Effects of a severe typhoon on forest dynamics in a warm-temperate evergreen broad-leaved forest in southwestern Japan

The effects of a typhoon on forest dynamics and the response of major tree species were studied in a warm-temperate evergreen broad-leaved forest in southwestern Japan. The strongest typhoon on record (T9313) passed through this region in 1993. Return periods of typhoons over 30 ms⁻¹ in instantaneous wind velocity and T9313 were estimated to be 2.2 and 104.5 years, respectively. Approximately 10% of all stems suffered some damage from T9313 and annual stem mortality rose from 1.3 to 2.7%. The estimated period that the number of stems would fall below 10% of the initial was four years shorter with T9313-class typhoons than without them. Thus, the disturbance by T9313 was not catastrophic at the site although T9313 was an episodic typhoon. The short-term responses of major tree species to T9313 were classified into four types: 1) blunt-response type with little decrease and recruitment of stems in the DBH ≥ 5 cm class (Distylium racemosum), 2) retreat type with larger decrease than recruitment (e.g. Quercus acuta), 3) sharp-response type with a large decrease and much recruitment (e.g. Cinnamomum japonicum), and 4) advance type with less decrease than recruitment (Eurya japonica). Among the four regeneration types classified by previous studies (climax, light-demanding, subcanopy, and few-sapling), the climax and few-sapling types each showed a specific short-term response, the blunt-response and retreat types, respectively, that explains one aspect of the regeneration strategies of each type. On the other hand, the light-demanding or sub-canopy type showed multiple short-term responses, indicating that each regeneration type contains species with various regeneration strategies. In this paper, I analyzed data from the database that was compiled by the Aya Research Team.     

Species spatial distributions in a warm-temperate deciduous broad-leaved forest in China

Spatial distribution is fundamental for understanding species coexistence mechanisms in forest communities.Here we comprehensively explored fine-scale spatial patterns of tree species in a secondary warm-temperate deciduous broad-leaved forest community in north China.Aggregated distribution patterns were predominant.Species functional traits had no significant effects on their spatial patterns.The aggregation intensity decreased with increasing DBH and abundance.The multivariate linear stepwise regression showed that abundance and maximum DBH were correlated with the aggregation intensity.Our results partially confirm that species attributes(abundance,DBH) and habitat heterogeneity may primarily contribute to spatial patterns and species coexistence in this secondary forest.     

Effect of selective logging on stand structure and tree species diversity in a subtropical evergreen broad-leaved forest

?Context

Selective logging followed by natural regeneration is rarely employed for restocking subtropical evergreen broad-leaved forests in East Asia compared with the use of clear-cutting.

?Aims

To clarify the succession of these forests, the effects of selective logging on stand structure, species diversity, and community similarity were studied in a mature and regenerating forest in Okinawa, Japan.

?Methods

Four study plots were established, and trees ≥1.2 m height were identified by species name, tree height, and diameter at breast height.

?Results

The results showed that the species composition of regenerating forest was similar to mature forest; however, the former had a greater species density and Shannon–Wiener index than the latter. Castanopsis sieboldii and Distylium racemosum, the predominant trees in the mature forest, continued to dominate the regenerating forest, with a broad layer distribution. High Sørensen and Jaccard community similarity indices for mature and regenerating forest indicated that the regeneration occurred in a progressive succession.

?Conclusion

The similar species composition and stand structure for both mature and regenerating forest, and the higher species diversity for the latter, provided no evidence of forest degeneration and suggested that the regenerating forest may develop into a stand similar to preselective logging forest.     

Structure and species diversity of subtropical evergreen broad-leaved forest in northern Okinawa Island, Japan

The structure and tree species diversity of a subtropical evergreen broad-leaved forest in northern Okinawa Island, Japan, were studied. Enumeration of the six sampling plots revealed an average density of 5,580 individuals with DBH≧3.0 cm/ha, having an average basal area of 55 m². The large-size trees of DBH≧20 cm contributed 10% of the total individuals, and 49% of the total basal area. The forest showed a high diversity of tree species, which is comparable to some tropical rain forests. A total of 54 over-story species of 24 families and a total of 63 understory species of 26 families were identified in the six sampling plots. Fagaceae and Theaceae were the most important families;Castanopsis sieboldii, Schima wallichii andDistylium racemosum were the most important species. The diversity index and equitability index of species were 4.15 and 0.72 for the overstory plots, and 4.72 and 0.79 for the understory subplots, respectively. The diversity index for the overstory was significantly correlated to the total basal area of trees over 20 cm DBH (p<0.05) and the importance value ofC. sieboldii (p<0.001), while for understory, the diversity index was not correlated to the structural parameters (allp>0.16). The size distribution pattern and age structure indicated differences in regeneration strategies for canopy dominants. In population dynamics of the succession process,C. sieboldii andD. racemosum were self-maintaining types, andS. wallichii was a gap- or opening-dependent type. This study was made possible by support from the Japanese Ministry of Education, Sciences, Sports and Culture, which provided a Monbusho scholarship to X.N. Xu.     

Physiological basis of seasonal trend in leaf photosynthesis of five evergreen broad-leaved species in a temperate deciduous forest

The physiological basis of photosynthesis during winter was investigated in saplings of five evergreen broad-leaved species (Camellia japonica L., Cleyera japonica Thunb., Photinia glabra (Thunb.) Maxim., Castanopsis cuspidata (Thunb.) Schottky and Quercus glauca Thunb.) co-occurring under deciduous canopy trees in a temperate forest. We focused on temperature dependence of photosynthetic rate and capacity as important physiological parameters that determine light-saturated rates of net photosynthesis at low temperatures during winter. Under controlled temperature conditions, maximum rates of ribulose bisphosphate carboxylation and electron transport (Vcmax) and Jmax, respectively) increased exponentially with increasing leaf temperature. The temperature dependence of photosynthetic rate did not differ among species. In the field, photosynthetic capacity, determined as Vcmax and Jmax at a common temperature of 25 degrees C (Vcmax(25) and Jmax(25)), increased until autumn and then decreased in species-specific patterns. Values of Vcmax(25) and Jmax(25) differed among species during winter. There was a positive correlation of Vcmax(25) with area-based nitrogen concentration among leaves during winter in Camellia and Photinia. Interspecific differences in Vcmax(25) were responsible for interspecific differences in light-saturated rates of net photosynthesis during winter.     

Biocycle of nitrogen in a Cyclobalanopsis glauca-dominated evergreen broad-leaved forest in East China

The nitrogen (N) cycling was elucidated in a 40-year-old subtropical evergreen broad-leaved forest dominated by Cyclobalanopsis glauca growing on red soil in Zhejiang Province, East China. The concentrations of N in the representative species ranged from 0.49% to 1.64%, the order of which in various layers was liana and herb layers > understory layer > tree and subtree layers; in various organs was leaf > branch > root > trunk; and aboveground parts > underground parts. The sequence of the concentrations of N in C. glauca was understory > tree > subtree layer; young and high-growing > old organs; reproductive > vegetative organs. Seasonal dynamics of the concentrations of N in C. glauca in the tree and subtree layers was comparatively stable. It was lower in autumn (October) in root, branch, and leaf in the tree layer, and low in January in the understory. There was no evident change in regularity of the concentrations of N in varying diameter classes. The concentrations of N in the litterfall, precipitation, throughfall, litter layer, and soil were 0.74%–2.30%, 0.000,038%, 0.000,09%, 1.94%, and 0.59%, respectively. The standing crop of N in the plant community was 1,025.28 kg/hm², accumulation in the litter layer was 224.88 kg/hm², and reserve in the soil was 55,151 kg/hm². Annual retention of N was 119.47 kg/hm², return was about 84.13 kg/hm², among which litterfall was 78.49 kg/hm² and throughfall, 5.64 kg/hm². Annual absorption of N was 203.60 kg/hm². Annual input of N through incident precipitation was 4.88 kg/hm². Compared with other forest types, cycling rate of N in the community was lower than in deciduous broad-leaved forests, rain forests, and mangroves, and was moderate in evergreen broad-leaved forests. N use efficiency of this forest was moderate among the forest types cited. According to the characteristics of the biocycle of phosphorous, it was concluded that N availability in the soil of this forest was not lower, and phosphorous not N was the limiting factor in the growth of plants in this community. __________ Translated from Acta Ecologica Sinica, 2005, 25(4): 740–748 [译自: 生态学报, 2005, 25(4): 740–748]     

Photosynthetic acclimation to light changes in tropical monsoon forest woody species differing in adult stature

We studied morphological and physiological leaf and whole-plant features of seedlings of six late-successional woody species common in the Xishuangbanna lowland rain forest in southwest China. Study species differed in adult stature and shade tolerance and included the shrubs Lasianthus attenuatus Jack and Lasianthus hookeri C.B. Clarke ex Hook. f.; the sub-canopy species Barringtonia macrostachya (Jack) Kurz and Linociera insignis C.B. Clarke; the canopy tree Pometia tomentosa (Blume) Teijsm. & Binn.; and the emergent species Shorea chinensis (Wang Hsie) H. Zhu. After 1 year of growth in low light (4.5% full sun), seedlings were transferred to high light (24.5% full sun) to investigate acclimation responses of existing leaves to forest gap opening and to determine whether seedling capacity for acclimation is a limiting factor in its natural regeneration. Leaves of the shrub species are shade-adapted, as indicated by their low photosynthetic capacity, efficiency in using sunflecks, low stomatal density, low Chl a/b ratio and high spongy/palisade mesophyll ratio. The shrub species utilized sunflecks efficiently because they had a short photosynthetic induction time and low induction loss. In all species, transfer of seedlings to high light resulted in a substantial initial reduction in the dark-adapted quantum yield of photosystem II (variable chlorophyll fluorescence/maximum chlorophyll fluorescence; Fv/Fm) at midday. Predawn Fv/Fm of the taller species did not change greatly, but predawn Fv/Fm of the shrub species decreased significantly without complete recovery within 25 days of transfer to high light, indicating chronic photoinhibition and damage to the previously shade-adapted leaves. Maximum net photosynthetic rate and dark respiration of the four taller species increased considerably after transfer to high light, but not in the shrub species. Similar trends were observed for the number of newly formed leaves and relative height growth rate. We conclude that the shrubs L. hookeri and L. attenuatus have limited potential for developmental and physiological acclimation to high light, which explains their absence from forest gaps. Compared with the shrub species, the taller tree species, which are more likely to experience high light during their life span, showed a greater potential for light acclimation. Physiological differences among the four tree species were not consistent with differences in adult stature.     

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。     

Effects of selection cutting on the forest structure and species diversity of evergreen broad-leaved forest in northern Fujian, southern China

The short-term effects of selection cutting of different intensities on the forest structure and species diversity of evergreen broad-leaved forest in northern Fujian Province were investigated and analyzed. The results showed that selection cutting of low and medium intensities caused little variation in the forest structure. After cutting, the dominant species retained their leading status in the community. However, the community structure changed significantly following selection cutting of high and extra-high intensities;the status of the dominant species of the community declined dramatically. Some tree species began to disappear from the sampling plots. Except for extra-high intensity cutting, the diversity of tree species did not change significantly for the other three cutting intensities. However, the evenness of the stands was very different among the four kinds of cutting plots. For low and medium intensity selection cutting, the evenness declined slightly. For extra-high intensity selection cutting, the evenness increased to some extent,which might be due to a more even distribution of tree species after cutting. Cutting operations resulted in some adverse reactions to development of arborous species diversity of evergreen broad-leaved forest, particularly serious damage to the forest canopy. But the rational selection cuttings, which may benefit the restoration and maintenance of species diversity over a long period and may come about from the variations in environmental factors such as sunlight, temperature and humidity.     

Effects of selection cutting on the forest structure and species diversity of evergreen broa-leaved forest in northern Fujian, southern China

The short-term effects of selection cutting of different intensities on the forest structure and species diversity of evergreen broad-leaved forest in northern Fujian Province were investigated and analyzed. The results showed that selection cutting of low and medium intensities caused little variation in the forest structure. After cutting, the dominant species retained their leading status in the community. However, the community structure changed significantly following selection cutting of high and extra-high intensities; the status of the dominant species of the community declined dramatically. Some tree species began to disappear from the sampling plots. Except for extra-high intensity cutting, the diversity of tree species did not change significantly for the other three cutting intensities. However, the evenness of the stands was very different among the four kinds of cutting plots. For low and medium intensity selection cutting, the evenness declined slightly. For extra-high intensity selection cutting, the evenness increased to some extent, which might be due to a more even distribution of tree species after cutting. Cutting operations resulted in some adverse reactions to development of arborous species diversity of evergreen broad-leaved forest, particularly serious damage to the forest canopy. But the rational selection cuttings, which may benefit the restoration and maintenance of species diversity over a long period and may come about from the variations in environmental factors such as sunlight, temperature and humidity.     

Sprouting characteristics of a subtropical evergreen broad-leaved forest following clear-cutting in Okinawa,Japan

This study explores the sprouting characteristics of an evergreen broad-leaved forest after clear-cutting based on a survey of 1,893 stumps of 62 tree species in Okinawa, Japan. The sprouting capabilities of the stumps varied among tree species. The stumps of 60 species could produce sprouts, while those of the other two species could not. In 10 of the sprouting species, the mean sprout-stem number was higher than 4.0 stems per stump; nine sprouting species showed low sprouting capabilities. Additionally, Castanopsis sieboldii and Schima wallichii, the dominant species, exhibited high sprouting capabilities. Further, the sprouting capabilities varied with stump diameter at breast height (DBH). Stumps with a larger DBH tended to have a higher mean number of sprout stems per stump, higher DBH, and higher tree height than the smaller stumps. The forest stands regenerated by sprouting might recover into a tree community similar to that before clear-cutting.     

Early response of stand structure and species diversity to strip-clearcut in a subtropical evergreen broad-leaved forest in Okinawa Island, Japan

Natural regeneration by strip-clearcut has rarely been used for restocking of evergreen broad-leaved forests in the East Asia. To contribute to a better understanding of the likely reasons for either the successful recovery of these forests or failure, the early response of stand structure and tree species diversity to strip-clearcut were studied in Okinawa Island, southwest Japan. The 4,000 m² study area was divided into 10 adjacent sections of equal area with a 10 m × 10 m sampling plot in the center, of which five sections were strip-clearcut while the remaining five sections uncut. Eight-year secondary succession following strip-clearcut showed that the density of woody stems, tree species diversity increased significantly not only in the regenerating stands but also in the residual stands compared to the primary stands. The primary dominant target species, Castanopsis sieboldii, continued to dominate both the regenerating and residual stands although colonizing species invaded abundantly in the stands, occupying approximately one-third of total tree species in each treatment. The community similarity analyses showed that the species composition were similar between the primary stands and the regenerating stands or residual stands reflected the high similarity amongst the primary stands and the regenerating stands or the residual stands. The similar stand structure, high tree species diversity and greater community similarity after strip-clearcut provided no evidence of forest degeneration, suggesting that the regenerating stand might gradually develop into stand similar to that prior to strip-clearcut.     

江西金盆山林区天然常绿阔叶林生态系统碳储量研究

【目的】探讨亚热带典型天然常绿阔叶林碳储量及其碳分布格局,以期为常绿阔叶林生态系统碳汇功能评价提供基础数据和理论依据。【方法】以江西省金盆山林区优势树种生态系统生物量研究为基础,结合主要优势树种碳含量实测数据,对金盆山典型常绿阔叶林丝栗栲林、南岭栲林、米槠林的碳储量及碳空间分布格局进行研究,并以这3种林分的碳密度均值计算整个金盆山林区天然常绿阔叶林总碳储量。【结果】金盆山林区丝栗栲林、南岭栲林、米槠林生态系统碳密度分别为294.82、307.63、318.97 t/hm^2,林区生态系统总碳密度为307.14 t/hm^2,林区现存碳总量为2.25×10^6 t;生态系统碳密度分布规律为植被层>土壤层>凋落物层,植被层碳密度分布规律为乔木层>灌木层>草本层,其中乔木层主干的碳密度占56.54%;土壤层碳密度随着土壤层的加深呈下降趋势,40 cm以下土层间的碳密度变化不明显。【结论】金盆山林区常绿阔叶林不同林分间生态系统碳密度差异不显著,生态系统内碳密度有较强的空间分布规律,生态系统碳密度高于我国森林生态系统平均碳密度和多种典型森林类型碳密度,具有较强的碳汇功能。     

Characteristics of a 20-year-old evergreen broad-leaved forest restocked by natural regeneration after clearcut-burning

? To elucidate the application of natural regeneration to the restocking of evergreen broad-leaved forests in the subtropics, the characteristics of a 20-year-old evergreen broad-leaved forest restocked by natural regeneration after clearcut-burning were studied in Okinawa, Japan. Within a 0.87 ha clearcut area with four 10 m × 10 m sampling plots, two burned and two unburned ones, the tree composition, tree species diversity and vegetation changes were investigated.

? The results showed that the species diversity, basal area and density of woody stems ? 1.0 m in height differed significantly among phanerophyte types, while they were not significantly different between the burned and unburned treatments. A vegetation census also revealed no obvious differences between the treatments.

? The primary dominant species, Castanopsis sieboldii, continued to dominate the secondary forest with a broad height distribution.

? The structural complexity and high tree species diversity of the regenerating forest after clearcut-burning provides no evidence of degeneration. We can predict that the regeneration forest may gradually develop into stands similar to pre-clearcut primary forest, and that natural regeneration may restore the high tree species diversity of the evergreen broad-leaved forests in Okinawa.

     

Impact of patch size on woody tree species richness and abundance in a tropical montane evergreen forest patches of south India

We examined the effects of forest patch size on woody tree species richness and abundance in tropical montane evergreen forest patches of the Nilgiri region,south India. We sampled woody trees(1 cm dbh) from 21 forest patches in the upper Nilgiri hills( 2000 m elevation) and recorded a total of 35,146 individuals of 61 species, 45 genera and 30 families. Species richness and abundance of sapling/shrubs(≥ 1 to 10 cm dbh)increased significantly with increasing patch size, but the species richness and abundance of small, medium and larger trees(≥ 10 to 30, ≥ 30 to 60 and ≥ 60 cm dbh,respectively) did not. Overall, forest interior species richness and abundance increased significantly with increasing patch size but edge species richness did not. Species richness and abundance of shade-tolerant and shade-demanding tree species also increased with increasing patch size. The abundance of zoochory dispersed tree species was significantly related to increasing patch size, but those dispersed by autochory did not display any clear relationship between patch size and species richness or abundance.Our findings suggest that with increasing forest patch area,tree compositional patterns may be driven by species specific shade-tolerance adaptations and dispersal patterns.Differential responses in these traits by the plant community within the individual habitat zones of forest edge and interiors likely plays a major role in determining the inherent plant community and thus the subsequent ecological processes of forest patches, including their responses to increasing patch area.     

浙江丽水太山山地常绿阔叶林主要种群生态位研究

对浙江丽水太山山地常绿阔叶林中的10个主要乔木种群生态位宽度和生态位相似性比例及生态位重叠进行了研究。结果表明:(1)研究区主要树种的生态位宽度大小顺序为:甜槠>木荷>褐叶青冈>青冈>苦槠>米槠>枫香树>石栎>虎皮楠>多花泡花树;(2)生态位相似性比例大于0.4的仅有36对,占80%,表明群落内物种对资源利用相似性程度较高;(3)生态位重叠指数大于0.4的共有38对,占84.44%,说明生态位重叠的程度很高。     

季风常绿阔叶林植被恢复过程中土壤理化性质动态

以植被不同恢复阶段的普洱季风常绿阔叶林林地土壤为研究对象,分析了土壤理化性质随植被恢复的动态变化。结果表明:土壤容重随恢复时间的延长呈现降低的趋势,而土壤孔隙度和水分含量则随恢复时间的延长缓慢增大。土壤有机质和全N含量在恢复15年及原始林中最高,全P含量为恢复30年最低,原始林最高,全K含量则是恢复40年样地中最高。不同恢复阶段样地中,原始林中速效N含量最高,恢复15年样地中速效P含量最高,恢复40年样地中速效K含量最高。所有恢复阶段间pH值均无显著性差异,而阳离子交换量由高到低依次为恢复15年>原始林>恢复40年>恢复30年。土壤理化性质相关性分析显示,土壤容重与土壤全N、土壤全P、速效N、有机质具有显著相关性,而土壤孔隙度则仅与土壤pH值具有显著相关性,土壤水分含量则与土壤全N、速效N、阳离子交换量具有显著相关性。     

Biomass,and carbon and nitrogen pools in a subtropical evergreen broad-leaved forest in eastern China

Subtropical evergreen broad-leaved forest is the most widely distributed land-cover type in eastern China. As the rate of land-use change accelerates worldwide, it is becoming increasingly important to quantify ecosystem biomass and carbon (C) and nitrogen (N) pools. Above and below-ground biomass and ecosystem pools of N and C in a subtropical secondary forest were investigated at Laoshan Mountain Natural Reserve, eastern China. Total biomass was 142.9 Mg ha⁻¹ for a young stand (18 years) and 421.9 Mg ha⁻¹ for a premature stand (ca. 60 years); of this, root biomass was from 26.9 (18.8% of the total) to 100.3 Mg ha⁻¹ (23.8%). Total biomass C and N pools were, respectively, 71.4 Mg ha⁻¹ and 641.6 kg ha⁻¹ in the young stand, and 217.0 Mg ha⁻¹ and 1387.4 kg ha⁻¹ in the premature stand. The tree layer comprised 91.8 and 89.4% of the total biomass C and N pools in the young stand, and 98.0 and 95.6% in the premature stand. Total ecosystem C and N pools were, respectively, 101.4 and 4.6 Mg ha⁻¹ for the young stand, and 260.2 and 6.6 Mg ha⁻¹ for the premature stand. Soil C comprised 23.8–29.6% of total ecosystem C whereas soil N comprised 76.9–84.4% of the total. Our results suggest that a very high percentage of N in this subtropical forest ecosystem is stored in the mineral soil, whereas the proportion of organic C in the soil pool is more variable. The subtropical forest in eastern China seems to rapidly accumulate biomass during secondary succession, which makes it a potentially rapid accumulator of, and large sink for, atmospheric C.     

Coarse woody debris features of a warm temperate deciduous broad-leaved forest,northern China

Stocking and structural composition of a deciduous broad-leaved forest were determined to predict coarse woody debris quantity by quantifying the empirical relationships between these two attributes. The most ecologically significant families by stem density were Salicaceae, Betulaceae, Fagaceae, and Aceraceae. P opulus davidiana was the most dominant species followed by B etula dahurica, Quercus mongolica, and Acer mono. The four species accounted for 69.5% of total stems. Numerous small-diameter species characterized the coarse woody debris showing a reversed J-shaped distribution. The coarse debris of P. davidiana, B. dahurica, and Q. mongolica mainly comprised the 10–20 cm size class, whereas A. mono debris was mainly in the 5–10 cm size class. The spatial patterns of different size classes of coarse woody debris were analyzed using the g-function to determine the size of the tree at its death. The results indicate that the spatial patterns at the 0–50 m scale shifted gradually from an aggregated to a random pattern. For some species, the larger coarse debris might change from an aggregated to a random distribution more easily. Given the importance of coarse woody debris in forest ecosystems, its composition and patterns can improve understanding of community structure and dynamics. The aggregation pattern might be due to density dependence and self-thinning effects, as well as by succession and mortality. The four dominant species across the different size classes showed distinct aggregated distribution features at different spatial scales. This suggests a correlation between the dominant species population, size class, and aggregated distribution of coarse woody debris.