PROTECTING THE RESOURCES OF THE TROPICAL RAIN FORESTS

In order to finish the cataloging work of buttercup species in the family of Renunculaceae for the compilation of the Flora Yunnanensis, I went to the CAS Institute of Botany in Kunming City,capital of Yunnan Province in May 1995 to look up phyto-taxonomic specimens. At the invitation of the Institute’s director Prof. Xu Zhaifu, when the work was coming to an end, I toured the well-known botanic garden of the Institute in the township of Menglu, which nests in the picturesque district of Xishuang Banna at the southernmost tip of the subtropical territory of Yunnan. In the winter of 1958,I had visited the ever-verdant vicinity to collect floral materials. After almost 37 years, I revisited the botanic garden founded by celebrated

Old-growth mixed dipterocarp forests show variable losses and gains in aboveground biomass and standing carbon over forty years

Background:No studies have documented long-term trends in aboveground biomass(AGB)for mixed-dipterocarp forests(MDF),the dominant rain forest type in tropical wet equatorial Asia.In our study,we sought to document such trends over forty years across three sites representing lowland to lower montane elevations.Methods:To do this,we established fifty 100 m×25 m plots in 1978 across three sites sampled along an elevation gradient,identified as mature old-growth forest.We measured trees for diameter at breast height that we identified to species and tagged.We took wood samples to calculate species wood-specific gravity.We re-measured plots in 1998 and again in 2018.Results:We show standing AGB for all sites combined to be 517.52 Mg·ha^(-1)in 1978,but this declined by 17%over 40 years to 430.11 Mg·ha^(-1).No differences exist among sites in AGB primarily because of considerable within site variation;but interactions of time with site show declines across sites were not uniform,one remained about the same.Relatively few species represented a high proportion of the AGB with the top five species comprising between 34%and 65%,depending upon site and year sampled.One species,Mesua nagassarium,represented a disproportionately large amount of AGB and decline over time,particularly at the low elevation site.Conclusions:Our results are directly relevant to estimating AGB and standing carbon sequestered in MDF.Our study is the first to demonstrate varying but overall,declining trends in amounts of AGB among forests making predictions of biomass and standing carbon in MDF difficult over wide regions.

Variation in photosynthetic photon flux density within a tropical seasonal rain forest of Xishuangbanna, south-western China

The effects of canopy development, solar angle, and weather conditions on temporal variation in photosynthetic photon flux density（PPFD） at three heights within a tropical rain forest canopy in Xishuangbanna, China, were examined. PPFD was measured every second and stored as 10-min averages from 1 December 2002 to 30 November 2003. PPFD variability was examined at three different temporal scales. Specific days in March, September, and December with clear and overcast sky conditions were selected to separate the effects of leaf area index（LAI） and solar angle on diurnal variability. On both clear and overcast days, mean daily average PPFD was significantly different between March and September at all heights, except 10 m on clear days, suggesting that LAI directly influences PPFD. In contrast, the differences in daily average PPFD among three heights between September and December were likely due to variation in solar angle. In addition, daily average PPFD at all locations were significantly lower under overcast than clear sky conditions in March, September and December. Over the year-long study, the mean daily total PPFD at 2! m, 10 m and 4 m was 2.8, 2.7 and 0.7 mol/（m^2·d）, which accounted for 9.7%, 9.4% and 2.4% of the daily PPFD above the canopy, respectively. Significant differences in mean daily total PPFD occurred at the same heights among different seasons, and diurnal, day-to-day and seasonal PPFD varied at different heights within the canopy. The possible effects of light variability on physiological and morphological responses of plants are discussed.

Growth Traits and the Trade-Offs for Tree Species with Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Fungi in a Tropical Rain Forest Edge at Los Tuxtlas,Mexico

The effect of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi on seedling growth across the rain forest-pasture edge has not received much attention. In a tropical rain forest in eastern Mexico, the seedlings of light demanding (Ficus insipida), nonsecondary light demanding (Lonchocarpus cruentus) and shade tolerant species (Nectandra ambigens, Coccoloba hondurensis) were grown and transplanted to a forest edge with three inoculation treatments (AM fungus spores and colonized roots, spores, and no inoculum). For all species, stem height, stem diameter, total dry weight, leaf area and net assimilation rate were higher in the pasture. Stem height, stem diameter and root/shoot were higher for L. cruentus, and leaf area ratio, specific leaf area and net assimilation rate were higher for F. insipida;the lowest values of almost all variables were recorded for N. ambigens. L. cruentus and C. hondurensis with mycorrhizae had the highest values for root/shoot and net assimilation rate, respectively. The lowest values of root/shoot and net assimilation rate were observed for nonlight-demanding species in the forest. There were clear trade-offs for the pioneer species between survival and growth, and in underground biomass allocation and assimilation for nonsecondary light demanding, but there was not for the shade-tolerant species.

Fragmented forest in tropical landscape——the case of the State of Selangor, Malaysia

This paper presents the pattern and changes of fragmented forest in relation with changes of total forest cover in the state of Selangor in three decades. In this study, inventoried forest cover maps of Selangor in 1971/1972, 1981/1982 and 1991/1992 produced by the Forestry Department of Peninsular Malaysia were digitized to examine the changes in area and number of fragmented forest. Results showed that in 1971/1972, 16 fragmented forests were identified in Selangor. All fragmented forests were identified as dipterocarp forest. A decade later the number of fragmented forests increased by approximately 44% (23). Of the 23 fragmented forests, two were peat swamp forests whereas the remaining were dipterocarp forests. In 1991/1992 the number of fragmented forests (12) was reduced by 47.8%. Two of the fragmented forests were identified as peat swamp forest, seven dipterocarp forest and the other three was mixed of dipterocarp forests and plantation forests. Fragmentation of both dipterocarp and peat swamp forests occurred profoundly during the period between 1971/1972 and 1981/1982, which consequently increased the number of fragmented forests compared with before the period of 1971/1972 where fragmentation happened only at dipterocarp forests. However, many fragmented forests vanished between the 1981/1982 and 1991/1992 periods.

Soil respiration and its partitioning in different components in tropical primary and secondary mountain rain forests in Hainan Island,china

Aims Soil respiration is one of the most important components in the car-bon(c)cycle in terrestrial ecosystems.to investigate the contribution of each component of c cycle to the total soil c efflux,we quantified the rates of litter,root,and other mineral soil respiration from 2012 to 2014 in the primary and secondary tropical mountain rain forests in Hainan Island,china.Methods the seasonal dynamics of soil(Rs),non-litter(RNL)and non-root(RNR)respiration rates were measured using an automatic chamber system(Li-8100).Litter removal and root removal treatments were used to assess the contribution of litter and roots to belowground c production.We estimated the annual c efflux of each compo-nent of soil respiration in primary and secondary forests using a temperature-based exponential model and analyzed the impact of each component in each forest type.Important Findingsthe annual total soil c efflux was significantly higher in the primary rain forest(1567±205 g c m^(−2)yr^(−1))than that in the secondary forest(1300±70 g c m^(−2)yr^(−1),P<0.05).the litter,root,and mineral soils contributed 22%(349±185 g c m^(−2)yr^(−1)),38%(589±100 g c m^(−2)yr^(−1)),and 40%(628±128 g c m^(−2)yr^(−1))to the total soil c efflux in primary rain forest,respectively.In secondary forest,these three components contributed 11%(148±35 g c m^(−2)yr^(−1)),45%(572±259 g c m^(−2)yr^(−1)),and 44%(580±226 g c m^(−2)yr^(−1)),respectively.the temperature sensitivity(Q10)of Rs(2.70±0.14)in the primary forest was significantly higher than that in the secondary forest(2.34±0.12),with the Q10 values for respiration decreasing in the order of RNR>Rs>RNL.these results show that the difference in litter respiration between primary and secondary forest caused the major difference in annual soil respiration efflux between these two forest types.In addition,the litter respiration is more sensitive to the soil temperature than the other soil respiration components.

Biomass and carbon dynamics of a tropical mountain rain forest in China

Biometric inventories for 25 years,from 1983 to 2005,indicated that the Jianfengling tropical mountain rain forest in Hainan,China,was either a source or a modest sink of carbon.Overall,this forest was a small carbon sink with an accumulation rate of(0.56±0.22) Mg C ha-1yr-1,integrated from the long-term measurement data of two plots(P9201 and P8302).These findings were similar to those for African and American rain forests((0.62±0.23) Mg C ha-1yr-1).The carbon density varied between(201.43±29.38) Mg C ha-1 and(229.16±39.2) Mg C ha-1,and averaged(214.17±32.42) Mg C ha-1 for plot P9201.Plot P8302,however,varied between(223.95±45.92) Mg C ha-1 and(254.85±48.86) Mg C ha-1,and averaged(243.35±47.64) Mg C ha-1.Quadratic relationships were found between the strength of carbon sequestration and heavy rainstorms and dry months.Precipitation and evapotranspiration are two major factors controlling carbon sequestration in the tropical mountain rain forest.

Forest vegetation of Xishuangbanna,south China

Xishuangbanna of southern Yunnan is biogeographically located at a transitional zone from tropical southeast （SE） Asia to subtropical east Asia and is at the junction of the Indian and Burmese plates of Gondwana and the Eurasian plate of Laurasia. The region, though surprisingly far from the equator and at a relatively high altitude, has a rich tropical flora and a typical tropical rain forest in the lowland areas. Based on physiognomic and ecological characteristics, floristic composition and habitats combined, the primary vegetation in Xishuangbanna can be organized into four main vegetation types： tropical rain forest, tropical seasonal moist forest, tropical montane evergreen broad-leaved forest and tropical monsoon forest. The tropical rain forest can be classified into two subtypes, i.e. a tropical seasonal rain forest in the lowlands and a tropical montane rain forest at higher elevations. The tropical seasonal rain forest has almost the same forest profile and physiognomic characteristics as equatorial lowland rain forests and is a type of truly tropical rain forest. Because of conspicuous similarity on ecological and floristic characteristics, the tropical rain forest in Xishuangbanna is a type of tropical Asian rain forest. However, since the tropical rain forest of Xishuangbanna occurs at the northern edge of tropical SE Asia, it differs from typical lowland rain forests in equatorial areas in having some deciduous trees in the canopy layer, fewer megaphanerophytes and epiphytes but more abundant lianas and more plants with microphyll. It is a type of semi-evergreen rain forest at the northern edge of the tropical zone. The tropical montane rain forest occurs at wet montane habitats and is similar to the lower montane rain forest in equatorial Asia in floristic composition and physiognomy. It is a type of lower montane rain forests within the broader category of tropical rain forests. The tropical seasonal moist forest occurs on middle and upper limestone slopes. It is similar to the tropical montane evergreen broad-leaved forest in the region in physiognomy, but differs from the latter in floristic composition. It is a vegetation type on limestone at high elevations. The monsoon forest in Xishuangbanna is a tropical deciduous forest under the influence of a strong monsoon climate and is considered to be a transitional vegetation type between a tropical rain forest and savanna in physiognomy and distribution. The tropical montane evergreen broad-leaved forest is the main montane vegetation type in the region. It is dominated largely by the families Fagaceae, Euphorbiaceae, Theaceae and Lauraceae. It differs from tropical lower montane rain forests in its lack of epiphytes and in having more abundant lianas and plants with compound leaves. It is considered to be a distinct vegetation type from the northern margin of mainland southeastern Asia, controlled by a strong seasonal climate, based on its floristic and physiognomic characteristics.

Seed Dynamics in Relation to Gaps in a Tropical Montane Rainforest of Hainan Island,South China:(Ⅰ)Seed Rain

Seed dynamics is an important part of stand dynamics in forest ecosystems. In this paper, 26 gaps were randomly selected to study the influence of gaps on the spatial and temporal patterns of seed rains in a tropical montane rainforest of Hainan Island, South China. Three zones for each gap, including outside gap zone （Non-gap）, transitional gap zone （EG-CG）, and central gap zone （CG）, were designed, and fourseed traps （each lm x lm in size） were placed in each zone. Seed rains were collected by these traps every 10 days from June 2001 to May 2002. Seed rain varied greatly with season and generally exhibited a pattern of unimodal change during the study period： seed abundance and species richness were both greater in the wet season than in the dry season. Gaps significantly influenced the temporal patterns of both species richness and density of seed rains. Gaps had no significant influences on the spatial distribution patterns of seed rain species richness, but significantly affected the spatial distribution pattern of seed rain densities. Among the three different zones of gaps, the outside gap zone generally received more seeds inputs than the two other gap zones.

Gap Dynamics and Tree Species Diversity in a Tropical Montane Rain Forest of Hainan Island,China

Based on investigation of 53 gaps and 25 quadrats (15m×15m each) of non-gap closed stand in an old-growth tropical montane rain forest of Hainan Island, China, canopy disturbance regimes and gap regeneration were studied. Gaps were elliptical in horizontal form, the ratio of long axis /short axis was about 1.4. Percentage of expanded gaps (EG) and canopy gaps (CG) area in the landscape were 53.5% and 25.2% respectively. EG ranged from 31.4 m2 to 488.2m2 and CG/rom 14.9m2 to 354.2m2, their average sizes ...

Functional perspectives on tropical tree demography and forest dynamics

Disentangling the processes that drive population,community and whole forest structure and dynamics is a challenge.It becomes a grand challenge in the tropics where there are a large number of species,small population sizes,less research infrastructure,and a relatively smaller number of researchers compared to the temperate zone.Tackling this grand challenge,we argue,requires detailed knowledge of the functioning of individuals and species.To this end,researchers frequently employ plant functional traits to study tree populations and communities.Here,we review this approach by first providing a basic background regarding the major trait axes generally of interest.We then discuss how these axes may be or have been applied from ecosystem to community and population studies.In doing so,we highlight where the functional trait research program has failed in tropical tree ecology and where it can be improved or strengthened.Finally,we provide a perspective regarding how functional trait and emerging‘omics approaches can be integrated to address large questions facing the field.Our intention throughout is to provide an entryway into this literature for an early career researcher rather than a comprehensive review of all possible studies that have taken place in tropical forests.

Effect of wood density and water permeability on wood decomposition rates of 32 bornean rainforest trees

Aims a better understanding of wood litter decomposition is essential for predicting responses of forest ecosystems to global climate change.recent studies suggest that chemical properties of wood litters,rather than physical ones such as wood density,are more important for inter-specific differences in wood decomposition rates.However,empirical data are still limited,especially for tropical trees.In addition,decom-position rate of wood litter often varies with time,which makes inter-specific comparison difficult.We studied the wood decomposition of 32 rainforest trees to elucidate(i)the degree of interspecific variation in wood decomposition rate of a given size and configuration and(ii)if initial wood density and water permeability are consistent predictors of the overall decomposition rate and its pattern over time.Methods a common garden decomposition experiment was conducted in a tropical rainforest in malaysian borneo for 32 native tree species.small wood sticks were set on the forest floor and the weight loss was monitored monthly for 2.7 years.Important Findings We found large variation in the wood decomposition rate(a 49-fold range),suggesting that we need to consider this variation when cal-culating community-level carbon dynamics of tropical rain forests.the physical traits of wood,i.e.wood density and water permeability,were related to wood decomposition rate and its pattern over time.Decomposition half-time related positively and negatively to initial wood density and water permeability,respectively.the time-dependentrate model fitted better for 18 species(56%of the study species)that had higher water permeabilities than the others,suggesting that micelle porosity in wood relates to temporal changes in decomposition rate.

Fragmentation Effects on Diversity of Wasp Community and Its Impact on Fig／Fig Wasp Interaction in Ficus racemosa L.

Abstract: Habitat fragmentation usually results in alteration of species composition or biological communities. However, little is known about the effect of habitat fragmentation on the fig/fig wasp system. In this study, we compared the structure of a fig wasp community and the interaction between figs and fig wasps of Ficus racemosa L. in a primary forest, a locally fragmented forest and a highly fragmented forest. Our results show that, in the highly fragmented forest, the proportion of pollinator wasps is lower and the proportion of non-pollinator wasps is higher compared with the primary forest and locally fragmented forest. The proportion of fruits without pollinator wasps in mature fruits is also greatly increased in the highly fragmented forest. The proportion of galls in all female flowers increases in the highly fragmented forest, whereas the proportion of viable seeds does not change considerably. The disruption of groups of fig trees results in a decrease in pollinator wasps and even might result in the extinction of pollinator wasps in some extreme cases, which may transform the reciprocal interaction between figs and fig wasps into a parasite/host system. Such an effect may lead to the local extinction of this keystone plant resource of rain forests in the process of evolution, and thereby, may change the structure and function of the tropical rain forest.

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.