The potential of small Eucalyptus plantations in farmscapes to foster native woody plant diversity: local and landscape constraints

The major focus of ecological restorations has been on understanding local factors. However, landscape factors such as dispersal limitation of individuals or propagules across the surrounding matrix can also constrain the restoration progress. We investigated to what extent native woody species colonize and thrive in plantations, focusing on both the role of local factors such as grazing and canopy cover as well as on landscape factors. We recorded all native tree and shrub species in 60 small Eucalyptus plantations embedded in an open agricultural landscape at 0.1–12 km from a remnant continuous forest in central Ethiopia. We found a total of 1,571 individuals of native woody plants belonging to 55 species. Number of such species in a plantation increased significantly with the height of the grass sword indicating their sensitivity to grazing. Moreover, the number of woody species in the patches decreased significantly with distance to the forest. Our results illustrate the need for regulating the grazing pressure for a successful regeneration of native species in Eucalyptus plantations. In addition, sowing or planting native trees will be necessary in most plantations, as only few remnant natural forests that could act as seed sources occur across the Ethiopian highlands. Another main obstacle might be the prohibition of selling timber of native trees, which indirectly discourage farmers from letting native trees regenerate. Thus, the increasing cover of Eucalyptus seen across the country will not automatically foster a recovery of native woody plant biodiversity, even if managed to optimize local environmental conditions.     

外来树种日本落叶松和日本花柏对鄂西北森林群落的影响

【目的】研究大面积栽植外来树种日本落叶松和日本花柏对鄂西北森林群落物种多样性的影响,为评价外来树种的入侵风险提供依据。【方法】采用样地调查法对比研究外来树种日本落叶松和日本花柏人工林与当地森林群落特征差异。【结果】日本落叶松人工林样地林下植物种类丰富,样地平均物种数与当地天然林样地物种数相比无显著差异;林下灌木层和草本层多样性指数较高,草本层多样性指数与当地天然林相比无显著差异;林下未发现日本落叶松的更新苗。日本花柏人工林样地平均物种数显著少于当地其他人工林样地;乔木层、灌木层和草本层的4个多样性指数值均小于当地其他人工林样地;在3个样地中出现日本花柏更新苗,更新苗数量达479株·hm~(-2)。【结论】引种栽培日本落叶松不会导致当地森林群落的物种多样性降低,不会引起生物入侵风险;但引种栽培日本花柏会明显降低当地森林群落的物种多样性,对当地森林生态系统的稳定构成一定威胁。     

Koalas use young Eucalyptus plantations in an agricultural landscape on the Liverpool Plains,New South Wales

Summary Revegetation within cleared farming landscapes offers the potential to restore habitat for many woodland‐dependent species that have declined since European settlement. Most species of arboreal marsupials require hollows for breeding and diurnal shelter, a resource that is usually available only in old trees; however, this constraint does not apply to the Koala. In this study, we describe the occupancy and use of young (4‐ to 7‐year old) eucalypt plantations by Koalas in a predominantly cleared landscape used for intensive cropping and grazing. We compare Koala occupancy in 27 eucalypt plantations, 5 paddocks and 11 remnant forest and woodland sites, and we report the relative usage of these three land cover types by two adult male Koalas that were radio‐tracked for 5 and 7 months using GPS transmitters. Koalas were recorded using young eucalypt plantations at 7 sites and remnant forest and woodland at 7 sites. Both radio‐collared Koalas used eucalypt plantations more than expected based on the availability of this land cover type in their home‐ranges. Occupancy of young eucalypt plantations and remnant patches by Koalas was strongly influenced by the proximity of these sites to remnant vegetation.     

Woody Species Diversity in Forest Plantations in a Mountainous Region of Beijing,China: Effects of Sampling Scale and Species Selection

The role of forest plantations in biodiversity conservation has gained more attention in recent years. However, most work on evaluating the diversity of forest plantations focuses only on one spatial scale; thus, we examined the effects of sampling scale on diversity in forest plantations. We designed a hierarchical sampling strategy to collect data on woody species diversity in planted pine (Pinus tabuliformis Carr.), planted larch (Larix principis-rupprechtii Mayr.), and natural secondary deciduous broadleaf forests in a mountainous region of Beijing, China. Additive diversity partition analysis showed that, compared to natural forests, the planted pine forests had a different woody species diversity partitioning pattern at multi-scales (except the Simpson diversity in the regeneration layer), while the larch plantations did not show multi-scale diversity partitioning patterns that were obviously different from those in the natural secondary broadleaf forest. Compare to the natural secondary broadleaf forests, the effects of planted pine forests on woody species diversity are dependent on the sampling scale and layers selected for analysis. Diversity in the planted larch forest, however, was not significantly different from that in the natural forest for all diversity components at all sampling levels. Our work demonstrated that the species selected for afforestation and the sampling scales selected for data analysis alter the conclusions on the levels of diversity supported by plantations. We suggest that a wide range of scales should be considered in the evaluation of the role of forest plantations on biodiversity conservation.     

Diversity and composition of tropical butterflies along an Afromontane agricultural gradient in the Jimma Highlands,Ethiopia

Afromontane landscapes are typically characterized by a mosaic of smallholder farms and the biodiversity impacts of these practices will vary in accordance to local management and landscape context. Here, we assess how tropical butterfly diversity is maintained across an agricultural landscape in the Jimma Highlands of Ethiopia. We used transect surveys to sample understory butterfly communities within degraded natural forest, semi‐managed coffee forest (SMCF), exotic timber plantations, open woodland, croplands and pasture. Surveys were conducted in 29 one‐hectare plots and repeated five times between January and June 2013. We found that natural forest supports higher butterfly diversity than all agricultural plots (measured with Hill's numbers). SMCF and timber plantations retain relatively high abundance and diversity, but these metrics drop off sharply in open woodland, cropland and pasture. SMCF and timber plantations share the majority of their species with natural forest and support an equivalent abundance of forest‐dependent species, with no increase in widespread species. There was some incongruence in the responses of families and sub‐families, notably that Lycaenidae are strongly associated with open woodland and pasture. Adult butterflies clearly utilize forested agricultural practices such as SMCF and timber plantations, but species diversity declines steeply with distance from natural forest suggesting that earlier life‐stages may depend on host plants and/or microclimatic conditions that are lost under agricultural management. From a management perspective, the protection of natural forest remains a priority for tropical butterfly conservation, but understanding functioning of the wider landscape mosaic is important as SMCF and timber plantations may act as habitat corridors that facilitate movement between forest fragments.     

Remnant Trees Affect Species Composition but Not Structure of Tropical Second-Growth Forest

Remnant trees, spared from cutting when tropical forests are cleared for agriculture or grazing, act as nuclei of forest regeneration following field abandonment. Previous studies on remnant trees were primarily conducted in active pasture or old fields abandoned in the previous 2–3 years, and focused on structure and species richness of regenerating forest, but not species composition. Our study is among the first to investigate the effects of remnant trees on neighborhood forest structure, biodiversity, and species composition 20 years post-abandonment. We compared the woody vegetation around individual remnant trees to nearby plots without remnant trees in the same second-growth forests (“control plots”). Forest structure beneath remnant trees did not differ significantly from control plots. Species richness and species diversity were significantly higher around remnant trees. The species composition around remnant trees differed significantly from control plots and more closely resembled the species composition of nearby old-growth forest. The proportion of old-growth specialists and generalists around remnant trees was significantly greater than in control plots. Although previous studies show that remnant trees may initially accelerate secondary forest growth, we found no evidence that they locally affect stem density, basal area, and seedling density at later stages of regrowth. Remnant trees do, however, have a clear effect on the species diversity, composition, and ecological groups of the surrounding woody vegetation, even after 20 years of forest regeneration. To accelerate the return of diversity and old-growth forest species into regrowing forest on abandoned land, landowners should be encouraged to retain remnant trees in agricultural or pastoral fields.     

广东中西部桉树人工林植物多样性与林龄和土壤因子的关系

以位于广东省中西部的高要市桉树人工林林下植被群落为研究对象,对不同龄级林分物种多样性进行比较分析,采用典范对应分析(CCA)方法进行排序并通过相关分析,对物种分布和多样性与土壤因子的关系进行了研究。结果表明,每龄级24块样地充足,从第9块样地开始不同龄级的物种数目出现一定程度的差异。桉树林分样地中共有136种植物,隶属54科107属,灌木层的种类最多,但以草本层物种为优势种。不同龄级林分之间物种多样性差异不显著,但1—2年生林分低于2—4年生和5—6年生两个龄级;3—4年生的Shannon指数、Simpson指数和丰富度最高。对植被物种的分布,土壤中有机质、全磷、全钾和容重的影响明显,pH值也有一定程度作用,而对物种多样性,pH值和全氮是最为稳定的影响因子。     

与物种多样性有关的长白落叶松人工林生物量

对不同龄组长白落叶松(Larix olgensis)人工林群落的物种多样性和生物量及二者关系研究分析。结果表明:1)随林龄增大,群落物种组成结构和多样性特征发生了很大变化。物种更迭现象明显,春榆等阔叶树重要值上升,长白落叶松优势地位逐渐下降,植被类型向针阔混交林演替。群落Sorensen相似性指数降低,Shannon-Winner多样性指数呈"S"型曲线增长,Pielou均匀度指数呈反"S"型曲线下降,Margalef丰富度指数呈单峰曲线增长趋势;2)随林龄增大,群落生物量"S"型曲线增长趋势明显,分配序列为:乔木层木质物残体层灌木层草本层,占群落生物量比例分别为82.41%、15.10%、1.69%和0.81%。长白落叶松生物量占据主导地位,但所占比例持续下降,属于衰退型种群,而春榆等阔叶树比例上升。林下植被层中,草本的主导地位逐渐丧失,灌木取而代之,生物量所占比例明显升高。地表木质物残体生物量比例缓慢下降;3)群落中物种多样性测度指标与生物量之间单调线性增长的关系明显,Shannon多样性指数较之Pielou均匀度指数更适合作群落生物量度量指标,生物量与Margalef丰富度指数无明显相关性。     

Gene flow of the canker pathogen Botryosphaeria australis between Eucalyptus globulus plantations and native eucalypt forests in Western Australia

Abstract The eucalypt plantation industry in Western Australia provides a unique opportunity to study the movement of pathogens between closely related host taxa. Eucalyptus globulus, a native to Tasmania and south‐eastern Australia, is the predominant species in Western Australian plantations, often being planted adjacent to native forest containing Eucalyptus marginata and Eucalyptus diversicolor. Since the commencement of the plantation industry 20 years ago, several fungal species, previously known only to eastern Australia or overseas, have been reported on E. globulus in Western Australia. Botryosphaeria australis is a newly described species, recently found causing cankers on Acacia spp. in eastern Australia. However, during a routine survey, B. australis was found to be the predominant species associated with E. globulus plantations and native Eucalyptus spp. in Western Australia. In this study, six short simple repeat markers were used to evaluate genetic diversity and gene flow between collections of B. australis from native eucalypt forest and E. globulus plantations at two locations in south‐western Australia. In both cases, there was no restriction to gene flow between the plantations and the adjacent native forest. Botryosphaeria australis has now been isolated from a wide range of hosts across south‐western Australia and was not isolated from E. globulus in Tasmania or South Australia. This extensive distribution and host range suggests B. australis is native to Western Australia. This study demonstrates the ability of a pathogen to move between plantation and forests.     

Differences in leaf‐litter invertebrate assemblages between radiata pine plantations and neighbouring native eucalypt woodland

Abstract We investigated the structure, composition and environmental correlates of leaf‐litter invertebrate assemblages in Pinus radiata plantations and in neighbouring native eucalypt woodland in the Jenolan Caves Karst Conservation Reserve, south‐east Australia. Invertebrate assemblages of plantations were compared with remnant eucalypt woodland located well away from the influence of plantations to determine the direct effects of plantations as a result of habitat‐replacement with a non‐native plantation species. We also included in our comparisons edge habitat of eucalypt woodland located immediately adjacent to plantations. This unique edge habitat is exposed to the intrusion of large volumes of pine leaf‐litter from plantations, which has the potential to affect indirectly invertebrate assemblages of surrounding woodland. We found that species richness of invertebrates was significantly lower in pine plantations compared with remnant eucalypt woodland. There was a complete absence of species from 12 invertebrate orders that were found in surrounding eucalypt woodland. A rich and abundant native plant understorey that provides increased habitat heterogeneity is the most likely explanation for the richer invertebrate assemblage found in remnant eucalypt woodland. The total abundance of all invertebrate taxa in pine plantations in winter was significantly higher than in remnant eucalypt woodland, pine‐litter edges and pine‐free edges. Plantations were characterized by particularly high abundances of species in two orders, Acari and Collembola. High abundances of acarine and collembolan species in plantations were associated with a decompositional environment represented by comparatively higher moisture contents and higher C : N ratios of both leaf‐litter and soil, higher soil conductivity and lower soil pH. We suggest that implementation of The Plantation Biodiversity Benefits Score will be a fruitful way forward to assess the environmental benefits that can be gained from pine plantations in this region of south‐eastern Australia.     

不同类型杉木人工林林下草本植物多样性特征

林下草本多样性是衡量森林群落结构和功能的重要指标。以湖北九华山林场不同类型的杉木(Cunninghamia lanceolata)人工林(杉木纯林(Ⅰ)、杉木-檫木混交林(Ⅱ)、杉木-檫木-亮叶桦混交林(Ⅲ))为研究对象,通过分析林下草本层物种组成及其多样性特征,探讨林地类型与林下草本多样性的相互关系。结果表明:研究区林下草本层共有植物72种,分属于37科65属,其中以蔷薇科(Rosaceae)、金星蕨科(Thelypteridaceae)、禾本科(Gramineae)、菊科(Compositae)植物居多;林下草本植物以多年生草本为主,合计有67种,占全部草本植物的93.06%;物种丰富度指数、Shannon-Wiener指数、Simpson指数以及Pielou均匀度指数均表现为混交林样地(Ⅱ和Ⅲ)高于纯林样地(Ⅰ),但差异性不显著;各样地林下草本层优势物种与林地树种组成密切相关,其中,Ⅰ型样地以高粱泡(Rubus lambertianu)、金星蕨(Parathelypteris glanduligera)和鱼腥草(Houttuynia cordata)为优势种,其重要值分别为13.65%、8.79%和5.27%;Ⅱ型和Ⅲ型样地均以金星蕨、荩草(Arthraxon hispidus)和山马兰(Kalimeris lautureana)为优势种,重要值分别为10.75%、8.37%、7.47%和11.84%、6.16%、5.82%。此外,草本层的优势物种显著影响土壤理化性质:金星蕨与土壤含水量之间呈显著正相关(P<0.05),高粱泡与土壤磷含量显著正相关(P<0.05),而麦冬(Opiopogon japonicus)则与土壤磷含量呈负相关(P<0.05);并且,草本层各优势物种间存在一定的协同、竞争关系(P<0.05)。     

南方红壤区3种典型森林恢复方式对植物群落多样性的影响

合理的森林恢复方式能提高植物多样性,进而提高生态系统服务功能.在我国南方红壤区研究了3种典型森林恢复方式(引进种恢复的湿地松(Pinus elliottii)人工林本地种恢复的马尾松(Pinus massoniana)人工林和自然恢复的天然次生林)的植物区系构成和植物群落多样性.结果表明:(1)湿地松人工林有155种植物,隶属66科118属,马尾松人工林有137种植物,隶属59科97属;天然次生林有226种植物,隶属86科160属,3种森林恢复方式的乔木层、灌木层和草本层的优势科属明显不同,马尾松人工林的优势物种和天然次生林更相似;(2)天然次生林的植物区系基本构成、植物区系类型种类高于马尾松人工林和湿地松人工林,并且天然次生林的温带成分比例高于湿地松人工林;(3)恢复方式对植物群落的多样性指数有显著影响,天然次生林的物种丰富度、辛普森指数明显高于马尾松人工林和湿地松人工林,两种人工林之间差异不显著;(4)3种森林恢复方式的植物群落结构存在显著差异,相比湿地松人工林,马尾松人工林的植物群落组成与天然次生林更相似.总之,自然恢复的天然次生林植物群落多样性高于人工恢复的马尾松人工林和湿地松人工林,本地种马尾松人工林在维持区域植物群落结构功能上优于引进种湿地松人工林.     

Biological legacies soften pine plantation effects for bryophytes

Biological legacies are organic structures and patterns remaining after a disturbance that may contribute to the complexity of the recovering vegetation. Legacies may, in turn, reduce the impacts of human disturbances such as logging and habitat transformation on elements of biodiversity. To examine the effects of biological legacies on biotic responses after disturbance, we surveyed 32 sites for bryophytes in an area subject to large-scale conversion of native eucalypt forest to exotic Pinus radiata D. Don plantations in eastern Australia. We sampled bryophyte and substrate diversity (log, bare ground, upturned tree/log, and trees) in eight sites in each of four landscape context classes: pine plantation stands, elliptical-shaped remnants, strip-shaped remnants, and controls in a large area of contiguous, unmanaged eucalypt forest. We found a muted response by individual species of bryophyte to landscape context. We attribute this, in part, to the presence of logs in the intensively managed pine plantation sites. The boost in bryophyte diversity from species on logs meant that some pine sites supported similar species composition to the continuous eucalypt forest controls. Our findings also underline the importance of local controls and structural variation, including leaving logs and native trees in plantations, for enhancing bryophyte species richness in managed landscapes.     

Fruiting of putative ectomycorrhizal fungi under blue gum (Eucalyptus globulus) plantations of different ages in Western Australia

 The species richness of putative ectomycorrhizal (EM) fungi fruiting in blue gum (Eucalyptus globulus Labill.) plantations in Western Australia was investigated in relation to plantation age. Eleven plantations, 1–8 years old, were selected for study and two native Eucalyptus forest sites in the same region were chosen for comparison. Sporocarps of 44 species of putative EM fungi were collected from the 13 sites. Of these, 30 species were found in blue gum plantations. The number of fungal species was highly positively correlated with plantation age and inversely correlated with soil pH. Young plantations (1–5 years) had 2–9 fungal species and were overwhelmingly dominated by species of Laccaria and Scleroderma. In older plantations (6–8 years), the relative abundance of sporocarps of each species within the fungal community decreased, accompanied by an increase in the number of fungal species (12–17 per site). A brief survey of the two native eucalypt forests in this region revealed a much higher number of fungal species than that observed in plantations. In plantations, species of Descolea, Laccaria, Pisolithus and Scleroderma typically fruited in young plantations. Species of epigeous fungi of the genera Boletus, Cortinarius, Hydnum, Inocybe, Lactarius, Paxillus, Russula and hypogeous fungi, including species of Descomyces, Hysterangium and Mesophellia, were found only in older plantations, or in native forests. Some of the fungi that fruit in young plantations are now being evaluated for use in commercial spore inoculation programs to increase the species diversity of EM fungi in exotic eucalypt plantations. Accepted: 8 October 1998     

Impact of landscape and corridor design on primates in a large-scale industrial tropical plantation landscape

Tropical plantations are rapidly expanding as a source of industrial wood. In Indonesia, such large-scale industrial plantations are generally made of large mono-specific blocks interspersed with natural forest remnants. The extent and biodiversity value of these remnants vary as laws and regulations on their design and management are either unclear, without solid scientific basis or left to the interpretation of private companies responsible for the plantations. Our study area comprises of three Acacia mangium plantations, which have on average 18% of their total area set aside from production and conserved as natural forests. These remnant natural forests may, if appropriately designed and managed, be used to mitigate the negative impact of plantations on biodiversity by providing some degree of connectivity with and between remaining natural forest patches (such as the Tesso Nilo conservation area). We sampled natural vegetation in one and primate diversity in all three plantation sector and examined patterns of primate species richness and abundance with relation to spatial arrangement and dimensions of conservation area, which has been set aside from plantation production. We demonstrate unambiguously the critical importance of a well-connected network of natural forest corridors in the plantation landscape to maintain primates and discuss the potential biodiversity value of natural forest remnants in broad-scale industrial landscapes.     

Avian use of man-disturbed forest habitats in the Eastern Ghats, India

Short-term, fixed-line surveys using mist-nets and visual censuses were made of bird populations on five plots in the Eastern Ghats of Andhra Pradesh. Plots included two segments of moderately-disturbed hill forest, a remnant patch of humid ravine forest surrounded by young coffee, a mature coffee plantation with remnant natural forest overstory, and a sub-mature teak monoculture. Species-number and diversity (H') were measured to be highest in the two hill forest plots. Equitability was highest in the Teak plot. Population numbers were highest in one of the forest plots and the Coffee plot. 'Over-dominance' by tramp species was exhibited in the Coffee plot, in which the three most common bird species (two bulbuls and a white-eye) comprised more than half of the individuals censused. All censuses were dominated by non-forest and forest-edge species; few raptors and species larger than 100 g were recorded in censuses. The patch of Ravine Forest was species-poor and yet supported several unusual species (e.g., Abbott's Babbler Malacocincla abbotti. Blue Chat Erithacus brunneus and Little Spiderhunter Arachnothera longirostris ) found on no other plot. We suggest that: (1) the few remaining undisturbed tracts of moist deciduous and semi-evergreen forest should be declared natural reserves with complete protection from disturbance; (2) future forestry development in upland southeastern India should exclude teak monocultu re except on badly disturbed or clear-felled areas. Preferred development would feature coffee/ pepper plantation under maximum natural overstory, interspersed with remnant forest tracts for faunal and watershed protection. Such a combination would appear to have the least effect on the original forest avifauna.     

Mycorrhizal status of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Eucalyptus</Emphasis> plantations in south China and implications for management

The aim of this study is to assess the mycorrhizal status of Eucalyptus plantations in south China and to determine the need for inoculation. In four provinces in south China, 155 plantations were sampled for sporocarps of ectomycorrhizal (ECM) fungi, spores of arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungi, and mycorrhizas over 2 years. This study revealed a low above-ground diversity of ECM fungi consisting of 15 taxa fruiting beneath Eucalyptus plantations. The most common ECM genera were Scleroderma and Pisolithus, but they were infrequent. A total of 21 AM fungi, mostly Glomus species, were recognized from spores collected from eucalypt plantations. Four Glomus species were frequently present in soils, but spore density and relative abundance of AM fungi were generally low. Eucalypt roots from all plantation sites were poorly colonized by either ECM fungi or AM fungi. A bioassay with E. urophylla as a bait host, using soils collected from 11 eucalypt plantations, confirmed low levels of inoculum of both ECM and AM fungi in field soil. This is the first integrated study on the mycorrhizal status of eucalypt plantations in China. Findings from this research can be used to encourage adoption of mycorrhizal technology by eucalypt nurseries in the region. The potential of using spores of compatible ECM fungi or collections for forest nurseries is discussed.     

带状采伐对毛竹林林下植被物种多样性的影响

成本上升、利润下降严重影响毛竹林经济效益及竹农生产积极性,研究毛竹林新型经营管理技术、方法势在必行。本研究通过控制采伐宽度及采伐面积,观测一年恢复期后江苏宜兴国有林场内五种宽度(3 m、5 m、8 m、12 m、15 m)毛竹林带状样地郁闭状态及林下植被物种多样性特征,分析物种多样性对毛竹林采伐宽度及恢复状态的响应机制,研究表明:(1)研究区毛竹林下物种53科95属110种(灌木计37科64属76种,草本计18科30属34种),以蔷薇科、菊科、大戟科、茜草科、百合科、唇形科、禾本科、马鞭草科等为主。(2)物种丰富度随着毛竹郁闭度增加而降低,且人为采伐对物种丰富度(特别是木本植物)有显著促进作用,以8 m和15 m宽度带状样地物种增加最多。(3)带状采伐促进林下植被物种多样性,但降低了林下植被物种均匀度;8 m和15 m宽度带状样地Shannon-Wiener指数、Simpson指数及Gleason物种丰富度表现优于参考样地毛竹林;五种宽度带状样地林下植被物种均匀度小于参考样地,在相同宽度样地类型中,保留样地比采伐样地物种均匀度高。(4)带状采伐对8 m和15 m宽度采伐样地林下植被生物...     

Species composition and diversity of small Afromontane forest fragments in northern Ethiopia

In the highlands of northern Ethiopia, remnants of the original Afromontane forest vegetation are largely restricted to church yards and other sacred groves in a matrix of cropland and semiarid degraded savanna. To assess the potential for natural forest regeneration, species composition and diversity of all forest fragments (10) in a study area of 13,000 ha were analyzed in relation to environmental and soil variables. Using a random design and a density of approximately one plot per 2 ha in all fragments, 31 20×20 m plots were sampled. Indicator species analysis and MRPP tests yielded five communities representing two forest types and one degraded savanna habitat. The forest fragments had a species-poor tree and shrub community in which plots were rather homogeneous and most species abundant. NMDS and analysis of variance indicated that a topographical gradient correlated to soil phosphorus, soil depth, stoniness and the proximity to the river system explained the major differences in species composition and separated moist and dry Afromontane forest communities. The grazing intensity further partitioned the habitats. Present communities and their environmental correlates indicate that the secondary climax forest in the area probably consisted of dry Afromontane forest interlaced by broad strips of moist Afromontane forest along rivers and streams and not a continuous, mono-dominant Juniperus forest as is often presumed. Negative effects of the degraded matrix on forest fragments increased with decreasing patch area and increasing shape irregularity. Nevertheless, all remaining fragments are important for their role in the landscape ecology of the region as refuges and species pools and should be protected and managed accordingly. If seed dispersal from forest fragments into exclosures and subsequent tree recruitment are both successful, the vegetation type most likely to establish is Afromontane savanna woodland, and if managed properly, eventually dry Afromontane forest may arise. Increasing the size of small patches and placing forest plantations and exclosures in the vicinity of small forest fragments is expected to yield the most immediate results. This approach may increase the likelihood of patch colonisation by frugivorous forest birds and thus foster the regeneration of native woody species.     

连栽对桉树人工林下物种多样性的影响

采用时空序列和定位监测相结合的方法,对广西国有东门林场桉树人工林的物种多样性及其维持机制进行了研究.结果表明,桉树连栽导致人工林植物多样性减少,在667 m²样方内,第2代林的植物种类比第1代林减少了54.43%;对18块4 m²样方监测(1998～2003年)结果,第2代林植物多样性比第1代林减少了50%,物种丰富度和Shannon-Wiener指数分别比第1代林减少39.39%和17.76%.桉树人工林连栽导致群落物种多样性降低,改变了群落的物种组成及特征.不同连栽代数群落的生活型谱存在明显差异,第1代林以小高位芽、藤本高位芽和矮高位芽植物为主,而第2代林则以草本高位芽植物、地上芽植物为多;第1代林的k-对策种和r-对策种分别为69.32%和30.68%,第2代林则分别是47.83%和52.17%,可见连栽使草本植物、地上芽植物和r-对策种的数量增加,木本植物和k-对策种的数量减少.可以认为,土壤中种子库和营养体对物种多样性维持有重要作用,提出了桉树人工林群落物种多样性维持机制的初始植物繁殖体组成假说.在一个经营周期内(6～7年),桉树人工林维持的植物多样性的高低取决于初始植物繁殖体组成的丰富程度,高强度干扰的连栽方式使某些高竞争力的物种或仅以种子(果实)传播的物种丧失,造成下一代林地初始植物繁殖体组成多样性的降低,从而使连栽林地的物种多样性逐代减少.