Study on the Flora of Spermatophyte in Xinluhai Nature Reserve of Queer Mountain

Based on the field investigation, the flora of spermatophyte in Xinluhai Nature Reserve was analyzed. The results showed that there were 41 families, 99 genera and 164 species of seed plants. The top families distribution types were cosmopolitan and north temperate ones, while the main genera distribution types were north temperate and cosmopolitan ones, and the proportion of the temperate ones was higher than the tropic ones, which showed that the north temperate elements were dominant in floristic composition. In this area, the species were lack, and herbaceous plants had a distinct advantage, showing a characteristic of the vegetation.

Effectiveness of Nature Reserves for Natural Forests Protection in Tropical Hainan: a 20 Year Analysis

The establishment of nature reserves is a key approach for biodiversity conservation worldwide. However, there is a lack of unified methodology to evaluate the effectiveness of nature reserves, particularly in China, the world′s most populous nation supporting some of the most valuable biodiversity hotspots in the world. In this study, we conducted a long-term and large-scale analysis of the effectiveness of 20 of the earliest nature reserves established in Hainan Province, an island home to among the highest concentration of plants and animals in China. Remote sensing imagery from 1988, 1998, and 2008 were analyzed to investigate the temporal and spatial changes of natural forests in these nature reserves and surrounding areas. We also conducted transition matrix analysis and principle component analysis to identify the driving factors that affect the protection effectiveness of nature reserves. The results were as follows: 1) During the 20-year period from 1988 to 2008, natural forests coverage of the 20 studied nature reserves dropped 2.34 percentage points, whereas the natural forests coverage dropped 11.31 percentage points in a 0–5 km outside reserve buffer and 9.36 percentage points in a 5–10 km outside reserve buffer, indicating a significant inhibitory effect of the nature reserves on the loss of natural forests. 2) Natural forests coverage dropped in 60% of the studied nature reserves during the 20-year period, suggesting a poor protection effectiveness of these reserves, while the coverage proportion showed some increase(0%/yr–5%/yr) in other reserves. 3) Expansion of rubber and pulp forests as part of a booming economy were the main factors affecting the effectiveness of the nature reserves for conserving natural forests in Hainan Province. The results of this study provide an important empirical basis for the protection of natural forests in Hainan Province, which can be used as a blueprint for nature reserve evaluation in other places in China.

FLORA AND FAUNA IN QOMOLANGMA NATURE RESERVE

Situated at the southern end of the ancient northern pole of bio-geographic terrain,by combing the natural

Analysis of Forest Landscape Pattern in Nanling National Nature Reserve,Guangdong

[Objective] The study was to analyze the forest landscape in Nanling Na- tional Nature Reserve to provide information for the protection of local forest ecosys- tems. [Method] With the documents of 1：10 000 topographic maps, updated Forest Resource Inventory Data, based on the GIS platform and Fragstats software, the paper analyzed the patterns and heterogeneity of forest landscapes by adopting the landscape ecological theory and the method of landscape index. [Result] The forest landscape types, in terms of area occupation from large to small, are in the order of evergreen broad-leaved forest, coniferous mixed forest, evergreen and deciduous broad-leaved mixed forest, shrubs, mixed needle leaf forest, suitable land for forest deciduous broad-leaved forest and non-forest. [Conclusion] Overall, the Reserve had maintained sufficient forest landscape diversity with a low level fragmentation. The distribution of various types of forest landscape was extremely uneven, dominated by several types such as evergreen broad-leaved forest, coniferous forest, etc.

Community Characteristics and Species Diversity of Wetland Plants in the Yangguan Nature Reserve of Dunhuang

As a typical inland wetland, Yangguan nature reserve wetland in Dunhuang is one of the important stops of migratory route for birds, which is vulnerable and particular. Study on the community characteristics and species diversity of wetland has great signifi cance for biodiversity protection. Based on the fi eld investigation, the fl oristic composition, geographical elements and species diversity of wetland plants were studied in Yangguan reserve of Dunhuang. The results showed that 26 families, 56 genera and 74 species were recorded in the study area. The largest families were the Gramineae and Chenopodiaceae, accounting for 29.73% of the total. Herbs were the most abundant life-form, accounting for 77.03% of the total. The fl oral geographical elements of the plants were mainly composed of temperate zone distribution type. By using two way indicator species analysis(TWINSPAN), the vegetation in 36 sampling plots could be classifi ed into 8 communities. The species diversity indexes of communities were relatively low, but had large differences among each other. According to the importance value, the Margalef richness index(Rm) ranged from 0 to 4.200. Simpson diversity index(D) was between 0 and 0.512; Shannon diversity index(H) ranged from 0 to 1.400, and Pielou evenness index(J) was within the range of 0.538 to 1.000. The results indicated that the plant species were relatively rare and simple in general, the species diversity of communities was low, and the ecological environment was fragile in Yangguan nature reserve of Dunhuang.

Analysis of Landscape Pattern Changes and Driving Forces in Nanling National Nature Reserve

The spatial and temporal changes of landscape pattern and their driving forces in each functional zone of Nanling National Nature Reserve were analyzed based on the GIS and RS platform. The results showed that from 1988 to 2009, in respect of changes of Jandscape area, the main forest landscape accounted about 95% of the total area, of which evergreen broad-leaved forest had the largest area, accounting for more than 50% of the total area. The dominant landscape was coniferous forest. In respect of landscape fragmentation, the density index of land- scape in the whole area increased, and the degree of landscape fragmentation also increased. In the core area, the patch density decreased slightly, and the average patch area of each type of landscape increased; the degree of landscape fragmen- tation increased slightly. In the buffer area and the experimental area, the degree of landscape fragmentation increased. In terms of landscape diversity, the landscape pattern in the whole area became complex, and the diversity index of landscape in- creased and the degree of heterogeneity increased. In the core area, the diversity index of landscape increased slightly. In the buffer area, it increased significantly. In the experiment area, the diversity index reduced, and the degree of landscape het- erogeneity reduced. In the whole study area, the landscape tended to be diversified. The landscape pattern of the experimental area was consistent with that of the whole study area, and there was no obvious change in the buffer zone, while the landscape pattern in the core area developed towards the single direction.

Landscape influences and management countermeasures of ginseng planting near Changbai mountain nature reserve

Ginseng planting in Northeast China brings economic benefits but affects forest landscape integrity and native ecological processes.In order to quantify the impacts of ginseng planting on the forest landscape,Fusong County in Jilin Province was selected as a study area.The number and distribution of ginseng fields over different time was quantified based on remote sensing and ground surveys.Grid analysis and multiple regression analysis were used to study the impacts of ginseng planting on the landscape.The results showed that altitudes and slopes of ginseng fields increased and became increasingly scattered and smaller closer to the Changbai Mountain Nature Reserve.Ginseng fields and abandoned fields increased total patches and total area of the local forested landscape,and shared edge lengths between ginseng fields and forests,resulting in continuous fragmentation of the landscape.Although the total area of existing and abandoned ginseng fields accounts for a small fraction of the total landscape,their negative impacts on ecosystem conservation is significant.The local government needs to rationally plan ginseng planting,scientifically implement the restoration of abandoned ginseng lands,and enhance awareness of ginseng farmers to environmental stewardship.Our study has important significance for maintaining the healthy and stable development of the local ginseng industry and for improving the quality of regional ecological environment.

ASSESSMENT OF INDIRECT USE VALUES OF FOREST BIODIVERSITY IN YAOLUOPING NATIONAL NATURE RESERVE, ANHUI PROVINCE

Direct use values of forest ecosystem have been recognized apparently due toits easy and convenient assessment, while indirect use values are usually neglected because they arenot easy to be recognized by the public. For a nature reserve with forest ecosystem, the mostimportant economic values are the indirect use values, which provide human beings and other livingthings with beneficial services through ecological processes and functions. In this case study, aquantifying framework to estimate the annual indirect use values of forest ecosystem has beenestablished in Yaoluoping National Nature Reserve based on alternative cost method and opportunitycost method. The ecological functions assessed in the study relate to six aspects: soil protection,water conservation, CO_2 fixation, nutrient cycling, pollutant decomposition and disease and pestcontrol. These ecological functions provide an economic value of 86.1xl0~6 yuan (RMB) per year(US$10.37xl0~6), which is 25 times higher than the opportunity cost for regular timber production.This study can contribute to the monetary assessment of indirect use values of forest biodiversityand to the conservation and sustainable use of nature reserves.

RS-based Evaluation of Forest Cover Changes in Nanling National Nature Reserve

3S technology was applied to analyze spatio-temporal changes of landscape pattern in Nanling National Nature Reserve and the driving forces. The results showed that the study area was dominated by forest landscape from 1988 to 2009, accounting for 95% of the total area, among all forest landscapes, evergreen broadleaved forest accounted for the largest ratio(>50%). In terms of landscape fragmentation, landscape density index of the study area increased, landscape fragmentation was aggravated; patch density of core zone declined slightly, mean patch area of all landscape types increased, landscape fragmentation decreased slightly; buffer zone and experimental zone witnessed the aggravation of fragmentation. In terms of landscape diversity, landscape pattern of the study area became increasingly complex, diversity index increased, landscape heterogenization was enhanced; landscape diversity of the core zone increased slightly, that of the buffer zone increased greatly, but that of the experimental zone declined and landscape heterogenization reduced. Landscapes in the whole area grew more diversified, while landscape pattern of the core zone was simplified, that of the buffer zone witnessed slight changes, and that of the experimental zone kept consistent with that of the study area. In terms of driving forces of landscape pattern change, natural factors have contributed to the landscape changes in the study area, but human factors such as forest management, forest tourism, local residents an economic factors played a dominant role. With the increasing external interventions to the landscape pattern change, the contradiction between landscape eco-environment protection and resource development and utilization in Nanling National Nature Reserve will be increasingly sharpened.

Carbon storage of a subtropical forest ecosystem: a case study of the Jinggang Mountain National Nature Reserve in south-eastern China

The carbon cycle of forest ecosystems plays a key role in regulating CO2 concentrations in the atmosphere. Research on carbon storage estimation of forest ecosystems has become a major research topic. However, carbon budgets of subtropical forest ecosystems have received little attention. Reports of soil carbon storage and topographic heterogeneity of carbon storage are limited. This study focused on the Jinggang Mountain National Nature Reserve as an example of a mid-subtropical forest and evaluated soil and vegetation carbon storage by field sampling combined with GIS, RS and GPS technology. We classified the forest into nine forest types using ALOS high-resolution remote sensing images. The evergreen broad-leaved forest has the largest area, occupying 26.5% of the total area, followed by coniferous and broad-leaved mixed forests and warm temperate coniferous forest, occupying 24.2 and 22.9%, respectively. The vegetation and soil carbon storage of the whole forest ecosystem were 1,692,344 and 5,514,707 t, with a carbon density of 7.4 and 24.2 kg/m^2, respectively, which suggests that the ecosystem has great carbon storage capacity. The topographic heterogeneity of the carbon storage was also analysed. The largest vegetation storage and soil storage is at 700–800 and 1000–1100 m, respectively. The vegetation carbon storage is highest in the southeast, south and southwest.

Forest Landscape Change and Driving Forces in Nanling National Nature Reserve,Guangdong

Landscape change and its driving forces are always one of the major issues in landscape ecology. In this paper,we investigated the landscape pattern of Nanling National Nature Reserve using TM data and forest stand map. The paper aims at exploring how and why the landscape changed form 1988 to 2009. The results indicated that: the major landscape types are evergreen broad-leaved forest and coniferous forests,the area ratio of both total more than 80%; area ratio of other landscape types is less than 10%,including mainly mixed coniferous and broad-leaved forest,deciduous forest,shrub,other woodland,cultivated land,other land,construction land and water. During the 20 years,evergreen broad-leaved forest landscape has become a large-scale substrate,coniferous forests are interspersed,a small area of mixed coniferous and broad-leaved mixed forest patches expands; forest area in the study area changes slightly,the number of blocks increases,the degree of landscape fragmentation increases; forest landscapes change,and are less affected by human activities,which is closely related to the establishment,management and protection of protected areas.

Valuation on Forest Ecosystem Services of Nanling National Nature Reserve

The forest ecological system fulfills many important ecological functions. Researches on the analysis and valuation on forest ecosystem services are at the cutting edge of current ecology and ecological economics. Based on the calculation method of service value of forest ecosystem, 7 forest ecosystem services of Nanling National Nature Reserve were valued, totaling 703.48 million yuan/year. In terms of the contribution size of the service value of forest ecosystem, carbon fixation and oxygen release came as the greatest one, followed by conservation of soil, purification of the air, biodiversity conservation, conservation of water, accumulation of nutrients, and forest recreation. With its value of 208.46 million yuan, carbon fixation and oxygen release ranked first, accounting for 29.63% of the total value; conservation of soil of 24.67% service value took the second place; purification of the air came in third in the value rankings, representing 22.55% of the total value; the fourth one was biodiversity conservation, whose service value came up to 14.51%. Those 4 services made up 91.36% of the total value while other 3 services ranging from conservation of water, accumulation of nutrients to forest recreation were merely a small proportion. This is because the Nanling National Nature Reserve is essentially a large oxygen bar. The above-mentioned ecosystem valuation method contributes to the understanding of the overall value of the forest ecosystem as well as the implementation and advancement in the regional sustainable development strategy.

Change of Forest Ecosystem Service Function and Its Value in Kanas Nature Reserve

In order to clarify the service function and value of forest ecosystem in Kanas Nature Reserve, the ecological service function and its value of forest ecosystem in Kanas Nature Reserve in 2009 and 2014 were evaluated by using the method of Specifications for Assessment of Forest Ecosystem Services in China(LY/T 1721-2008). The results showed that in 2014, the total value of forest ecosystem service function in Kanas Nature Reserve increased by 7.34% compared with that in 2009, and the value of water conservation and biodiversity accounted for the largest proportion. The increasing rate of functional value of shrub forest land was obviously higher than that of coniferous forest land and broad-leaf forest land. The service function and value of different forest types were obviously different.

Valuation of Forest Ecosystem Services of the Kanas Nature Reserve in Xinjiang

Based on field surveys,typical sample-plot experiments,and long-term observation of ecological stations,the main species of trees in the Kanas Nature Reserve in Xinjiang were studied,and the value of their 7 kinds of services including water conservation,soil conservation,carbon fixation and oxygen release,accumulation of nutrients,air purification,biodiversity conservation,and forest recreation was evaluated in 2014.The results showed that:the total value of forest ecosystem services provided by the Kanas Nature Reserve in Xinjiang was 4.314 billion yuan/a,and the value of ecosystem services per unit area was 69,600 yuan/(hm^2·a).The value of forest ecosystem services were as follows:forest recreation(1,458,000,000 yuan/a) > water conservation(1,423,630,000 yuan/a) > biodiversity conservation(544,820,000 yuan/a) > carbon fixation and oxygen release(367,590,000 yuan/a) > air purification(258,830,000 yuan/a) > accumulation of nutrients(141,590,000 yuan/a) > soil conservation(119,270,000 yuan/a).According to the valuation of ecosystem services excluding forest recreation provided by 7 types of forests in the reserve,the value of ecosystem services per unit area of Pinus sibirica(Loud.) Mayr forest,Abies sibirica Ledeb.forest,Larix sibirica Ledeb.forest,Betula pendula Roth.forest,Populus davidiana Dode forest,shrubbery,and Picea obovata Ledeb.forest was 71,500,66,500,54,400,44,200,40,500,36,700,and 32,900 yuan/(hm^2·a),respectively.

Ramet Population Structure of Fargesia nitida （Mitford） Keng f. et Yi in Different Successional Stands of the Subalpine Coniferous Forest in Wolong Nature Reserve

Forest structure and succession in Wolong Nature Reserve is influenced by the understory dwarf bamboo population. However, less is known about how the forest succession affects the dwarf bamboo population. To examine the bamboo ramet population growth of Fargesla nitida （Mltford） Keng f. et Yi and to determine how ramet population structure varies along the succession of coniferous forest, we sampled ramet populations of F. nitida from the following three successional stages： （i） a deciduous broad-leaved （BL） stand; （ii） a mixed broad-leaved coniferous （MI） stand; and （ill） a coniferous （CF） stand. We investigated the population structure, biomass allocation, and morphological characteristics of the bamboo ramet among the three stand types. Clonal ramets, constituting the bamboo population, tended to become short and small with succession. The ramet changed towards having a greater mass investment in leaves, branches and underground roots and rhizomes rather than in the culm. With respect to leaf traits, individual leaf mass and area in the BL stand were markedly bigger than those In both the MI and CF stands, except for no significant difference in specific leaf area. The age distribution showed that the bamboo population approached an older age with succession. The results demonstrate that the ramet population structure of F. nitida is unstable and its growth performance is inhibited by succession.

Collective Forest Tenure Reform in Nature Reserves in China:Problems and Countermeasures

Collective forest tenure reform is now carried out throughout China with the aim to clarify the property,increase forest farmers' income and motivate the development of forestry.But the collective forest tenure reform in nature reserves comes to a dilemma.The current implemented laws and regulations provide that forests and trees in nature reserves shall be under strict protection,while the forest farmers hope to improve their livelihood in the reform.The paper discussed the problems encountered in the c...

Effectiveness of Firewise Approach(FWA)in Controlling Forest Fire:A Case of Uluguru Nature Forest Reserve(UNFR),Morogoro,Tanzania

Forest fire has received considerable attention in literature because it is considered one of the most common factors causing disturbances in ecosystems and at the same time considered vital in maintaining ecosystems.Firewise Approach(FWA)has been proposed and used for controlling forest fire and achieving sustainable forest management.The approach requires involvement of communities in managing forest fire incidences in reserved forests.Despite considerable period since FWA has been practiced,there is insufficient scholarly knowledge on effectiveness of the approach in managing forest fire.This paper examines the effectiveness of FWA in managing forest fires in Uluguru Nature Forest Reserve(UNFR).The study employed cross-section research design that involved quantitative and qualitative data collection.The data were analysed using Statistical Package for Social Science(SPSS)software and content analysis.The study found alternating periods:the period of overall decrease of wildfire incidences within initial five years of practising the approach.The study concludes that the FWA is useful in reducing forest fire incidences during early period of practising the approach and another period of huge fire occurrence beyond five years.However,the FWA has challenges of sustaining successes in controlling forest fires including limited fire management training to common community.The study recommends sustaining communities’trainings on forest fire management.

福建汀江源自然保护区石松类和蕨类植物区系分析

【目的】探讨汀江源自然保护区石松类和蕨类植物从物种多样性和区系地理特征,以期为两类植物多样性保护、资源应用开发及系统演化等研究提供参考。【方法】在野外调查、标本鉴定基础上,结合文献资料,整理该区石松类和蕨类植物名录,分析区系组成及地理成分。【结果】(1)该区石松类和蕨类植物有23科60属129种,其中石松类有2科5属15种,蕨类植物有21科55属114种。(2)优势科、属明显,优势科有3科,优势属有1属;单种科、属和寡种科、属是构成该区石松类和蕨类植物科、属的主体。(3)科的分布区类型以世界分布和热带分布为主;属、种的分布区类型以热带分布为主,同时呈现温带性质;中国特有种有15种。(4)该区与梁野山保护区的地理亲缘关系最近。【结论】汀江源国家级自然保护区石松类和蕨类植物地理成分多样,特有现象明显,生物多样性较低,植物区系成分在水平梯度上呈现由热带向温带过渡的特征。

三湖自然保护区不同林型葬甲科昆虫多样性

通过固定样地,采用地表陷阱法与拦截式诱捕器诱捕法相结合的方式连续采集葬甲科昆虫,了解吉林松花江三湖国家级自然保护区(以下简称“三湖自然保护区”)不同林型葬甲科昆虫多样性特征,对葬甲科昆虫群落与林型进行典范对应分析。结果显示:在三湖自然保护区共采集到葬甲科昆虫6属17种,其中,覆葬甲属(Nicrophorus)为优势属,优势种有5种;四星覆葬甲(Nicrophorus quadripunctatus)、尼覆葬甲(Nicrophorus nepalensis)和红带花葬甲(Nicrophorus investigator)对不同生境具有较强的适应性;葬甲科昆虫的物种数、个体数和α多样性特征指数在不同林型间均存在显著差异,表现为阔叶红松林>白桦林>阔叶混交林;阔叶红松林和白桦林中葬甲科昆虫的相似性最高,其他各林型间相似性较低。典范对应分析结果表明:葬甲科昆虫对阔叶红松林和白桦林的选择倾向性高于阔叶混交林,不同种类对林型的选择倾向性不同。