Simulation of Haloxylon Ammodendron Stand Basic Diameter Structure Based on Fuzzy Distribution Function

Based on the investigation data of 12 Haloxylon ammodendron plots in the south edge of Gurbantunggut Desert, Fuzzy distribution was introduced into the study of Haloxylon ammodendron base diameter structure fitting according to the consistency between the characteristics of Fuzzy distribution function and the distribution series of cumulative percentage of stand base diameter, and the fitting precision and effect of Fuzzy distribution function were discussed. The root mean square error RMSE and determination coefficient R2 values showed that Fuzzy-Γ1, Fuzzy-Γ2, Fuzzy-Γ3, Fuzzy-Γ4 had good fitting performance, among which Fuzzy-Γ1 had relatively high fitting precision, and its parameters were closely related to stand age and density, Fuzzy-Γ2 distribution function was the second, and Fuzzy-Γ4 distribution function had the worst fitting effect. By introducing a parameter c from the similarity of four distribution function formulas, a generalized Fuzzy distribution function Fuzzy-Γ5 is obtained. This function shows the highest fitting accuracy. Most of the values of parameter c are near 1 or 2, which shows that the diameter distribution is mainly approximate to Fuzzy-Γ1 and Fuzzy-Γ2.

Effects of biodiversity,stand factors and functional identity on biomass and productivity during the restoration of subtropical forests in Central China

Biodiversity is found to have a significant promotion effect on ecosystem functions in manipulation experiments on grassland communities.However,its relative role compared with stand factors or functional identity is still controversial in natural forests.Here,we examined their relative effects on biomass and productivity during forest restoration.We investigated stand biomass and productivity for 24 plots(600 m2)across restoration stages in the subtropical forests of Mt.Shennongjia,Central China.We measured five key functional traits and calculated functional diversity(functional richness,evenness and dispersion)and community-weighted mean of traits.We used general linear models,variation partitioning methods to test the relative importance of stand factors(density,stand age,maximum height,etc.),functional identity,species and functional diversity on biomass and productivity.Our results illustrated that stand biomass and productivity increased significantly as forest restoration,and that community species richness increased,while functional dispersion decreased significantly.Variation partitioning analyses showed that diversity had no significant pure effects on biomass and productivity.However,diversity may affect biomass and productivity through the joint effect with stand factors and functional identity.Overall,we found that stand factors had the strongest effect on biomass and productivity,while functional identity significantly affects productivity but not biomass,suggesting that modulating stand structure and species identity are effective ways to enhance forest carbon storage and sequestrations potential in forest management.

The distribution patterns and temporal dynamics of carabid beetles(Coleoptera:Carabidae)in the forests of Jiaohe,Jilin Province,China

Carabid beetles,predatory insects,are abundant in forests and sensitive to environmental changes.The distribution patterns and diversity of carabid beetles in several natural forests were studied to provide a basis for evaluating the importance of a forest in the protection of carabid beetle diversity.Carabids were captured by pitfall traps during their seasonal activity from 2012 to 2013 in a poplar-birch forest,ash-walnut forest and broad-leaved Korean pine forest.A total of 5252 individuals,representing 21 species,were collected.Carabid abundance was highest in the broad-leaved Korean pine forest and lowest in the ash-walnut forest.Carabus billbergi Mannerheim and Pterostichus pertinax(Tschitscherine)were the dominant beetle species in each stand.Carabus canaliculatus Adams was dominant in the poplar-birch and ash-walnut forests,and Leistus niger Gebler was dominant in the ash-walnut forest.The carabids were affected differently by stand factors.C.billbergi and P.pertinax was positively correlated with mean DBH.C.canaliculatus and L.niger were not positively correlated with any stand factors.The broad-leaved Korean pine forest with greater age,large DBH and thick leaf litter fostered a high diversity of carabid species.The main yearly activity period for most carabids was during July.Different carabid species responded differently to seasonality,and the activity period of several species was relatively late(August)in the year.

The relationships among structure variables of larch forests in China

Background:Larch(Larix Mill.)forests are widely distributed in the upper parts of mountainous areas in China,playing vital roles in constructing mountain landscapes and maintaining mountain environments.Despite their importance,our knowledges on the large-scale patterns of structure characteristics and the relationships between different structure variables are unclear.In this paper,we investigated 155 plots from 11 natural larch forest types across the country to explore the biogeographic patterns of the structure characteristics and the allometric relationships between different structure variables for Chinese larch forests.Results:The structure characteristics were significantly different among larch forest types.For different larch forest types,the power function fits the relationships between tree height and diameter at breast height(DBH),average DBH and stem density,and taper and stem density well,but with different exponents among larch forest types.The power exponents of the allometric relationships between tree height and DBH for different larch forest types varied from 0.61 to 0.93(mean=0.86)by standard major axis regression(SMA),and from 0.51 to 0.78(mean=0.56)by ordinary least square regression(OLS).The 50%,75%and 95%quantile regression(QR)and OLS indicated that the average DBH and taper of the L.gmelinii forests,L.gmelinii var.principis-rupprechtii forests,and L.sibirica forests were significantly correlated with stem density.Conclusions:The relationship between tree height and DBH showed a power function relationship for all larch forest types in China,but with different exponents.Overall,stem density was negatively correlated with average DBH and taper.The Sect.Larix forests exhibited stand density effect.Our findings provide an important basis for recognizing the biogeographic patterns of structure factors and for the management of larch forests in China.