Dominance-caused differences in transpiration of trees in a Karst broadleaved mixed forest

Estimating stand transpiration of natural forests using traditional methods through up-scaling of sap fl ux density from sample trees based on stand sapwood area only is diffi cult because of the complexity of species,ages,and hierarchical structure of natural forests.To improve stand transpiration estimation,we developed an up-scaling method by considering the tree dominance eff ect based on the assumption that individual tree transpiration is aff ected by crown dominance and species,in addition to factors previously considered such as meteorological conditions,sapwood area,and soil moisture.In this study,the meteorological factors,soil moisture,and sap fl ux density of 15 sample trees of diff erent species and dominance in a natural evergreen and deciduous broadleaved mixed forest were simultaneously monitored from March 2012 to February 2014 in the Karst mountain region in southwestern China.After establishing a single tree transpiration model which considers the eff ects of dominance and species,an up-scaling method was explored to estimate stand transpiration.The results show that the transpiration intensity increased exponentially with increasing tree dominance.The contribution to annual stand transpiration from a few dominant trees(5.4%of trees, 28.2% of basal area) was up to 65.0%. The correspondingcontribution was 16.2% from sub-dominant trees(7.6% of trees, 16.2% of basal area) and 22.8% from middleandlower-layer trees (87.0% of trees, 55.6% of basal area).The variation of individual tree transpiration was mainly(97.9%) explained by tree dominance, but very weakly bytree species. The estimated annual stand transpiration was300.2 mm when using the newly developed method whichconsiders tree dominance, 52.5 mm (14.9%) lower than theestimation (352.7 mm) of traditional method which considersonly the sapwood area eff ect, and 8.5 mm (2.7%) lowerthan the estimation (308.6 mm) which considers the eff ectsof both species composition and sapwood area. The maintree characteristics aff ecting stand transpiration are tree size(sapwood area) and dominance. Consideration of tree dominancewill signifi cantly improve stand transpiration estimationand provide a more solid basis for guiding integratedforest-water management at stand scale.

Effect of slope position on leaf and fine root C,N and P stoichiometry and rhizosphere soil properties in Tectona grandis plantations

Little is known about C-N-P stoichiometries and content in teak(Tectona grandis)plantations in South China,which are mostly sited on hilly areas with lateritic soil,and the effect of slope position on the accumulation of these elements in trees and rhizosphere soils.Here we analyzed the C,N,P content and stoichiometry in leaves,fine roots and rhizosphere soils of trees on the upper and lower slopes of a 12-year-old teak plantation.The Kraft classification system of tree status was used to sample dominant,subdominant and mean trees at each slope position.The results showed that the C,N and P contents in leaves were higher than in fine roots and rhizosphere soils.The lowest C/N,C/P and N/P ratios were found in rhizosphere soils,and the C/N and C/P ratios in fine roots were higher than in leaves.Nutrient accumulation in leaves,fine roots and rhizosphere soils were significantly influenced by slope position and tree class with their interaction mainly showing a greater effect on rhizosphere soils.Leaf C content and C/N ratio,fine root C and P contents,and C/N and C/P ratios all increased distinctly with declining slope position.The contents of organic matter(SOM),ammonium(NH4+-N),nitrate-nitrogen(NO3--N)and available potassium(AK)in rhizosphere soils were mainly enriched on upper slopes,but exchange calcium(ECa),available phosphorus(AP),and pH were relatively lower.Variations in the C,N and P stoichiometries in trees were mainly attributed to the differences in rhizosphere soil properties.N and P contents showed significant positive linear relationships between leaf and rhizosphere soil,and C content negative linear correlation among leaves,fine roots and rhizosphere soils.Chemical properties of rhizosphere soils,particularly C/N and NH4+-N,had significant effects on the leaf nutrients in trees on the upper slope.Correspondingly,rhizosphere soil properties mainly influenced fine root nutrients on the lower slope,and soil AK was the major influencing factor.Overall,these results offer new insights for the sustainability and management of teak plantations in hilly areas.

On the Ratio Between 2-Domination and Total Outer-Independent Domination Numbers of Trees

A 2-dominating set of a graph G is a set D of vertices of G such that every vertex of V(G)\D has at least two neighbors in D.A total outer-independent dominating set of a graph G is a set D of vertices of G such that every vertex of G has a neighbor in D,and the set V(G)\D is independent.The 2-domination(total outer-independent domination,respectively)number of a graph G is the minimum cardinality of a 2-dominating(total outer-independent dominating,respectively)set of G.We investigate the ratio between2-domination and total outer-independent domination numbers of trees.