西南喀斯特地区典型林分土壤优先流特征及影响因素

研究喀斯特地区的优先流现象,明确影响优先流的主要因素,对当地植被恢复具有重要意义。通过野外染色示踪试验以及图像处理技术,获得染色溶液在垂直和水平方向上的分布情况,并提取总染色面积比、基质流深度、优先流比和长度指数作为优先流特征参数,运用灰色关联度分析法对影响优先流的14个因子进行分析。结果表明: 喀斯特地区典型林分土壤存在优先流现象,其优先流主要有漏斗状和树枝状两类,有横向水流运动现象发生。喀斯特地区林下的染色面积比平均为19.4%,基质流深度、优先流比和长度指数平均分别为4.96 cm、62.9%和385.5%。在影响优先流的14个环境因子中,对染色面积比影响最大的是土壤初始含水量,对基质流深度影响最大的是速效钾含量,对优先流比和长度指数影响最大的均为速效磷含量。喀斯特地区典型林分下优先流的发育程度高且空间变化剧烈,土壤初始含水量等物理性质对其有较大影响,土壤养分也是优先流的一个重要影响因素。     

荒漠绿洲湿地土壤优先流与水分入渗特征

地表水分、溶质和污染物以土壤优先流的形式下渗到深层土壤或地下水中,将导致土壤养分流失与地下水污染等问题。因此,土壤优先流研究将为干旱区荒漠绿洲湿地水分运移与盐分积累过程提供理论依据。以荒漠绿洲湿地为研究区,选取柽柳灌丛、盐碱草地和杨树林,以道路为对照,采用室外染色示踪法对湿地土壤优先流特征与水分入渗进行研究。结果表明:不同植被类型土壤优先流入渗深度存在显著差异,其柽柳灌丛和盐碱草地几乎是杨树林和道的2倍;染色面积比随深度的增加而波动下降,0—20 cm土层染色面积比占总染色面积的54.42%—89.27%;染色路径宽度以20—250 mm和250 mm为主;优先流类型以高相互作用混合流和非均质指流为主。在荒漠绿洲湿地,砾石促进土壤优先流发生,增加了侧向流;同时,粗根的减少抑制了优先流的发生;此外,土壤盐分通过影响土壤大孔隙分布而影响水分入渗过程。因此,荒漠绿洲湿地土壤优先流与水分入渗差异是土壤质地、根系分布与盐分离子共同作用的结果。     

黄河三角洲刺槐群落土壤优先流及养分分布特征

黄河三角洲湿地面临严重的水资源短缺、湿地退化、土壤盐碱化等问题,湿地土壤干旱缺水,土壤收缩产生裂隙等优先流路径,在小尺度上改变湿地内部以及湿地板块之间水文连通性,小尺度水文效应往往制约大尺度水文连通性,基于当前社会对湿地修复的迫切需求,从小尺度对水文连通研究有必要加以重视。然而,目前的研究多集中在大尺度水文连通的阐述,为进一步明确黄河三角洲湿地小尺度水文连通和养分随优先流路径运移分布情况,以此区域典型刺槐群落为研究对象,基于室外染色示踪实验和室内图像处理技术,分析土壤优先流形态和分布特征,并探究优先流和土壤养分含量之间的关系。结果表明：（1）刺槐群落染色面积比随土壤深度变化主要包括2个阶段,第一阶段：优先流和基质流相互影响作用显著,第二阶段：优先流和基质流相互作用不显著,优先流强度逐渐增强,明显存在指流现象,极少部分管流现象。（2）刺槐群落染色面积比、基质流深度和百分之五十染色深度的数值较大,优先流区染色面积比较小,基质流深度发生在土壤深10-15 cm区间,该类型植被群落水流均匀入渗深度较大,优先流和基质流相互作用程度大,水文连通性较高。（3）优先流区土壤有机碳、有机质、全氮、全磷和有效磷含量值均高于基质流区;（4）土壤优先流区染色面积比与5种养分指标均呈负相关关系,有机碳、有机质和有效磷含量受优先流路径影响显著。（5）土壤中有机碳、有机质和有效磷含量在一定程度上可以衡量土壤优先流发育水平。研究结果可为黄河三角洲湿地生态系统保护和管理提供参考。     

秸秆还田对甘蔗地土壤优先流运动特征的影响

秸秆还田措施可改变田间土壤环境,在一定程度上影响作物生长。为探究不同秸秆还田措施对田间土壤优先流的影响,以秸秆覆盖(CM)、秸秆焚烧覆盖(BM)和无秸秆覆盖(CK)3种处理方式下的甘蔗地为研究对象,通过野外染色示踪试验,结合图像解析技术和生态学景观格局分析方法对广西不同秸秆还田措施下的甘蔗地土壤优先流运动特征进行研究。结果表明: 在相同外部供水环境下,无秸秆覆盖甘蔗地土壤染色形态分化为指状和团块状,秸秆覆盖和秸秆焚烧覆盖均以团块状分化形态为主,其平均总染色面积比均显著高于无秸秆覆盖(26.0%)。无秸秆覆盖下表层染色面积比快速下降,在15～30 cm深度中秸秆覆盖和秸秆焚烧覆盖下水流运动范围快速减小,深层土壤中秸秆覆盖染色面积比变化速度最小。无秸秆覆盖下形状指数达15.54,优先流运动更集中,而秸秆覆盖和秸秆焚烧覆盖下甘蔗地平均近圆形指数为0.67,优先流弯曲程度更高,且平均邻近指数为0.87,水流连通性更好。无秸秆覆盖下平均基质流深度(3.52 cm)和边缘密度指数(11.51)均最小,但优先流比最大(73.2%),优先流空间发育程度最高。秸秆还田措施在一定程度上降低了甘蔗地土壤优先流现象,对蓄水保墒起到了积极作用。     

绿洲农田土壤优先流特征及其对灌溉量的响应

优先流是土壤养分和水分快速通过土壤剖面的普遍物理现象.研究农田土壤优先流特征及其影响因素,对量化绿洲灌溉深层渗漏量、提高水肥利用效率以及降低浅层地下水质污染的风险具有重要意义.在绿洲农田利用亮蓝溶液进行原位染色示踪试验,结果表明：沟与垄位置处的染色路径数目在土壤深度7.3～16.7 cm差异显著,而优先流最大入渗深度差异不显著.优先流最大入渗深度主要受蚂蚁洞穴和灌溉量的影响,平均灌溉量120 mm下优先流的最大入渗深度为(43.1±5.9) cm;受到蚂蚁洞的影响,灌溉量55 mm的样方优先流最大入渗深度达(68.3±7.6) cm.细根(Φ≤2 mm)与优先流显著相关,粗根与优先流相关性不显著,表明植物根系中的细根对优先流的产生有重要作用.绿洲农田土壤优先流特征受到灌溉量、垄沟耕作、蚂蚁洞穴和根系等因素的影响,而蚂蚁洞穴是影响优先流最大入渗深度的不确定因素.     

金沙江干热河谷典型林草地植物根系对土壤优先流的影响

为了明确土壤优先流形态特征以及植物根系对其形成的影响,以金沙江干热河谷元谋县苴那小流域典型植被类型银合欢人工林地和扭黄茅荒草地为研究对象,基于染色示踪法并结合Photoshop CS5和Image-Pro Plus 6.0图像处理技术,分析了2种植被下的土壤优先流形态特征和分布特征,并探究了植物根系对其的影响。结果表明: 林地和荒草地的土壤优先流染色面积具有明显差异,林地染色面积比总体随土壤深度的增加而减小,但部分地方表现出增大现象;荒草地染色面积比随土壤深度增加呈单调递减,林地优先流发生程度高于荒草地。根系对优先流的形成具有重要影响,根径0≤d≤5 mm和d>10 mm范围内,林地根长密度随着土层深度的增加呈单调递减趋势,5 mm<d≤10 mm根系根长密度在30～40 cm土层出现较大波动;荒草地各级根系根长密度均与土壤深度呈负相关关系。林地染色面积比与3 mm<d≤5 mm根径范围内的根长密度呈极显著相关,荒草地染色面积比与d≤3 mm范围的根长密度呈极显著相关;2种地类染色面积比均与1 mm<d≤3 mm范围的根重密度及d≤1 mm的根表面积呈极显著相关,与d>5 mm根径的根长密度、根重密度、根表面积的相关性不显著。研究区2种地类的土壤优先流染色面积总体变化趋势为随土壤深度的增加而减小,植物根系与土壤优先流的形成关系密切,其中,细根能显著促进土壤优先流的形成,粗根对优先流的形成具有局限性。     

雷达探测分析下的广西蔗田土壤优先流空间分布

以广西垄耕和免耕两种处理方式下的甘蔗地为对象，将染色示踪与雷达探测技术相结合，通过染色图像形态分析与雷达图像信息解译，以及Logistic回归分析等方法对不同耕作方式下甘蔗地的土壤优先流空间分布变化及其影响因素进行研究。结果表明：土壤介电常数和雷达剖面图像幅值随土壤深度呈现先增大后减小的变化趋势，介电常数在不同土壤深度存在显著性差异(P<0.05),免耕耕作方式下在20～50 cm土壤深度仍有幅值变动区域，变化范围在-0.3×10⁶～0.3×10⁶,表明免耕方式下水分发生垂向运动；垄耕甘蔗地的电磁波幅值变动集中在0～20 cm土壤深度，优先流多为横向运动，波峰与波谷间变动值为0.27,小于免耕甘蔗地的变动值(0.34),二者电磁波幅值变动存在显著性差异(P<0.05);饱和导水率和有机质含量是雷达探测下优先流发育的主要影响因素。雷达探测可定量表征土壤中的优先流空间分布情况，垄耕在一定程度上降低了蔗田土壤水分的快速运移，提高了田间保水蓄水状况。     

干湿交替对红河干旱河谷区土壤优先流形成特征的影响

为明确干旱河谷气候区干湿交替作用对土壤优先流形成的影响,本研究以红河干旱河谷区的荒草地为对象,通过模拟干湿交替的方法,基于染色示踪和水分穿透曲线试验并利用图像处理技术,对比分析模拟前后土壤优先流特征的差异性规律。结果表明: 模拟干湿交替条件下基质流发生区在0~10 cm土层,染色深度高达35 cm,其优先路径的水平宽度仅为3～10 cm,且染色面积曲线波动小。模拟干湿交替条件导致土壤稳定出流速率、大孔隙数量和大孔隙率明显增加,在0~20 cm土层,实施干湿交替后的土壤稳定出流速率较非干湿交替条件高约0.27 cm³·s^-1,染色区的大孔隙数量增加约1.4倍,大孔隙率则高13.4%。大孔隙数量与稳定出流速率呈极显著正相关,模拟干湿交替后大孔隙数量从大到小依次为: 0.6～0.8 mm＞0.8～1.0 mm＞1.0～1.5 mm＞1.5～2.0 mm＞2.0～3.7 mm,非干湿交替条件下为: 0.8～1.0 mm＞0.6～0.8 mm＞1.0～1.5 mm＞2.0～3.7 mm＞1.5～2.0 mm。各孔径范围的大孔隙数量与染色面积比呈极显著相关关系,经过模拟干湿交替处理后,其相关性增大,且影响优先流发生的主导因素由孔径1.5～2.0 mm的大孔隙数量变为孔径0.8～1.0 mm的大孔隙数量。干湿交替作用会通过影响大孔隙特征进而导致土壤更易发生优先流且程度增强。     

典型黑土耕地土壤优先流环绕特征

以典型黑土耕地土壤为研究对象,采用双环入渗仪和染色示踪技术相结合的方法,通过对图片的判读,测定与分析了染色宽度、横纵剖面染色百分比和田间最大染色深度,以研究典型黑土耕地土壤的水分运移形式及其分布特征.结果表明:在0～15cm土层范围内,水分的运移以基质流为主;15～20cm范围内,有侧向入渗发生,平均染色宽度和染色百分比均在此层达到最大值,分别为23cm和20.73%;20～67cm范围内,水分的运移则以大孔隙流为主,优先路径主要是裂缝和大孔隙,其中,20～35cm范围内的大量裂缝使优先流表现出明显的环绕特征;而在40～67cm范围内,优先路径的形成则以连通性良好的大孔隙为主.由于裂缝和大孔隙2种优先路径的存在,使水分在土壤中的运移速度增加了4.5倍,这不仅可能造成水分损失,而且可能加速农药迁移造成地下水污染.建议在黑土区土壤的耕作和经营过程中,应当减少和消除这些优先路径.     

温带草原退化对土壤剖面微生物学特征的影响

【目的】草地退化已成为我国草原当前面临的最主要问题。土壤微生物量和土壤酶活性是反映土壤养分和土壤环境质量的重要指标。揭示退化程度对温带草原土壤剖面微生物学特征的影响规律。【方法】以内蒙古温带草原为研究对象,选取成熟自然草地以及中、重度退化草地和极度退化草地4种典型不同退化程度的草地,按不同土壤深度分层采样并进行土壤微生物量和土壤微生物酶活性的测定。【结果】表层土壤微生物生物量及其酶活性在不同退化样地中呈现出一致的趋势:成熟自然样地中度退化样地重度退化样地极度退化样地;10-20 cm土层土壤微生物学特征与表层的差异随着退化程度的加深逐渐减少,甚至在极度退化样地中10-20 cm层土壤微生物指标高于表层。【结论】表层土壤微生物生物量及其酶活性随着退化程度的加深而减少。同时,退化程度越严重,表层与10–20 cm土层之间土壤微生物学特征的差异越小。这一结果为评价草地退化程度提供了新思路,为温带草原的恢复和重建提供了重要的理论依据。     

哀牢山湿性常绿阔叶林木质藤本植物地上部分生物量及其对人为干扰的响应

 木质藤本植物是森林, 尤其是热带和亚热带森林中的重要组分。由于野外调查的困难, 对其生态学的研究相对较少。对哀牢山原生山地湿性常绿阔叶林和4类次生林中的藤本植物进行了调查, 利用48株藤本植物样木实测数据, 采用样本回归分析法, 选取藤本植物的不同参数作为自变量, 分别对冠层和林下两类藤本混合种生物量模型进行了拟合比较, 结合样地内长度≥50 cm的所有藤本植物的调查资料估算了各森林群落藤本植物地上部分生物量, 探讨了原生林中藤本植物地上部分生物量的组成与分布特征, 以及人为干扰对藤本植物地上部分生物量的影响。结果表明: 1)以藤本基径为自变量建立幂函数回归模型, 其相关系数较高, 具有较高的实用价值; 2)该区山地湿性常绿阔叶林中藤本植物地上部分生物量为9.82×10³ kg·hm^–2, 其中冠层藤本(基径≥1.0 cm, 长度≥5.0 m)生物量占藤本植物总生物量的99.70%, 林下藤本(基径<1.0 cm, 长度<5.0 m)的地上部分生物量很低; 3)人为干扰后林下藤本植物的生物量相对增加, 而冠层藤本植物的地上部分生物量显著减少; 经过约100年恢复演替的老龄栎类萌生林藤本植物地上部分生物量才达到接近原生林的水平。     

Alternative pathways of liana communities in the forests of northwestern Argentina

Liana dynamics in secondary and mature forests are well known in tropical areas dominated by native tree species. Outside the tropics and in secondary forests invaded by exotic species, knowledge is scarce. In this study, we compare liana communities between secondary and mature forests dominated by native species in a subtropical montane area of Sierra de San Javier, Tucuman, Argentina. Additionally, we evaluate changes of liana communities in secondary forests with increasing densities of Ligustrum lucidum and Morus alba, two of the most invasive exotic trees of the area. We surveyed liana species richness and density in three 30-year secondary patches, four 60-year secondary patches, and four mature patches dominated by native tree species, to analyze changes in liana communities with forest age. Within each patch, we sampled 10–25 20 × 20 m quadrats. Additionally, we surveyed liana density and species richness in secondary forest patches with different densities of L. lucidum and M. alba. In native-dominated forests, liana species richness increased and showed a tendency of increasing basal area from 30-year secondary forests to mature forests. Liana density was highly variable, and most of the species were shared between native-dominated secondary and mature forests. Liana density and species richness decreased with L. lucidum density, whereas in secondary forests highly dominated by M. alba, lianas increased in density. Overall, lianas followed different pathways influenced by native forest succession and exotic tree invasions.     

Liana Abundance,Diversity, and Distribution on Barro Colorado Island,Panama

Lianas are a key component of tropical forests; however, most surveys are too small to accurately quantify liana community composition, diversity, abundance, and spatial distribution – critical components for measuring the contribution of lianas to forest processes. In 2007, we tagged, mapped, measured the diameter, and identified all lianas ≥1 cm rooted in a 50-ha plot on Barro Colorado Island, Panama (BCI). We calculated liana density, basal area, and species richness for both independently rooted lianas and all rooted liana stems (genets plus clones). We compared spatial aggregation patterns of liana and tree species, and among liana species that varied in the amount of clonal reproduction. We also tested whether liana and tree densities have increased on BCI compared to surveys conducted 30-years earlier. This study represents the most comprehensive spatially contiguous sampling of lianas ever conducted and, over the 50 ha area, we found 67,447 rooted liana stems comprising 162 species. Rooted lianas composed nearly 25% of the woody stems (trees and lianas), 35% of woody species richness, and 3% of woody basal area. Lianas were spatially aggregated within the 50-ha plot and the liana species with the highest proportion of clonal stems more spatially aggregated than the least clonal species, possibly indicating clonal stem recruitment following canopy disturbance. Over the past 30 years, liana density increased by 75% for stems ≥1 cm diameter and nearly 140% for stems ≥5 cm diameter, while tree density on BCI decreased 11.5%; a finding consistent with other neotropical forests. Our data confirm that lianas contribute substantially to tropical forest stem density and diversity, they have highly clumped distributions that appear to be driven by clonal stem recruitment into treefall gaps, and they are increasing relative to trees, thus indicating that lianas will play a greater role in the future dynamics of BCI and other neotropical forests.     

Censusing and Measuring Lianas: A Quantitative Comparison of the Common Methods1

Lianas contribute to many aspects of tropical forest diversity and dynamics, and interest in liana ecology has grown substantially in recent years. Methods to census lianas and estimate biomass, however, differ among studies, possibly hindering attempts to compare liana communities. At Nouragues Research Station (French Guiana), we tested the extent to which liana abundance, basal area, and estimated biomass differed depending on stem diameter measurement location, inclusion of ramets, inclusion of lianas rooted within versus passing through the plot, and plot shape. We found that the mean per plot abundance and basal area of lianas were significantly greater when lianas were measured low on the stem, when ramets were included, and when lianas were sampled in transects (2 × 50 m) than in square plots (10 × 10 m). Mean per plot liana abundance and basal area were 21 percent and 58 percent greater, when stems were measured at the largest spot on the stem compared to 130 cm from the ground, respectively. Including liana ramets increased average per plot liana abundance, basal area, and estimated biomass by 19, 17, and 16 percent, respectively. To facilitate cross‐study comparisons, we developed conversion equations that equate liana abundance, diameter, and basal area based on the measurements taken at four different stem locations. We tested these equations at Lambir Hills National Park, Malaysia and found that they did not differ significantly between the two sites, suggesting that the equations may be broadly applicable. Finally, we present a new allometric equation relating diameter and biomass developed from 424 lianas from five independent data sets collected in four countries.     

Effects of human disturbance on liana community diversity and structure in a tropical rainforest,Malaysia: implication for conservation

Aim Due to the important role of lianas in the functioning of forest ecosystem, knowledge of the factors that affect them are important in the management of forests. Currently, there are conflicting reports on the response of liana communities to disturbance, calling for more research in the area. The present study was carried out to investigate the response of liana diversity and structure to human disturbance within two major forests in the Penang National Park, Malaysia. The study also looked at the implication of the findings for conservation.Methods A total of 15 40 × 40-m 2 (or 40-m × 40-m) plots each were randomly located across a range of habitats in a primary forest and disturbed secondary forest. Trees with diameter at breast height ≥10 cm were examined for lianas with diameter ≥2 cm. Both lianas and trees were enumerated and compared between the two forests. Diversity and structural variables of lianas were compared between the two forests using the t -test analysis. Tree abundance was also compared between the two forests with t -test, while linear regression analysis was run to determine the effects of tree abundance on liana abundance.Important findings A total of 46 liana species belonging to 27 genera and 15 families were identified in the study. Human disturbance significantly reduced liana species richness and species diversity in the secondary forest. Liana abundance remained the same in both forests whereas liana basal area was significantly higher in the primary forest. Twiners and hook climbers were significantly more abundant in the primary and secondary forest, respectively. Large diameter lianas were more abundant in the primary forest compared with the secondary forest. The diameter distribution of most families in the primary forest followed the inverted J-shaped curve whereas only a few of the families in the secondary forest did so. Tree abundance was significantly higher in the primary forest. The abundance of lianas significantly depended on tree abundance in all the forests. The study has provided evidence of negative effects of human disturbance on liana diversity and structure that does not auger well for biodiversity in the forest. In view of the critical role of lianas in maintaining biodiversity in the forest ecosystem, lianas in the national park should be protected from further exploitation.     

Interspecific variation in clonality in temperate lianas revealed by genetic analysis: Do clonal proliferation processes differ among lianas?

Lianas are important components of forest communities with a considerable impact on overall forest structure and function. Lianas are characterized by extensive clonal reproduction on the forest floor, which is important for their establishment and growth. Previous studies have suggested that clonal reproduction strategies vary substantially among liana species; however, few studies have quantitatively evaluated the clonality strategy in multiple co-occurring liana species. The primary objective of the present study was to evaluate the relative contribution of clonal reproduction and to understand the clonal proliferation processes in co-occurring liana species by assessing both small stems on the forest floor and mature stems that climbed trees. The clonal reproduction strategy in four common liana species (stem twiner: Wisteria floribunda; root climbers: Schizophragma hydrangeoides, Euonymus fortunei and Rhus ambigua) in a 6-ha plot and a belt transect within an old-growth temperate forest in central Japan was evaluated using genetic analysis. The contribution of clonal reproduction was smaller in root climbers than in W. floribunda. All W. floribunda genets with small ramets in the understory had genetically identical ramets that climbed trees, whereas few such ramets were found in root climbers. This indicates that W. floribunda mature ramets laterally produce small ramets via clonal proliferation, whereas seedlings of root climbers grow horizontally to climb trees. The results indicate that the clonal reproduction processes differ greatly among lianas and the clonal growth in lianas plays a contrasting role in their life-history strategy.     

Increasing Liana Abundance and Basal Area in a Tropical Forest: The Contribution of Long‐distance Clonal Colonization

Recent evidence suggests that liana abundance and biomass are increasing in Neotropical forests, representing a major structural change to tropical ecosystems. Explanations for these increases, however, remain largely untested. Over an 8‐yr period (1999–2007), we censused lianas in nine, 24 × 36 m permanent plots in old‐growth and selectively logged forest at La Selva Biological Station, Costa Rica to test whether: (1) liana abundance and basal area are increasing in this forest; (2) the increase is being driven by increased recruitment, decreased mortality, or both; and (3) long‐distance clonal colonization explains the increase in liana abundance and basal area. We defined long‐distance clonal colonization as lianas that entered and rooted in the plots as vegetative propagules of stems that originated from outside or above the plot, and were present in 2007, but not in 1999 or 2002. Our hypotheses were supported in the old‐growth forest: mean liana abundance and BA (≥1 cm diameter) increased 15 and 20 percent, respectively, and clonal colonization from outside of the plots contributed 19 and 60 percent (respectively) to these increases. Lianas colonized clonally by falling vertically from the forest canopy above or growing horizontally along the forest floor and re‐rooting—common forms of colonization for many liana species. In the selectively logged forest, liana abundance and BA did not change, and thus the pattern of increasing lianas may be restricted to old‐growth forests. In summary, our data support the hypothesis that lianas are increasing in old‐growth forests, and that long‐distance clonal colonization is a major contributor.     

Liana diversity and distribution in four tropical dry evergreen forests on the Coromandel coast of south India

Liana diversity was inventoried in four tropical dry evergreen forest sites that are characterized by numerous trees, of short stature and small diameter, and a varying degree of anthropogenic disturbance, on the Coromandel coast of south India. A 1-ha plot was established in each of the four sites and was subdivided into 100 quadrats of 10 m× 10 m. All lianas 1 cm diameter at breast height (dbh) rooted within the plot were enumerated. The species richness and density of lianas, with respect to site disturbance and forest stature, varied across the sites. Liana density totaled 3307 individuals (range 497–1163 individuals ha^–1) and species richness totaled 39 species (range 24–29 species ha^–1) representing 34 genera and 24 families. Combretaceae, Asclepiadaceae, Capparaceae and Vitaceae were the well-represented families. The top five species Strychnos minor, Combretum albidum, Derris ovalifolia, Jasminum angustifolium and Reissantia indica contributed 55% of total density. The slopes of the species–area curves were different for each of the four sites and the curve stabilized in only one site. Of the four climbing modes recognized among the total 39 species, 18 were twiners (56% of the total density). Eight species (24% of density) were tendril climbers and 12 species (16% of density) were scramblers. Hugonia mystax was the only hook climber. All the 39 species and 88% of liana density were encountered within a category of 6 cm dbh or less, and a similar pattern prevailed in the individual sites. Of the three diaspore dispersal modes found among the 39 liana species, animal (64%) and wind (23%) dispersal were predominant over the autochorous mode (13%). Liana diversity and distribution in dry forest communities appear to be influenced by forest stature and site disturbance levels. In the light of the extent of liana diversity and sacred grove status of the study sites, the need for forest conservation, involving local people, is emphasized.     

Species composition,diversity, and abundance of lianas in different secondary and primary forests in a subtropical mountainous area,SW China

The species composition, diversity, and abundance of lianas were studied in four secondary forests (a 100-year-old forest, a middle-aged forest, and two younger secondary forests), and compared with an undisturbed primary forest in the Ailao Mountains of subtropical SW China. The results showed that the species composition of lianas differed greatly from the secondary forests to the primary forest, which exhibit early and late-successional species. The abundance of lianas was relatively higher in the two younger and middle-aged secondary forests than in the old-growth secondary and primary forests. However, liana species richness was very limited in the four secondary forests as compared to the primary forest. Root climbers mainly grew in the primary forest, whereas tendril and hook climbers predominated in the four secondary forests, while stem twiners were common in both. The majority of lianas recorded in this study reproduced by animal dispersal, and there was no variation in dispersal modes across the five forest types. A step-wise regression showed that the abundance of small lianas (dbh <4 cm) was positively correlated with the abundance of small- and medium-sized tree stems and negatively correlated with the abundance of large-sized tree stems, whereas there is a strong positive correlation between the abundance of large lianas (dbh ≥4 cm) and large tree stems. Results from the CCA indicate that canopy openness, soil moisture, and average canopy height were the most important factors that influenced the abundance and distribution of lianas.     

Liana habitat associations and community structure in a Bornean lowland tropical forest

Lianas (woody vines) contribute substantially to the diversity and structure of most tropical forests, yet little is known about the importance of habitat specialization in maintaining tropical liana diversity and the causes of variation among forests in liana abundance and species composition. We examined habitat associations, species diversity, species composition, and community structure of lianas at Sepilok Forest Reserve, Sabah, Malaysia in northeastern Borneo among three soil types that give rise to three distinct forest types of lowland tropical rain forest: alluvial, sandstone hill, and kerangas (heath) forest. Alluvial soils are more nutrient rich and have higher soil moisture than sandstone soils, whereas kerangas soils are the most nutrient poor and drought prone. Lianas ≥0.5-cm in diameter were measured, tagged, and identified to species in three square 0.25-ha plots in each forest type. The number of lianas ≥0.5 cm did not differ significantly among forest types and averaged 1348 lianas ha⁻¹, but mean liana stem diameter, basal area, estimated biomass, species richness, and Fisher’s diversity index were all greater for plots in alluvial than sandstone or kerangas forests. Liana species composition also differed greatly among the three habitats, with 71% of species showing significant positive or negative habitat associations. Sandstone forests were intermediate to alluvial and kerangas forests in most aspects of liana community structure and composition, and fewer species showed significant habitat associations with this forest type. Ranking of forest types with respect to liana density, biomass, and diversity matches the ranking in soil fertility and water availability (alluvial > sandstone hill > kerangas). These results suggest that edaphic factors play an important role in maintaining liana species diversity and structuring liana communities.