Carbon stock and deposition in phytomass of the Russian forests

Russian forests occupy an area of 771 Mha with a wood volume of 81.6 × 10⁹ m³. In this paper we estimate the carbon (C) storage and annual C deposition in living vegetation for stands of different age groups according to information in the Russian National Forest Inventory (NFI). Conversion of root C storage into phytomass was based on phytomass/storage ratios calculated from data from 1900 test areas in the different forest regions of Russia. We developed these conversion ratios for different phytomass fractions, namely: stems, branches, roots and foliage, for different forest forming species. Of the total forest area (771 Mha), C storage in the living phytomass is 35.07 Pg C. Total annual C deposition in forest vegetation is estimated at 213.2 Tg C. We considered the role of the main forest forming species in the C cycle of the forest vegetation taking into account the actual structure of the Russian forests.     

Overview of Recent Growth Trends in European Forests

Natural environmental changes and human activities have altered forest growth for centuries. Recent long-term growth investigations indicate an increasing growth trend in European forests. The investigations are based on forest inventory, permanent plot and tree analysis data. The observed trends are species specific, locally varying and modified by remarkably large periodic growth variations. On a European scale, species and site specific quantitative information about the extent and spatial as well as temporal variation in growth acceleration is lacking. Future growth development may differ from past observations. A better understanding of changes in site conditions, their causes and consequences is needed to guide sustainable management of European forests.     

北京市低山区水土保持林评价与分级

以北京低山区同龄油松(Pinus tabulaeformis)林、侧柏(Platycladus orientalis)林、刺槐(Robinia pseudoacacia)林和栎类(Ouercus liaotungensis)林为研究对象,设置32个30m×30m标准样地,结合当地实际情况,运用数理统计方法及专家咨询法筛选出三级共12个评价指标,构建水土保持林评价指标体系,建立评价综合模型,计算林分综合评价指数,并对各林分进行了评价。将水土保持林分为四级:一级水土保持林,综合评价值S≥8;二级水土保持林,综合评价值5≤S<8;三级水土保持林,综合评价值2≤S<5;四级水土保持林,综合评价值S<2。探讨了不同级别的水土保持生长状况及立地特征,并提出了合理的改造措施。     

Potential effects of climatic change on some western Canadian forests,based on phenological enhancements to a patch model of forest succession

We enhanced the forest patch model, Zelig, to explore the implications of 2×CO₂ climate change scenarios on several forest regions in British Columbia and Alberta, Canada. In addition to the processes and phenomena commonly represented in individual-based models of forest stand dynamics, we added some species-specific phenology and site-specific frost events. The consideration of bud-break heat sum requirements, growing season limits, and chilling requirements for the induction of dormancy and cold hardiness slightly improved the ability of Zelig to predict the present composition of B.C. forests. Simulations of the predicted effects of future climatic regimes (based on the averaged predictions of four general circulation models) include some major shifts in equilibrial forest composition and productivity. Lowland temperate coastal forests are predicted to be severely stressed because indigenous species will no longer have their winter chilling requirements met. High-elevation coastal forests are expected to increase in productivity, while interior subalpine forests are expected to remain stable in productivity but will gradually be replaced by species currently characteristic of lower elevations. Dry, interior low-elevation forests in southern B.C. are likely to persist relatively unchanged, while wet interior forests are expected to support dramatic increases in yield, primarily by western hemlock. Northern interior sub-boreal forests are likewise expected to increase in productivity through enhanced growth of lodgepole pine. Conversely, the precipitous collapse of spruce stands in the true boreal forests of northeastern B.C. is expected to be associated with reduced productivity as they are replaced by pine species. Boreal-Cordilleran and Moist Boreal Mixedwood forests in Alberta are less likely to undergo compositional change, while becoming somewhat more productive. We believe these model enhancements to be a significant improvement over existing formulations, but the resulting predictions must still be viewed with caution. Model limitations include: (1) the current inability of climate models to predict future variation in monthly temperature and precipitation; (2) sparse information on the phenological behaviour of several important tree species; and (3) a poor understanding of the degree to which growth is constrained by different suboptimal climatic events.     

Dependence of bryophyte species on young, mature and old growth wet eucalypt forest

Maintenance of old growth forest has been argued to be important for the future of many bryophyte species, but there has been no empirical test of this proposition. Bryophytes constitute much of the plant biodiversity in Tasmanian tall open-forests dominated by Eucalyptus regnans and Eucalyptus obliqua. These forests have a low level of protection in their old growth stage. We ask whether if there is a concentration of bryophyte species in particular forest age classes and assess its significance for biological conservation. The bryophyte species at 99 forest sites were recorded and related to young, mature and old growth age classes using ANOVA. Only two bryophyte taxa were confined, with statistical confidence, to one of these classes. Succession in bryophyte assemblages takes the relay floristics form, with a few highly frequent species in the young forest, most of which do not persist in later stages, a large number of species establishing in middle-aged forests, some dying out with their short-lived hosts by the time of the old growth forest stage, and liverworts becoming more prominent with age. Species concentrated in the old growth phase of these eucalypt forests have all been recorded from secure reserves in this and other vegetation types. If present patterns of land use continue, and no extensive wild fires occur in the reserved old growth forest, almost all bryophyte species of E. regnans and E. obliqua mixed forest are likely to survive. This may not be the case in other regions of the world, where reservation may be poorer than in Tasmania.     

陕北黄土区山杏林下草本层植物群落特征研究

根据陕西省吴起县不同立地类型25龄以上山杏人工纯林和山杏沙棘混交林林下草本层植被调查数据,采用时空互代的方法,探讨了在不同立地山杏林下草本层植物群落演替方向及其生态恢复效果.结果表明,阴向缓坡、阴向陡坡和阳向缓坡山杏纯林下草本层由铁杆蒿、达乌里胡枝子群落演替到大披针苔草或铁杆蒿、大披针苔草群落,群落整体由旱生型向中生型转变,盖度和生物量增大,多样性略有降低,呈正向演替;且山杏-沙棘混交林下草本层上述指标均优于纯林.而在阳向缓坡山杏林下由星毛委陵菜、铁杆蒿群落演替到甘草、大披针苔草群落,群落整体向旱生型转变,多样性、盖度、生物量均随林龄增加显著降低,呈逆行演替.建议在阴向缓坡、阴向陡坡及阳向缓坡配置山杏这类低耗水,生长慢乔木树种,其中与沙棘等乡土灌木树种混交的模式更优;在阳向陡坡以营造生长速度适中的灌木林或自然恢复草地植被为宜.     

桂南地区杉木马尾松人工实生林多形地位指数曲线模型

利用桂南地区收集的人工实生林分标准地材料和优势解析木杉木９３株，马尾松１６２株，建立优势高生长Ｒｉｃｈａｒｄｓ模型。用参数预估法编制桂南地区的杉木、马尾松实生林多形地位指数表。杉木、马尾松各指数级曲线拟合平均剩余标准差分别是０．２９４３ｍ和０．２３２３ｍ；经另外６８株和５２株优势解析木检验，预报误差分别为０．４８７ｍ和０．５０６ｍ，适应性好。     

甘肃省5种典型人工林健康状况

[目的]研究典型人工林健康状况,可为甘肃地区制定人工林科学经营措施、提高森林资源质量、实现森林可持续发展提供理论依据。[方法]以甘肃省5种典型人工林(刺槐林、杨树林、落叶松林、云杉林和油松林)为研究对象,在对区域内68个典型样地进行野外调查的基础上,从森林群落结构、生产力和恢复力等方面选取了18项指标,运用主成分分析和聚类分析法,构建了适用于该区域人工林的健康评价指标体系和健康评价模型,计算了森林健康指数,综合评价了该地区5种典型人工林的健康状况。[结果](1)甘肃地区典型人工林60.3%处于亚健康状态,22.1%处于不健康状态,10.3%处于中健康状态,7.3%处于健康状态;(2)不同人工林中,落叶松林的健康水平相对较高,杨树林健康水平最低,森林健康指数依次为落叶松林(0.417)>云杉林(0.126)>刺槐林(0.106)>油松林(0.000)>杨树林(-0.665);(3)人工林不同龄组中,成熟林的健康水平相对较高,幼龄林健康水平相对较低,平均森林健康指数依次为成熟林(0.580)>近熟林(-0.062)>中龄林(-0.073)>幼龄林(...     

武夷山风景名胜区不同森林景观物种多样性特征研究

以武夷山风景名胜区植物群落调查样地资料为基础,运用物种丰富度、多样性指数及均匀度指数对构成该区森林景观的6类森林类型(马尾松林、杉木林、经济林、竹林、阔叶林和茶园)的物种多样性进行测定与分析。结果表明:6类森林景观不同生长型的物种丰富度存在差异,表现为灌木层物种丰富度较高,而乔木层与草本层物种丰富度较低,除个别森林类型外,各森林类型物种丰富度的垂直结构为灌木层>乔木层>草木层;不同森林景观类型的物种多样性亦存在较大差异,总体趋势为阔叶林>马尾松林>杉木林>竹林>茶园>经济林,符合物种多样性的一般性规律,即天然林景观>半人工林景观>人工林景观;基质景观天然马尾松林不同演替阶段的物种多样性随演替进展而逐渐增加。不同研究区物种多样性比较结果表明,武夷山风景名胜区具有较高的物种多样性。     

漓江上游山区水源林叶面积指数变化的遥感监测

为了定量评价漓江上游山区复杂地形水源林叶面积指数(LAI)的变化,对阔叶林、针叶林、竹林样地以TRAC仪器测定LAI,利用遥感数据计算归一化植被指数(NDVI)、比值植被指数(SR)、减化比值植被指数(RSR)、土壤调整植被指数(SAVI)、增强植被指数(EVI),并从DEM数据获取高程、坡度、坡向,提出并建立复杂地形最优多植被指数组合估算山区林地LAI的神经网络模型,利用模型对1989–2009年6景TM/ETM遥感图像估算LAI空间分布。结果表明,神经网络解决了LAI与多植被指数的非线性回归方程无法引入地形因素、且方程系数较多较难确定的问题,提高了LAI的估算精度。研究区成熟阔叶林减少代之以大片种植经济幼林,是导致林地LAI变化的原因。1989-2000年,LAI≥6.0的林地面积比例从78.8%逐年急剧下降到44.1%,LAI在1.0~6.0的林地面积比例从20.8%大幅上升到55.4%;2000-2009年,随着幼林的生长、竹林的速生,LAI≥6.0的林地面积比例逐渐上升恢复到74.5%,但仍未恢复到1989年的面积比例,相应LAI在1.0~6.0的林地面积比例逐渐下降到25.1%。研究成果为漓江上游水源林生态评估提供参考。     

Does time or habitat make old-growth forests species rich? Bryophyte richness in boreal Picea mariana forests

The relative importance of time since disturbance and habitat variables in creating diversity in old-growth forests will influence conservation strategies. However, the independent roles of these factors are not well understood, as they are rarely examined independently. This study examines the respective roles of habitat variables and time (stand age) in determining bryophyte diversity in Picea mariana (Mill. (BSP)) forests. Bryophytes are frequently used as indicators of old-growth forest, but their true dependence on forest continuity is unknown. Bryophytes were classified into taxonomic-habitat guilds: true mosses (forest), forest liverworts, bog liverworts and sphagna (bog). Diversity increased with age and peaked at approximately 275 years since fire, driven by liverworts. Multiplicative habitat modeling indicated that time and habitat played different roles for the different taxonomic-habitat guilds. True mosses and forest liverworts were primarily influenced by habitat variables, while sphagna and bog liverworts were influenced by time and habitat variables. The models for sphagna were particularly strong, indicating that many important factors were included, while forest liverwort models were particularly weak. This unexplained variability may represent site specific random factors, such as secondary disturbances that create habitat in a fully occupied space. Overall, high richness was created by small species dependent on habitat variables and chance factors for establishment. Therefore, time since disturbance was not the primary factor limiting richness in these forests. These results suggest that in boreal North America, where forest fragmentation is limited and recent, conservation strategies that emphasize habitat variables rather than forest continuity may be effective for some bryophytes.     

南宁市郊三种人工林型夏季鸟类多样性初步分析

研究不同人工林型中的鸟类群落可以了解其生态效益。于2007年6~8月采用样带法对南宁市郊的三种人工林中的鸟类种类和数量进行了统计,共记录到鸟类3目15科26种。经分析所得鸟类多样性指数,湿地松林的最高,为1.0350;其次为马尾松林,为1.0153;巨尾桉林的最低,仅为0.5048。同时计算了G-F指数,其中马尾松林和湿地松林的值分别为0.1539和0.1604,巨尾桉林为0。从马尾松林和湿地松林的相似性对比中可以看出这两类林型中鸟类群落相似性比较高,巨尾桉林与其他两种林型相似性差异较大。鸟类多样性与人工林异质性和林龄有关。     

Modeling leaf area index from litter collection and tree data in a deciduous broadleaf forest

Leaf area index (LAI) is an important index in ecological and meteorological studies. The litter trap method is commonly used to measure LAI in deciduous forests. To reduce the time consumed in sorting leaf litterfall by species in the litter trap method, we developed four models to predict LAI using litter traps and tree census data. The local dominance model, which estimates the leaf litterfall amount of each species by their local dominance, predicted mean and spatial variability of LAI most accurately compared to the 2 models that did not take into account spatial heterogeneity of species distribution within a forest or the model that estimated litterfall amount from leaf dispersal function. Therefore, this model can be employed instead of sorting leaf litter by species. Furthermore, we found that leaf mass per area (LMA) of at least 10 dominant species are essential for accurate estimation of LAI. Present results suggest that spatial variability of LAI is mainly due to spatial variance of leaf litterfall followed by spatial heterogeneity of species distribution within a forest, and difference in LMA among species.     

农林间作对防风固沙林生长量的影响

黄淮海平原的沙地立地条件差,防风固沙林和农田防护林常因生长不良而达不到预期的防护作用,难以消除风蚀对农业生产的影响。在白榆人工林内进行的农林间作试验表明:不同的间作类型和不同的间作年限,均对防风固沙林的生长有显著影响;连续间作1～5年,林木年均高生长可提高40.43％～78.7％,胸径年均生长量可提高25.71％～89.11％,一般连续间作3～4年,林木即可进入稳定生长期,而以造林后的前两年作用最大;不同的间作物作用不同,比较理想的间作物是油菜、花生、豆类等低秆作物。     

Addition of coarse woody debris – The early fungal succession on Picea abies logs in managed forests and reserves

Modern forestry practices have decreased the abundance of coarse woody debris (CWD), and as a result many species that depend on dead wood are now threatened. This implies a need to develop forestry practices that maintain biodiversity. We examined the conservation value of experimental spruce logs (control logs, logs placed in natural shade, and cut tree tops) for wood-inhabiting fungi in two forest stands, one nature reserve and one mature managed forest, in each of seven forest areas in northern Sweden. Here we report the initial findings of the experiment that was established in winter 2001–2002 and data were collected in 2002, 2003 and 2006. A pre-inventory of the local species composition in 2002 revealed a higher per area species richness, including red-listed species, in reserves than in managed forests. Ordination analyses of the experimental logs showed a significant effect of area, while not of stand type in 2003. ANOVA analysis showed no significant effect of stand type on species richness and abundance. In 2006, the species assemblage started to differentiate between the two stand types and forest age, forest site type (moisture), and distance to forest reserves, all explained part of the variation, whereas the amount of CWD, and species composition at the start of the experiment only showed a marginal effect.The early successional fungal community was dominated by two functional groups, humus-decayers and white-rot species, both characterized by a rapid, early colonization and fruit-body formation on the competition-free new substrate. A similar positive response to the new substrate was also observed for the mycorrhizal species in 2006. The high frequency and early appearance of humus-decayers and mycorrhizal species that do not primarily depend upon CWD for their nutrition suggest that their formation of fruiting bodies is limited by substrate availability. Thus some mycorrhizal fungi are apparently rare due to lack of suitable substrate for fruit-body formation.Evidence of dispersal-limitation was observed in 2006. Fomitopsis pinicola, an early colonizer in boreal forests, playing a key role for other wood-inhabiting organisms, colonized significantly more logs in the reserve stands compared with the managed stands. Our data demonstrate that lack of CWD strongly affects both species that depend upon wood for nutrition and species that depend upon wood for fruit-body formation. Thus some species may show an apparent rarity due to lack of suitable substrate. We conclude that creation of CWD appears to be a useful method to maintain or restore fungal diversity in boreal coniferous forests.     

Bryophytes on tree trunks in natural forests, selectively logged forests and cacao agroforests in Central Sulawesi, Indonesia

Forest disturbance and transformations into agricultural land alter tropical landscapes at drastic rates. Here, we investigate bryophyte assemblages on trunk bases in natural forest, selectively logged forest and cacao agroforests that are shaded by remnants of natural forest in Central Sulawesi. Overall, bryophyte richness per site did not differ between forest types. However, mosses and liverworts reacted differently in that moss richness was lowest in cacao agroforests, whereas liverwort communities were equally rich in all forest types. In terms of cover, mosses remained unaffected while liverwort cover decreased significantly in disturbed forest. Species composition of bryophytes clearly changed in cacao agroforests as compared to natural forests and selectively logged forests. In particular some drought-sensitive species were rare or absent in cacao agroforests and were replaced by drought-tolerant ones, thus underlining the importance of microclimatic changes. Moreover, differences in bryophyte species composition between large and small trees were only pronounced in cacao agroforests, presumably due to concomitant changes in stemflow of precipitation water. In conclusion, the bryophyte assemblages of selectively logged forests and cacao agroforests were as rich as in natural forest, but species turn-over was particularly high towards cacao agroforests probably due to microclimatic changes. Maintenance of shade cover is crucial to the conservation of the drought-sensitive forest species.     

Three-dimensional partitioning of diversity informs state-wide strategies for the conservation of saproxylic beetles

Global conventions on biological diversity force governments to develop region-wide conservation strategies. Such strategies are difficult to design for all taxa because little is known about the important spatial scales. Here we applied additive partitioning of the diversity of saproxylic beetles in Bavarian forests in Southern Germany using a nested hierarchical design of five increasingly broader spatial levels: trap, strata, forest stand, forest site, and ecoregion. We consistently found a significantly higher percentage than expected by chance of between ecoregion diversity and significantly lower α diversity within traps. A significant proportion of β diversity was also found between stands. Analysis of species represented by <0.005% of all specimens in our samples and of species classified as threatened revealed similar results. Critical spatial scales for threatened species encompassed the critical levels of common species. Within habitat substratum guilds, the proportion of β diversity increased from species associated with fresh wood to those associated with rotten wood to those associated with fungi. Our results suggest that the most effective way to ensure saproxylic beetle diversity in a state-wide strategy is to add new conservation sites within different ecoregions and to establish new conservation areas in additional forest stands, rather than to enlarge reserves. Our findings further suggest that monitoring of saproxylic beetle diversity on a broader scale in European temperate forests can be restricted to “monitoring species”, i.e. a subgroup of families easy to identify, and that canopy sampling can be neglected without a substantial loss of information.     

The Collembola community of pure and mixed stands of beech (Fagus sylvatica) and spruce (Picea abies) of different age

The idea of establishing mixed forests that are better adapted to site conditions than spruce monocultures has attracted increasing attention of forest owners and governmental institutions over the last decades. Currently, beech is being replanted and an increasing proportion of German forests are mixed stands. Focusing on the reaction of the soil fauna to forest conversion, this study investigates the response of the Collembola community to replacement of beech by spruce or by mixed stands of beech and spruce. Stands of different age were investigated in a factorial design with the factors stand type (beech, spruce and mixed stands) and stand age (30 and 120 years). Collembola communities did not differ strongly between stand types and stand age and were dominated by Folsomia quadrioculata and Mesaphorura species (e.g. Mesaphorura macrochaeta). Moreover, neither total abundance of Collembola nor densities of the fungal feeding euedaphic Onychiurinae and Tullbergiinae significantly responded to stand type and stand age. The density of the epedaphic and partly herbivorous groups Symphypleona/Neelipleona and Entomobryidae in the 120-year-old stands significantly exceeded that in the 30-year-old stands; presumably, this was due to the well developed herb layer in the 120-year-old stands with more open canopies. Canonical correspondence analysis (CCA) of the Collembola community of the L/F horizon also indicated that most of the epigeic species were associated with the 120-year-old stands. Moreover, the diversity of Collembola significantly increased with forest age which likely reflects increased amount and diversity of food resources in the 120-year-old stands. The density of the hygrophilous species Fo. quadrioculata was significantly higher in the spruce than in the beech stands; probably this was due to the higher water content in litter of the spruce stands. Moreover, the results of the CCAs indicated that soil pH is an important structuring force for the Collembola communities. Overall, the results suggest that stand type and forest age impact Collembola communities, presumably via changes in the amount and quality of food resources, such as living plant and herb litter materials. The pronounced changes which occurred with forest age likely were related to the development of more dense and diverse herb layer in mature forests which provides additional food resources in particular for epedaphic species. On the other hand, dominant species/functional groups of Collembola, such as hemiedaphic species, appear to depend predominantly on abiotic factors, most importantly soil pH and soil water content.     

Extent and conservation of tropical dry forests in the Americas

This paper shows the results of an assessment on the current extent of Neotropical dry forests based on a supervised classification of MODIS surface reflectance imagery at 500-m resolution. Our findings show that tropical dry forests extend for 519,597 km² across North and South America. Mexico, Brazil and Bolivia harbor the largest and best-preserved dry forest fragments. Mexico contains the largest extent at 181,461 km² (38% of the total), although it remains poorly represented under protected areas. On the other hand, Brazil and Bolivia contain the largest proportion of protected tropical dry forests and the largest extent in continuous forest fragments. We found that five single ecoregions account for more than half of the tropical dry forests in the Americas (continental and insular) and these ecoregions are: the Chiquitano dry forests, located in Bolivia and Brazil (27.5%), the Atlantic dry forests (10.2%), the Sinaloan dry forests in Mexico (9.7%), the Cuban dry forests (7.1%) and the Bajio dry forests in Mexico (7%). Chiquitano dry forests alone contain 142,941 km² of dry forests. Of the approximately 23,000 km² of dry forest under legal protection, 15,000 km² are located in just two countries, Bolivia and Brazil. In fact, Bolivia protects 10,609 km² of dry forests, where 7600 km² are located within the Chiquitano dry forest ecoregion and protected by a single park. Low extent and high fragmentation of dry forests in countries like Guatemala, Nicaragua, Ecuador, Costa Rica and Peru means that these forests are at a higher risk from human disturbance and deforestation.