Evaluation of secondary forests as alternative habitats to primary forests for flower-visiting insects

Although primary forests are important for biological conservation, the value of secondary forests for forest-dependent organisms needs to be evaluated when habitat restoration is required. We examined whether flower-visiting insects can use secondary forests as alternative habitats to primary forests. In particular, we compared assemblages of bees (Anthophila) and flower longhorn beetles (Lepturinae: Cerambycidae) in young secondary, mature secondary, and primary forests. Our results showed that more bee species were captured in primary and mature secondary forests than in young secondary forests, and flower longhorn beetle species were captured more frequently in primary forests than in mature and young secondary forests. Ordination showed that the communities in the three forest types were not statistically identical, which indicated that secondary forests cannot provide an absolute alternative habitat to primary forests for bees and flower longhorn beetles. However, the results also suggest that as secondary forests mature, more primary forest species would be able to use secondary forests as habitats. This implies that restoration from other land uses, such as monoculture plantations, to secondary forests could help to promote the faunal biodiversity of primary forests.     

Time structure and dynamics of the insect communities in bush vegetation restoration areas of Zhifanggou watershed in Loess hilly region

The insects were investigated in Zhifanggou watershed, Ansai County, Shaanxi Province, China. The results showed that the insect species varied spatially in the following order: the natural bush forests, the mixed forests and the simple forests. The individual number of insects in Caragana korshinskii was the highest, followed by mixed forests and Hippaphae rhamnoides, and the change range of the insect individuals in the natural bush forests was the smallest. The species number of insects with seasonal changes and the individual number of insects in various types of vegetation can be described by the Univariate cubic equation. The order of the diversity index of the insect communities in various types of vegetation from May to September was the natural bush forests, the mixed forests and the simple forests. The change ranges of the evenness values of the simple forests and the mixed forests were higher, and that of the natural bush forests was smaller. The reverse trend was assumed between the dominance values and the evenness values in the time course. Moreover, the main factors and temporal patterns of the insect communities in the natural bush forests were more complicated, fluctuative and obvious than those in the mixed forests and the simple forests by using the principal component analysis.     

The Conservation Value of Secondary Forests for Vascular Epiphytes in Central Panama

Secondary forests that develop following land abandonment could compensate for the losses of diversity and structure that accompany deforestation of old‐growth forests in tropical regions. Whether secondary forests can harbor similar species richness, density, and composition of old‐growth forests for vascular epiphytes remains largely unknown for secondary forests older than 50 yr. We examined community structure (species richness, density, and species composition) of vascular epiphytes in older secondary forests between 35 and 115 yr after land abandonment and nearby old‐growth forests to determine if the community structure of epiphytes in secondary forests approaches that of old‐growth forests over time. The recovery of epiphyte species richness was rapid with 55‐year‐old forests containing 65 percent of old‐growth epiphyte species richness. Secondary forest epiphyte communities were found to be statistically nested within secondary forests older in age and within old‐growth forests. Similarity of epiphyte communities to old‐growth forests increased to 75 percent, 115 yr after abandonment. This study suggests that secondary forests will likely recover old‐growth epiphyte richness and composition given enough time. Epiphyte densities did not recover quickly with 55‐year‐old forests having 14 percent and 115‐year‐old forests having only 49 percent of the density of old‐growth forest epiphytes. The low density of epiphytes in secondary forests could impact rainforest diversity and function. We conclude that in less than 115 yr, although secondary moist forests have high conservation value for some aspects of community structure, they are unlikely to compensate biologically for the loss of diversity and ecosystem function that high epiphyte densities provide.     

Sustainable management of planted landscapes: lessons from Japan

In Japan, 42?% of forests are planted forests, and most of them were established after World War II (1950–1980) to meet increased wood demands. Although Japanese planted forests are now reaching their planned harvest age, they have not been managed, and their restoration is now being discussed. Japanese foresters have not cut their own forests, and the country’s high wood demands have been met by imports during recent decades. The decline of young forests due to the stagnation of forestry activity is suggested to be partly responsible for the nation-wide decline in early-successional species, which is referred to as the “second crisis of biodiversity.” As a timber-importing nation, it is suggested that Japan has underused the nation’s own forests and has overused forests elsewhere. A revival of Japanese plantation forestry may contribute to the restoration of early-successional species because young planted forests are likely to provide suitable habitats. Furthermore, only 30?% of the current planted forests in Japan will be needed to meet the expected future domestic demand for lumber and plywood without imports. The remaining 70?% of the current planted forests may be restored to natural forests with or without harvesting. The history of Japanese planted forests suggests that some natural trees/forests should be retained, even in the landscapes that specialize in wood production, because part of the planted forests may be economically marginalized in the future, and their restoration to natural forests would then be needed.     

纸坊沟流域植被恢复区灌木林昆虫群落时间结构及动态

通过对纸房沟流域不同植被恢复区昆虫进行调查,结果表明:昆虫种类数以天然灌木林最高,混交林次之,单纯林分较低,个体数量以柠条林昆虫数量最高,其次为混交林和沙棘林,天然灌木林变化幅度最小。各植被昆虫种类和数量季节变化符合y=ax3 bx2 cx d函数变化规律。从特征指数来分析:昆虫群落多样性指数5～9月份大小次序均为天然灌木林>混交林>单纯林分,均匀度以单纯林和混交林的昆虫群落变化幅度较大,天然灌木林变化幅度最小。群落的优势度与均匀度值的变化呈相反趋势。主分量分析表明:植物类型不同的昆虫群落,其主导因素和时间格局不同,且结构越复杂,主导因素和时间格局越明显;相反,则主导因素和时间格局分化不明显;通过排序植食性昆虫、捕食性昆虫、寄生性昆虫在各植被昆虫群落变化的不同时期占主导因素。     

Soil phosphorus fractions and tree phosphorus resorption in pine forests along an urban-to-rural gradient in Nanchang, China

Urbanization has been rapid across the world but the responses of phosphorus (P) cycling to urbanization have not been well-investigated. This study was to understand the influences of rapid urbanization on forest P cycling in a developing country. Soil P fractions and P resportion were determined for nine slash pine (Pinus elliottii Engelm.) forests along a 30-km long urban-suburban-rural gradient in Nanchang City, southern China. The total P stocks in the surface soils in urban and suburban forests were 317% and 182% higher, respectively, than levels found in rural forests. The concentrations of soil available P, labile P, slow P, occluded P and total extractable P were also much higher in urban and suburban forests than in rural forests (P?<?0.05). Soil weathered P concentrations were highest in urban forests. Annual mean foliar P concentrations were enhanced in urban and suburban forests compared to rural forests. The P resorption efficiency (PRE) was higher in rural forests than in suburban and urban forests, while the P resorption proficiency (PRP) was lower in rural forests than in suburban and urban forests. Urbanization associated with high extraneous P inputs has altered soil P status and plant P uptake. Foliar P concentration, PRE and PRP were largely dependent on soil P availability in our study forests.     

Presidential Address—Some Reflections On The Nature Of Species

Background: Variation in the distribution and abundance of woody plants as consequence of disturbances such as fire may be explained by lineage age.

Aims: We tested whether lowland tropical tree lineages that colonise secondary forests are more late-diverging than clades from old-growth forests, and whether tree phylogenetic beta diversity from old-growth to secondary forests is higher in burned than non-burned secondary forests.

Methods: We sampled tree communities in old-growth forests and in secondary forests with distinct disturbance histories (burned and unburned). We calculated mean family age in each plot, and tested for differences among forest types using ANOVA. A phylogenetic fuzzy-weighting procedure was employed to generate a matrix describing the abundance of tree clades per plot, which was then analysed using a principal coordinate analysis.

Results: Most clades found in old-growth forests were underrepresented in secondary forests, which have been heavily colonised by a single species from a young lineage that is not found in old-growth forests. Phylogenetic beta diversity was higher between unburned secondary forests and old-growth forests than between burned secondary forests and old-growth forests.

Conclusions: The capacity of Neotropical trees to colonise secondary forests and persist after fire disturbance may be related to the age of distinct lineages.     

Significance of Riparian Forests for the Conservation of Central African Primates

We compared the structure of 12 Central African primate communities, 6 in riparian forests and 6 in adjacent terra firma forests and discussed the implications for primate conservation. The communities in riparian forests included on average 1.5 times more primate species than those in terra firma forests due to the fact that riparian forests shelter 4 specialist species and 6–7 generalist species. The results differ from findings in Amazonia where riparian forests consistently have fewer primate species than terra firma forests accommodate. This may be partly explained by the water level amplitude in Amazonian riparian forests, which deterred the radiation of semiterrestrial species. In Africa, most riparian-specialist primates are terrestrially-adapted and have access to an enlarged food niche. In terms of African primate conservation, we recommend protecting riparian forests and adjacent terra firma forests so that most of the lowland forest diversity is captured. The linear shape of riparian forests (which allows gene flow over long distance) and their persistence in anthropic landscape (because they represent lands of lesser value for agriculture and logging than mainland forests) predispose them to act as biodiversity sanctuaries.     

基于森林资源清查资料分析山东省森林立木碳储量

利用山东省第7次森林资源清查数据,采用生物量-蓄积量转换函数和平均生物量法,结合不同树种的含碳率,研究山东省森林生态系统立木碳储量、碳密度及其按优势树种、龄组和林种的分布特征.结果表明: 2007年山东省森林立木碳储量为25.27 Tg,其中,针叶林、针阔混交林和阔叶林的立木碳储量分别占全省立木碳储量的8.6%、2.0%和89.4%.不同林龄组的立木碳储量大小顺序为幼龄林>中龄林>成熟林>近熟林>过熟林,其中幼龄林和中龄林占全省立木总碳储量的69.3%.用材林、经济林和防护林的立木碳储量分别占全省立木碳储量的37.1%、36.3%和24.8%.山东省森林平均立木碳密度为10.59 t·hm^-2,低于全国平均水平,主要是由于现有森林用材林和经济林比重高,中幼林多、成过熟林少.
     

Colonization of woody seedlings in the understory of actively and passively restored tropical moist forests

The status of woody seedling colonization gives clues about the self‐sustainability of restored forests, a tenet of restoration success. Little is known about woody seedling colonization in restored afrotropical forests. We evaluated effects of restoration methods (active vs. passive), sampling year, restoration age, and distance from old‐growth forests on seedling colonization in restored afrotropical moist forests. Seedlings were measured in 2011 and 2014 in 71 clusters of 284 permanent sampling plots (12.6 m² each) in actively (initially 3–16 years old) and 21 clusters of 63 plots in passively restored forests (initially 16 years old) in Kibale National Park, western Uganda. Seedlings were also measured in nearby old‐growth forests in three clusters of five plots in 2014. We determined species diversity, richness, abundance per plot, and species composition as measures of seedling colonization in restored and old‐growth forests. We found that diversity, richness, and abundance of seedlings were significantly higher in passively than actively restored forests. Diversity and richness but not abundance significantly increased between sampling years and with restoration age. Distance from old‐growth forests did not significantly affect diversity, richness, and abundance. Species composition of actively and passively restored forests was different from that of old‐growth forests after 19 years since restoration started. Our results show that passive restoration should be the preferred method for recovering afrotropical forests, and highlight the effect of continued management on biodiversity of restored forests.     

华北地区落叶松林的分布、群落结构和物种多样性

华北落叶松(Larix principis-rupprechtii)林、日本落叶松(L. kaempferi)林及太白红杉(L. chinensis)林是华北地区常见的3种落叶松林类型, 其中日本落叶松林为人工林, 华北落叶松林既有天然分布又有人工种植, 太白红杉林则主要是天然林。该研究基于野外调查数据, 对这3种落叶松林的分布、物种组成、群落结构、物种多样性及其与环境间的关系进行了分析。研究发现, 3种落叶松林的分布受年平均气温的影响较大, 随着年平均气温的增加, 落叶松林的天然分布减少而人工种植的分布增加。3种森林中落叶松的林分径级及树高均为右偏分布, 说明3种落叶松林均处于相对稳定的演替阶段。3种落叶松林均拥有较高的物种丰富度且差异显著, 其中太白红杉林的物种丰富度最大(39.3 ± 17.9), 而华北落叶松林的物种丰富度最小(人工林27.2 ± 17.7, 天然林27.5 ± 13.8)。除最大树高与经度的关系不显著以外, 落叶松林的最大胸径和最大树高及物种丰富度均随经纬度的增加而显著降低, 随着年降水量的增加而显著增加。此外, 年平均气温对落叶松林的总物种丰富度影响不大, 但是对其群落结构影响显著。随着年平均气温的升高, 落叶松林的最大胸径显著降低而最大树高却显著增加。落叶松天然林和落叶松人工林物种多样性的地理分布格局及与气候因子间的关系与落叶松林总体的基本一致, 但群落结构的格局不尽相同: 随着经纬度的增加, 落叶松人工林的最大树高增加而天然林的最大树高减小; 落叶松天然林的最大胸径和最大树高分别随年平均气温的升高和年降水量的增加而减小, 而落叶松人工林的最大胸径和最大树高分别随年平均气温的升高和年降水量的增加而增大。     

Carbon carry capacity and carbon sequestration potential in China based on an integrated analysis of mature forest biomass

Forests play an important role in acting as a carbon sink of terrestrial ecosystem.Although global forests have huge carbon carrying capacity(CCC)and carbon sequestration potential(CSP),there were few quantification reports on Chinese forests.We collected and compiled a forest biomass dataset of China,a total of 5841 sites,based on forest inventory and literature search results.From the dataset we extracted 338 sites with forests aged over 80 years,a threshold for defining mature forest,to establish the mature forest biomass dataset.After analyzing the spatial pattern of the carbon density of Chinese mature forests and its controlling factors,we used carbon density of mature forests as the reference level,and conservatively estimated the CCC of the forests in China by interpolation methods of Regression Kriging,Inverse Distance Weighted and Partial Thin Plate Smoothing Spline.Combining with the sixth National Forest Resources Inventory,we also estimated the forest CSP.The results revealed positive relationships between carbon density of mature forests and temperature,precipitation and stand age,and the horizontal and elevational patterns of carbon density of mature forests can be well predicted by temperature and precipitation.The total CCC and CSP of the existing forests are 19.87 and 13.86 Pg C,respectively.Subtropical forests would have more CCC and CSP than other biomes.Consequently,relying on forests to uptake carbon by decreasing disturbance on forests would be an alternative approach for mitigating greenhouse gas concentration effects besides afforestation and reforestation.     

中国主要五针松群落学特征及其生物量的研究

本文根据现有的文献资料,系统地分析了中国五针松的分布．群落学特征,按不同分布区、不同群落类型探讨了中国五针松的群落生物量和年净生产量及在群落的不同层次上的分布．比较分析了不同分布区五针松的年干物质累积速度（ＮＰ／Ｂ）．结果表明：１１５─１３５ａ生的阔叶红松林群落生物量在９７．０９─１２０．５１ｔ／ｈｍ￣２之间,年净生产量在８．６９８─１０．３４ｔ／ｈｍ￣２．ａ之间,年净生产量长白山山脉沙松、鹅耳枥红松林＞小兴安岭南坡枫桦、水曲柳红松林＞小兴安岭北坡云杉、冷杉红松林;３０─３６ａ生的华山松林群落生物量在７８．７５─９４．７３ｔ／ｈｍ￣２之间,年净生产量在４．９９３─５．５３７ｔ／ｈｍ￣２．ａ之间,年净生产量贵州山地常绿阔叶华山松林＞秦岭中山地阔叶华山松林＞甘肃小陇山针阔叶华山松林．ＮＰ／Ｂ值：长白山山脉的阔叶红松林＞小兴安岭山脉的阔叶红松林;秦岭中山地阔叶华山松林＞甘肃小陇山针阔华山松林＞贵州中山地常绿阔叶华山松林．     

Comparison of Leaf Litter Decomposition Rates in Restored and Mature Riparian Forests on the Sacramento River, California

One of the largest riparian restoration projects in the United States is currently taking place in California on the Sacramento River. Nearly 2,000 ha of land adjacent to the river channel have been revegetated with native riparian species in an effort to reestablish riparian forests. The objective of this study was to compare leaf litter decomposition rates in restored riparian forests to those in mature, naturally established riparian forests, in order to monitor the development of this ecosystem function in restored forests. Leaf litter decomposition rates were measured over 1 year in six restored riparian forests (4, 7, and 9 years old) and two mature remnant riparian forests (>50 years old), in order to test two hypotheses: (1) decomposition rates of restored and mature forests are significantly different and (2) decomposition rates in the chronosequence of restored forests are moving along a trajectory, approaching the decomposition rates characteristic of mature forests as they age. Statistical analyses revealed no significant differences in annual decay rates among the four different forest ages and no trajectory among leaf litter decomposition rates in restored forests. These results suggest that a functionally equivalent process of leaf litter decomposition occurs in both restored and naturally established forests and show promise for the efficiency of nutrient cycling processes in these restored forests.     

Effects of remnant primary forests on ant and dung beetle species diversity in a secondary forest in Sarawak, Malaysia

Tropical landscape structures have been transformed into mosaic structures consisting of small patches of primary and secondary forests, and areas of other land use. Diversity of insect assemblages is often higher in primary forests than in surrounding secondary forests. However, little is known about how the primary forests affect diversity in surrounding secondary forests in a landscape. In Sarawak, Malaysia, the typical landscape in areas from which lowland tropical rainforests had originally spread consists mainly of primary and secondary forests, with small areas of cultivation. In this study, we examined how the proportion of remnant primary forests in a landscape affects species diversity and species composition of ants and dung beetles in Macaranga-dominated secondary forests. The proportions were quantified based on remote-sensing data at various spatial scales, ranging from 100- to 5,000-m radius from each of the target forests. We found that the proportions of remnant primary forests within a 100-m radius had a significant positive effect on ant species diversity, and those within 100-, 300-, and 500-m radii significantly affected species compositions. However, the proportions of remnant primary forests had no significant relationship with dung beetle diversity, while those within 100- and 1,000-m radii had significant effects on species composition. The different responses to the remnant primary forests are likely to be related to differences in the movement and dispersal traits between the two taxa.     

Tree communities of different aged logged areas in an Afrotropical rainforest

Predicting the recovery processes in tree communities after logging is critical when developing conservation strategies. We assessed the patterns in tree communities in logged and primary forests in Kibale National Park, Uganda, representing 9‐ to 19‐year‐old clear‐cuts of former conifer plantations, 42‐ to 43‐year‐old logged forests and primary forests. Species density and diversity were lower and dominance higher in the 9‐ to 19‐year‐old forests compared to the 42‐ to 43‐year‐old forests or primary forests. The tree species density, diversity and dominance of 42‐ to 43‐year‐old forests did not differ significantly from primary forests. However, they had a lower stem density, and higher cover of Acanthus pubescens, a shrub known to arrest the succession in Kibale. The tree community compositions of 9‐ to 19‐year‐old, 42‐ to 43‐year‐old and primary forests differed from each other. A large group of tree species (21) were primary forest indicators, that is, they were either missing or relatively rare in logged forests. The results of this study show that even after four decades of natural recovery, logged Afrotropical forests can still be distinguished from primary forests in their tree community compositions, emphasizing the slow community recovery and the important role of primary forests when preserving the tree communities in tropical rainforests.     

湖北省主要森林类型生态系统生物量与碳密度比较

利用野外调查数据对湖北省封山育林下的次生林、次生林、人工林森林生态系统碳密度进行了分析,结果表明:封山育林下的次生林、次生林和人工林生态系统乔木层平均碳密度分别为133.87、73.42和111.62t·hm-2,灌木层平均碳密度分别为1.65、1.40和1.52t·hm-2,草本层平均碳密度分别为0.13、0.09和0.13t·hm-2,枯落物层平均碳密度分别为0.47、1.34和0.93t·hm-2,乔木层碳密度作为生态系统碳储量的主要贡献者占总生物碳密度的98.35%、96.29%和97.74%,林下植被(灌木层和草本层)碳密度分别占1.31%、1.95%和1.44%,凋落物层碳密度分别占0.34%、1.76%和0.82%。土壤(0～100cm)碳密度平均值分别为57.04、66.92和54.12t·hm-2,土壤碳密度的60%储存在0～40cm土壤中,并随土层深度增加,各层次土壤碳密度逐渐减少。森林生态系统的乔木层、灌木层、草本层、凋落物层生物量和土壤层碳密度均表现出:封山育林下的次生林、次生林大于人工林。封山育林下的次生林、次生林和人工林碳密度分布序列为土壤(0～100cm)>乔木层>灌木层>草本层>枯落物层。可见,封山育林下的次生林更有助于提高森林碳汇,实施近自然林经营是提升该区域森林碳汇能力的重要途径。     

东北过伐林区四种森林类型的物种多样性比较研究

运用无偏对应分析(DCA)、群落本质多样性排序和方差分析的方法,研究了东北过伐林区吉林省汪清林业局境内的四种森林类型——针阔混交林、阔叶混交林、柞木林和长白落叶松人工林的林分层次的植物物种多样性间的差异。从4种类型下层植被多样性指数的比较结果来看,针阔混交林最高,阔叶混交林和落叶松人工林次之,柞木林最低。最后提出了部分经营建议。     

Cryptogamic epiphytes in primary and recovering upper montane oak forests of Costa Rica – species richness,community composition and ecology

Species richness, community composition and ecology of cryptogamic epiphytes (bryophytes, macrolichens) were studied in upper montane primary, early secondary and late secondary oak forests of the Cordillera de Talamanca, Costa Rica. Canopy trees of Quercus copeyensis were sampled with the aim of getting insight in patterns and processes of epiphyte succession and recovery of diversity in secondary forest following forest clearing. Species richness of cryptogamic epiphytes in secondary and primary forests were nearly the same, showing that primary forests are not necessarily more diverse than secondary forests. High species richness of secondary forests was presumed due to the closed canopy, resulting in permanently high atmospheric humidity in these forests. Similarity in species composition of secondary and primary forests increases with forest age, but after 40 years of succession one third (46 species) of primary forest species had not re-established in the secondary forest. Community composition in primary and secondary forests differed markedly and indicates that a long time is needed for the re-establishment of microhabitats and re-invasion of species and communities adapted to differentiated niches. Genera and species exclusive to primary forests are relevant as indicator taxa and conservation targets. Forty percent (68 species) of all species recorded are restricted to secondary forests, indicating the important contribution of secondary forest diversity to total species richness of the oak forests of Costa Rica.     

Structure of Small Mammal Assemblages Across Flooded and Unflooded Gallery Forests of the Amazonia‐Cerrado Ecotone

Habitat heterogeneity may affect the structure of animal assemblages even within apparently homogenous landscapes. Gallery forests of the Amazonia‐Cerrado ecotone have a small‐scale patchiness that is induced by river system dynamics. Gallery forests that never flood are located in upper areas of watercourse margins, whereas seasonally flooded gallery forests are located at lower ground along those margins. We tested the prediction that the assemblage structure of small non‐volant mammals of these two types of forests is distinct and arises from the ecological heterogeneity induced by seasonal floods. We found that species composition differed between forest types, with arboreal species dominating in the seasonally flooded forests and a more balanced distribution of arboreal and terrestrial species in unflooded forests. We found no differences in species abundance between habitats, but species richness was higher in unflooded forests. We hypothesize that this difference is due to decreased resource availability for strictly terrestrial species in seasonally flooded forests. Relative biomass of seasonally flooded forests was more than twice that of unflooded forests due to the dominance of large‐bodied didelphid species in that assemblage. Our results suggest that the ecological heterogeneity created by seasonal floods is central to maintaining diverse assemblages in this region. The preservation of both unflooded and flooded gallery forests, which are under high human pressure from deforestation, agricultural conversion, and implementation of dams, may be crucial to preserving small mammal diversity at the landscape scale.