Effect of shade on biomass accumulation and partitioning for Eucalyptus camaldulensis sprouts

ABSTRACT

Eucalyptus is widely cultivated in homogeneous monocultures throughout the world alongside plants of the same age. Furthermore, the productivity of forest stands is highly dependent on how solar radiation is intercepted and used. Meanwhile, it is possible to consider cultivating trees of different ages in the same area, and thus under different regimes of available solar radiation, creating a sequence of plantings and harvestings and to develop Eucalyptus-based agroforestry systems. We have examined biomass accumulation of Eucalyptus camaldulensis along a shade gradient. Eucalyptus trees presented power-law responses to increasing irradiance for biomass, indicating it has low plasticity and is unable to maintain growth under lower irradiance levels. Biomass partitioning showed no dependence on available irradiation. Leaf density presented very little increase toward sunnier places meaning that an increment in Eucalyptus biomass would be mostly due to its increase in size and thus higher radiation interception. Careful management of shade will be a key consideration for the integration of Eucalyptus into agroforestry. With knowledge of the growth habits of different species, we will have the potential to propose more perennial ways in which to manage land and reduce anthropogenic disturbances by avoiding clear-cuts of areas that removes all plant structures.     

Enhancement of understory productivity by asynchronous phenology with overstory competitors in a temperate deciduous forest

Some saplings and shrubs growing in the understory of temperate deciduous forests extend their periods of leaf display beyond that of the overstory, resulting in periods when understory radiation, and hence productivity, are not limited by the overstory canopy. To assess the importance of the duration of leaf display on the productivity of understory and overstory trees of deciduous forests in the north eastern United States, we applied the simulation model, BIOME-BGC with climate data for Hubbard Brook Experimental Forest, New Hampshire, USA and mean ecophysiological data for species of deciduous, temperate forests. Extension of the overstory leaf display period increased overstory leaf area index (LAI) by only 3 to 4% and productivity by only 2 to 4%. In contrast, extending the growing season of the understory relative to the overstory by one week in both spring and fall, increased understory LAI by 35% and productivity by 32%. A 2-week extension of the growing period in both spring and fall increased understory LAI by 53% and productivity by 55%.     

我国杉木林生物量与能量利用率的研究

根据作者的研究和文献资料系统分析了我国杉木的能量利用,分配及生物生产力的特征和规律,结果表明：杉木不同器官的热值差异明显,平均为１９．９５１ｋＪ．ｇ＾－１。生物量与密度和年龄呈较好的线性相关。     

The effect of harvest tree distribution on harvesting productivity in selection cuts

Abstract

The study explored the effect of tree-selection pattern on harvesting productivity, under specific site conditions typical of mountain forestry and suitable for mechanized cut-to-length harvesting. In particular, the experiment tested two different single-tree-selection principles, namely, uniform spatial distribution across the whole site and clustered distribution, where selection trees were concentrated along presumed strip roads. The test was conducted on two different sites, representative of two different stand-development stages. Ten plots were located on each site, and randomly assigned to the two spatial distribution treatments (uniform and clustered). Great care was taken to maintain even conditions for the test. Mean tree size and removal intensity were the same on all plots from the same site; all plots were harvested by the same harvester and forwarder team; data were collected by the same researchers in all plots. Under the specific conditions of the study, the spatial distribution of harvest trees had no significant effect on harvesting productivity and cost. In contrast, harvesting performance was affected by tree size and possibly removal intensity. Anecdotal evidence about the effect of spatial distribution on harvesting cost may derive from its possible association with the other above-mentioned factors (e.g. tree size or removal intensity).     

Predicting the site index of sugi plantations from GIS-derived environmental factors in Miyazaki Prefecture

We constructed sugi site index models using digital-terrain-analysis-based environmental factors for Miyazaki Prefecture. We selected 18 sugi plantation stands which were pure, undisturbed, and over 40 years old, planted with the same sugi-cutting cultivar, and managed by normal forest operations. The dominant tree in each stand was felled for stem analysis. Site index, defined here as dominant tree height at 40 years old, was estimated by stem analysis for each stand. Five types of DEMs were used: 100- and 50-m resolution derived from DEMs published by the Geographical Survey Institute, and 50-, 25-, and 12.5-m resolution derived from digital contour map manually generated from a 1:25,000 topographic map. A total of 14 indices categorized into solar radiation index, wetness index, and topographic exposure index were used to model the site index by multiple linear regression analysis. Through model selection procedures, the best-fitted site index models were selected for each type of DEM. The most precise model was that of the 12.5-m-resolution DEM (R ² = 0.692), following the model of the published 50-m-resolution DEM (R ² = 0.665). Site productivity of sugi was severely limited by direct solar radiation. Soil wetness also affected sugi site productivity; however, it can only be represented using a high-resolution DEM derived from fine-scale data. Our results suggest that the 50-m-resolution DEM published by the Geographical Survey Institute can be used for site index modeling.     

Use of a process-based model to describe spatial variation in Pinus radiata productivity in New Zealand

The process-based model CenW was used to model the growth of Pinus radiata in New Zealand. The model was parameterised by comparison with data from 101 permanent sample plots, consisting of 1309 individual observations of stands at different ages of up to 32 years. The data covered the range of conditions under which P. radiata is grown in New Zealand. Observations consisted of stand density, and height and/or basal area. Input parameters consisted of site water-holding capacity, soil texture and soil nitrogen concentration, and daily records of minimum and maximum air temperatures, precipitation, solar radiation and atmospheric humidity. Using the same plant parameters for the full data set from all locations, we obtained excellent correspondence between predictions and observed data. Model efficiencies ranged from 0.828 to 0.892 for four growth indices that were either directly observed (height, basal area) or derived from the data (stand volume, mean stem diameter).Within New Zealand, stand productivity was found to be particularly sensitive to mean annual air temperature and mean total annual precipitation, with optima reached from 12-15 °C and 1500-2000 mm, respectively. Productivity exhibited little sensitivity to site fertility as soil nutrition was generally adequate for most sites. Spatial projections showed highest productivity in the moderately wet, warm northern and western regions of the North Island and lowest for cold sites at higher elevation, dry eastern areas of the South Island and the extremely wet sites on the West Coast of the South Island. The model runs provided robust estimates of productivity across the diverse environmental conditions in New Zealand.     

Spatial pattern of trees influences species productivity in a mature oak–pine mixed forest

Spatial pattern has a key role in the interactions between species in plant communities. These interactions influence ecological processes involved in the species dynamics: growth, regeneration and mortality. In this study, we investigated the effect of spatial pattern on productivity in mature mixed forests of sessile oak and Scots pine. We simulated tree locations with point process models and tree growth with spatially explicit individual growth models. The point process models and growth models were fitted with field data from the same stands. We compared species productivity obtained in two types of mixture: a patchy mixture and an intimate mixture. Our results show that the productivity of both species is higher in an intimate mixture than in a patchy mixture. Productivity difference between the two types of mixture was 11.3 % for pine and 14.7 % for oak. Both species were favored in the intimate mixture because, for both, intraspecific competition was more severe than interspecific competition. Our results clearly support favoring intimate mixtures in mature oak–pine stands to optimize tree species productivity; oak is the species that benefits the most from this type of management. Our work also shows that models and simulations can provide interesting results for complex forests with mixtures, results that would be difficult to obtain through experimentation.     

气候变化对中国森林生产力的影响Ⅱ．中国森林第一性生产力的摸拟*

在中国森林第一性生产力地理分布规律研究的基础上，根据生产力与气候环境变量间的相关关系，筛选有代表性的生产力数据和与其相应的气象资料，构建了中国森林生产力气候模型，模拟出中国森林第一性生产力的分布格局，借助气候环境信息制图软件，绘制了中国森林生产力图。     

气候变化对中国森林生产力的影响Ⅱ．中国森林第一性生产力的摸拟

在中国森林第一性生产力地理分布规律研究的基础上，根据生产力与气候环境变量间的相关关系，筛选有代表性的生产力数据和与其相应的气象资料，构建了中国森林生产力气候模型，模拟出中国森林第一性生产力的分布格局；借助气候环境信息制图软件，绘制了中国森林生产力图。     

Ecosystem services in human-dominated landscapes: insectivory in agroforestry systems

Despite of being structurally simpler and species-impoverished than natural forests, agroforestry plantations can act as a secondary habitat for native species and sustain some biodiversity. In particular, insectivores can provide important ecosystem services such as insectivory, indirectly benefiting plants through the reduction of herbivory and increasing productivity, by diminishing herbivores abundance. The lending of these services could occur in agroforestry systems, and in the same magnitude that in natural environments, however it has not yet been assessed whether the direct effect of insectivores over insects and indirect effect on plants differ between natural and agroforestry environments depending on possible modulating factors such as climatic region, type of insectivore, trophic group of the preyed arthropod and length of insectivores experimental exclusion. In this study, through a meta-analysis, it was assessed the provision of ecosystem services by insectivores in agroforestry systems compared to natural systems, contrasting it with the modulating factors mentioned. In general, insectivorous species reduced arthropod abundance and plant herbivory, and increased plant productivity. The magnitude and direction of these effects did not differ between natural and agroforestry systems, and neither did between different climatic regions, type of insectivore, preyed arthropod trophic groups nor experiment length. The effect of insectivores on productivity can vary based on the variable used to measure productivity. Our results evidence the provision of services by the insectivores present in plantations, independently of factors that could modulate its magnitude and direction. In this way, enhancing the existence of these important interactions within plantations could represent a win–win scenario.     

Regional estimation of Japanese cedar (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Cryptomeria japonica</Emphasis> D. Don) productivity by use of digital terrain analysis

Digital terrain modeling and spatial climatic data have been used to estimate the spatial distribution of Japanese cedar (Cryptomeria japonica D. Don) forest productivity on a regional-scale. The study was conducted on Japanese cedar forests in Himi city, Oyabe city, Takaoka city, and Imizu city (a total area of 683 km²) in northwestern Toyama Prefecture. On the basis of data from 146 sample stands, above-ground net primary productivity (ANPP) was calculated from tree height, age, and density using existing ANPP conversion equations for Japanese cedar stands. Six topographic factors (slope, profile curvature, plan curvature, openness, wetness index, and topographic radiation index) were calculated from a 10-m cell size digital elevation model. Three climatic factors (annual mean temperature, annual total precipitation, and annual maximum snow depth) were obtained from an existing spatial data set. Relationships between ANPP and environmental factors were analyzed by regression tree models. For the tree model with ANPP as a dependent variable, four environmental factors (annual mean temperature, wetness index, openness, topographic radiation index) were adopted as independent variables. Annual mean temperature was the first split variable in this model and explained 25.5% of the total deviance in ANPP. Wetness index, which represents soil moisture variation caused by lateral flow, explained 11.5% of the total deviance in ANPP. The resulting tree model explained approximately half of the total deviation in ANPP and indicated that the spatial distribution of Japanese cedar productivity was controlled by regional-scale interactions between climatic and topographic processes. A high-resolution map of productivity was prepared by use of the ANPP prediction model and vegetation information obtained from satellite data.     

Modeling intra-crown and intra-canopy interactions in red maple: assessment of light transfer on carbon dioxide and water vapor exchange

Daily and seasonal net photosynthesis (Anet), transpiration (E), absorbed photosynthetically active radiation (Qa) and light-use efficiency (epsilonc) in a red maple container nursery were simulated with MAESTRA, a three-dimensional canopy model. Effects of canopy heterogeneity were simulated by imposing changes in crown spacing. The light transfer sub-model, a distribution model of incident, direct, diffuse and scattered radiation within MAESTRA, was validated against field measurements of light interception on an intra-crown scale. In the container nursery, we found that a fiber-optic-based method of integrating photosynthetically active radiation (Q) was more suitable for crown-layer light transfer measurements and adjustments than either orthogonal line or individual quantum sensor measurements. The model underestimated intercepted Q by 9.3, 18 and 11.1% for crown layers 1, 2 and 3, respectively; however, there were linear relationships between model estimates and observations made with each of the three measurement methods. We used the validated and parameterized light transfer model to assess intra-crown and intra-canopy light transfer on a layer, crown and canopy basis, and investigated effects of tree size ratio and tree spacing interactions on Anet, E, Qa and epsilonc in the container nursery. Heterogeneous crown and canopy photosynthesis were predicted to exceed values for a uniform canopy under space-limiting conditions. Tree size ratio had large effects on Anet, E, Qa and epsilonc when light to lower-canopy layers was limited by inadequate space between crowns. Increasing Qa at lower-crown layers had the largest impact on whole-crown and whole-canopy Anet, E, Qa and epsilonc. Increases in canopy productivity led to increased water use. Simulations of heterogeneous stands with adequate soil water indicated that light absorption is maximized under space-limiting conditions as a canopy crown moves toward heterogeneity. Nursery and plantation productivity per unit land area was optimized by tactical placement of trees of several sizes, but this was accompanied by increased canopy water use.     

~(60)Coγ射线辐射唐菖蒲鳞茎诱变育种试验

开展以20-60GY60Coγ射线辐照处理江山美人唐菖蒲球茎辐射诱变育种试验。结果表明各处理对唐菖蒲植株的生长和发育均有影响,主要表现在植株变矮,单株叶片数减少,开花延迟,每花序小花数减少,辐照对开花性状的影响大于对生长的影响;辐照能显著提高开花性状变异率,其中20GY处理的变异率最高;辐照对M0代和M1代生长发育的影响情况相似,60Coγ射线辐照影响能继续在营养繁殖后代中表现。     

Covariation between tree size and shade tolerance modulates mixed-forest productivity

Key message

In tree communities, tree size inequality reduces productivity and interacts with tree shade tolerance to modulate stand productivity, with a higher productivity in stands where shade-intolerant species dominate shade-tolerant species in size.

Context

Positive diversity–productivity relationships have been reported in different plant communities, including tree communities. These effects may be strongly related to both structural diversity and functional diversity, but also to their interactions if there is a non-random distribution of species functional characteristics among canopy layers.

Aims

We explore the relative effects on forest productivity of tree species diversity, tree size inequality, and species shade tolerance diversity, as well as the effect of the distribution of tree shade tolerance in the canopy.

Methods

We used 11,054 mixed-species forest plots from the French Forest Inventory (IGN) distributed throughout France (2006–2011). We analyzed the effects of species richness, shade tolerance diversity, and height inequality on forest plot productivity, represented by basal area annual increment over a period of 5 years, while controlling for first-order structure characteristics (basal area and quadratic mean diameter) and environmental factors (soil water budget and sum of growing degree days). Using the covariance between tree height and shade tolerance in mixed species canopies, we also explored the effect of the distribution of species’ shade tolerance among canopy layers.

Results

The results showed a positive effect of species richness (effect size, 0.02) and a negative effect of height inequality (??0.05) on mixed-forest productivity. We also showed that a negative covariance between shade tolerance and height (e.g., higher proportion of shade-tolerant species in lower height classes) increased productivity (0.01). Shade tolerance diversity did not affect productivity.

Conclusion

In tree communities, as shown previously in monospecific forest stands, tree size inequality reduces productivity. This effect is modulated by the distribution of shade tolerance among canopy layers. Previous studies on species diversity effect have generally overlooked the importance of the size structure and the size hierarchy of functional characteristics. These effects are, however, crucial and deserve to be explored in greater detail.

     

盐池县太阳直接辐射分布规律及对林业生态建设的影响

基于ViewGIS下的太阳直接辐射模拟计算模型,计算了宁夏回族自治区盐池县全境太阳直接辐射值,以定点实测数据为基准,对模型精度进行了检验,并分析了对林业生态建设的影响。结果表明:盐池县太阳直接辐射日总量在空间变化上呈现南少北多的特征;太阳直接辐射日总量随坡度的增加逐渐递减;太阳直接辐射日总量随坡向的递减规律是:阳坡、半阳坡、半阴坡、阴坡。盐池县林业生态建设应充分利用太阳辐射规律,中北部缓坡丘陵区结合封育禁牧恢复草场生产力和维持草场生物多样性;在南部黄土高原区,充分利用太阳直接辐射大、白昼温差大的特点,在阳坡、半阳坡发展节水型经济林,在阴坡、和半阴坡,培养生态林和薪炭林,逐步改善和优化区域生态环境。     

Water and nutrient dynamics and tree growth

The balance in the investment of assimilate at any time into leaves and roots may depend on whether water, nutrients or radiation are limiting to growth. Also, for the same investment of assimilate into roots, the root configuration may range from intensive to extensive in both space and time, to take best advantage of the distribution and amount of water and nutrients. Intensive root configurations, which include mycorrhizas and proteoid roots, assist in the uptake of nutrients (such as phosphorus) which are rate-limiting in soil. Mycorrhizas may assist in water uptake in dry or coarse textured soils with low unsaturated hydraulic conductivities.

Adaptations which assist trees to survive in dry and nutrient-deficient environments are discussed. These mechanisms may reduce, maintain or increase growth. In production forestry, it is desirable to exploit those mechanisms which increase growth. When soil water and nutrients limit tree growth, productivity may be improved by increasing the amount of uptake of water and nutrients, or by increasing the efficiency by which they are used in growth. Maximizing water-use efficiency when soil water supply is limiting may be dependent on whether the trees are in mixed stands or in monoculture. Selecting trees with relatively less root may improve productivity in monocultures when weeds are controlled and fertilizer is added. It is well known that trees can ‘re-use’ nutrients by retranslocating them within the tree to zones of demand. Relatively little is known, though, about differences in the biochemical involvement of nutrients at the cellular and subcellular level which contribute to differences in nutrient-use efficiency in trees.     

日本落叶松冠层光合特性的空间变化

【目的】研究日本落叶松冠层间光合特性的差异,揭示冠层光合特性的空间变化规律,为精确估算冠层生产力及构建冠层生产力模型提供依据。【方法】以8年生日本落叶松为研究材料,根据树冠长度,将树冠等分为8个层级,从上到下分别为第1~8层级,选择每一层级的南向一级侧枝作为光合测定枝条,测定每一枝条上针叶的光合日变化。【结果】多数冠层间光合参数日变化规律相似,净光合速率、蒸腾速率、气孔限制值、光合有效辐射、气温和水汽压亏缺均表现为单峰曲线,气孔导度从上午开始逐渐降低。随着冠层的升高,光合参数增加、比叶面积减小,而气温和水汽压亏缺表现为先增后降的趋势,不同冠层间均差异显著( P <0.05)。净光合速率、光合有效辐射、气孔导度和蒸腾速率与相对冠高存在指数函数关系( R^2 ≥0.94),气温和水汽压亏缺与相对冠高存在一元二次函数关系(R^2 ≥0.79)。通径分析表明,影响净光合速率的主要因素是光合有效辐射,而气温和空气相对湿度影响较小。【结论】光合有效辐射和叶肉细胞的光合活性分别是影响日本落叶松净光合速率空间变化的主要环境因素和生理因素。净光合速率随冠层的升高而显著增加,而冠层底部净光合速率为负值,始终处于碳消耗状态。     

Large-scale forest inventories of the United States and China reveal positive effects of biodiversity on productivity

Background:With the loss of species worldwide due to anthropogenic factors,especially in forested ecosystems,it has become more urgent than ever to understand the biodiversity-ecosystem functioning relationship(BEFR).BEFR research in forested ecosystems is very limited and thus studies that incorporate greater geographic coverage and structural complexity are needed.Methods:We compiled ground-measured data from approx.one half mil ion forest inventory sample plots across the contiguous United States,Alaska,and northeastern China to map tree species richness,forest stocking,and productivity at a continental scale.Based on these data,we investigated the relationship between forest productivity and tree species diversity,using a multiple regression analysis and a non-parametric approach to account for spatial autocorrelation.Results:In general,forests in the eastern United States consisted of more tree species than any other regions in the country.The highest forest stocking values over the entire study area were concentrated in the western United States and Central Appalachia.Overall,96.4 % of sample plots(477,281)showed a significant positive effect of species richness on site productivity,and only 3.6 %(17,349)had an insignificant or negative effect.Conclusions:The large number of ground-measured plots,as well as the magnitude of geographic scale,rendered overwhelming evidence in support of a positive BEFR.This empirical evidence provides insights to forest management and biological conservation across different types of forested ecosystems.Forest timber productivity may be impaired by the loss of species in forests,and biological conservation,due to its potential benefits on maintaining species richness and productivity,can have profound impacts on the functioning and services of forested ecosystems.     

Effects of spruce beetle infestations on berry productivity on the Kenai Peninsula,Alaska

Understanding the dynamics of berry productivity provides significant insight for managing the landscape to maintain ecosystem functions. On the Kenai Peninsula, as many as 14 mammal and 30 bird species commonly feed on berries produced by shrubs and forbs associated with spruce forests. Brown bears (Ursus arctos) and black bears (Ursus americanus), in particular, rely on berry crops for foraging. Gathering berries for subsistence or recreation purposes is also important to local residents and visitors. Recent spruce beetle (Dendroctonus rufipennis Kirby) infestations on the Kenai Peninsula have altered the dynamics of berry productivity. To assess this relationship, we evaluated the number and productivity of berries with the following environmental covariates: canopy cover, overstory type, infestation level, year of infestation, land type, and land type association. Data were sufficient to describe the relationships of these variables with the productivity of bunchberry dogwood (Cornus canadensis), black crowberry (Empetrum nigrum), false toadflax (Geocaulon lividum), strawberryleaf raspberry (Rubus pedatus), lingonberry (Vaccinium vitis-idaea), and a combination of 24 other species. We accomplished this using log-linear regression by which we estimated the variance using the negative binomial distribution. Canopy cover significantly influenced the productivity of all berry species except for false toadflax. Increasing canopy cover had a negative effect on berry productivity except for strawberryleaf raspberry. Overstory type influenced the productivity of all individual berry species. Infestation level was significantly related to the productivity of black crowberry, false toadflax, and the combined species group. Berry counts were generally lower in plots with low or medium infestation than in plots with high infestation. Relating the dynamics of berry productivity to the effects of spruce beetle infestations provides the opportunity for better management of post-beetle-infested forests.     

中国家具企业出口与企业全要素生产率关系研究

利用1999—2007年中国工业企业数据库微观层面的面板数据和2017—2018年部分家具企业调查数据,基于OP法、ACF-OP法和ACF-LP法测算了中国家具企业全要素生产率,使用固定效应模型分析了中国家具企业出口与全要素生产率的关系。研究发现:中国家具企业在1999—2007年期间企业全要素生产率呈现波动上升趋势,但是全要素生产率水平仍然较低。2017—2018年呈现微弱上升趋势,中国家具企业存在“出口-生产效率”悖论情况,不存在“出口学习效应”。