A review of measurement options for multipurpose trees

There is an urgent need to standardize the methods used to assess the growth of multipurpose trees. Most of the standard methods so far described have been developed specifically for use in multilocational trial networks. This paper was prepared for the F/FRED/ICRAF Workshop on MPTS Assessment Methods, held in Thailand in May 1991 to develop internationally-recognised standards for assessment methodology. It critically reviews the methods prescribed by different networks for height and diameter measurement, and for biomass estimation, giving researchers a range of methodological options to consider and re-emphasizing the need, all too often neglected, to define assessment methods clearly and unambiguously.     

Effects of NaCl stress on seed germination, leaf gas exchange and seedling growth of Pteroceltis tatarinowii

Effects of NaCl on seed germination, leaf gas exchange and seedling growth were investigated. The germination of P. tatarinowii seeds was delayed in the presence of NaCl, and was significantly inhibited when NaCl concentration exceeded 17 mM (1.0 g·L⁻¹). NaCl treatments induced reductions of transpiration rate, stomatal conductance and net photosynthetic rate and their reductions were significant with the increasing of NaCl concentration. However, intercellular CO₂ concentration in seedling leaves under salt stress was significantly higher than that of controls. There was a significant reduction in survival, basal diameter increment and height increment with increasing NaCl concentration 50 days after NaCl treatment, and a significant reduction in the dry weight increment of roots, stems, and leaves was also observed in the NaCl treatments. The deleterious effect on the biomass increment was more evident in the case of stems and leaves. Results from this study suggest that P. tatarinowii is sensitive to salinity stress and the salinity threshold for seedling growth might be less 34 mM (2.0 g·L⁻¹). Biography: FANG Sheng-zuo (1963–), male, Professor, College of Forest Resources and Environment, Nanjing Forestry University, Nanjing 210037, P. R. China.     

茶秆竹林叶面积指数与生物量关系的研究

为探索茶秆竹叶面积指数与生物量的关系，本文应用多种数学模型对茶秆竹林叶面积指数与年龄、胸径、立竹密度、留枝盘数等因子的相关性进行回归分析，结果表明，叶面积指数与生物量紧密相关，当叶面积指数为7．47时，茶秆竹生物量最大。本文同时建立了叶面积指数与胸径、立竹密度的关系表，以为生产提供一定的参考依据。     

油桐林生物量和养分循环的研究

对不同生育期的油桐林生物量和大量营养元素(N、P、K、Ca、Mg)的生物循环进行了研究。结果表明,桐林的生物量随树龄的增大逐渐积累,从幼龄期开始到20年生的桐林,其生物量的积累值为79,61t/ha。桐林不同生育期的光合产物在各器官中的分配比例不同。经济产量(果生物量或种仁生物量)随树龄的动态变化服从二次抛物线函数:W_(FR)=-2.11398+0.82471(t-1)-0.03540(t-1)~2W_S=-1.37257+0.38539t-0.01706t~2不同生育期,桐林中大量营养元素的吸收量、存留量、归还量和输出量均不同。     

Temporal dynamics of forage succession for elk at two scales: Implications of forest management

Rapid conversion of lodgepole pine (Pinus contorta) dominated landscapes in western Alberta to a mosaic of successional stand ages has long-term implications for elk populations in the region that have not been fully assessed. We developed stand-level models of forage succession using data from 159 cutblocks to simulate forage and cover availability within the home range of an elk under “even-flow” and “pulsed” timber cutting scenarios that are common in this area. We found forage biomass peaked approximately 9 years following felling for both herbaceous (graminoids and forbs) and palatable browse forage. Forage production was determined primarily by the age of the cutblock (time since felling) and to a lesser extent elevation, compound topographic index (a measure of site wetness), and the distance to the nearest deciduous forest patch. Forbs became increasingly abundant as stands matured. Browse composition shifted from palatable species to unpalatable species after approximately 30 years. Within an elk home range (100 km²), we found that simulating an “even-flow” cutting regime resulted in forage availability that was always higher than under the current conditions of 90% forests when more than 10 ha were harvested per year. Further, forest cover (>30$>30$-year-old stands) was never less than the guideline of 60% of the area needed to provide adequate thermal and hiding cover. In contrast, when a “pulsed” harvest scenario was simulated, similar to what occurs for mountain pine beetle control, forage availability changed dramatically over time as a large cohort of harvested timber aged. Without further harvesting the stand conditions in the home range eventually returned to a state of pre-harvest risk for mountain pine beetle outbreak. We demonstrated several additional harvesting scenarios that avoided the potential risk and produced a much higher level of forage than currently exists.     

云南省黄胸木蠹蛾的危险性评估

黄胸木蠹蛾是多种阔叶树种的重要蛀干害虫。为正确认识云南省黄胸木蠹蛾对林木所造成危害的危险性,加强管理,有效地控制该虫的危害和防止其进一步扩散蔓延,采用有害生物危险性分析(Pest R isk Analysis)的方法,对黄胸木蠹蛾在云南省的危险性进行了系统的定性与定量分析。通过综合评估,认为黄胸木蠹蛾在云南省属于中度危险性的森林有害生物。     

Biomass dynamics of Erythrina lanceolata as influenced by shoot-pruning intensity in Costa Rica

Pruning of agroforestry trees, while reducing shade of the crops, usually reduces both biomass production and nitrogen fixation. Short pruning cycles are often not sustainable on the long run, because tree production declines over subsequent pruning cycles. We compared biomass and labile carbohydrate dynamics of Erythrina lanceolata Standley (Papilionaceae) shade trees under total and partial pruning regimes in a vanilla (Vanilla planifolia L.) plantation in South-western Costa Rica. The highest biomass production was measured in the unpruned control, followed by trees with 50% of the leaf pruned every three months, while total pruning every six months resulted in the lowest biomass pruduction. In the more productive treatments, a higher proportion of the production was in branches. Because, the N content of woody branches was high, they were important for nitrogen cycling. In the partial pruning treatment more nitrogen was returned to the soil from litter and woody branches than from pruned leaf. Sugar concentrations were not different between treatments and the dynamics of non-structural carbohydrates (sugar and starch) seems to depend more on plant phenology than pruning treatment. However, the starch concentrations in the total pruning were lower than in the other treatments.This revised version was published online in November 2005 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

大围山国家级自然保护区自然因素对生物多样性影响的评估

大围山国家级自然保护区是云南省最重要的保护区之一,生物多样性的管理十分重要。研究对生物多样性和影响生物多样性的因子进行评估。研究所采用的第一手自然和生物多样性的第一手数据,如海拔、土壤类型、坡度、森林覆盖率、植物物种、鸟类物种等从大围山保护区的28个样点中获得。用CurveExpert统计软件对这些数据进行数理统计分析,分析的结果显示鸟类物种的多样性与植物物种的多样性呈明显的正相关,说明生境对动物区系多样性保护的关键作用。该研究还分析了关键景观特征与生物多样性的相关性,并对如何测度生物多样性和增强保护和管理该区域的生物多样性提出了建议。本研究的结果不仅对大围山自然保护区的生物多样性保护和管理策略的制定有重要的意义,而且对中国其他自然保护区的保护和管理也有积极地作用。     

巨桉无性系生长早期选择

对26个巨桉无性系人工林生长性状的调查分析表明：胸径、材积在无性系间呈极显著差异,相关性分析结果表明胸径、树高、材积三者间存在极显著的正相关关系。变异系数最大的是材积,达到78.82%,其次为树高和胸径,分别为52.23%、23.13%。胸径、树高、材积的重复力分别为0.5744、0.5469、0.3453。利用综合评定方法评选出5个优良的巨桉无性系,分别为20、18、25、9和5号。5个优良无性系胸径、树高、材积的遗传增益分别为11.60%、11.09%和2.05%。     

Evaluation of the level of threat and protective classification of the vegetation of Makehe Forest in Sanjiangyuan Nature Reserve, west China

After investigating and studying the vegetation, we have established that Makehe Forest, in Sanjiangyuan Nature Reserve, Qinghai Province, is host to a total of 364 different species, representing 173 “genera” in 55 different vegetative families. We propose five quantifiable indices for evaluating the level of threat to these plants: 1) the distribution frequency of the “line transect”; 2) the distribution frequency of sample plots; 3) the distribution density inside sample plots; 4) the existing abundance in the forest region; and 5) plant fidelity. The results show that there are two endangered species, six vulnerable species, 12 nearly threatened species and 344 safe species. The study tried to evaluate the urgency for conserving these plants, according to coefficients of closeness to disappearance, of genetic loss and of usefulness. Results also showed that the number of species of primary concern is two; of secondary concern, nine; of the third level, 23; and of least concern, 330 species. __________ Translated from Journal of Beijing Forestry University, 2006, 28(3): 20–25 [译自: 北京林业大学学报]