Impact of land use on woody aboveground biomass in Miombo woodlands of western Zambia – comparison of three allometric equations

Globally, the intensification of land use for agriculture, timber and fuel is considered the leading threat to the diversity and biomass of forests and woodlands. To suggest management options, it is important to understand the patterns and drivers of diversity, structure, biomass and carbon stock of woodland vegetation. In this study we used data from three sites in the Miombo woodlands of western Zambia, which are subject to low, medium and high land-use intensity. We sampled 20 plots of 1 000 m² at each of these sites. Woody vegetation was sampled for richness and structure to provide an understanding of the impact of land-use intensity. Woody plant species richness was not affected by land-use intensity. However, an ANOVA revealed that stem diameter at breast height (DBH) was higher at the low land-use intensity (national park) than at medium and high land-use intensities (selective timber harvest, and non-selective harvest for crop fields and timber). We tested three different allometric equations (one global and two regionally adapted) to determine woody aboveground biomass (AGB) and carbon stock at the three sites. The estimated AGB using the regionally adapted allometric equation of Ryan et al. and the global tropical equation of Brown et al. revealed that the AGB for low and high land-use intensity sites were significantly different from each other with the medium land-use intensity site being intermediate. We concluded that DBH and AGB estimations were influenced by the land-use intensity in the Miombo woodlands as suggested by other studies in the tropical forest and woodlands.     

亚热带常绿阔叶林结构、树种多样性和土壤特性的研究(英文)

采用样地调查法,对日本冲绳岛北部的亚热带常绿阔叶林的林分结构,树种组成以及土壤特性等进行了调查分析。结果表明,该亚热带林具有林冠低矮、小径木多等特点。林分的平均林冠高度仅10m,平均立木密度达5400株·hm2(≥3.0cmDBH),其中胸径小于10cm的立木占64%。林分胸高断面积为54.4m2·hm-2。30个调查样地共出现树种数(≥3.0cmDBH)达80种,分属31个科。根据树种的重要值,Castanopsis sieboldii和Schima wallichii分别为优势树种和亚优势树种。树种多样性指数(H’)平均达3.63,均衡度指数(J’)为0.71,丰富度指数(S’)为4.72。这些多样性指数都随着优势树种重要值的增加而显著降低。土壤养分测定结果表明,该森林的土壤肥力低,异质性大,并可能存在Al毒害。由相关分析知,林分密度和优势树高均与土壤pH值呈显著正相关关系;多样性指数则与土壤交换性K ,Ca2 以及Ca2 /Al3 比呈显著的正相关,而与土壤有机碳,全氮和磷呈显著的负相关。这些结果说明土壤性质是影响冲绳亚热带常绿阔叶林林分结构和树种组成多样性的重要因素。图3表4参38。     

Topographic and biotic regulation of aboveground carbon storage in subtropical broad-leaved forests of Taiwan

There is a growing need to understand, and ultimately manage, carbon storage by forest ecosystems. Broad-leaved evergreen forests of Taiwan provide an outstanding opportunity to examine factors that regulate ecosystem carbon storage. We utilized data from three Taiwan Forest Dynamics Plots (FS, LHC, and PTY) in which every tree is identified, measured, tagged and mapped, to examine factors regulating carbon storage as estimated from aboveground biomass. Allometric equations were used to estimate the aboveground biomass of each tree, and a model building procedure was used to examine relationships between plot-level aboveground biomass (AGB; Mg/ha) and a suite of topographic and biotic factors. We found that our study sites have AGB values comparable to some of the most carbon dense forests in the world. Across all three sites, maximum biomass was contained in the taxonomic families Fagaceae, Lauraceae and Theaceae. In the FS site, we identified slope convexity (P = 0.03) and elevation (P < 0.001) as topographic predictors of AGB and found that maximum AGB was found in topographically flat areas. In FS, stem density (P < 0.001) was a significant biotic predictor of AGB and the maxima occurred at intermediate densities. In LHC, we found that convexity (P < 0.001) and slope (P < 0.001) were significantly related to AGB which was maximized along a topographic ridge in the plot. Species richness (P < 0.001) was a significant biotic predictor of AGB in LHC, and the relationship indicated slightly higher AGB at higher levels of species richness. The only significant factor related to AGB in PTY was species richness (P = 0.02). Further work is needed to seek a mechanistic understanding of topographic factors and species richness as drivers of carbon storage in forests.     

哀牢山植物多样性垂直分布格局

以设于哀牢山各植物群的样地调查材料为依据,分析了哀牢山东、西坡不同海拔高度地带性植物群落乔木层林木的高、径垂直分布特征,植物群落生物多样性指数的垂直分布态势。结果表明:该山地植物群落乔木层和灌木层的植物物种多样性沿海拔梯度呈单峰型分布格局,以中山湿性常绿阔叶林乔木层林木的最大和平均树高、最大胸径值和物种多样性指数最大;而灌木层植物物种多样性指数最大值出现在中山湿性常绿阔叶林带下的季风常绿阔叶林和半湿性常绿阔叶林带内;而草本层植物的物种多样性指数则沿海拔梯度上升呈整体减小的趋势;累加其植物群落乔、灌、草3层植物的物种多样性指数,哀牢山东、西坡植物群落的Shannon-Weiner指数和物种丰富度最大值出现在海拔高度2000 m左右。在相同海拔高度处,西坡植物群落的植物物种多样性高于东坡,季风常绿阔叶林的物种多样性大于半湿性常绿阔叶林,而山顶苔藓矮林的植物物种多样性最小。     

Changes in composition, structure and aboveground biomass over seventy-six years (1930-2006) in the Black Rock Forest, Hudson Highlands, southeastern New York State

We sought to quantify changes in tree species composition, forest structure and aboveground forest biomass (AGB) over 76 years (1930-2006) in the deciduous Black Rock Forest in southeastern New York, USA. We used data from periodic forest inventories, published floras and a set of eight long-term plots, along with species-specific allometric equations to estimate AGB and carbon content. Between the early 1930s and 2000, three species were extirpated from the forest (American elm (Ulmus americana L.), paper birch (Betula papyrifera Marsh.) and black spruce (Picea mariana (nigra) (Mill.) BSP)) and seven species invaded the forest (non-natives tree-of-heaven (Ailanthus altissima (Mill.) Swingle) and white poplar (Populus alba L.) and native, generally southerly distributed, southern catalpa (Catalpa bignonioides Walt.), cockspur hawthorn (Crataegus crus-galli L.), red mulberry (Morus rubra L.), eastern cottonwood (Populus deltoides Bartr.) and slippery elm (Ulmus rubra Muhl.)). Forest canopy was dominated by red oak and chestnut oak, but the understory tree community changed substantially from mixed oak-maple to red maple-black birch. Density decreased from an average of 1500 to 735 trees ha(-1), whereas basal area doubled from less than 15 m(2) ha(-1) to almost 30 m(2) ha(-1) by 2000. Forest-wide mean AGB from inventory data increased from about 71 Mg ha(-1) in 1930 to about 145 Mg ha(-1) in 1985, and mean AGB on the long-term plots increased from 75 Mg ha(-1) in 1936 to 218 Mg ha(-1) in 1998. Over 76 years, red oak (Quercus rubra L.) canopy trees stored carbon at about twice the rate of similar-sized canopy trees of other species. However, there has been a significant loss of live tree biomass as a result of canopy tree mortality since 1999. Important constraints on long-term biomass increment have included insect outbreaks and droughts.     

Floristic diversity and carbon stocks in the periphery of Deng–Deng National Park,Eastern Cameroon

Carbon is continuously being removed from the atmosphere by photosynthesis and stored in carbon pools(live,dead,and soil carbon)of forest ecosystems.However,carbon stock in dead wood and of trees with diameters at breast height(dbh)between 5 and 10 cm is often not considered in many studies carried out in the Congo Basin Forest.The relationship between tree diversity,life-forms and carbon stocks has received little attention.This study was carried out on the outskirts of Deng Deng National Park(DDNP)to determine tree diversity(dominant families,species richness and Shannon index),assess carbon stocks in the five carbon compartments(living tree,understory,fine roots,dead wood and litter)as well as to analyze the relationship between(1)carbon stocks and tree diversity;and,(2)between carbon stock and life-forms.The Shannon index of trees≥10 cm dbh ranged from 2.6 in riparian forest to 4.3 in secondary forest;and for the tree between 5 and 10 cm,it ranged to 1.56 in riparian forest to 3.68 in the secondary forest.The study site housed 16 species,7 genera and 3 families which are only found in trees of dbh between 5 and 10 cm.The average total carbon stock of the five compartments varied from 200.1 t ha-1 in forest residues to 439.1 t ha-1 in secondary forest.Dead wood carbon stock varied from 1.2 t ha-1 in riparian forests to 12.51t ha-1 in agroforests.The above ground carbon stocks for trees with diameter between 5 and 10 cm varied from 0.7 t ha-1 in young fallow fields to 5.02 t ha-1 in old secondary forests.This study reveals a low but positive correlation between species richness and total carbon stocks,as well as a significant positive relationship between life-forms and total carbon stocks.The findings highlight the need for more data concerning carbon content of dead wood,carbon of trees≥5 cm<10 cm dbh and the relationship between carbon stocks and tree diversity from other areas of the Congo Basin for a good understanding of the contribution of tropical forests to climate change mitigation.     

雷州半岛桉树人工林林下植物多样性研究

对雷州半岛桉树人工林林下植物多样性及生物量进行了调查与研究，结果表明：桉树人工林林下植物多样性及生物量主要与林地土壤类型、林分郁闭度有关；林下植物的生长发育随林龄对林分郁闭度的改变而改变：不同桉树种类之间及桉树与相思类树种之间林下植物的物种丰富度、多样性和生物量均差异不显著。这说明。桉树人工林林下植物多样性低并不是桉树树种本身造成的。     

Semi-forest coffee cultivation and the conservation of Ethiopian Afromontane rainforest fragments

Coffea arabica shrubs are indigenous to the understorey of the moist evergreen montane rainforest of Ethiopia. Semi-forest coffee is harvested from semi-wild plants in forest fragments where farmers thin the upper canopy and annually slash the undergrowth. This traditional method of coffee cultivation is a driver for preservation of indigenous forest cover, differing from other forms of agriculture and land use which tend to reduce forest cover. Because coffee farmers are primarily interested in optimizing coffee productivity, understanding how coffee yield is maximized is necessary to evaluate how, and to what extent, coffee production can be compatible with forest conservation.Abiotic variables and biotic variables of the canopy were recorded in 26 plots within 20 forest fragments managed as semi-forest coffee systems near Jimma, SW Ethiopia. In each plot, coffee shrub characteristics and coffee yield were recorded for four coffee shrubs. Cluster and indicator species analyses were used to differentiate plant communities of shade trees. A multilevel linear mixed model approach was then used to evaluate the effect of abiotic soil variables, shade tree plant community, canopy and stand variables, coffee density and coffee shrub size variables on coffee yield.Climax species of the rainforest were underrepresented in the canopy. There were three impoverished shade tree communities, which differed in tree species composition but did not exhibit significant differences in abiotic soil variables, and did not directly influence coffee yield. Coffee yield was primarily determined by coffee shrub branchiness and basal diameter. At the stand level a reduced crown closure increased coffee yield. Yield was highest for coffee shrubs in stands with crown closure less than median (49 ± 1%). All stands showed a reduced number of stems and a lower canopy compared to values reported for undisturbed moist evergreen montane rainforests.Traditional coffee cultivation is associated to low tree species diversity and simplified forest structure: few stems, low canopy height and low crown closure. Despite intensive human interference some of the climax species are still present and may escape local extinction if they are tolerated and allowed to regenerate. The restoration of healthy populations of climax species is critical to preserve the biodiversity, regeneration capacity, vitality and ecosystem functions of the Ethiopian coffee forests.     

Carabid species responses to hybrid poplar plantations in floodplains in France

Hybrid poplar plantations have become an important component of forest and agricultural landscapes in alluvial floodplains since poplars are among the fastest-growing trees in temperate regions. However, these habitats are thought to decrease biodiversity, including ground beetle diversity, as compared to other traditional land-uses such as grasslands and semi-natural forests. To evaluate the impacts of poplar plantations on carabid diversity, we tested whether carabid assemblages are more affected by land-use type than by canopy cover type in three alluvial floodplains in North-Eastern France. We stratified our 63-plot sampling design according to four habitat types based on land-use and plantation age. Non-metric multidimensional scaling revealed a successional gradient in species composition related to canopy cover progressing from grasslands through young, then adult poplar plantations, to semi-natural forests. Species-level response models showed that many carabid species distinguished the open habitats (grasslands and young poplar plantations) from the closed ones (adult poplar plantations and semi-natural forests). Only a few species preferred one of the traditional land-uses such as grasslands or semi-natural forests. Based on our data, the deleterious effect of poplar plantations on the conservation of ground beetles may not be as high as expected.     

万佛山丹霞地貌区常绿阔叶林群落物种多样性分析

为探讨丹霞地貌区常绿阔叶林群落物种多样性,通过对物种丰富度指数、物种相对多度模型、物种多样性指数和物种均匀度指数的测度,对区域内16个常绿阔叶林群落进行分析,并与中亚热带典型地区森林群落物种多样性比较。结果表明,万佛山常绿阔叶林群落具有较高的物种丰富度,物种多样性在层次中的变化趋势为灌层〉乔层〉草层;万佛山常绿阔叶林生物多样性在中亚热带常绿阔叶林生态系统中具有普遍的意义。     

笔架山常绿阔叶林群落结构特征

分析了福建省龙岩市笔架山常绿阔叶林群落的种类组成、乔木种群的重要值、物种多样性、水平结构和垂直结构特征.该群落共有植物186种,隶属于75个科132属,物种种类丰富,是由多个种群共建的群落.在水平空间上,8个可能的共建种群均服从聚集分布;在垂直空间上层次分化明显,在群落垂直结构的5个层次中,乔木层第2亚层除物种丰富度外,其他各项物种多样性指标在各层次中是最大的;草本层的物种丰富度、多样性指数和种间相遇机率分居第2位,群落均匀度则居第3位;灌木层的物种丰富度居第1位,但群落均匀度最小;乔木层第1亚层除群落均匀度居第2位外,其他指标均最小;藤本的物种多样性各项指标要么居第3位,要么居第4位.结果还表明群落的Simpson指数和种间相遇机率(PIE)的数值几乎相等.     

Fungal diversity in coffee plantation systems and in a tropical montane cloud forest in Veracruz,Mexico

We compared the abundance, species richness and diversity of saprobic filamentous microfungi in the forest and in coffee plantation systems (with different biophysical structures of the vegetation and agricultural management) and evaluated the degree of similarity in species composition among these sites. Soil washing was used to isolate the saprobic filamentous microfungi. Emerging colonies were quantified and transferred to tubes with culture medium and then mounted on semi-permanent slides for identification under the microscope. From 90 samples and 4,500 inoculated soils particles, 415 species were distinguished. The genera Trichoderma, Penicillium, Fusarium, Chaetomium and Humicola were the most frequent in all study sites. The transformation of the tropical montane cloud forest in coffee plantation had no significant effect on the abundance, species richness and diversity of the saprobic filamentous microfungi. Effects of the biophysical structures of the vegetation and the agricultural management of the sites were only detected at the level of dominant genera (Fusarium, Trichoderma and Penicillium) and on the evenness. The low degree of similarity among the six sites suggests the existence of a high exchange of species.     

石垟林场省级森林公园常绿阔叶林物种多样性研究

对文成县石垟林场常绿阔叶林的不同样地、不同层次的物种丰富度、物种多样性指数和群落均匀度进行了分析,结果表明:在群落垂直结构中,乔木层第2亚层的物种丰富度、物种多样性指数、群落均匀度显著大于第1亚层.乔木层与灌木层之间多样性各项指标总体无显著差别.乔木层、灌木层的物种丰富度、物种多样性指数均大于草本层,且差异极显著,群落均匀度差异显著.乔木层、灌木层、草本层的多样性各项指标在群落各样地间均有一定的差异,相对而言,灌木层、乔木层的差异较小,草本层的差异较大.     

Aboveground biomass increment and stand dynamics in tropical evergreen broadleaved forest

Forest ecosystems can modify the atmospheric CO₂ through biomass accumulation mostly in tree stems with diameter at breast height (DBH) ≥ 10 cm. Aboveground biomass increment (ΔAGB), and changes in stand AGB, no. stems and basal area (BA) were calculated from mortality, recruitment, and growth data of tree stems in tropical evergreen broadleaved forest, Central Highland Vietnam. Data were derived from ten 1-ha permanent plots established in 2004, where all stems with DBH ≥ 10 cm were tagged, identified to species, and measured for DBH in 2004 and 2012. In an 8-year duration, the increment was 53 ± 10 stems ha^–1, 7.8 ± 0.3 m² ha^–1 for BA and 86.0 ± 4.6 Mg ha^–1 for AGB. The stem mortality rate was 0.9% year^–1 and the stem recruitment rate was 2.2% year^–1. Annual ΔAGB was 10.8 Mg ha^–1 year^–1, equaling to 5.4 Mg C ha^–1 year^–1. Of which, tree stems of 35–80 cm DBH classes accounted for 65%. The results indicated that the forest is in stage of carbon sequestration. Any disturbances causing death of 35–80 cm DBH tree stems will much reduce carbon sequestration capacity and it will take a long time for AGB to return to pre-disturbance stage.     

武夷山国家级自然保护区植物物种多样性研究

以植物群落调查样地资料为基础，从不同类型、不同层次的物种丰富度、多样性指数及均匀度指数对武夷山国家级自然保护区植物群落多样性进行了分析。本区植物群落多样性的变化规律为：物种丰富度、多样性指数及均匀度随该区植被演替趋势从针叶林、针阔叶混交林到常 阔叶林而增加，群落间变幅较大；植物生长型在物种丰富度、多样性指数及均匀度等多样性指数上均表现出灌木层＞乔木层的规律。毛竹林作为一种重要的植被类型，其灌木层物种多样性高于其它3种森林类型，但由于毛竹是无性繁殖，其在林分中占绝对优势，故乔木层物种多样性明显低于其它3种森林类型。     

巴西半干旱地区自然条件和菌根菌接种条件下赤桉和大桉地上生物量营养成分分析(英文)

对巴西米纳斯吉拉斯州北部半干旱地区(15°09’S43°49’W)的赤桉(Eucalyptus camaldulensis)和大桉(Eucalyptus grandis)人工林的地上生物量、营养成分含量和菌根菌定植百分率进行了调查和分析。结果表明,赤按和大桉人工林的总地上生物量分别为33.6Mg·hm-2和153.1Mg·hm-2。赤桉树干、叶子、枝条和树皮的生物量分别占总生物量的64.4%,19.6%,15.4%,0.6%,大桉地上生物量的分配与赤按基本相同。赤桉叶子和枝条的干物质占其总生物量的35%,叶子和枝条中的N,P,K,Ca,Mg,and S的含量分别占总生物量这些营养元素的15.5%,0.7%,12.3%,22.6%,19%,1.4%。树干(包括树皮)中的营养成分累积相对比较低。与赤桉相比,大桉的营养含量变化较小。这2个树种的树干上部含有高浓度的磷,树皮也含有大量的营养物质,尤其是大桉;说明在半干旱地区,立地上脱落的植物性废物对降低树木生产力损失有重要意义。赤桉和大桉都有菌根营养。     

Response of vascular epiphyte diversity to different land-use intensities in a neotropical montane wet forest

Although vascular epiphytes contribute substantially to the biodiversity of tropical montane forests, it is unclear how their diversity and community composition is affected by forest alteration. We studied the response of vascular epiphyte assemblages to different intensities of land-use in a montane wet forest of northeastern Ecuador: (1) unmanaged mature forest; (2) mature forest with mid- and understorey opened for cattle grazing; and (3) isolated remnant trees in cattle pastures. The numbers of individuals and species of epiphytes per host tree did not differ significantly between land-use types, neither did total epiphyte species richness (n = 30 trees). However, total species richness of pteridophytes was significantly lower on isolated remnant trees compared to unmanaged forest, whereas several taxa rich in xerotolerant species (Bromeliaceae, Orchidaceae, Piperaceae) exhibited the opposite trend. An analysis of floristic composition using ordination (NMS) and randomisation techniques (MRPP) showed that epiphyte assemblages on isolated remnant trees were significantly distinct from unmanaged forest while managed forest was intermediate between those two vegetation types. Ordination analysis further indicated reduced floristic heterogeneity in disturbed habitats. These results suggest considerable, rapid species turnover since land-use change 6 years prior to study, with pteridophytes being replaced by more xerotolerant taxa. We attribute this floristic turnover primarily to changes in microclimate towards higher levels of light and desiccation stress associated with forest disturbance. Our results support the notion that community composition offers a more sensitive indicator of human disturbance than species richness.     

庆元林场阔叶林主要类型生物量测定及其评价

根据样地调查获得的数据,选择已建立的各种相关生物量预测模型进行统计,对千岗坑林区分别不同的阔叶林类型进行生物量的测定研究,结果表明,4个主要类型由于树种组成和林龄的不同,其直径分布变异较大,在生物量上阔杉混交林生物量最高达337.3t/hm2,常绿与落叶阔叶林的生物量最低为166.0t/hm2,在各类型的生物量组分中,树干组分的比例最大,其次为枝,再次是根,最低是叶。而生态功能的强弱序列为常绿阔叶林>常绿与落叶阔叶混交林>阔松混交林>阔杉混交林,木材生产能力的大小序列为阔杉混交林>阔松混交林>常绿阔叶林>常绿与落叶混交林。     

Urban land-use impacts on composition and spatiotemporal variations in abundance and biomass of earthworm community

Soil fauna can sensitively respond to alterations in soil environment induced by land-use changes.However,little is known about the impact of urban land-use changes on earthworm communities.In this study,three land-use types(i.e.,forest,nursery and abandoned lands)were chosen to identify differences in diversity,abundance and biomass of earthworm community in Kunming City.Urban land-use had a pronounced difference in species composition,evenness and diversity of earthworm communities.Forest land had the highest density,biomass and diversity of the earthworm communities.Total abundance was dominated by endogeic species in nursery land(70%)and abandoned land(80%),whereas in the forest land,the earthworm community comprised epigeic,endogeic and anecic species.Temporal changes in earthworm density and biomass were also significantly affected by land-use change.Total density and biomass of earthworms in the forest and nursery lands were highest in September,but highest in the abandoned land in October.The influence of soil physicochemical properties on the earthworm density and biomass also varied with land-use types.Soil temperature significantly affected earthworm density and biomass in the three land-use types.Soil pH was positively correlated with earthworm biomass in the forest land,but negatively associated with earthworm density in the abandoned land.Soil organic matter was positively correlated only with density and biomass of earthworms in the nursery and abandoned lands.Our results suggest that the species composition,abundance and biomass of earthworm communities can be determined by the modification of soil properties associated with urban land-use type.     

Temperate forest development during secondary succession: effects of soil,dominant species and management

With the increase in abandoned agricultural lands in Western Europe, knowledge on the successional pathways of newly developing forests becomes urgent. We evaluated the effect of time, soil type and dominant species type (shade tolerant or intolerant) on the development during succession of three stand attributes: above-ground biomass, stand height (HT) and stem density (SD). Additionally, we compared above-ground biomass (AGB) in natural and planted forests, using ten chronosequences (8 from the literature and 2 from this study). Both AGB and HT increased over time, whereas SD decreased. HT, SD and AGB differed among species types. For example, birch had greater HT than alder, willow and ash at a similar age and had higher SD than pine and oak at a similar age. However, birch showed lower AGB than pine. HT and AGB differed among soil types. They were higher in rich soil than in poor soils. Comparative analysis between chronosequences showed an effect of the regeneration method (natural regeneration vs plantation) on above-ground biomass. Planted sites had higher AGB than natural regeneration. Time, soil type, species and regeneration method influenced the mechanism of stand responses during secondary succession. These characteristics could be used to clarify the heterogeneity and potential productivity of such spontaneously growing temperate forest ecosystems.