北京东灵山暖温带落叶阔叶林地形和林分结构对林下草本植物物种多样性的影响

森林群落林下草本植物物种多样性丰富,然而大多数森林物种多样性研究集中在乔木层,对林下草本植物物种多样性及其影响因子的研究较少。本研究基于北京东灵山20 ha森林动态监测样地450个1 m×1 m的草本样方调查数据,选择物种丰富度指数(R)、Shannon-Wiener多样性指数(H′)、Simpson优势度指数(D)和Pielou均匀度指数(E)作为草本植物物种多样性数据指标,分析了林下草本植物物种多样性与地形和林分结构的相关关系;并采用Pearson相关性分析、回归分析、冗余分析(RDA)及层次分割的方法,探讨了地形因子和林分因子对草本植物物种多样性的影响。结果表明:(1)林下草本植物的Shannon-Wiener多样性指数与坡向呈显著负相关(P <0.05),随坡向增大(由阳坡转向阴坡)而呈下降趋势; 4个多样性指数与海拔、坡度和凹凸度均无显著相关性。(2)物种丰富度指数和Shannon-Wiener多样性指数随林分密度和林地物种丰富度的增大呈下降的趋势,但随平均胸径的增大呈上升的趋势;各物种多样性指数均与胸径变异系数无显著相关性。(3)层次分割结果表明,环境因子对林下草本植...     

宁南山区华北落叶松林下草本层群落特征及其影响因素

林下草本植物是森林生态系统的基本组成要素,对森林的更新、生态系统结构、功能的维持和提升具有重要作用,理解林下草本层群落特征及其影响因素,有助于构建理想的林-草结合模式。本研究以宁南山区泾源县无人为干扰的华北落叶松林人工林、间伐处理的华北落叶松林人工林和华北落叶松与白桦自然混交林为研究对象,探究林下草本层群落特征(物种多样性和地上生物量)及其与土壤理化特性(土壤容重、含水量、全碳含量、全氮含量及全磷含量)和林分结构(密度和郁闭度)的关系。结果表明：(1)与人工林相比,自然混交林林下草本植物组成最丰富(34种),且物种多样性和地上生物量也最高;(2)自然混交林林下土壤特性均优于人工林,但间伐处理的人工林林下土壤特性较无人为干扰的人工林土壤特性有显著提高;(3)冗余分析表明,林下草本层物种多样性主要与土壤含水量、土壤全碳、全氮和全磷含量呈正相关,与土壤容重、林分密度和郁闭度呈负相关,且林分密度、0～20 cm土层含水量对林下草本物种多样性有显著影响(P<0.05);(4)回归分析结果表明,0～20 cm土层的土壤特性、物种丰富度和优势度、林分密度及郁闭度显著影响林下草本地上生物量的积累...     

基于1公顷样地的上海崇明岛人工林草本植物多样性及其对林冠结构的响应

为了研究城市森林草本植物多样性及其与冠层结构的关系,本文对上海崇明岛人工林1公顷样地的草本植被结构进行了调查分析,结果表明:(1)样地内共有草本植物40种,分属20科39属,以菊科种为主。(2)不同群落林下草本植被组成有明显差异,各群落林下草本植被优势种不同,物种多样性指数也不一样。香樟群落林下草本植物多样性指数最大,重阳木群落林下草本植物多样性指数最低。各指数变化趋势一致,均表现为常绿阔叶林(香樟林)落叶针阔混交林(水杉-重阳木林)落叶阔叶林(梧桐林)落叶阔叶林(重阳木林)。(3)同一群落林下草本植被组成有差异,不同密度梯度以及不同郁闭度梯度下各草本植被物种多样性指数均呈先增大后减小的趋势。     

林分密度对云顶山柏木人工林林下物种多样性和土壤理化性质的影响

以成都云顶山柏木(Cupressus funebris)人工林为对象,采用典型样地法研究不同林分密度(1100、950、800、650、500株/hm~2)对林下物种多样性和土壤理化性质及林下物种多样性与土壤理化性质相关性的影响。结果表明:共发现维管植物168种,隶属75科140属。随林分密度的降低,灌木层多样性指数呈先增后减的单峰变化,在密度650株/hm~2出现峰值,草本层多样性指数呈先增后减再增再减的双峰变化,在密度950株/hm~2和650株/hm~2出现峰值。同时发现光照为影响林下植物多样性的重要因素。林分密度对土壤全氮、全钾、速效钾、有机质影响显著,有机质、全氮、全钾、速效钾随林分密度降低呈先增后减的变化趋势。钾、氮、有机质与林下植被物种多样性关系最密切。结论:林分密度650株/hm~2为云顶山柏木人工林最适密度,该密度能较好的提高林下物种多样性和土壤肥力。     

林分因子对张北杨树人工林林下草本层物种多样性的影响

研究人工林林分因子对林下草本层物种多样性的影响,对于人工林的抚育及合理经营有着重要意义。本研究调查了张北杨树人工林的林分死亡率、平均树高、平均枝下高、平均胸径、平均冠幅及林分密度等6个林分因子及林下草本层的群落特征,并计算出物种多样性指数,探究张北杨树人工林林分结构和林下物种多样性随林分因子的变化特征。结果表明:研究区林下草本层共发现维管植物44种,隶属于17科38属,其中以菊科(Compositae)、豆科(Leguminosae)、禾本科(Gramineae)植物最多;林下草本层物种水分生态类型主要以旱生类植物为主,合计25种,占总种数的56.82%,植物生活型谱中以地面芽植物为主,共27种,占总种数61.36%;物种丰富度指数、Shannon指数和Pielou均匀度指数在各样地内存在显著差异,且物种丰富度指数变异系数最大,Simpson指数在各样地之间不存在显著差异,变异系数最小;各样地之间的林分因子均存在显著差异,其中林分死亡率的变异程度最高,平均胸径的变异程度最低;影响林下草本层物种丰富度指数的主要林分因子有林分死亡率、平均枝下高、平均胸径和林分密度,影响Shannon指数的主要林分因子有林分死亡率、平均树高、平均胸径和林分密度,各林分因子对Simpson指数和Pielou均匀度指数的影响均无显著差异。适当调控林分密度,保持树种针阔混交,将有利于张北杨树人工林林下草本物种多样性的维持。     

基于结构方程模型分析林分空间结构对草本物种多样性的影响

林分空间结构的改变直接影响林下草本物种的多样性。以针叶纯林、针阔混交林和常绿阔叶林为研究对象,采用结构方程模型研究了林分空间结构对林下草本物种多样性的影响,并探讨了林分水平空间结构,垂直空间结构以及林木竞争态势对林下草本物种多样性的影响的相对重要性。结果表明,林分水平空间结构对林下草本的物种多样性指数和物种均匀性指数均存在极显著的影响（P < 0.001）,影响系数高达0.96和0.89,对林下草本物种丰富度存在显著影响（P < 0.01）,影响系数为0.22;林分垂直空间结对林下草本丰富度和物种均匀性指数均存在极显著的影响（P < 0.001）,影响系数分别为0.86和0.43,对林下草本物种多样性指数存在显著影响（P < 0.01）,影响系数为0.16;林木竞争指数与林下草本丰富度和物种多样性指数也均存在极显著的影响（P < 0.001）,但影响系数较小,分别为-0.47和-0.30,而对林下草本物种均匀性指数未达到显著影响作用（P > 0.05）,影响系数仅为-0.04。整体上看,林分水平空间结构、垂直空间结构和林木竞争态势均对林下草本物种多样性有较强的影响作用,但从影响系数看,林分水平空间结构的影响作用最大,垂直空间结构次之,林木竞争态势的影响作用最小。因此,欲维持或改善林下草本物种多样性,应采取调整林分水平空间结构为主,垂直空间结构调整为辅,并适当降低林木竞争程度的综合经营措施。     

中亚热带不同林龄杉木人工林径级结构与林下物种多样性分析

采用典型抽样法,以位于中亚热带的福建省将乐县的杉木〔Cunninghamia lanceolata ( Lamb.) Hook.〕人工林为研究对象,对10、15、20、25、30和40 a林分的径级结构、林下植被组成以及物种多样性变化进行调查和分析。结果表明：不同林龄杉木人工林的径级结构均呈正态分布,均在接近平均胸径的径级上植株数量最多;径级和密度间的关系可以用3参数的Gaussian函数表征;不同林龄间胸径差异显著。杉木人工林林下分布有45科80属97种植物,其中灌木层69种、草本层28种,物种丰富,但不同林龄的林分内各种类的重要值差异较大,且不同林龄的林分间优势种、共有种和独有种均明显不同。随林龄的增加,林下灌木层和草本层的物种组成、丰富度指数( R0)、Simpson多样性指数( D)和Shannon-Wiener多样性指数( H′)、Pielou均匀度指数( Jsw )和Alatalo均匀度指数( Ea )均有明显变化。10 a林分的林下物种数量最少(18种),而20 a林分的林下物种数量最多(40种)。林下灌木层的D和H′值分别为0.827~0.923和1.956~2.917,且随林龄的增加均呈“上升—下降—平稳”的变化趋势;灌木层的Jsw和Ea值分别为0.876~0.959和0.686~0.890,随林龄增加均呈“降低—升高—降低—升高”的变化趋势,且均在20 a林分中最小、在25 a林分中最大。林下草本层的D和H′值分别为0.639~0.898和1.274~2.435,并随林龄增加均呈波动的变化趋势;草本层的Jsw和Ea值分别为0.775~0.949和0.663~0.896,随林龄增加均呈“降低—升高—降低—升高—降低”的变化趋势,且均在15 a林分中最小、在10 a林分中最大。总体上看,林龄对杉木人工林林下灌木层和草本层的物种丰富度指数和多样性指数以及草本层的均匀度指数均有显著影响。根据研究结果,建议在杉木人工林的经营过程中对林下物种进行合理配置,并进行合理间伐,以促进林下植被的生长发育。     

林分密度对新津文峰山马尾松人工林林下物种多样性和生物量的影响

以四川省新津文峰山马尾松(Pinus massoniana)人工林为研究对象,用典型抽样法探究5种林分密度(A:1000株/hm~2;B:1125株/hm~2;C:1250株/hm~2;D:1375株/hm~2;E:1500株/hm~2)对林下植被物种多样性和生物量的影响及林下植被物种多样性和生物量的相关性。结果显示:(1)共调查到植物124种,隶属于74科115属,灌木层物种少于草本层。(2)灌木或草本层在不同林分密度下的优势种都较一致。(3)灌木层物种丰富度指数D值、Shannon-Wiener多样性指数H值及草本层4个多样性指数均在密度B、E分别有最大和最小值;灌木层D值随密度增大而先增后减,其他3个指数变化规律不明显。灌、草层J_(sw)值较稳定。(4)灌木层生物量比草本层多。总体上灌、草层地上生物量大于地下生物量,都在密度B达最大;灌木地下生物量保持较稳定,而草本层变化幅度较大。(5)除灌木层J_(sw)值与该层各生物量呈负相关外,其余各指标均显示正相关。不同林分密度对马尾松林下植物多样性和生物量产生不同的影响,经综合研究分析认为,林分密度1125株/hm~2相对更利于该地马尾松人工林的可持续健康发展。     

间伐强度对阿尔泰山天然林下植被的影响

以阿尔泰山天然林为研究对象,探究不同间伐强度（19%、33%、55%、62%）对林下植被的影响,为该区天然林的经营管理提供理论依据。运用样地调查法,对间伐30 a后的林木进行每木检尺,调查林下植被结构、物种多样性,对测定数据进行单因素方差分析和LSD多重比较检验。结果表明：（1）草本层物种丰富度随间伐强度的增大而增大,62%间伐强度显著大于其他处理;灌木层物种丰富度随间伐强度的增大呈先增后减的趋势,55%间伐强度最大（P>0.05）;不同间伐强度处理之间,林下植被的Simpson指数、Shannon-Wiener指数和Pielou均匀度指数均无显著差异（P>0.05）,草本植物优势种各间伐强度之间大致相同;（2）适当增加间伐强度可以明显提高灌木层和草本层密度,以55%间伐强度为优（P<0.05）,林下植被的盖度随着间伐强度的增大先增后减,间伐显著影响灌木植物盖度,而对草本层盖度则影响不显著（P>0.05）。以上研究表明从恢复林地多样性的角度考虑,间伐强度选取55%更合理。     

辽河源自然保护区不同年龄天然油松林林下草本层植物物种多样性及其环境解释

林下草本层植物在森林群落结构稳定性的调节和生态功能的发挥上具有非常重要的作用,是森林生态系统不可或缺的组成部分。本文从揭示天然林林下物种组成的主导因子出发,以不同年龄天然油松林林下草本层植物为研究对象,探讨了辽河源自然保护区林下草本层物种组成与环境因子间的相关关系。结果表明,林龄是影响林分土壤化学性质的空间变化的重要因子,但林龄与林下草本植物的物种丰富度和多样性指数间不存在线性关系。CCA排序及Monte Carlo检验结果表明,林龄、林分密度、平均胸径、郁闭度、坡度为显著影响天然油松林林下物种分布的因子,说明该地区林分的冠层结构特征主导了林下草本层植物群落的分布格局。     

Regeneration of a Coastal Pine (Pinus thunbergii Parl.) Forest 11 Years after Thinning,Niigata, Japan

To examine the effects of thinning intensity on wind vulnerability and regeneration in a coastal pine (Pinus thunbergii) forest, thinning with intensities of 20%, 30% and 50% was conducted in December 1997; there was an unthinned treatment as the control (total 8 stands). We re-measured the permanent sites to assess the regeneration characteristics 11 years after thinning. In the 50% thinned stand, seedlings aged from 2 to 10 years exhibited the highest pine seedling density and growth. The age composition ranged from 1–3 years with densities of 9.9 and 5.1 seedlings m⁻² in 30% and 20% thinned stands; only 1-year-old seedlings with a density of 6.1 seedlings m⁻² in the unthinned stand. Similar trends were found for the regeneration of broadleaved species such as Robinia pseudoacacia and Prunus serrulata. We speculate that the canopy openness and moss coverage contributed to the regeneration success in the 50% thinned stand, while the higher litter depth and lack of soil moisture induced the regeneration failure in the unthinned stand. The stands thinned at 20% or 30% were less favourable for pine regeneration than the stands thinned at 50%. Therefore, thinning with less than 30% canopy openness (20% and 30% thinned stands) should be avoided, and thinning at higher than 30% canopy openness (50% thinned stand, approximately 1500 stems ha⁻¹ at ages 40–50 years) is suggested for increasing regeneration in the coastal pine forest. The implications of thinning-based silviculture in the coastal pine forest management are also discussed. The ongoing development of the broadleaved seedlings calls for further observations.     

Succession of bird communities in young temperate rainforests following thinning

We repeated bird and vegetation surveys in 1991–1992 and 2005–2006 among young managed stands and old-growth forests in southeast Alaska to evaluate whether pre-commercial thinning of managed stands influenced the bird community. We compared decadal changes in bird densities and forest vegetation among 3 stand types: managed stands originating from clearcuts 35 years ago that were left untreated (unthinned), managed stands thinned at uniform spacing (thinned), and old growth with no prior timber harvest. We did not detect differences in decadal trends in avian densities between thinned and unthinned stands for 15 of 16 common bird species using a repeated-measures design. Thinning did not result in greater recruitment of overstory-nesting species as predicted. This was likely because of 1) similar increases in tree heights ( = 9–10 m) and canopy cover ( = 29–43%) between unthinned and thinned stands across decades and 2) the relatively young successional stage of these stands, which had only begun to recruit medium and large size conifers (dbh ≥ 36 cm). Decadal trends in densities of most (88%) understory-nesting bird species did not differ between thinned and unthinned stands. Shrub cover decreased by 22% and 31% across decades in thinned and unthinned stands, respectively. Bird community composition in managed stands reflected the general decadal changes in forest vegetation with a shift in dominance from understory species in the early 1990s (80–85% of total bird density) to an equal abundance of understory (45–54%) and overstory species in the mid-2000s. The latter was more similar to old-growth stands, which were dominated by overstory species (67–71%). Overstory-nesting birds in old growth increased in density by 49% across decades. Densities of cavity-nesting species remained unchanged in managed stands and less than densities in old growth across decades, possibly because of a lack of large trees and snags for nest sites. Overall, thinning of clearcut stands, the primary silvicultural system in the region, had few measurable benefits to birds nearly 20 years after treatment. Monitoring over the 70–100-year harvest rotation may be necessary to fully test whether thinning accelerates succession of bird communities in clearcut stands. However, partial harvests that retain large trees and snags should also be explored as alternatives to better maintain late-succession avifauna throughout the harvest rotation in southeast Alaska. © 2012 The Wildlife Society.     

Diversity and succession of epiphytic macrolichen communities in low‐elevation managed conifer forests in Western Oregon

Abstract. We examined epiphytic macrolichen communities in Pseudotsuga menziesii (Douglas‐fir) forests across the western Oregon landscape for relationships to environmental gradients, stand age and structure, and commercial thinning. We used a retrospective, blocked design through the Coast and the western Cascade ranges of Oregon. Each of our 17 blocks consisted of a young, unthinned stand (age 50–110 yr); an adjacent, thinned stand of equivalent age; and an old‐growth stand (age > 200 yr). We found 110 epiphytic macrolichen taxa in the stands. Forage‐providing alectorioid lichens and the nitrogen‐fixing cyanolichen Lobaria oregana associated strongly with old‐growth stands and remnant old trees in younger stands (unthinned + thinned). Relative to unthinned stands, thinned stands had a slightly higher abundance of alectorioid lichens and a greater presence of Hypogymnia imshaugii. However, thinned stands hosted a lower landscape‐level (γ) diversity, lacking many species that occurred infrequently in the unthinned stands. Patterns in the lichen community composition correlated strongly with climatic gradients; the greatest variation in composition was between the Coast and Cascade ranges. The difference in communities between mountain ranges was greatest among stands 70–110 yr old, suggesting a difference in lichen successional dynamics between the ranges.     

Understory vegetation response to thinning disturbance of varying complexity in coniferous stands

Question: Can augmented forest stand complexity increase understory vegetation richness and cover and accelerate the development of late‐successional features? Does within‐stand understory vegetation variability increase after imposing treatments that increase stand structural complexity of the overstory? What is the relative contribution of individual stand structural components (i.e. forest matrix, gaps, and leave island reserves) to changes in understory vegetation richness? Location: Seven study sites in the Coastal Range and Cascades regions of Oregon, USA. Methods: We examined the effects of thinning six years after harvest on understory plant vascular richness and cover in 40‐ to 60‐year‐old forest stands dominated by Douglas‐fir (Pseudotsuga menziesii). At each site, one unthinned control was preserved and three thinning treatments were implemented: low complexity (LC, 300 trees ha^?1), moderate complexity (MC, 200 trees ha^?1), and high complexity (HC, variable densities from 100 to 300 trees ha^?1). Gaps openings and leave island reserves were established in MC and HC. Results: Richness of all herbs, forest herbs, early seral herbs and shrubs, and introduced species increased in all thinning treatments, although early seral herbs and introduced species remained a small component. Only cover of early seral herbs and shrubs increased in all thinning treatments whereas forest shrub cover increased in MC and HC. In the understory, we found 284 vascular plant species. After accounting for site‐level differences, the richness of understory communities in thinned stands differed from those in control stands. Within‐treatment variability of herb and shrub richness was reduced by thinning. Matrix areas and gap openings in thinned treatments appeared to contribute to the recruitment of early seral herbs and shrubs. Conclusions: Understory vegetation richness increased 6 years after imposing treatments, with increasing stand complexity mainly because of the recruitment of early seral and forest herbs, and both low and tall shrubs. Changes in stand density did not likely lead to competitive species exclusion. The abundance of potentially invasive introduced species was much lower compared to other plant groups. Post‐thinning reductions in within‐treatment variability was caused by greater abundance of early seral herbs and shrubs in thinned stands compared with the control. Gaps and low‐density forest matrix areas created as part of spatially variably thinning had greater overall species richness. Increased overstory variability encouraged development of multiple layers of understory vegetation.     

Effects of Precommercial Thinning on Snowshoe Hares in Maine

Abstract: Snowshoe hares (Lepus americanus) are an important prey species and a dominant herbivore across much of their North American range, and researchers have questioned the influences of forestry practices that alter habitat for hares and the potential community-level effects on carnivores. We examined the effects of precommercial thinning (PCT) from 1 to 11 years posttreatment on snowshoe hares. In the commercial forests of northern Maine, USA, we counted and cleared hare pellets twice a year during 2001 and 2002 on >46 km of pellet transects across 30 regenerating conifer stands (17 treated with PCT) previously treated with an aerial application of herbicide. We compared densities of snowshoe hare pellets among 3 development classes with (1 yr after thinning, 6 yr after thinning, and 11 yr after thinning) and without thinning (stands with a similar history of clearcut and herbicide treatment but no thinning). During both years, densities of hares were lower in stands treated with PCT than in similar unthinned stands across the 3 development classes and during both leaf-off and leaf-on seasons (P < 0.001). Within both thinned and unthinned stands, hare density was greatest in stands in the 1-year development class when compared to the 6-year and 11-year development classes, but a statistical difference (P = 0.048) among classes was evident only during leaf-off seasons. Precommercial thinning was associated with densities of snowshoe hares that were approximately half of those in similar unthinned stands up to at least 11 years posttreatment; however, thinned stands may retain densities of hares greater than stands managed using other forest harvesting regimes. Our results apply to core portions of stands with crop trees spaced at 1.8–2.4-m intervals following complete overstory removal and herbicide treatment. We advocate caution when applying our results to other thinning regimes or across broader spatial scales.     

Factors influencing choice of balsam fir twigs from thinned and unthinned stands by moose

Summary Moose were observed to browse preferentially on balsam fir (Abies balsamea) trees in stands where the stem density had been mechanically reduced to about 2000 stems/ha from over 30,000 stems/ha. Twigs from trees in thinned and unthinned stands were analyzed to test the hypotheses that moose were choosing thinned stands to maximize intake of a nutrient, or avoiding plant secondary compounds deliterious to digestion. Analyses included: twig length, weight, diameter, acid detergent fiber, neutral detergent fiber, dry matter digestibility, macroelements, crude fat (resins), crude protein, ash, and volatile secondary metabolites. Significantly higher concentrations of crude protein, P, Ca, Na, and crude fats occurred in trees from thinned compared to unthinned stands. Twigs from thinned stands were more digestible, longer, heavier, and had a greater diameter than those from unthinned stands. Several secondary metabolites were found in highest concentration in thinned stands. We suggest that moose chose thinned stands over unthinned stands for feeding because of high protein levels and large twigs. Trees in unthinned stands had protein levels below reported maintenance levels required by moose. Secondary metabolite concentrations were opposite to the direction predicted and the data do not support plant defence hypotheses for the chemicals analyzed.     

Relationship between an exotic phloem feeder and balsam fir (Abies balsamea L. (Mill.)) foliar chemistry: implications for two native defoliators

The balsam woolly adelgid (Adelges piceae) is a gout-inducing hemipteran native to the silver fir forests of Europe. Introduced to eastern North America approximately 100 years ago, it is now found in most balsam fir forests in Atlantic Canada. When A. piceae feed, they trigger a reaction in the host branch that alters both xylem and phloem morphology. We conducted a field survey to examine the relationship between A. piceae gout density and balsam fir foliar chemistry and shoot growth in naturally unthinned and precommercially thinned stands. A. piceae gout density negatively affected branch growth and was related to changes in the chemistry of older, but not current-year foliage. Older foliage experienced decreases in camphene and bornyl acetate, while foliar concentrations of camphene, myrcene, phenolics, potassium and water differed between thinned and unthinned stands. Foliar chemistry was also influenced by interactions between thinning and A. piceae gout density in old foliage. This study suggests that changes in balsam fir associated with A. piceae gout density may force native defoliators that feed in highly gouted trees to adapt to diets of different chemical compositions and that thinning may alter these interactions.     

Restoration of Old Forest Features in Coast Redwood Forests Using Early‐stage Variable‐density Thinning

To accelerate development of old forest features in coast redwood, two thinning treatments and an unthinned control were compared in three treatment areas in north coastal California. One thinning treatment was designed to restore old forest densities of 125 trees/ha and the other 250 trees/ha representing a one‐step and partial treatments to the desired stand density. Four years after treatment, numbers of trees had increased in the thinning treatments due to recruitment of new trees, but had decreased in the control due to self‐thinning. Residual trees increased in stem volume following thinning by 128% in low‐density thinning compared to 70% in the controls indicating thinning accelerated stand development. The thinning treatments also moved the species composition of these stands to a greater proportion of redwood. Considerable slash was produced by the thinning treatments but was decomposing rapidly. Black bears damaged approximately 15% of all trees and more than 38% of residual trees in the thinned treatments compared to less than 2% of all trees in the control. This damage included killing some trees and damaging other trees that survived. Decisions over restoration densities in these stands are complicated by prolonged stand development, and balancing risks and costs. In this case, the bears represent a stochastic factor that dramatically increases risk. Thinning appears to be an effective means of enhancing old forest development by accelerating tree growth, modifying species composition, and increasing stand‐level variability. Continued monitoring will be necessary to evaluate long‐term trends in density relative to effects of bear damage.     

Thinning improves growth and resilience after severe droughts in Quercus subpyrenaica coppice forests in the Spanish Pre-Pyrenees

During the past years, growth and productivity of different oak species have been constrained by water shortage in seasonally dry regions such as the Mediterranean Basin. Thinning could improve oak radial growth in these drought-prone regions through the reduction of tree competition for soil water in summer. However, we still lack adequate, long-term assessments on how lasting are thinning treatments effects and to what extent they contribute to oak growth recovery after drought. Here we aim: (i) to study the radial growth sensitivity to drought of Quercus subpyrenaica in the Spanish Pre-Pyrenees, and (ii) to verify if thinning represents a suitable option to enhance growth resistance to drought and post-drought growth recovery. We analysed basal area increment (BAI) trends in the period 1960–2020 of formerly coppiced oak stands thinned in 1984 and compared them with unthinned plots and also with coexisting Scots pine (Pinus sylvestris) growing in thinned plots. We used the Standardized Precipitation Evapotranspiration Index (SPEI) to estimate the severity of droughts and we also assessed climate-growth relationships. Oaks in thinned plots showed higher BAI (369 mm²) than those in unthinned plots (221 mm²). Growth rates remained higher in thinned than in unthinned plots also under severe drought stress. A severe summer drought in 1986 caused abrupt BAI reductions in both oaks (- 40.5%) and pines (- 40.1%). The positive effect of thinning on growth lasted for over 20 years and slightly declined as canopies closed. In the thinned plots, trees with smaller diameter showed the greatest growth release. Oaks in unthinned plots and Scots pine were more sensitive to short-term droughts in terms of growth reduction than oaks in thinned plots, while long term droughts have similar effects on oaks from both thinned and unthinned plots. Oaks were resilient to drought, showing recovery periods lasting from 1 to 2 years in both thinned and unthinned plots. However, intense and prolonged droughts could strongly reverse the expected growth enhancement of thinned plots, and a greater frequency of droughts would limit coppice growth and productivity thus lengthening the rotation periods.     

间伐对日本黑松海岸林更新的影响

为弄清间伐对海岸林内环境因子 ,进而对海岸林天然更新的影响 ,在黑松海岸林内进行了 4种不同强度的块状间伐试验 .林分间伐后 ,对更新状况和环境因子进行了连续观测 .结果表明 ,间伐可以改善林内光环境、提高土壤的含水量、加强空气流动、促进枯枝落叶的分解等 .4 0年生的黑松海岸林 5 0 %间伐处理后 (密度为 15 0 0株·hm-2 ,林冠开阔度 >30 % )不会对海岸林本身造成风害 ,也不会对防护功能产生较大影响 ,但却能为黑松海岸林天然更新提供良好的生态环境 .试验结果证实了间伐产生的林隙内日本黑松的更新规律 ,提出间伐可作为同龄黑松海岸林向复层、异龄海岸林演化的主要经营措施 .