial changes to ecosystem services.     

华北土石山区刺槐和栓皮栎人工林土壤微生物数量和微生物量碳、氮研究

正截止到2014年,全国水土流失面积已高达294.91万km2,占国土总面积的30.72%[1-2]。水土流失造成生态环境脆弱,植被破坏促使水土流失加剧是区域环境恶化的主要原因之一[3]。众多研究表明,植被恢复可有效地减少水土流失,是遏制生态环境恶化、改善脆弱生态系统的有效措施[4-6]。在森林生态系统中,土壤微生物对土地利用的变化、管理措施、耕作和肥力水平等外界条件的变化十分敏感,     

Forest stand dynamics and sudden oak death: Mortality in mixed-evergreen forests dominated by coast live oak

Sudden oak death (SOD), caused by the recently discovered non-native invasive pathogen, Phytophthora ramorum, has already killed tens of thousands of native coast live oak and tanoak trees in California. Little is known of potential short and long term impacts of this novel plant–pathogen interaction on forest structure and composition. Coast live oak (Quercus agrifolia) and bay laurel (Umbellularia californica) form mixed-evergreen forests along the northern California coast. This study measured tree mortality over a gradient of disease in three time periods. Direct measurements of current mortality were taken during 2004, representing a point-in-time estimate of present and ongoing mortality. Past stand conditions, c. 1994, were estimated using a stand reconstruction technique. Future stand conditions, c. 2014, were calculated by assuming that, given a lack of host resistance, live trees showing signs of the disease in 2004 would die. Results indicate that coast live oaks died at a rate of 4.4–5.5% year⁻¹ between 1994 and 2004 in highly impacted sites, compared with a background rate of 0.49% year⁻¹, a ten-fold increase in mortality. From 2004 to 2014, mortality rates in the same sites were 0.8–2.6% year⁻¹. Over the entire period, in highly impacted sites, a 59–70% loss of coast live oak basal area was predicted, and coast live oak decreased from 60% to 40% of total stand basal area, while bay laurel increased from 22% to 37%. Future stand structures will likely have greater proportions of bay laurel relative to coast live oak.     

Long-term spatial dynamics of Acer saccharum during a population explosion in an old-growth remnant forest in Illinois

Species richness and evenness have greatly declined in oak–hickory forests in the central hardwood region in the U.S.A. in the past 100 years due to the rapid population growth of Acer saccharum. This study used a 50-year record of spatial dynamics to examine how demographic processes, particularly recruitment, may have contributed to this increase in an old-growth forest remnant, Brownfield Woods, Urbana, Illinois, U.S.A. The impact of canopy disturbance, including the outbreak of Dutch elm disease, on this increase was also evaluated. Historical maps of trees (≥7.6 cm DBH) from 1951, 1988, and 2001 in a 180 m × 280 m area were used to develop a series of univariate Ripley's L(d) functions to study changes in spatial patterns of three size classes of A. saccharum over time. Bivariate Ripley's L(d) functions were also utilized to evaluate spatial associations between recruitment and canopy disturbance. Our results indicated that A. saccharum was aggregated at most spatial scales up to 80 m during 1951–2001. Such aggregation arose mainly from small individuals. Furthermore, newly recruited individuals were aggregated at multiple spatial scales, and were significantly associated with canopy disturbance in general, as well as gaps created by Ulmus trees killed by Dutch elm disease. The aggregation of the 1951 initial group of small individuals changed via mortality to a random distribution over time. The results indicate that tree deaths caused by disturbances of different scales and types were the main cause of increased recruitment of A. saccharum in Brownfield Woods. The occurrence of Dutch elm disease further accelerated its population increase. This study demonstrated a direct spatial link between recruitment of A. saccharum and disturbance, and provided a long-term case study of a population explosion.     

欧洲黑杨PnEXPA1基因多态性与稳定碳同位素比率的关联分析

对欧洲黑杨α-expansin基因PnEXPA1的SNP多态性与水分利用效率相关性状稳定碳同位素比率(δ13C)进行了关联分析。利用SNaPshot技术对PnEXPA1基因内11个SNP位点进行了基因型分型,发现各SNP位点优势基因型均为纯合,且其频率高于杂合基因型。关联分析显示:SNP8和SNP12在采用单因素方差分析(ANOVA)和一般线性模型(GLM)2种方法时均与δ13C值显著关联。SNP8为exon 1内的无义突变,可解释6.620%的表型变异;而SNP12位于intron 1中,遗传贡献率为6.613%;这2个SNP位点与SNP9、SNP13共同位于一个高连锁不平衡(LD)的单倍型块中。SNP8与SNP12的TT基因型无性系均具有较高的δ13C值,为优势基因型。     

Determinants of yield in a non-timber forest product: Copaifera oleoresin in Amazonian extractive reserves

Developing sustainable extractive industries in otherwise intact tropical forest regions requires a sound understanding of the production potential of key resource populations. The oleoresin extracted from Copaifera trees is an economically important non-timber forest product harvested throughout the lowland Amazon basin. We studied oleoresin extraction from four species of Copaifera trees with known harvest histories within two contiguous extractive reserves in western Brazilian Amazonia. We conducted a large-scale experimental harvest of 179 previously unharvested Copaifera trees, in both seasonally flooded (várzea) and adjacent unflooded (terra firme) forests. The likelihood of trees yielding any oleoresin was principally determined by their species identity: C. multijuga was the only species to regularly yield oleoresin (70% of trees). Yield volumes varied both amongst species and forest types: C. multijuga (restricted to terra firme forest) had the highest mean yield of 505 ml, whilst C. guyanensis produced higher volumes of oleoresin in várzea (139 ml) than terra firme (15 ml) forest. Intraspecific differences were driven mainly by tree size. To assess extraction sustainability, we reharvested a sample of C. multijuga trees and compared the oleoresin production of 24 conspecific trees that had been initially harvested one year previously with that of 17 trees initially harvested three years previously. Reharvested trees produced just 35% of the oleoresin volume compared to that when originally drilled, but this response was not affected by the time interval between consecutive harvests. We demonstrate that, within a population of Copaifera, both morphological and environmental factors restrict total productivity; consideration of these factors should inform sustainable management practises. We additionally raise methodological considerations that may improve the comparability of studies.     

Growth and productivity of black spruce in even- and uneven-aged stands at the limit of the closed boreal forest

The increasing commercial interest and advancing exploitation of new remote territories of the boreal forest require deeper knowledge of the productivity of these ecosystems. Canadian boreal forests are commonly assumed to be evenly aged, but recent studies show that frequent small-scale disturbances can lead to uneven-aged class distributions. However, how age distribution affects tree growth and stand productivity at high latitudes remains an unanswered question. Dynamics of tree growth in even- and uneven-aged stands at the limit of the closed black spruce (Picea mariana) forest in Quebec (Canada) were assessed on 18 plots with ages ranging from 77 to 340 years. Height, diameter and age of all trees were measured. Stem analysis was performed on the 10 dominant trees of each plot by measuring tree-ring widths on discs collected each meter from the stem, and the growth dynamics in height, diameter and volume were estimated according to tree age. Although growth followed a sigmoid pattern with similar shapes and asymptotes in even- and uneven-aged stands, trees in the latter showed curves more flattened and with increases delayed in time. Growth rates in even-aged plots were at least twice those of uneven-aged plots. The vigorous growth rates occurred earlier in trees of even-aged plots with a culmination of the mean annual increment in height, diameter and volume estimated at 40–80 years, 90–110 years earlier than in uneven-aged plots. Stand volume ranged between 30 and 238 m³ ha⁻¹ with 75% of stands showing values lower than 120 m³ ha⁻¹ and higher volumes occurring at greater dominant heights and stand densities. Results demonstrated the different growth dynamics of black spruce in single- and multi-cohort stands and suggested the need for information on the stand structure when estimating the effective or potential growth performance for forest management of this species.     

Predicting sapstain and degrade in fallen trees following storm damage in a Pinus radiata forest

Storm damage in production forests constitutes a major source of economic loss world wide, yet the retrieval of salvageable timber remains problematic. In particular, an inability to anticipate when sapstain and degrade will appear hampers the planning of log recovery operations. A study was conducted to monitor the deterioration of fallen trees following two winter storms causing wind and snow damage in a Pinus radiata plantation forest in the upper South Island of New Zealand. Percentage sapstain, incidence of basidiomycete decay fungi, and frequency of bark beetle infestation increased, while percentage sapwood moisture content decreased, over a period of 1 year. These changes proceeded more rapidly in fallen trees that were severed at stump height, to simulate breakage, than in those that were left partially rooted. There was little beetle activity at the time of the storms, but Arhopalus ferus (Coleoptera: Cerambycidae), and Hylastes ater, Hylurgus ligniperda and Pachycotes peregrinus (Coleoptera: Curculionidae: Scolytinae), were collected in flight traps during the following spring and summer. The predominant fungal species associated with sapstain was Diplodia pinea, while Ophiostoma piceae and Grosmannia huntii were isolated near the end of the period. The main decay fungi obtained were Phlebiopsis gigantea, Stereum sanguinolentum, and Schizophyllum commune. A generalized linear mixed model was constructed to predict the development of sapstain in fallen trees for conditions prevailing during the study after a storm at the same time of year. According to the model, a 10 m long butt log of 22 cm mid length diameter will have minimal stain (<10% of the cross sectional area affected) when cut from severed stems up to 4 months after the storm; if taken from still-rooted trees this period will extend to 1 year. However, because of large between-tree variation, economically productive log recovery will also depend on the proportion of trees that lie below an acceptable sapstain threshold. Further research is needed to determine regional and seasonal influences on the development of sapstain in fallen trees.     

Soil CO2 efflux in an Afromontane forest of Ethiopia as driven by seasonality and tree species

Variability of soil CO₂ efflux strongly depends on soil temperature, soil moisture and plant phenology. Separating the effects of these factors is critical to understand the belowground carbon dynamics of forest ecosystem. In Ethiopia with its unreliable seasonal rainfall, variability of soil CO₂ efflux may be particularly associated with seasonal variation. In this study, soil respiration was measured in nine plots under the canopies of three indigenous trees (Croton macrostachys, Podocarpus falcatus and Prunus africana) growing in an Afromontane forest of south-eastern Ethiopia. Our objectives were to investigate seasonal and diurnal variation in soil CO₂ flux rate as a function of soil temperature and soil moisture, and to investigate the impact of tree species composition on soil respiration. Results showed that soil respiration displayed strong seasonal patterns, being lower during dry periods and higher during wet periods. The dependence of soil respiration on soil moisture under the three tree species explained about 50% of the seasonal variability. The relation followed a Gaussian function, and indicated a decrease in soil respiration at soil volumetric water contents exceeding a threshold of about 30%. Under more moist conditions soil respiration is tentatively limited by low oxygen supply. On a diurnal basis temperature dependency was observed, but not during dry periods when plant and soil microbial activities were restrained by moisture deficiency. Tree species influenced soil respiration, and there was a significant interaction effect of tree species and soil moisture on soil CO₂ efflux variability. During wet (and cloudy) period, when shade tolerant late successional P. falcatus is having a physiological advantage, soil respiration under this tree species exceeded that under the other two species. In contrast, soil CO₂ efflux rates under light demanding pioneer C. macrostachys appeared to be least sensitive to dry (but sunny) conditions. This is probably related to the relatively higher carbon assimilation rates and associated root respiration. We conclude that besides the anticipated changes in precipitation pattern in Ethiopia any anthropogenic disturbance fostering the pioneer species may alter the future ecosystem carbon balance by its impact on soil respiration.     

川滇高山栎林土壤氮素和微生物量碳氮随海拔变化的特征

川滇高山栎林是川西亚高山地区地带性的灌丛群落,具有重要的生态水文功能。本文在川西巴郎山东南坡沿海拔梯度(2 551、3 091、3 549 m),研究了川滇高山栎林表土层(0 15 cm)和亚表土层(15 30 cm)的土壤微生物量碳氮、有机碳(TOC)和氮素含量的分布特征及其相互关系。结果表明:海拔3 549 m和3 091 m处两土层土壤TOC及其储量、总氮(TN)、水解氮含量无显著性差异,其含量均显著高于海拔2 551 m处;海拔3 091 m处表土层与亚表土层的铵态氮(NH4+-N)含量显著比3 549 m的高,但与2 551 m处的NH4+-N含量差异不显著;在3个海拔梯度,土壤层硝态氮(NO3--N)含量差异不显著;3个海拔梯度的总无机氮含量在表土层差异不显著,而亚表土层无机氮含量在海拔3 091 m和3 549 m处差异显著;表土层微生物量碳含量变化与有机碳含量变化特征一致,亚表土层土壤微生物量碳含量在3个海拔梯度差异显著;表土层土壤微生物量氮含量在海拔3 091 m处最高,但3个海拔梯度的差异不显著,亚表土层土壤微生物量氮含量随海拔梯度降低而减少,但差异不显著。相关分析表明:水解氮、TOC、TN和土壤微生物量氮含量之间极显著相关(P<0.01);土壤微生物量碳与水解氮、TOC和TN显著正相关(P<0.05);pH值与水解氮、TOC和土壤微生物量氮显著正相关;NH4+-N与pH值极显著负相关。