Modeling spatial variability in the life-cycle costs of low-volume forest roads

Cost estimation is probably the most decisive factor in the process of computer-aided, preliminary planning for low-volume road networks. However, the cost of construction is normally assumed to be route-independent for a specific project area, resulting in sub-optimal layouts. This is especially true for mountainous terrain and in areas with unstable subsoil. Here, we present a model for more accurately estimating spatial variability in road life-cycle costs, based on terrain surface properties as well as geological properties of the subsoil. This parametric model incorporates four structural components: embankment, retaining structures, pavement, and drainage and stream-crossing structures. It is linked to a geo-database that allows users to derive location-specific parameter values as input. In applying this model, we have demonstrated that variability in costs ranges widely for mountainous areas, with the most expensive construction being approximately five times greater there than on more favorable sites. This variability strongly affects the optimal layout of a road network. First, when location-specific slope gradients are considered, costs are reduced by about 17% from those calculated via currently available engineering practices; when both slope gradient and geotechnical formations are included, those costs are decreased by about 20%. Second, the length of the road network is increased by about 4% and 10% respectively, compared with current practices.     

The scope for reconciling public good and private forestry in the United Kingdom

The nature of private forestry in the UK as an economic activity is changing, with increasing ‘public good’ demands being placed on forest owners, with or without compensation from government. Although the motives for owning woodland are weakly researched, it is evident that amenity and recreational interests rather than formal productive economic activity are a major force in influencing woodland purchase and may well be a dominant force in woodland management over many parts of the UK. Recent research suggests a need for recognition of the high value of the public goods and, in particular, recognition of their high levels of spatial variability, whilst recognising that the public good — private good dualism is an oversimplification of the actual situation. New policy instruments are currently being implemented in various parts of the UK by devolved governments, and their capacity to both remediate market failure and address the needs of forest owners is considered. Their voluntary character and the preferences of forest owners may seriously constrain the optimal delivery of public goods. Further, existing policy instruments may be seen as insufficiently geographically targeted to areas where the greatest social benefits could be anticipated from policy-induced improvements in public good values.     

Intratree Variability of Tensile Strength Parallel to Grain in Chinese Fir and 1-214 Poplar from Plantation

The variation of tensile strength parallel to grain in Chinese fir and 1-214 poplar wood from plantations was studied in this paper. Aaccording to the national standards The Testing Methods for Physical and Mechanical Properties of Wood （GB 1927 to 1943 -- 1991）, the small clear wood samples were cut and tested, which represent the south and north of trees with heights of 1.3, 3.3, 5.3 and 7.3 m. The results showed： the tensile strength parallel to grain of the north wood was higher than that of south wood. ANOVA shows that the tensile strength parallel to the grain with height is of significant difference （at 0.05 level）.     

张家沟集水区林木竞争指数空间分布的探讨

对张家沟集水区内的树木,运用Visual foxpro编写程序计算树木的竞争指数,并对树木所受到的竞争强度的平均值进行统计,根据结果分析树木竞争指数的分布格局。     

黄脊竹蝗空间格局及抽样技术的初步研究

本文采用聚集度指标法和回归分析法，对黄脊竹蝗在林间的空间格局进行测定，并采用刀切法给出了聚集度指标的估计区间，3次设计最优拟合提高了回归模型参数的精度；结果表明，黄脊竹蝗在林间为聚集分布，分布的基本成分是个体群。     

3种山龙眼科植物种子生活力快速测定方法的效果比较

采用TTC(四唑法)和红墨水染色法两种方法对山龙眼科的美极山龙眼、无柄卢卡树、圆锥山龙眼3种植物种子的生活力进行了测定,并与其种子苗床播种出苗率进行对比试验。结果表明,TTC染色法和红墨水染色法测定此3种山龙眼科植物种子的生活力与其种子的苗床实际出苗率之间不存在显著差异性。TTC染色法和红墨水染色法,都可用于对这3种山龙眼科植物种子生活力的快速测定。     

Branch mortality and potential litterfall from Douglas-fir trees in stands of varying density

Forest floor characteristics influence nutrient cycling and energy flow properties of forest ecosystems, and determine quality of habitat for many forest plants and animals. Differential crown recession and crown development among stands of differing density suggest that an opportunity may exist to control the input of fine woody litter into the system by manipulating stand density. The objective was to measure the rate of branch mortality among stands of differing density and to estimate the range in total per hectare necromass inputs. Although litter traps are reliable for estimating per hectare rates of litterfall, branch mortality dating on sectioned stems uniquely allows assessment of several other litterfall components: (1) individual tree contributions to total litterfall; (2) the amount of branch material released by mortality, regardless of whether the branches are shed to the forest floor; (3) the distribution of basal diameters characterizing the litterfall from a given tree and stand. Twenty-four trees were felled and sectioned on permanent plots that were part of a silvicultural study of stand density regimes in Douglas-fir (Pseudotsuga menziesii (Mirbel) Franco.). Whorl branches were dissected out of bole sections to determine the dates of mortality, and a branch biomass equation was applied to estimate potential rate of litterfall. Periodic annual rates were expressed in four ways: (1) number of branches per tree; (2) mass of branches per tree; (3) mass of branches per unit of crown projection area; (4) mass of branches per hectare. For the growth periods investigated, larger trees and trees growing on denser plots tended to release a greater necromass through branch mortality. Average branch basal diameter generally decreased with increasing stand density. Annual branch mortality ranged from 33 to 430 g m⁻² crown projection area for individual trees, and from 236 to 1035 kg ha⁻¹ for individual plots. These rates approached the low end of the range of previously published fine litterfall rates for Douglas-fir. Rates on these plots were relatively low owing to the temporary delay in crown recession imposed by artificial thinning. A conceptual model of branch litter dynamics is presented to depict consistencies with crown development among stands managed under different density regimes.     

武夷山风景名胜区景观空间格局研究

景观结构又称景观空间格局 ,是大小和形状不一的景观嵌块体在景观空间上的排列 (伍业钢等 ,1992 )。景观结构决定着景观功能 ,而功能的改变最终将从结构的变化中反映出来 ,因此 ,景观空间格局研究是景观生态学三大核心问题的核心 (贾宝全等 ,2 0 0 1)。景观异质性是景观最重要的属性之一 (Formanetal .,1986 ;Risseretal.,1984 ;Turner,1987) ,而景观空间格局既是景观异质性的具体体现者 ,同时又是多种生态过程在不同尺度上作用的最终结果 (贾宝全等 ,2 0 0 1)。景观空间格局及其变化和发展是自然、生物和社会要素相互作用的结果 ,影响着…     

云南松毛虫越冬代幼虫自然种群空间分布型的研究

通过样方调查计算，采用聚集度指标法，测定云南松毛虫越冬代幼虫的空问分布型，建立了最适抽样数关系式，并对其进行了序贯抽样分析。结果表明：云南松毛虫越冬代幼虫种群在林内呈聚集分布，其Iwao回归方程为m*=5．2181 1．0207x^-、复相关系数R=0．9918；最适抽样株数为：N=621．81/x^- 2．07。     

Spatial patterns in mixed coniferous even-aged,uneven-aged and conversion stands

Different methodological approaches from the field of spatial statistics, the index of cluster size (ICS) and quadrat methods such as the two-term and three-term local quadrat variance (TTLQV and 3TLQV) and the new local variance (NLV) were tested to find a simple spatial measure to classify mixed coniferous uneven-aged, even-aged and conversion stands in the central Black Forest area of Germany. Altogether six stands were analysed with regularly distributed sample plots of 0.25 ha (50×50 m), each subdivided into 25 quadrats of 10×10 m. In each of the quadrats, diameter at breast height (dbh) for trees of the overstory (dbh>7 cm) was assessed and classified into three diameter classes. Height measurements were used to develop specific stand height curves for each stand and to calculate the standing volume per tree and per quadrat. The even-aged stands showed a regular distribution of the standing volume, while the conversion and uneven-aged stands were more clustered. This was detected using ICS, which proved to be a simple but very efficient measure for stand structure. The ICS also showed a highly random distribution of small and medium trees and a regular distribution of large trees of the overstory in the uneven-aged stand. Large and medium trees of one even-aged stand were also regularly distributed while conversion stands showed a regular, random or slightly clustered distribution of these trees. The more uneven the ages in the stands were, the larger were the phases detected by the NLV. The findings of the ICS were generally supported by the TTLQV and 3TLQV. The more uneven the ages in a stand were, the less clustered were the trees of different sizes of the understory. Clustering also decreased with increasing height of understory trees. The patterns detected in the investigated stands were related to the effect of different management regimes. Implications for the management of conversions stands based on the findings of the study are given.