Benefits and ecological restoration implications of hanging grass fences in Mongolian desert steppe

Tumbleweeds participate in a common seasonal biological process in temperate grasslands,creating hanging grass fences during the grass-withering season that result in distinct ecological phenomena.In this study,we addressed the urgent need to understand and restore the degraded desert steppe in Central Mongolia,particularly considering the observed vegetation edge effects around hanging grass fences.Using field surveys conducted in 2019 and 2021 in the severely degraded desert steppe of Central Mongolia,we assessed vegetation parameters and soil physical and chemical properties influenced by hanging grass fences and identified the key environmental factors affecting vegetation changes.The results indicate that the edge effects of hanging grass fences led to changes in species distributions,resulting in significant differences in species composition between the desert steppe's interior and edge areas.Vegetation parameters and soil physical and chemical properties exhibited nonlinear responses to the edge effects of hanging grass fences,with changes in vegetation coverage,aboveground biomass,and soil sand content peaking at 26.5,16.5,and 6.5 m on the leeward side of hanging grass fences,respectively.In the absence of sand dune formation,the accumulation of soil organic carbon and available potassium were identified as crucial factors driving species composition and increasing vegetation coverage.Changes in species composition and plant density were primarily influenced by soil sand content,electrical conductivity,and sand accumulation thickness.These findings suggest that hanging grass fences have the potential to alter vegetation habitats,promote vegetation growth,and control soil erosion in the degraded desert steppe of Central Mongolia.Therefore,in the degraded desert steppe,the restoration potential of hanging grass fences during the enclosure process should be fully considered.

Spatial-Temporal Changes of Soil Organic Carbon During Vegetation Recovery at Ziwuling, China

To probe the processes and mechanisms of soil organic carbon (SOC) changes during forest recovery, a 150-yearchronosequence study on SOC was conducted for various vegetation succession stages at the Ziwuling area, in the centralpart of the Loess Plateau, China. Results showed that during the 150 years of local vegetation rehabilitation SOC increasedsignificantly (P < 0.05) over time in the initial period of 55-59 years, but slightly decreased afterwards. Average SOCdensities for the 0-100 cm layer of farmland, grassland, shrubland and forest were 4.46, 5.05, 9.95, and 7.49 kg C m-3,respectively. The decrease in SOC from 60 to 150 years of abandonment implied that the soil carbon pool was a sink forCO2 before the shrubland stage and became a source in the later period. This change resulted from the spatially variedcomposition and structure of the vegetation. Vegetation recovery had a maximum effect on the surface (0-20 cm) SOCpool. It. was concluded that vegetation recovery on the Loess Plateau could result in significantly increased sequestrationof atmospheric CO2 in soil and vegetation, which was ecologically important for mitigating the increase of atmosphericconcentration of CO2 and for ameliorating the local eco-environment.

Ecological species groups and interspecific association of vegetation in natural recovery process at Xiejiadian landslide after 2008 Wenchuan earthquake

Wenchuan earthquake on 12 May 2008 triggered numerous landslides, which disturbed vast areas of vegetation in northwest Sichuan. However, based on our primary field investigation at Xiejiadian landslide in July 2009, we found an obvious increase of the number of plant species and then we made a hypothesis that, after earthquake, vegetation at this landslide might recover by itself. In this paper, we conduct a newly field investigation at Xiejiadian landslide during November 2014 to verify this hypothesis. We investigated plant species composition at total 56 sites(trees 4, shrubs 16 and herbs 36, respectively), and calculated the Schluter's variance ratio, important values, x2 test, associationcoefficient, Ochiai index, Pearson's and Spearman's correlation coefficients, and Ecological species groups. Species sharply increased to 84 species belonging to 66 genera and 54 families, forming a complete life form containing trees, shrubs, herbs, and ground layers while only herbs detected in 2009. Moreover, an overall positive and moderately related interspecies association was detected for most of species pairs. Of total 84 species, twenty five were identified as dominant species and could be divided into four positive ecological species groups. This study verified our proposed hypothesis of self-recovery of vegetation in landslide triggered by the earthquake, and found Alnus cremastogyne, Rhus chinensis, Litsea cubeba, Vitis piasezkii and Anemone vitifolia would play a constructive role during the continuing succession of vegetation at Xiejiadian landslide.

Spatiotemporal changeof vegetationcoverage recovery and its driving factors in the Wenchuan earthquake-hit areas

Vegetation coverage recovery after the Wenchuan earthquake has important implications for preventing post-seismic geohazards and soil erosion.However,spatiotemporal changes in vegetation coverage recovery and its driving factors have not been sufficiently studied in the quake-hit areas.This paper aims to analyze vegetation coverage recovery and its driving factors in the quake-hit areas using monadic linear regression,coefficient of variation,and geographical detector.First,we used Moderate-resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer(MODIS)data to calculate the vegetation coverage from 2008 to 2018 in the quake-hit areas.Second,we assessed the trend and stability of vegetation recovery in the quake-hit areas based on vegetation coverage.Finally,combined with topography,climate,soil type,vegetation type,and human activities in the quake-hit areas,the driving factors affecting vegetation coverage recovery were analyzed.The results showed that the vegetation coverage level in the quake-hit areas recovered about 90%of that before the earthquake.Vegetation coverage recovery was mainly improved in a stepwise manner:increasing and then stabilizing,then increasing and stabilizing again.Elevation,soil type,and road density were the main factors affecting vegetation coverage recovery,and the interaction among all factors positively strengthened their impacts on vegetation coverage recovery.In addition,the results also revealed the categories that were conducive to vegetation coverage recovery among the same environmental factors and can provide a scientific reference for vegetation coverage recovery in the quake-hit areas.

Changes in vegetation and soil properties during recovery of a subtropical forest in South China

Secondary forests account for a large amount of subtropical forest due to persistent anthropogenic disturbance in China.The interaction between vegetation and soil during recovery process is rather complex and dependent on forest conditions.Understanding how vegetation and soil properties changes and how their relationship develops in secondary forests is key to effective forest restoration and management.Here we explored the patterns of vegetation and soil properties as well as their correlations during forest recovery process in a subtropical forest in south China.Plots of three forest types,i.e.,broadleaf-conifermixedforest,broadleaved forest and old growth stand,were established to represent the recovery stages.The results showed that diversity patterns in the tree,shrub and herb layers were different:in the tree layer the species diversity peaked at the intermediate stage,while in the understory layers it decreased chronologically.Most of the soil factors showed an increasing trend,and different effects of soil factors were found for the three layers as well as for the two spatial scales.Together,our results suggested that vegetation and soil might be interdependent during the recovery course.Further studies are needed on exploring how vegetation interplays with soil at different scales and how nutrient limitations affects the vegetation development in a chronosequence.

Effect of pre-and post-wildfire management practices on plant recovery after a wildfire in Northeast Iberian Peninsula

Fire and pre-or post-fire management practices shape the distribution and richness of plant species.Here,the effects of pre-and post-fire management on vegetation recovery were studied at different times,up to 18 months after a wildfire.Two months after a 2015 wildfire,18 study plots were established(three 4-m^2 plots for each treatment),vegetation regrowth was monitored and vegetal species richness(S),evenness(IT),density(D),diversity(H0)and maximum diversity(HMax)after 2,10 and 18 months.The treatments were(1)control,unaffected by 2015 wildfire;(2)no treatment(NT),burned in 2015 wildfire and not managed;(3)managed in 2005 and burned in 2015(M05B);(4)managed in 2015,2 months before wildfire(M15B);(5)cut and manual removal after the 2015 wildfire(CR);(6)cut and no trunk removal randomly deposited on topsoil after the 2015 wildfire(CL).All the treatments were carried out in a Pinus halepensis Miller forest.At 10 and 18 months after the wildfire,vegetation recovery was greater in NT,CR and CL plots than in M05B and M15B the plots.By 18 months after the wildfire,Brachypodium retusum(Pers.)P.Beauv.and Rosmarinus officinalis L.were still dominant,especially in M15B,corroborating the belief that pre-fire treatment reduced ecosystem resilience and vegetal recovery compared to the NT and post-fire managed plots.Richness was significantly lower 10 months after wildfire in control plots,and IT was significantly higher in that inventory than previously in M15B.Eighteen months after the wildfire,H0 was significantly lower in M15B.Ten months post-wildfire,HMax was significantly lower in the control plots.Eighteen months after the wildfire,HMax,was significantly higher in CR,CL and M05B than in the control and M15B plots.Overall,pre-fire management was detrimental to post-fire vegetation recovery,while manual post-fire management proved beneficial.

Vegetation recovery trends under dual dominance of climate change and anthropogenic factors in the severely damaged areas of the Wenchuan earthquake

The occurrence of the Wenchuan earthquake caused the degradation of regional ecosystems,including vegetation destruction.However,the post-seismic vegetation recovery and its driving forces on the spatial-temporal scale are still vague,especially in the severely damaged areas(including Wenchuan,Beichuan,Mianzhu,Shifang,Qingchuan,Maoxian,Anzhou,Dujiangyan,Pingwu and Pengzhou).Here,we detected vegetation recovery in the severely damaged areas by using Ensemble Empirical Mode Decomposition(EEMD)to analyze the time series characteristics of the Enhanced Vegetation Index(EVI),and explored the driving effects of climate,land use types,nighttime light,water system,slope,and clay content on vegetation recovery based on Geographically and Temporally Weighted Regression(GTWR)model.The results indicated that the post-seismic vegetation recovery rate increased rapidly(acceleration>0)but slowed down after 2013.And the areas of best vegetation recovery(EVI increments>0.1)were distributed in the north of the study area,the Minjiang River Basin,and front fault and central fault of the Longmenshan Fault Zone.While the areas with the worst vegetation recovery(EVI increments<-0.1)were concentrated in the southern high-altitude areas and the Chengdu Plain.Additionally,a process attribution of the driving forces of vegetation recovery indicated that accumulated precipitation and maximum temperature promoted vegetation recovery(regression coefficients>0),but the impacts weakened after the earthquake,possibly due to the increase of secondary disasters induced by precipitation and the rise in maximum temperature.The impact of cultivated land on vegetation recovery was mostly positive(regression coefficients>0),which may be related to the implementation of the Grain for Green Project.The nighttime light inhibited vegetation recovery(regression coefficients<0),which could be closely associated with urbanization.The results indicated that more attention should be paid to the nonlinear variations of post-earthquake vegetation recovery trends,and the effects of climatic and anthropogenic factors on vegetation recovery also should not be underestimated.

Forest succession trajectories after fi res in valleys and on slopes in the Greater Khingan Mountains,China

Accurate assessment of postfire vegetation recovery is important for forest management and the conservation of species diversity.Topography is an important factor aff ecting vegetation recovery but whether species composition varies with diff erent recovery stages and between valleys and slopes is unclear.Using fi eld data and a space-for-time substitution method,we quantifi ed species richness and diversity to obtain the successional trajectories of valleys and slopes.We surveyed the species of 10 burned areas from 1986 to 2010 in the Greater Khingan Mountains in northeastern China,and found that with increasing postfi re recovery time,species richness in both valleys and slopes gradually decreased.However,species richness in valleys was relatively higher.Shrubs recovered rapidly in the valleys,and species diversity maximized approximately 11 years after fi re.However,it maximized 17–18 years after fi re on the slopes.Numerous shade-tolerant species were present in the valleys 11 years after fi re but not until after 18 years on slopes.Larch appeared earlier than 11 years after fi re and its recovery was slow in the valleys but appeared quickly on slopes and established dominance early.Our study provides some new insights into vegetation succession after fi re at local scales.After fi re,the vegetation recovery processes diff er with topography and it aff ects the initial rate of recovery and species composition at diff erent successional stages.

Activity evolution of landslides and debris flows after the Wenchuan earthquake in the Qipan catchment,Southwest China

The Wenchuan earthquake that occurred on 12 May 2008 induced numerous landslides.Loose landslide materials were deposited on hillslopes,and deep channels were easily remobilized and transformed into debris flows by extreme rainstorms.Twelve years after the Wenchuan earthquake,debris flows were still active in the Qipangou Ravine in the quake-hit area.In this paper,we continuously tracked the spatiotemporal evolution of the landslides and vegetation restoration and evaluated the evolution of debris flow activity in the Qipan catchment with the aid of a GIS platform and field investigations from 2008 to 2019.We observed that the area with active landslides increased sharply immediately following the earthquake,and then decreased with time;however,the total area of landslides continued to increase from 6.93 km^(2)in 2008 to 10.55 km^(2)in 2019.The active landslides shifted towards lower angles and higher elevations after 2013.Since 2009,the vegetation coverage has been gradually increasing and approaching the coverage present before the earthquake as of 2019.The landslide activity was high and the vegetation recovery rates were rapidly rising during the first five years after the earthquake;the recovery rates then slowed over time.Therefore,we divided the evolution that occurred during the post landslide period into an active period(2008-2013),a self-adjustment period(2013-2026)and a stable period(after 2026).We then proposed a quantitative model to determine the trends of landslide activity rates and NDVI values in the catchment,which indicated that the landslide activities and postseismic vegetation restoration rates in this catchment will return to preseismic levels within approximately two decades.We also analysed the runout volumes of the debris flows after the earthquakes(Diexi and Wenchuan)and the standard deviation of the vegetation coverage and predicted that the debris flow activities will last for an additional 50 years or more.

Plant community composition and interspecific relationships among dominant species on a post-seismic landslide in Hongchun Gully, China

The 5.12 Earthquake in 2008 and 8.14 Debris Flow in 2010 resulted in large-scale landslides that disturbed vast areas of vegetation in the Hongchun Gully, Wenchuan County, China. To define the specific characteristics of vegetation restoration during natural recovery after catastrophic events,vegetation species composition and interspecific associations were investigated on this typical landslide. Field survey data selected from a total of 51 sample plots belonged to seven belt transects and were analysed by Schluter's variance ratio, pearson's chi-squared test, Spearman's correlation coefficients and ecological species groups. Plant communities on the landslide consisted of 78 species, 65 genera and52 families. Of the total of 78 species, 25 are identified as dominant species, among which Camptotheca acuminate, Toxicodendron vernicifluum, Coriaria nepalensis, Robinia pseudoacacia, Buddleja alternifolia, Anemone vitifolia and Nephrolepis auriculata play a constructive role during the natural afforestation. Moreover, according to environmental and ecological factors, these 25 dominant species could be divided into four ecological species groups.This study found that even though the landslide had frequently suffered from interference due to heavy rain, the vegetation succession processes are ongoing,and it is now at a shrub–herb community succession stage, which indicates that vegetation can naturally recover in the denuded sites. This study provides a useful insight into the ecological interactions and interdependence between plant species during the natural recovery of vegetation and provides valuable information on vegetation recovery modelling in the landslide area.

Effects of grazing on natural regeneration of tree and herb species of Kheyroud forest in northern Iran

We investigated the effects of grazing on natural regeneration, quantity, and diversity of woody species and dominant herb species in Kheyroud forest in northern Iran. We sampled vegetation in 5m2 plots in custom units, which are demarcated resource areas traditionally used by local livestock producers. The authors quantified number of species, height of seedlings, and diameter of seedlings. Height classes were 0-30 cm, 30-130 cm, and 〉130 cm, and diameter classes were 0-2.5 cm, 2.5-5 cm and 5-7.5 cm. The density of seedlings declined with distance from corral until reaching the custom unit boundary. Most seedlings had diameters of 0-2.5 cm and heights of 0-30 cm. Predominant species, Carpinus betulus and Acer capadocicum, were in plots near the centers of custom units, Fagus orientalis, Acer velutinum, Quercus castanifolia species were dominant in plots near the custom unit boundary. Plant species such as Oplismenus undulatifolius, Euphorbia amygdaloides, Rubusfrutieos and Pteridium aquilinum were dominant in plots nearer to forest corral. Healthy seedlings were more numerous in plots nearest the corral, while defective and deformed seedlings were more abundant away from the corral. We conclude that grazing had negative effects on the quantity and quality of vegetative regeneration. Continuation of overgrazing will not only endanger the sustainability of forest ecosystems, but also will increase the challenge of sustainable forest management.

Disturbance of plateau zokor-made mound stimulates plant community regeneration in the Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau, China

Mounds constructed by plateau zokors,which is widely distributed in alpine meadows significantly modified plant community structure.However,the variations of plant community structure under the disturbance of plateau zokor-made mound are less concerned.Therefore,we investigated the responses of plant community on zokor-made mound of different years(1 a and 3-4 a),and compared with undisturbed sites(no mound)in an alpine meadow in the eastern Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau(QTP),China.Species richness,coverage and Simpson diversity index were all significantly reduced by the presence of zokor-made mound,but plant heights were significantly increased,particularly in grasses and sedges.Several perennial forage species showed an increased importance value and niche breadth,including Koeleria macrantha,Elymus nutans and Poa pratensis.The effect of zokor-made mound on niche overlap showed that more intense interspecific competition produced a greater utilization of environmental resources.And this interspecific niche overlap was strengthened as succession progressed.The bare mound created by zokor burrowing activities provided a colonizing opportunity for non-dominant forage species,resulting in abundant plant species and plant diversity during the succession period.We concluded that presence of zokor-made mound was conducive to regeneration and vitality of plant community in alpine meadows,thus improving their resilience to anthropogenic stress.

Effect of grassland mosaic structure and dynamism on the reproductive habitat suitability for Alectoris graeca in central Apennines

Over the last several decades,the Mediterranean region has been subjected to mountain abandonment and farming cessation,leading to changes in vegetation and coenological features of grasslands,contextually to the strong decline of the rock partridge(Alectoris graeca).Our hypothesis was that the ongoing dynamic processes leading to the compositional changes of grasslands in central Apennines affect the habitat suitability for the singing male(territorial male defending its reproductive site).In 2015,we defined the presence/absence of spring territorial singing males in seven sites(1,250-2,400 m a.s.l.),by the census in 74 playback stations,distributed along 15 transects.We characterized the topography and the vegetation mosaic of such sites according to the collected topographic and vegetation cover data in 59 randomly selected plots(100 m×100 m)along the transects.To understand the relations among the environmental variables and the effect of the composition and dynamism of the vegetation mosaics on the presence/absence of the singing male,we used principal components analysis and generalized linear mixed-effect modelling.Our results emphasized the marked overlap between the general environmental conditions,which proved to define the habitat suitability for A.graeca,and the characteristics of the site chosen by the singing male for starting the reproductive activities.Moreover,we found that the site suitability for the singing male decreases when the vegetation recovery processes are ongoing,because of the spread of coarse tall grassesdominated communities and/or grassland types with dense turf.Tall grass-dominated communities and thick-turf grasslands exert their negative effect decreasing the habitat suitability for the singing male starting from low cover values.Therefore,it is conceivable that singing male’s suitable habitat will be dramatically restricted to the steepest south-facing slopes,where topographic and soil conditions do not allow the spread of grasslands with dense turf and of invasive/dominant tall grasses,increasing the threat to the species due to the effect of climate change on the vegetation features.

Ecology of the rehabilitation of vegetation on tropical coastal eroded land in Guangdong， China

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Changes in soil and vegetation on moving sand dunes after exclosure in Horqin Sandy Land, Northern China

In the semiarid Horqin Sandy Land of northern China, land desertification is the main causation in vegetation degradation and formation of moving dunes. A study was conducted from 1996 to 2005 to monitor the changes of vegetation characteristics and soil properties after moving dunes were fenced. The changes were compared between moving sand dunes with exclosure and without exclosure to evaluate the effectiveness of vegetation and soil restoration after exclosure establishment. The results show that exlosure establishment facilitated the colonization and development of plant species by ameliorating stressful environmental conditions. Species diversity, average coverage, and plant density significantly increased after exclosure of moving sand dunes along sequence compared with sand dunes without exclosure. Vegetation recovery on moving sand dunes accelerated by exclosure resulted in significant changes in soil properties including increased silt and clay contents, organic C and total N and decreased sand content, especially at the 0-5 cm depth. The results implied that moving sand dunes can be rapidly fixed by construction of exclosure.

Lichen-Spruce Woodland Early Indicators of Ecological Resilience Following Silvicultural Disturbances in Québec’s Closed-Crown Forest Zone

Lichen woodlands (LW) located in the closed-crown boreal forest are not a successional stage moving towards a closed black spruce feathermoss stand (FM), but an alternative stable state, due to their previous forest history, and the occurrence of LWs located nearby closed-crown FM stands. Therefore, afforestation in those LWs through site preparation and plantation could shift back LW into FM stands. We implemented an experimental design with different combinations of silvicultural treatments in both site types (LW, FM). We monitored the evolution of plant diversity and the physiology of three bio-indicators (Picea mariana, Kalmia angustifolia, Rhododendron groenlandicum) in different microsites created by the silvicultural treatments. The return to the initial composition was noticed only two years after treatments, especially in the LW stands, thus indicating a higher level of early ecosystem resilience in LWs compared to FM stands. Mean species cover, especially in the FM stands, decreased the most in the skid trails created by logging, probably due to a lack of acclimation of bryophytes to open stand conditions. Conversely, ericaceous shrubs and lichens found in the LWs were already acclimated to open stand conditions, which give to LWs a restructuring advantage compared to FM plant communities after silvicultural treatments. Overall, FM and LW short-term resilience was similar, indicating equally efficient ecosystem reorganization in both stands. The comparable early resilience in managed LW and FM stands, in terms of plant biodiversity, contradicts the presumed fragility of LW stands, especially in this case where LWs are assumed to be an alternative stable state created by compound disturbances. Silvicultural treatments maintained the functional group diversity in LWs, a key element for ecosystem resilience. Therefore, this study support the idea that plantation following site preparation in LWs could be a valuable management strategy to reach several objectives, such as increasing forest carbon sinks.

Effect of Hillslope Gradient on Vegetation Recovery on Abandoned Land of Shifting Cultivation in Hainan Island,South China

In the present study, we investigated the effect of hillslope gradient on vegetation recovery on abandoned land of shifting cultivation In Hainan Island, south China, by measuring community composition and structure of 25-year-old secondary forest fallows along a hillslope gradient （up-, middle-, and down-slope position）. A total of 49 733 free-standing woody plant stems higher than 10 cm and belonging to 170 species, 112 genera, and 57 families was found in the three l-hm2 investigation plots. Stem density was highest in the down-slope stand and lowest in the up-slope stand. Species richness and the Shannon-Wiener Index were both highest in the middle-slope stand, and lower In the down-slope and up-slope stands. The recovery forest fallows on different hiUslope positions were all dominated by a few species. The five most abundant species accounted for 70.1%, 58.8%, and 72.9% of total stem densities in stands in the up-, middle-, and down-slope positions, respectively. The five species with the greatest basal areas accounted for 74.5%, 84.3%, and 74.7% of total stem basal area for the up-, middle-, and down-slope positions, respectively. The number of low-density species （stem abundance less than five） Increased from the up-slope position downward. Of the nine local common species among three different functional groups, the short-lived pioneer species dominated the up-slope position, but long-lived pioneer species dominated the middle- and down-slope positions. The climax species of primary tropical lowland rain forest was found in the downslope position. Both the mean diameter at breast height （DBH） and mean height of the trees Increased with decreasing hillslope gradient. The stem density and basal area in different size classes were significantly different in stands In different slope positions. Our results indicated that the rate of secondary succession varies, even over small spatial scales caused by the hlllslope gradient, in early vegetation recovery.

Community Characteristics of Early Recovery Vegetation on Abandoned Lands of Shifting Cultivation in Bawangling of Hainan Island, South China

: Shifting cultivation is a major form of agricultural practice in most parts of tropical regions worldwide. In places where the bush fallow period is excessively shortened or the period of cultivation is extended for too long, the rate of vegetation recovery and biodiversity on abandoned lands of shifting cultivation would decline. The recovery of the secondary plant communities could even be inhibited for a prolonged period because of grass occupancy. Because of the vital significance of the early recovery communities to secondary succession, we studied the community characteristics of early recovery vegetation on abandoned lands of shifting cultivation in Bawangling of Hainan Island. Measurements were made of the community composition and structure of early recovery vegetation. The sprouting abilities of different functional groups and different species in the same functional group, and the effect of the grass functional group on the composition and quantitative characteristics of tree and shrub functional groups were analyzed. Results indicated that only a few families, genera, or species apparently dominated in the early recovery vegetation on the abandoned lands of shifting cultivation and that deciduous species occurred with a rather high percentage in this early recovery community compared with the natural secondary or old growth forests. Small-sized individuals dominated the woody community. The abundance and basal area of sprouting stems for species in the tree functional group were greater than those of seeder stems, whereas the abundance and basal area of resprouters and seeders for species in the shrub functional group did not differ. The total abundance of stems for the community, stem abundances for species in tree or shrub functional groups, and for seeder or resprouter stems were all negatively correlated with coverage of the grass functional group. The mean sprouting ability in the tree functional group was greater than in the shrub functional group. The sprouting ability for different species in the same functional group was also significantly different.

Monitoring the spatio-temporal dynamics of swidden agriculture and fallow vegetation recovery using Landsat imagery in northern Laos

Swidden agriculture is an age-old, widespread but controversial farming practice in Montane Mainland Southeast Asia （MMSEA）. In the uplands of northern Laos, swidden ag- riculture has remained a predominant human-dominated land-use type for centuries. However swidden system has undergone dramatic transformations since the mid-1990s. Debates on changes in swidden cultivation are linked to globally critical issues, such as land use/cover changes （LUCC）, biodiversity loss and environmental degradation. Since the implementation of Reducing Emissions from Deforestation and Forest Degradation （REDD）, much attention has been paid nationally and internationally to swidden agriculture in the tropics. However, knowledge of the explicitly spatial characteristics of swidden agriculture and the conse- quences of these transitions at macroscopic scale is surprisingly scarce. In this study, the intensity of swidden use and fallow forest recovery in northern Laos in 1990, 2002, and 2011 were delineated by means of Landsat Thematic Mapper （TM） and Enhanced Thematic Mapper plus （ETM＋） imagery （30 m） using a decision tree classification approach, followed by an analysis of the spatio-temporal changes in swidden agriculture. Next, annual successive TM/ETM＋ images during 2000-2010 were used to delineate the dynamics of the burning and cropping phase. Subsequently, the burned pixels identified in 2000 were compared respectively with their counterparts in the following years （2001-2011） to investigate temporal trends, land-use frequency, and the swidden cycle using time-series Landsat-based Normalized Difference Vegetation Index （NDVI） data. Finally, as the swidden cycle changed from 1 to 11 years, the fallow vegetation recovery process was studied. The results showed that： （1） from 1990 to 2011, the area of swidden agriculture increased by 54.98%, from 1.54× 10^5 ha to 2.38×10^5 ha in northern Laos. The increased swidden cultivation area was mainly distributed in Luang Prabang and southern Bokeo, whereas the decreased parts were mainly found in Phongsali; （2） swidden agriculture increased mainly at elevations of 500-800 m, 300-500 m, and 800-1000 m and on slopes of 10°-20° and 200-30°. Over 80% of swidden fields were transformed from forests; （3） during 2000-2011, the frequency of swidden use in northern Laos was about two or three times. The interval between two successive utilization of a swidden ranged from one to seven years. Comparison of swidden cycles and the related proportions of swidden farming in 2000, 2003, and 2007 revealed that swidden cycles in most areas were shortened; and （4） there was a significant correlation （0.97） between fallow vegetation recovery and the swidden cycle. The NDVI of regenerated vegetation could approach the average level of forest when the swidden cycle reached 10 years.