Characteristics of typhoon disturbed gaps in an old-growth tropical montane rainforest in Hainan Island, China

Disturbances that create gaps can shape the structure and function of forests. However, such disturbance regimes in Asian tropical montane rainforests remain largely unquantified. Least studied are typhoon disturbances that are attributable to climate change. We investigated gap characteristics in terms of size, age, and gap-maker to quantify the gap disturbance regimes in an intact old-growth tropical montane rainforest on Hainan Island, China. The intensity of typhoons has increased since 1949, and typhoon winds blow mostly (45.5%) from the northeast corner of Hainan Island, resulting in a higher frequency of gaps in the northeast. A total of 221 gap-makers (trees that fell to create canopy gaps) and 53 gaps were observed in a 3.16 ha old-growth rainforest. Most canopy gaps (85%) were < 200 m(2). The average size of canopy gaps was smaller in the rainforest than in other tropical forests, while the average size of expanded gaps was similar to those in other tropical forests. The maximum age of gaps was 23.5 years indicating that gaps had more rapid turnover than other parts of tropical forests. The frequency distribution of gap-makers followed a lognormal distribution with a distinctive peak at three gap-makers, which was different from the inverse J-shaped curve typical of other tropical forests. Gaps were recorded mainly on slopes between 20A degrees and 35A degrees and wood density of gap-makers was between 0.6 and 0.7 g cm(-3). Our results suggest that small-scale disturbance was the dominant agent of gap formation in this old-growth rainforest that is subject to increasing typhoon disturbances.

Effects of microtopography on spatial point pattern of forest stands on the semi-arid Loess Plateau,China

Microtopography may affect the distribution of forests through its effect on rain redistribution and soil water distribution on the semi-arid Loess Plateau,China.In this study,we investigated the characteristics of microtopography on two shady slopes（slope A,5 hm2,uniform slope;slope B,5 hm2,microtopography slope） and surveyed the height,the diameter at breast height and the location（x,y coordinates） of all selected individual trees（Robinia pseudoacacia Linn.,Pyrus betulifolia Bunge,Populus hopeiensis Hu ＆ Chow,Armeniaca sibirica Lam.,Populus simonii Carr.and Ulmus pumila Linn.） on slope A and slope B in the watersheds of Wuqi county,Shaanxi province.Subsequently,the effects of microtopography on the spatial pattern of forest stands were analyzed using Ripley＇s K（r） function.The results showed that：（1） The maximal aggregation radiuses of the tree species on the uniform slope（slope A） were larger than 40 m,whereas those of the tree species on the microtopography slope（slope B） were smaller than 30 m.（2） On slope B,the spatial association of R.pseudoacacia with P.betulifolia,A.sibirica,P.simonii and U.pumila varied from being strongly negative to positive at microtopography scales.The spatial association of Populus hopeiensis Hu ＆ Chow with U.pumila also varied from being strongly negative to positive at microtopography scales.However,there was no spatial association between P.betulifolia and P.hopeiensis,P.betulifolia and A.sibirica,P.betulifolia and P.simonii,P.betulifolia and U.pumila,P.hopeiensis and A.sibirica,P.hopeiensis and P.simonii,A.sibirica and P.simonii,A.sibirica and U.pumila,and P.simonii and U.pumila.On slope A,the spatial association between tree species were strongly negative.The results suggest that microtopography may shape tree distribution patterns on the semi-arid Loess Plateau.

Assessing stand structure in successional stages of dark coniferous forests in western Sichuan, China

Subalpine dark coniferous forests in the western Sichuan Province of China play an important role in the hydrological processes in the upper reaches of the Yangtze River. Second-growth forests, with different stand successional stages, have developed as a result of logging over the past 50 years. Forest cover and stand structure changed greatly with concomitant degradation of forest ecosystem functions. To understand how the stand structures of the second-growth forests change during the stand succession process, we analyzed stand structure characteristics and an old-growth state index of the bamboo and moss-forest types. We found that stand structure at the young successional stage featured one-third of the structure characteristics of the old-growth dark coniferous forests,while the structure of the medium-aged stage had reached half the structure of the old-growth state. The two forest types were similar in the rate of development at the young successional stage but differed at the medium-aged stage;the moss-forest type had more advanced development than the bamboo-forest type at the medium-aged successional stage.

Effects of artificially cultivated biological soil crusts on soil nutrients and biological activities in the Loess Plateau

Biological soil crusts （BSCs） play an important role in the early succession of vegetation restoration in the Loess Plateau, China. To evaluate the effects of artificially cultivated BSCs on the soil surface micro-envir- onment, we obtained natural moss crusts and moss-lichen crusts from the Loess Plateau of Shaanxi province, and subsequently inoculated and cultivated on horizontal and sloping surfaces of loess soil in a greenhouse. The chemical and biological properties of the subsoil under cultivated BSCs were determined after 10 weeks of cul- tivation. The results indicated that BSCs coverage was more than 65% after 10 weeks of cultivation. Moss crust coverage reached 40% after 5 weeks of cultivation. Compared with the control, soil organic matter and available nitrogen contents in moss crust with the horizontal treatments increased by 100.87% and 48.23%, respectively; increased by 67.56% and 52.17% with the sloping treatments, respectively; they also increased in moss-lichen crust with horizontal and sloping treatments, but there was no significant difference. Available phosphorus in cultivated BSCs was reduced, soil pH was lower and cationic exchange capacity was higher in cultivated BSCs than in the control. Alkaline phosphatase, urease and invertase activities were increased in artificially cultivated BSCs, and alkaline phosphatase activity in all cultivated BSCs was obviously higher than that in the control. Numbers of soil bacteria, fungi and actinomycetes were increased in the formation process of cultivated BSCs. These results indicate that BSCs could be formed rapidly in short-term cultivation and improve the mi- cro-environment of soil surface, which provides a scientific reference for vegetation restoration and ecological reconstruction in the Loess Plateau. China.

Spatial heterogeneity of fine root biomass of Pinus massoniana forests in the Three Gorges Reservoir Area, China

Environmental heterogeneity is a constant presence in the natural world that significantly affects plant behavior at a variety of levels of complexity. In order to estimate the spatial pattern of fine root biomass in the Three Gorges Reservoir Area, the spatial heterogeneity of fine root biomass in the upper layer of soils （0-10 cm） in three Mas- son pine （Pinus massoniana） stands in the Three Gorges Reservoir Area, China, was studied in 30 m x 30 m plots with geostatistical analysis. The results indicate that 1） both the live and dead fine root biomass of stand 2 were less than those of other stands, 2） the spatial variation of fine roots in the three stands was caused together by structural and ran- dom factors with moderate spatial dependence and 3） the magnitude of spatial heterogeneity of live fine roots ranked as： stand 3 〉 stand 1 〉 stand 2, while that of dead fine roots was similar in the three stands. These findings suggested that the range of spatial autocorrelation for fine root biomass varied considerably in the Three Gorges Reservoir Area, while soil properties, such as soil bulk density, organic matter and total nitrogen, may exhibit great effect on the spatial distribution of fine roots. Finally, we express our hope to be able to carry out further research on the quantitative relation- ship between the spatial heterogeneous patterns of plant and soil properties.

Integrated watershed management:evolution,development and emerging trends

Watershed management is an ever-evolving practice involving the management of land, water, biota, and other resources in a defined area for ecological, social, and economic purposes. In this paper, we explore the following questions： How has watershed management evolved？ What new tools are available and how can they be integrated into sustainable watershed management？ To address these questions, we discuss the process of developing integrated watershed management strategies for sustainable manage- ment through the incorporation of adaptive management techniques and traditional ecological knowledge. We address the numerous benefits from integration acrossdisciplines and jurisdictional boundaries, as well as the incorporation of technological advancements, such as remote sensing, GIS, big data, and multi-level social-eco- logical systems analysis, into watershed management strategies. We use three case studies from China, Europe, and Canada to review the success and failure of integrated watershed management in addressing different ecological, social, and economic dilemmas in geographically diverse locations. Although progress has been made in watershed management strategies, there are still numerous issues impeding successful management outcomes; many of which can be remedied through holistic management approaches, incorporation of cutting-edge science and technology, and cross-jurisdictional coordination. We conclude by high- lighting that future watershed management will need to account for climate change impacts by employing techno- logical advancements and holistic, cross-disciplinary approaches to ensure watersheds continue to serve their ecological, social, and economic functions. We present three case studies in this paper as a valuable resource for scientists, resource managers, government agencies, and other stakeholders aiming to improve integrated watershed management strategies and more efficiently and successfully achieve ecological and socio-economic management objectives.

Study on Habitat Forest Type and Plant Diversity of Sichuan Snub-nosed Monkey in Shennongjia National Nature Reserve

The experimental plots in representative areas of the Shennongjia Nature Reserve were established.The forest communities in Shennongjia were investigated by using TWINSPAN.The plant communities in these plots were investigated to discern the pattern of species diversity distribution along the altitudinal gradient.Theα-diversity andβ- diversity were calculated by using the data collected. Theα-diversity of the tree layer peaked in the evergreen broadleaved forest zone at low-elevation, theα-diversity of the shrub layer increased gradually at first and then decreased along the altitudinal gradient,while theα-diversity of the herb layer peaked in mid-altitude.Theβ-diversity peaked at mid-elevations where the composition of edificatory species changed.The transition zone was characterized by relatively high levels of species diversity and species turn-over rate.The overall species richness peaked in mid-altitude.The results of this research could provide a sound basis for reserve management and planning,as well as preservation of Sichuan snub-nosed monkey in this reserve.

Influencing Factors of Fine Root Production and Turnover in Forest Ecosystem

Fine roots（≤2mm in diameter） play important roles in carbon balance and nutrient recycling in forest ecosystem.With the development of the study on global carbon cycle,fine roots have attracted considerable attention as the main source of soil carbon in forest ecosystem.On the basis of synthetic analysis of research reports in domestic and foreign literatures,we summarized and elaborated the major abiotic and biotic factors that control fine root production and turnover.The environmental factors included soil nutrient,soil temperature,soil moisture and the CO2 concentration.Soil organisms,fine root morphology and forest stand characteristics were discussed as biotic factors in this paper.Finally,we defined the problems arising in root system research and prospected the future research direction.

Community structure and elevational diversity patterns of soil Acidobacteria

Acidobacteria is one of the most dominant and abundant phyla in soil,and was believed to have a wide range of metabolic and genetic functions. Relatively little is known about its community structure and elevational diversity patterns. We selected four elevation gradients from 1000 to 2800 m with typical vegetation types of the northern slope of Shennongjia Mountain in central China. The vegetation types were evergreen broadleaved forest,deciduous broadleaved forest,coniferous forest and sub-alpine shrubs. We analyzed the soil acidobacterial community composition,elevational patterns and the relationship between Acidobacteria subdivisions and soil enzyme activities by using the 16 S rRNA meta-sequencing technique and multivariate statistical analysis. The result found that 19 known subdivisions as well as an unclassified phylotype were presented in these forest sites,and Subdivision 6 has the highest number of detectable operational taxonomic units（OTUs）. A significant single peak distribution pattern（P 〈 0.05） between the OTU number and the elevation was observed. The Jaccard and Bray–Curtis index analysis showed that the soil Acidobacteria compositional similarity significantly decreased（P 〈 0.01） with the increase in elevation distance. Mantel test analysis showed the most of the soil Acidobacteria subdivisions had the significant relationship（P 〈 0.01） with different soil enzymes. Therefore,soil Acidobacteria may be involved in different ecosystem functions in global elemental cycles. Partial Mantel tests and CCA analysis showed that soil pH,soil temperature and plant diversity may be the key factors in shaping the soil Acidobacterial community structure.

Structure and function of rhizosphere and non-rhizosphere soil microbial community respond differently to elevated ozone in field-planted wheat

To assess the responses of the soil microbial community to chronic ozone（O3）, wheat seedlings（Triticum aestivum Linn.） were planted in the field and exposed to elevated O3（e O3）concentration. Three treatments were employed：（1） Control treatment（CK）, AOT40 = 0;（2） O3-1, AOT40 = 1.59 ppm·h;（3） O3-2, AOT40 = 9.17 ppm·h. Soil samples were collected for the assessment of microbial biomass C, community-level physiological profiles（CLPPs）, and phospholipid fatty acids（PLFAs）. EO3 concentration significantly reduced soil microbial carbon and changed microbial CLPPs in rhizosphere soil, but not in non-rhizosphere soil.The results of the PLFAs showed that e O3 concentrations had significant effects on soil community structure in both rhizosphere and non-rhizosphere soils. The relative abundances of fungal and actinomycetous indicator PLFAs decreased in both rhizosphere and non-rhizosphere soils, while those of bacterial PLFAs increased. Thus the results proved that e O3 concentration significantly changed the soil microbial community function and composition, which would influence the soil nutrient supply and carbon dynamics under O3 exposure.

Changes in Contents of N,P,K,pH and Organic Matter of Soil Experiencing Hydro-Fluctuation in Three Gorges Reservoir

Setting monitoring transect in the middle and shallow water area(altitude 156-172 m) in Three Gorges reservoir hydro-fluctuation belt to research the changing characteristics of the contents of N, P,K,pH and organic matter of the soil which experienced the influence of fluctuation the first time. The results showed that by the influence of water level fluctuating,contents of soil N,P,K,pH and organic matter had reduced in different soil layers in hydro-fluctuation belt.The available N decreased by 41.53%-59.87%,available P decreased by 5.26%- 36.76%,available K decreased by 3.55%-45.56%, total N decreased by 9.52%-40.00%,total P had no change generally,total K had decreased a little, content of organic material decreased by 7.62%- 37.83%%,pH value turned to neutral,changed by 1.73%-9.58%.

Parallel Study on Potential and Existing Geographical Distribution of Haloxylon Dominated Desert Vegetation in China

By applying ARC/INFO (NT version) of the GIS software package , we extracted the existing geographicaldistribution ofHaloxylon dominated desertvegetationandproduced athematicmap ofgeographical distribution of theexisting Haloxylon dominated desert vegetation based on the newly published Vegetation Atlas of China;we defined the adaptiveparameter range ofgeographical and climate ofHaloxylon dominated desert vegetation to generate the potential geographical distribution map of Haloxylon dominated desert vegetation with thesupport of GREEN software. We then sliced and compared the existing and thepotential distribution maps. The results show that the potential geographical distribution areas of Haloxylon ammodendron and Haloxylon persicum dominated desert vegetation accord with the existing distribution areas in the administration division, and the topographic types in both the distribution areas are similar. However, the borders of different directions ofthe potential H. ammodendron dominated desert vegetation distribution has surpassed 0.4° to 5.9° of the existing borders. The borders of different directions of the potential H. persicum dominated desert vegetation has surpassed 0.9° to 3.3° of the existing borders. In China, the existing geographical distributionalarea ofH. ammodendron dominated desertvegetation accounts for 9.1% of the potential one in China and the proportion of the existing H. persicum dominated desert vegetation distribution area to the potential areais 34.1%. The result of comparison of the potential and the existing distribution areaof Haloxylon dominated desert vegetation can provide important scientific basisfor the recovery, reconstruction and introduction of Haloxylon dominated desertvegetation.

Changes of net primary productivity in China during recent 11 years detected using an ecological model driven by MODIS data

Net primary productivity （NPP） is an important component of the terrestrial carbon cycle. Accurately mapping the spatial-temporal variations of NPP in China is crucial for global carbon cycling study. In this study the process-based Boreal Ecosystem Productivity Simulator （BEPS） was employed to study the changes of NPP in China＇s ecosystems for the period from 2000 to 2010. The BEPS model was first validated using gross primary productivity （GPP） measured at typical flux sites and forest NPP measured at different regions. Then it was driven with leaf area index （LAI） inversed from the Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer （MODIS） reflec- tance and land cover products and meteorological data interpolated from observations at753 national basic meteorological stations to simulate NPP at daily time steps and a spatial resolution of 500m from January 1, 2000 to December 31, 2010. Validations show that BEPS is able to capture the seasonal variations of tower-based GPP and the spatial variability of forest NPP in different regions of China. Estimated national total of annual NPP varied from 2.63 to 2.84Pg C.yr-1, averaging 2.74Pg C.yr-1 during the study period. Simulated terrestrial NPP shows spatial patterns decreasing from the east to the west and from the south to the north, in association with land cover types and climate. South-west China makes the largest contribution to the national total of NPP while NPP in the North-west account for only 3.97% of the national total. During the recent 11 years, the temporal changes of NPP were heterogamous. NPP increased in 63.8% of China＇s landmass, mainly in areas north of the Yangtze River and decreased in most areas of southern China, owing to the low temperature freezing in early 2008 and the severe drought in late 2009.

增温驱动的核心微生物的迁移可指示土壤属性的改变

尽管微生物-气候的相互作用已得到越来越多的研究者和决策者的认可,但微生物的高多样性和对气候环境变化多变量的响应导致预测微生物在未来气候背景下的分布格局非常困难.本研究依托于中国土壤微生物组计划,基于采集自中国东部森林的1600多个样品的16S r RNA基因测序数据,首先证实了微生物群落组成和多样性的纬度分布规律且温度对微生物群落组成有显著的直接作用.其次,利用核心微生物代替整体群落来进行多样性的缩减,并将这些核心微生物根据其对环境的偏好性划分为不同的生态集群,这些生态集群在空间上的热点区域,即高丰度区域相互不重叠.此外,通过Cubist模型预测未来不同气候变化情景下(RCP2.6和RCP8.5)各生态集群的丰度变化并将其投影到中国森林生态系统分布区域,通过与现在的分布格局做对比得到增温驱动的生态集群空间分布格局的变化.这些变化一方面可以指示集群内微生物对未来气候变化的适应性,另一方面考虑到每一类生态集群所代表的环境偏好性,这些变化也可进一步用来指示未来气候变化背景下土壤属性的变化.