辽东山区次生林乔木优势树种幼苗更新动态

以辽东山区次生林4 hm²动态监测样地为平台,2014—2016年连续3年对样地进行乔木优势树种幼苗调查和半球面影像拍摄,分析森林更新过程中林下乔木幼苗和冠层结构的动态,研究幼苗的天然更新规律及其对冠层结构变化(以叶面积指数LAI的变化来表示)的响应.结果表明: 调查期间冠层LAI先减少后增加,且存在显著的年际差异.12种乔木优势树种幼苗对冠层结构变化存在明显的响应,且不同树种幼苗的响应明显不同;中性树种幼苗的相对多度或频度一般会随着冠层LAI的减小而增大;阳性树种幼苗的相对多度或频度一般会随着冠层LAI的增大而减小.2014—2016年乔木优势树种幼苗的多响应置换过程分析表明,优势树种幼苗的数量组成和分布存在显著差异,且年际间的差异逐渐减少.调查期间优势树种幼苗指示种发生明显变化,也反映出其对冠层结构变化的响应.     

内蒙古不同类型草地叶面积指数遥感估算

叶面积指数(Leaf Area Index,LAI)是重要的植被结构参数,反演LAI是植被遥感的重要研究内容之一。根据在内蒙古呼伦贝尔和锡林浩特草原利用LAI 2000观测的草地LAI,比较了不同植被指数(SR、RSR、EVI、NDVI、SAVI和ARVI)估算不同类型草地LAI的能力,建立了基于Landsat-5 TM遥感数据的LAI估算模型,并利用LAI观测数据对模型进行了检验,生成了研究区内草地LAI分布图,据此对MODIS LAI产品一致性进行了评价。结果表明,在呼伦贝尔和锡林浩特两个研究区,RSR与LAI的相关性最高(R²分别为0.628、0.728,RMSE分别为0.512、0.490),在低密度草地,RSR的优势更为明显;验证表明,根据RSR建立的LAI估算模型的精度可达70%;利用TM数据生成的两个地区的LAI(TM LAI)空间变化明显,锡林浩特草地的LAI值整体上低于呼伦贝尔草地;在呼伦贝尔和锡林浩特,MODIS LAI产品与TM LAI一致性分别为0.566,0.323,MODIS LAI产品高估了呼伦贝尔草地LAI值,而在锡林浩特研究区则存在低估现象。     

马尾松人工林近自然化改造对植物自然更新及物种多样性的影响

中国人工林面积居世界第一位,而马尾松是中国人工林面积较大的树种之一,广泛分布于中国的亚热带区域。马尾松适应能力强,耐干旱、瘠薄,是南方低山丘陵区群落演替的先锋树种,也是荒山绿化造林的主要树种,马尾松人工林对生态防护、生态治理有着重大的意义。但是,绝大部分马尾松人工林为人工纯林,生态系统比较脆弱,生态服务功能较差。人工林的近自然改造对于增加林地生物多样性,提升人工林的生态服务功能具有重要意义。2005年,对中国林业科学院热带林业试验中心1993年造林的马尾松人工林进行4种不同强度(50%、40%、30%、20%)间伐后,套种大叶栎(Castanopsis fissa)、米老排(Mytilaria laosensis)、润楠(Machilus pingii)、红锥(C. hystrix)4个乡土阔叶树种,各种套种密度皆为120株/hm²。分别于间伐前(2004年)及2010年对群落生物多样性及人工套种树种生态情况进行调查,结果表明:(1)间伐处理后,自然更新至乔木层的物种种类和数量都有显著的增加,600 m²的样方中,物种数由(2.75±2.56)种增加到(11.17±4.32)种,个体数由(5.75±4.31)株增加到(32.17±19.09)株,群落中乔木亚层的优势种变化不大,主要有南酸枣(Choerospondias axillaris)、水锦树(Wendlandia uvariifolia),枫香(Liquidambar formosana)、破布木(Cordia dichotoma)、白背桐(Mallotus paniculatus)等。新增加到乔木层的物种大都为之前群落中灌木层的种类,主要有三桠苦(Evodia lepta)、鸭脚木(Schefflera minutistellata)、白花龙(Styrax faberi)、中平树(Macaranga denticulata)、黄毛榕(Ficus esquiroliana)、华南毛柃(Eurya ciliata)、罗浮柿(Diospyros morrisiana)、猴耳环(Pithecellobium clypearia)、木姜子(Litsea pungens)、毛黄肉楠(Actinodaphne pilosa)等。(2)间伐处理前,600 m²样方中出现的灌草种类数量为(24.63±4.24)种,间伐处理后,600 m²样方中出现的灌草种类数量为(27.58±3.80)种,不同间伐强度处理后林下灌草的优势种与间伐前大致相同,灌木层优势种为三桠苦,草本层优势种为弓果黍(Cyrtococcum patens)。不同间伐强度处理林分间,灌木层和草本层的物种丰富度指数、Shannon-Wiener指数、Simpson指数和Pielou指数均无显著差异,且与间伐前林分也无显著差异。(3)间伐促进了4个乡土树种幼树的生长,随着间伐强度的增加,大叶栎、红锥幼树的高度和胸径显著增长;50%的间伐强度的林分中,阔叶树种幼树的长势要显著好于其他间伐强度,50%的间伐强度最有利于马尾松林下套种的阔叶树种生长。(4)在马尾松林下套种的4个阔叶树种幼树的初期生长有明显差异。总体而言,大叶栎与米老排幼树的早期生长速率要明显高于红锥和润楠。     

物种组成对高寒草甸植被冠层降雨截留容量的影响

高寒草甸退化减少地上生物量、叶面积指数(LAI),因而减少冠层降雨截留容量(S)。但是,未有研究评价物种组成改变对S的影响。用水浸泡法和水量平衡法研究青藏高原高寒草甸3个不同退化阶段下(未退化、轻度退化、中度退化)的S变化规律,并评价物种组成改变对S的影响。结果表明:高寒草甸退化显著减少S(P<0.05)。在未退化、轻度退化、中度退化的高寒草甸,水浸泡法测得的S分别为0.612 mm,0.289 mm 和0.217 mm;水量平衡法测得的S分别为0.979 mm,0.493 mm 和0.419 mm。物种组成改变对S的影响表现为:随着高寒草甸的3个不同退化阶段,S减少的幅度先大于后小于LAI减少的幅度。原因是:(1)在未退化的草甸,鹅绒委陵菜(Potentilla arserina)的叶面积占有显著优势,占总叶面积的31.18%;在轻度退化的草甸,禾本科植物(Graminoid)的叶面积占有显著优势,占总叶面积的44.41%,而鹅绒委陵菜是稀有种,仅占总叶面积的3.76%;在中度退化的草甸,鹅绒委陵菜的叶面积占有显著优势,占总叶面积的19.91%;(2)鹅绒委陵菜的叶单位面积吸附水量(S_L)是禾本科植物的大约2.5倍。     

华北平原玉米田生态系统光合作用特征及影响因素

采用涡度相关法对华北平原夏玉米田进行了连续4a(2003-2006年)的碳通量观测,结果表明:夏玉米田生态系统初始量子效率(α)、最大光合速率(P_max)、暗呼吸速率(R_d)和总初级生产力(GPP)随作物生长发育而变化。在夏玉米生育前期和后期,α、P_max、R_d和GPP都比较小,其最大值出现在抽穗期/灌浆期。2003-2006年,夏玉米生长季平均α、P_max、R_d的范围分别为0.054-0.124 μmol/μmol、1.72-2.93 mg CO₂ · m^-2 · s^-1、0.23-0.38 mg CO₂ · m^-2 · s^-1。α、P_max和R_d均随叶面积指数(LAI)增加呈指数增长。2003-2006年夏玉米生长季GPP总量分别为806.2、741.5、703.0、817.4 g C/m²,年际差异较大。玉米田生态系统GPP随温度升高呈指数增长。在玉米营养生长阶段,GPP随LAI增加而增大,两者之间的关系可用直角双曲线方程来表示;生殖生长阶段,GPP随LAI降低而下降.相同LAI下,生殖生长阶段的GPP明显低于营养生长阶段。     

4种高大树木的叶片性状及WUE随树高的变化

为了解西双版纳北热带雨林高大树木树顶叶片性状对通道阻力增长引起的水力限制增强及高光和季节性干旱等气候条件的响应,对该区乔木浆果乌桕(Sapium baccatum Roxb)、思茅木姜子(Litsea pierrei var. szemois liou)、小叶藤黄(Garcinia cowa Roxb)及共生木质藤本黑风藤(Fissisfigma polyanthum (Hook. f. et Thoms.)Merr.)的叶片形态解剖结构、光合色素、水分利用效率(WUE)等随冠层高度的变化及种间差异进行了研究。结果表明:小叶藤黄和思茅木姜子的叶片(310.14、319.73 μm)和角质层(6.06、5.13 μm)都较厚、细胞较大(21.48、27.09 μm),光合色素含量则较低;黑风藤栅栏组织所占的比例最大、光合色素含量也最高,但叶片薄、WUE最低;浆果乌桕的WUE最高。随着冠层高度的增加,4种树木的叶厚、栅栏组织及角质层厚度、LMA、P/S和TPM/LT均增加、细胞变小,其中黑风藤的变幅最大。4树种的叶绿素和类胡萝卜素含量均随冠层的增高而减少,δ¹³C和WUE则随树冠增高而增大(黑风藤的变幅小于3种乔木);Δ则相反。上述结果表明4种树木冠层上部叶片偏向旱生结构和水分利用效率增加,暗示树顶叶片可能受到了水分胁迫,从而在结构上偏向于减少水分散失、功能上提高对水分的利用效率以适应水分亏缺;同时,随冠层增加光合色素含量减少,暗示其光合碳同化能力也降低。上述结果支持了水力限制假说中由于通道阻力增大引起树顶水力限制增强,大树可能会通过减少光和碳的获得而减慢树高生长的假设。     

11种温带树种粗木质残体分解初期结构性成分和呼吸速率的变化

采用长期定位跟踪实测方法,比较分析我国东北温带森林11个主要树种粗木质残体(CWD)分解初期3a中结构性成分的差异、变化以及与其呼吸速率(R_CWD)的关系。测定树种包括:软阔叶树种(白桦、山杨、紫椴)、硬阔叶树种(胡桃楸、蒙古栎、色木槭、春榆、黄檗、水曲柳)和针叶树种(兴安落叶松、红松)。结果表明:11个树种CWD木质素含量(L_c,%)和综纤维素含量(H_c,%)差异显著(P<0.001),其中软阔叶树种的L_c最低。木质素含量与N含量的比值(L_c/N)依次为:针叶树种 >硬阔叶树种 >软阔叶树种。经过3a的分解,大部分树种(除了紫椴和春榆)的L_c略有增加,但变化不显著(P>0.05);而其木质素密度(L_d, g/cm³)和综纤维素密度(H_d, g/cm³)都有不同程度的减小(P<0.05),软阔叶树种损失最多,针叶树种损失最少。所有树种L_c/N值均增大。将R_CWD标准化成温度为15 ℃时(R₁₅)比较发现,在CWD形成初期(2005年)不同树种的R₁₅有所差异;阔叶树种的R₁₅及其温度系数(Q₁₀)均高于针叶树种。经过3a的分解,除兴安落叶松、色木槭和水曲柳外,其它树种的R₁₅出现了不同程度减小。总体看来,软阔叶树种R₁₅减少了32.0%,而针叶树种R₁₅则增加了23.1%。另外,针叶树种的Q₁₀增大,而阔叶树种的Q₁₀则基本保持不变。R₁₅与H_c呈正相关,与L_c和L_c/N呈负相关。CWD分解初期3a R₁₅的变化率与H_c的变化率之间呈正相关关系,表明结构性成分的变化是导致CWD分解初期R_CWD变化的主要因素之一。     

西双版纳勐养旱季季风常绿阔叶林的林下鸟类群落组成和特点

2008年10月—2009年3月,用网捕法对西双版纳勐养季风常绿阔叶林林下鸟类群落进行了研究。共张网15 840网·h,捕到林下鸟类90种1 423只,隶属28科7目。优势种为银胸丝冠鸟(Serilophus lunatus)、褐脸雀鹛(Alcippe poioicephala)、白喉冠鹎(Alophoixus pallidus)、金眶鹟莺(Seicercus burkii)、白尾蓝地鸲(Cinclidium leucurum)、黑胸鸫(Turdus dissimilis)、棕头幽鹛(Pellorneum ruficeps)、棕胸雅鹛(Trichastoma tickelli)等8种。留鸟为林下鸟类主要成分,其捕获数量,占总数量的89.3%。平均网捕率9.0只/(100网·h),月份变化极显著(x²_{5, 282}=, P=0.000);2008年12月平均网捕率最高,为（12.5±1.3）只/(100网·h);2009年2月最低,为（5.2±0.6）只/(100网·h)。林下鸟类群落呈现多物种而低密度特征。画眉科鸟类优势地位不明显。国家二级保护鸟类银胸丝冠鸟是本地区捕获数量最多的鸟,其栖息地需重点保护。     

4种阔叶幼苗对PEG模拟干旱的生理响应

研究了PEG模拟干旱胁迫环境下的火力楠(Michelia macclurel)、尾叶桉(Eucalyptus urophylla)、枫香(Liquidambar formosana)、荷木(Schima superba)幼苗的生理变化。结果表明,干旱胁迫下,4种幼苗叶片的相对含水量小于对照,其中,尾叶桉和枫香下降明显;不同干旱胁迫条件下,4种树种幼苗叶片的相对电导率均显著大于对照,其中尾叶桉和枫香上升幅度大;干旱胁迫下的火力楠和荷木幼苗叶片的脯氨酸含量呈现波动,尾叶桉和枫香幼苗则显著大于对照;不同干旱胁迫时间下的幼苗叶片的叶绿素含量小幅波动;4个树种幼苗的过氧岐化酶(SOD)活性随胁迫时间增加而呈现先升后降的趋势,其中火力楠和荷木的幼苗的SOD活性持续维持在较高水平;荷木叶片的丙二醛(MDA)含量先升后降,最后和对照水平相近,其余幼苗的MDA含量均大于对照;干旱胁迫下4种幼苗叶片的可溶性糖含量增加幅度较大。主成分分析表明,4种幼苗的抗旱能力排序为荷木>火力楠>尾叶桉>枫香。     

极端干旱区多枝柽柳幼苗对人工水分干扰的形态及生理响应

在塔里木河下游断流河道人工生态输水的大背景下,多枝柽柳(Tamarix ramosissima )作为当地优势物种,其更新恢复研究对下游荒漠河岸林的恢复尤为重要。通过研究多枝柽柳幼苗形态、水分和光合生理对不同灌溉处理的响应,分析不同人工水分干扰模式对柽柳幼苗生长发育的影响。实验设计了侧渗分层(LSI)和地表灌溉(AGI)两种给水方式,以及高灌(W1,50 L/株)、中灌(W2,25 L/株)、低灌(W3,12.5 L/株)3 个给水水平,并在整个生长季定期监测幼苗的形态参数变化、生物量、水势和光合速率。结果显示:(1)侧渗分层灌溉方式对幼苗基径、株高、冠幅以及前期生长速率都有促进作用;(2)在侧渗分层灌溉高灌下,幼苗地下及总生物量都显著高于地表灌溉(P < 0.05),且地表灌溉下根冠比(R/S:Root shoot ratio)明显高于侧渗分层灌溉;(3)侧渗分层灌溉下,幼苗茎水势高于地表漫灌,且在中灌和低灌下达到显著水平(P < 0.05),表明侧渗分层灌溉下幼苗的水分吸收效率更高;(4)在侧渗分层高灌及中灌下,实际光化学光量子产量值高于地表灌溉处理,并在高灌时差异极显著(P < 0.01)。研究表明,侧渗分层灌溉方式对多枝柽柳幼苗早期生长及水分和光合生理都具有显著促进作用。     

Cultivation of Non‐timber Forest Products Alters Understory Light Availability in a Humid Tropical Forest in Mexico1

The planting of non‐timber forest products (NTFPs) in the understory of tropical forests is promoted in many regions as a strategy to conserve forested lands and meet the economic needs of rural communities. While the forest canopy is left intact in most understory plantations, much of the midstory and understory vegetation is removed in order to increase light availability for cultivated species. We assessed the extent to which the removal of vegetation in understory plantations of Chamaedorea hooperiana Hodel (Arecaceae) alters understory light conditions. We also examined how any changes in light availability may be reflected by changes in the composition of canopy tree seedlings regenerating in understory plantations. We employed a blocked design consisting of four C. hooperiana plantation sites; each site was paired with an adjacent, unmanaged forest site. Hemispherical canopy photographs were taken and canopy tree seedlings were identified and measured within 12 3 × 2 m randomly placed plots in each site for a total of 96 plots (4 blocks × 2 sites × 12 plots). Plantation management did not affect canopy openness or direct light availability but understory plantations had a higher frequency of plots with greater total and diffuse light availability than unmanaged forest. Comparisons of canopy tree seedling composition between understory plantations and unmanaged forest sites were less conclusive but suggest that management practices have the potential to increase the proportion of shade‐intolerant species of tree seedlings establishing in plantations. Given the importance of advanced regeneration in gap‐phase forest dynamics, these changes may have implications for future patterns of succession in the areas of forest where NTFPs are cultivated.     

Forest plant community as a driver of soil biodiversity: experimental evidence from collembolan assemblages through large‐scale and long‐term removal of oak canopy trees Quercus petraea

Plant–soil interactions are increasingly recognized to play a major role in terrestrial ecosystems functioning. However, few studies to date have focused on slow dynamic ecosystems such as forests. As they are vertically stratified by multiple vegetation strata, canopy tree removal by thinning operations could alter forest plant community through tree canopy opening. Very little is known about cascading effects on soil biodiversity. We conducted a large‐scale, multi‐site assessment of collembolan assemblage response to long‐term canopy tree removal in sessile oak Quercus petraea temperate forests. A total of 33 experimental plots were studied covering a large gradient of canopy tree basal area, stand age and local abiotic contexts. Collembolan abundance strongly declined with canopy tree removal in early forest successional stage and this was mediated by negative effect of understory plant community composition changes, i.e. shift from moss and forb to tree seedling, fern, shrub and grass species. Negative effect of this composition shift on collembolan species richness was largely offset by positive effect of the increase in understory plant species richness. This gives support to both the plant mass‐ratio and functional diversity hypotheses. Collembolan functional groups had contrasting response patterns, which were mediated by different ecological factors. Epedaphic (r‐strategist) abundance and species richness increased with canopy tree removal in relation with the increase in understory plant species richness. In contrast, euedaphic (K‐strategist) abundance and species richness declined with canopy tree removal in early forest successional stage in relation with changes in understory plant community composition and species richness, as well as microclimatic conditions. Overall, our study provides experimental evidence that forest plant community can be a strong driver of collembolan assemblages. It also emphasizes the role of trees as foundation species of forest ecosystems that can shape soil biodiversity through their regulation of understory plant community and ecosystem abiotic conditions.     

Phylogenetic Structure of Tree Species across Different Life Stages from Seedlings to Canopy Trees in a Subtropical Evergreen Broad-Leaved Forest

Investigating patterns of phylogenetic structure across different life stages of tree species in forests is crucial to understanding forest community assembly, and investigating forest gap influence on the phylogenetic structure of forest regeneration is necessary for understanding forest community assembly. Here, we examine the phylogenetic structure of tree species across life stages from seedlings to canopy trees, as well as forest gap influence on the phylogenetic structure of forest regeneration in a forest of the subtropical region in China. We investigate changes in phylogenetic relatedness (measured as NRI) of tree species from seedlings, saplings, treelets to canopy trees; we compare the phylogenetic turnover (measured as β_NRI) between canopy trees and seedlings in forest understory with that between canopy trees and seedlings in forest gaps. We found that phylogenetic relatedness generally increases from seedlings through saplings and treelets up to canopy trees, and that phylogenetic relatedness does not differ between seedlings in forest understory and those in forest gaps, but phylogenetic turnover between canopy trees and seedlings in forest understory is lower than that between canopy trees and seedlings in forest gaps. We conclude that tree species tend to be more closely related from seedling to canopy layers, and that forest gaps alter the seedling phylogenetic turnover of the studied forest. It is likely that the increasing trend of phylogenetic clustering as tree stem size increases observed in this subtropical forest is primarily driven by abiotic filtering processes, which select a set of closely related evergreen broad-leaved tree species whose regeneration has adapted to the closed canopy environments of the subtropical forest developed under the regional monsoon climate.     

Impacts of streaked shearwater (Calonectris leucomelas) on tree seedling regeneration in a warm-temperate evergreen forest on Kanmurijima Island,Japan

The ground vegetation of an evergreen broad-leaved Persea thunbergii-dominated forest on Kanmurijima Island has been heavily damaged by a ground-burrowing seabird, the streaked shearwater (Calonectris leucomelas). To clarify the effects of seabird trampling and burrowing on the recruitment of tree seedlings, 22 paired quadrats, protected and unprotected against seabirds, were laid out under various degrees of canopy coverage, ranging from heavy- to light-shade. Protection from seabird activities resulted in an increase in species richness of tree seedlings. Seabird activities had a significant effect on tree seedling diversity, while canopy coverage was shown to be important for herbaceous species diversity. Though seedling emergence of Persea thunbergii, the evergreen canopy dominant, was not affected by seabird activities and canopy coverage, that of Mallotus japonicus, a deciduous pioneer tree, was negatively affected by the both factors. Seabird activities and evergreen heavy-shade canopy negatively affected seedling survivorship of both species. Low survivorship in seedlings of the canopy species may doom the present-day warm-temperate evergreen forest of Persea thunbergii on the island. Mechanical impacts of trampling and burrowing and the resulting soil erosion may play an important role in forest regeneration and dynamics.     

林冠结构和地形对亚热带常绿落叶阔叶林林下幼苗物种多样性和功能多样性的影响

森林结构和地形是森林生态系统最明显的特点,也是影响林下幼苗存活和物种多样性的关键因子。该研究采用半球面摄影方法提取八大公山生长监测样地（共1.2 hm²）林冠结构参数,通过调查地表层木本植物幼苗的组成和多度,获取常见植物幼苗叶片功能性状,结合详细的地形信息,利用空间同步自回归模型探究林冠结构变量及地形因子对幼苗物种多样性及功能多样性的影响。结果表明：（1）八大公山亚热带山地常绿落叶阔叶林林冠结构复杂度较高,最大林冠高的平均值达到19.94 m,叶面积指数、平均叶倾角和林冠覆盖度分别为2.94、30.88°和0.87;（2）林冠结构变量和地形因子能够解释32.6%~48.4%的林下幼苗物种多样性指数变异和28.5%~70.2%的功能多样性变异,但地形因子对幼苗物种多样性的影响很小;（3）预测在亚热带常绿落叶阔叶林高海拔的山坡上,有较低的叶面积指数和平均叶倾角群落有较高的幼苗物种多样性;而在低海拔山脊上,较低的叶面积指数和平均叶倾角群落林下幼苗层有较高的功能多样性。此结果对科研人员和林业工作者开展野外森林更新情况评估和样方调查将有所帮助。     

Interspecific variation in tree seedling establishment in canopy gaps in relation to tree density

Abstract. We tested whether interspecific variation in tree seedling establishment in canopy gaps was significantly related to interspecific variation in tree density, for seven deciduous forest tree species (Quercus alba, Hamamelis virginiana, Acer rubrum, Sassafras albidum, Quercus rubra, Prunus serotina, Ostrya virginiana). For each species, seedling establishment was calculated as the difference in seedling density before experimental gap creation versus three years after gap creation. In each of the six experimentally-created gap types (33 % or 66 % removal of tree basal area from 0.01-ha, 0.05-ha or 0.20-ha patches), differences in seedling establishment among species were significantly related to differences in their density in the tree canopy. A regression model with log_e tree density as the independent variable accounted for between 93 % and 98 % of interspecific variation in seedling establishment. Our results provide empirical support for models of tree dynamics in gaps that assume seedling establishment depends on canopy tree density.     

Composition and Dynamics of Functional Groups of Trees During Tropical Forest Succession in Northeastern Costa Rica

We compared the functional type composition of trees ≥10 cm dbh in eight secondary forest monitoring plots with logged and unlogged mature forest plots in lowland wet forests of Northeastern Costa Rica. Five plant functional types were delimited based on diameter growth rates and canopy height of 293 tree species. Mature forests had significantly higher relative abundance of understory trees and slow-growing canopy/emergent trees, but lower relative abundance of fast-growing canopy/emergent trees than secondary forests. Fast-growing subcanopy and canopy trees reached peak densities early in succession. Density of fast-growing canopy/emergent trees increased during the first 20 yr of succession, whereas basal area continued to increase beyond 40 yr. We also assigned canopy tree species to one of three colonization groups, based on the presence of seedlings, saplings, and trees in four secondary forest plots. Among 93 species evaluated, 68 percent were classified as regenerating pioneers (both trees and regeneration present), whereas only 6 percent were classified as nonregenerating pioneers (trees only) and 26 percent as forest colonizers (regeneration only). Slow-growing trees composed 72 percent of the seedling and sapling regeneration for forest colonizers, whereas fast-growing trees composed 63 percent of the seedlings and saplings of regenerating pioneers. Tree stature and growth rates capture much of the functional variation that appears to drive successional dynamics. Results further suggest strong linkages between functional types defined based on adult height and growth rates of large trees and abundance of seedling and sapling regeneration during secondary succession.
Abstract in Spanish is available at http://www.blackwell-synergy.com/loi/btp     

Understorey gaps influence regeneration dynamics in subtropical coastal dune forest

Dominant understorey species influence forest dynamics by preventing tree regeneration at the seedling stage. We examined factors driving the spatial distribution of the monocarpic species Isoglossa woodii, a dominant understorey herb in coastal dune forests, and the effect that its cover has on forest regeneration. We used line transects to quantify the area of the forest understorey with I. woodii cover and with gaps in the cover. Paired experimental plots were established in semi-permanent understorey gaps with I. woodii naturally absent and in adjacent areas with I. woodii present to compare plant community composition, soil, and light availability between the two habitats. Isoglossa woodii was widespread, covering 65–95% of the understorey, while gaps covered the remaining 5–35% of the area. The spatial distribution of this species was strongly related to tree canopy structure, with I.␣woodii excluded from sites with dense tree cover. Seedling establishment was inhibited by low light availability (<1% of PAR) beneath I.␣woodii. When present, I. woodii reduced the density and species richness of tree seedlings. The tree seedling community beneath I. woodii represented a subset of the seedling community in gaps. Some species that were found in gaps did not occur beneath I. woodii at all. There were no significant differences between the sapling and canopy tree communities in areas with I. woodii gaps and cover. In the coastal dune forest system, seedling survival under I. woodii is dependent on a species’ shade tolerance, its ability to grow quickly during I. woodii dieback, and/or the capacity to regenerate by re-sprouting and multi-stemming. We propose a general conceptual model of forest regeneration dynamics in which the abundant understorey species, I. woodii, limits local tree seedling establishment and survival but gaps in the understorey maintain tree species diversity on a landscape scale.     

Vertical distribution of epiphytic bryophytes in an Indonesian rainforest

We studied species richness, composition and vertical distribution of epiphytic bryophytes in submontane rainforest of Central Sulawesi. Bryophytes were sampled on eight canopy trees and on eight trees in the forest understorey. Microclimate was measured at trunk bases and at crown bases. The total recorded number of 146 epiphytic bryophyte species is among the highest ever reported for tropical forests and underlines the importance of the Malesian region as a global biodiversity hotspot. Species composition differed significantly between understorey trees and canopy tree trunks on the one hand, and the forest canopy on the other. Fourty-five percent of the bryophyte species were restricted to canopy tree crowns, 12% to the understorey. Dendroid and fan-like species mainly occurred in the forest understorey whereas tufts were most species rich in the tree crowns. The findings reflect the different microclimatic regimes and substrates found in the understorey and in the forest canopy. The results indicate that assessments of the bryophyte diversity of tropical forests are inadequate when understorey trees and tree crowns are excluded.