中亚热带4种森林凋落物量、组成、动态及其周转期

为研究亚热带次生林保护对森林生态系统养分循环等功能过程的影响。采用凋落物直接收集法,比较湘中丘陵区3种次生林(马尾松+石栎针阔混交林、南酸枣落叶阔叶林、石栎+青冈常绿阔叶林)和杉木人工林的凋落物量、组成特征及其周转期。结果表明:4种林分年凋落物量在414.4—818.2 g m-2a-1之间,3种次生林显著高于杉木人工林,3种次生林两两之间差异不显著,落叶对林分凋落物量的贡献最大,占林分凋落物量的59.9%—66.6%。杉木人工林和南酸枣落叶阔叶林的凋落物量月动态变化呈"双峰型",马尾松+石栎针阔混交林、石栎+青冈常绿阔叶林呈"不规则型"。优势树种的凋落物量对其林分凋落物量的贡献随林分树种多样性的增加而下降,杉木、马尾松凋落物量的月动态与其林分凋落物量的月动态基本呈一致变化趋势,但南酸枣、青冈、石栎没有一致的变化趋势。杉木人工林凋落物分解率最低(0.31),周转期最长(3.2 a),南酸枣落叶阔叶林分解率最高(0.45),周转期最低(2.2 a),凋落物的分解速率和周转随林分树种多样性增加而加快。可见,次生林凋落物量大,且分解快,周转期短,有利于养分归还和具有良好地力维持的能力。     

Seedling recruitment ofChamaecyparis obtusa andSciadopitys verticillata in different microenvironments in an old-growthSciadopitys verticillata forest

Seedling recruitment ofChamecyparis obtusa andSciadopitys verticillata in different microenvironments in an old-growthS. verticillata forest was studied for five years. Exposed mineral soil beneath a gap, which was newly created by a typhoon, supported the best seedling emergence forC. obtusa. S. verticillata seemed to require no specific microenvironment for its seedling emergence. Mortality of seedlings was higher for both species beneath a closed canopy, where all new seedlings ofC. obtusa died within a year after their emergence. Beneath the gap, mortality of seedlings was generally lower for both species, regardless of the presence of litter on the ground. The occurrence of saplings was more frequent forC. obtusa beneath the gaps and forS. verticillata beneath a closed canopy. Difference of seedling recruitment behaviour could maintain the coexistence ofC. obtusa andS. verticillata in the canopy layer of this forest in a non-equilibrium state caused by occasional disturbance.     

不同林龄尾巨桉人工林凋落物和土壤C、N、P化学计量特征

为正确认识桉树(Eucalyptus spp.)人工林凋落物和土壤C、N、P时空分配格局及两者间的关系,对5个林龄尾巨桉林分凋落物及土壤C、N、P含量及化学计量比进行测定分析。结果表明,凋落物的C含量均显著大于土壤,且不同林龄间凋落物C含量无显著差异,1年生人工林土壤表层(0~20 cm)的C含量显著小于3~7年生,其他土层C含量在不同林龄间差异不显著。凋落物的N含量均显著高于土壤,且1年生人工林显著大于其他林龄的,而土壤表层的N含量以7年生人工林最大,1年生的最小。凋落物的P含量除1年生人工林显著大于3年生外,其他林龄间均无显著差异,土壤的P含量在不同林龄间的差异均不显著。凋落物C∶N随林龄呈逐渐增大趋势,且显著大于土壤层。凋落物的C∶P和N∶P在不同林龄间的差异不显著,但均显著大于土壤层。凋落物的N含量与表层土壤的C、N含量呈极显著负相关,凋落物的C∶N与表层土壤的C∶P,N∶P呈显著正相关,表层土壤C、N积累受到凋落物N的制约。因此,在桉树人工林经营管理过程中如何降低凋落物分解的N限制性、提高养分传递效率及合理施肥显得十分重要。     

Foliage litter turnover and earthworm populations in three beech forests of contrasting soil and vegetation types

Summary Leaf litter decomposition, levels of accumulated litter as well as the abundance and biomass of earthworms were measured in three mature beech forests in southern Sweden: one mor site, one poor mull site, and one rich mull site. The disappearance rate of beech litter, measured with litter bags, increased with increasing soil fertility. On the rich mull site, the disappearance rate was much higher than in the two other forests, due to the combined effects of higher earthworm activity, more favouable soil moisture conditions, and higher litter quality. Incubating the litter in finely meshed bags (1-mm mesh) to exclude macrofauna had a great effect on litter mass loss in the rich mull site, but it had only a minor effect in the other sites. Simultaneous incubations of local and transplanted leaf litter on the three study sites showed that the substrate quality of the litter increased in the order: mor site — poor mull site — rich mull site. Lignin, N, and P concentrations of the leaf litter failed to explain the observed differences in decomposition rates, and acid/base properties are suggested to be more important. Earthworm numbers per m² were 2.5 (1 species) in the mor, 40 (6 species) in the poor mull and 220 (9 species) in the rich mull forest. Soil chemical conditions, notably pH, were suggested as the main factors determining the inter-site differences in abundance and species composition of earthworms. The role of litter decomposition and earthworm activity in the accumulation of organic matter in the forest floor in different types of beech woodlands are discussed.     

氮添加和凋落物去除对黔中喀斯特地区柳杉人工林土壤呼吸的影响

凋落物是土壤呼吸的主要碳源,日益增加的大气氮沉降通过改变森林凋落物的输入与分解影响土壤呼吸。为揭示氮沉降及凋落物管理对森林土壤呼吸及其组分的影响,以贵州省国有扎佐林场15年生柳杉人工林为研究对象,设置4个氮添加处理:对照(CK,0 gN m^-2 a^-1)、低氮(LN,15 gN m^-2 a^-1)、中氮(MN,30 gN m^-2 a^-1)和高氮(HN,60 gN m^-2 a^-1),并在每种氮添加处理下设置去除凋落物和保留凋落物两种处理,于2021年3月-2022年2月利用LI-8100测定土壤呼吸速率,并分析氮添加及凋落物处理对土壤呼吸速率影响,确定影响土壤呼吸速率变化的主要因子。结果表明:氮添加和去除凋落物处理没有改变土壤呼吸速率的时间变化,土壤呼吸速率月均最大值出现在7月,月均最小值出现在2月。氮添加对土壤呼吸速率无显著影响(P > 0.05),除CK外,去除凋落物处理会显著降低土壤呼吸速率(P < 0.05)。凋落物对土壤总呼吸速率的贡献率为8.6%-28.5%,且LN处理下凋落物对土壤呼吸速率的贡献率最大。土壤呼吸速率与5 m土壤温度呈显著指数相关(P < 0.01),与5 cm土壤湿度呈显著负线性相关(P < 0.01)。土壤温度解释了土壤呼吸速率变异的58.5%-79.5%,土壤湿度解释了土壤呼吸速率变异的26.4%-39.5%,以土壤温度和湿度构建的双变量模型拟合效果均好于单因子模型,土壤温湿度共同解释土壤呼吸速率变异的59.1%-85.8%。结论表明在大气氮沉降增加的背景下,温度是影响土壤呼吸的主要因素,凋落物管理是调控土壤呼吸的关键过程。     

Effect of legume understorey on decomposition and nutrient content of eucalypt forest litter

Summary In Jarrah (Eucalyptus marginata Donn ex Sm.) forest of south-western Australia dense germination and regeneration of the native legumeAcacia Pulchella R. Br. can occur following moderate to high intensity fire. The effect of this legume understorey on rate of decomposition and change in nutrient content ofE. marginata litter was investigated using the mesh bag techniques and by examining four components of forest floor litter representing increasing stages of decomposition. E. marginata leaf litter confined in mesh bags lost 37% of its initial dry weight in the first 8 months on the forest floor and 44% of its initial dry weight after 20 months. During this period weight loss was similar for leaf litter located in forest without legume understorey and for leaf litter placed under dense stands ofA. pulchella. MixingA. pulchella litter withE. marginata litter had no significant effect on rate ofE. marginata litter breakdown. The presence of understorey vegetation had a marked effect on chemical composition of decomposingE. marginata leaves. After 8 and 20 months exposure on the forest floor, leaf litter in mesh bags placed underA. pulchella understorey had significantly (P<0.001) higher concentration and contained significantly (P<0.001) greater amounts of N, P, K, S, Ca and Mg than leaf litter placed in areas without legume understorey. This effect was particularly marked for N and P. In forest without legume understorey the amounts of these two nutrients inE. marginata leaf litter changed little during the first 20 months of decomposition, but forE. marginata leaf litter in mesh bags underA. pulchella there were absolute gains of up to 68% in the amount of N and 109% in the amount of P during this period. This represents accumulation of N and P from sources outside the litter bags. The concentration of N, P, S, Ca and Mg were higher at each of the four stages of decomposition in eucalypt leaf litter collected from the forest floor beneathA. pulchella compared to eucalypt leaf litter collected in forest without understorey. Concentrations of N, P and S increased with stage of decomposition. Levels of these three nutrients in eucalypt litter from under the legume were 1.5 to 2.9 fold higher than in the same component of litter from forest without understorey. The effect of legume understorey on nutrient concentrations in the forest floor and on Cielement ratios in decomposing litter is discussed in relation to long term rates of litter breakdown and net mineralisation of litter nutrients.     

凋落物添加和模拟氮磷沉降对红松凋落物木质素降解和碳释放的影响

通过对阔叶红松林和红松人工林2种林型凋落物处理（分别为不添加凋落物（原样组）、添加凋落物（双倍组）和去除凋落物（去除组）等3个处理）与模拟氮磷沉降（分别为对照CK （0 g N m^-2 a^-1、0 g P m^-2 a^-1）、低浓度氮磷（5 g N m^-2 a^-1、5 g P m^-2 a^-1）、中浓度氮磷（15 g N m^-2 a^-1、10g P m^-2 a^-1）和高浓度氮磷（30 g N m^-2 a^-1、20 g P m^-2 a^-1）等4个强度）原位培养试验,研究凋落物质量的增加与氮磷沉降及两种处理的耦合作用对碳（C）和木质素分解释放的影响。结果表明：凋落物添加在试验前期（6月）抑制人工林L层的C释放,促进H层的C释放;试验后期（10月）促进人工林L层C释放,而抑制H层的C释放。凋落物添加在前期（6月）是促进天然林L层C释放的,但在后期（10月）产生抑制作用。与L层相反,凋落物添加持续促进天然林H层的C释放。低、中浓度氮磷沉降显著促进了红松人工林和阔叶红松林L、H层C释放和木质素降解,但高浓度的氮磷添加会抑制C释放和木质素的降解,两种处理之间无交互作用。     

滇中常绿阔叶林及云南松林水文作用的初步研究

 本文研究了滇中地区山地常绿阔叶林及云南松林的林冠截留量,冠流和茎流量,地表水土流失量,林地枯枝落叶层持水量,土壤含水量以及雨水、冠流、茎流和地表迳流中营养元素(N、P、K、Ca和Mg)的含量,并分析比较了针、阔两类森林调节和涵养水分的作用和降水中林冠养分的淋溶、迁移特点,对了解滇中亚热带山地森林生态系统的功能和生产力的研究,对本区森林资源的保护,林业的合理经营,均有重要意义。     

Hydrogen sulfide mediates ion fluxes inducing stomatal closure in response to drought stress in <Emphasis Type="Italic">Arabidopsis thaliana</Emphasis>

Background and aims

Changes in net primary productivity in response to climate change are likely to affect litter inputs to forest soil. However, feedbacks between changes in litter input and soil carbon dynamics remain poorly understood in tropical and subtropical forests. This study aims to test whether the effects of litter manipulation on soil respiration differ between natural and plantation forests.

Methods

Soil respiration, soil properties, fine root biomass and enzyme activity were measured in adjacent plots with doubling vs. eliminating litter input in both natural and plantation forests of Castanopsis carlesii in southern China.

Results

After only 3 years of litter manipulation, the magnitude of change in soil respiration was greater in response to a doubling of the litter input (+24%) than to the elimination of litter input (?15%) in the natural forest, possibly due to a positive priming effect on decomposition of soil organic carbon (SOC). The quick and intense priming effect was corroborated by elevated enzyme activities for five of the six enzymes analyzed. In contrast, the response to litter removal (?31%) was greater than the response to litter addition (1%; not significant) in the plantation forest. The lack of positive priming in the plantation forest may be related to its lower soil fertility, which could not meet the demand of soil microbes, and to its high clay content, which protected SOC from microbial attack. The positive priming effect in the natural forest but not plantation forest of C. carlesii is also consistent with the significant declines in total soil carbon observed following litter addition in the natural forest but not the plantation forest.

Conclusions

Increases in aboveground litter production may trigger priming effects and subsequently transfer more soil carbon to atmospheric CO₂ in the natural forest but not in the plantation forest with low fertility. Changes in litter inputs resulting from global change drivers may have different impacts on natural and plantation forests.

     

Slowed decomposition is biotically mediated in an ectomycorrhizal, tropical rain forest

Bacteria and fungi drive the cycling of plant litter in forests, but little is known about their role in tropical rain forest nutrient cycling, despite the high rates of litter decay observed in these ecosystems. However, litter decay rates are not uniform across tropical rain forests. For example, decomposition can differ dramatically over small spatial scales between low-diversity, monodominant rain forests, and species-rich, mixed forests. Because the climatic patterns and soil parent material are identical in co-occurring mixed and monodominant forests, differences in forest floor accumulation, litter production, and decomposition between these forests may be biotically mediated. To test this hypothesis, we conducted field and laboratory studies in a monodominant rain forest in which the ectomycorrhizal tree Dicymbe corymbosa forms >80% of the canopy, and a diverse, mixed forest dominated by arbuscular mycorrhizal trees. After 2 years, decomposition was significantly slower in the monodominant forest (P < 0.001), but litter production was significantly greater in the mixed forest (P < 0.001). In the laboratory, we found microbial community biomass was greater in the mixed forest (P = 0.02), and the composition of fungal communities was distinct between the two rain forest types (P = 0.001). Sequencing of fungal rDNA revealed a significantly lower richness of saprotrophic fungi in the monodominant forest (19 species) relative to the species-rich forest (84 species); moreover, only 4% percent of fungal sequences occurred in both forests. These results show that nutrient cycling patterns in tropical forests can vary dramatically over small spatial scales, and that changes in microbial community structure likely drive the observed differences in decomposition.     

乔木根系和凋落物对南亚热带3种人工林土壤线虫群落的差异化影响

根系分泌物和凋落物为土壤食物网提供了基础的养分资源。然而,不同树种纯林和混交林地下根系和地上凋落物对土壤线虫群落的影响机制尚不清楚。2019年9月在广西凭祥热带林业实验中心选取格木(Erythrophleum fordii Oliv.)纯林、马尾松(Pinus massoniana Lamb.)纯林和格木×马尾松混交林3种林分类型,分别设置对照、阻断乔木根系、去除地上凋落物和阻断乔木根系并去除地上凋落物四组实验处理,于2021年3月对3种林分类型不同处理下的土壤线虫群落和土壤理化性质进行了调查。研究结果表明,无论哪种林分类型,阻断根系改变了土壤线虫群落的营养类群组成,显著降低了食真菌线虫相对多度,增加了植物寄生线虫相对多度;去除凋落物显著降低了土壤线虫密度、类群数、线虫通路比值和结构指数,增加了基础指数,表明去除凋落物降低了土壤食物网的稳定性。无论哪种林分类型,人工林中树木地下根系输入是构建土壤线虫群落营养类群组成的主要驱动因素,地上凋落物在维持土壤食物网稳定性方面发挥着重要的作用。此外,阻断根系和去除凋落物对混交林中土壤线虫群落没有显著的影响,表明含固氮树种的格木×马尾松混交林比人工...     

Above- and belowground organic matter storage and production in a tropical pine plantation and a paired broadleaf secondary forest

The distribution of tree biomass and the allocation of organic matter production were measured in an 11-yr-old Pinus caribaea plantation and a paired broadleaf secondary forest growing under the same climatic conditions. The pine plantation had significantly more mass aboveground than the secondary forest (94.9 vs 35.6 t ha^-1 for biomass and 10.5 vs 5.0 t ha^{-1 for litter}), whereas the secondary forest had significantly more fine roots (⩽2 mm diameter) than the pine plantation (10.5 and 1.0 t ha^-1, respectively). Standing stock of dead fine roots was higher than aboveground litter in the secondary forest. In contrast, aboveground litter in pine was more than ten times higher than the dead root fraction. Both pine and secondary forests had similar total organic matter productions (19.2 and 19.4 t ha^-1 yr^-1, respectively) but structural allocation of that production was significantly different between the two forests; 44% of total production was allocated belowground in the secondary forest, whereas 94% was allocated aboveground in pine. The growth strategies represented by fast growth and large structural allocation aboveground, as for pine, and almost half the production allocated belowground, as for the secondary forest, illustrate equally successful, but contrasting growth strategies under the same climate, regardless of soil characteristics. The patterns of accumulation of organic matter in the soil profile indicated contrasting nutrient immobilization and mineralization sites and sources for soil organic matter formation.     

The impact of Amomum villosum cultivation on seasonal rainforest in Xishuangbanna, Southwest China

Integrating conservation goals with the sustainable use of tropical rain forests has received much attention in recent decades. Amomum villosum, a traditional Chinese medicinal herb, has been cultivated in the understory of seasonal rain forest for 40 years in Xishuangbanna, Southwest China. Cultivated area has reached 58.11 km² much of which is distributed within nature reserves. This practice has caused controversy on whether A. villosum cultivation would alter the structure and function of the primary forest. This study examined the effects of medicinal plant cultivation on seasonal rain forest by comparing plant diversity, biomass, litterfall and soil nutrients of primary rain forest with disturbed areas where A. villosum is cultivated. The results indicate that plant diversity, tree biomass, litter production and soil nutrients are significantly lower in the disturbed than in the primary rain forest. These results suggest that the cultivation of A. villosum affects the structure and function of the seasonal rain forest in Xishuangbanna.     

六种温带森林类型凋落物量长期动态及其环境驱动

阐明凋落物动态及其环境控制机制，可以为森林生态系统生产力及碳汇功能的维持提供重要的数据支持和理论依据。以长白山系余脉张广才岭西坡林龄相近但立地条件不同的4种天然次生林（即硬阔叶林、杨桦林、杂木林和蒙古栎林）和2种人工林（落叶松人工林和红松人工林）为研究对象，对其地上凋落物产量及其组分以及相关环境因子进行了14年（2008-2021年）的连续测定，旨在揭示森林凋落物量及其组分的时空变化（林型间和年际变异）及其环境驱动机制。结果表明：6种森林类型的凋落总量（TL）无显著差异，波动范围为500.5-556.1 g m^-2 a^-1；但其叶凋落量（LL）、繁殖组织凋落量（RT）和其他组织凋落量（OT）均存在显著差异，波动范围依次分别为333.9-391.8 g m^-2 a^-1、8.43-69.93 g m^-2 a^-1和93.4-185.9 g m^-2 a^-1。6种森林类型的TL均存在显著的年际变化；其中LL和OT年际变化的显著性因森林类型而不同，而RT的年际变化不显著。除落叶松人工林外，其余5种森林类型的LL与生长季平均气温、日最低气温均值、土壤10 cm深度处的平均温度、最低温度（Ts_min）和土壤5 cm含水量（Ms）均呈显著正相关。杂木林、硬阔叶林和红松人工林的RT与Ms呈显著负相关；杂木林、杨桦林和硬阔叶林的OT与Ts_min呈显著负相关。样地水平的LL与土壤10 cm处含水量存在显著的正相关关系，而RT和OT则与其呈现显著负相关关系。这些结果表明林龄相似的温带森林地上凋落物总量有趋同趋势，但其通过改变组分分配格局来适应立地条件的变化；土壤湿度和温度变化会引起凋落物量的年际变化，但不同森林类型的凋落物量对环境波动的敏感性不同。     

樟子松固沙林生长对土壤磷素变化的影响

磷是森林生态系统重要养分元素之一,是干旱半干旱地区植物生长的限制性因子。然而沙质草地转化为人工林生态系统后,林分的生长对沙地土壤磷素的变化及其影响机理还不清晰,为沙地合理经营和管理人工林带来了不确定性。以辽宁省章古台地区各生长阶段(幼龄林、中龄林、成熟林和过熟林阶段)的20块樟子松固沙林样地(在各生长阶段林分附近寻找1块天然草地作为对照样地)为研究对象,取样并测定样地各土层(0—10、10—20、20—40、40—60、60—80、80—100 cm)的土壤磷(全磷和速效磷)、土壤氮(全氮和速效氮)、土壤钾(全钾及速效钾)、土壤有机碳等含量以及土壤含水率、土壤pH值、土壤质地、土壤容重等因子值,并进行统计分析。结果表明:沙质草地营造樟子松人工林后,土壤全磷含量随林龄的增加而逐渐递增,成熟林时期达到最高,过熟林地全磷降低,且土壤全磷对土层深度不敏感。成熟林地的速效磷含量略高于幼林和中龄林;虽然与幼林、中龄林没有显著差异,但过熟林的土壤速效磷含量是所有林分中最低的。除了林分生长影响外,草地营造樟子松林后,土壤全磷的变化还受土壤容重和土壤速效氮含量的影响,而土壤速效磷的变化受土壤有机碳和pH...     

模拟N沉降对太岳山油松人工林和天然林草本群落的影响

由于人类活动氮沉降呈逐年增加的趋势,进而增加了陆地生态系统氮的输入,从而影响陆地生态系统多样性、物种组成和功能。为揭示氮沉降增加对油松林草本群落的影响,于2009年7月在太岳山油松人工林和天然林,设计4个施氮水平:对照(CK,0 kg N hm-2a-1),低氮(LN,50 kg N hm-2a-1),中氮(MN,100 kg N hm-2a-1)和高氮(HN,150 kg N hm-2a-1),研究草本群落的生物多样性、生物量以及草本元素含量对模拟N沉降的响应。研究结果表明:模拟N沉降未能显著影响人工林草本群落的生物多样性(P0.05),而中氮、高氮显著降低了天然林草本群落的生物多样性(P0.05);从Jaccard指数和Sorensen指数分析得出人工林不同氮水平之间草本群落差异性较小,而天然林不同氮水平之间草本群落差异性较大。模拟N沉降没有显著改变人工林草本群落生物量(P0.05),而高氮明显促进天然林草本群落生物量的增加(P0.05)。与对照相比,模拟N沉降提高了人工林和天然林羊胡子苔草叶根中的全N含量(P0.05),而降低了全Mg的含量(P0.05),并且根部元素含量变化与土壤养分含量变化较为一致。施氮提高了N/K、N/Ca、N/Mg(P0.05)的比值。说明油松林下草本群落对氮沉降的响应因林分土壤N饱和程度以及林地利用历史的不同而产生差异,其中天然林响应最为敏感。     

Estimates of soil respiration and net primary production of three forests at different succession stages in South China

Soil respiration (heterotropic and autotropic respiration, R_g) and aboveground litter fall carbon were measured at three forests at different succession (early, middle and advanced) stages in Dinghushan Biosphere Reserve, Southern China. It was found that the soil respiration increases exponentially with soil temperature at 5 cm depth (T_s) according to the relation R_g=a exp(bT_s), and the more advanced forest community during succession has a higher value of a because of higher litter carbon input than the forests at early or middle succession stages. It was also found that the monthly soil respiration is linearly correlated with the aboveground litter carbon input of the previous month. Using measurements of aboveground litter and soil respiration, the net primary productions (NPPs) of three forests were estimated using nonlinear inversion. They are 475, 678 and 1148 g C m^?2 yr^?1 for the Masson pine forest (MPF), coniferous and broad‐leaf mixed forest (MF) and subtropical monsoon evergreen broad‐leaf forest (MEBF), respectively, in year 2003/2004, of which 54%, 37% and 62% are belowground NPP for those three respective forests if no change in live plant biomass is assumed. After taking account of the decrease in live plant biomass, we estimated the NPP of the subtropical MEBF is 970 g C m^?2 yr^?1 in year 2003/2004. Total amount of carbon allocated below ground for plant roots is 388 g C m^?2 yr^?1 for the MPF, 504 g C m^?2 yr^?1 for the coniferous and broad‐leaf MF and 1254 g C m^?2 yr^?1 for the subtropical MEBF in 2003/2004. Our results support the hypothesis that the amount of carbon allocation belowground increases during forest succession.     

Litter decomposition and nitrogen mineralization of soils in subtropical plantation forests of southern China,with special attention to comparisons between legumes and non-legumes

Litter decomposition and nitrogen mineralization were investigated in subtropical plantation forests in southern China. The CO₂ –C release from incubated litter and the forest floor of Acacia mangium, Acacia auriculaeformis, Eucalyptus citriodora, Pinus elliotii and Schima superba stands were used to estimate relative rates of litter decomposition. Decomposition was not positively correlated with litter nitrogen. E. citridora litter decomposed most rapidly and A. mangium litter most slowly, both with and without the addition of exotic nitrogen. Aerobic incubation and intact soil core incubation at 30 °C over a period of 30 days were used to assess nitrogen mineralization of six forest soils. Although there were differences in results obtained using the two methods, patterns between legume and non-legume species were the same regardless of method. All soils had pH values below 4.5, but this did not prevent nitrification. The dominant form of mineral nitrogen was nitrate for legume species and ammonium for non-legume species. The nitrogen mineralization potential was highest for soils in which legumes were growing.     

Effects of eucalyptus afforestation on leaf litter dynamics and macroinvertebrate community structure of streams in Central Portugal

To test the hypothesis whether afforestation with Eucalyptus globulus affects litter dynamics in streams and the structure of macroinvertebrate aquatic communities, we compared streams flowing through eucalyptus and deciduous forests, paying attention to: (i) litterfall dynamics, (ii) accumulation of organic matter, (iii) processing rates of two dominant leaf species: eucalyptus and chestnut, and (iv) macroinvertebrate community structure. The amount of allochthonous inputs was similar in both vegetation types, but the seasonality of litter inputs differed between eucalyptus and natural deciduous forests. Eucalyptus forest streams accumulated more organic matter than deciduous forest streams. Decomposition of both eucalyptus and chestnut leaf litter was higher in streams flowing through deciduous forests. The eucalyptus forest soils were highly hydrophobic resulting in strong seasonal fluctuations in discharge. In autumn the communities of benthic macroinvertebrates of the two stream types were significantly different. Deciduous forest streams contained higher numbers of invertebrates and more taxa than eucalyptus forest streams. Mixed forest streams (streams flowing through eucalyptus forests but bordered by deciduous vegetation) were intermediate between the two other vegetation types in all studied characteristics (accumulation of benthic organic matter, density and diversity of aquatic invertebrates). These results suggest that monocultures of eucalyptus affect low order stream communities. However, the impact may be attenuated if riparian corridors of original vegetation are kept in plantation forestry.     

Effects of simulated acid precipitation on the cycling of manganese under Sitka spruce (Picea sitchensis)

Simulated acid rain at pH 3.3, 4.3 and 5.3 has been applied by overheadspraying to reconstructed soil profiles and young Sitka spruce (Piceasitchensis) trees in pots to assess the effect of rainfall acidityonthe fate and recycling efficiency of Mn from ⁵⁴Mn-labelled Sitkaspruce litter. The concentration of ⁵⁴Mn in throughfall wassignificantly increased by acidification of the rain, but ⁵⁴Mnactivity in drainage water remained low and was not significantly affected. Thefact that only < 1.5% of ⁵⁴Mn was lost in drainage water suggeststhat forest ecosystems efficiently retain Mn, at least in the short term. Thebulk of ⁵⁴Mn (approximately 60 to 70%) was retained in the litterlayer. Compared with rain at pH 4.3, rain at pH 3.3 acidified L/F and H/Ahorizon soils. The amount of ⁵⁴Mn found in the different soilhorizons was only influenced significantly by rainfall acidity in the E horizonsoil, however, where ⁵⁴Mn activity was increased by the most acidtreatment. The activity of ⁵⁴Mn in Sitka spruce needles did notdiffer significantly with treatments.