Dynamics of soil inorganic nitrogen and their responses to nitrogen additions in three subtropical forests, south China

Three forests with different historical land-use, forest age, and spec ies assemblages in subtropical China were selected to evaluate current soil N st atus and investigate the responses of soil inorganic N dynamics to monthly ammon ium nitrate additions. Results showed that the mature monsoon evergreen broadlea ved forest that has been protected for more than 400 years exhibited an advanced soil N status than the pine (Pinus massoniana) and pine-broadleaf mixed forests , both originated from the 1930’s clear-cut and pine plantation. Mature forests had greater extractable inorganic N pool, lower N retention capacity, higher in organic N leaching, and higher soil C/N ratios. Mineral soil extractable NH4+-N and NO3--N concentrations were significantly increased by experimental N additio ns on several sampling dates, but repeated ANOVA showed that the effect was not significant over the whole year except NH4+-N in the mature forest. In contrast, inorganic N (both NH4+-N and NO3--N) in soil 20-cm below the surface was signif icantly elevated by the N additions. From 42% to 74% of N added was retained by the upper 20 cm soils in the pine and mixed forests, while 0%—70% was retained in the mature forest. Our results suggest that land-use history, forest age and species composition were likely to be some of the important factors that determi ne differing forest N retention responses to elevated N deposition in the study region.

Latest Achievements on Climate Change and Forest Interactions in a Polluted Environment

The COST Action FP0903 “Climate Change and Forest Mitigation and Adaptation in a Polluted Environment (MAFor)” involved 29 countries and created a platform for information exchange with experts from different fields, with the following main objectives: 1) to increase understanding of the state and potential of forest mitigation and adaptation to climate change in a polluted environment and 2) to reconcile process-oriented research, long-term monitoring and applied modelling at comprehensive forest research sites. In particular, MAFor translated the existing European knowledge on climate and air pollution dynamics into prospects for forest research and monitoring, with focus on the carbon, ozone, nitrogen and water budgets. The aim of this paper is to summarize scientific activities and achievements of MAFor: the creation of a meta-database for highlighting the available data and integrating the information from European forest research/monitoring networks;the development of a new concept of forest sites for research and monitoring (Supersites);the identification of the main knowledge gaps;and the definition of priorities for forest adaptation to climate change in a polluted environment. The action also increased European capacity building in this sector by organizing five conferences, granting 64 short-term scientific missions, organizing four training schools and publishing more than 100 papers.

Environmental influence in the forested area toward human health: incorporating the ecological environment into art psychotherapy

This study on the development of a psychotherapy program based on the relationship between forests and human health focused on actively considering the natural ecological environment. This study categorized and compared an art psychotherapy program that simply moved to an outdoor space and a forest-art therapy program that actively utilized the forest environment as a medium. The characteristics of the natural environment, such as openness, change, and diversity, shortened the amount of time participants took to develop a rapport and open up and played a vital role in recovering mental health. After a bold attempt at integrating forest environment and art psychotherapy by going beyond outdoor art therapy, there were significant results pertaining to improvements in mental disorders in today’s society, including stress vulnerabilities, depression, anxiety, and aggression. The research results verified that the developed forest-art therapy method had greater efficacy in relation to both the Stress Vulnerability-Interpersonal Sensitivity Scale and the Stress Vulnerability-Self-Regulation Scale.

Public Participation GIS (PPGIS) for Regional Mapping and Environmental Awareness

Giant Hogweed is a poisonous invasive weed in Latvia that poses significant threat to biodiversity and human health. Local residents are afraid and have very special concerns about the safety of their children because the plant causes phytophotodermatitis (severe burns), painful blistering, permanent scarring and blindness when the sap of the plant comes in contact with the human body and is exposed to sunlight. This study utilizes public participation GIS (PPGIS) involving Latvian high school students as data collectors to monitor the geographic distribution of Giant Hogweed in Northeast Latvia. This paper also explores challenges with implementing such a public program, how to maximize participation, and how participation impacts environmental awareness of participants. In this study we also assessed the accuracy of PPGIS-collected data and how the utilization of such data impacts mapping and monitoring of Giant Hogweed in the study area. Results indicate that this PPGIS program is effective in facilitating data collection for monitoring Giant Hogweed in Latvia. Tested methods of increasing participation have proven largely unsuccessful to date. Statistical analyses of survey responses indicate participation had a marked effect on sensitivity towards environmental issues. Accuracy assessments indicate that quality of point data collected by participants is sufficient for mapping and for use as ground verification.

Influence of land use change on the waterbird community of Sihwa Lake,Republic of Korea

Background:Land use and development alter mudflat and wetland habitat availability,although mudflats and wetlands provide important stopover habitats for shorebirds during the spring and autumn migrations and support communities of ducks and geese during the winter months in the Republic of Korea.This study investigated land use changes around Sihwa Lake(Republic of Korea)and evaluated the effect of these changes on waterbird community characteristics.Methods:We conducted a land-use-change analysis at the medium-resolution level using land cover maps for 2001,2007,2009,and 2014.Also,a tidal stream survey was conducted in Sihwa Lake and the surrounding reclaimed mudflats every season for 10 years(2003-2012)to identify the seasonal and interannual variations in waterbird species composition.To determine the total annual waterbird species and population counts,species diversity index,and interspecies variations,a TRIM(trends and indices for monitoring data)analysis was used.Results:Wetland area decreased more than 10%while agricultural land,barren land,and grassland area increased more than 10%due to continuous reclamation activities around Sihwa Lake.Barren land later turned into agricultural land or other land use.Sixty-three species and 566,623 individuals were recorded.The number of species,population size,and species diversity index by year and by species showed decreasing trends that were more marked in spring and summer.Furthermore,seasonal and annual variations in waterbird species composition showed decreasing trends in dabbling ducks,herons,grebes,and shorebirds but diving ducks displayed increasing trends.In particular,shorebirds were reduced to a greater extent than other waterbird species because of the reduction and simplification of the intertidal zone,and shallow waters caused by reclamation and road construction.Conclusions:Increased development and construction around Sihwa Lake has altered migratory shorebird populations with a general decline in species diversity and population size.The greatest decline was observed in wading birds,while diving duck populations showed increasing trends.

基于时间序列MODIS EVI数据的森林生长异常监测

利用遥感技术,基于时间序列的MODIS数据对2004—2006年东北三省的林区进行森林生长异常监测。首先利用MODIS数据时间分辨率高的特点,采用Savitzky-Golay滤波函数平滑8天合成的EVI,计算生长季面积和年EVI曲线熵值,两指标联合得到3年间变化量大的像素点,定义为森林生长异常点;然后抽取异常点的时间序列曲线进行分析,并结合森林灾害事件进行比较验证。结果表明:异常点曲线的熵值明显大于正常年,生长季峰值低,并且在生长旺季会出现峰值突然持续下降或双峰等异常现象,这与该区域森林生长异常发生时的植被反射率表征一致,说明用该法对森林生长异常进行监测是基本可行的。

Sap flow for beech(Fagus sylvatica L.)in a natural and a managed forest—effect of spatial heterogeneity

Aims Beech(Fagus sylvatica L.)is an important species in natural and managed forests in Europe.This drought-sensitive species dominates even-aged stands as well more natural stands composed of a mixture of tree species,age and size classes.This study evaluates the extent that heterogeneity in spacing and tree diameter affect the seasonal availability and use of water.Methods Two stands were evaluated:(i)a heterogeneous forest remnant(NAT)with trees up to;300 years old,a mean top height of 28.4 m and a total of 733 stems ha
1with stem diameters averaging 18 cm and(ii)an even-aged 80-year old stand(MAN),with a height of 25 m,and a total of 283 stems ha
1 with diameters averaging 38 cm.Stem sap flow,Js(g m
2 s
1),was continuously measured in 12(MAN)and 13(NAT)trees using 20-mm long heat dissipation sensors.Individual tree measures of sap flow were correlated using non-linear statistical methods with air vapour pressure deficit(D,hPa)and global radiation(Rg,J m
2 day
1),along with constraints imposed by reductions in soil water content(SWC).SWC was measured as volumetric%using time domain reflectometry.Important Findings The daily integrated Js(Js-sum)for trees growing in the evenly spaced MAN stand and trees in canopy and closed forest positions in NAT stand decreased as the availability of soil moisture was reduced.In the heterogeneous NAT stand,SWC in a recently formed canopy gap remained high throughout the vegetation period.Based on regression models,the predicted relative decrease in Js-sum for dry relative to moist soil water conditions in the closed forest(at mean daily D=10 hPa)was 7–11%for trees near the gap and 39–42%for trees in the closed forest.In MAN,the reduction in Js-sum was 29%in dry relative to moist conditions.Js-sum in the outer 20 mm of the xylem in NAT was lower than that in MAN and the rate of decline in Js with xylem depth was less in NAT than in MAN.In MAN,Js-sum in deep and outer xylem was negatively affected at low soil moisture availability;in NAT,this was the case for only the outer xylem indicating that deep roots could be important in supplying water at times of low soil moisture in the upper soil.

北欧岩高兰(Empetrum)生态系统:功能及其对环境变化的敏感性

本文回顾了关于北欧地区岩高兰(Empetrum nigrum sap.nigrum和ssp.hermaphroditum)生态系统的知识。因为岩高兰叶片及其枯枝落叶含有丰富的酚,分解缓慢,随着有机质表土层的形成,养分存储于有机养分库中,主要由具有石南状根的植物所吸收利用。黑果岩高兰(Empetrum nigrum)亚种Hermaphroditum是强有力的养分竞争者,并且在演替后期能战胜多数植物。这是化学干扰(他感作用)和资源竞争所致。岩高兰作为一种有机体耐大气污染,在适林海岸石南丛生地,由于大气中大量氮的沉积其生长活力甚至有所增加,但是它对机械干扰及火烧非常敏感。然而,有迹象表明,空气中无机气氮的输入可对岩高兰占优势时所形成的封闭式营养循环产生干扰。

A Perspective of Urban Forestry Policy and Management Methodologies in China

Urban forestry provides the way to resolve the ecological and environmental problems of urbanization. Recently, how to make appropriate urban forestry policy and implement the corresponding management methodologies has become one of hot topics in the research of urban forestry. In this paper, Chinese urban forestry policies were introduced, the common themes of urban forestry planning, for example, Green Structure Planning had been identified, different urban forestry management strategies were suggested primarily in China under the guidance of European urban forestry management methodologies. Additionally, partnership and public involvement, as the main working methods of urban forestry, were analyzed in detail. The aims of this paper is to examine current practices related to urban forestry policy and management, to improve the urban forestry sustainable management ability for policy makers, managers, beneficiaries, user-groups, communities, and to improve the ecological and environmental quality in urban and suburban areas in China.

Study on the Practical Experience of Ecological Wisdom of Four Artificial Lakes in Guangzhou

The four artificial lakes in Guangzhou(Liwan Lake,Liuhua Lake,Lu Lake,Dongshan Lake)have maintained a benign relationship with the city for the symbiosis of human,nature and society since the end of the 1950s.Taking the four artificial lakes in Guangzhou as the research object,reviewing the construction process of the four artificial lakes in Guangzhou,and combing the ecological practice experience of the four artificial lakes.It is concluded that siting selection suitable for urban geographic conditions,considering the construction of artificial lakes in urban water systems,designing incorporating cultural,constructing and renovating the park combined with urban development and establishing lake-park symbiosis are the internal cause for the benign interoperability and coordinated development of the four artificial lakes and cities.In order to provide reference for the construction of urban artificial lakes in Guangzhou and the urban ecological environment construction of Guangdong,Hong Kong and Macao Dawan District.

Identification of characteristic plant co-occurrences in neotropical secondary montane forests

Aims Inferring environmental conditions from characteristic patterns of plant co-occurrences can be crucial for the development of conservation strategies concerning secondary neotropical forests.However,nomethodological agreement has been achieved so far regarding the identification and classification of characteristic groups of vascular plant species in the tropics.This study examines botanical and,in particular,statistical aspects to beconsidered in such analyses.Based on these,we propose a novel data-driven approach for the identification of characteristic plantco-oc currences in neotropical secondary mountain forests.Methods Floristic inventory data were gathered in secondary tropical mountain forests in Ecuador.Vegetation classification was performed by coupling locally adaptive isometric feature mapping,a non-linear ordination method and fuzzy-c-means clustering.This approach was designed for dealing with underlying non-linearities and uncertainties in the inventory data.Important Findings The results indicate that the applied non-linear mapping in combination with fuzzy classification of species occurrence allows an effective identification of characteristic groups of co-occurring species as fuzzy-defined clusters.The selected species indicated groups representing characteristic life-form distributions,as they correspond to various stages of forest regeneration.Combining the identified‘characteristic species groups’with meta-information derived from accompanying studies indicated that the clusters can also be related to habitat conditions.In conclusion,we identified species groups either characteristic of different stages of forest succession after clear-cutting or of impact by fire or a landslide.We expect that the proposed data-mining method will be useful for vegetation classification where no a priori knowledge is available.

Concept of the integrative aspects of the forest ecosystem services with case study on recreation services assessment in Slovakia

Introduction:This paper presents basic information on the research,classification,and application of the functions of tree species and their communities(mainly forest)in Slovakia.The main aim is a scientific assessment of acquired knowledge regarding the functional effects of forests under real ecological,forest management and socio-economic conditions from various regions in Slovakia;the most up-to-date findings concerning the ecology and economics of natural resources will be applied here.The second part of the paper presents methodological possibilities for valuation of outdoor recreation in forests.Different methods and methodological approaches suitable to a valuation of recreation based on various principles and criteria(preference and non-preference methods,cost-based methods,revenue-based methods,and direct and indirect methods)are analyzed.A practical application of one indirect preference method(travel cost method)is made to evaluate outdoor recreation in forests in Slovakia.Results and conclusions:A new classification system and a methodology of integrative utilization of forest functions for the forest ecosystem services are constructed.Outdoor recreation in forests,besides recreational forests and areas,assumes the character of a public good:its use by individuals has some influence on utilization by other individuals,and single users cannot be excluded from its utilization.Therefore,some stimulation for its production is missing.In principle,there are no markets for these kinds of public goods and services.The total value of outdoor recreation in forests in Slovakia amounted to€163.4 million;if opportunity time costs were included,this amounted to as much as€825.7 million.

Monitoring Forest Growth Disturbance Using Time Series MODIS EVI Data

Forest growth is mainly currently monitored using in-situ measurements in northeast of China.To effectively monitor forest growth disturbance at large scale,we attempted to use remote sensing technique,particularly,time series MODIS data from 2004 to 2006.The annual time series of 8-day enhanced vegetation index(EVI) dataset was generated and smoothed using a Savitzky-Golay filter.The EVI trajectory during growth season was simulated using a logistic model. From the simulated trajectory,the EVI area of growth season and annual EVI entropy were calculated.These two factors were combined to map the disturbance regions of forest growth. Finally,the disturbance regions were verified using a set of random samples.The result indicates that the disturbance points have distinctively higher entropy and lower peak.Some of these points also show abrupt EVI decline during the midseason of the peak phases or double peaks.This approach is demonstrated to be feasible for disturbance monitoring of forest growth.

Urban Forestry Research in Europe-An Overview

A comprehensive European overview of recent and ongoing research in Europe has been carried out within the framework of COST Action E12 'Urban Forests and Trees', a pan-European research network. This paper presents some of the main findings of a comparative analysis of 20 individual country reports. The analysis shows that research on urban forests and urban trees in Europe has a wide scope and is rather fragmented and uncoordinated. Universities and state research institutes, mostly with a forestry or...

Higher Education on Urban Forestry in Europe: An Overview

In order to meet the demands of modern, information-based society, higher education in natural resource management needs to be transformed. Enhanced mobility of students and staff, multi- and transdisciplinary approaches, as well as innovative educational approaches are called for. Moreover, the urban component needs to be better incorporated, as exemplified by the emerging field of urban forestry. This paper relates to the developments in higher education within the context of education on urban forest...

Invaders’ control on post-disturbance succession in coastal mangroves

Aims In recent years,coastal mangroves have been frequently affected by large disturbances(cyclones,hurricanes,flooding and tsunamis)and post-disturbance vegetation is often dominated by small stature mangrove,mangrove-associate and non-mangrove species potentially affecting ecosystem functioning.Knowledge on the processes of mangrove vegetation development and recovery(succession)following normal and large disturbances will benefit practitioners in designing robust ecosystem management/restoration plans.Here we propose a conceptual model of disturbance-mediated succession in mangroves.Methods Based on field observations and species’life history traits,we develop conceptual models of mangrove succession under normal disturbance regime and recently experienced increased frequency of large disturbances.We evaluate our conceptual models by conducting a scenario testing experiment.Important Findings We suggest two predominant processes affecting mangrove succession after disturbance:propagule limitation due to damage of seed producing mature trees and dispersal barrier resulting from biological invasion associated with large disturbance.We argue that large disturbances affect mature trees more than the small-stature non-tree(shrubs,herbs and climbers)species creating a larger propagule shortage for mangrove tree species than non-tree species.Secondly,large disturbances facilitate invasion of free-floating aquatics,which may interfere with the flow-facilitated propagule dispersal and seedling establishment of mangrove species.In a scenario testing experiment,we have shown that similar levels of disturbance impact vegetation development and recovery differently depending on the presence or absence of invasive species.We conclude that since biological invasion is one of the major drivers of post-disturbance mangrove succession,the dimension of biological invasion should be included in prediction,management and restoration of mangrove forests.