Canopy gap characteristics and spatial patterns in a subtropical forest of South China after ice storm damage

The divergent gap characteristics and spatial patterns of canopy gaps created by natural or artificial disturbances can exert a dominant influence on forest structure and composition.However,little research has been conducted on the effects of ice storm damage on canopy gaps in subtropical mature forests of South China.In this study,one semi-natural site was dominated by a broad-leaf forest and two managed sites were representative of plantations with coniferous forests.Based on airborne laser scanning data and field evidence across sites,statistical analyses were used to examine gap characteristics following ice storms of moderate severity.Generalized Ripley’s K-function analysis was applied to test gap spatial patterns at a range of scales,and spatial point pattern analysis was used to quantitate the relative importance of specific influences on patterns of gap occurrence.The results revealed that the average gap size was 75.7 m^2 and that 12.2 gaps occurred per hectare.Most gaps were single-tree fall events.In addition to more gaps,the mean gap size was smaller and the shape was more complex in the semi-natural site than in two managed sites.Large differences in gap characteristics were observed among snapped,uprooted,snag,and artificial gap damage types.Gaps generally showed a clustered distribution at large scales(e.g.70 m),whereas spatial patterns varied with gap damage types at different sites.The occurrence of gaps was strongly related to slope and topographic position at the semi-natural site,whereas slope,stem density,and human accessibility(proximity to pathways)were the most important factors affecting gap occurrence at the managed sites.We suggest that gap-based silvicultural treatments and natural disturbances regimes conjoin,highlighting interactions with other factors such as microsite conditions,non-tree vegetation and more.

Spatiotemporal variation and correlation of soil enzyme activities and soil physicochemical properties in canopy gaps of the Tianshan Mountains,Northwest China

The study of the heterogeneity of soil enzyme activities at different sampling locations in canopy gaps will help understand the influence mechanism of canopy gaps on soil ecological processes.In this paper,we analyzed the spatiotemporal variation of soil enzyme activities and soil physicochemical properties at different sampling locations(closed canopy,expanded edge,canopy edge,gap center)in different sampling time(December,February,April,June,August,and October)on the northern slope of the Tianshan Mountains,Northwest China.The results showed that soil catalase,cellulase,sucrase,and acid phosphatase activities were relatively high from June to October and low from December to April,and most of soil enzyme activities were higher at closed canopy than at gap center.Soil urease activity was high during December-February.The soil temperature reached the highest value during June-August and was relatively high at gap center in October,December,and February.Soil water content was significantly higher in December and April than in other months.Soil bulk density was higher at gap center than at closed canopy in December.Soil pH and soil electrical conductivity in most months were higher at closed canopy than at gap center.Soil organic carbon,soil total nitrogen,and soil total phosphorus were generally higher at gap center than at closed canopy.Furthermore,sampling time played a leading role in the dynamic change of soil enzyme activity.The key factors affecting soil enzyme activity were soil temperature and soil water content,which were governed by canopy gaps.These results provide important support for further understanding the influence mechanism of forest ecosystem management and conservation on the Tianshan Mountains.

Disturbance history,species diversity,and structural complexity of a temperate deciduous forest

Stand structural complexity enhancement is an increasingly popular management objective,especially on public lands.Complex stand structures are hypothesized to support a relatively high degree of native forest diversity and be more resistant and resilient to disturbances.Complex structures are characterized by the presence of deadwood and heterogeneity of tree-size classes and tree architecture.Relatively little is known about how discrete disturbance events affect structural complexity and compositional diversity in Quercus-dominated stands at fine spatial scales(i.e.neighborhoods).We established 200.05 ha fixed-radius plots on the Sipsey Wilderness of William B.Bankhead National Forest in northern Alabama to quantify woody plant species composition and structure.Trees were mapped on each plot to quantify overstory structural complexity and compositional diversity.We extracted two cores from all canopy Quercus spp.C 5 cm diameter at breast height to quantify age,recruitment pulses,and reconstruct canopy disturbance history.Shannon species diversity in the sampled area was 1.75 for trees,2.08 for saplings,and 1.69 for seedlings.Quercus alba had the greatest basal area,and Ostrya virginiana had the highest density.The stand exhibited a reverse J-shaped distribution with a q-factor of 1.72.The oldest Quercus dated to 1795,and the largest recruitment pulse occurred in the 1870s.The mean return interval for intermediateseverity disturbance was 38 years.Although we documented no relationships between disturbance frequency and compositional diversity at the neighborhood scale(0.05 ha),less frequent disturbance was associated with higher structural complexity(r^2=0.258,p=0.026)at the neighborhood scale.We suggest that localized disturbance increases species diversity and structural complexity,but these processes are manifest at the stand level and not at the neighborhood scale.We conclude that the spatial variability(i.e.size,shape,orientation,microsite conditions)is likely more influential on diversity and complexity than the temporal variation(frequency)of these processes at the neighborhood scale.

Gap characteristics and their effects on regeneration,dominance and early growth of woody species

Aims We aim to examine the canopy gap characteristics and evaluate their influence on regeneration,dominance and the early growth of woody species in seasonally dry Shorea robusta forests(Sal forests).Methods Sixty canopy gaps were surveyed in six randomly located transects belts in seasonally dry subtropical Sal forests of central Nepal.Each transect belt was followed until 10 gap sites were encountered.The equation for the area of an ellipse was used to calculate the size of canopy gap,measuring the longest axis and its perpendicular shorter axis.Number,sizes,ages and causes of tree falls creating canopy gaps along with number and sizes of border trees were identified and recorded.Detailed gap inventories were carried out using square 25-m2 quadrats placed in the middle of each gap.All individuals>2 m in height within the quadrat were identified at the species level and their diameter at breast height was measured.We assigned a nested 4-m2 quadrat to the corner of each 25-m2 quadrat,within which all woody individuals>10 cm tall were identified at the species level,and counted them and their regeneration mechanisms were identified.The height and collar diameter of the tallest individuals were measured.Descriptive statistics was calculated for the variables of interests and Pearson correlation,linear regression,independent-sample t-test and chi-square test were used to relate them and to test for their associations.Important Findings The study found mean gap size of 283 m2 and;50%gaps of 10–15 years old.Gaps created by natural single-tree falls were significantly more numerous,and their mean size was significantly smaller than those resulting from artificial causes or multiple-tree falls.Gap size correlated with the basal area of felled trees,but it did not correlate with the number of tree falls.While tree fall basal area was significantly positively correlated to the seed-originated seedling to resprout ratio,it was negatively correlated,along with gap area and the basal size of retained trees,to seedling growth.The relative seedling density of Terminalia alata increased with increases in gap areas,while that of S.robusta decreased with increases in tree fall basal area,thereby lowering the plot-level dominance.However,the relative seedling densities of Eugenia operculata and Syzigium cumini were negatively and positively correlated,respectively,with tree fall basal area.

Sap flow for beech(Fagus sylvatica L.)in a natural and a managed forest—effect of spatial heterogeneity

Aims Beech(Fagus sylvatica L.)is an important species in natural and managed forests in Europe.This drought-sensitive species dominates even-aged stands as well more natural stands composed of a mixture of tree species,age and size classes.This study evaluates the extent that heterogeneity in spacing and tree diameter affect the seasonal availability and use of water.Methods Two stands were evaluated:(i)a heterogeneous forest remnant(NAT)with trees up to;300 years old,a mean top height of 28.4 m and a total of 733 stems ha
1with stem diameters averaging 18 cm and(ii)an even-aged 80-year old stand(MAN),with a height of 25 m,and a total of 283 stems ha
1 with diameters averaging 38 cm.Stem sap flow,Js(g m
2 s
1),was continuously measured in 12(MAN)and 13(NAT)trees using 20-mm long heat dissipation sensors.Individual tree measures of sap flow were correlated using non-linear statistical methods with air vapour pressure deficit(D,hPa)and global radiation(Rg,J m
2 day
1),along with constraints imposed by reductions in soil water content(SWC).SWC was measured as volumetric%using time domain reflectometry.Important Findings The daily integrated Js(Js-sum)for trees growing in the evenly spaced MAN stand and trees in canopy and closed forest positions in NAT stand decreased as the availability of soil moisture was reduced.In the heterogeneous NAT stand,SWC in a recently formed canopy gap remained high throughout the vegetation period.Based on regression models,the predicted relative decrease in Js-sum for dry relative to moist soil water conditions in the closed forest(at mean daily D=10 hPa)was 7–11%for trees near the gap and 39–42%for trees in the closed forest.In MAN,the reduction in Js-sum was 29%in dry relative to moist conditions.Js-sum in the outer 20 mm of the xylem in NAT was lower than that in MAN and the rate of decline in Js with xylem depth was less in NAT than in MAN.In MAN,Js-sum in deep and outer xylem was negatively affected at low soil moisture availability;in NAT,this was the case for only the outer xylem indicating that deep roots could be important in supplying water at times of low soil moisture in the upper soil.