Effect of thinning intensity on the carbon sequestration of natural mixed coniferous and broadleaf forests in Xiaoxing'an Mountains, China

To study the effect of thinning intensity on the carbon sequestration by natural mixed coniferous and broad-leaf forests in Xiaoxing’an Mountains,China,we established six 100 m×100 m experimental plots in Dongfanghong For-est that varied in thinning intensity:plot A(10%),B(15%),C(20%),D(25%),E(30%),F(35%),and the control sample area(0%).A principal component analysis was performed using 50 different variables,including species diversity,soil fertility,litter characteristics,canopy structure param-eters,and seedling regeneration parameters.The effects of thinning intensity on carbon sequestration were strongest in plot E(0.75),followed by D(0.63),F(0.50),C(0.48),B(0.22),A(0.11),and the control(0.06).The composite score of plot E was the highest,indicating that the carbon sequestration effect was strongest at a thinning intensity of 30%.These findings provide useful insights that could aid the management of natural mixed coniferous and broadleaf forests in Xiaoxing’an Mountains,China.This information has implications for future studies of these forests,and the methods used could aid future ecological assessments of the natural forests in Xiaoxing’an Mountains,China.

Effect of thinning intensity on understory herbaceous diversity and biomass in mixed coniferous and broad-leaved forests of Changbai Mountain

Background:Herbs are an important part of the forest ecosystem,and their diversity and biomass can reflect the restoration of vegetation after forest thinning disturbances.Based on the near-mature secondary coniferous and broad-leaved mixed forest in Jilin Province Forestry Experimental Zone,this study analyzed seasonal changes of species diversity and biomass of the understory herb layer after different intensities of thinning.Results:The results showed that although the composition of herbaceous species and the ranking of importance values were affected by thinning intensity,they were mainly determined by seasonal changes.Across the entire growing season,the species with the highest importance values in thinning treatments included Carex pilosa,Aegopodium alpestre,Meehania urticifolia,and Filipendula palmata,which dominated the herb layer of the coniferous and broad-leaved mixed forest.The number of species,Margalef index,Shannon-Wiener index and Simpson index all had their highest values in May,and gradually decreased with months.Pielou index was roughly inverted“N”throughout the growing season.Thinning did not increase the species diversity.Thinning can promote the total biomass,above-and below-ground biomass.The number of plants per unit area and coverage were related to the total biomass,above-and below-ground biomass.The average height had a significantly positive correlation with herb biomass in May but not in July.However,it exerted a significantly negative correlation with herb biomass in September.The biomass in the same month increased with increasing thinning intensity.Total herb biomass,above-and below-ground biomass showed positive correlations with Shannon-Winner index,Simpson index and Pielou evenness index in May.Conclusions:Thinning mainly changed the light environment in the forest,which would improve the plant diversity and biomass of herb layer in a short time.And different thinning intensity had different effects on the diversity of understory herb layer.The findings provide theoretical basis and reference for reasonable thinning and tending in coniferous and broad-leaved mixed forests.

Role of urban remnant evergreen broad-leaved forests on natural restoration of artificial forests in Chongqing metropolis

The effects of urban remnant natural evergreen broad-leaved forest (EBLF) on the restoration of artificial pine forests surrounding it were studied with reference to species composition,biodiversity,dominant species and stand structure on Mt. Tieshanping in Chongqing metropolis,Southwest China. The seeds from the remnant EBLF naturally facilitate the restoration process of artificial Pinus massoniana forests near it. The similarity of species composition between the artificial Pinus massoniana forests and the remnant EBLF and biodiversity index of the artificial Pinus massoniana forests decrease as the distance from the remnant EBLF increases. Castanopsis carlesii var. spinusa is the dominant species in the ground vegetation,shrub layer and sub-tree layer of the Pinus massoniana forests near the remnant EBLF. However,the natural restoration processes of those farther away from the remnant EBLF are restricted for the absence of seed source of the inherent components of the remnant EBLF,and the anthropogenic measures should be taken to facilitate the restoration process.

Responses of soil Collembolans to vegetation restoration in temperate coniferous and broad-leaved mixed forests

A total of 900 soil samples were collected from five habitats,including primary coniferous broad-leaved mixed forests,secondary coniferous broad-leaved mixed forests,secondary broad-leaved forests,secondary shrub forests,and cutover lands in spring,summer,and autumn to quantify responses of soil Collembolans(springtails)to the restoration of vegetation of temperate coniferous and broad-leaved mixed forests.The results reveal that the taxonomic composition of Collembolans varied in the different stages of vegetation restoration.Seasonal variations were in regard to their abundance and richness.High similarities existed in Collembola communities at different stages of vegetation restoration,and distribution patterns of Collembola taxa displayed an evenness throughout all habitats.Soil Collembolans tended to gather on litter layers and soil surface;the highest abundance was found in the upper 5 cm soil layer during the initial stages of vegetation recovery.Tomocerus,Proisotoma,and Folsomia genera responded positively to the restoration of vegetation.However,responses of Ceratophysella and Parisotoma genera were negative.In addition,the Onychiuridae family did not respond to the vegetation restoration process.It was concluded that restoration of vegetative cover can increase the abundance of soil Collembolans,but different genera respond differently.

A novel model to evaluate spatial structure in thinned conifer-broadleaved mixed natural forests

In order to ensure the effective analysis and reconstruction of forests,it is key to ensure the quantitative description of their spatial structure.In this paper,a distance model for the optimal stand spatial structure based on weighted Voronoi diagrams is proposed.In particular,we provide a novel methodological model for the comprehensive evaluation of the spatial structure of forest stands in natural mixed conifer-broadleaved forests and the formulation of management decision plans.The applicability of the rank evaluation and the optimal solution distance model are compared and assessed for different standard sample plots of natural mixed conifer-broadleaved forests.The effect of crown width on the spatial structure unit of the trees is observed to be higher than that of the diameter at breast height.Moreover,the influence of crown length is greater than that of tree height.There are nine possible spatial structure units determined by the weighted Voronoi diagram for the number of neighboring trees in the central tree,with an average intersection of neighboring crowns reaching 80%.The rank rating of natural forest sample plots is correlated with the optimal solution distance model,and their results are generally consistent for natural forests.However,the rank rating is not able to provide a quantitative assessment.The optimal solution distance model is observed to be more comprehensive than traditional methods for the evaluation of the spatial structure of forest stands.It can effectively reflect the trends in realistic stand spatial structure factors close to or far from the ideal structure point,and accurately assesses the forest spatial structure.The proposed optimal solution distance model improves the integrated evaluation of the spatial structure of forest stands and provides solid theoretical and technical support for sustainable forest management.

Soil carbon dioxide fluxes of a typical broad-leaved/Korean pine mixed forest in Changbai Mountain, China

The forest ecosystem plays an important role in the global carbon cycling. A study was conducted to evaluate soil CO2 flux and its seasonal and diurnal variation with the air and soil temperatures by using static closed chamber technique in a typical broad-leaved/Korean pine mixed forest area on the northern slope of Changbai Mountain, Jilin Province, China. The experiment was carried out through the day and night in the growing season (from June to September) in situ and sample gas was analyzed by a gas chromatograph. Results showed that the forest floor was a large net source of carbon, and soil CO2 fluxes had an obvi-ous law of seasonal and diel variation. The soil CO2 flux of broad-leaved/Korean pine mixed forest was in the range of 0.302.42 mmol穖-2穝-1 with the mean value of 0.98 mmol穖-2穝-1. An examination on the seasonal pattern of soil CO2 emission suggested that the variability in soil CO2 flux could be correlated with variations in soil temperature, and the maximum of mean CO2 flux occurred in July ((1.27±23%) mmol穖-2穝-1) and the minimum was in September ((0.50±28%) mmol穖-2穝-1). The fluctuations in diel soil CO2 flux were also correlated with changes in soil temperature; however, there existed a factor for a time lag. Soil CO2 flux from the forest floor was strongly related to soil temperature and had the highest correlation with temperature at 6-cm depth of soil. Q10 values based on air temperature and soil temperature of different soil depths were at the ranges of 2.09–3.40.

Microbial biomass in subtropical forest soils： effect of conversion of natural secondary broad-leaved forest to Cunninghamia lanceolata plantation

Conversion of natural secondary broad-leaved forest to Cunninghamia lanceolata plantation is a common management practice in subtropical China. In this study, we compared soil physico-chemical properties, microbial biomass in one natural secondary broad-leaved forest and two C. lanceolata plantation sites to estimate the effects of forest conversion on soil microbial biomass at the Huitong Experimental Station of Forestry Ecology, Chinese Academy of Sciences. Concentrations of soil organic carbon, total nitrogen, NH4^＋-N and microbial biomass carbon and nitrogen were much lower under C. lanceolata plantations as compared to natural secondary broad-leaved forest. Soil microbial biomass C in the first and second rotation of C. lanceolata plantations was only 53%, 46% of that in natural secondary broad-leaved forest, and microbial biomass N was 97% and 79%, respectively. The contribution of microbial biomass C to soil organic C was also lower in the plantation sites. However, the contribution of microbial N to total nitrogen and NH4^＋-N was greater in the C. lanceolata plantation sites. Therefore, conversion of natural secondary broad-leaved forest to C. lanceolata plantation and continuous planting of C. lanceolata led to the decline in soil microbial biomass and the degradation of forest soil in subtropical China.

Dynamics of nitrogen nutrition of coexisting dominant trees in mixed broad-leaved/Korean pine forest

Chemical analysis of ammonium, nitrate and total nitrogen in tree leaves and roots and anin-vivo bioassay for nitrate reductase activity (NRA) were used to monitor the seasonal variations in nitrogen assimilation among four coexisting dominant tree species, includingPinus koraiensis, Tilia amurensis, Fraxinus mandshurica andAcer mono, in a virgin mixed broad-leaved/Korean pine (Pinus koraiensis) forest. The soil study included individual horizons of L+F (0–5 cm), Ah (5–11 cm) and Aw (11–25 cm). All four species had nitrate and ammonium in their roots and leaves, and also NRA in leaves. This indicated that these coexisting species were adapted to ammonium + nitrate nutrition. A negative correlation existed between nitrate use and ammonium use. Ammonium concentration was higher than that of nitrate in tree leaves and roots, and also in soils, which indicated climax woody species had a relative preference for ammonium nutrition. There was a positive relationship between tree nitrogen nutrition use and soil nitrogen nutrient supply. Utilization of ammonium and nitrate as well as the seasonal patterns differed significantly between the species. Peaks of ammonium, nitrate, NRA and total nitrogen in one species were therefore not necessarily synchronous with peaks in other species, and which indicated a species-specific seasonal use of nitrogen. The species-specific temporal differentiation in nitrogen use might reduce the competition between co-existing species and may be an important mechanism promoting stability of virgin mixed broad-leaved//Korean pine forest.

NITROGEN NUTRIENT MECHANISM IN SECONDARY SUCCESSION PROCESS OF THE MIXED BROAD-LEAVED/ KOREAN PINE (PINUS KORAIENSIS) FOREST

Chemical and biochemical analysis methods were used to monitor the vedations of nitrogen nutrient among the dominance trees species in secondary succession process of the mixed broad - leaved/Korean pine forest on Changbai Mountains, Northeast China. Amounts of total nitrogen, anunonium and NRA in soils of virgin broad-leaved/Korean pine forest which is in climax were higher than those of secondary birch forests those are in succession Stage. The amount of nitrate was in the other hand. In climax, dominance trees species are tolerant mesophytic trees such as Pinus Koraiensis, Tilia amurensis, Acer mono and also Fraxinus mandshurica, they are all ammonium + nitrate adapted species, but they show a preference for the anunonium rather than those of the pioneer trees species in secondary birch forest, such as Populus davidiava and Betula platyphylla. Because they have more ammonium in their leaves and roots, especially Pinus koraiensis. Populus davidvana and Betula plaaphlla are intolerant trees, amounts of nitrate and total nitrogen is higher in their leaves and roots and also NRA in their leaves, so they preference for the nitrate rather than the others.In secondary birch forest, the regeneration trees species adapt their nitroggn nutrient to the variation of nitrogen nutrient situation in soil, finally they could survival well and the secondary birch forest would succession to climax. In climax, dominance trees species adapt their Nitrogen nutrient to the situation in soil and there are not strong competition in nitrogen nutrient among them, so they can coexist well and keep the climax as stable vegetation.

Recovery of species diversity after disturbance of broad-leaved Korean pine mixed forest in Changbai Mountain

Recovery of species diversity after catastrophic disturbance was influenced by a few factors, such as intensity of disturbance, availability of propagules, and the environmental conditions, In this paper, we examined pattems of species development after nearly 60a succession in bumed broad-leaved Korean pine mixed forest on northem slope of ChangbaiMountain. We aasessed the recovery of plant species diversity in 3 types of forests under the contition with gradient of soil moisture. Results revealed that recovery of plant species (liversity varied greatly under different environmental conditions.Species richness of secondary forests greatly related to the site condition. Secondary birch forest on mesic site had the greatest number of plant species and the following was poplar-birch forest and larch-birch forest.Most of characteristic taxa couldbe found in birch forest after 60a succession. For larch-birch forest on hydra site, most of climax species were still not able to invade, so it had the lowest species diversity.

Long-term changes in radial growth of seven tree species in the mixed broadleaf-Korean pine forest in Northeast China:Are deciduous trees favored by climate change?

The role of the temperate mixed broadleaf-Korean pine forest(BKF)in global biogeochemical cycles will depend on how the tree species community responds to climate;however,species-specific responses and vulner-abilities of common trees in BKF to extreme climates are poorly understood.Here we used dendrochronological meth-ods to assess radial growth of seven main tree species(Pinus koraiensis,Picea jezoensis,Abies nephrolepis,Fraxinus mandshurica,Phellodendron amurense,Quercus mongolica,and Ulmus davidiana)in an old-growth BKF in response to climate changes in the Xiaoxing’an Mountains and to improve predictions of changes in the tree species compo-sition.Temperature in most months and winter precipita-tion significantly negatively affected growth of P.jezoensis and A.nephrolepis,but positively impacted growth of P.koraiensis and the broadleaf species,especially F.mandshu-rica and U.davidiana.Precipitation and relative humidity in June significantly positively impacted the growth of most tree species.The positive effect of the temperature during the previous non-growing season(PNG)on growth of F.mandshurica and Q.mongolica strengthened significantly with rapid warming around 1981,while the impact of PNG temperature on the growth of P.jezoensis and A.nephrolepis changed from significantly negative to weakly negative or positive at this time.The negative response of radial growth of P.jezoensis and A.nephrolepis to precipitation during the growing season gradually weakened,and the negative response to PNG precipitation was enhanced.Among the studied species,P.koraiensis was the most resistant to drought,and U.davidiana recovered the best after extreme drought.Ulmus davidiana,P.jezoensis and A.nephrolepis were more resistant to extreme cold than the other species.Climate warming generally exacerbated the opposite growth patterns of conifer(decline)and broadleaf(increase)spe-cies.Deciduous broadleaf tree species in the old-growth BKF probably will gradually become dominant as warming continues.Species-specific growth-climate relationships should be considered in future models of biogeochemical cycles and in forestry management practices.

Community Dynamics of Seed Rain in Mixed Evergreen Broad-leaved and Deciduous Forests in a Subtropical Mountain of Central China

Seed dispersal is a key process within community dynamics. The spatial and temporal variations of seed dispersal and the interspecific differences are crucial for understanding species coexistence and community dynamics. This might also hold for the mixed evergreen broadleaved and deciduous forests in the mountains of subtropical China, but until now little existing knowledge is available for this question. In 2001, we chose to monitor the seed rain process of our mixed evergreen broad-leaved and deciduous forest communities in Mount Dalaoling National Forest Park, Yichang, Hubei Province, China. The preliminary analyses show obvious variations in seed rain density, species compositions and timing of seed rain among four communities. The average seed rain densities of the four communities are 2.43 ± 5.15, 54.13 ±182.75, 10.05 ±19.30 and 24.91 ± 58.86 inds/m^2, respectively; about one tenth the values in other studies in subtropical forests of China. in each community, the seed production is dominated by a limited number of species, and the contributions from the others are generally minor. Fecundity of evergreen broadleaved tree species is weaker than deciduous species. The seed rain of four communities begins earlier than September, and stops before December, peaking from early September to late October. The beginning date, ending date and peak times of seed rain are extensively varied among the species, indicating different types of dispersal strategies. According to the existing data, the timing of seed rain is not determined by the climate conditions in the same period, while the density of seed rain may be affected by the disturbances of weather variations at a finer temporal resolution.

Meteorological control on CO_2 flux above broad-leaved Korean pine mixed forest in Changbai Mountains

The impacts of temperature, photosynthetic active radiation (PAR) and vapor pressure deficit (VPD) on CO2 flux above broad-leaved Korean pine mixed forest in the Changbai Mountains were studied based on eddy covariance and meteorological factors measurements.The results showed that, daytime CO2 flux was mainly controlled by PAR and they fit Michaelis-Menten equation. Meanwhile VPD also had an influence on the daytime flux. Drier air reduced the CO2 assimilation of the ecosystem, the drier the air, the more the reduction of the assimilation. And the forest was more sensitive to VPD in June than that in July and August. The respiration of the ecosystem was mainly controlled by soil temperature and they fit exponential equation. It was found that this relationship was also correlated with seasons; respiration from April to July was higher than that from August to November under the same temperature. Daily net carbon exchange of the ecosystem and the daily mean air temperature fit exponential equation. It was also found that seasonal trend of net carbon exchange was the result of comprehensive impacts of temperature and PAR and so on. These resulted in the biggest CO2 uptake in June and those in July and August were next. Annual carbon uptake of the forest ecosystem in 2003 was -184 gC. m-2.

CO_2 flux evaluation over the evergreen coniferous and broad-leaved mixed forest in Dinghushan, China

The Dinghushan flux observation site, as one of the four forest sites of ChinaFLUX, aims to acquire long-term measurements of CO2 flux over a typical southern subtropical evergreen coniferous and broad-leaved mixed forest ecosystem using the open path eddy covariance method. Based on two years of data from 2003 to 2004, the characteristics of temporal variation in CO2 flux and its response to environmental factors in the forest ecosystem are analyzed. Provided two-dimensional coordinate rotation, WPL correction and quality control, poor energy-balance and underestimation of ecosystem respiration during nighttime implied that there could be a CO2 leak during the nighttime at the site. Using daytime (PAR > 1.0μmol-1·m-2·s-1) flux data during windy conditions (u* > 0.2 m·s-1), monthly ecosystem respiration (Reco) was derived through the Michaelis-Menten equation modeling the relationship between net ecosystem CO2 exchange (NEE) and photosynthetically active radiation (PAR). Exponential function was employed to describe the relationship between Reco and soil temperature at 5 cm depth (Ts05), then Reco of both daytime and nighttime was calculated respectively by the function. The major results are: (i) Derived from the Michaelis-Menten equation, the apparent quantum yield (α) was 0.0027±0.0011 mgCO2·μmol-1 photons, and the maximum photosynthetic assimilation rate (Amax) was 1.102±0.288 mgCO2·m-2·s-1. Indistinctive seasonal variation of o or Amax was consistent with weak seasonal dynamics of leaf area index (LAI) in such a lower subtropical evergreen mixed forest. (ii) Monthly accumulated Reco was estimated as 95.3±21.1 gC·m-2 mon-1, accounting for about 68% of the gross primary product (GPP). Monthly accumulated NEE was estimated as -43.2±29.6 gC·m-2·mon-1. The forest ecosystem acted as carbon sink all year round without any seasonal carbon efflux period. Annual NEE of 2003 and 2004 was estimated as -563.0 and -441.2 gC·m-2·a-1 respectively, accounting for about 32% of GPP.

3种天然阔叶混交林林木物种和大小分化多样性与地形的耦合关系

依据2021年浙江省森林资源连续清查数据,选取969个幼龄林和中林龄天然阔叶混交林样地,并依据样地植被型将样地划分为常绿阔叶林、落叶阔叶林和常绿落叶阔叶3种植被类型,采用方差分析及Pearson分析地形与林木物种和大小分化多样性的关系。结果表明:1)3种植被类型间物种多样性指标间均呈显著差异(P<0.05),落叶阔叶林胸径变异系数和胸径均匀度显著高于常绿阔叶林(P<0.05),而常绿阔叶林胸径香农维纳指数显著高于落叶阔叶林和常绿落叶阔叶林(P<0.05);2)随海拔或坡度的升高,3种植被类型丰富度、香农维纳指数和辛普森多样性指数均显著升高(P<0.05),但落叶阔叶林和常绿落叶阔叶林Pielou均匀度指数无明显差异,坡向对林木物种多样性无明显影响;3)随海拔升高,3种植被类型胸径变异系数和胸径均匀度整体上均呈降低趋势,而胸径香农维纳指数则相反;由阳坡到阴坡,常绿阔叶林和常绿落叶阔叶林胸径均匀度指数整体上均呈升高趋势;随坡度增加,落叶阔叶林胸径变异系数和3种植被类型胸径均匀度均降低,而落叶阔叶林胸径香农维纳指数则相反。海拔和坡度对3种植被类型树种数量、胸径均匀度有明显影响,但对落叶阔叶林和常绿落叶阔叶林树种均匀度、常绿阔叶林胸径变异系数均无明显影响,而坡向主要影响常绿阔叶林和常绿落叶阔叶林胸径均匀度。

Long-term response of living forest biomass to extensive logging in subtropical China

Forest disturbance and recovery are critical ecosystem processes,but the temporal patterns of disturbance have not been studied in subtropical China.Using a tree-ring analysis approach,we studied post-logging above-ground(ABG)biomass recovery dynamics over a 26-year period in four plots with different degrees of logging disturbance.Before logging,the ABG biomass ranged from 291 to 309 t ha-1.Soon after logging,the plots in primary forest,secondary forest,mixed forest and singlespecies forest had lost 33,91,90 and 100%of their initial ABG biomass,respectively.Twenty-six years after logging,the plots had regained 147,62,80 and 92%of their original ABG biomass,respectively.Over the 26 years following logging,the mean CAI(Current annual increment)were 10.1,5.5,6.4 and 10.8 t ha^-1 a^-1 and the average MAI(Mean annual increment)8.7,2.5,5.6 and 7.8 t ha^-1 a^-1 for the four forest types,respectively.The results indicate that subtropical forests subjected to moderate logging or disturbances do not require intensive management and single-species plantings can rapidly restore the above-ground biomass to levels prior to heavy logging.

Review of Studies on Structural Features,Regeneration Features and Management of Natural Spruce-Fir Mixed Stand of Coniferous and Broadleaved Trees in China

Natural spruce-fir mixed stand is one of the main forest types in the world,and also has huge ecological,economic and social benefits.According to the structural characteristics and succession laws of natural spruce-fir forest,it is urgent and significant to develop scientific management measures for natural spruce-fir mixed stand in line with local conditions.The article outlined the characteristics of the distribution and structure, regeneration and succession laws of natural spruce-fir forest,and analyzed the current situation and existing problems of natural spruce-fir forest management.The following recommendations were eventually made:1) In no cutting area,all logging activities should be banned.In a restricted cutting area,the cutting intensity should be generally controlled within 15%of the stock volume before cutting.On the commodity forest management area, the appropriate cutting intensity should be determined according to the volume per hectare,determine and classification management should be implemented in accordance with the characteristics of forest,to ensure the scientific selective cutting.2) Closure for afforestation,planting and repair planting should be adopted on vegetation-intensive land,sparse shrubs covered land and harvesting slash,in order to accelerate natural regeneration.3) The in situ conservation should be conducted in nature reserves and scientific experiment stations of rare and endangered species,such as Abies chensiensis,Picea neoveitchii,Abies vuanbaoshanensis,to reduce human destruction.4) It is supposed to collect seeds in time,establish nursery,actively establish forest, expand artificial population and promote natural regeneration.

基于树冠重叠面积的天然混交林林木竞争指数

构建基于树冠重叠面积和林木混交关系的竞争指数,探究天然混交林林分及主要树种竞争的表达方法,并以甘肃省小陇山林区锐齿槲栎天然混交林为研究对象,采用胸径、树高、冠幅、距离等信息的2期调查数据,对新构建的基于树冠重叠面积的天然混交林林木竞争(CIM)指数进行验证,并选取Spearman系数,对CIM竞争指数和传统竞争指数进行相关性分析。结果表明,采用树冠投影重叠和考虑树高关系确定竞争木的方法能有效避免竞争木多选或漏选;CIM1、CIM2、CIM3能够表达出混交林竞争压力变化,表现出竞争压力越大林木蓄积生长量越小的趋势,将树种混交因子引入竞争指数能够提高蓄积生长量与竞争指数的相关性,更加客观的描述林分中竞争状况。竞争指数与蓄积生长量相关性由大到小排序为CIM2>CIM3>CIM1>Bella竞争指数(CIO)>简单竞争指数(CI)>CIO_(2)>CIO1,表明竞争指数CIM2对混交林竞争表达更具参考意义。林分中主要树种锐齿槲栎由于相邻木中同树种相邻木增加,导致竞争压力增大。天然混交林中树种组成复杂多样,林木分布不均匀,在竞争指数中引入树种混交因子能够较为真实的反映林木竞争状况。

基于机器学习算法的华中天然林土壤有机碳特征与关键影响因子

【目的】比较4种机器学习算法在模拟华中地区3种典型天然林土壤有机碳含量上的表现,筛选最优模型算法,明确影响该地区天然混交林土壤有机碳富集与空间分布的关键气候环境因子,为森林土壤有机碳分布格局研究提供技术参考。【方法】以华中地区3种典型天然林(常绿针叶混交林、落叶阔叶混交林和常绿阔叶混交林)为研究对象,引入4种机器学习算法(支持向量机、人工神经网络中的多层感知器、随机森林和分位数回归森林),模拟0~60 cm土层土壤有机碳含量,比较模型解释量及表现稳定性,筛选最优模型算法。【结果】4种机器学习算法均能成功模拟天然林0~60 cm土层土壤有机碳含量,多层感知器、随机森林、分位数回归森林模拟结果明显优于支持向量机,其中随机森林模型表现最稳定,决定系数最高达0.620。母质、土壤密度、孔隙度、地理位置、海拔、植被和水分亏损情况等共同影响华中地区天然林0~60 cm土层土壤有机碳含量,但显著影响表层(0~20 cm)、中层(20~40 cm)与深层(40~60 cm)土壤有机碳含量的因子并不一致且影响机制不同。在0~20 cm土层,显著影响因子最复杂,除土壤密度以外,土壤孔隙度、地形、植被和气候均产生显著影响(P<0.05);在20~40 cm土层,土壤密度和地理位置依然有显著影响(P<0.05),各因子影响呈现复杂性和过渡性;在40~60 cm土层,成土母质是最重要的影响因子,其次为土壤密度和水分亏损指数,植被的影响下降(P<0.05)。从地理分布上看,0~20 cm表层土壤有机碳含量东南高、西北低,中层和深层土壤有机碳含量表现为西部较高、东部稍低;海拔较高的南部山区土壤有机碳含量更高。蒸发强烈或供给森林的水分不足会限制各层土壤有机碳富集。森林土壤有机碳含量随土层加深显著下降,常绿针叶混交林土壤有机碳含量在各土层均最高,落叶阔叶混交林居中,常绿阔叶混交林最低。【结论】华中地区天然林土壤有机碳含量分布呈现明显差异,常绿针叶混交林土壤有机碳贡献最大,成土母质和土壤物理属性对土壤有机碳富集与分布起决定性作用;适宜天然林生长的地理立地条件和气候环境,共同造就该地区天然林土壤有机碳富集。在营林和管理时可加大本地树种混交比重,提升森林土壤碳汇功能。

杉木人工林套种不同树种对林分生长和植物多样性的影响

研究杉木林间伐后,于林下套种香梓楠、华盖木、红豆杉、缅茄4种树种,对比未套种杉木纯林,分析套种后林分的生长状况和植物多样性,为杉木人工林近自然改造与可持续经营提供参考依据。结果表明:香梓楠、华盖木、红豆杉与杉木形成异龄复层混交林,香梓楠胸径、树高生长量及保存率最高,分别达到10.5 cm、9.8 m、82.22%,显著高于其他树种;缅茄胸径、树高生长量及保存率最低,分别为2.4 cm、1.7 m、15.66%。套种缅茄、香梓楠、华盖木对杉木胸径有促进作用,套种缅茄后杉木树高显著提高。5种杉木林分林下植被中共出现33科52属60种植物,草本层出现植物15科25属27种,以禾本科和菊科植物为主;灌木层出现植物18科27属33种,以大戟科、茜草科和桑科植物为主;4种杉木混交林林下出现植物比杉木纯林增加24种。杉木×香梓楠、杉木×华盖木林下植物多样性比杉木×缅茄和杉木纯林显著提高。综合杉木间伐后套种不同树种表现,套种香梓楠对林分生长和植物多样性更具优势,可作为今后杉木近自然改造的参考模式。