Spatial distribution and floristic composition of trees and lianas in different forest types of an Amazonian rainforest

A quantitative inventory of trees and lianas was conducted (1) to compare floristic composition, diversity and stem density variation between three different forest types (tierra firme, floodplain and swamp), and (2) to analyse the relationships between floristic similarity and forest structure in two regions ~60 km apart in Yasuní National Park, Amazonian Ecuador. A total of 1,087 species with a diameter at breast height ≥ 2.5 cm were recorded in 25 0.1-ha plots. Tierra firme was the habitat with the highest number of species and stem density for trees and lianas, followed by floodplain and swamp in both regions. Two hypotheses that have been independently proposed to describe plant distribution in tropical rain forests, together explain species spatial distribution in this study. The fact that the 30 most important species per forest type (totalling 119 species) accounted for 48.2% of total individuals supports the oligarchy hypothesis. Likewise, 28 out of these 119 species are reported as restricted to a single forest type, which supports the environmental-determinism hypothesis. In general, both canopy and understorey trees and lianas showed rather similar floristic patterns across different forest types and regions.     

Size and crown shape predict reproductive maturity of Carapa guianensis in upland and floodplain forests in the northeastern Amazon

Comprehending the size distribution within a population and grasping its connection to tree maturation (onset of reproductive phase) is pivotal for formulating sustainable management strategies and conserving numerous tree species. The objective of this study was to compare the structure and probability of fruit production of Carapa guianensis in two types of forest (varzea, or floodplain, vs. terra firme, or upland) in the northeastern Amazon, Brazil. The study was conducted in four permanent plots of 300 × 300 m (two for each type of forest). All individuals ≥10 cm in diameter at breast height (DBH) were mapped and measured for DBH, height, and canopy characteristics (shape and position), and liana infestation. Sixty-seven trees were inventoried in the upland forest and 297 in the floodplain forest. The trees were larger in the upland (33.36 ± 1.84 cm) than in the floodplain (21.92 ± 1.5 cm) and more than half (56%) of the upland trees and more than two thirds (67%) of floodplain trees were reproductive. The minimum diameter for fruit production in the floodplain (10.2 cm of DBH) was more than two times smaller than in the upland (25.5 cm of DBH). The probability of fruit production of a tree of the same size was twice as high in the floodplain compared with the upland, and trees with rounded canopies had a higher probability of fruit production in the upland. Our results showed that the probability of fruit production can be modeled with variables of tree size and canopy shape, and that intrinsic factors of the forests influence the reproductive maturity of C. guianensis which presents greater precocity and productive potential of seeds in the estuarine floodplain forest of the Amazon River.     

Composition and structure of a species rich Amazonian rain forest obtained by two different sample methods

Inventory data for trees ≥ 10 cm DBH from a hectare plot are compared to data obtained by the Point-Centered Quarter Method along a line transect from the same locality in Anangu, Amazonian Ecuador. The one-hectare quadrat plot of 100 × 100 m had 734 individuals, 153 species, 46 families, a total basal area of 22.2 m², and an estimated above ground tree volume of 240.5 m³. The line transect had a calculated density of 728 individuals per hectare, which included 239 species, 51 families, a total basal area of 34.1 m², and an estimated above ground tree volume of 409.6 m³. Of the 20 species with the highest IVI, only four were shared by the two samples. The most important species were Quararibea ochrocalyx on the hectare plot and Iriartea deltoidea on the line transect, constituting 26.6 and 13.3% of the individuals, respectively. The five families with the highest FIV on the hectare plot (Bombacaceae, Arecaceae, Moraceae, Caesalpinaceae, and Lauraceae) and on the line transect (Arecaceae, Moraceae, Meliaceae, Mimosaceae and Caesalpinaceae) constitute 40.4% and 35.4% of the Family Importance Values of the samples, respectively. The Point-Centered Quarter Method used along a line transect reflects maximum diversity and provides average values of density and tree size in the area. The quadrat plot reflects the local structure and composition of the forest within the plot.     

云冷杉天然次生林死木分布格局及空间关联性

为揭示天然次生林群落演替规律,以吉林省汪清林业局金沟岭林场的云冷杉天然次生林为对象,采用相邻网格法调查样地(100 m×100 m)内每株林木(DBH≥1 cm)的基本特征及坐标位置,研究死木的分布格局及空间关联性。结果表明: 死木的径级分布呈左偏单峰山状分布,其中枯倒木呈多峰山状分布;各树种的死木株数与该树种的总株数没有必然联系;树种死木株数与树种混交度之间存在显著负指数关系;死木主要在0～8 m尺度上呈聚集分布,随着尺度的增大,逐渐转变为随机分布或均匀分布,以随机分布为主;中(10 cm≤DBH＜20 cm)、小径级(1 cm≤DBH＜10 cm)死木在8 m以下的小尺度上的聚集分布是造成死木总体在小尺度上呈聚集分布的主要原因。不同径级死木与不同径级活立木的空间关联性差异较大,死木与幼树(1 cm≤DBH＜5 cm)的关系较为明显,尤其是大径级死木与幼树在2～25 m尺度上呈显著正关联性;死木与小树(5 cm≤DBH＜15 cm)没有明显的关联性;中、小径级死木与中树(15 cm≤DBH＜25 cm)在0～3 m尺度上呈正关联性,与大树(DBH≥25 cm)分别在9、11～14 m以及15、42～45 m尺度上呈负关联性。树种在生物学特性、径级分布和空间布局上的差异影响着死木的株数和径级分布;混交程度低的树种可能出现较多的死木;死木空间分布格局随林木径级和研究尺度的大小产生变化;死木与活立木的空间关联性在不同径级和不同尺度上呈现出明显差异。     

关帝山云杉次生林活立木和枯立木的数量特征与分布格局

本研究以山西关帝山庞泉沟自然保护区4 hm²云杉次生林样地2010年和2015年两次调查数据为基础,从物种组成、径级结构、空间格局,以及不同径级活立木与枯立木的空间关联性、枯立木不同径级间的相互关联性4个方面,分析5年间活立木与枯立木的数量特征、分布格局及相互关联性。结果表明: 样地内2010年胸径(DBH)≥1 cm的活立木共有25811株,隶属于11科22属30种,所有个体径级分布呈倒“L”型,个体数量随着径级增大呈断层式减少; 2010—2015年5年间形成枯立木共2145株,涉及5科10属12种,以5～10 cm径级分布为主。在0～50 m尺度上,活立木与枯立木在空间分布上具有一定相似性,表明枯立木的空间格局在一定程度上受活立木空间格局限制。各径级活立木与枯立木空间关联分析表明,随着样地内树木个体径级的增大,对空间资源竞争的加剧可能是导致枯立木产生的主要原因。随着枯立木径级的增大,活立木与枯立木的空间关联性不同程度的减弱,表明环境可能成为大径级枯立木形成的关键因素。从枯立木内部看,5 cm≤DBH<20 cm枯立木与DBH<5 cm枯立木、10 cm≤DBH<20 cm枯立木与5 cm≤DBH<10 cm枯立木、DBH≥20 cm枯立木与5 cm≤DBH<20 cm枯立木整体上都表现为显著正相关,说明枯立木会对后续活立木枯死产生影响。     

Quantitative ecological inventory of terra firme and várzea tropical forest on the Rio Xingu,Brazilian Amazon

Three hectares of Amazonian terra firme forest and an adjacent one-half hectare of várzea forest were quantitatively inventoried at O Deserto, on the Rio Xingu, Pará, Brazil. In the terra firme forest, 1420 individual trees greater than ten cm dbh, in 39 families and 265 species, were inventoried. In the várzea forest, there were 220 individual trees, in 17 families and 40 species.Cenostigma macrophyllum andOrbignya sp. were the most important species in the terra firme forest;Mollia lepidota andLeonia glycycarpa were most important in the várzea forest. Among one-hectare subplots of the total three-hectare terra firme sample, the number of trees ranged from 393 to 460, the number of families was a constant 33, and the number of species ranged from 118 to 162. This variation indicates that one-hectare samples are too small to be used to estimate the species richness of the total forest. The terra firme forest was richer in species and had a greater stature than the várzea forest.     

A central Amazonian terra firme forest. I. High tree species richness on poor soils

Tree size, density, and species richness were established for three one-hectare plots of terra firme forest in central Amazonian Brazil. In the three hectares, 1916 individual trees with DBH 10 cm were sampled. A total of 58 families, 181 genera, and 513 species were determined. Hectare A had 285 species, 138 genera, and 47 families; hectare B 280 species, 123 genera, and 48 families; and hectare C 280 species, 125 genera, and 44 families. Comparably high species richness in Amazonia has heretofore only been reported from western Amazonia. This dispels the idea that high species richness can only develop in areas with rich soils and relatively high rainfall. It is suggested that such high species richness is the result of a combination of habitat heterogeneity and geological history. These high diversity forests, because they occur on nutrient poor soils, can be protected with little or no impact on development in the region because the soils are essentially useless for agriculture and for supporting long-term cattle pasture.     

Tree Phenology in Adjacent Amazonian Flooded and Unflooded Forests1

Most phenological studies to date have taken place in upland forest above the maximum flood level of nearby streams and rivers. In this paper, we examine the phenological patterns of tree assemblages in a large Amazonian forest landscape, including both upland (terra firme) and seasonally flooded (várzea and igapó) forest. The abundance of vegetative and reproductive phenophases was very seasonal in all forests types. Both types of flooded forest were more deciduous than terra firme, shedding most of their leaves during the inundation period. Pulses of new leaves occurred mainly during the dry season in terra firme, whereas those in the two floodplain forests were largely restricted to the end of the inundation period. Flowering was concentrated in the dry season in all forest types and was strongly correlated with the decrease in rainfall. The two floodplain forests concentrated their fruiting peaks during the inundation period, whereas trees in terra firme tended to bear fruits at the onset of the wet season. The results suggest that the phenological patterns of all forest types are largely predictable and that the regular and prolonged seasonal flood pulse is a major determinant of phenological patterns in várzea and igapó, whereas rainfall and solar irradiance appear to be important in terra firme. The three forest types provide a mosaic of food resources that has important implications for the conservation and maintenance of wide‐ranging frugivore populations in Amazonian forests.     

Gap structure,disturbance and regeneration in a primeval Picea abies forest

We investigated patterns of disturbance and recovery in Fiby urskog, a primeval spruce (Picea abies) forest, situated south of the border between the Boreo-nemoral and Boreal regions in East-central Sweden. The main types of disturbances are storm damage, fungal infection and insect attacks. The response of the different tree species varied and the mode of tree-fall depended on the different combinations of disturbance agents. The DBH distributions of gap creators and gap-border trees were almost the same. There was a high age diversity (100–240 yr) among the fallen trees. We concluded that all canopy trees (DBH > 20 cm) had the same probability of being felled by storms, irrespective of their age and DBH. According to an estimate along transect lines, gaps made up 31% of the spruce forest area. Individual gap sizes ranged from 9 m² to 360 m², but 83% of the gaps were < 150 m². The varied age structure of logs in individual gaps indicated that gap enlargements were common. 96 tree-falls were observed on four days with an hourly mean wind speed > 12.0 m/s; all trees fell in the direction of the wind. However, when we consult the 30-yrrecord(l 959–1989)ofthemeanhourly wind speed >12.0 m/s, it is clear that the pattern of storm-directions does not match the pattern of orientation of fallen logs. The present disturbance regime and the predominance of small gaps were more favourable for the regeneration oí Picea abies than of light-demanding tree species. In one large, 2900 m² gap, not crossed by the transects, all the major tree species had established within 7 yr, suggesting that classical succession in the sense of complete species replacement or ‘relay floristics’ didnot occur. Our observations seem rather to fit the ‘initial floristic’ model. Estimates of turnover time ranged from 170 to 228 yr, depending on the method used.     

Population dynamics of coniferous and broad-leaved trees in a Japanese temperate mixed forest

The growth and survival of coniferous and broad-leaved trees were followed over a 5-yr period in a temperate old-growth mixed forest in Japan, and dynamic features of the forest were studied in relation to the life history of the dominants, the coniferous Abies homolepis and the broad-leaved Fagus crenata. During this period, the gap formation rate was 31m² ha^?1yr^?1, the mortality of trees > 2m high was 1.7%/yr, and the rate of loss in basal area 1.4%/yr. These values were much higher than the recruitment, 0.3%/yr, and the total growth of surviving and new trees, 0.6%/yr, owing to the inhibition of regeneration by understorey dwarf bamboo (Sasa borealis). A transition matrix model based on DBH size classes predicts that the basal area of the forest will decrease by 14% in 50 yr, but that the DBH distribution of trees > 10 cm diameter will change little. Equilibrium DBH distributions assuming recruitment being equal to mortality, were quite different between broad-leaved and coniferous trees, reflecting different survivorship curves of the two dominants. The composition and structure of the forest may change depending on the pattern and frequency of disturbances, or episodic events, notably the synchronous death of Sasa borealis.     

Impacts of El Niño related drought and forest fires on sun bear fruit resources in lowland dipterocarp forest of East Borneo

Droughts and forest fires, induced by the El Niño/Southern Oscillation (ENSO) event, have increased considerably over the last decades affecting millions of hectares of rainforest. We investigated the effects of the 1997–1998 forest fires and drought, associated with an exceptionally severe ENSO event, on fruit species important in the diet of Malayan sun bears (Helarctos malayanus) in lowland dipterocarp forest, East Kalimantan, Indonesian Borneo. Densities of sun bear fruit trees (≥10 cm DBH) were reduced by ～80%, from 167±41 (SD) fruit trees ha^?1 in unburned forest to 37±18 fruit trees ha^?1 in burned forest. Densities of hemi-epiphytic figs, one of the main fallback resources for sun bears during periods of food scarcity, declined by 95% in burned forest. Species diversity of sun bear food trees decreased by 44% in burned forest. Drought also affected sun bear fruit trees in unburned primary forest, with elevated mortality rates for the duration of 2 years, returning to levels reported as normal in region in the third year after the ENSO event. Mortality in unburned forest near the burn-edge was higher (25±5% of trees ≥10 cm DBH dead) than in the forest interior (14±5% of trees), indicating possible edge effects. Combined effects of fire and drought in burned primary forest resulted in an overall tree mortality of 78±11% (≥10 cm DBH) 33 months after the fire event. Disturbance due to fires has resulted in a serious decline of fruit resources for sun bears and, due to the scale of fire damage, in a serious decline of prime sun bear habitat. Recovery of sun bear populations in these burned-over forests will depend on regeneration of the forest, its future species composition, and efforts to prevent subsequent fire events.     

Correspondence between Scientific and Traditional Ecological Knowledge: Rain Forest Classification by the Non-Indigenous Ribereños in Peruvian Amazonia

Traditional ecological knowledge (TEK) is a potential source of ecological information. Typically TEK has been documented at the species level, but habitat data would be equally valuable for conservation applications. We compared the TEK forest type classification of ribereños, the non-indigenous rural peasantry of Peruvian Amazonia, to a floristic classification produced using systematically collected botanical data. Indicator species analysis of pteridophytes in 300 plots detected two forest types on non-flooded tierra firme, each associated with distinct soil texture and fertility, and one forest type in areas subject to flooding. Nine TEK forest types were represented in the same set of plots. Each TEK forest type was consistently (>82%) associated with one of the three floristic classes and there were also clear parallels in the ecological characterizations of the forest types. Ribereños demonstrated clear preferences for certain forest types when selecting sites for slash-and-burn agriculture and hunting. Our results indicate that the non-tribal inhabitants of Amazonia possess valuable TEK that could be used in biodiversity inventories and wildlife management and conservation for characterizing primary rain forest habitats in Amazonia.     

Disentangling stand and environmental correlates of aboveground biomass in Amazonian forests

Tropical forests contain an important proportion of the carbon stored in terrestrial vegetation, but estimated aboveground biomass (AGB) in tropical forests varies two‐fold, with little consensus on the relative importance of climate, soil and forest structure in explaining spatial patterns. Here, we present analyses from a plot network designed to examine differences among contrasting forest habitats (terra firme, seasonally flooded, and white‐sand forests) that span the gradient of climate and soil conditions of the Amazon basin. We installed 0.5‐ha plots in 74 sites representing the three lowland forest habitats in both Loreto, Peru and French Guiana, and we integrated data describing climate, soil physical and chemical characteristics and stand variables, including local measures of wood specific gravity (WSG). We use a hierarchical model to separate the contributions of stand variables from climate and soil variables in explaining spatial variation in AGB. AGB differed among both habitats and regions, varying from 78 Mg ha^?1 in white‐sand forest in Peru to 605 Mg ha^?1 in terra firme clay forest of French Guiana. Stand variables including tree size and basal area, and to a lesser extent WSG, were strong predictors of spatial variation in AGB. In contrast, soil and climate variables explained little overall variation in AGB, though they did co‐vary to a limited extent with stand parameters that explained AGB. Our results suggest that positive feedbacks in forest structure and turnover control AGB in Amazonian forests, with richer soils (Peruvian terra firme and all seasonally flooded habitats) supporting smaller trees with lower wood density and moderate soils (French Guianan terra firme) supporting many larger trees with high wood density. The weak direct relationships we observed between soil and climate variables and AGB suggest that the most appropriate approaches to landscape scale modeling of AGB in the Amazon would be based on remote sensing methods to map stand structure.     

完达山林区森林采伐和非采伐区马鹿、狍子对冬季生境因子选择的比较

2003—2005年的冬季,在黑龙江省完达山地区的五泡林场,通过样线调查,利用逐步判别分析的方法,对冬季马鹿和狍子在森林采伐区和非采伐区生境选择的差异进行了比较研究,其结果表明,在该地区虽然两物种在生境选择上发生部分重叠,但在生境利用方式上均存在显著差异在采伐区马鹿主要利用中坡位或上坡位、半阴半阳或阳坡、人为干扰距离大于1000m、海拔相对较高、食物丰富度较高、乔木胸径较小、灌木密度较高的灌丛或杂木林生境;狍子主要利用中坡位或下坡位、阳坡、海拔相对较低、食物丰富度适中、乔木胸径较大、灌木密度较低、人为干扰距离要求不严格的杂木林或柞树林生境。在非采伐区,马鹿主要选择距人为干扰大于1000m、海拔较高、食物丰富度较高、乔木胸径较小的杂木林生境;狍子主要选择中坡位或下坡位、人为干扰距离要求不严格、海拔较低、食物丰富度较适中和乔木胸径较大的杂木林或杨-桦混交林生境。     

Species richness and floristic composition in four hectares in the Jaú National Park in upland forests in Central Amazonia

Four hectares were inventoried for all trees with diameter at breast height (DBH) of 10cm or greater in a terra firme forest 200km Northeast of Manaus, Central Amazonia. The number of species varied from 137 to 168, the number of individuals from 639 to 713, total basal area from 32.8 to 40.2 and total biomass from 405 to 560 tons per hectare. The majority of trees, 90%, had a DBH between 10 and 30 cm. Leguminosae, Lauraceae, Sapotaceae, Chrysobalanaceae and Moraceae were the most rich families (number of species) in all sampled hectares. The most abundant families in all sampled hectares (number of trees) were Leguminosae, Burseraceae, Myristicaceae, Moraceae and Chrysobalanaceae. The most dominant families in all sampled hectares (basal area and biomass) were Leguminosae, Lecythidaceae, Chrysobalanaceae, Bombacaceae and Moraceae. Similarity indexes at family level varied from 67 to 86% between the four hectares sampled. Alexa grandiflora (Leguminosae) was the most abundant species in the hectares one and three, while Scleronema micranthum (Bombacaceae), and Oenocarpus bacaba (Palmae) were the most abundant species in hectares two and four. S. micranthum was the most dominant species (basal area) in hectares one and two, while Bertholletia excelsa (Lecythidaceae) and Goupia glabra (Celastraceae) were the most dominant species in hectares three and four. S. micranthum (Bombacaceae), Buchenavia sp. 2 (Combretaceae), B. excelsa (Lecythidaceae) Couepia obovata (Chrysobalanaceae) were the most dominant species (biomass) in hectares one to four, respectively. Similarity indexes at species level varied from 26 to 44% between the four sampled hectares. This inventory is compared with previous studies and it was found that, in our study area, there was a greater proportion of trees of 60cm diameter or more and consequently a considerably higher total basal area. It is concluded that there are still an inadequate number of inventories of Amazonian terra firme forests to elucidate the major floristic pattern a both regional and local levels. Since the area is a mosaic of distinct floristic communities it is essential to obtain further standardized inventory data in order to set adequate conservation policies for the region.     

广东石门台亚热带典型常绿阔叶林和亚热带山顶矮林群落特征

为了研究亚热带典型常绿阔叶林和亚热带山顶矮林的物种组成和群落结构,在广东石门台国家自然保护区内分别建立了1 hm2亚热带典型常绿阔叶林样地和1 hm2亚热带山顶矮林样地,以样地内所有胸径（DBH）≥1 cm的乔木、灌木和藤本为研究对象,分析两种森林类型的物种组成、密度、径级和株高结构。结果显示：（1）两种森林的Srensen物种相似性指数为0.41,优势种不同,但优势科却较相似;其中,茶科和杜鹃花科在两种森林中所占比例较高;（2）亚热带典型常绿阔叶林的幼苗（1 cm≤DBH〈2.5 cm）和幼树（2.5 cm≤DBH〈12.5 cm）密度都显著小于亚热带山顶矮林,但两种森林的小树（12.5 cm≤DBH〈25 cm）和大树（DBH≥25 cm）密度均无显著差异;亚热带典型常绿阔叶林幼苗和大树的平均胸径都显著大于亚热带山顶矮林,而幼树的平均胸径则显著小于亚热带山顶矮林,小树的平均胸径无显著差异;亚热带典型常绿阔叶林中小树和大树的平均高度都显著大于亚热带山顶矮林,而幼苗的平均高度显著小于亚热带山顶矮林,幼树的平均高度无显著差异。综合分析表明,亚热带典型常绿阔叶林和亚热带山顶矮林的物种组成、密度、胸径和高度结构差异较大,亚热带典型常绿阔叶林群落稳定性强于亚热带山顶矮林。     

椴树阔叶红松林群落主要树种径级结构研究

椴树阔叶红松林群落主要树种径级结构研究孙伟中代力民章一平（中国科学院沈阳应用生态研究所,１１００１５）ＳｔｕｄｙｏｆＤｉａｍｅｔｅｒＢｒｅａｓｔＨｉｇｈＳｔｒｕｃｔｕｒｅｏｆｔｈｅＭａｉｎＴｒｅｅｓｉｎＴｉｌｉａＢｒｏａｄｌｅａｖｅｄＫｏｒｅａｎＰ...     

塔里木河下游胡杨林胸径结构及林木分布特征

采用“面”上宏观调查与“点”上典型研究相结合, 集中对塔里木河下游阿拉干断面100 hm2的胡杨(Populus euphratica)林木分布与胸径结构进行了调查。结果发现, 在距河道0-20 m的范围内, 胸径为0-4 cm的幼龄胡杨占最多, 达到13.24%。以后随着离河道距离的增加, 幼龄胡杨所占比例逐渐减小。胸径分布范围简单, 胸径为16-36 cm的林木株数在胡杨林中所占的比例最多。另外, 随着离河道距离的增加, 胸径在48 cm以上的过熟林和衰老林的比例逐渐增多。距河道0-200 m的范围内, 胡杨分布占整个胡杨林的80%以上。其中以疏失度为0-50%的长势较好的胡杨为主。在200-400 m的范围内, 疏失度为50%-75%的长势较差的过熟林和衰老林的比例开始增多。距河道400 m以上, 胡杨密度开始急剧下降, 胡杨株数所占的比例几乎下降到5%以下。     

塔里木河下游胡杨林胸径结构及林木分布特征

采用“面”上宏观调查与“点”上典型研究相结合,集中对塔里木河下游阿拉干断面100hm^2的胡杨（Populus euphratica）林木分布与胸径结构进行了调查。结果发现,在距河道0—20m的范围内,胸径为0—4cm的幼龄胡杨占最多,达到13．24％。以后随着离河道距离的增加,幼龄胡杨所占比例逐渐减小。胸径分布范围简单,胸径为16—36cm的林木株数在胡杨林中所占的比例最多。另外,随着离河道距离的增加,胸径在48cm以上的过熟林和衰老林的比例逐渐增多。距河道0—200m的范围内,胡杨分布占整个胡杨林的80％以上。其中以疏失度为0—50％的长势较好的胡杨为主。在200—400m的范围内,疏失度为50％-75％的长势较差的过熟林和衰老林的比例开始增多。距河道400m以上,胡杨密度开始急剧下降,胡杨株数所占的比例几乎下降到5％以下。     

Dynamics of aboveground big woody organs in a foothill dipterocarp forest,West Sumatra,Indonesia

The dynamics of aboveground big woody organs over 10 cm diameter was studied at a mature foothill dipterocarp forest in West Sumatra. The biomass of big woody organs was estimated to be 519 m³ ha⁻¹ or 408 metric ton ha⁻¹ by means of a pipe model theory. The diameter distribution showed a convex curve and the mode was found at a diameter of about 20 cm. The standing mass of big dead woody litter on the forest floor was 116 m³ ha⁻¹, which accounted for 22% by voume or 9.5% by weight of the biomass of living organs respectively. Thedbh observation with two 1-ha plots for 4 yr and 5 yr respectively revealed that the average net production rate was 9.5 ton ha⁻¹ yr⁻¹. The death rate (7.9 ton ha⁻¹ yr⁻¹) accounted for 83% of the net production rate and was nearly equivalent to the decay rate (7.5 ha⁻¹ yr⁻¹) of dead wood on the forest floor. The balance between the death and decay rates was confirmed for each diameter class. Average turnover periods for big woody organs and dead woody litter were estimated to be 43 and 8.1 yr, respectively. Standing masses of live anddead woody materials accumulated in the study forest were approximately equal to those obtained in a mature tropical lowland rainforest, whereas the flow rates were lower, being only 70% of the corresponding values.