立地条件对落叶松人工林生长的影响

通过对日本落叶松(Larix kaempferi)人工林在不同立地条件下的生长调查,结果表明,日本落叶松在生长过程中,受土层厚度、林地位置、立地指数等多方面因素的制约:厚层土胸径年生长量比中层土和薄层土高9.2%～26.7%,树高年生长量高21.8%～44%;生长在N坡,坡度较缓、山地下腹为优;在不同的立地指数级中,生长差异明显,18以上指数级比14～18指数级胸径生长量高25.4%,比14以下指数级胸径生长量高33.8%,树高生长量,18以上指数级比14～18指数级高26.7%,比14以下指数级高36.3%。培育日本落叶松人工林,选择优质立地条件不但可提高林木的生长速度,又能促使林木优质高产。     

Stem Volume Equations for Valuable Timber Species in Mozambique

Development of stem volume for umbrella-shaped crown trees remains a big challenge for efficient use of forest resources in Mozambique. In this study, species-specific stem volume equations were developed for the first time for three of the most important timber species in Mozambique: Afzelia quanzensis Welw. (Chanfuta), Millettia stuhlmannii Taub. (Jambire), and Pterocarpus angolensis D.C. (Umbila). The study was carried out at three locations in Mozambique: Inhaminga, Mavume, and Tome covering 58 trees from which, 24 of Chanfuta, 15 of Jambire, and 19 of Umbila. The volume of the sampled stem sections (logs) was calculated using Smalian’s formula, where stem volume total was obtained through the sum of the respective defined sections. Using a nonlinear procedure, different volume models were tested for each tree species independently. The coefficient of the determination of the tested equations in the tree species ranged from .90 to .95, making the equations potential candidate models for the stem volume equations object of the study. Based on statistical parameters analysis, the best fit nonliner power equation was Equation 2 with the lowest AICc and lowest average absolute bias. The stem volume for the studied species is better explained by models including both diameter and height as explanatory variables.     

Assessment and up-scaling of CO2 exchange by patches of the herbaceous vegetation mosaic in a Portuguese cork oak woodland

Long-term eddy covariance measurements over a montado oak woodland in southern Portugal have documented a vulnerability to predicted decreases in springtime rainfall, since water availability during spring limits annual CO₂ gain, the growth of fodder for animals, and the production of cork by Quercus suber. The current study examined CO₂ exchange of three different herbaceous vegetation components distributed over montado landscapes and within the footprint of long-term landscape eddy covariance monitoring studies. Simultaneous measurements with eddy covariance at two sites and with manually operated chambers at multiple locations revealed that slow drainage of shallow basins, the onset of drying at higher sites and a high release of CO₂ below tree canopies significantly influenced the overall course of montado ecosystem gas exchange during the spring.Hyperbolic light response models were employed to up-scale and compare herbaceous gas exchange with landscape net ecosystem CO₂ flux. The up-scaling demonstrates the importance of the herbaceous understory in determining annual carbon balance of the montado and suggests a relatively small additional CO₂ uptake by the tree canopies and boles, i.e., by the aboveground tree compartment, during springtime. Annual flux totals obtained during the extremely dry year 2005 and a normal precipitation year 2006 for the oak woodland and a nearby grassland were essentially the same, indicating that both ecosystems similarly exploit available resources. Based on comparisons with additional temperate grasslands, we can visualize the montado herbaceous cover as a typical European grassland canopy, but where temperature fluctuations in winter control uptake, and where total production depends on springtime rainfall as it controls phenological events and eventually dieback of the vegetation. On the other hand, tree canopies remain active longer during late spring and early summer, modifying the montado response from that of grassland. Uncertainties in flux estimates via both chamber and eddy covariance methodologies currently prevent a full understanding of vegetation/atmosphere coupling, of the recycling of CO₂ between the understory communities and trees, and of relationships between exchange rates of individual components of the vegetation mosaic and overall carbon and water balances in montado landscapes.     

Land cover changes in a forested watershed,southern Zagros,Iran

This study aims to investigate the land cover changes in relation to traditional utilization and livestock grazing, socioeconomic development, and demographic changes during recent decades in a forested watershed in the southern Zagros, Iran. Data on land cover change were collected through stereo interpretation with digital photogrammetric techniques applied to sets of scanned aerial photographs from 1969 and 1993 with a systematic grid of sample plots provided by GIS techniques. Efforts were made to mitigate errors in the interpretation. Field data were gathered in 2003 from woodland inventory, biophysical, and demographic data and in 2006 from interviews. The results show stability in crown cover density (%) and in the number of large trees, and an increase in the woodland class. The results may be related to a change in woodland utilization. Socioeconomic development, decrease in human and livestock population, and a change in the type of livestock have influenced the traditional pattern. Steep slopes partially limit human accessibility to woodland resources. Around 54% of the oak trees are in coppice form and natural regeneration of the trees is rare. Overgrazing and seed gathering have a negative effect on regeneration and endanger the future survival of the woodland. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

黑河上游冰沟流域3种林地土壤有机碳分布特征与土壤特性的关系

研究了青海省祁连县黑河上游冰沟流域3种林地的土壤有机碳分布特征与土壤特性的关系,以期为黑河上游冰沟流域水源涵养研究提供科学依据。结果表明,3种林地0-60mm土层有机碳密度表现为针叶林森林灌丛阔叶林,针叶林有机碳密度为7.18kg·m-2,是森林灌丛、阔叶林的1.24和1.58倍,针叶林、森林灌丛、阔叶林0-10mm土层有机碳密度分别为13.22、9.49和8.62kg·m-2,是剖面有机碳密度均值的1.84、1.63和1.89倍。3种林地0-60mm土层自然含水量、团聚体、全氮均值表现为针叶林森林灌丛阔叶林,而容重、物理性沙粒、pH均值表现为针叶林森林灌丛阔叶林。3种林地土壤有机碳含量与自然含水量、团聚体、全氮之间呈显著的正相关关系(P0.05),与容重、物理性沙粒、pH之间呈显著的负相关关系。     

Changes in soil properties related to conversion of savannah woodland into pine and eucalyptus plantations,Northern Nigeria

Soil properties associated with six age-grade plantations of Pinus oocarpa Schiede and Eucalyptus camaldulensis Dehnh., respectively, including nearby natural vegetation, were compared in the savannah zone of Nigeria. The soil organic matter, total nitrogen and exchangeable nutrients first show declining values with the increasing age of the plantation, then an increase and finally steady or declining values in the 0–15 cm soil depth. Usually the differences between the two youngest plantations and the oldest plantations, and the natural vegetation, were significant. In the 20–30 cm soil depth the properties showed a decrease or steady values over time, with the three oldest plantations showing significant differences from the natural vegetation. The soil pH showed an increased acidity over time. There was little difference in the soil properties between the two tree species. The implications of the results are discussed in relation to sustaining productivity and soil fertility. © 1998 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Extinction debt or habitat change? - Ongoing losses of woodland birds in north-eastern New South Wales, Australia

The loss, fragmentation and degradation of native vegetation are major causes of loss of biodiversity globally. Extinction debt is the term used to describe the ongoing loss of species from fragmented landscapes long after the original loss and fragmentation of habitat. However, losses may also result from habitat changes that are unrelated to fragmentation, which reduce breeding success and recruitment. Many woodland birds have declined in fragmented landscapes in Australia, probably due to loss of small, isolated populations, though the ecological processes are poorly understood. We record the progressive regional loss of two ground-foraging, woodland birds, the Brown Treecreeper Climacteris picumnus and Hooded Robin Melanodryas cucullata, in northern New South Wales, over 30 years. This has happened despite most habitat loss occurring over 100 years ago, suggesting the payment of an extinction debt. Our observations suggest that several ecological processes, caused by habitat loss, fragmentation or degradation, and operating over different time scales, have led to both species’ declines. Female Brown Treecreepers disperse poorly among vegetation remnants, leaving only males in isolated populations, which then go extinct. In contrast, Hooded Robins suffer high nest predation in fragmented landscapes, producing too few recruits to replace adult mortality. Foraging by both species may also be affected by regrowth of ground vegetation and shrubs. We found little support for a major role played by drought, climate change or aggressive Noisy Miners Manorina melanocephala. We propose that both extinction debt in the classical sense and ongoing habitat change frequently contribute to species’ decline in modified landscapes. Management to arrest and reverse such declines needs to consider these multiple causes of decline. For instance, reconnecting isolated populations may be inadequate alone, and activities such as appropriate grazing, fires and the addition of woody debris may also be required.     

Perceptions of land‐degradation,forest restoration and fire management: A case study from Malawi

Understanding local perceptions of degradation and attitudes to fire management are critical for gaining support for restoration work and improving livelihoods. Deforestation and annual burning are causing significant land degradation problems in the area around Bandawe, northern Malawi. We mapped evidence of soil erosion and remaining areas of woodland. Gully erosion was common and primarily associated with heavily utilised footpaths. Areas between gullies showed signs of significant soil movement. Remnant patches of native woodland existed but were small, degraded and isolated. We interviewed local households to understand local awareness and impacts of land‐degradation, its perceived cause and preferred methods for restoration. All households were aware of the presence of gullies and reported associated problems of flood damage. Most households believed erosion was a result of deforestation. Burning practices were seen to have exacerbated erosion problems. Changing fire management practice was not seen as realistic as it risked reducing the productivity of grasses and fires were perceived to be too difficult to control. Tree planting was the community's preferred approach to tackling erosion. Their focus was on planting exotic fruit and timber trees around houses and they often requested that such work be done by volunteers. Such attitudes may have been influenced by recent extension work and a desire to secure ownership of utilisable resource. Ecologists in the miombo zone should focus on improving fire management practices and involving communities in creating diverse secondary woodlands that provide a range of goods and services. Copyright © 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

基于GIS的生态脆弱区林地生态适宜性研究

为了探讨生态脆弱区林地生态适宜性评价机制,在对广西南丹县典型样地共41个作业区调查基础上,综合考虑与林地生态适宜性密切相关的地形地貌、土壤、植被等因素,利用ARCGIS分析方法对空间数据进行组织与计算,结合AHP方法研究各参评因子权重,并选择适当的隶属函数和模糊算法对南丹县林地生态适宜性进行模糊综合评判。结果表明：林地生态适宜性各等级比重排序为：III级（45.62%）＞IV级（27.84%）＞V级（17.61%）＞II级（8.93%）＞I级（0%）,整体隶属度值为3.5413,位于IV级水平;影响因子排序为：坡度＞石砾含量＞高程＞土层厚度＞郁闭度＞坡向＞灌木覆盖度＞草本覆盖度。同时,根据研究结果,分析了林地生态适宜性较差的主要原因及生态恢复重建的重点。     

Sage Grouse Groceries: Forb Response to Piñon-Juniper Treatments

Juniper and piñon coniferous woodlands have increased 2- to 10-fold in nine ecoregions spanning the Intermountain Region of the western United States. Control of piñon-juniper woodlands by mechanical treatments and prescribed fire are commonly applied to recover sagebrush steppe rangelands. Recently, the Sage Grouse Initiative has made conifer removal a major part of its program to reestablish sagebrush habitat for sage grouse (Centrocercus urophasianus) and other species. We analyzed data sets from previous and ongoing studies across the Great Basin characterizing cover response of perennial and annual forbs that are consumed by sage grouse to mechanical, prescribed fire, and low-disturbance fuel reduction treatments. There were 11 sites in western juniper (Juniperus occidentalis Hook.) woodlands, 3 sites in singleleaf piñon (Pinus monophylla Torr. & Frém.) and Utah juniper (Juniperus osteosperma [Torr.] Little), 2 sites in Utah juniper, and 2 sites in Utah juniper and Colorado piñon (Pinus edulis Engelm). Western juniper sites were located in mountain big sagebrush (A. tridentata ssp. vaseyana) steppe associations, and the other woodlands were located in Wyoming big sagebrush (A. tridentata ssp. wyomingensis) associations. Site potential appears to be a major determinant for increasing perennial forbs consumed by sage grouse following conifer control. The cover response of perennial forbs, whether increasing (1.5- to 6-fold) or exhibiting no change, was similar regardless of conifer treatment. Annual forbs favored by sage grouse benefitted most from prescribed fire treatments with smaller increases following mechanical and fuel reduction treatments. Though forb abundance may not consistently be enhanced, mechanical and fuel reduction conifer treatments remain good preventative measures, especially in phase 1 and 2 woodlands, which, at minimum, maintain forbs on the landscape. In addition, these two conifer control measures, in the short term, are superior to prescribed fire for maintaining the essential habitat characteristics of sagebrush steppe for sage grouse.