Adventitious root formation of two <Emphasis Type="Italic">Abies</Emphasis> species on log and soil in an old-growth subalpine forest in central Japan

We assessed stem burial and adventitious root formation of two late-successional species, Abies mariesii and A. veitchii, in central Japan. In a plot (5 × 5 m), all seedlings between 8 and 24 cm tall were excavated: six A. mariesii seedlings in soil, and six and four A. veitchii seedlings in soil and on logs, respectively. For each sampled seedling, the number of terminal bud scars (TBS) was counted on the aboveground and belowground stems. Stem length was measured, and divided into aboveground and belowground stems. Among the three groups (A. mariesii seedlings in soil and A. veitchii seedlings in soil or on logs), there was no significant difference in height or total root weight (sum of adventitious roots and primary roots), but diameter at ground level and number of TBS were significantly different. Counting TBS on the aboveground stem of seedlings in soil underestimated seedling age, whereas the estimate was much closer to the true age for seedlings on logs. Seedlings in soil formed more adventitious roots than seedlings on logs. A large proportion of the stem was buried in humus for seedlings in soil, while most of the stem was not buried in humus for seedlings on logs. These results suggest that substrate affects adventitious root formation, the formation of which is important to shade tolerance. Thus, our preliminary results suggest that consideration of adventitious root formation is necessary to understand seedling bank dynamics and estimate seedling ages of these Abies species in spatially heterogeneous old-growth subalpine forests.     

Growth Dynamics During Canopy Recruitment of Sprout-Origin Stems in Japanese Beech (Fagus japonicaMaxim.) Stools in Old Growth Forests of Central Japan

Abstract

In order to clarify mechanisms of canopy recruitment of Fagus japonicastems of sprout origin, age structure and growth dynamics were studied for stems within beech stools in two stands of old growth forests on the Pacific side of central Japan. The DBH vs. height and age relationships of the beech stems showed continuous distribution from small-young, understory stems to large-old, canopy ones. There were one to seven definable periods of suppression prior to canopy recruitment in F japonica.Prior to canopy recruitment number and length of release episodes were fewer and shorter than those of suppression. E japonicastems of sprout origin can endure suppression for a long time. Continuous emergence and the alternation of fast and slow growth in F. japonicastems suggest the sprouting ability for the beech canopy can play an important role in the successful closure of canopy openings. Canopy stems showed patterns of suppression and release that were often synchronous with other canopy stems within the same beech stool. Minor disturbances such as single crown falls can play an important role in the maintenance of the multi-stem structure of beech stools in old growth forests.     

海南尖峰岭两类人工林中天然更新群落特征研究

25-years-old Cunninghamia lanceolata forests and 18-years-old Acacia mangium forests in Jianfengling of Hainan Province were surveyed to assess the structures and species diversity of naturally-regenerated plants. The results showed that there were 131 species in C. lanceolata forests, attributed to 100 genera and 51 families. The dominant species were Gironniera subaequalis, Schima superba, Pertusadina metcalfii and Polyspora hainanensis. There were 62 species in A. mangium forests, attributed to 59 genera and 33 families. The dominant species were Acronychia pedunculata, Tetradium glabrifolium, Machilus chinensis, Gironniera subaequalis and Toxicodendron succedaneum. The species richness, Simpson index and Shannon-Wiener index for naturally-regenerated plants in C. lanceolata forests were 76.67±11.02, 0.94±0.04 and 3.50±0.49,while those in A. mangium forests were 39.00±8.54, 0.91±0.04 and 3.05±0.27. The Sørensen species similarity for naturally-regenerated plants of the two forests was 0.50, with a increasing age structure. The mean density, height and dbh for adult trees of naturally-regenerated components of C. lanceolata forests were significantly lower than A. mangium forests; while the mean density and height of small tress of naturally-regenerated components of C. lanceolata forests were significantly higher than A. mangium forests. The study indicated that the naturally-regenerated plant species increased, and the forest structures became complex with the regeneration of both C. lanceolata and A. mangium forests. These two pure plantations will become old-growth natural forests with the forest succession.     

The influencen of stand state on the occurrence ofDendrolimus superans (Butler) in Daxing’an Mountains

Dendrolimus superans (Butler) occurred in the vast areas of Daxing’an Mountains forest, in Heilongjiang Province, in 1990. Stands damaged byI). Superans seriously, intermediately and lightly show patch shape distribution within damaged area. By ordination analysis and correlation analysis between ordination factors and coordinate axis. It was found that occurrence ofD Superans in different extent is owing to the effect of forest age, composition and exposure. The tended young pure forests grown on the sunward slopes are most seriously damaged and non-tended middle-age mixing stands grown on the sunless slopes are most lightly damaged. Therefore, in order to preventD. superans from seriously damaging larch forests, relatively large crown density (P > 0. 7) should be kept, and broadleaf trees should be also properly preserved. This research project was supported by Scientific and Techndogical Committee of Heilongjiang Province     

The role of gaps and tree regeneration in the transition from dense to open black spruce stands

Black spruce forests growing on clay soils in northwestern Quebec change structure from dense even-aged stands to open uneven-aged stands such that almost all forests older than 200 years have an open canopy. These forests become unproductive over time because they are prone to paludification. The main goal of our study was to document the transition between dense and open stands in terms of gap dynamics, with a focus on tree regeneration. Our objective was to determine whether forests remain open due to a lack of regeneration, a lack of growth or both. Nine stands along a 50–250-year-old time since fire gradient were sampled with the line intersect sampling method. Gap fraction increased with stand age and reached a maximum of 77% in the oldest site. In old-growth stands, gaps were interconnected due to the low density of these forests. Most of the gap makers were found with broken stems. Regeneration was dominated by black spruce layers and was relatively abundant (1.71 stems/m²). However, the majority of gap fillers were smaller than 1 m in height in stands of all ages. Instead of a lack of regeneration, the opening of the forests is due to a lack of growth associated with cold and wet organic deposits. Partial harvesting could be implemented on the most productive sites, while management techniques including soil disturbances will be required on low productivity sites to recreate good growth conditions.     

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.     

Effects of ungulate browsing on recruitment of aspen and rowan: a demographic approach

Aspen (Populus tremula L.) and rowan (Sorbus aucuparia L.) are important for biodiversity conservation and aesthetic reasons. Intensified levels of ungulate browsing the last decades have raised concerns over the recruitment of aspen and rowan in boreal forests. Demographic data are vital to understand and quantify how the structure of tree populations are affected over time by browsing and other factors but such data are rare. In a five-year study, we quantified vital demographic rates for co-occurring aspen and rowan using exclosures in a productive forest area in eastern-central Sweden. Mean annual browsing rate on small (<1 m) aspen and rowan stems was 20 vs. 38%, whereas the order in browsing intensity was reversed for stems of medium (1–2 m) size (28 vs. 14%). Browsing had a clear negative effect on transition rate from small to medium size class in both species, but had a much smaller impact on transition rate from medium to large (2–3 m) size class. Residence time for small stems and regeneration rate was much higher in aspen than in rowan, but browsing did not affect these dynamics. Transition to ungulate safe height (>3 m) was reduced with a factor of two in rowan and four in aspen by browsing.     

Effects of forest canopy gap on biomass of Abies faxoniana seedlings and its allocation in subalpine coniferous forests of western Sichuan

Using a strip transect sampling method, the density, height (≤ 100 cm), basal diameter and components of biomass of Abies faxoniana seedlings, living in a forest gap (FG) and under the forest canopy (FC) of subalpine natural coniferous forests in western Sichuan, were investigated and the relationships among different components of biomass analyzed. The results indicated that the density and average height (H) of A. faxoniana seedlings were significantly different in the FG and under the FC, with the values being 12903 and 2017 per hm², and 26.6 and 24.3 cm. No significant differences were found in the average basal diameter (D) and biomass. The biomass allocation in seedling components was significantly affected by forest gap. In the FG, the biomass ratio of branch to stem reached a maximum of 1.54 at age 12 and then declined and fluctuated around 0.69. Under the FC, the biomass ratio of branch to stem increased with seedling growth and exceeded 1.0 at about age 15. The total biomass and the biomass of leaves, stems, shoots and roots grown in the FG and under the FC were significantly correlated with D ² H. There were significant and positive correlations among the biomass of different components. __________ Translated from Chinese Journal of Applied Ecology, 2007, 18(4): 721–727 [译自: 应用生态学报]     

Relationships between diameter and height of trees in natural tropical forest in Tanzania

The relationship between tree height (h) and tree diameter at breast height (dbh) is an important element describing forest stands. In addition, h often is a required variable in volume and biomass models. Measurements of h are, however, more time consuming compared to those of dbh, and visual obstructions, rounded crown forms, leaning trees and terrain slopes represent additional error sources for h measurements. The aim of this study was therefore to develop h–dbh relationship models for natural tropical forest in Tanzania. Both general forest type specific models and models for tree species groups were developed. A comprehensive data set with 2 623 trees from 410 different tree species collected from a total of 1 191 plots and 38 sites covering the four main forest types of miombo woodland, acacia savanna, montane forest and lowland forests was applied. Tree species groups were constructed by using a k-means clustering procedure based on the h–dbh allometry, and a number of different non-linear model forms were tested. When considering the complexity of natural tropical forests in general and in particular variations of h–dbh relationships due to high species diversity in such forests, the model fit and performance were considered to be appropriate. Results also indicate that tree species group models perform better than forest type models. Despite the fact that the residual errors level associated with the models were relatively high, the models are still considered to be applicable for large parts of Tanzanian forests with an appropriate level of reliability.     

Spatial patterning and population structure of a common woodland herb, Trillium erectum, in primary and post-logging secondary forests

We investigated the population age structure and spatial patterning of a common understory perennial, Trillium erectum var. album, in primary and post-logging secondary (industrially logged in the early 1900s) cove forests of the southern Appalachian Mountains. Within each of 8 T. erectum populations (4 in primary forest and 4 in secondary forest), we mapped the locations of all T. erectum plants in a 10 m × 10 m plot located within the center of each population. We recorded the height and life stage of each plant and excavated a randomly selected subset for age determination. Trillium erectum populations in primary forests displayed a somewhat stronger and more consistent spatial structure than those found in secondary forests. However, aside from being on-average younger due to a higher concentration of juveniles, age structures of secondary forest populations were similar to those of primary forests and both forest types had similar maximum plant ages. Our results, when considered with the life history of the species, suggest that logging did not eliminate T. erectum from secondary forests. Rather, residual plants and patches of plants that survived logging provided the propagules needed to expand and reestablish populations following logging. This relatively rapid recovery stands in stark contrast to the slow recovery observed by others in post-agricultural secondary forest. When considered in the context of other studies of post-disturbance recovery in secondary forests, our results suggest that the full history of a site must be carefully considered when examining the impacts of disturbance on forest perennial herbs.     

Biomass equations for seven different tree species growing in coppice-with-standards forests in Central Germany

With an increasing demand of sustainable raw materials for bioenergy use, coppicing as management approach to increase the biomass production of forests is becoming of greater importance. This study describes the parameterization of biomass equations for six tree species traditionally used in coppices forests, namely sycamore maple (Acer pseudoplatanus L.), field maple (Acer campestre L.), European ash (Fraxinus excelsior L.), European hornbeam (Carpinus betulus L.), downy birch (Betula pubescens Ehrh.), and common hazel (Corylus avellana L.) growing in coppice-with-standard systems in Lower Saxony, Germany. The parameterization was based on measurements of over 950 trees sampled from two forest sites. The sampled trees were felled and separated into three biomass compartments (stem, coarse branches, and fine brushwood) and weighed on site. The dry weight of sub samples from each compartment was measured. Equations were derived for total aboveground biomass, stem biomass, and crown biomass using regression analyses. We either used diameter at breast height as single independent explanatory variable or in combination with tree height. Biomass production of stump sprouts and generatively grown stems was compared for ash and sycamore maple. In the same age classes, it was found that ash stump sprouts had a slightly higher production than seed-grown stems. For sycamore maple, no difference was detected.     

Object-based semi-automatic approach for forest structure characterization using lidar data in heterogeneous Pinus sylvestris stands

In this paper, we present a two-stage approach for characterizing the structure of Pinus sylvestris L. stands in forests of central Spain. The first stage was to delimit forest stands using eCognition and a digital canopy height model (DCHM) derived from lidar data. The polygons were then clustered (k-means algorithm) into forest structure types based on the DCHM data within forest stands. Hypsographs of each polygon and field data validated the separability of structure types. In the study area, 112 polygons of Pinus sylvestris were segmented and classified into five forest structure types, ranging from high dense forest canopy (850 trees ha⁻¹ and Loreýs height of 17.4 m) to scarce tree coverage (60 tree ha⁻¹ and Loreýs height of 9.7 m). Our results indicate that the best variables for the definition and characterization of forest structure in these forests are the median and standard deviation (S.D.), both derived from lidar data. In these forest types, lidar median height and standard deviation (S.D.) varied from 15.8 m (S.D. of 5.6 m) to 2.6 m (S.D. of 4.5 m). The present approach could have an operational application in the inventory procedure and forest management plans.     

Regeneration in experimental gaps of subalpine <Emphasis Type="Italic">Picea abies</Emphasis> forest in the Slovenian Alps

In 1998, we analysed regeneration success in four 20 year old medium-sized (600–800 m²) and four small experimental gaps (100–200 m²) in subalpine Norway spruce forest in Triglav National Park, Slovenia. We assessed the influence of site (depressions, slopes), gap size, and position within gap (centre, gap south, and north edge) on regeneration success and interactions between regeneration density, height, height increment, direct and diffuse light, ground vegetation, soil depth, thickness of humus horizons, presence of woody debris, and microrelief. Seedling density was higher in depressions, where more seedlings developed in central positions of gaps in both gap sizes, and in microsites with deeper soils, less competition from ground vegetation and convex microsites. On slopes, a higher seedling density was found in small gaps, and at the northern edge of gaps regardless of gap size. Here, seedling density was negatively influenced by diffuse radiation and positively by soil depth. The results suggest that regeneration should be initiated from medium to large gaps in depressions and small gaps on slopes. Development of established seedlings was enhanced by higher radiation levels on both sites, therefore favourable extension of the gaps would be lateral to northwards.     

广州城区公园风景游憩林径级和高度级结构分布

【目的】探明广州风景游憩林群落结构现状以及存在的问题,进一步为城市风景游憩林群落结构调整和配置优化提供理论依据。【方法】以900 m^2样方为单元分别在广州发展公园风景游憩林群落样地设置样方15个,华南农业大学风景游憩林群落样地设置样方25个,火炉山森林公园风景游憩林群落样地设置样方20个,采用群落生态学的方法,研究了不同生态位风景游憩林径级和高度级结构分布。【结果】1)3个样地风景游憩林径级结构呈现一定差异:广州发展公园以大、中径级乔木占绝对优势,华南农业大学样地风景游憩林小径级乔木相对优势明显,火炉山样地风景游憩林群落以中、小径级乔木占绝对优势。2)根据群落中个体的胸径和树高呈现不同的相关关系表明:广州发展公园样地风景游憩林大径级树木开始出现衰退现象;华南农业大学样地风景游憩林由于存在大量小径级的速生树种,导致胸径—树高曲线在初期迅速增高;火炉山样地风景游憩林结构配置拟自然化,胸径—树高曲线增长较为平稳。【结论】根据高度级比重、相对频度和分布均匀度分析结果得出:广州发展公园样地风景游憩林中、大高度级树木比重较大,且分布更为集中,华南农业大学样地风景游憩林的小、中高度级的树木所占比重较高,小高度级树木分布更为集中;火炉山样地风景游憩林小高度级比重,且分布更为集中。建议通过人工择伐、补植特定树种的方式,调控城市风景游憩林群落的径级和高度级结构分布,促进风景游憩林的逐步稳定。     

Comparison of tree growth and undergrowth development in aerially seeded and planted Pinus tabulaeformis forests

Direct seeding is a less expensive practice than planting and has the potential to become a viable alternative to transplanting for afforestation and regeneration purposes. As an effective and a less costly regeneration method, aerial seeding has been applied with several tree species. As early as 1956, Chinese people engaged in aerial seeding and stands with a total of 2.97×10⁷ hm² have been developed up to 2004. Our study tested whether the growth of planted Chinese pine (Pinus tabulaeformis Carr.) seedlings and its undergrowth development in northwest aspects differ from that of aerially sown seedlings on the northern and northwestern aspects of slopes. In 2007, we collected data such as height, diameter at breast height (DBH), clear bole height and canopy widths of trees, abundance, coverage, and frequency of shrubs and herbs from 21-year-old planted Chinese pine stands on a northwestern aspect (PNW), aerially sown stands in a northwest aspect (ANW) and aerially sown stands in a northern aspect (AN). Results showed that the relation of crown area and mean DBH was best fitted by a double inverse model for the ANW and AN forests and by a quadratic model for the PNW forest. There was no difference in the growth between ANW and AN forests, while growth was significantly higher in the PNW forest than in the ANW and AN forests. That was consistent with the Sorenson diversity indices in the shrub and herb layers, indicating that there was a large number of the same species in both aerially seeded stands, although their locations were different. Both the number of species in the undergrowth and the Shannon-Wiener index in the shrub layer were higher in the PNW stands than in the ANW and AN stands. Dominant families for all three stands were Rosaceae and Compositae in the shrub and herb layer, respectively. The dominant species for all three stands was Spiraea pubescens in the shrub layer, while the dominant species was different from each other in the three stands. The discrepancy in diversity and composition of species in the herb layer show that herbs are sensitive to shrubs in the three forests. High mortality and skewed diameter distributions reflect severe competition and too high a density in the aerially seeded forests. Thus, aerial seeding is a viable and effective regeneration technique, but management practices, such as thinning, should be applied to these forests.     

兴安落叶松天然林林木直径与树高分布的分层特征

[目的]通过分析大兴安岭呼中林区兴安落叶松天然林胸径和树高的一元、二元分布特征,揭示脆弱地带森林群落的林木大小分布特征。[方法]在大兴安岭呼中林场设置3种不同类型兴安落叶松林固定样地,利用整体和分层的方法,对样地林分胸径和树高的变化规律以及两者之间的关系进行研究。[结果]表明:(1)草类-落叶松林直径分布为单峰分布,其他2块样地为双峰分布; 3块样地林木直径分布均呈左偏。杜鹃-落叶松林树高分布为多峰分布,其他2块地均为单峰分布; 3块样地林木树高分布均呈右偏。(2) 3块样地上、下层林木的直径分布均为单峰分布,上层木直径分布均呈左偏,下层木直径分布草类-落叶松林右偏,杜鹃-落叶松林左偏,杜香-落叶松林为近似正态。杜鹃-落叶松林的树高上、下层分布为双峰,其他2块样地均为单峰,3块样地上层木树高分布均左偏,而下层木树高分布均右偏。(3)草类-落叶松林和杜鹃-落叶松林小径阶林木株数占绝大多数。3块样地林分中树高与胸径的比值在小径阶林木中明显大于大径级林木。草类-落叶松林和杜鹃-落叶松林上层木中小径阶林木株数所占比例稍大,杜香-落叶松林和杜鹃-落叶松林下层木中大径阶林木株数比例稍大,但3块样地上层和下层木树高与胸径的比值在大小径阶林木中均无明显差异。[结论]高密度的杜鹃-落叶松林平均树高要高于低密度的杜香-落叶松林和草类-落叶松林平均树高,而平均胸径无明显差异。3块样地林分中树高与胸径的比值小径阶林木中明显大于大径级林木,但其差异在上层和下层林分中均表现不明显。     

Biomass and production of fine roots in Japanese forests

To better understand the control of fine-root dynamics in Japanese forests, we reviewed studies conducted in Japan on fine-root biomass and production. Most of the data on fine-root biomass were obtained for conifer plantations in limited regions; the average fine-root biomass of dominant trees ranged from ∼50 g m₋₂ for Pinus species (n = 3) to ∼600 g m₋₂ for Cryptomeria japonica (n = 4) and Chamaecyparis obtusa (n = 3). These values are comparable with or less than those reported for other temperate forests mainly in North America or Europe. Information on fine-root production in Japanese forests remains limited. Fine-root production accounted for ∼30% of the net primary productivity in two deciduous forests, but similar data was not reported for coniferous forests in Japan. In Japanese forests, slope position is a key parameter controlling fine-root biomass that is greater on upper slopes than on lower slopes, probably because soil resource availability decreases upslope. Studies in manipulated soil environments (e.g., removing throughfall to simulate drought) also suggested that fine-root biomass and production were greatly affected by altered soil environments. Physiological control of fine-root dynamics was recently discussed via anatomical analyses of Chamaecyparis obtusa. Findings from Japanese studies generally support data on fine-root biomass and production obtained from other temperate regions. Further attempts to elucidate the influence of slope position (soil resource availability) on fine-root production would be useful to gain a more detailed understanding of the fine-root dynamics in Japanese forests.     

Comparison of growth response ofAbies andPicea species to climate in Mt. Norikura, Central Japan

Tree-ring chronologies were developed fromAbies mariesii Masters andPicea jezoensis ssp.hondoensis (Mayr) P. Schmidt collected at different altitudes of Mt. Norikura, central Japan. The tree-ring parameters of ring width and maximum density were measured by soft X-ray densitometry. The measurement series were detrended by fitting a 33-year cubic smoothing spline and autoregressive model. The correlation between species and between sites showed different responses of the species to climate in terms of ring width and maximum density. The correlation coefficient between sites within a species was higher than that between species for a site in the ring width, and the coefficient between species for a site was higher in maximum density. The correlation coefficient between tree-ring chronology and monthly climate data set showed different responses of radial growth to climate. The different response was probably explained by the difference in the length of the growing season. High summer temperature increased the maximum density of the two species and the radial growth inAbies mariesii. Summer precipitation correlated negatively to maximum density, but it did not affect the ring width of either species. The climatic signals could be extracted from ring-width and maximum-density chronologies of both species.     

不同坡位对香樟生长发育的影响

通过对3年生和5年生香樟生长发育状况的调查分析结果表明：坡位对香樟造林的初植期影响不明显，在幼林中后期（3-5年生）开始出现明显的坡位效应，表现为下坡位的香樟树高、地径、冠幅及根系量极显著地优于上坡位的，随着年龄的增大这种差异现象愈加明显。     

Fertiliser and irrigation effects on wood density at various heights for <Emphasis Type="Italic">Pinus radiata</Emphasis>

This study examined the combined effect of 19-years of nitrogen fertilisation and irrigation on the basic density along the stems of Pinus radiata (D.Don). The sample trees came from two treatments in the Biology of Forest Growth experiment: the control (C no treatment) and the irrigated and liquid fertilised (IL irrigated from age 10 to 29, liquid fertilised from ages 10 to 17). The mean basic density at breast height in the IL trees was significantly less (P < 0.05) than the C trees (430 and 471 kg m⁻³, respectively). However, the mean density of the entire bole was not significantly different. Basic density decreased with height, with the density near the tips of the trees being only 80% of the density at breast height for both treatments. The relative rate of the decrease was different between treatments. The density of the C trees decreased steadily with height while the IL trees held a relatively constant density for about half their total height. The results show the importance sampling at several different heights when considering the effects of various treatments on wood basic density in Pinus radiata.