Riparian forest structure and succession in second-growth stands of the central Cascade Mountains,Washington, USA

We examined the relationship between landform types and riparian forest structure and succession in second-growth stands along mid order streams in the Cascade Mountains, Washington, USA. We sampled tree, sapling, seedling, and shrub characteristics across a range of fluvial geomorphic surfaces, which were classified into four landform classes, including low floodplain, high floodplain, terrace and hillslope. Landform classification was based on topographic characteristics, position relative to the stream channel, and estimated flood frequency. Statistical analyses using generalized estimating equations (GEE) showed that landform exerted a strong influence on the distribution and abundance of conifer and deciduous species and of different tree life stages. The floodplain landforms were characterized by initial disturbance from timber harvest, and ongoing fluvial disturbance, which favored the establishment of deciduous communities dominated by red alder (Alnus rubra) and maintenance of early successional riparian stands. In contrast, the terrace and hillslope landforms were also subject to timber harvest as the stand initiating agent but were unaffected by fluvial disturbance. However, based on differences in species distribution, we infer that forest structure on these two landforms differed from one another as a result of differences in soil moisture levels. Terraces and hillslopes were found to have high conifer tree abundance, but frequency of younger conifers was higher on hillslopes. Deciduous tree reproduction was very low on terraces and hillslopes. Our results also suggest that conifer recruitment in these second-growth riparian forests may be more successful on soil substrates than on coarse woody debris. We propose that the interplay between the disturbance regime (including type, frequency and intensity) and soil moisture conditions played an important role in influencing the course of riparian succession, present stand structure, and future successional trajectories and these were the primary mechanisms driving vegetation differences among landforms.     

Effects of silvicultural activity on ecological processes in floodplain forests of the southern United States: a review of existing reports

Activities associated with timber harvesting have occurred within floodplain forests in the southern United States for nearly two hundred years. However, it is only in the last ten years that any information has become available about the effects of harvesting on the ecological functions of this valuable resource. Hydrology is the driving influence behind all ecological processes in floodplains, and timber harvesting alone usually has little long-term effect on hydroperiod. However, logging roads, built in association with harvest sites, can sometimes alter hydroperiod to the extent that vegetation productivity is raised or lowered. There is no evidence that harvesting followed by natural regeneration represents a threat to ground or surface water quality on flood plain sites, as long as “best management practices” are followed. Harvested floodplains may increase or have little effect on decomposition rates of surface organic matter. The nature of the effect seems to be controlled by site wetness. Data from recently harvested sites (i.e. within the last ten years) suggest that vegetation productivity is maintained at levels similar to those observed prior to harvests. During the early stages of stand development, tree species composition is heavily influenced by harvest method. Similarly, amphibian populations (monitored as bioindicators of ecosystem recovery) seem to rebound rapidly following harvests, although species composition may be different from that of unharvested stands.     

Development and ecology of bottomland hardwood sites

A basic knowledge of the origin, development, and ecology of bottomland hardwood sites is important for assessing harvesting impacts on those sites. This paper presents an overview of the geologic origin and development of hardwood sites, species-site relationships and the natural patterns of ecological succession on those sites, and the implications of that information for forest management. Bottomland hardwoods occur on floodplain sites primarily in the Atlantic and Gulf Coastal Plains. Past geologic events led to the formation of broad stream valleys in those areas because of the erodible, sedimentary geologic materials. Natural patterns of ecological succession on floodplain sites are influenced by autogenic and allogenic processes in that the sites may undergo constant change because of deposition. Three natural patterns of succession are recognized for floodplain sites of major river bottoms—those occurring on permanently flooded sites, those on low elevation wet sites, and those on higher elevation, better drained sites. Floristic composition and successional patterns are strongly influenced by the hydrologic events on the sites and particularly by rates and types of deposition.     

火干扰对天然红松林结构和演替过程的影响

Investigations on charcoal in the soil, fire-scarred trees, stand composition, forest structure as well as regeneration status were carried out in the natural broad-leaved/Korean pine (Pinus koraiensis) forest after fire disturbance at Liangshui Nature Reserve on the mid-north of Xiaoxing‘an Mountains from 1990 to 1992, and the ecological effects of fire disturbance on the formation and succession of this kind of forest were analyzed according to the survey results. The average depth of charcoal in the soil was related to the timing of the fire. According to the characteristic of fire-scarred trees, the dynamic map of the fire behavior was drawn onto the topographic map. It showed that the dimension and extent of the fire disturbance was closely related with site conditions. Fire disturbance only led to a significant difference in stand composition and diameter class structurefor the stands at different locations, rather than completely destroying the forest. After fire disturbance, the horizontal community structure was a mosaic of different patches, which were made up of different deciduous species or different sizes of Korean pines, and the succession trend of each patch was also different. In the sites with the heavy fire disturbance, the intolerant hardwood species were dominant, and there were a large number of regenerative Korean pine saplings under the canopy. In the moderate -disturbed sites, the tolerant hardwood species were dominant, and a small number of large size Korean pines still survived. In the light-disturbed sites, large size Korean pines were dominant.     

The Role of Succession in Forest Health

Forest health has become a major problem in much of the west and is closely linked to forest succession. Disturbances such as fire, flood, or windstorm periodically interrupt forest succession and recreate earlier seral conditions. The frequency and intensity of disturbance controls the extent of succession or the number of seral stages that may occur on a site. When the frequency of these disturbances is interrupted such as with fire control, succession can carry species composition and density beyond the historical range of seral stages. Historically, sites which were frequently disturbed are the first to get beyond their historical range and experience forest health problems when these disturbances are interrupted. Whereas, sites which, historically were less frequently disturbed may experience more complex successions that include outbreaks of insects and disease as part of the historical range of conditions.     

林窗效应研究综述

森林群落常发生一些小规模的内源干扰,从而形成林窗。林窗的形成对推动森林群落的演替更新和生态系统发展至关重要。林窗面积的大小与树木的倒伏方式和林冠冠幅及大小有关。林窗面积及林窗内位置的不同,导致其小气候和土壤理化性质等环境因子发生改变,进而影响到林窗内树种更新和物种组成、林窗植被的物种多样性及其微生物和土壤动物的种类、数量等方面。未来林窗研究重点应该放在次生林和人工林的林窗效应,林窗对森林生态系统碳储量影响机制,林窗凋落物分解因子间的相互关系、作用机理和养分循环,不同树种的林窗与最适更新面积的关系,林窗的边缘效应,林窗的土壤动物和微生物动态及过程。     

Regeneration strategies in a temperate hardwood floodplain forest of the Upper Rhine: sexual versus vegetative reproduction of woody species

The regeneration mechanisms of woody species in the hardwood floodplain forest of the Upper Rhine are not well known, although they are of primary importance for future forest development. To gain a better understanding of the balance between sexual and asexual regeneration strategies and to assess the role of the seed bank in regeneration, the similarities in species composition and abundance of four fundamental compartments involved in regeneration (the seed rain, the seed bank, the recruits and the canopy) were compared in three hardwood forest stands with different flooding conditions. The results show that the floristic composition of the recruits is very similar to that of the canopy, whereas the composition of the seed bank is very dissimilar to the latter and comprises very few hardwood species. However, some species such as Fraxinus excelsior, Carpinus betulus and Acer pseudoplatanus which are very rare in the seed bank release a high number of diaspores, and seedlings of these species germinate abundantly in the field in the year following seed release. Moreover, the germinating seeds originate from the litter layer and not from the soil itself. This shows that most woody species regenerating by seed in the hardwood Rhine forest build transient seed banks and that the role of persistent seed banks for regeneration is very limited. Furthermore, it appears that many woody species have developed strategies favouring vegetative propagation for their regeneration, particularly understorey species, such as Cornus sanguinea and Prunus padus. As vegetatively grown individuals better withstand prolonged inundation in their early life stages than seedlings, species relying on vegetative regeneration strategies might be advantaged by regular and prolonged flooding of the Rhine forest over species regenerating only by seeds.     

Decreases by disturbance-dependent tree species in the eastern and central USA

Open pine and oak forest ecosystems and floodplain forests have declined because of fire and flooding suppression. I determined tree species that have contracted in area occupied (where area occupied was ≥0.5 % of total species composition) or decreased in percent composition (i.e., percentage of all stems) during recent surveys (2000–2013) to ≤85 % of area occupied or composition during older surveys (1968–1999). I then identified whether species were associated with frequent fire, flooding, wetlands, postfire conditions, or other disturbances. Of 35 species that decreased in area occupied or composition, 16 species were associated with fire or postfire disturbance and fire-dependent species decreased in composition from 20 to 14 % during tree surveys. Even though species of floodplain forests and wetlands comprise a small percent of overall tree composition, 12 decreasing species were associated with floodplain forests or wetlands. Fire maintains open oak and pine ecosystems and flooding maintains floodplain forests, generally suspending succession. Suppression of fire in upland forests and flooding in floodplain forests has allowed disturbance-sensitive species to remain established and advance successional forests throughout the USA.     

Controls on early post-fire woody plant colonization in riparian areas

Fire in riparian areas has the potential to influence the functions riparian vegetation provides to streams and aquatic biota. However, there is little information on the effects of fire on riparian areas. The objectives of the present study were to: (i) determine how fire severity interacts with riparian topographic setting, micro-environmental conditions, and pre-fire community composition to control post-fire regeneration; (ii) determine how riparian regeneration patterns and controls change during early succession; and (iii) determine how critical riparian functions are influenced by and recover after fire. Study locations included the Biscuit Fire in southwestern Oregon and the B&B Complex Fire in the Cascade Mountain Range of west-central Oregon, USA. We measured post-fire woody species regeneration, and measured factors such as fire severity, pre-fire species composition, and stream size as potential factors associated with post-fire regeneration patterns. At a relatively coarse spatial scale, patterns in post-fire colonization were influenced by elevation. At finer spatial scales, both conifer- and hardwood-dominated riparian plant communities were self-replacing, suggesting that each community type tends to occur in specific ecological settings. Abundant post-fire regeneration in riparian areas and the self-replacement of hardwood- and conifer-dominated communities indicate high resilience of these disturbance-adapted plant communities.     

Recovery of species diversity after disturbance of broad-leaved Korean pine mixed forest in Changbai Mountain

IntroductionMorerecently,Thehumanl1asshowedagreatinterestli1studiesonpatternsofchangesinspeciesdiversityduriI1gprocessofsuccession,ThedistuIbal1ceofI1umanactivitiesornaturedisastershasagreatbopactonspeciesdiversity.PlantsPeciescomprisingapost-disturbancecommunityderhefromavarietyofsources-winddispersedseed,buriedpropagulesandresproutingsurvivorsl1'l.TheirulthatecontributiontotheserialflorarenectSacomplexinteractionofinitialabundance,includingdistuthanceintCnsity,proPagatCavailability,andc…     

Mycorrhizas and secondary succession in aspen-conifer forests: Light limitation differentially affects a dominant early and late successional species

Plant succession and mycorrhizal fungi both play crucial roles in shaping the development of forest ecosystems. However, despite the strong potential for interactions between them, few studies have examined how patterns of forest succession affect mycorrhizal associations that a majority of plant species depend on to alleviate soil resource constraints. Fire suppression in subalpine forests over the last century has changed successional patterns in ways that may have important implications for mycorrhizal associations of forest tree species. To better understand these relationships we conducted a field and greenhouse study in which we examined mycorrhizal infection along gradients of light intensity and soil nutrient availability that develop as aspen becomes seral to conifers under longer fire return intervals. We examined whether ectomycorrhizal associations of quaking aspen (Populus tremuloides), a shade intolerant, early succession species, were more sensitive to light and soil resource limitations than subalpine fir (Abies lasiocarpa), a shade tolerant, late succession species. In the field study, ectomycorrhizal infection of aspen roots was reduced by 50% in conifer dominated stands relative to aspen stands. In contrast, subalpine fir maintained its EM associations regardless of the successional status of the stand. The greenhouse results were consistent with field results and indicated that light limitation was the driving force behind reductions in EM infection of aspen roots in later stages of succession. These results suggest that nutrient limitations constraining early successional species may be exacerbated by losses in EM associations via light limitations created by late successional species. This is one potential mechanism by which climax forest species create a competitive advantage over early successional species and these results suggest that it is likely exacerbated by longer fire return intervals.     

江西德兴天然次生林林下幼苗更新特征

为了解实生和萌生幼苗个体数量及比例在各类植被中的变化情况,本文以江西德兴常绿阔叶林不同林分为研究对象,对各林型中幼苗的种类组成、数量、多样性与更新方式进行调查研究。结果表明：7种林分类型的乔木更新情况不同,德兴常绿阔叶林更新幼苗共35种,分属17科23属。更新苗数量最低的是拟赤杨＋马尾松林,仅为1 250株/hm^2,更新苗最多的林分类型为米槠＋甜槠林,为6 500株/hm^2;甜槠＋木荷林更新幼苗种类高达25种,居7种林分之首,马尾松＋木荷林下幼苗仅有10种;从演替更新年龄结构来看,马尾松＋木荷林和丝栗栲＋木荷林所在的群落,林下更新苗属于增长型锥体。其它5种林型属于下降型锥体。     

热带次生林经营研究文献分析

热带次生林面积巨大且在热带森林资源中的作用越来越重要,因而拥有巨大的经营潜力和生态功能。次生林演替过程中的主要研究成果如下：土壤贮存的种子对次生林的再生非常重要,光投射的强度增加和温度提高将刺激种子萌芽,而残余植被群落强烈影响次生林种子的散布,食种子动物影响次生林的成林;次生林群落植物种类数量一般随演替的进程而增加;随着演替的进程,次生林内阳生树种趋于衰亡,耐荫树种不断增加;次生林的树种数量能接近原生林水平的时间过程更随着林分种类、过去土地的利用强度和利用种类,以及环境条件的不同而异;在一定环境中,人工林树种通过人工林树种改变光、温度和土壤表层的湿度,能够促进发芽和种子生长,改善林地和林下植被的状况,从而加速次生林演替。大多数食草动物喜欢在次生林中取食,因为次生林中先锋树种很少或没有机械和化学保护,且林内许多树种产生大量可食用的果实;环境和火对次生林演替有一定影响;在早期的演替过程中,更多的生物量分配到资源需求旺盛的组织（如叶和细根）,在演替晚期阶段,更多的生物量则分配到结构组织中（如木质部和根端）。次生林在15至20年内能迅速积累生物量,然后积累逐渐减慢;次生林被砍伐或火烧后,森林土壤的结构被破坏,导致土壤有机质和氮减少。     

Successional process of Picea crassifolia forest after logging disturbance in semiarid mountains: A case study in the Qilian Mountains,northwestern China

Selective logging is the most widely employed method of commercial timber production in Asia, and its impact on forest structure, composition, and regeneration dynamics is considerable. However, the successional processes in forest communities after logging in semiarid mountains are poorly understood. To provide more information on these processes, we used data from tree rings, direct and indirect age determinations, and field measurements of stand structure to reconstruct the historical disturbance regime, stand development patterns, and successional processes in a natural Picea crassifolia forest community in the Qilian Mountains of northwestern China. The results showed that the density of P. crassifolia forest increased significantly after logging. The densities of second growth forests 30 and 70 years after logging disturbance had increased to 2874% and 294% of primary forest's density, respectively. Logging disturbance did not alter tree species composition of logged stands. However, the diversity of understory species changed significantly among the successional phases. Logging disturbance decreased the spatial heterogeneity of second growth forest. The spatial distributions of recruitment were affected by the location of the remaining trees. There was less recruitment near the remaining trees than near forest that had been cut. In addition, logging disturbance also induced a growth release for the trees on the sites sampled. Our results imply that the succession and regeneration of P. crassifolia forest may be improved if the remaining trees could be retained relative uniform distribution pattern, thinning or selective logging could be performed to height density, exotic shrubs could be removed or the shrubs cover could be reduced during the earlier successional stages.     

Soil seed banks in four 22-year-old plantations in South China: Implications for restoration

To better understand the potentials of the soil seed banks in facilitating succession towards a more natural forest of native tree species, we quantified the size and composition of the soil seed banks in established plantations in South China. The seed banks were from four typical 22-year-old plantations, i.e., legume, mixed-conifer, mixed-native, and Eucalyptus overstory species. Species diversity in the seed banks was low, and the vegetation species differed from those found in the seed bank in each plantation. A total of 1211 seedlings belonging to eight species emerged in a seedling germination assay, among which Cyrtococcum patens was most abundant. All species detected were shrubs and herbs, and no viable indigenous tree seeds were found in soil samples. Size and species composition of the seed banks might be related to the overstory species compositions of the established plantations. The seed bank density in soils was highest in the mixed-conifer plantation followed by Eucalyptus, mixed-native, and legume plantations. Species richness among the seed banks of plantations was ranked as follows: Eucalyptus > mixed-conifer > mixed-native = legume. The results indicated that the soil seed banks of the current plantations are ineffective in regenerating the former communities after human disturbances. Particularly, the absence of indigenous tree species seeds in the seed banks would limit regeneration and probably contribute to arrested succession at the pioneer community stage. It would appear from these data that the soil seed banks under the current plantations should not be considered as a useful tool leading the succession to more natural stages. Introduction of target indigenous species by artificial seeding or seedling planting should be considered to accelerate forest regeneration.     

Functional analysis of vegetation on alpine treeline ecotone in the Julian and Kamnik-Savinja Alps in Slovenia

Our study focused on the functional aspects of plant species and vegetation at the transition from larch (Larix decidua Mill.) forest to mountain pine (Pinus mugo Turra) stands on the alpine treeline ecotone. With increasing elevation, living conditions grow harsher, which is reflected in the plant species and functional trait composition of plant communities. At four different localities in the Slovenian Alps, relevés along an altitudinal gradient and according to vegetation type were made (European larch forests, larch trees-mountain pine shrubs, mountain pine shrubs), using standard Central European phytocoenological method. In the upper mountain pine belt, few differential species were found, since most species represented in mountain pine stands also occurred in the lower two vegetation belts, while there were many differential species in the lower forest belt. Species with considerable competitive ability and moderate stress tolerance dominated the upper treeline ecotone, whereas ruderality is poorly expressed. The importance of stress tolerance in plant strategies increased slightly in the mountain pine belt. Changes in the representation of some functional traits attributes were detected by vegetation belts, but complete species turnover did not occur. Changes in dominant life form involved greater cover of chamaephytes and nanophanerophytes in the upper mountain pine belt. Species with evergreen leaves dominated mountain pine stands and deciduous forest stands. The share of species with scleromorphic leaves increased in the direction of the mountain pine belt while the share of species with mesomorphic and hygromorphic leaves declined. Mountain pine stands create good conditions for the regeneration of tree species and colonisation by ecologically more demanding forest species while species of alpine grasslands withdraw on open areas. Since today’s treeline is lowered due to past human activity, an upward shift is expected. Also, considering the great importance of competition strategy, current conditions in mountain pine stands are favourable for future forest succession.     

Compositional and structural differences in two laurel forest stands (windward and leeward) on Tenerife, Canary Islands

The laurel forest of Anaga is the most emblematic community of the Canarian Archipelago. Restoration programs are being developed to increase laurel forest area on the island of Tenerife. Structural and spatial characteristics determine many aspects of the community, including regeneration patterns, disturbance level, stand history. In spite of the importance of this information for restoration, few quantitative studies have been conducted on laurel forest dynamics. We analyzed two stands of the Anaga laurel forest of different aspect. The main difference between the two sites was the wind exposure, one leeward and the other windward. Regeneration, spatial distribution of regeneration, tree species composition, asexual regeneration and environmental parameters were analyzed in three 50 × 50 m plots at each site. Both sites differ in important aspects such as species richness, species composition, asexual regeneration and dead tree composition, while they are not different in basal area, density, density of regeneration and density of dead trees. Both sites have had similar management in the last century. Asexual regeneration is able to maintain the present species composition, while sexual regeneration is able to offer future changes in the canopy composition. Regeneration strategies and the effect of some environmental characteristics should be considered in restoration programs.     

华西箭竹对卧龙亚高山森林不同演替阶段物种多样性与乔木更新的影响

比较阔叶林、针阔混交林与针叶林有竹与无竹环境下的物种多样性与更新状况.结果表明:华西箭竹的存在未改变森林演替过程中多样性的变化趋势,但降低了各阶段物种多样性,尤其对灌木层多样性的影响最为显著,对阔叶林物种的影响大于针叶林;与无竹环境相比,华西箭竹环境下林分各层物种丰富度都有所降低,灌木层的均匀度和多样性明显下降,但对草本层影响较小;阔叶林、针阔混交林与针叶林无竹环境乔木幼苗数量大于华西箭竹环境,箭竹环境光资源较差且枯落物较厚,不利于幼苗萌发与生长;糙皮桦幼苗及各径级树木在阔叶林无竹环境数量最多,而岷江冷杉在针叶林无竹环境最多,但在箭竹环境也有一定数量;华西箭竹的存在阻碍了糙皮桦的高生长,但对冷杉的影响较小,因此,华西箭竹的存在加速了糙皮桦的更新失败,同时也阻碍了冷杉的更新进程.总之,亚高山森林内华西箭竹的存在,降低了森林循环演替各阶段的物种丰富度与多样性,同时也不利于森林演替过程中乔木的更新.     

Effects of bamboo stands on seed rain and seed limitation in a rainforest

Bamboos often negatively affect tree recruitment, survival, and growth, leading to arrested tree regeneration in forested habitats. Studies so far have focused on the effects of bamboos on the performance of seedlings and saplings, but the influence of bamboos on forest dynamics may start very early in the forest regeneration process by altering seed rain patterns. We tested the prediction that the density and composition of the seed rain are altered and seed limitation is higher in stands of Guadua tagoara (B or bamboo stands), a large-sized woody bamboo native from the Brazilian Atlantic Forest, compared to forest patches without bamboos (NB or non-bamboo stands). Forty 1 m² seed traps were set in B and NB stands, and the seed rain was monitored monthly for 1 year. The seed rain was not greatly altered by the presence of bamboos: rarefied seed species richness was higher for B stands, patterns of dominance and density of seeds were similar between stands, and differences in overall composition were slight. Seed limitation, however, was greater at B stands, likely as a resulted of reduced tree density. Despite such reduced density, the presence of trees growing amidst and over the bamboos seems to play a key role in keeping the seeds falling in B stands because they serve as food sources for frugivores or simply as perches for them. The loss of such trees may lead to enhanced seed limitation, contributing ultimately to the self-perpetuating bamboo disturbance cycle.