Pits and rocky microsites in a subalpine forest stand facilitate regeneration of spruce saplings by suppressing dwarf bamboo growth inside a deer-proof fence

We determined patterns of microsite suppression in dwarf bamboo Sasa nipponica when grazing deer were absent. This bamboo species is able to outcompete Hondo spruce (Picea jezoensis var. hondoensis) saplings under many environmental circumstances. We set up two 10 × 100 m plots inside a deer-proof fence within a subalpine forest on Mt. Ohdaigahara, central Japan, and two similarly sized plots outside the fence. Within the plots, we surveyed microsites where spruce saplings grew. We measured height and shoot elongation of all spruce saplings, and culm height and cover ratios of dwarf bamboo growing around each spruce sapling. Spruce sapling density and average height were higher inside the deer-proof fence than outside, as were bamboo height and cover. Thus, there was a negative effect of deer browsing on vegetation parameters outside the fence and a suppression of the negative effect of bamboo on spruce sapling growth inside the fence. Spruce sapling height was higher in tree-fall pits than in other microsites inside the fence, whereas both dwarf bamboo height and cover were lower in pits and rocky sites than elsewhere. In soil and collar microsites, spruce sapling shoot growth was lower and bamboo height and cover were higher than in pits and rocky sites. Inside the fence, dwarf bamboo cover was high, but pits and rocks suppressed its growth, allowing spruce saplings to flourish. To restore heavily damaged spruce forests with advanced saplings, it will be necessary to construct deer-proof fences and create and maintain microsites with pits and rocks.     

Weeds in <Emphasis Type="Italic">Eucalyptus globulus</Emphasis> subsp. <Emphasis Type="Italic">maidenii</Emphasis> (F. Muell) establishment: effects of competition on sapling growth and survivorship

The effect of herbaceous vegetation on growth and survival was assessed in planted eucalyptus saplings grown under four levels of weed cover. Seedlings of Eucalyptus globulus subsp. maidenii were planted with 0 (W0), 25 (W25), 50 (W50) and 100% (W100) weed cover. Weed species composition and aboveground biomass was determined. Soil water content was evaluated by the gravimetric method. Seedling leaf area, diameter and height were evaluated at planting and during the 3 months following establishment. Tree height, diameter and stem volume was estimated at 12, 24 and 36 months. First year tree survival was recorded. The ratio of cumulative stem growth under W100: cumulative stem growth under W0 was used to measure competitive performance. Regression analysis was used to determine competition thresholds. Weeds seriously threaten the growth of E. globulus subsp. maidenii. Early negative effects of competition on growth were evident as from the second month after establishment, and both seedlings and 1-year-old saplings were more affected than 2- and 3-year-old ones. A “minimum-response threshold” was determined near 500 kg/ha (corresponding to W25 cover). No clear effect was found between sapling survival and weed biomass.     

Regeneration growth in different light environments of mixed species, multiaged, mountainous forests of Romania

Growth of regenerating trees in different light environments was studied for the mountainous, mixed-species forests in the Carpathian Mountains of Romania. The primary species in these mixtures were silver fir (Abies alba Mill.), European beech (Fagus sylvatica L.) and Norway spruce (Picea abies (L.) Karst). Seedlings/saplings of these species were selected and measured in different stands from two different geographical locations. Regenerating trees were measured for height and diameter growth during the summer of 2002. For each seedling/sapling, percentage of above canopy light (PACL) and stand basal area (BA) were used to assess available and occupied growing space respectively. Regeneration growth was compared against these two variables and regression relationships were developed. Using these models, we predicted the dynamics of regeneration as both growth and species composition. Our results showed that in low-light environments (PACL<20–35%; BA>30 m²/ha), shade tolerant fir and beech clearly outcompeted the spruce. Therefore, in dense stands, spruce could be eliminated by the shade tolerant species. For intermediate levels of cover (PACL=35–70%; BA=15–35 m²/ha) the spruce grew at comparable rates as the beech and fir. All three species showed similar growth rates in open conditions (PACL>80–90%; BA<15–20 m²/ha) with the spruce having a tendency to outgrow the others. However, in terms of establishment, such conditions favor spruce and inhibit fir and beech.     

Length curves and volume functions for guadua bamboo (Guadua angustifolia Kunth) for the coffee region of Colombia

Three models for the prediction of bamboo culm length and two for culm volume were fitted from data of 303 guadua bamboo (Guadua angustifolia Kunth) culms. Data are from 101 temporary inventory plots systematically distributed over the coffee region of Colombia (inventory area about 1,029,525 ha). Linear and non-linear regression models were used, and the precision of the models was evaluated by cross-validation. The models were compared by studying the adjusted coefficient of determination, the bias, mean square error and Akaike’s information criterion and by the F-test that compares predicted and observed values. For culm length, the best fit showed models that included predictor variables related to stand characteristics such as quadratic mean diameter and number of culms per ha. For culm volume prediction, the inclusion of culm length improved the model significantly. For the simple form factor model, precision of prediction was least. The models developed are useful in facilitating the estimation of stand characteristics that are relevant for the silvicultural management of Guadua stands and also for the assessment of their environmental services (such as carbon sequestration).     

The effects of selective logging on stand structure and the regeneration of subboreal forests in Hokkaido, northern Japan

We investigated the effects of selective logging on stand structure and regeneration in selectively logged subboreal forests in Taisetsuzan National Park in Hokkaido in northern Japan. The basal area decreased and the size structure of trees altered in the stands studied due to repeated, intense selective logging, in which larger trees were cut down as a priority. Sapling density in the stands was much lower than that in primary forests. In the simple and multiple regression analyses that were used to estimate the effects of selective logging on sapling density, sapling density had a significant positive correlation with tree density and had little correlation with the density of logged stumps or the height ofSasa (dwarf bamboo) growing on the forest floor. These results suggest that the establishment sites around canopy trees influenced the establishment of saplings, rather than the gaps caused by selective logging. However, both the coefficient of determination and the standardized partial regression coefficient of multiple regression analysis were higher for the stand with a dense cover ofSasa than for the stand with a sparse cover ofSasa. Thus, the success of regenerating forests with selective logging depends on both the site of advanced regeneration and the light conditions that regulate growth.     

毛竹主秆人工造型研究

在毛竹竹笋长成新竹的过程中,利用正方型的铁制模具套住笋体,强制毛竹主秆形状由圆形变方形。试验结果表明：竹笋高度超出模具5cm以上、竹笋粗度周长等于或略小于模具周长的竹笋,套上模具后竹笋既可成活,毛竹主秆又可形成方型;竹笋粗度周长大于模具周长的,上模后须适时对模具放松竹笋才能成活成型;套模后成活成型的新竹胸围、枝下高、全竹高只有对照的80％、53．8％、56．4％。研究表明在毛竹竹笋长成新竹的过程中,其主秆形状有可塑性,但对新竹的胸围、枝下高、全竹高生长有严重影响,会导致毛竹主秆矮化。     

Impact of the bambooPhyllostachys bambusoides on the light environment and plant communities on riverbanks

The bambooPhyllostachys bambusoides has been widely planted on riverbanks in Japan to protect against erosion. Recently, unmanagedP. bambusoides stands with high culm density are spreading along the banks of rivers. In order to study the impact of the bamboo stands on riparian ecosystems, the relations between bamboo stand structure, light conditions and plant communities under the canopy were examined. The study sites were set in bamboo stands with various culm densities in the middle of the Yahagi River in Toyota, Aichi Prefecture. There was a close relationship between canopy coverage and relative photon flux density (RPFD) in the bamboo stands. RPFD showed a highly negative relationship with total culm density, whereas no significant relation was observed between the basal area of bamboo and RPFD. The total number of plant species in the bamboo stands increased with decreasing culm density. Only a small number of tree saplings were observed in the stands with the highest culm densities, while several species of forest floor herbs were found in the stands with lower culm densities. A number of invasive and annual plants colonized the thinned stand. We suggest that moderate thinning and clearing of dead culms are needed to maintain biological diversity in the bamboo stands on riverbanks.     

屏边空竹四季出笋及幼竹生长发育规律研究

[目的]揭示屏边空竹的发笋、退笋和幼竹生长规律。[方法]定点观测了30丛屏边空竹周年的出笋、退笋、秆高及地径生长数据,运用SPSS软件分析评价了不同季节出笋及幼竹生长规律。[结果](1)屏边空竹笋期历时9个月左右(从9月至次年5月),根据出笋量的差异可分为初期、盛期和末期,春季最多而夏季最少;其中5丛(16. 67%)每季出笋,具有四季发笋的习性。(2)退笋率随着笋期逐渐增加,在出笋末期达到最高,为87. 76%。(3)笋-幼竹高生长约130 d完成,平均秆高达6. 36 m;呈现"慢-快-慢"的生长规律,生长曲线可用三次曲线方程描述:H=0. 806-0. 029t+0. 001t2-5. 894×10-6t3,R2=0. 980。(4)地径的生长历时16 d左右,平均地径为18. 50 mm,也呈现"慢-快-慢"的生长规律。[结论]屏边空竹发笋期长约9个月,具有四季发笋的习性,但各季节出笋量差异显著;秆高和地径呈现"慢-快-慢"的生长规律。     

伐桩处理对毛竹林生产力影响研究

研究了4种伐桩处理强度(0株/hm²、225株/hm²、450株/hm²、675株/hm²)对毛竹林生产力的影响。结果表明:伐桩处理可以显著提高毛竹用材林的生产力和竹材质量;随伐桩处理强度加大,新竹生物量、新竹质量呈稳定提高的趋势;伐桩处理强度为675株/hm²的处理效果优于其他处理强度;在伐桩处理强度为675株/hm²的毛竹林中,新竹生物量高达35.4 t/hm²,较伐桩未处理林地提高了27.57%,大径级(DBH > 10 cm)新竹密度是伐桩未处理林地的1.43倍,新竹胸高处节间长度比伐桩未处理林地增加1.8 cm。此外,伐桩处理能显著提高中、小径级新竹的品质,继而提高毛竹材用林培育的整体效益。     

Influence of local stand basal area on density and growth of regeneration in uneven‐aged Picea abies stands

In single‐tree selection, trees removed by harvest or lost through mortality are replaced by ingrowth from the seedling/sapling bank. Because the level of ingrowth is governed not only by the recruitment rate of new seedlings, but also by mortality and growth rates within the seedling/sapling stratum, knowledge of how these processes are related to the tree stratum is important for successful application of single‐tree selection. Therefore, Norway spruce (Picea abies (L.) Karst.) regeneration (0.1 m ≤ height ≤ 2.0 m) was measured on seventy 100 m² circular subplots at each of two sites in central and northern Sweden. Both sites had previously been selectively logged, but the time elapsed since the last harvest was at least 30 yrs. Basal area of trees of at least 2 m height within three different radii from the subplot centres was measured. Measurements on regeneration included height and leader length. Influence of local stand basal area on density and growth of regeneration was analysed by ordinary least‐squares linear regression for each of four height intervals. Regeneration was significantly aggregated at both sites, but number of Norway spruce seedlings and saplings per circular subplot was not correlated to local stand basal area. Out of 36 regressions, only eight showed a significantly (p < 0.05) negative correlation between seedling and sapling height growth and local stand basal area. In five of these cases, removal of one point (subplot) made p > 0.05. The results suggest that density and growth of Norway spruce regeneration in selectively logged uneven‐aged Norway spruce stands is affected more by ground conditions than by local stand basal area.     

Seven-year changes in growth and crown shape of Thujopsis dolabrata var. hondai saplings after release from suppression

We investigated changes in sapling growth and morphology of Thujopsis dolabrata var. hondai (hiba) for 7 years after release from suppressed lighting by selection cutting. We examined changes in aboveground biomass, elongation of stems and lateral branches, and annual diameter increment at the stem base. Vertical distributions of leaves per branch and per individual were also measured for morphological analysis. Under the suppressed condition before cutting, the crown consisted of orthotropic lateral branches, elongating up to the top of the stem or farther, and no branch was aborted. This crown type with large crown depth and concavity of the upper part had a bowl-like appearance. After the selection cutting, relative light intensity on the saplings increased from 4% to 26%. The increment enhanced aboveground biomass and stem elongation 7 years after the cutting. Diameter growth at the stem base was particularly accelerated 2 years after the cutting. While crown shape transformation of the saplings was not conspicuous at 7 years after the cutting, some released saplings showed a superior stem elongation ratio to that of the lateral branches. Thus, the upper part of the crown of these saplings changed from a bowl-like shape to a convex shape like that of a dome. Our study suggested that suppressed hiba saplings with the unique bowl-shaped crown enhanced their growth rates rapidly in response to improved light conditions, but required much more than 7 years for the full process of crown transformation for us to identify future trees in this stand. An erratum to this article is available at.     

峨热竹无性系种群地上部分生物量结构与模型研究

通过对四川省石棉县栗子坪自然保护区峨热竹分株地上部分基径、枝下高、全高及分株各构件生物量进行调查和测量,研究了其地上部分生物量分配结构和形态可塑性,构建了地上部分生物量模型。研究表明：峨热竹各分株含水率随年龄增长呈下降趋势,同一龄级分株构件含水率高低表现为叶〉枝〉秆;峨热竹分株总生物量表现出多年生〉2年生〉1年生的分配特征,而同一分株各构件间则表现出秆〉枝〉叶的生物量分配格局;基径分别与各龄级秆生物量和总生物量具有显著相关性,而全高与2年生及多年生枝叶生物量具有显著相关性;以基径和全高为自变量分别建立的线性模型可为相似区域峨热竹不同龄级分株秆和枝叶构件生物量的估测提供借鉴。     

Bamboo dieback and tree regeneration responses in a subtropical forest of South America

Bamboos’ vegetative growth are frequently associated to negative effects on tree recruitment and survival and despite this process, the effects of bamboo dieback after flowering events are poorly understood due the rarity of these events. 2 years after the massive flowering of the woody bamboo Merostachys multiramea in a southern South America subtropical forest, we compared changes in environmental conditions; tree species regeneration and production of new culms in canopy gaps resulted from bamboo dieback and areas of continuous canopy allowed by sparse bamboo cover. We observed sharp differences in environment conditions mainly resulted from differences in canopy openness and a NPMANOVA revealed differences among the stands regeneration directions (species composition and density). Average density, number of culms per sapling and total height of M. multiramea did not differ between stands, although slight differences were detected with increasing values toward opened sites.     

白夹竹生物学特性观察

经观察，白夹竹鞭梢生长期６－１１月，鞭分布在土壤上层１－１５ｃｍ。鞭年生长１ｍ左右。笋芽３－４月萌动，笋从５月初长出地面至５月底不再出笋，历时２８天左右，每公顷大年笋１００００个左右，上林率为２９．５４％，虫退笋率为４３．９８％，自然 笋率为２６．４８％，上林率，大年高于小年，初期，盛期出笋高于末期出笋。竹笋从出土到长成幼竹，历时６０天左右，竹笋高生长，一般夜晚稍大于白天，笋箨有吐水同象，１９８５     

Derivation of two-way volume equation for bamboo, <Emphasis Type="Italic">Phyllostachys pubescens</Emphasis>

We derive a two-way volume equation for estimating the apparent culm volume of one of the largest bamboo species, Phyllostachys pubescens Mazel ex Houz. The volume equation was derived from the assumptions that (1) the relative culm form can be expressed by Kunze’s equation and (2) normal form-factors at two different relative heights are steady at constants independent of culm sizes. A total number of 200 sample culms were collected from a stand of P. pubescens in Mt. Toshima, Kumamoto Prefecture, western Japan, and were randomly bisected into two sets of data, i.e. modeling and test data. For the modeling data, normal form-factors at 0.6 and 0.9 in relative height were steady at 0.908 and 0.448, respectively. The coefficients of the volume equation were determined based on these steady values of the normal form-factors. For the test data, the apparent culm volume was estimated from diameter at breast height and culm height with the determined volume equation. The mean error and root mean square error of the estimated culm volume were, respectively, 8.120 × 10⁻⁵ and 3.291 × 10⁻³ m³, and there was no significant difference between estimated and actual volume. In conclusion, the two-way volume equation presented here appears to be convenient for predicting the apparent culm volume for P. pubescens.     

Sampling procedure for density estimation of bamboo galls induced by <Emphasis Type="Italic">Aiolomorphus rhopaloides</Emphasis> (Hymenoptera: Eurytomidae) in a bamboo stand

 To establish a sampling procedure for estimating the density of bamboo galls induced by Aiolomorphus rhopaloides Walker (Hymenoptera: Eurytomidae) in a stand of bamboo Phyllostachys heterocycla (Carr. Mitf.) (Monocotyledoneae: Gramineae), 5–12 bamboo culms were cut at random in late March of each year during 1998–2001 just before gall-maker emergence. The number of galls on the branches of each bamboo culm was counted. The spatial patterns of the galls on the culms in the stand and on the branches within each culm were measured by Iwao's patchiness regression. Galls were distributed contagiously both on culms and on branches. Current bamboo culms that emerged the previous summer did not require sampling because no galls were observed on them. Except for this, there was no difference in gall density on young and old culms, suggesting that it is not necessary to distinguish them. There were few (<4%) galls above 6 m height during the 4 years. There was no significant difference in gall density up to 4 m and above 4 m, suggesting that branches up to 4 m can be sampled with confidence. Kuno's two-stage sampling method at different precision levels showed that the number of culms to be sampled varied with gall density. For example, at mean density m = 1.0 per branch when the number of sampled branches per culm is 10, a total of 24 culms is required to estimate gall number at a precision level of D = 0.2, where D is the ratio of standard error to mean. Received: July 10, 2002 / Accepted: November 25, 2002 Acknowledgments I thank Dr. K. Kamijo for insect identification. Thanks are also due to the members of the Laboratory of Forest Protection for their kind help with the fieldwork. This study was supported in part by a Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (No. 11460068) from the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology, Japan.     

Variable-density thinning promotes differential recruitment and development of shade tolerant conifer species after 17 years

Promoting patchy recruitment of shade tolerant tree species into the midstory is an important step in developing structural diversity in second-growth stands. Variable-density thinning (VDT) has been proposed as a strategy for accelerating structural diversity, as its combination of within-stand treatments (harvest gaps, thinning, and non-harvested skips) should create variable overstory and understory conditions. Here we report on western hemlock (Tsuga heterophylla (Raf.) Sarg.) seedling and sapling densities in five mixed-conifer stands and Sitka spruce (Picea sitchensis (Bong.) Carr.) seedling and sapling densities in two stands in western Washington at 3,7, 10, and 16–17 years after VDT. Additionally, we report on western hemlock advance regeneration growth and survival in two stands over 14 years. Western hemlock seedling density was highest in the thinned treatment but only significantly so in Year 10. In contrast, the gaps contained significantly more western hemlock saplings in Years 7 and 10 and significantly greater growth of western hemlock advance regeneration through Year 10. Skips embedded within the VDT did not differ significantly from unharvested reserves in terms of seedling or sapling densities of either species. Sitka spruce seedling density was highest in the gap and thinned treatments, but saplings were uncommon in all treatments. Collectively, these results indicate that our variant of VDT promoted patchy, midstory recruitment of western hemlock but failed to recruit Sitka spruce saplings in either stand where it established. Consequently, more intensive variants of VDT may be required to promote midstory recruitment of species less tolerant of shade than western hemlock.

     

Variability in fibre and parenchyma cell walls of temperate and tropical bamboo culms of different ages

This study tries to clarify the conflicting results from previous studies on cell wall thickening in bamboo culms by applying light and transmission electron microscopy in combination with image analysis. It focused on both fibre and parenchyma wall thickness of both temperate (Phyllostachys spp.) and tropical (Gigantochloa levis and Dendrocalamus asper) bamboo species of different ages in the light of their suitability for the wood industry. The observations indicated a great heterogeneity in cell wall thickness and cell wall layering pattern of fibres within one culm. Nested design ANOVA’s revealed a rising trend in wall thickness of late maturing fibres and parenchyma cells during the first year but significant wall thickening during later years could not be demonstrated. The high variability within one culm and between culms of the same age from 1 year on is partly masking a clear increased cell wall thickening at higher age. Nevertheless, the highest mean values for fibre wall thickness were recorded in culms of 44 months old or older, suggesting that some kind of late cell wall maturing can take place within one culm.     

Belowground competition from overstory trees influences Douglas-fir sapling morphology in thinned stands

We evaluated effects of belowground competition on morphology of naturally established coast Douglas-fir (Pseudotsuga menziesii var. menziesii (Mirb.) Franco) saplings in 60- to 80-year-old thinned Douglas-fir stands in southwestern Washington. We separately quantified belowground competition from overstory and understory sources using trenching and understory removal. In this light-limited environment of 26 ± 16% (std. dev.) full sunlight, 2-year exclusion of tree root competition by trenching increased sapling stem biomass by 18%, total aboveground biomass by 21%, number of interwhorl buds by 68%, total foliar biomass by 33%, and foliar biomass on branch components over 4 years old by 143%. Belowground competition did not influence shoot:root ratio or foliar efficiency (i.e., stem growth per unit foliage biomass). Sapling needle size, specific leaf area, and internodal distance also were not affected by belowground competition; these variables were apparently a function of the low-light environment. The principal source of belowground competition was roots of overstory trees; effects of belowground competition from understory vegetation were minor. Thus, under a partial overstory, morphology of Douglas-fir regeneration was influenced by both belowground and aboveground competition from overstory trees. In this environment, understory vegetation control would not likely influence belowground competition to an extent that would affect sapling morphology.