Nutrient spatial variability in biogenic structures of Nasutitermes (Termitinae; Isoptera) in a gallery forest of the Colombian ‘Llanos’

By definition ‘ecosystem engineers’ are those organisms capable to modify physically the environment by producing ‘biogenic’ structures (BS). Large macroinvertebrates like termites, earthworms and ants produce BS with distinguishable physico-chemical properties. We measured total C_org, and contents in the BS produced by two species of Neotropical termites (subfamily Nasutermitinae) in a gallery forest (GF) of the Eastern Plains of Colombia. We sampled from the top of the BS to the edge at proportional distances, i.e. 20-100% for the largest BS in the soil surface and 50-100% for the smallest arboricole BS. Control soil was sampled 1 m apart from the BS. Values of total C_org were high in the BS produced by Nasutitermes sp1 (epigeic mound), while a high N mineralization process was observed in the same BS and in the Nasutitermes sp2 arboreal nest. The role of these two ecosystem engineers in nutrient cycling is discussed.     

Species diversity and habitat fragmentation: frogs in a tropical montane landscape in Mexico

We evaluate the alpha (within patch species richness), beta (spatial turnover among patches) and gamma (landscape) diversity of frogs in a tropical montane cloud forest (TMCF) in central Veracruz, Mexico in order to assess (1) the influence of forest fragmentation on frog assemblages, (2) the importance to diversity of the various elements of the landscape matrix, including the shaded coffee plantations and cattle pastures that surround TMCF and (3) to identify the frog guilds most affected by habitat transformation. We sampled ten sites between May 1998 and November 2000: five TMCF fragments and five anthropogenic habitats. For the entire landscape, we registered 21 species belonging to six families. 100% of these were found in the TMCF fragments and 62% in the surrounding mosaic of anthropogenic habitats. Gamma diversity (γ) is determined to a greater extent by species exchange (β) than by local species richness (α). Elevational variation, the degree of conservation of the vegetation canopy and fragment size appear to determine the species diversity of this landscape. Large species, terrestrial species, those whose eggs develop outside water, and those whose larvae develop in the water seemed to be most affected by habitat transformation. On its own, even the largest and most species-rich cloud forest fragment is not capable of preserving the current anuran diversity. Neither are the shaded coffee plantations that are interspersed among and link the patches of TMCF. However together they form a diverse system of habitats crucial to species conservation in this landscape.     

Activated carbon amendments to soil alters nitrification rates in Scots pine forests

The influence of charcoal on biotic processes in soils remains poorly understood. Charcoal is a natural product of wildfires that burned on a historic return interval of ∼100 years in Scots pine (Pinus sylvestris L.) forests of northern Sweden. Fire suppression and changes in forest stand management have resulted in a lack of charcoal production in these ecosystems. It is thought that charcoal may alter N mineralization and nitrification rates, however, previous studies have not been conclusive. Replicated field studies were conducted at three late-succession field sites in northern Sweden and supporting laboratory incubations were conducted using soil humus collected from these sites. We used activated carbon (AC), as a surrogate for natural-occurring fire-produced charcoal. Two rates of AC (0 and 2000 kg ha⁻¹), and glycine (0 and 100 kg N as glycine ha⁻¹) were applied in factorial combination to field microplots in a randomized complete block pattern. Net nitrification, N mineralization, and free phenol concentrations were measured using ionic and non-ionic resin capsules, respectively. These same treatments and also two rates of birch leaf litter (0 and 1000 kg ha⁻¹) were applied in a laboratory incubation and soils from this incubation were extracted with KCl and analyzed for NH₄⁺ and NO₃⁻. Nitrification rates increased with AC amendments in laboratory incubations, but this was not supported by field studies. Ammonification rates, as measured by NH₄⁺ accumulation on ionic resins, were increased considerably by glycine applications, but some NH₄⁺ was apparently lost to surface sorption to the AC. Phenolic accumulation on non-ionic resin capsules was significantly reduced by AC amendments. We conclude that charcoal exhibits important characteristics that affect regulating steps in the transformation and cycling of N.     

树干茎流研究方法及其述评

树干茎流研究是国内外森林水文学研究中的重要内容,对国内外树干茎流的研究方法及研究成果进行综述,并将树干茎流研究方法分为野外实测法和数学模型估测法,分别进行了系统分类和简要述评。树干茎流的野外实测法有观测标准株的选取与树干茎流水的收集两个关键技术环节。树干茎流的数学模型分为3种类型,即经验模型、概念模型、理论模型。经验模型反映的是树干茎流量(或茎流流率)与降雨量的定量关系,概念模型描述的是茎流量与降雨特征及林分特征因子的数量关系,理论模型刻画了树干茎流形成的机理和动态变化过程(树干茎流随降雨的时空变化规律),分别给出了各类模型主要的数学表达式,并分析了各类模型主要的优点和缺点。     

陕西黄土高原地区退耕与粮食补助模式研究

在陕西黄土高原地区分区基础上 ,对各区未来 2 0年粮食供需状况进行预测 ,并根据未来粮食供需形势 ,选择了陕西黄土高原地区最优的退耕和粮食补助模式     

京郊风景游憩林侧柏-刺槐群落林下植被生态位研究

对北京市郊区风景游憩林侧柏-刺槐群落林下植被的主要植物种群的生态位宽度、生态位相似比例和生态位重叠分析表明,求米草、荆条、孩儿拳头和细叶苔草生态位宽度值较大,上层林分主要树种侧柏和刺槐的林下更新苗生态位宽度比其他植物种林下更新苗的生态位宽度低;林下植物种群的生态位相似性比例值和生态位重叠值相对较小,不同种群间对资源的竞争相对不剧烈,可采取人工措施改善树种的配置,促进生态位分化。     

Modern forestry vehicles and their impacts on soil physical properties

“Close-to-nature forest stands” are one central key in the project “Future oriented Forest Management” financially supported by the German Ministry for Science and Research (BMBF). The determination of ecological as well as economical consequences of mechanized harvesting procedures during the transformation from pure spruce stands to close-to-nature mixed forest stands is one part of the “Southern Black Forest research cooperation”. Mechanical operations of several typical forest harvesting vehicles were analysed to examine the actual soil stresses and displacements in soil profiles and to reveal the changes in soil physical properties of the forest soils. Soil compaction stresses were determined by Stress State Transducer (SST) and displacement transducer system (DTS) at two depths: 20 and 40 cm. Complete harvesting and trunk logging processes accomplished during brief 9-min operations were observed at time resolutions of 20 readings per second. Maximum vertical stresses for all experiments always exceeded 200 kPa and at soil depths of 20 cm for some vehicles and sequences of harvesting operations approached ≥500 kPa. To evaluate the impacts of soil stresses on soil structure, internal soil strengths were determined by measuring precompression stresses. Precompression stress values of forest soils at the field sites ranged from 20 to 50 kPa at soil depths of 20 cm depth and from 25 to 60 kPa at soil depths of 40 cm, at a pore water pressure of −60 hPa. Data obtained for these measured soil stresses and their natural bearing capacities proved that sustainable wheeling is impossible, irrespective of the vehicle type and the working process. Re-occurring top and subsoil compaction, increases in precompression stress values in the various soil horizons, deep rut depths, vertical and horizontal soil displacements associated with shearing stresses, all affected the mechanical strengths of forest soils. In order to sustain naturally “unwheeled” soil areas with minimal compaction, it is recommended that smaller machines, having less mass, be used to complete forest harvesting in order to prevent or at least to maintain currently minimal-compacted forest soils. Additionally, if larger machines are required, permanent wheel and skid tracks must be established with the goal of their maximum usefulness for future forest operations. A first step towards accomplishing these permanent pathways requires comprehensive planning with the Federal State Baden-Württemberg. The new guideline for final opening with skid tracks (Landesforstverwaltung Baden-Württemberg, 2003) proposes a permanent skid track system with a width of 20–40 m.     

Harvesting of non-timber forest products and implications for conservation in two montane forests of East Africa

Plant species-level research that comprises inventories, impact studies and monitoring is necessary if plant resources are to be harvested sustainably by human populations living adjacent to protected areas in sub-Saharan Africa. This research assessed the extraction of plant products from two montane forest ecosystems, Uzungwa Scarp Forest Reserve (USFR) and Bwindi Impenetrable National Park (BINP), East Africa. In USFR, data from vegetation sampling and interviews with local people were used to understand the ecological and socio-economic aspects of non-timber forest product (NTFP) harvesting. The densities of eight commonly harvested tree species, most of which were used as building poles, were approximately 2.4-4.5 times lower in disturbed versus undisturbed habitats across all four sites in USFR. Interviews with 91 women and 54 men suggested that most species were harvested for medicinal uses (57 species) and building purposes (50 species). In BINP, the liana Loeseneriella apocynoides (Apocynaceae), is harvested for basketry weaving. Evidence suggested that the liana was harvested in both protected and unprotected areas of BINP. Data collected suggested a negative impact on this species in an unprotected versus a protected area, with stem diameters larger than 1 cm significantly more abundant in the protected area. This study reveals that harvesting of NTFPs occurs even in these two protected forest areas, and that over-exploitation not only threatens species of high-demand, but could also alter forest structure and composition. Management practices that encourage the monitoring of sustainable harvesting levels of species and promote alternative plants for the same uses should be considered as part of conservation strategies.     

嘉陵江上游低山暴雨区不同水土保持林结构模式水源涵养效益研究

水土保持林的水源涵养效益是研究森林防止水土流失的一个热点问题。以20世纪80年代末期营造和自然恢复的湿地松林、桤柏混交林、刺槐(灌木)林 、刺槐林 和桤木林为研究对象,选择林冠截留、土壤容重、土壤孔隙度、土壤贮水能力、土壤渗透性和枯落物持水性,作为研究不同水土保持林结构模式水源涵养效益的指标,对不同水土保持林的水源涵养机理和水源涵养效益进行了较深入的研究。结果表明,各水土保持林的水源涵养能力均明显高于农耕地;不同水土保持林结构模式的水源涵养效益也有较大差异。最后提出了桤柏混交林、湿地松林、桤木林等优良水土保持林结构模式,为当地的生态环境建设,特别是当前正在进行的退耕还林工程的模式选择提供了依据。     

岷江上游23年生油松纯林下凋落物与土壤截留降水的效应

为了评价人工林下凋落物与土壤截留降水的能力,定位监测和分析了岷江上游23年生人工油松纯林下凋落物层和土壤层对65次降水事件的截留与分配过程。结果表明,65次林外降水总量为400.9 mm,其中208.726mm以穿透雨、33.388 mm以树干茎流进入林地,凋落物层、土壤层分别截留25.695,214.375 mm,截留率分别是6.41％,53.47％。但林外降水量<0.3 mm时,不产生林内降水,凋落物与土壤层不能截留降水。在0.3～10 mm降水范围内,土壤截留量随着降水增大呈增加趋势,而凋落物层截留率先增后减,但降水量>10 mm后,土壤截留率逐渐趋于稳定,呈较小波动(63.46％～73.58％),而凋落物截留率趋于稳定,并略有下降趋势;土壤截留量与林内外降水量、土壤截留量与茎流量均呈显著线性相关关系。综合分析表明,人工油松林凋落物层和土壤层对降水均有一定的拦蓄截留效应,其中:土壤层>凋落物层,土壤层的截留量达同期林外降水量的1/2以上。