Structure changes and succession dynamic of the natural secondary forest after severe fire interference

The structure and dynamic succession law of natural secondary forest after severe fire interference in recent 20 years were studied by adopting the method of deducing time series from the spatial sequence of vegetation in Heihe region, Heilongjiang, China. Two typical and widely distributed forest types in the study area, namely forest type A and forest type B, were selected as study subjects. Forest type A is pure broadleaf forest or broadleaf mixed forest mainly composing of superior Betula platyphylla and Populus davidiana in the area with gradient 〈25°, while forest type B is pure forest or mixed forest composing of superior Quercus mongolica and Betula davurica in the area with gradient 〉25°. Species richness, vegetation coverage, important value, and similarity index of commtmity in different layers （Herb, shrub, small tree, and arbor layers） were investigated and analyzed for the two typical forests. The results show that after fire interference, the species richness and coverage in each layer in forest type A were higher than that in forest type B. Both for forest type A and B, with elapse of post-fire years, the species richness and coverage of herbs and shrubs showed a decline tendency, while those of arbor layer present a rising tendency. Through comparison of the important values of species in each layer and analysis of community structure changes, the dynamic process of post-fire vegetation succession for forest type A and B was separately determined. Post-fire 80 years＇ succession tendency of forest type A is B. platyphylla and Larix gmelinii mixed forest. Its shrub layer is mainly composed of Corylus heterophylla and Vaccinium uliginosum, and herb layer is dominated by Carex tristachya, Athyrium multidentatum, and Pyrola incarnate; whereas, the post-fire 80 years＇ succession of forest type B is Q. mongolica and B. davurica mixed forest. Its shrub layer is mainly composed of lespedeza bicolar and corylus heterophylla and herb layer is dominated by Carex tristachya, Asparagus densiflorus, and Hemerocallis minor.

Spatial connectivity and distribution of landscape type in the natural secondary forests of eastern mountainous region,northeast China——a case study of Mao'ershan region in Heilongjiang Province

Mao'ershan region is representative in the natural secondary forested region of the eastern mountainous region, northeast China. The landscape nearest neighbor index and landscape connectivity index were calculated with ARC/INFO software for Mao'ershan region. The spatial distribution of the landscape of the region was analyzed. The results showed that the landscape connectivity index of non-woodland was significantly higher than that of woodland. The landscape connectivity index of natural forest was nearly equal to zero, which means its fragmentation degree is high. The nearest neighbor index of plantation was lower than that of natural forest and non-forestland. Among the man-made forests, the distance index of the coniferous mixed plantation is the lowest, and its pattern is nearly glomeration. The landscape pattern of natural forest presented nearly random distribution. Among non-forest land, the distance index of cut blank was the lowest, and its pattern was also nearly glomeration. Keywords Landscape type - Landscape pattern - Nearest neighbor index - Landscape connectivity index - Natural secondary forest - Northeast China CLC number S759.92 Document code A Foundation item: This paper was supported by the Key Project of State Department of Science Technology (2002BA515B040).Biography: LI SHu-juan (1977), female. Lecture in Ocean University of China, Qingdao 266003, P. R. China.Responsible editor: Zhu Hong

Dynamic change of arborous species diversity in natural secondary forests after selective cutting on the north slope of Changbai Mountain, Northeast China

The community characteristics of natural secondary forests on the north slope of Changbai Mountain after selective cutting were investigated, and the dynamics of arborous species diversity during the restoration period of 28 years were studied. The results showed that the arborous species richness (S) had little change and kept the range of 18-22 all along, the Simpson index (D) of the secondary layer and regeneration layer and whole stand had similar trends of change, but that of the canopy layer descended slowly in initial 15 years and had little change later, and the change of diversity index was not obvious and the Shannon-Wiener index (H? fluctuated in a very small scopes (H±10%).

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.

Spatial patterns and storage composition of woody debris in a natural secondary forest dominated by Pinus tabulaeformis on Loess Plateau, China

Woody debris(WD) is an important par of natural Pinus tabulaeformis mixed stands, and i affects the forest ecosystem stability and developmen The WD spatial patterns are especially importan structural characteristics that can provide insights into forest dynamics. In this paper, the WD storage WD spatial patterns and WD associations among the main species were examined in the natural secondary forest on Loess Plateau in northwest China. Data were collected in a 1 ha(100 m × 100 m) permanent plot and all the trees with a diameter at breast height o more than 3 cm were measured and stem-mapped Ripley's K functions from the spatial-point-pattern analysis method were used to analyze the spatia distribution and associations. The results showed tha(1) The total storage of WD was 10.73 t/ha, fallen wood was the main source of WD, and the majority diameters were greater than 20 cm, and in intermediate levels of decay;(2) The overall spatia pattern was closely related to the spatial scale, which exhibited an aggregated pattern on a small scale, and a random pattern on a large scale. The spatia patterns of coarse woody debris also gradually transitioned from an aggregated pattern in fine scales to a random pattern in broader spatial scales, which matched the overall spatial pattern. The spatial intensity was gradually decreased with the increasing diameters, and increased with the decomposition classes;(3) The WD of Pinus tabulaeformis species was negatively associated with Betula platyphylla and Populus davidiana on a small scale but positively associated with these species on a large scale. The spatial pattern and interspecies relations were the results of long-term interactions between the natural secondary forest community and the surrounding natural environment. These findings would provide a scientific basis for the sustainable management and protection of natural secondary forest ecosystems on Loess Plateau.

Drivers of spatial structure in thinned forests

Background:As is widely known,an increasing number of forest areas were managed to preserve and enhance the health of forest ecosystems.However,previous research on forest management has often overlooked the importance of structure-based.Aims:Our objectives were to define the direction of structure-based forest management.Subsequently,we investigated the relationships between forest structure and the regeneration,growth,and mortality of trees under different thinning treatments.Ultimately,the drivers of forest structural change were explored.Methods:On the basis of 92 sites selected from northeastern China,with different recovery time (from 1 to 15years) and different thinning intensities (0–59.9%) since the last thinning.Principal component analysis (PCA)identified relationships among factors determining forest spatial structure.The structural equation model (SEM)was used to analyze the driving factors behind the changes in forest spatial structure after thinning.Results:Light thinning (0–20%trees removed) promoted forest regeneration,and heavy thinning (over 35% of trees removed) facilitated forest growth.However,only moderate thinning (20%–35%trees removed) created a reasonable spatial structure.While dead trees were clustered,and they were hardly affected by thinning intensity.Additionally,thinning intensity,recovery time,and altitude indirectly improve the spatial structure of the forest by influencing diameter at breast height (DBH) and canopy area.Conclusion:Creating larger DBH and canopy area through thinning will promote the formation of complex forest structures,which cultivates healthy and stable forests.

Composition and Characteristics of Natural Secondary Forests in Shenzhen,South China

The composition and structure of five natural secondary forests in Shenzhen were studied based on data of plots and were compared with Hong Kong zonal forest, so as to detect their succession stage and species diversity level. According to succession process of subtropical forest and ecological characteristics of dominant species, the authors speculate that five communities are at different stages. Sinosideroxylon community dominated by heliophilous evergreen broad-leaved tree (Sinosideroxylon wightianum) and conifer tree (Pinus massoniana) is at the third stage. Itea + Acronychia community dominated by two evergreen broad-leaved heliophytes (Itea chinensis and Acronychia pedunculata) is at the fourth stage. The others, i.e., Schefflera, Sterculia and Cleistocalyx + Sterculia community are at the fifth stage where some mesophytes are dominant but heliophytes have a weighed percentage of importance value. Due to succession stage and different forest management and conservation models, the species diversity of five communities is significantly lower than that of Endospermum community in Hong Kong. The values of Shannon-Wiener index and Pielous evenness index of five communities are 2.04–2.953 and 64.2%–74% respectively, but those of the Endospermum community are 4.74 and 79% respectively. The current situation of these communities suggests that the necessary measures should be taken to protect and restore the communities.

Species diversity and stability of natural secondary communities with different cutting intensities after ten years

Species diversity and stability of natural secondary communities in different layers with different cutting intensities 10 years later were investigated by calculating Marglef Richness index（R）,Shannon-Wiener diversity index（H）,Simpson diversity index（P）,and Pielou Evenness index（J）.Results show that the values of R,H and P among different layers are listed in a decreasing order：the shrub layer the arbor layer the herb layer,all the three indices values reach the maximum under medium selective cutting intensity after 10 years.The J value of the shrub layer shows a concave parabolic change with the increase in cutting intensity;it shows a linear increase for the arbor layer,whereas the J value of the herb layer shows an opposite change pattern.The values of R at different cutting intensities had high significant difference,but other indices had not significant difference.The stability of communities at different cutting intensities after 10 years is non-cutting low selective cutting intensity medium selective cutting intensity high selective cutting intensity extra-high intensity clear cutting.The stability of communities at different cutting intensities after 10 years shows that the greater cutting intensities,the worse the stability is.

Impact of Terminal Bud Quality on the Growth of Different Growth Forms of Seedlings in Tropical Secondary Forest

Health condition and replacement time of terminal bud were selected as quality indexes of regenerated seedlings in 3 different growth forms to analyze their impact on seedling height and ground diameter. The results showed that quality of terminal bud was related to the seedling growth, the regenerated seedlings with healthy terminal buds but no replacement experienced the largest growth amount and slight damage of terminal bud or one replacement stimulated growth of ground diameter. Multiple replacements of terminal bud would reduce seedling quality and influence its growth. Exploration of the quality characters of seedlings helped to know the dynamic features of early seedling growth, and provided theoretical support for the tending operation to improve quality of natural tropical forest.

A Case Study of Forest Carbon Trade in China:Sino-Forest Funded Protection of Natural Secondary Forests in Heyuan City,Guangdong

Climate change has posed a great risk and treats to global environment.To address the problem,international community resorts to carbon emission reduction,and many countries have implemented afforestation and reforestation project under Clean Development Mechanism.China started the research and has done a great load of works on forest carbon trade as early as the year of 2002 to contribute to the carbon emission reduction.This paper introduces the implementation of forest carbon trade in Heyuan City,Guan...

Leaf nutrient dynamics and nutrient resorption:a comparison between larch plantations and adjacent secondary forests in Northeast China

Aims Conversion of secondary forests to pure larch plantations is a common management practice driven by the increasing demand for timber production in Northeast China,resulting in a reduction in soil nutrient availability after a certain number of years following conversion.Nutrient resorption prior to leaf senescence was related to soil fertility,an important nutrient conservation strategy for plants,being especially significant in nutrient-poor habitats.However,the seasonal dynamics of leaf nutrients and nutrient resorption in response to secondary forest conversion to larch plantations is not well understood.Methods A comparative experiment between larch plantations(Larix spp.)and adjacent secondary forests(dominant tree species including Quercus mongolica,Acer mono,Juglans mandshurica and Fraxinus rhynchophylla)was conducted.We examined the variations in leaf nutrient(macronutrients:N,P,K,Ca and Mg;micronutrients:Cu and Zn)concentrations of these tree species during the growing season from May to October in 2013.Nutrient resorption efficiency and proficiency were compared between Larix spp.and the broadleaved species in the secondary forests.Important Findings Results show that the seasonal variation of nutrient concentrations in leaves generally exhibited two trends,one was a downward trend for N,P,K,Cu and Zn,and another was an upward trend for Ca and Mg.The variations in foliar nutrient concentrations were mainly controlled by the developmental stage of leaves rather than by tree species.Resorption of the observed seven elements varied among the five tree species during leaf senescence.Nutrient resorption efficiency varied 6–75%of N,P,K,Mg,Cu and Zn,while Ca was not retranslocated in the senescing leaves of all species,and Mg was not retranslocated in Larix spp.Generally,Larix spp.tended to be more efficient and proficient(higher than 6–30%and 2–271%of nutrient resorption efficiency and resorption proficiency,respectively)in resorbing nutrients than the broadleaved species in the secondary forests,indicating that larch plantations had higher leaf nutrient resorption and thus nutrient use efficiency.Compared with Larix spp.,more nutrients would remain in the leaf litter of the secondary forests,indicating an advantage of secondary forests in sustaining soil fertility.In contrast,the larch plantation would reuse internal nutrients rather than lose nutrients with litter fall and thus produce a positive feedback to soil nutrient availability.In summary,our results suggest that conversion from secondary forests to pure larch plantations would alter nutrient cycling through a plantmediated pathway.