Dynamics of mediterranean pine forests reforested after fires

Forest fires are frequent under a Mediterranean climate and have shaped the landscape of the region but are currently altered by human action and climate change.Fires have historically conditioned the presence of pine forests,depending on severity and forest regeneration.Regeneration of Mediterranean pine forests is not always successful,and a transition to shrublands or stands of resprouting species can occur,even after reforestation.This study analyses vegetation changes in two Mediterranean pine forests after severe fires and both reforested.The pines had difficulty to regenerate,even despite post-fire reforestation.The problem is the difficulty of young seedlings to survive,possibly due to increased summer drought.Problems are greater in pine species at the limit of their ecological tolerance:Pinus pinea had a much better recovery success while P.sylvestris and P.nigra virtually disappeared.Pinus pinaster had intermediate results but recovery was generally poor.A transition has taken place in many burnt areas to scrubland or to thickets of the resprouting Quercus rotundifolia,although it is not possible to know whether they will evolve into forests or remain in a sub climatic state.Resprouting species may increase fire severity but facilitates post-fire colonisation.Post-fire recovery difficulties are closely linked to issues of natural regeneration.Fire could initiate the disappearance of pine forests,but even in the absence of fire they may disappear in the long-term due to the lack of regeneration.Action is needed to increase the resilience of these forests,ensuring natural regeneration,and incorporating resprouting species in the understorey.

Response of soil bacterial community to biochar application in a boreal pine forest

Boreal forests commonly suff er from nitrogen defi ciency due to low rate of nitrogen mineralization.Biochar may promote soil organic matter decomposition and accelerate nitrogen mineralization.In this study,Illumina NovaSeq sequencing combined with functional annotation of prokaryotic taxa(FAPROTAX)analysis was used to investigate the eff ect of biochar pyrolysis temperatures,the amount of applied biochar,and the period since the biochar application(2-and 3-year)on soil bacterial communities.The results show that biochar pyrolysis temperatures(500℃ and 650℃)and the amount of applied biochar(0.5 kg m^(−2)and 1.0 kg m^(−2))did not change soil properties.Nevertheless,the interaction of biochar pyrolysis temperature and the amount had signifi cant eff ects on bacterial species richness and evenness(P<0.05).The application of biochar produced at 500℃ had a lower abundance of Actinobacteria and Verrucomicrobia,while that produced at 650℃ had a higher abundance of Conexibacter and Phenylobacterium.When biochar produced at 650℃ was applied,applying 0.5 kg m^(−2)had a higher abundance of Cyanobacteria,Conexibacter,and Phenylobacterium than that of 1.0 kg m^(−2)(P<0.05).Functionally,the abundance of the aromatic compound degradation group increased with the extension of application time and increase of pyrolysis temperature.The time since application played an important role in the formation of soil bacterial communities and their functional structure.Long-term studies are necessary to understand the consequence of biochar on bacterial communities in boreal forests.

Response of ground beetles(Coleoptera:Carabidae)to forest gaps formed by a typhoon in a red pine forest at Gwangneung Forest,Republic of Korea

In Korea, damaging typhoons related to climate change have increased steadily since the 1990s. Red pine （Pinus densiflora） forests in Gwangneung Forest were greatly disturbed by typhoon Kompasu in 2010. A survey was carried out to clarify differences in ground beetle （Coleoptera： Carabidae） communities between forest gaps and undamaged forests. Ground beetles were sampled using pitfall traps from early May to late October 2011. Vegetation changes, litter layer, organic matter layer, and soil conditions were also measured. A total of 1035 ground beetles of 32 species were collected. Contrary to our expectation, species richness, abundance, and community structure of the ground beetles in forest gaps were similar to those in undamaged forests. Species richness and abundance of habitat type were also similar. However, species diversity and estimated species richness in forest gaps were significantly higher than in undamaged forests. These findings suggest that forest gaps formed by a typhoon did not lead to great change in ground beetle communities.

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.

A preliminary study on the characteristics of fogwater in the masson pine forest in Chongqing, China

The masson pine (Pinns massoniana Lamb.) forest of 2000 ha situated on Nanshan, the south bank of the Yangtze River near Chongqing, China. From 1982, some trees began to die. Since then, half of the trees have died and the whole forest is in danger. Prom November 1986 to January 1987, a study dealt with the characteristics of fogwater in that area was carried out, in order to explain the relationship between acid fog and masson pine decline. The results of our study showed that the acid fog might be responsible in part for the decline of the masson pine forest.

A succession and silviculture model for the broad-leaved Korean pine forests of Changbai Mountain Area

A succession and silviculture model (ZELIG.CBA) for broad-leaved Korean pine forest of Changbai Moutain Area was developed based on the framework of ZELIG model and characteristics of Broad-leaved Korean pine forests of Changbai area. ZELIG.CBA model consists four sub-models: growth model simulating annual increment of individual tree in forest, regeneration model simulating annual establishment of different tree species, mortality model simulating annual agerelated and stress-related morality; and silviculture model simulating the forest response to different silviculture scenario. The validation of the ZELIG.CBA showed that the accuracy of the model for the forest growth was more than 95%. The succession from clear cutting site simulating showed that the ZELIG.CBA model was stable for long term simulation. And selective cutting experiment showed that the optimal scenario for broad-leaved Korean pine forests was removal volume 30% combining with 30a rotation.

Simulation of the biomass dynamics of Masson pine forest under different management

TREE submodel affiliated with TREEDYN was used to simulate biomass dynamics of Masson pine （Pinus massoniana） forest under different managements （including thinning, clear cutting, combining thinning with clear cutting）. The purpose was to represent biomass dynamics involved in its development, which can provide scientific arguments for management of Masson pine forest. The results showed the scenario that 10% or 20% of biomass of the previous year was thinned every five years from 15 to 40 years made total biomass of pine forest increase slowly and it took more time to reach a mature community; If clear cutting and thinning were combined, the case C （clear cutting at 20 years of forest age, thinning 50% of remaining biomass at 30 years of forest age, and thinning 50% of remaining biomass again at 40 years of forest age） was the best scenario which can accelerate speed of development of Masson pine forest and gained better economic values.

AGE STRUCTURE AND SPATIAL PATTERN OF OLD-GROWTH KOREAN PINE FOREST IN XIAOXING'ANLING MOUNTAIN

Spatial pattern of trees, basal stem increment and height were examined in a 5.0 ha mixed deciduous/ Pinus koraiensis forest from October in 1984 to May in 1987. Conclusions arc as following: 1. Analysis of the age-structure of the korcan pine forest shows that it is different from general steady-state forest type. The lack of saplings and individuals in small-diameter class clearly indicates that regeneration is not continuous. Continuous regeneration depends on thinning of the canopy to form a gap. Similar-aged korcan pine seedings grow in these gaps. 2. The horizontal structure of the korcan pine is a mosaic of more or less even-aged groups of trees. The mosaic is a result of korcan pine by regeneration strategy. The aggregations of korcan pine of different ages overlaps to form a continuous population generation. As a results, the population is maintained in steady state.

Guidelines for Managing Wildlife Habitats in Southwestern Ponderosa Pine Forests of the United States

Forest management practices, particularly timber harvesting activities, affect the habitats of a large numberof wildlde species found in southwestem ponderosa pine forests of the United States. Timber harvesting activities and othervegetative treatments offen change the relative abundances of food and cover. Wildlife habitats for some wildlife Species arebenefited, while the habitats for other wildlife species are detrimentally impacted. The guidelines presented in this papershould be helpful to foresters, wildlffe managers, and other interested in maintaining or increasing wildlife habitat qualitiesin the foreSt ecosystems inveStigated. While the wildlde species considered are indigenous to the southwestem ponderosapine fotests, many of the wildlde management principles implied in the guidelines are likely to have applications in otherecosystems throughout the world.

Species composition and minimum sampling area of a riparian mixed broadleaved-Korean pine forest in Changbai Mountain Nature Reserve

Riparian areas are unique although often small component of the overall watershed landscape. The structure of riparian forests along Erdaobai River on the north slope of Changbai Mountain were investigated by using field data collected from eight sampling transects perpendicular to the Erdaobai River channel. Two kinds of species-area saturation curves were used to examine the relationship between species number and minimum sampling area. The results showed that riparian gymnosperms accounted for a high proportion of all gymnosperms in the Changbai Mountain Nature Reserve while riparian ferns and angiosperms accounted for a relatively low proportion. The average minimum sampling areas of riparian forest that included 60%, 80%, and 90% of the community species pool were about 85, 185, and 328 m 2 , respectively; while those for nonriparian forest were about 275, 390, and 514 m 2 , correspondingly.

THE POSSIBILITY ANALYSIS OF NATURAL POPLAR-BIRCH FOREST RECOVERY TO BROAD-LEAF KOREAN PINE FOREST THROUGH THE METHOD OF LIFE TABLE IN THE XIOAXING'AN MOUNTAINS

The basic principle of life table method is deseribed, and the method of tree height instead of tree age in static life table is suggested, and it is also discussed that the possibility of natural poplar -birch forest recover to broad-leaf Korean pine forest on low pitches in the Xiaoxing'an Mountains by this method. If there is no particular situation, Korean pines after high than 5m under natural Poplar-birch forest will basically survive and make their way into dominant callopy accompanied by climax broad-leaf species.

Infl uence of fire on soil temperatures of pine forests of the middle taiga,central Siberia,Russia

Temperatures of sandy podzols of middle taiga pine forests with moss and lichen ground cover were analyzed which had been exposed to ground fires of low to medium intensity.In general,temperatures in lichen and moss plots of the pine forests under study,are close to each similar,but in the first year after a fire a noticeable contrast was observed.The reasons are an increase in the amplitude of daily temperatures on the soil surface and stronger heating of upper mineral layers.Temperatures in the mineral layer with depths up to 30 cm depend on the thickness of the forest fl oor.Analysis of the results show that the duration of postfire effects in pine forests with sandy podzols is determined by a number of factors:the intensity of the fire,the degree of erosion of the ground cover and litter,and the recovery rate of these components.

A Retrospect on Studies of Broadleaved/Korean Pine Forests

It is well--known that broadlcaved/Korean pine forests distribute in the areanear the broad seas in the cast Asia.TheStudy history or the forests is coincided withthat of its exploitation and destroying.

Suggestions on management measures of pine forest ecosystems invaded by Bursaphelenchus xylophilus

Pine wood nematode （PWN）, Bursaphelenchus xylophilus （Steiner et Buhrer） Nickle is an important invasive alien species in forests of China and has become one of the most destructive forest diseases. In order to improve the resistance and resilience of pine forest ecosystems against B. xylophilus invasion and make the pine forest ecosystem more timely responsive to PWN invasion, we made some recommendations based on five years of intensive observations. We advocate a set of management measures with the theme “Prevention is priority, but integrated with curative techniques and ecological resilience” on the pine forest ecosystem invaded by B. xylophilus; details of accurate measures are proposed. The aim is to discover the underlying problems of present pine forest ecosys-tems and to take, correspondingly, administrative measures and strategies, which will encourage the pine forest ecosystem to develop in a benign way.

Factors controlling N_2O and CH_4 fluxes in mixed broad-leaved/Korean pine forest of Changbai Mountain, China

Using the closed chamber technique, the in situ measurements of N2O and CH4 fluxes was conducted in a broad-leaved Korean pine mixed forest ecosystem in Changbai Mountain, China. from June 1994 to october 1995. The relationships between fluxes (N2O and CH4) and some major environmental factors (temperature, soil water content and soil availabIe nitrogen) were studied. A significant positive correlation between Nzo emission and air/soil temperature was observed, but no significant correIation was found between N2O emission and soil water content (SWC). This result showed that temperature was an important controlling factor of N2O flux. There was a significant correlation between CH4 uptake and SWC, but no significant correlation was found between CH4 uptake and temperature. This suggested SWC was an important factor controlling CH4 uptake. The very significant negative correlation between logarithmic N2O flux and soil nitrate concentration, significant negative correlation between CH4 flux and soil ammonium content were also found.

Conserving and restoring the Caicos pine forests: The first decade

The severe and rapid attack on the Caicos pine Pinus caribaea var. bahamensis(Pinaceae) by the nonnative invasive pine tortoise scale, Toumeyella parvicornis, has resulted in the death of most of the trees in the Turks and Caicos Islands(TCI) in just over a decade. Local and international conservation efforts have enabled the necessary multi-disciplinary research, data gathering, and monitoring to develop and implement a restoration strategy for this endemic tree from the Bahaman archipelago. The native plant nursery established on North Caicos and horticultural expertise acquired throughout the years were crucial to the successful rescue of Caicos pine saplings from the wild populations and cultivation of new saplings grown from locally sourced seeds. These saplings have been used to establish six Restoration Trial Plots on Pine Cay and a seed orchard on North Caicos in TCI. Core Conservation Areas(CCAs) for the Caicos pine forests have been identified and mapped. To date, forest within the Pine Cay CCA has been supplemented by planting more than 450 pine trees, which have survived at a high(>80%)rate.

Stone Pine Forests in Siberia

Stone pine forests in Siberia are unique for their origin, area dynamics, comprehensive productivity, and biospherical role. They are mainly mature forests for the most regions. The regeneration has two main tasks. (1) to organize the rational and ecological felling for the Siberian stone pine trees, (2) to increase young growth. In the past, the main aboof the forest management was wood production. The basic elements were mainly technical exploitability and felling ages, traditional cleaning cutting, and "continuous" artificial regeneration, which are not suitable for the Siberian Stone pine for-ests. New practices of the forest management and new theoretical principles have been developed by our Institute: including comprchenshe evaluation, selection and growth, and creating new felling technology. Qualitative evaluations of every Stand and every tree in the Siberian stone pine forests should be made.

The relationship of structure and regeneration of broad-leaved Korean pine forest on the north slope of Mt.Changbai

Studies were carried out on the spalial patterns of dominant species and gaps, and the influence of which on the regeneration in the broad-leaved Korean pine forest on the north slope of Mt. Changbai. The result showed that many deciduous tree species have high growth rates and become more competitive due to the more mild and humid climate at Mt.Changbai. No obvious aggregated distribution pattern was showed. In this forest small gaps are most frequent, with even distribution, which may be beneficial to survival and growth of Pinus koraiensis saplings.

SECONDARY SUCCESSION OF NATURAL KOREAN PINE FORESTS

The secondary succession of natural Korean pine(Pinus koraiensis ) forests in Fenglin Nature Reserv, located at northem section of south slope of Xiaoxing’an Mountains, Heilongjiang, wasinvestigated . The currat forest types are ropreseded by broadleaved mixed forests dominated bywhite birch (Betula platyphylla ) and broadleaved-coniferous mixed forest dominated by larch(Larix gmelini). The secondary forests developed after a fire in 1931. Studied results showed that conderousspecies and hardwod species could replace the pioneer species together and the secondary forestscould reach the climax community without passing the hard broadleaved Stage. As the pioneer speciesfor replacing Korean pine, the oak forest was faster, the following was white birch forest, and the lastwas lawh-white birch fotal. For replacing spruce, the white birch forest and larch-white birch foresthad best results and the following was poplar forest and oak forest. White birch forest and larch-whitebirch forest had best result in replacing fir forest.