Soil properties and not plant factors affect both abundant and rare microbial taxa after thinning in a mixed stand of Cunninghamia lanceolata and Sassafras tzumu

Thinning is an effective management step for sustainable forest development,yet less attention is paid to the restoration of soil microbiota after thinning.In this study,both abundant and rare soil microbial communities(i.e.,bacterial,fungal),were evaluated under various thinning treatments in a mixed stand of Cunninghamia lanceolata and Sassafras tzumu using Mi Seq sequencing.Thinning did not significantly change either abundant or rare bacterial and fungal community composition,but affected their alpha diversity.The Shannon–Wiener indexes of rare fungal taxa under medium thinning were significantly lower than in the light thinning(P<0.05 level).Xanthobacteraceae dominated the abundant bacterial taxa,and Saitozyma and Mortierlla the abundant fungal taxa.The most common rare bacterial taxa varied;there was no prevalent rare fungal taxa under different thinnings.In addition,soil available nitrogen,total phosphorus,and p H had significant effects on rare bacterial taxa.Nutrients,especially available phosphorus,but not nitrogen,affected abundant and rare soil fungi.The results indicate that soil properties rather than plant factors affect abundant and rare microbial communities in soils of mixed stands.Thinning,through mediating soil properties,influences both abundant and rare bacterial and fungal communities in the mixed C.lanceolata and S.tzumu stand.

Growth effect of Manchurian ash in mixed stands

The growth of ash (Fraxinus mandshurica) in different mixed stands with larch (Larix gmelini), Korean pine (Pinus koraiensis) and spruce (Picea koraiensis) had been investigated. Meanwhile, the relationship between the growth gain of mixed stand and topographic factor, and the growth comparison of ash in pure and mixed stands with different age-stages were presented in this paper. The results show that the effect of ash and larch mixed stand is very significant. The growth gain of ash in mixed stand on east slope is better than that on west. The growth effect is the most significant on east upper slope and on west down slope. The growth of ash can be increased significantly during different age-stages, but of Larch only through its occupying dominant position in above-ground competition.

Prediction of tree crown width in natural mixed forests using deep learning algorithm

Crown width(CW)is one of the most important tree metrics,but obtaining CW data is laborious and timeconsuming,particularly in natural forests.The Deep Learning(DL)algorithm has been proposed as an alternative to traditional regression,but its performance in predicting CW in natural mixed forests is unclear.The aims of this study were to develop DL models for predicting tree CW of natural spruce-fir-broadleaf mixed forests in northeastern China,to analyse the contribution of tree size,tree species,site quality,stand structure,and competition to tree CW prediction,and to compare DL models with nonlinear mixed effects(NLME)models for their reliability.An amount of total 10,086 individual trees in 192 subplots were employed in this study.The results indicated that all deep neural network(DNN)models were free of overfitting and statistically stable within 10-fold cross-validation,and the best DNN model could explain 69%of the CW variation with no significant heteroskedasticity.In addition to diameter at breast height,stand structure,tree species,and competition showed significant effects on CW.The NLME model(R^(2)=0.63)outperformed the DNN model(R^(2)=0.54)in predicting CW when the six input variables were consistent,but the results were the opposite when the DNN model(R^(2)=0.69)included all 22 input variables.These results demonstrated the great potential of DL in tree CW prediction.

Determining structural variation in a managed mixed stand in an old-growth forest, northern Iran

Numerous approaches have been developed to quantify forest structure modules.A variety has measured each as part of stand attributes.This study was carried out in managed mixed stands in northern Iran.The objective was to quantify stand structure and its variation before and after tree marking through the Gini index and structural triangle method.A full sampling inventory was taken in 2004 and 2014 at the beginning and end of a period,before and after tree marking operations in five stands.The results indicate that the Gini index was 39.5,62.2,43.0,82.0 and 74.0%forⅠ,Ⅱ,Ⅲ,ⅣandⅤstands respectively.Furthermore,approximate structural diameters were determined as a large category forⅠ,Ⅱ,ⅢandⅤstands while standⅡhad an intermediate-large class pre-tree marking to an intermediate-small class post-tree marking.The paired t-test results were not significant for tree numbers and growing stock changes for all species,and for beech,hornbeam,and velvet maple before and after tree harvesting in the whole stand.Therefore,the Gini index and the structural triangle method can be used for natural stand modeling,structural diversity designation,and for management practices in nature-oriented forestry strategies.

THE SEASONAL DYNAMICS OF NUTRIENT CONTENTS IN MANCHURIA ASH-DAHURIAN LARCH MIXED STAND

The yield increasing mechanism of the manchurian ash (Fraxinus mandchurica) and dahurian larch(Larix gmelini) mixed stand was studied on nutrition status of soil and leaves. The results showed that nutrient contents of leaves and contents of the available nutrients of soil in the mixed and pure stands varied with seasons of the year. The available phosphorus contentS of the soil in the larch belt were much higher than those in the manchurian ash belt during growhg season, with the highest value of 3.5 mg/100g, 2~3 times of the latter. The nitrogen contents of leaves of the manchurian ash trees nearest from dahurian larch belt wer 12.7%~80.8% higher than those of its pure stand, and phosphorus 13.4%~140. 8%. The different uptake thythm of the nutrients modified the interspecific competition. The general conclusion is that the high contents of available phosphorus of the soil in dahurian larch belt improved the growing condition of nearby manhurian ash trees.

THE CHARACTERS AND EFFECTS OF AVAILABLE PHOSPHORUS IN DAHURIAN LARCH-MANCHURICA ASH MIXED SEEDLING STAND

The characters and effects of available phosphorus in dahurian larch-Manchuria ash mixed stand was analyzed through measuring available phosphorus of rhizosphere-soil, phosphorus of living and withered leaves and tree height The study results showed that the phosphorus of living leaves of larch was equal to or less than that of ash. For 5-year-old larch-ash ndxed seedlings stand,larch has more available phosphorus in soil, which is not caused by the decomposition of leaves, but the acts of root. The root of larch activates available phosphorus by acidoid fme rhisosphere-soil. At the site with a high concentration of available phosphorus (grondg bean before), 5 aged larch grows faster than the same aged ash in pure stand. The ash at the site with a high concentration of available phosphorus at 20 cm soil layer showed a trend to grow over larch, and at the site, with a low concentration of available phosphorus at 20 cm soil layer, had a trend to be suppressed by same aged larch.

Effects of Different Types of Chinese Fir Stands on Nu－trient Status of Soils

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A basal area increment model for individual trees in mixed continuous cover forests in Iranian Caspian forests

The aim of this study was to develop and test a new basal area growth model in mixed species continuous cover forests in northern Iran.Weanalyzed 421 core samples from 6 main species in the forest area to develop our growth model.In each plot,we measured variables such as total tree height(m),diameter at breast height(DBH)(cm)and basal area of larger trees as cumulative basal areas of trees(GCUM)ofDBH[5 cm.The empirical data were analyzed using regression analysis.There was a statistically significant nonlinear function between the annual basal area increment,as the dependent variable,and the basal area of the individual trees and competition as explanatory variables.Reference area from the largest trees,was circular plot with area of 0.1 ha.GCUM was estimated for trees of DBH>5 cm.Furthermore,we investigated the dependencies of diameter growth of different species on stand density at different levels of competition,and diameter development of individual trees through time.The results indicate that competition caused by larger neighborhood trees has a negative effect on growth.In addition,the maximum diameter increment is affected by competition level.Therefore,the maximum diameter increment of species occurs when the trees are about 35–40 cm in dense-forest(40 to 0 m^2 per ha)and when the trees are about 60 to 70 cm in very dense forest(60 to 0 m^2 per ha)which is more likely to Caspian natural forests with high level density due to uneven-aged composition of stands.

Using a stand-level model to predict light absorption in stands with vertically and horizontally heterogeneous canopies

Background： Forest ecosystem functioning is strongly influenced by the absorption of photosynthetically active radiation （APAR）, and therefore, accurate predictions of APAR are critical for many process-based forest growth models. The Lambert-Beer law can be applied to estimate APAR for simple homogeneous canopies composed of one layer, one species, and no canopy gaps. However, the vertical and horizontal structure of forest canopies is rarely homogeneous. Detailed tree-level models can account for this heterogeneity but these often have high input and computational demands and work on finer temporal and spatial resolutions than required by stand-level growth models. The aim of this study was to test a stand-level light absorption model that can estimate APAR by individual species in mixed-species and multi-layered stands with any degree of canopy openness including open-grown trees to closed canopies. Methods： The stand-level model was compared with a detailed tree-level model that has already been tested in mixed-species stands using empirical data. Both models were parameterised for five different forests, including a wide range of species compositions, species proportions, stand densities, crown architectures and canopy structures. Results： The stand-level model performed well in all stands except in the stand where extinction coefficients were unusually variable and it appears unlikely that APAR could be predicted in such stands using （tree- or stand-level） models that do not allow individuals of a given species to have different extinction coefficients, leaf-area density or analogous parameters. Conclusion： This model is parameterised with species-specific information about extinction coefficients and mean crown length, diameter, height and leaf area. It could be used to examine light dynamics in complex canopies and in stand-level growth models.

An imputation/copula-based stochastic individual tree growth model for mixed species Acadian forests： a case study using the Nova Scotia permanent sample plot network

Background： A novel approach to modelling individual tree growth dynamics is proposed. The approach combines multiple imputation and copula sampling to produce a stochastic individual tree growth and yield projection system. Methods： The Nova Scotia, Canada permanent sample plot network is used as a case study to develop and test the modelling approach. Predictions from this model are compared to predictions from the Acadian variant of the Forest Vegetation Simulator, a widely used statistical individual tree growth and yield model. Results： Diameter and height growth rates were predicted with error rates consistent with those produced using statistical models. Mortality and ingrowth error rates were higher than those observed for diameter and height, but also were within the bounds produced by traditional approaches for predicting these rates. Ingrowth species composition was very poorly predicted. The model was capable of reproducing a wide range of stand dynamic trajectories and in some cases reproduced trajectories that the statistical model was incapable of reproducing. Conclusions： The model has potential to be used as a benchmarking tool for evaluating statistical and process models and may provide a mechanism to separate signal from noise and improve our ability to analyze and learn from large regional datasets that often have underlying flaws in sample design.

闽楠-木荷混交林空间结构及其养分利用

【目的】为探讨混交林中闽楠和木荷的种间关系,确定木荷能否作为闽楠的伴生树种营建健康高效的闽楠-木荷混交林。【方法】以金洞林场16年生的闽楠-木荷混交林以及闽楠纯林、木荷纯林为研究对象,通过分析闽楠-木荷混交林的根系分布特性与林分空间结构特性来探讨闽楠-木荷混交林地上与地下部分的种间关系;通过分析不同物候期下3种林分的闽楠与木荷叶片养分的动态规律来阐明闽楠与木荷之间的养分利用关系。【结果】1)在16年生闽楠-木荷混交林中,在闽楠周围1.5 m内闽楠和木荷的根系分布虽有部分重叠,但闽楠仍占据优势地位,闽楠和木荷在地下生长空间和养分吸收利用方面存在竞争但竞争不激烈;2)整体林分空间结构上,闽楠、木荷纯林略优于闽楠-木荷混交林,说明混交林的树种不同,树种之间的生长特性和生态特性不一样,林分的均一性会差一些,对其调整结构的难度要大于纯林。混交林中,木荷已对闽楠形成了一定的竞争优势;3)闽楠-木荷混交林中,对养分吸收利用在物候期上部分不同步,存在相对有利的互补关系;从所有的物候期来看,闽楠叶片的N、P、K含量在大部分时期都高于木荷,表明闽楠-木荷混交更有利于闽楠对养分的吸收利用,木荷对养分的需求更低;4)16年生混交林中闽楠、木荷的生长速度要优于相应的纯林,表明前期竞争促进了林分的生长。【结论】闽楠与木荷混交有利于闽楠获得更多的养分,适度竞争促进了林木的生长,木荷是闽楠较好的伴生树种。

混交对杉木和山杜英混交林生长、结构和生产力的影响

为探究杉木(Cunninghamia lanceolata)与山杜英(Elaeocarpus sylvestris)的混交效应,以景德镇枫树山林场20年生杉木纯林、山杜英纯林和杉木-山杜英混交林为研究对象,每种林分类型设置3种坡位(上坡、中坡和下坡),分析树种混交对林分生长的影响,并分别探究混交效应对立地条件和生境因子的响应。结果表明:混交林蓄积较预期蓄积增加5%,表现略微增产;混交林中杉木蓄积较杉木纯林增加15%,混交林中山杜英蓄积较山杜英纯林减少13%。相对于纯林,两树种直径分布特征对混交的响应呈相反趋势,混交林中杉木直径分布峰值向高阶移动,而混交林中山杜英直径分布峰值向低阶移动。混交林及其纯林粗根直径-胸径的异速生长分析表明,混交林中杉木生长侧重于树干生长,而山杜英生长侧重于根系生长;无论林型和树种,坡位由上到下,林木生长会侧重于树干生长。杉木-山杜英混交效应与地位指数呈显著负相关(P<0.05),土壤有效磷是混交林生长的主要限制因子。杉木与山杜英混交可促进林分生长,且混交林对较差立地条件有更好的适应性。

湘西石漠化区湿地松-马褂木人工混交林林分结构及土壤理化性质研究

为探究湘西石漠化区湿地松-马褂木人工混交林林分结构及土壤理化性质,该研究以湘西石漠化地区湿地松-马褂木人工针阔混交林为对象,利用植物群落学分析和野外取样检测的方法,分析林分结构和土壤理化性质,运用Winklemass 1.0计算林分空间结构参数,并用三维离散随机变量分析了优势种的空间分布格局。结果表明:(1)林分内胸径(DBH)≥2 cm的林木株数为897 plants·hm^(-2),隶属于15科16属。主林层为湿地松,平均DBH为32.3 cm,重要值为44.2%;次林层为阔叶树,中幼龄林木居多,其中樟树、马褂木为优势树种,重要值分别为17.1%和13.2%。此外,还存在较多处于劣势生态位的天然更新种。(2)林木的水平分布格局偏向于随机分布(W=0.503);林分整体趋向于中庸偏劣势过渡的态势(U=0.505);种间隔离程度较高(M=0.689),林木混交状况良好。空间结构参数的三维离散随机变量表明,湿地松87.3%为优势和亚优势,马褂木41.7%为亚优势、26.9%为中庸态势,樟树23.5%为中庸态势、56.8%为劣势和绝对劣势。(3)林分土壤pH值趋于中性;与撂荒地相比,林分土壤的容重、持水量、孔隙度、有机碳、全钾、全氮、全磷等因子均明显改善,但整体而言,林分土壤仍然较为贫瘠,局部土壤紧实,保水能力差。综上表明,湿地松、马褂木作为先锋树种生长43年后,林分有向异龄林、强度混交林演替的趋势;林分内中幼龄阔叶树株数占比较大,近熟林出现断层,老龄针叶树占据优势生态区位,需抽针补阔、间针育阔,择伐劣势木,促使林分向阳生性阔叶树为主、中生性和耐阴性阔叶树为次的林分结构演替。该研究结果为湘西石漠化区的植被恢复、人工林结构优化和土壤改良提供了理论依据。

不同混交模式下幼龄桉树混交林的生长和水土流失特征研究

设计尾巨桉×红椿和大花序桉×闽楠的垂直、水平、块状三种混交方式的试验林,以研究不同混交模式下桉树混交林的生长和水土流失规律。结果表明:1年生尾巨桉、红椿、大花序桉和闽楠分别在水平、块状、块状和水平混交模式下的树高增长率最大,依次为1560.00%、863.33%、457.50%和6.67%,因此水平混交模式和块状混交模式的林分树高生长效果较好。在尾巨桉×红椿和大花序桉×闽楠两种林分中的月均地表径流以块状混交模式最少,分别是107.72 L和215.24 L,月均土壤流失以块状混交模式较少,分别是4.95 kg和7.25 kg,因此块状混交模式对水土保持的效果较优于垂直混交模式和水平混交模式。综合考虑,采用块状混交模式效果最好。

基于生态营林桉树与黑木相思混交模式的探析

桉树与固氮树种黑木相思的混交有利于生态营林的建设,本文梳理了现阶段桉树与黑木相思混交关于混交模式的典型研究案例,根据热带/亚热带黑木相思和桉树的林分配置现状,运用种间关系和土壤养分供给理论,推荐桉树与黑木相思的混交林应实行间隔3株桉树采伐2株然后补植黑木相思的模式;桉树与黑木相思新植林实行桉树和黑木相思3:2或1:1的比例,即3行桉树2行黑木相思或1行黑木相思1行桉树,株行距2.8~3.0 m×3 m,林分密度约1100株·hm^(-2)。旨意为桉树与黑木相思生态混交模式提供合理建议。

杉木人工林套种不同树种对林分生长和植物多样性的影响

研究杉木林间伐后,于林下套种香梓楠、华盖木、红豆杉、缅茄4种树种,对比未套种杉木纯林,分析套种后林分的生长状况和植物多样性,为杉木人工林近自然改造与可持续经营提供参考依据。结果表明:香梓楠、华盖木、红豆杉与杉木形成异龄复层混交林,香梓楠胸径、树高生长量及保存率最高,分别达到10.5 cm、9.8 m、82.22%,显著高于其他树种;缅茄胸径、树高生长量及保存率最低,分别为2.4 cm、1.7 m、15.66%。套种缅茄、香梓楠、华盖木对杉木胸径有促进作用,套种缅茄后杉木树高显著提高。5种杉木林分林下植被中共出现33科52属60种植物,草本层出现植物15科25属27种,以禾本科和菊科植物为主;灌木层出现植物18科27属33种,以大戟科、茜草科和桑科植物为主;4种杉木混交林林下出现植物比杉木纯林增加24种。杉木×香梓楠、杉木×华盖木林下植物多样性比杉木×缅茄和杉木纯林显著提高。综合杉木间伐后套种不同树种表现,套种香梓楠对林分生长和植物多样性更具优势,可作为今后杉木近自然改造的参考模式。

不同坡位对樟杉混交林及樟树纯林林分生长的影响

【目的】本研究旨在探究不同坡位对樟杉混交林和樟树纯林林分生长的影响,以提供合理的林业管理决策。【方法】在不同坡位上设置样地,分别调查了樟杉混交林和樟树纯林的林分生长指标,包括树高、胸径、树冠宽度等。【结果】通过对不同坡位上林分的生长情况进行分析,发现坡位对樟树的胸径、树高和冠幅的生长具有显著影响。在不同坡位上,樟杉混交林和樟树纯林的林分生长存在差异。在较陡的坡位上,樟树纯林的树高和胸径明显高于樟杉混交林,而在较缓的坡位上,两者之间的差异不明显。【结论】坡位是一个重要的立地因子,对于樟杉混交林和樟树纯林的生长表现具有显著影响。下坡位相对于中坡位和上坡位来说,在胸径、树高和枝下高等方面表现更优越,而中坡位和上坡位对混交林和纯林的生长的影响差异不明显。基于上述结果,建议在坡地林业管理中,应根据具体坡位条件选择合适的林木组合,以最大限度地提高林分生长水平。

择伐对尖峰岭马占相思和杉木次生林林分空间结构的影响

为探索尖峰岭次生林林分空间结构,研究择伐对马占相思和杉木次生林林分空间结构的影响,文章利用混交度、大小比数和角尺度等3种空间结构指标,分析尖峰岭马占相思、杉木次生林10块标准地的林分空间结构,并分别选取具有代表性的马占相思和杉木试验样地,择伐样地中的马占相思和杉木,分析择伐对次生林林分空间结构的影响。结果表明:(1)马占相思和杉木次生林混交度处于强度和极强度混交水平;从大小比数来看,林分以中庸状态为主;从角尺度来看,林分以团状分布为主。(2)两个试验样地均表明择伐可促进林分空间结构优化,林分空间结构比较不合理的,人为措施干预后,优化效果明显;林分空间结构较为稳定的,人为措施干预效果较弱。在生产实践中可根据不同林分的空间结构状态,针对性地采取措施促进林分结构优化和向顶级群落演替。

Stand management optimization——the role of simplifications

Background:Studies on optimal stand management often make simplifications or restrict the choice of treatments,Examples of simplifications are neglecting natural regeneration that appears on a plantation site,omitting advance regeneration in simulations,or restricting thinning treatments to low thinning(thinning from below).Methods:This study analyzed the imparts of simplifications on the optimization results for Fennoscandian boreal forests.Management of pine and spruce plantations was optimized by gradually reducing the number of simplifying assumptions.Results:Forced low thinning,cleaning the plantation from the natural regeneration of mixed species and ignoring advance regeneration all had a major impact on optimization results.High thinning(thinning from above) resulted in higher NPV and longer rotation length than thinning from below.It was profitable to leave a mixed stand in the tending treatment of young plantation.When advance regeneration was taken into account,it was profitable to increase the number of thinnings and postpone final felling.In the optimal management,both pine and spruce plantation was gradually converted into uneven-aged mixture of spruce and birch.Conclusions:The results suggest that,with the current management costs and timber price level,it may be profitable to switch to continuous cover management on medium growing sites of Fennoscandian boreal forests.

Forest Response to the US 1990 Clean Air Act: The Southern Spruce-Fir Ecosystem

The history of the Black Mountains in North Carolina and the southern Spruce-Fir ecosystem has been fraught with widespread forest decline since the mid 1960’s. Balsam Woolly Adelgid attacks and acidic deposition were two of the most recognized causes of decline. Uncertainty arose about the future of these forests, and projections were made regarding the endangerment or extinction of the endemic Fraser fir ([Pursh] Poiret). This study analyzed data sets from a permanent plot network in the Black Mountains dating 1985, 2002, and 2012. Indications that the Fraser fir population is stabilizing from a “boom-bust” cycle of population growth and has entered the stem exclusion stage of forest stand development are evident. Fir live stem density increased more than 250% from 1985 to 2002, and then declined 40% by 2012 at the highest elevations in the forest. Overall, fir appeared to be more impacted on western facing slopes than eastern ones. The population of red spruce experienced a steady decrease in live stem counts, but an increase in live basal area through all years, and at all elevation classes (1675 m, 1830 m, and 1980 m), indicating a normal progression through stand development. Red spruce was also most negatively impacted on western facing slopes. Live stem density was significantly higher (P 0.001) than eastern plots, but live basal area was similar between the two aspects. Atmospheric deposition concentrations of the four main acidic molecules at Mt. Mitchell all peaked in 1998, but decreased by 2012. These reductions, occurring shortly after tightened regulations in the 1990 amendments to the Clean Air Act may have potential implications for increased forest resilience.