Structure,composition and diversity of tree species in tropical moist deciduous forests of Eastern India: a case study of Nayagarh Forest Division,Odisha

Quantitative assessment of tree species diversity from sample plots in seven forest ranges of Nayagarh Forest Division in Odisha state in the Eastern Ghats of India was made during the period April, 2011 to November, 2013. A total of 120 transects(1000 m × 5 m) were laid in Nayagarh, Odogaon, Pancharida, Khandapada, Dasapalla,Mahipur, and Gania forest ranges and tree stems of at least 30 cm GBH were measured. The regeneration potential of trees was assessed from 5 m × 5 m sample plots located within the main transect. A total of 177 tree species belonging to 120 genera and 44 families were recorded from the study area. Shorea robusta, Buchanania lanzan, Lannea coromandelica, Terminalia alata and Cleistanthus collinus were the predominant tree species. The stand density varied in the range of 355.33–740.53 stems h~a)-1) while basal area ranged from 7.77 to 31.62 m~2 ha~(-1). The tree density and species richness decreased with increasing girth class. The highest number of species and maximum density was recorded in the girth class of 30–60 cm. The Shannon–Weiner and Simpson Indices with respect to trees with C30 cm GBH varied in the range of 2.07–3.79 cm and 0.03–0.37 cm respectively and the values of diversity indices are within the reported range for tropical forests of Indian sub-continent. The families, Dipterocarpaceae,Anacardiaceae, Combretaceae and Euphorbiaceae contributed to maximum species richness, stand density, and basal area. Regeneration of many tree species was observed to be poor. The present study provides baseline data for further ecological studies, forest management, and formulation of site-specific strategies for conservation of biological diversity in moist deciduous forests of Eastern India.     

不同干扰梯度下尼泊尔森林树种多样性和优势种的变化(英文)

中度干扰可以增强多样性,因此干扰常作为一种管理手段。因而,了解森林干扰的频度和强度以及对林分结构、优势度以及森林多样性等的作用是非常重要的。本研究在尼泊尔设立25个1 ha样地,调查了不同干扰程度对以婆罗双树为优势种的5个林地生物多样性和优势度的影响。共记录67个树种,其中41个树种在轻度干扰的森林,10个在重度干扰的森林。林地之间α多样性差异显著。α多样性随干扰梯度线性降低,而优势度则呈线性增加。婆罗双树相对基面积随干扰强度而增加,重度干扰林下该树种重要值是轻度干扰林下的2倍。α多样性随婆罗叔树相对基面积的增加而以3倍的比率降低。在任意一对干扰林中,树种组成相似性均很低(相似性指数57%),说明β多样性较高。结论:婆罗双树林多样性随干扰强度增加而降低,但是优势度增加。建议控制优势种(婆罗双树)种群,来提高多样性,实现多功能利用的森林管理目标。图5表6参32。     

Effects of Different Management Practices on Stand Composition and Species Diversity in Subtropical Forests in Nepal: Implications of Community Participation in Biodiversity Conservation

In this article, we compared the structure, composition, and diversity of trees, shrubs and saplings, seedlings and herbaceous species of community- and government-managed forests in the lowlands of eastern Nepal. Results suggest that among the trees, the community forest was dominated by a single species, Shorea robusta. However, Shorea robusta and Terminalia myriocarpa were codominant in the government forest. Tree density and basal area were higher in the government forest, but shrub/sapling density and basal area were higher in the community forest, suggesting a positive effect of community management on tree regeneration. Overstory species assemblages showed an obvious compositional difference between the forests, but understory species assemblages were less obvious. Plot-level tree and shrub/sapling species richness was higher in the government forest than the community forest. However, seedling-herbaceous species richness was higher in the community forest. The dominance of Shorea robusta trees in the community forest suggests that people involved in managing forests may be more interested in a limited number of economically valuable species while removing less important trees. Such preferential management practices may increase resource heterogeneity within a forest and maintain species diversity in the understory. Thus, community participation in forest management should be encouraged, with guided management techniques and exercises, to achieve maximum forest recovery, provide sustainable ecosystem services, and maintain forest diversity.     

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.     

林分间隙形成后季节性干旱的娑罗双树原始林物种多样性及苗木再生(英文)

本文调查了尼泊尔季节性干旱的娑罗双树原始林两种生态位(间隙和全郁闭)下树种多样性及苗木再生情况,并对物种多样性指标和苗木再生属性与林分间隙特征进行了相关性分析。结果表明,间隙生态位下乔木和灌木立木度高于全郁闭。间隙生态位下娑罗双树和榄仁树的幼苗密度也高于全郁闭,但是油榄仁和海南蒲桃的比较结果恰好相反。在幼苗层物种多样性指标(complement of Simpson index,Evenness index,and species-individual ratio)在间隙生态位要低于全郁闭条件。间隙大小能够解释物种丰富度和物种建立速率。多年多样伐木形成的林分间隙下娑罗双树幼苗密度要高于同一年内单一或多样伐木。结论:林分间隙的物种多样性通过增加幼苗密度来维持,并且适于娑罗双树再生。此外,林分间隙的其它属性也会影响物种多样性和苗木再生。     

三峡库区3种典型森林主要组成树种的种群结构及更新

在调查群落种类组成的基础上,对三峡库区3种典型森林主要组成树种的种群结构进行分析,并推断群落的演替趋势.结果表明:1)三峡库区森林群落乔木层优势种主要为马尾松、柏木等针叶树种,短柄袍栎、栓皮栎等落叶阔叶树种及多脉青冈、石栎等常绿阔叶树种;2)针叶群落中乔木层个体高度级频度顶点位于10～15 m,针阔混交群落与阔叶群落为5～10 m;3)阔叶群落中短柄袍栎和栓皮栎等优势种的胸径频率为逆J字型,伴生树种主要为L型或逆J字型,主要组成树种的种群结构表明优势种种群处于稳定状态;4)针阔混交群落针叶优势种的种群属于单峰型和逆J字型的衰退类型,阔叶树种多为逐渐增长的L型或间歇性发展的多峰型;5)针叶群落优势树种胸径频率属于典型的单峰型,伴生树种为单柱型或L型;6)由主要组成树种的种群结构推断三峡库区森林群落演替过程为针叶林群落→针阔混交林群落→常绿阔叶林群落.研究结果为三峡库区生态建设和森林资源管理提供科学依据.     

Diversity of secondary woody species in relation to species richness and cover of dominant trees in thermophilous deciduous forests

One of the prominent compositional features of thermophilous deciduous forests of southern Europe is their richness in secondary woody species (AWS). To date, no studies have focused on the diversity and contribution to the ecosystem functions and socio-economic benefits provided by these species. Here, we first characterized species richness and diversity for three main functional groups of AWS, sporadic trees, shrubs and vines, in 53 representative stands of central Italy. Secondly, we explored variations in AWS diversity and composition along a four-level gradient of species richness of dominant trees under comparable site conditions. The 40 AWS taxa recorded showed a remarkable taxonomic singularity at both the genus and the family rank. Dominant tree species richness had no significant effect on AWS species richness and composition, while Shannon diversity of AWS, especially shrubs, was associated with cover of the dominant trees. Each AWS possessed, on average, ca. five ability traits over a total of 13 considered that contributed to important ecosystem functions or expected socio-economic benefits such as wood and food production, conservation of genetic resources (wild crop relatives) and ornamentals. This highlights the key role of AWS, and in particular of sporadic trees, for enhancing multifunctionality of thermophilous deciduous forests.     

Wildland fires and moist deciduous forests of Chhattisgarh,India: divergent component assessment

We studied moist deciduous forests of Chhattisgarh, India （1） to assess the effect of four levels of historic wildland fire frequency （high, medium, low, and no-fire） on regeneration of seedlings in fire affected areas during pre and post-fire seasons, （2） to evaluate vegetation struc- ture and diversity by layer in the four fire frequency zones, （3） to evalu- ate the impact of fire frequency on the structure of economically impor- tant tree species of the region, and （4） to quantify fuel loads by fire fre- quency level. We classified fire-affected areas into high, medium, low, and no-fire frequency classes based on government records. Tree species were unevenly distributed across fire frequency categories. Shrub density was maximum in zones of high fire frequency and minimum in low- frequency and no-fire zones. Lower tree density after fires indicated that regeneration of seedlings was reduced by fire. The population structure in the high-frequency zone was comprised of seedlings of size class （A） and saplings of size class （B）, represented by Diospyros melanoxylon, Dalbergia sissoo, Shorea robusta and Tectona grandis. Younger and older trees were more abundant for Tectona grandis and Dalbargia sis- soo after fire, whereas intermediate-aged trees were more abundant pre- fire, indicating that the latter age-class was thinned by the catastrophic effect of fire. The major contributing components of fuel load included duff litter and small woody branches and twigs on the forest floor. Total fuel load on the forest floor ranged from 2.2 to 3.38 Mg/ha. The netchange in fuel load was positive in high- and medium-frequency fire zones and negative under low- and no-fire zones. Repeated fires, how- ever, slowly reduced stand stability. An ecological approach is needed for fire management to restore the no-fire spatial and temporal structure of moist deciduous forests, their species composition and fuel loads. The management approach should incorporate participatory forest manage- ment. Use of c     

Biophysical quantification of biodiversity and ecosystems services of forest ecosystems in the Western Ghats: a case study of Uttara Kannada District,India

Biodiversity and ecosystem services play key roles in future economic strategies seeking to promote development and prosperity. This study assesses the status of biodiversity and flow of ecosystem services from selected forest types in the Western Ghats. At the sampling sites, the number of tree species ranged from 16 to 79 per hectare depending on the forest type. The estimates for Shannon–Wiener index for trees in the evergreen, moist deciduous and dry deciduous forest plots were 3.02, 2.9 and 1.54, respectively. The total biomass carbon stocks in evergreen, moist deciduous and dry deciduous forests in the study area was 229, 221 and 189 t C/ha, respectively.Analysis of dependency patterns of local communities on forest resources indicated a high dependency on provisional services such as fuelwood, manure and fodder. The study records the highest dependency rates for fuelwood,ranging between 72 and 100% for the three forest types and indicates that forest ecosystems underpin the well-being of the population dependent directly and indirectly on them.     

Characterizing Shorea robusta communities in the part of Indian Terai landscape

Shorea robusta Gaertn.f.(Sal)is one of the important timber-yielding plants in India,which dominates the vegetation of Terai landscape of Uttar Pradesh state in India forming various communities based on its associations.The present study deals with delineation,mapping and characterization of various communities of Sal(Shorea robusta)forests in Terai landscape of Uttar Pradesh,India ranging across over 16districts.Field survey and visual interpretation based forest vegetation type classification and mapping was carried out as part of the project entitled‘Biodiversity characterization at landscape level using remote sensing and GIS’.Indian Remote Sensing-P6(Resourcesat-1)Linear Imaging Self Scanner-III satellite data was used during the study.The total area covered by different Sal forests was found to be approximately2256.77 km2.Sal communities were identified and characterized based on their spectral properties,physiognomy and phytosociological characteristics.Following nine Sal communities were identified,delineated and mapped with reasonable accuracy viz.,Chandar,Damar,dry plains,moist plains,western alluvium,western alluvium plains,mixed moist deciduous,mixed dry deciduous and Siwalik.It is evident from the area estimates that mixed moist deciduous Sal is the most dominant community in the region covering around(1613.90 km2),other major communities were found as western alluvium plains Sal(362.44 km2),mixed dry deciduous Sal(362.44 km2)and dry plains Sal(107.71 km2).The Terai landscape of Uttar Pradesh faces tremendous anthropogenic pressure leading to deterioration of the forests.Community level information could be used monitoring the status as well as for micro level conservation and planning of the Sal forests in Terai Landscape of Uttar Pradesh.     

Woody species composition and structure of Kuandisha afromontane forest fragment in northwestern Ethiopia

To investigate the woody species composition,diversity and structure of Kuandisha Afromontane forest,vegetation and environmental data were collected from 53 plots of 10 m 9 50 m for trees and shrubs and 265 subplots of 2 m 9 4 m for seedlings were laid along eight transect lines. The local name, scientific name, abundance,DBH, height and percentage foliage cover of species were recorded. Environmental variables, namely altitude, latitude and longitude as well as disturbance levels were also recorded in each plot. Structure, basal area, importance value index(IVI) and species prioritization were analyzed using spreadsheet programs. Correlation coefficients, frequency, relative frequency, Shannon diversity index,Shannon evenness and vegetation classification were analyzed using an R package. Sixty-six species belonging to40 families were recorded. Fabaceae was the most diverse family consisting of seven species, followed by Euphorbiaceae and Asteraceae. In terms of habit, 29 species were trees, 28 were shrubs, and 9 were lianas. The overall Shannon diversity index was 2.5. The frequency and relative frequency of woody species with DBH C2.5 cm ranged from 1.9 to 92.5 and 0.1 to 5, respectively. Seedling density varied among species ranging from five to 9938 individuals ha-1. The total basal area of woody species having DBH C2.5 cm is 15.3 m2ha-1. The IVI of species ranged from 0.13 for Solanum giganteum Jacq. to 28.4 for Croton macrostachyus Del. The woody vegetation was classified into five community types. Species richness,diversity and evenness of communities were strongly positively correlated. On the other hand, the correlation between disturbance and seedling density, and species richness was strongly negative. Thus, among the recorded woody species, a significant portion was either lacking regeneration or selectively removed for various purposes.The lack of seedlings of those species is mainly attributed to anthropogenic disturbances particularly free grazing. As a result, 14 tree, seven shrub and one liana species were prioritized for conservation and management interventions.     

亚热带次生常绿阔叶林主要乔木各自然恢复１５年来的变化

在瓦屋山定位研究了中亚热带湿性常绍阔叶林次生群落１５a来各乔木种且成及其重要值、密度，大小结构、高度结构和材积生产力的动态变化，结果表明，自然恢复过程中次生常绿阔叶林群落乔木层物种组成变化明显，有１１种从群落乔木层消失，也有１０种出现，乔木层树种多样性（丰富度）基本保持动态平衡和发展；优势种地位保持不变，但次优势种地位得以加强；群落结构变化较大，突出表现为种群密度、胸径和树高分布格局的变化和立体空间的分布，群落由单优或双优种向双优或多优势种发展，由单一乔木屋向多层次立体结构发展，空间加厚，群落更复杂、稳定性增强。乔木种群平均高生长速度在２４－４８cm.a^-1 ,平均ＤＢＨ生长率在０.３４－１.１０cm.a^-1，各种群生长速度差异明显，按生长速度可划分为适应性强的速生树种如细梗呈茱萸叶五加，华木荷（平均ＤＢＨ生长在０．７０cm.a^-1以上），中等速度的小叶青冈、扁制栲（平均ＤＨＢ生长在０．４０cm.a^-1以上），慢生种如润楠、石栎（平均ＤＨＢ生长在０．４cm.a^-1以下）；种群材积生产力高低不一，优势种扁刺种群材积生产力并不是直增长，而是在后期出现下降；次优势和睦产长速度较快。１９９７年３固定样地材积量２１８－２２５m^3.hm^-2，优势种群材积生产力是群落材积生产力的高低的关键，在相同的环境条件下和各种群相互作用下，密度是各种群生长和材积生产力高低的决定因素之一。     

茂兰喀斯特峰丛中部常绿落叶阔叶混交林群落特征及多样性研究

研究了贵州茂兰自然保护区喀斯特峰丛中部典型常绿落叶阔叶混交林的群落特征、群落内种子植物的区系特点以及群落物种多样性。结果表明:茂兰喀斯特峰丛中部常绿落叶阔叶混交林群落由乔、灌、草及层间藤本植物组成,种类组成丰富,样地(1 800 m2)共有植物146种,分属55个科,其中种属比较多的科有樟科、壳斗科、山茱萸科、胡桃科、榛科等,群落无明显优势树种;群落以常绿树种、革质叶、高位芽植物为主;群落的植物区系与泛热带植物区系和热带亚洲植物区系的关系最为密切,热带、亚热带分布的属占65.31%,群落具有明显的热带亚热带植物区系特征。群落物种多样性指数、均匀度指数,生态优势度指数较高,群落结构复杂、稳定。     

A comparative analysis of spatial, temporal, and ecological characteristics of forest fires in seasonally dry tropical ecosystems in the Western Ghats, India

The Western Ghats in India is one of the 25 global hotspots of biodiversity, and it is the hotspot with the highest human density. This study considers variations in the regional fire regime that are related to vegetation type and past human disturbances in a landscape. Using a combination of remote sensing data and GIS techniques, burnt areas were delineated in three different vegetation types and various metrics of fire size were estimated. Belt transects were enumerated to assess the vegetation characteristics and fire effects in the landscape. Temporal trends suggest increasingly short fire-return intervals in the landscape. In the tropical dry deciduous forest, the mean fire-return interval is 6 years, in the tropical dry thorn forest mean fire-return interval is 10 years, and in the tropical moist deciduous forest mean fire-return interval is 20 years. Tropical dry deciduous forests burned more frequently and had the largest number of fires in any given year as well as the single largest fire (9900 ha). Seventy percent, 56%, and 30% of the tropical moist deciduous forests, tropical dry thorn forests, and tropical dry deciduous forests, respectively have not burned during the 7-year period of study. The model of fire-return interval as a function of distance from park boundary explained 63% of the spatial variation of fire-return interval in the landscape. Forest fires had significant impacts on species diversity and regeneration in the tropical dry deciduous forests. Species diversity declined by 50% and 60% in the moderate and high frequency classes, respectively compared to the low fire frequency class. Sapling density declined by ca. 30% in both moderate and high frequency classes compared to low frequency class. In tropical moist deciduous ecosystems, there were substantial declines in species diversity, tree density, seedling and sapling densities in burned forests compared to the unburned forests. In contrast forest fires in tropical dry thorn forests had a marginal positive effect on ecosystem diversity, structure, and regeneration.     

珠海市山地森林及其植物多样性研究

珠海市是广东省最早建立的经济特区之一。由于长期的人类活动,珠海市原生森林早已破坏殆尽,现有的山地森林群落多为人工林和次生植被。应用样方法,在珠海面积较大、林相结构较完整的森林群落中设置了34个面积400m2的样方,调查和分析了这些山地森林群落的物种组成和植物多样性特点。研究结果表明,珠海市山地森林群落类型主要有风水林、沟谷林和早期次生林,以风水林和沟谷林的物种多样性较高,它们是珠海市宝贵的森林遗产。珠海市的森林群落以樟科、大戟科和山茶科植物最为丰富,茜草科、桃金娘科和桑科等热带植物种类也比较丰富。珠海市的天然林对维持当地生态平衡和区域性生物多样性的保护均具有重要的作用。     

Contrasting seasonal leaf habits of canopy trees between tropical dry-deciduous and evergreen forests in Thailand

We compared differences in leaf properties, leaf gas exchange and photochemical properties between drought-deciduous and evergreen trees in tropical dry forests, where soil nutrients differed but rainfall was similar. Three canopy trees (Shorea siamensis Miq., Xylia xylocarpa (Roxb.) W. Theob. and Vitex peduncularis Wall. ex Schauer) in a drought-deciduous forest and a canopy tree (Hopea ferrea Lanessan) in an evergreen forest were selected. Soil nutrient availability is lower in the evergreen forest than in the deciduous forest. Compared with the evergreen tree, the deciduous trees had shorter leaf life spans, lower leaf masses per area, higher leaf mass-based nitrogen (N) contents, higher leaf mass-based photosynthetic rates (mass-based P(n)), higher leaf N-based P(n), higher daily maximum stomatal conductance (g(s)) and wider conduits in wood xylem. Mass-based P(n) decreased from the wet to the dry season for all species. Following onset of the dry season, daily maximum g(s) and sensitivity of g(s) to leaf-to-air vapor pressure deficit remained relatively unchanged in the deciduous trees, whereas both properties decreased in the evergreen tree during the dry season. Photochemical capacity and non-photochemical quenching (NPQ) of photosystem II (PSII) also remained relatively unchanged in the deciduous trees even after the onset of the dry season. In contrast, photochemical capacity decreased and NPQ increased in the evergreen tree during the dry season, indicating that the leaves coped with prolonged drought by down-regulating PSII. Thus, the drought-avoidant deciduous species were characterized by high N allocation for leaf carbon assimilation, high water use and photoinhibition avoidance, whereas the drought-tolerant evergreen was characterized by low N allocation for leaf carbon assimilation, conservative water use and photoinhibition tolerance.     

Tree regeneration in gap-understory mosaics in a subtropical Shorea robusta(Sal) forest

Spatial variation in tree-regeneration density is attributed to the specialization of tree species to light availability for germination and growth. Light availability,in turn, varies across the gap-understorey mosaic. Canopy gaps provide an important habitat for the regeneration of tree species that would otherwise be suppressed in the understory. In subtropical forests, there is still a knowledge-gap relating to how canopy disturbances influence tree-regeneration patterns at local scale, and if they disproportionately favor regeneration of certain species. We aim to analyze whether canopy gaps promote tree regeneration, and tree species are specialized to gaps or understory for germination and growth. We sampled vegetation in 128 plots(0.01 ha), equally distributed in gaps and below canopy, in two subtropical Shorea robusta Gaertn.(Sal) forests in Nepal, recording the number of tree seedlings and saplings in each plot. We compared the regeneration density of seedlings and saplings separately between gaps and the understorey. The mean densities of seedlings and saplings were higher in the gaps at both sites;although there was no difference in the seedling density of the majority of the species between the habitats. No species were confined to either gap or understorey at the seedling stage. We conclude that gaps are not critical for the germination of tree species in Sal forests but these are an important habitat for enabling seedlings to survive into saplings. The classification of trees into regeneration guilds mainly based on germination does not apply to the majority of tree species in subtropical Sal forests. Our results reaffirm that gap creation promotes tree regeneration by favouring seedling survival and growth and can influence forest management for conservation, as well as for plantations.     

Secondary forest floristic composition, structure, and spatial pattern in subtropical China

Secondary evergreen broadleaved forests are precious remnants for biodiversity conservation and templates for sustainable management of natural forests in subtropical China. Floristic composition, size structure, and spatial pattern of dominant tree species have been investigated for a subtropical secondary evergreen broadleaved forest in the Huitong Yingzuijie National Forest Reserve, Hunan, China. The location of all trees greater than 4 cm in diameter at breast height (DBH) were mapped within a 0.96-ha plot in which species, DBH, and total tree height were recorded. Ripley’s K(t) function was used to analyze spatial patterns and associations. The secondary forest consisted of 74 tree species and 1,596 stems per hectare. A reverse-J shaped DBH classes distribution was observed for all stems and trees of later seral species whereas trees of earlier successional species were distributed irregularly. Significant aggregated spatial patterns were observed for all trees within the forest and for conspecific trees of each dominant species. This result, and a repulsive spatial pattern for interspecific trees of Choerospondias axillaries and Cyclobalanopsis glauca against other dominant tree species, support segregation hypothesis. Contributions of seed dispersal, topographic heterogeneity, and competition to spatial patterns of conspecific trees vary depending on tree species. Attractive spatial pattern among interspecific trees of Liquidambar fortunei, Liquidambar formosana, and Pinus massoniana reflects stochastic colonization of pioneer tree species and a facilitation relationship. Although deciduous species are long-lived and persist over long successional processes, they will eventually be replaced by late seral evergreen species within the secondary forest if no disturbance events occur.     

Resilience of stand structure and tree species diversity in subtropical forest degraded by clear logging

Subtropical forests in the Ryukyu Islands have been degraded by silvicultural practices, and thus their structural attributes are being shifted to other states dominated by a few tree species. This study clarified the mechanisms of the change, and examined the effect of clear logging on the resilience of a subtropical forest. Sprouting regeneration and typhoon disturbance were introduced into an individual-based model, SEIB-DGVM, for describing stand development and succession. The regeneration dynamics from young secondary to old-growth stands were reproduced fairly well with the model. Sprouting recruitment produced high stem density at the beginning of stand development, which caused a self-thinning trajectory following the −3/2 power law. In the late development stage after 70 years, tree species diversity fluctuated because of the regenerative response of sprouting species and the facilitatory effect of typhoon disturbance on the coexistence of subordinate species. The death of canopy trees because of typhoon disturbances reduced the dominance of Castanopsis sieboldii, and depressed its dominance in the understory. Consequently, the understory species could establish by virtue of fallen canopy trees, and tree species diversity increased at the stand level. Clear logging experiments in the model revealed that species diversity deteriorated, especially in the stand dominated by sprouting species. Resilience of subtropical forests was determined by initial species composition before clear logging. Our simulation results suggest that repeated logging drives subtropical forests with high species diversity to a stand monopolized by C. sieboldii.     

卧龙自然保护区大熊猫栖息地植物群落多样性研究:丰富度、物种多样性指数和均匀度

根据64个植被样方调查资料,分析卧龙自然保护区大熊猫栖息地植物群落多样性特征.结果表明:卧龙自然保护区大熊猫栖息地不同植被类型的物种多样性指数值H'、D和均匀度指数Jsi基本表现出一致的变化趋势:常绿落叶阔叶林＞温性针阔混交林＞落叶阔叶林＞温性针叶林＞亚高山针叶林,而物种丰富度S变化为温性针叶林＞落叶阔叶林＞常绿落叶阔叶林＞亚高山针叶林＞温性针阔混交林.在不同的植物群落中,由于地形地势、坡度、土壤、水热条件等原因,其物种多样性指数不同,但其多样性测度指标除物种丰富度外均呈现出基本一致的变化趋势.随海拔的升高,大熊猫栖息地物种丰富度、多样性指数和均匀度变化先增加,然后下降,最后趋于平稳.坡度不是影响卧龙野生大熊猫栖息地生物多样性的关键因子.不同的坡向其物种丰富度S变化为西＞北＞东＞南,物种多样性指数H'、D呈现西＞南＞北＞东的递降格局,均匀度指数Jsi呈现南＞西＞东＞北的递降格局.在不同的群落中,物种丰富度变化表现为灌木层＞乔木层＞草本层,且42.9%群落中乔木层大于灌木层、64.3%群落中乔木层大于草本层、92.9%群落中灌木层大于草本层,落叶针叶林乔木层树种丰富度小于灌木层和草本层,但其灌木层物种丰富度大于草本层.在同一或不同生长型中,物种多样性指数和均匀度指数变化大体一致.