Litterfall and litter chemistry change over time in an old-growth temperate forest, northeastern China

? Litterfall and litter chemistry are key factors for the assessment of forest floor properties. A long-term study on litterfall, litter chemistry and forest basal areas was carried out in an old-growth temperate forest, northeastern China.

? The objective of this study was to test whether forest floor properties in the old-growth forest remain relatively constant.

? Litterfall increased significantly over the past 27 y but litterfall of various litter components showed different temporal trends. Changes in proportions of various litter components, combined with the inherent chemistry differences among them, made litter carbon (C): nitrogen (N) and lignin:N ratios increase at an average rate of 0.19 and 0.16 per year, respectively, suggesting a decreasing trend in the forest floor C and N cycling rates. Changes in dominant tree species biomass significantly affected their corresponding foliar litter production and proportions in the total litterfall and therefore played a dominant role in regulating the developing trends of litter chemistry and quantity in this forest floor.

? Our study indicated that forest floor properties in the old-growth forest still showed a directional change and this was mainly caused by the intrinsic changes rather than yearly climatic fluctuation.

     

Optical and litter collection methods for measuring leaf area index in an old-growth temperate forest in northeastern China

Hemispherical photographs combined with litter collection were applied to determine seasonal dynamics of leaf area index (LAI) between the period of maximum leaf area and the leafless period from an old-growth temperate forest in the Xiaoxing’an Mountains, northeastern China. Our objective is to explore the change in the relationship between “true” LAI and effective LAI (calculated only from hemispherical photography) and to find the best LAI estimation models. Effective LAI in November is corrected for contribution of woody material and clumping at shoot and beyond shoot levels, to give minimum “true” LAI. The “true” LAI in each period is estimated as a sum of the minimum “true” LAI and litter collection LAI in each period. Power function regression calibration models were then carried out between “true” LAI and effective LAI in each period and the entire litter-fall period. Then, significance tests were applied to detect the differences among different models. The results showed that the average “true” LAI ranged from 2.74 ± 0.54 on November 1 to 6.64 ± 1.34 on July 1. For the entire season, average effective LAI was 53.16 % lower than the average “true” LAI. After significance tests, calibration models were classified into two types: (1) maximum LAI period and the period of maximum leaf fall; (2) the period during which leaves began falling and all deciduous leaves had fallen. Based on our experience, we believe that the classified models can produce reliable and accurate LA1 values for the needle and broad-leaved mixed forest stands under the non-destructive condition.     

Riparian trees,shrubs, and forest regeneration in the coastal mountains of Oregon

Riparian trees and shrubs are important providers of shade, bank stability, and woody debris needed for optimal stream quality and fish habitat in the coastal mountains of Oregon, but more data are needed to relate this woody vegetation to environmental variables. Trees, shrubs, and forest regeneration were studied in 22 riparian environments to provide those data. Conifer basal area increased with elevation, stream gradient, time since disturbance, and distance from the stream; it decreased with stream width. Salmonberry (Rubus spectabilis Pursh) cover and stink currant (Ribes bracteosum Dougl. ex Hook.) cover were highest near the streams. Dwarf Oregon grape (Berberis nervosa Pursh) cover and salal (Gaultheria shallon Pursh) cover were lowest near the streams. Although forest regeneration was poor everywhere, it decreased with total shrub cover and increased with stream gradient. Existing riparian conifer stands should be maintained wherever a continuing supply of coarse woody debris is required.     

A transition matrix growth model for uneven-aged mixed-species forests in the Changbai Mountains,northeastern China

A transition matrix growth and an ingrowth model were developed and applied to an uneven-aged mixed-species forest in the Changbai Mountains, northeastern of China. Results indicate that the constant-parameter transition probabilities for all species in the mixed uneven-aged forest could be classified into three groups based on the mean upgrowth probabilities of each species. Constant-parameter transition probabilities of all species in each diameter class fluctuate within a narrow range except for diameter classes below 8 cm and greater than 60 cm. Variable-parameter transition probabilities were found to be a function of residual basal area for small diameter classes. For large trees, transition probabilities are not affected by the residual basal area. Based on this study, variable-parameter transition probabilities for large diameter trees can be replaced with constant-parameter transition probabilities. In addition, a new ingrowth model was developed and the new ingrowth model was shown to perform better than existing ingrowth model used in the region.     

Dynamics of coarse woody debris and decomposition rates in an old-growth forest in lower tropical China

The biomass and decomposition of coarse woody debris (CWD, ≥10 cm in diameter) were studied in a monsoon evergreen broad-leaved old-growth forest in Dinghushan Nature Reserve, Southern China. The study examined the biomass of CWD from 1992 to 2008 and decomposition of three dominant tree species CWD (Castanopsis chinensis, Cryptocarya concinna, Schima superba) from 1999 to 2008. Changes in the wood density of three tree species’ CWD were used to estimate the decay rates with a single exponential model. The results showed that the biomass of CWD in the old-growth forest was increasing from 17.41 tonnes ha⁻¹ (t ha⁻¹) in 1992 to 38.54 t ha⁻¹ in 2008, and a higher decay constant was observed for C. concinna (0.1570 – 19 years for 95% mass loss); the decay rates of S. superba and C. chinensis were 0.1486 (20 years for 95% mass loss) and 0.1095 (27 years for 95% mass loss), respectively. The difference in decay constant rates may be due to their substrate quality and decomposers. The content of carbon (C) in three species declined after 9 years of decay. Nitrogen (N) content increased in all species with decay. The C/N ratio in the three species declined during the decay process.     

Age and growth of a fire prone Tasmanian temperate old-growth forest stand dominated by Eucalyptus regnans, the world's tallest angiosperm

Forests are key components of the global carbon cycle, with deforestation being an important driver of increased atmospheric carbon dioxide. Temperate old-growth forests have some of the highest above ground stores of carbon of any forest types on Earth. Unlike tropical forests, the ecology of many temperate forests is dominated by episodic disturbance, such as high intensity fire. An exemplar of a particularly carbon dense temperate forest system adapted to infrequent catastrophic fires is the Eucalyptus regnans forests of south eastern Australia. Knowledge of the growth and longevity of old-growth trees is crucial to understanding the carbon balance and fire regimes of these forest systems. In an old-growth E. regnans stand in the Styx Valley in southern Tasmania we used dendrochronological techniques and radiocarbon dating to determine the age and stem growth of E. regnans and Phyllocladus aspleniifolius, an understorey rainforest conifer. Our analysis revealed that an even-aged cohort of E. regnans and P. aspleniifolius established in 1490–1510AD, apparently after a stand-replacing fire. The stem growth rates of E. regnans in the first 100 years were very rapid compared to the co-occurring P. aspleniifolius. That the longevity of E. regnans is >500 years challenges the suggested 350–450 year timeframe proposed for the widely held model of succession from eucalypt to rainforest. These forests not only have the potential to store vast amounts of carbon, but can also maintain these high carbon densities for a long period of time. Estimates of the capacity of these forests to sequester and store carbon should explicitly consider past harvesting and fire regimes and the potential increases in the risk of fire associated with climate change.     

Infiltration characteristics of water in forest soils in the Simian mountains, Chongqing City, southwestern China

Spearman rank-correlation analysis and grey relational grade analysis were used to study infiltration characteristics of water in different forest soils in the Simian mountains, Chongqing City. The results indicate that the soil bulk density, contents of coarse sand, and porosity of macropores were significantly correlated with saturated hydraulic conductivity. Porosity of macropores and contents of coarse sand were positively correlated with soil saturated hydraulic conductivity and soil bulk density negatively. Based on the initial infiltration rate, the stable infiltration rate, time required for infiltration to reach a stable state, and cumulative infiltration, all of which are crucial parameters determining soil infiltration capacity, the results of grey relational grade analysis showed that the grey relational grades of the different forest soils were listed from high to low as broad-leaved forest (0.8031) > Phyllostachys pubescens forest (0.7869) > mixed conifer-broadleaf forest (0.4454) > coniferous forest (0.4039). Broadleaf forest had the best ability to be infiltrated among the four soils studied. The square roots of the coefficients of determination obtained from fitting the Horton infiltration equation, simulated in our study of forest soils, were higher than 0.950.We conclude that soils of broad-leaved forests were the best suited for infiltration processes of forestry in the Simian mountains. __________ Translated from Journal of Soil and Water Conservation, 2008, 22(4): 95–99 [译自: 水土保持学报]     

Spatial structure and dynamics of predominant populations in a virgin old-growth oak forest in the Qinling Mountains,China

This paper attempts to explore the characteristics of the spatial structure and development dynamics of three predominant tree populations, Quercus aliena var. acutiserrata Maxim.(QA), Acer caesium subsp. giraldii (Pax) E. Murr.(AC), and Ulmus propinqua Koidz (U. japonica) Sag (UG), in a virgin old-growth oak broad-leaved mixed forest in the Qinling Mountains, China. We employed a bivariate distribution of the structural parameters (mingling, dominance, and uniform angle index) based on the relationship between nearest neighbor tree groups and found that all predominant populations with a high species mixture and random distribution pattern. However, QA and UG are recessional populations, and AC is a progressive population. Predominant populations showed a consistent tendency during stand development that the spatial structures became increasingly mixed; the distribution pattern gradually transformed from clumped to random, and the segregation among the tree species increased. This finding demonstrates that the populations are forming a steady-state forest structure. The QA population will continue to maintain its predominance in the forest in the future, and AC will survive and grow as an associated species over the long term. However, UG will decline, and the forest will ultimately become an oak-dominated climax forest community if there are no large-scale disturbances.     

广玉兰在北方地区引种驯化与嫁接繁育技术

对广玉兰由南方引入北方过程中的技术要求做了阐述，并利用北方资源嫁接繁育，通过砧穗之间的相互影响及栽培措施，培育出了抗寒性强的群体类型，使其成为北方风景园林的优良树种。     

Disturbance history and dynamics of an old-growth mixed species mountain forest in the Slovenian Alps

A long history of human presence in the Alps has made studies of natural forest structure, composition, and disturbance processes difficult. In the Slovenian Alps, we identified a mixed European beech (Fagus sylvatica L.)-silver fir (Abies alba Mill.)-Norway spruce (Picea abies (L.) Karst.) stand with old-growth characteristics that escaped past cutting. We reconstructed the dynamics of the stand using a combination of stand and age structure analyses, dendroecological evidence of past canopy disturbance, and historical evidence of past human activities. The disturbance reconstruction revealed a stand-scale disturbance in the 1850s. Based on the presence of pit-and-mound topography throughout much of the stand and the absence of logging activities found in historical records, we assume this event was caused by strong winds. The current structure and composition of the stand are largely a result of this event. Post-disturbance forest development was dominated by the release of shade tolerant regeneration, especially F. sylvatica. The windthrow also created appropriate conditions (i.e. increased light and exposed mineral soil) for recruitment of less shade tolerant species, including larch (Larix decidua Mill.) and maple (Acer pseudoplatanus L.). The results suggest that periodic, intermediate severity wind disturbances, similar to the event documented here, may have had an important influence on pre-settlement forest dynamics in mixed mountain forests of the Alps, and add to the limited available information regarding the historic range of natural variability of disturbance processes. This information may be useful for forest management that attempts to emulate natural processes.     

Spatial distribution and influence of large woody debris in an old-growth forest river system, New Zealand

A field survey was undertaken to determine the quantity, spatial distribution and influence of large woody debris (LWD) in a fifth-order river system in old-growth forest in New Zealand. LWD attributes were assessed at 25 sites distributed in the headwaters and along the main stem of the Whirinaki River system (73 km²). LWD volume, number of pieces, piece length and piece size, were positively correlated with bankfull width, whereas the number of pieces/unit area, LWD/unit area, number of pieces suspended across the channel and LWD influence on channel morphology, were negatively correlated. Pieces influencing channel morphology were larger, longer and more stable than average. We identified four key zones in the river system based on LWD spatial distribution patterns and influence on habitat complexity. Zonal boundaries occurred where there were changes in the transport capacity, fluvial processes, channel width and geomorphic structure of the channel. The results of this study highlight the need to understand the characteristics, spatial distribution patterns and influence of LWD at the catchment level when undertaking protective, management or rehabilitation programmes in forested river ecosystems.     

Spatial and temporal patterns in structure,regeneration, and mortality of an old-growth ponderosa pine forest in the Colorado Front Range

Effective management and restoration of ponderosa pine forests requires an understanding of the heterogeneity of contemporary and historical stand structures. We assessed spatial and temporal patterns of tree establishment, mortality and size structure over a 30-year period in an old-growth ponderosa pine stand in the mid-montane zone of the Colorado Front Range. We analyzed spatial patterns and spatial associations using Ripley's K(t) and K₁₂(t) and then modeled the patterns using point process models. Forest age structure was estimated by aging a sub-sample of trees in the stand. Climate appeared to play a significant role in the coarse-scale temporal pattern of regeneration events. Stand structure (distribution of patches, light availability, and seed trees) influenced the spatial and temporal pattern of more recent regeneration events. Patchy regeneration resulted in spatial independence and some segregation of size classes. Older trees in the stand (40–55 cm dbh) exhibited some regularity in their spatial distribution at short distances indicating that patterns of mortality had been historically patchy. Contemporary patterns of mortality were mostly patchy, and mountain pine beetles caused a significant amount of mortality in the 1970s and 1980s. Both establishment and mortality retained spatial patterns that were somewhat consistent with pre-settlement forests, despite changes in driving processes.     

Tree mortality and habitat shifts in the regeneration trajectory underneath canopy of an old-growth subalpine forest

To better understand tree regeneration trajectories and the resultant coexistence of Abies with co-dominants, Picea jezoensis var. hondoensis, Tsuga diversifolia and Betula ermanii, in an old-growth subalpine forest, we investigated spatial mortality patterns during the regeneration of Abies mariesii and A. veitchii, which are abundant in the understory reflecting their shade tolerance. Regeneration of these Abies spp. from shaded understory to canopy status is affected by other canopy co-dominants. Snags of understory Abies spp. were common, suggesting that the primary mortality agent is suppression by the overstory. Although live, small Abies trees in the understory were positively associated with a Picea canopy, the long-term survival was reduced among Abies trees close to the canopy, suggesting that shading by large Picea in the overstory negatively affects understory Abies plants. The existence of shade-intolerant canopy co-dominants such as Picea and also Tsuga, which are larger and longer lived than the shade-tolerant Abies, may play an important role in preventing the Abies spp. from competitively displacing these other tree species, which are much rarer in the understory, though common in the canopy. Moreover, in spite of the fact that Betula canopies fostered recruitment and growth of Abies saplings, Abies showed no association with Betula canopy and their survival at later-stage was rather reduced near or beneath Betula canopies at the subsequent understory small tree stage. Based on spatially significant events related to tree death, this study detected such “habitat shifts” in the trajectory of tree regeneration. Accordingly, it can be concluded that careful consideration of the regeneration habitat is required for a fuller understanding of ecological processes in spatially complex old-growth forest systems.     

长白山二道白河溪流大木质物残体的初步研究

主要对长白山北坡溪流大木质物残体现存量进行了调查和研究,包括两段河道内所有大木质物残体的基径、顶径、长度、腐烂级,并在其中一段对树种尽可能进行了鉴别,以分析河岸带植被与溪流大木质物残体的关系。在调查的红松阔叶林植被带内4500 m长河道内,共发现溪流倒木425株,分属于17个树种;其中III、IV级腐烂占相当大的比重,与林地倒木II、III级腐烂占优有所不同,其原因可能与分解环境的不同有关。两段河道溪流大木质物残体的现存量为1.733 m3/100m、 10.83m3/hm2和1.709 m3/100m、 21.36 m3/hm2。处于III、IV级腐烂的溪流大木质物残体所占比重较大,与在森林中情况有所差异,可能与分解环境的不同有关。溪流大木质物残体和林地活立木的个体数量的径级分布基本上为反J型,而它们材积的径级分布均为典型的J型。溪流大木质物残体的树种组成和不同树种的材积与河岸带植被密切相关,但存在差异,分析这种差异可以深入了解河岸带植被动态。图1表4参18。     

Historic and current fire regimes in the Great Xing’an Mountains,northeastern China: Implications for long-term forest management

Understanding both historic and current fire regimes is indispensable to sustainable forest landscape management. In this paper, we use a spatially explicit landscape simulation model, LANDIS, to simulate historic and current fire regimes in the Great Xing’an Mountains, in northeastern China. We analyzed fire frequency, fire size, fire intensity, and spatial pattern of burnt patches. Our simulated results show that fire frequency under the current fire scenario is lower than under the historic fire scenario; total area burnt is larger with lower fire intensity under the historic fire scenario, and smaller with higher fire intensity under the current fire scenario. We also found most areas were burned by high intensity fires under the current fire scenario, but by low to moderate fires under the historic fire scenario. Burnt patches exhibit a different pattern between the two simulation scenarios. Large patches burnt by high intensity class fires dominate the landscape under the current fire scenario, and under historic fire scenario, patches burnt by low to moderate fire intensity fires have relatively larger size than those burnt by high intensity fires. Based on these simulated results, we suggest that prescribed burning or coarse woody debris reduction should be incorporated into forest management plans in this region, especially on north-facing slopes. Tree planting may be a better management option on these severely burned areas whereas prescribed burning after small area selective cutting, retaining dispersed seed trees, may be a sound forest management alternative in areas except for the severely burned patches.     

Habitat associations of saproxylic beetles in the southeastern United States: A comparison of forest types,tree species and wood postures

Saproxylic beetles are highly sensitive to forest management practices that reduce the abundance and variety of dead wood. However, this diverse fauna continues to receive little attention in the southeastern United States even though this region supports some of the most diverse, productive and intensively managed forests in North America. In this replicated three-way factorial experiment, we investigated the habitat associations of saproxylic beetles on the coastal plain of South Carolina. The factors of interest were forest type (upland pine-dominated vs. bottomland hardwood), tree species (Quercus nigra L., Pinus taeda L. and Liquidambar styraciflua L.) and wood posture (standing and downed dead wood, i.e., snags and logs). Wood samples were taken at four positions along each log and snag (lower bole, middle bole, upper bole and crown) ∼11 months after the trees were killed and placed in rearing bags to collect emerging beetles. Overall, 33,457 specimens from 52 families and ≥250 species emerged. Based on an analysis of covariance, with surface area and bark coverage as covariates, saproxylic beetle species richness differed significantly between forest types as well as between wood postures. There were no significant interactions. Species richness was significantly higher in the upland pine-dominated stand than the bottomland hardwood forest, possibly due to higher light exposure and temperature in upland forests. Although L. styraciflua yielded more beetle species (152) than either Q. nigra (122) or P. taeda (125), there were no significant differences in species richness among tree species. There were also no relationships evident between relative tree abundance and observed or expected beetle species richness. Significantly more beetle species emerged from logs than from snags. However snags had a distinct fauna including several potential canopy specialists. Our results suggest that conservation practices that retain or create entire snags as opposed to high stumps or logs alone will most greatly benefit saproxylic beetles in southeastern forests.     

Larix olgensis growth-climate response between lower and upper elevation limits:an intensive study along the eastern slope of the Changbai Mountains,northeastern China

Larix olgensis is a dominant tree species in the forest ecosystems of the Changbai Mountains of northeast China.To assess the growth response of this species to global climate change,we developed three tree-ring width and biomass chronologies across a range of elevations in the subalpine forests on the eastern slope of the Changbai Mountains.We used dendroclimatic analyses to study key factors limiting radial growth in L.olgensis and its variation with elevation.The statistical characteristics of chronologies suggested that elevation is a determinant of tree growth patterns in the study area.Response function analysis of chronologies with climate factors indicated that climate–growth relationships changed with increasing elevation:tree growth at high elevation was strongly limited by June temperatures of the previous year,and as elevation decreases,the importance of temperature decreased;tree radial growth at mid-elevation was mainly controlled by precipitation towards the end of the growing season of the current year.Biomass chronologies reflected a stronger climatic signal than tree-ring width chronologies.Spatial correlation with gridded climate data revealed that our chronologies contained a strong regional temperature signal for northeast China.Trees growing below timberline appeared to be more sensitive to climate,thus optimal sites for examining growth trends as a function of climate variation are considered to be just below timberline.Our study objective was to provide information for more accurate prediction of the growth response of L.olgensis to future climate change on the eastern slope of the Changbai Mountains,and to provide information for future climate reconstructions using this tree species in humid and semi humid regions.     

喀斯特生境中濒危植物单性木兰种群结构及空间分布格局研究

目的 以分布在喀斯特生境中的濒危植物单性木兰自然更新种群为研究对象,探究其种群年龄结构、空间分布格局及环境影响因素。 方法 采用点格局对单性木兰更新种群的空间分布格局进行分析,利用广义混合线性模型对幼苗的密度与环境因子间的关系进行线性拟合。 结果 （1）研究区域中的单性木兰种群结构呈倒“J”型,种群存活曲线接近Deevey-III型,大量小龄级幼苗的分布预示其种群更新状况良好;（2）单性木兰种群除在小尺度上有微弱的随机分布外,其余所有尺度上都呈聚集分布;（3）郁闭度、土壤湿度和岩石裸露率是影响单性木兰种群空间分布的主要因素。 结论 研究区域中的单性木兰更新种群状态良好,高强度的空间聚集分布主要是种子生物学特性和喀斯特生境特征共同作用的结果。     

四川苏铁在福建的分布生长生境调查

对福建产四川苏铁作了较广泛的调查,摸清了四川苏铁的分布范围、生长状况、生境条件以及雌雄性比例失调现状。四川苏铁分布有3个重点地区:南部以永泰县为重点,闽东以罗源、连江县为重点,北部较集中于沙溪干流两侧山地,以永安市贡川镇为中心,这个区域古树最多,最集中的是沙县淘金山。近期人工栽培的也在上述3个区域,闽南达漳州、厦门一带。已调查到少量雄性植株,1998年开的雄球花长57cm,径粗13cm;用永泰产种子培育成一株10年生实生幼树。四川苏铁的雄性比例极低,不到1%。人工繁殖四川苏铁,大都是从雌株上分蘖培育而成。我们认为,如果贵州苏铁就是四川苏铁,则福建是四川苏铁的原产地之一;如果贵州苏铁是独立的植物,则福建是四川苏铁的原产地。     

Root biomass and underground C and N storage of the primitive Korean pine and broad-leaved forest and its different succession stages in Changbai Mountain, northeast China

This paper studied root biomass and underground carbon (C) and nitrogen (N) storage of a more than 200-year-old primitive Korean pine and broad-leaved forest and its two 20-and 80-year-old secondary Populus davidiana and Betula platyphylla forests in Changbai Mountain, northeast China. The results showed that with forest succession, the root biomass of 20-year-old, 80-year-old, and primitive forests was 2.437, 2.742, and 4.114 kg/m², respectively. The root C storage was 1.113, 1.323, and 2.023 kg/m², soil C storage was 11.911, 11.943, and 12.587 kg/m², and underground C storage was 13.024, 13.266, and 14.610 kg/m², respectively, while the root N storage was 0.035, 0.032, and 0.038 kg/m², soil N storage was 1.208, 1.222, and 0.915 kg/m², and underground N storage was 1.243, 1.254, and 0.955 kg/m², respectively, which indicated that along with forest succession, the forest underground became a potential “carbon sink,” whereas underground N storage did not change obviously. __________ Translated from Chinese Journal of Applied Ecology, 2005, 16(7): 1,195–1,199 [译自: 应用生态学报, 2005, 16(7): 1,195–1,199]