蛟河阔叶红松林林冠干扰及林隙更新研究

研究了吉林蛟河实验林场阔叶红松林的林冠干扰状况及林隙更新的基本规律。结果表明,扩展林隙（ＥＧ）和冠空隙（ＣＧ）在阔叶红松林中所占的面积比例分别是１８．０９％和１２．５１％,林冠干扰的返回间隔期为７００ａ左右;ＣＧ的大小平均为ＥＧ的６９％,ＥＧ的面积变化在１７—２８４ｍ２之间,平均为７５．４９ｍ２,而ＣＧ的面积变化在１０—２３４ｍ２之间,平均为５１．９８ｍ２,大多数林隙的平均直径仅为主林层树高的２０—６０％;大多数的林隙是由单株形成木形成的,形成林隙最重的方式是干基折断和掘根风倒;林隙形成木主要是由红松、沙松、枫桦和鱼鳞松四个树种组成,林隙形成木的胸径大都在４０—８０ｃｍ之间,树高在２５—３０ｍ之间;林隙的空间分布格局是均匀型的。不同树种在林隙内外的数量特征不同,随着林隙与非林隙的交替变化,不同树种的优势地位亦发生相应的变化,根据不同树种在林隙内外重要值位序差值的大小,可将蛟河阔叶红松林内树种对林隙的更新反应划分为三种类型。林隙及非林隙林分的物种多样性特征不同     

南亚热带常绿阔叶林林隙形成方式及其特征的研究

分析了广东黑石顶自然保护区南亚热带常绿阔叶林林隙的形成方式及其特征．结果表明,在南亚热带常绿阔叶林中,由树木折干形成的林隙最为普遍,占５１．８６％,其次是由于掘根风倒而形成的,占３８．９８％．林隙大多由两株树木形成,平均每个林隙拥有形成木２．６３株．扩展林隙的大小多在１００～３００ｍ２之间,其中以２００～３００ｍ２者所占的面积比例最大,而以１００～２００ｍ２者所占的数量比例最大．冠空隙的大小多在１００ｍ２以下,其中以５０～１００ｍ２所占面积比例最大,而以５０ｍ２以下的所占数量比例最大．大部分林隙是在大约４０年前形成的,其中以１０年前形成的林隙最多．林隙形成木分布最多的径级在２０～３０ｃｍ之间,高度在２０～３０ｍ之间．每株形成木所能形成的扩展林隙面积为７２．９４ｍ２,冠空隙面积为２５．０６ｍ２．     

Flood-deposited wood debris and its contribution to heterogeneity and regeneration in a semi-arid riparian landscape

We investigated whether large woody debris (LWD) piles create nodes of environmental resources that contribute to the recovery of riparian vegetation and that also augment the heterogeneity and resilience of the riverine system. River and riparian systems are typified by a large degree of heterogeneity and complex interactions between abiotic and biotic elements. Disturbance such as floods re-distribute the resources, such as LWD, and thereby add greater complexity to the system. We examined this issue on a semi-arid savanna river where a ~100-year return interval flood in 2000 uprooted vegetation and deposited substantial LWD. We investigated the micro-environment within the newly established LWD piles and compared this with conditions at adjacent reference sites containing no LWD. We found soil nutrient concentrations to be significantly higher in LWD piles compared with the reference plots (total N +19%, available P +51%, and total C +36%). Environmental variables within LWD piles and reference sites varied with landscape position in the river–riparian landscape and with LWD pile characteristics. Observed differences were generally between piles located in the terrestrial and riparian areas as compared to piles located on the macro-channel floor. After 3 years the number and cover of woody species were significantly higher when associated with LWD piles, regardless of landscape position or pile type. We conclude that LWD piles formed after large floods act as resource nodes by accumulating fine sediments and by retaining soil nutrients and soil moisture. The subsequent influence of LWD deposition on riparian heterogeneity is discerned at several spatial scales including within and between LWD piles, across landscape positions and between channel types. LWD piles substantially influence the initial developmental of riparian vegetation as the system regenerates following large destructive floods.     

Tree species distribution in canopy gaps and mature forest in an area of cloud forest of the Ibitipoca Range,south-eastern Brazil

The tree community of both canopy gaps and mature forest was surveyed in a 5 ha plot of cloud forest in the Ibitipoca Range, south-eastern Brazil, aiming at: (a) comparing the tree community structure of canopy gaps with that of three strata of the mature forest, and (b) relating the tree community structure of canopy gaps with environmental and biotic variables. All saplings of canopy trees with 1–5 m of height established in 31 canopy gaps found within the plot were identified and measured. Mature forest trees with dbh 3 cm were sampled in four 40×40 quadrats laid on the four soil sites recognised in the local soil catena. All surveyed trees were identified, measured and distributed into three forest strata: understorey (<5 m of height), sub-canopy (5.1–15 m) and canopy (15.1–30 m). The following variables were obtained for each gap: mode of formation, age, soil site, slope grade, size, canopy openness and abundance of bamboos and lianas. A detrended correspondence analysis indicated that the tree community structure of gaps in all soil sites was more similar to that of the mature forest understorey, suggesting that the bank of immatures plays an important role in rebuilding the forest canopy and that gap phases may be important for understorey shade-tolerant species. There was evidence of gap-dependence for establishment for only one canopy tree species. Both canonical correspondence analysis and correlation analysis demonstrated for a number of tree species that the distribution of their saplings in canopy gaps was significantly correlated with two variables: soil site and canopy openness. The future forest structure at each gap is probably highly influenced by both the present structure of the adjacent mature forest and the gap creation event.     

八大公山中亚热带山地常绿落叶阔叶混交林物种组成与结构

山地常绿落叶阔叶混交林在我国主要分布在中亚热带1000～2000 m中山地带。八大公山位于武陵山系北端,中亚热带北缘,具有保护较好的典型山地常绿落叶阔叶混交林。为了研究常绿落叶阔叶混交林动态和川东-鄂西植物多样性形成及维持机制,按照CTFS（Center for Tropical Forest Science）样地建设标准,中国科学院武汉植物园于2010-2011年在湖南八大公山（Badagongshan,BDGS）国家级自然保护区建立了一个25 hm2（500 m×500 m）中亚热带山地常绿落叶阔叶混交林动态监测样地（Forest Dynamic Plot）。本研究以样地内所有胸径（DBH）≥1 cm的木本植物（不含竹藤）为研究对象,分析该样地区系成分、群落组成、垂直结构、径级结构和空间分布。结果表明：八大公山样地属于典型的山地常绿落叶阔叶混交林,植物以泛热带分布科（24.50%）和北温带分布属（24.56%）占优势,包括9种珍稀濒危植物。样地内木本植物合计53科、114属、238种（含种下分类单位）,186556株存活个体。落叶树144种,常绿树94种。壳斗科（Fagaceae）、杜鹃花科（Ericaceae）、樟科（Lauraceae）和山茶科（Theaceae）占据优势;个体数超过1000的有38个物种,以常绿树种（63.16%）为主;稀有种（〈25株）103个（占样地物种总数43.28%）。群落垂直结构可分为乔木层（优势树种多脉青冈Cyclobalanopsis multinervis和亮叶水青冈Fagus lucida）、亚乔木层（优势种长蕊杜鹃Rhododendron stamineum和黄丹木姜子Litsea elongata）和灌木层（优势种短柱柃Eurya brevistyla和薄叶山矾Symplocos anomala）。个体数超过1000的树种和稀有种主要来自灌木层。由于生长型限制,样地内树种平均胸径较小（5.41 cm）,DBH〈5 cm的个体占优势（68.40%）。主要优势树种的径级结构呈现倒J型。     

Where is the Evidence for Assessing Evidence‐Based Restoration? Comments on Ntshotsho et al. (2010)

In their article “Assessing the evidence base for restoration in South Africa,” Ntshotsho et al. attempt to determine whether restoration in South Africa is evidence based by reporting on 10 projects' baseline data collection, goal setting, and monitoring. However, their contribution suffers from two major constraints. First, they confuse assessing the evidence base with assessing whether restoration is evidence based. Truly, assessing the evidence base would entail a systematic review of the quantity and quality of information available as well as the conclusions supported, perhaps in a meta‐analytical framework. Determining if restoration is evidence based would require a survey of project managers to evaluate if they take decisions based on scientific information. Second, Ntshotsho et al. do not clearly distinguish successfully achieving restoration project goals from successfully restoring ecosystems. They largely focus on projects' socioeconomic goals without emphasizing that these goals are, by definition, secondary to ecological goals in determining restoration success. Thus, Ntshotsho et al. provide neither a sound assessment of the evidence base for restoration nor whether restoration is evidence based. To evaluate and encourage evidence‐based restoration in South Africa, we recommend a simple assessment of the basis on which restoration managers make decisions, identification of factors precluding evidence‐based decision‐making, and development of platforms to evaluate the data collected in restoration programs to generate an evidence base from which to make defendable decisions.     

Environmental heterogeneity,species diversity and co‐existence at different spatial scales

The positive relationship between spatial environmental heterogeneity and species diversity is a widely accepted concept, generally associated with niche limitation. However, niche limitation cannot account for negative heterogeneity–diversity relationships (HDR) revealed in several case studies. Here we explore how HDR varies at different spatial scales and provide novel theories for small‐scale species co‐existence that explain both positive and negative HDR. At large spatial scales of heterogeneity (e.g. landscape level), different communities co‐exist, promoting large regional species pool size and resulting in positive HDR. At smaller scales within communities, species co‐existence can be enhanced by increasing the number of different patches, as predicted by the niche limitation theory, or alternatively, restrained by heterogeneity. We conducted meta‐regressions for experimental and observational HDR studies, and found that negative HDRs are significantly more common at smaller spatial scales. We propose three theories to account for niche limitation at small spatial scales. (1) Microfragmentation theory: with increasing spatial heterogeneity, large homogeneous patches lose area and become isolated, which in turn restrains the establishment of new plant individuals and populations, thus reducing species richness. (2) Heterogeneity confounded by mean: when heterogeneity occurs at spatial scales smaller than the size of individual plants, which forage through the patches, species diversity can be either positively or negatively affected by a change in the mean of an environmental factor. (3) Heterogeneity as a separate niche axis: the ability of species to tolerate heterogeneity at spatial scales smaller than plant size varies, affecting HDR. We conclude that processes other than niche limitation can affect the relationship between heterogeneity and diversity.