Tropical reptiles in pine forests: Assemblage responses to plantations and plantation management by burning

Worldwide, the land area devoted to timber plantations is expanding rapidly, especially in the tropics, where reptile diversity is high. The impacts of plantation forestry and its management on native species are poorly known, but are important, because plantation management goals often include protecting biodiversity. We examined the impact of pine (Pinus caribaea) plantations, and their management by fire, on the abundance and richness of reptiles, a significant proportion of the native biodiversity in tropical northern Australia, by (i) comparing abundance and diversity of reptiles among pine plantations (on land cleared specifically for plantation establishment), and two adjacent native forest types, eucalypt and Melaleuca woodlands, and (ii) comparing reptile abundance and richness in pine forest burnt one year prior to the study to remove understorey vegetation with pine forest burnt two years prior to the study. We also examined the influence of fire on reptile assemblages in native vegetation, by comparing eucalypt woodland burnt two years prior to the study and unburnt for eight years. To quantify mechanisms driving differences in reptile richness and abundance among forest types and management regimes, we measured forest structure, the temperatures used by reptiles (operative temperature) and solar radiation, at replicate sites in all forest types and management regimes. Compared to native forests, pine forests had taller trees, lower shrub cover in the understorey, more and deeper exotic litter (other than pine), and were cooler and shadier. Reptile assemblages in pine forests were as rich as those in native forests, but pine assemblages were composed mainly of species that typically use closed-canopy rainforest and prefer cooler, shadier habitats. Burning did not appear to influence the assemblage structure of reptiles in native forest, but burning under pine was associated with increased skink abundance and species richness. Burned pine was not warmer or sunnier than unburned pine, a common driver of reptile abundance, so the shift in lizard use after burning may have been driven by structural differences in understorey vegetation, especially amounts of non-native litter, which were reduced by burning. Thus, burning for management under pine increased the abundance and richness of lizard assemblages using pine. Pine plantations do not support the snake diversity common to sclerophyllous native forests, but pine may have the potential to complement rainforest lizard diversity if appropriately managed.     

A lack of large-diameter logs and snags characterises dead wood patterns in Irish forests

Dead wood is an important component of forest ecosystems and volumes vary depending on forest age, management intensity and productivity. This is the first large-scale study to quantify dead wood in Irish forests and to compare them to forests in other locations. We measured the volume and size distribution of logs, the density and size distribution of snags and the volume of dead wood contained in stumps in Oak (Quercus spp.) and Ash (Fraxinus excelsior) forests and in Sitka spruce (Picea sitchensis) plantations throughout Ireland. We also assigned each log, snag and stump to one of three decay classes (intact, part-rotted and well-rotted). We found no significant difference in log volume between any of the forest types. The majority (>90%) of logs were less than 20 cm in diameter, and large logs (>40 cm diameter) were scarce. We found a relatively high density of snags in all forest types but, as in the case of logs, over 90% of snags were <20 cm DBH and large snags (>40 cm DBH) were rare. The volume of dead wood contained in stumps was significantly higher in plantations than in Oak or Ash forests as a result of thinning and harvesting. Most logs and snags were moderately decayed but, in plantations, most stumps were intact. Log volume and the size of logs and snags were considerably lower than in old-growth forests in other regions. These patterns may reflect historical use of Irish forests for coppice and timber production. Management for biodiversity should aim to accelerate dead wood accumulation to increase the frequency of large-diameter logs and snags. Although management seeking to replicate the dead wood volumes of old-growth forests is ideal, it may be unrealistic in the short term.     

A reduced growth model based on stand basal area. A case for hybrid poplar plantations in northeast Spain

Whole-stand models normally require data on initial stand basal area and dominant height. Dominant height measurements are time-consuming and often imprecise, compromising subsequent predictions. Poplar plantations provide a special case where basal area correlates with site index; a whole-stand model could thus be based on stand basal area. We report a static model constructed by the generalized algebraic difference approach (GADA) for poplar plantations for three different hybrid poplars (Populus × euramericana (Dode) Guinier “I-214”, “MC”, and “Luisa Avanzo”) in northeast Spain. The transition function was based on current stand basal area and was fitted with data from 158 permanent plots ranging from 1- to 17-year-old plantations. Merchantable stand volume was estimated by a volume equation where height was predicted by a height–basal area relationship based on 458 temporary plots. The model differences between clones were compared using the nonlinear extra sum of squares method. Significant differences were detected, while Luisa Avanzo presented the highest merchantable volume at the end of the rotation. Errors in basal area predictions were below 20% within 6 years in the case of Luisa Avanzo and MC clones, and within 3 years in the case of I-214. Our research showed that satisfactory predictions can be obtained using GADA with a single transition function based on an easily measurable variable such as stand basal area.     

Does afforestation increase bird nest predation risk in surrounding farmland?

Afforestation of agricultural land is increasingly used to deliver environmental benefits, but their effects on biodiversity remain poorly understood. This paper tests the hypothesis that afforestation changes predation processes in surrounding farmland, examining how the characteristics and landscape context of forest plantations affect predator (birds and mammalian carnivores) and key prey (rabbits and hares) abundances, and bird nest predation rates in Iberian cereal-steppes. Lagomorphs and predators were surveyed in fallow fields around 50 forest plantations, where predation rates were estimated using artificial nests set at 0, 100, 200 and 300 m from the forest edge. Recent plantations structurally similar to sparse (oak) or dense (pine) shrublands were associated with the highest hare and rabbit abundances, respectively, whereas both species avoided landscapes with high eucalyptus cover. In contrast, mature eucalyptus plantations showed strong positive effects on typical nest predators such as corvids and carnivores. Open farmland fragmentation favoured the abundance of lagomorphs and carnivores. Despite these effects and the high predation rate on artificial nests (49%), there was neither evidence for increased predation near plantation edges nor higher predation in fields with more lagomorphs and predators. However, predation tended to increase with cover by young oak plantations and overall forest plantation cover, to decrease with eucalyptus cover at both the local and landscape scales, and to peak in landscapes with intermediate edge densities. These results suggest that afforestation may have strong effects on bird nest predation rates by changing landscape composition and configuration, rather than by inducing local increases in predator and prey populations. Nevertheless, increased abundances of generalist predators associated with forest plantations may still be considered of conservation concern, thus supporting the recommendation for strongly restricting afforestation in areas important for open grassland birds. Where this is unavoidable, monitoring should be undertaken to provide early signals for bird population declines associated with predator increases, eventually triggering conservation action such as predator exclusion or removal.     

中国主要人工林碳储量与固碳能力

根据全国第7次（2004-2008 年）和第8次（2009-2013 年）森林资源清查数据,采用IPCC法估算了我国9种主要人工林碳储量及碳密度变化规律和龄组特征,探讨了近年来主要造林树种的固碳能力。两次清查间隔期间,9种人工林平均碳密度增加了1.6 Mg·hm^-2,总碳储量增加了126.89 Tg,年平均增加25.38 Tg。杨树和桉树年固碳量较高,分别为10.21、9.96 Tg·a^-1,碳密度增加量分别为4.32、7.72 Mg·hm^-2。2009-2013年间9种人工林各龄组的碳密度为:幼龄林（8.82 Mg·hm^-2）<中龄林（24.01 Mg·hm^-2）<近熟林（29.37 Mg·hm^-2）<过熟林（30.89 Mg·hm^-2）<成熟林（35.67 Mg·hm^-2）。幼龄林和中龄林占主要人工林总面积的70.52%,具有较高的生长潜力和固碳潜力。研究结果可为我国人工林森林经营管理及碳汇功能评价提供参考。     

湘潭锰矿废弃地栾树人工林微量元素生物循环

对湘潭锰矿废弃地5年生栾树人工林内微量元素的含量、积累、空间分布和生物循环进行了研究。结果表明：土壤中各微量元素含量顺序为：Fe>Mn>Zn>Pb>Ni>Cu>Co>Cd,均低于对照地,但仍未低于湖南省背景值(Fe除外)。枯枝落叶层中,仅Mn和Co从半分解到已分解阶段向土壤中转移,其他元素在分解过程中都出现了不同程度的富集,各元素在不同阶段含量没有显著差异,在分解过程中,Mn元素含量最高且与Cu、Pb、Co、Ni、Cd均存在数量级差异。栾树各组分元素含量顺序为：叶>枝>细根>皮>粗根>大根>根头>干,各元素总含量顺序为：Mn>Fe>Zn>Pb> Cu>Cd>Ni>Co;林分微量元素总贮量为15.272kg/hm_-2,其中干和枝贮存量最高,占总贮存量的54.204%。各器官微量元素贮存量顺序为：枝>干>叶>皮>根头>大根>粗根>细根;林分微量元素吸收量为5.200kg/hm₂.a,存留量为2.504kg/hm₂.a,归还量2.751kg/hm₂.a,总利用系数为2.394,循环系数为3.138,周转期为11.203a。栾树对Mn的吸收能力最强,Fe、Ni的返还系数要高于吸收系数,所有元素的分解系数都高于返还系数。Fe、Mn的迁移系数要高于分解系数,Mn、Zn、Pb、Cd的富集系数要高于其他元素。     

哈尔滨城市人工林木本植物的多样性

采用样地网格调查方法与多样性指数分析方法,定量评价了哈尔滨城市人工林在维持木本植物多样性方面的作用,并通过分析林分更新层、演替层、主林层的多样性指数,探讨了城市人工林自然化过程及其近自然经营途径,以便为哈尔滨城市森林经营与生物多样性保护提供依据。结果表明:哈尔滨城市人工林经过40余年的发展,其林分由11～16种木本植物所组成,其中乔木6～9种,灌木4～7种,存在着明显的自然化过程;不同城市人工林类型在维持木本植物多样性作用方面存在着较大的差异性,其多样性指数(0.8282～2.3411)由高到低排序为兴安落叶松林>樟子松林>白桦林>黄檗林>水曲柳林>胡桃楸林;城市人工林木本多样性指数仅相当于相应区域天然次生林的47.0%(24.0%～67.8%),表明其自然化程度不如天然次生林强烈。同时指出,对城市人工林应采取近自然化的经营模式,即保持城市人工林的树种组成结构和垂直层次结构,以维持其生物多样性与自然演替过程。     

不同林龄红松人工林土壤养分及微量元素的变化规律

研究了不同林龄人工红松林土壤水解氮、有效磷、速效钾及微量元素变化规律。结果表明,不同林龄阶段红松人工林根际和非根际土壤水解氮、速效钾和有效磷质量分数均大于天然次生林;水解氮质量分数均表现出先降低后升高再降低的趋势,但总体上呈现随年龄增长而降低的趋势;与水解氮不同,速效钾和有效磷质量分数则表现出先升高再降低;红松人工林不同发育阶段根际土壤有效铜、有效铁、有效锌和有效锰的质量分数均大于红松人工林不同发育阶段非根际土壤的质量分数。综合各因素和已有研究结论,最终得出混交林这种经营方式更适合研究区域内红松的生长。     

渭北黄土区人工刺槐林生长与生物量效应

通过比较黄土区不同立地条件刺槐人工林各器官生长指标及126株解析木生物量实测资料,分析不同密度刺槐人工林的生长与生物量状况,揭示林分不同径级的密度变化特征,拟合单株生物量与胸径、树高的生长模型.结果表明:在撂荒地、坡耕地和荒坡地营造刺槐林后,随林龄的增长和密度的变化,单株总生物量均表现为平均树干占47.1％,树枝和根系分别占22.22％和25.41％,树叶和果实的比例最低,而且高密度林分内林木的树干生物量均小于低密度林分.同时,30年撂荒地造林密度为1 050株/hm2时,24 cm径级树干生物量占65.5％;35年坡耕地造林密度950株/hm2时,24 cm径级树干生物量占58.39％;30年荒坡地造林密度1 410株/hm2时,24 cm径级树干生物量占51.6％.另外,30年中小径级的树木占林分总密度的67.62％,35年中径级的树木占林分总密度的52.84％.从刺槐生长状况分析结果看,黄土区刺槐人工林的适宜密度为950 ～1 050株/hm2,并应对该区生长30～35年的中径级刺槐林进行合理间伐利用,方可获得较高的生物产量.     

桤木人工林细根与土壤养分含量季节动态变化

对桤木人工林细根、土壤养分含量的季节变化及其两者之间的关系进行了研究.结果表明:(1)桤木细根中大量元素N、Ca、K、Mg、P含量冬季高,春季最低;微量元素Fe、Mn、Zn、Cu、Pb、Ni、Cd含量冬季最低,春夏季较高.(2)土壤各层中大量元素N、Ca、K、Mg、P含量冬季最低,夏季最高;微量元素Mn、Zn含量在冬季最低,秋季最高;Fe、Ni、Pb、Cu、Cd含量在冬季最高,春秋较低.(3)细根和土壤中大量元素含量在冬季存在负相关关系,微量元素Fe、Ni、Cd含量在一年四季均存在显著负相关关系,Mn、Cu含量在春季、夏季和秋季存在负相关关系,Zn、Pb含量在春季、夏季和秋季存在正相关关系.