Litterfall and Element Fluxes in a Natural Hardwood Forest and a Chinese‐fir Plantation Experiencing Frequent Typhoon Disturbance in Central Taiwan

Chinese fir (Cunninghamia lanceolata) is the most important forest plantation species in subtropical Asia and is rapidly replacing natural forests. Such land‐use change may affect ecosystem nutrient cycling through changes in litterfall nutrient flux. Tropical cyclones often cause pulses of litterfall. Previous studies, however, have mostly focused on the effects of a single cyclone with little effort examining the effects of repeated cyclones. We examined litterfall in a natural hardwood forest and a Chinese‐fir plantation in central Taiwan experiencing an average of one typhoon per year. The natural hardwood forest had 54 percent higher annual litterfall (11,400 kg/ha/yr) than the Chinese‐fir plantation (7400 kg/ha/yr). Four typhoon‐affected months (typhoon period) contributed to approximately 60 percent of the litterfall and litterfall element flux in the natural hardwood forest and 80 percent in the Chinese‐fir plantation, with contributions from individual typhoons varied by more than twofold. Litterfall N and P concentrations were significantly higher in typhoon period than in non‐typhoon period, likely the result of limited retranslocation. Precipitation was a better predictor of quantity of typhoon‐associated litterfall than wind velocity. Both types of forests in southeastern China beyond the reach of typhoons have litterfall peaks in the dry season. In contrast, we measured higher litterfall during the typhoon period than during the dry season, suggesting that in regions with frequent cyclones, cyclones drive temporal variation of litterfall. Global climate change is affecting the frequency and intensity of cyclones; therefore, knowledge of typhoon‐litterfall dynamics is indispensable for understanding the effects of climate change on ecosystem nutrient cycling.     

Characteristics of Old-Growth and Secondary Forests in Relation to Age and Typhoon Disturbance

Many properties of forest ecosystems, such as species composition and forest structure, naturally vary with forest age. However, in regions prone to cyclone disturbances, both forest age and cyclone severities can play a role shaping these properties. To evaluate potential effects of an altered cyclone regime on forest ecosystems, it is necessary to disentangle the roles of cyclones and forest age on different forest characteristics. In this study, we compared species composition and forest structure at plot level across sites with similar climate and topographic backgrounds, yet differing in age and typhoon severities in northeastern Taiwan. We found shorter tree stature, higher wood density, higher tree species diversity, and lower typhoon-induced tree mortality in the sites with more severe typhoon disturbances. On the other hand, regardless of typhoon severity, the sites of younger ages had a considerably smaller amount of woody debris, suggesting that it takes time for the accumulation of woody debris. More typhoon-induced canopy gaps at sites with more severe typhoon influences highlights a role of typhoons in canopy dynamics. However, the lack of gaps prior to typhoon disturbances in the less severely affected forest is likely related to the low background mortality associated with the relative young age of the forest. Our results indicate that frequent or severe typhoon disturbances can homogenize some of the structural differences among forests of different ages. If the frequency or severity of cyclones increase in the future, many forests, including old-growth forests, may gradually lose large trees.     

Temporal dynamics and resilience of fine litterfall in relation to typhoon disturbances over 14 years in an old-growth lucidophyllous forest in southwestern Japan

We examined fine litterfall fluctuations on a seasonal and annual scale for 14 years (1992–2005) in a 1.2-ha plot in an old-growth lucidophyllous (evergreen broad-leaved) forest within the Aya Research Site, southwestern Japan. The average total litterfall input was 6.32 Mg ha^–1, of which leaf litter accounted for 60% of the total. Two high-impact typhoons struck the study area in 1993 (T9313) and 2004 (T0416) during the observation period; however, the subsequent pattern of litterfall after disturbance was different between the two typhoons. T9313 disturbance caused a reduction of biomass (ca. 10% of basal area (BA)) and a sharp decrease in litterfall input following a massive input in 1993. On the other hand, T0416 caused a minor decline in litterfall input, accompanied by a relatively small reduction of BA (5.2% of the 2001 BA). In spite of large fluctuations, litterfall input increased year by year after the T9313 disturbance. In 2000, 7 years after T9313, leaf input showed no significant differences and recorded more than 90% of pre-T9313 levels. Re-leafing from typhoon survivors may play an important role in the recovery of litterfall input in this forest. This study demonstrated how one high-impact typhoon can alter the temporal fluctuations in fine litterfall in lucidophyllous forest ecosystems.     

Typhoon Disturbance and Forest Dynamics: Lessons from a Northwest Pacific Subtropical Forest

Strong tropical storms are known to affect forest structure, composition, and nutrient cycles in both tropical and temperate regions, although our understanding of these effects disproportionally comes from regions experiencing much lower cyclone frequency than many forests in the Northwest Pacific. We summarized the effects of typhoons on forest dynamics at Fushan Experimental Forest (FEF) in northeastern Taiwan, which averages 0.49 major typhoons annually, and compared their resistance and resilience to those of forests in other regions. Typhoons cause remarkably few tree falls at FEF; multiple typhoons in 1994 felled only 1.4% of canopy trees, demonstrating high structural resistance. The most important effect of typhoons in this ecosystem is defoliation, which maintains high understory light levels and enhances heterogeneity, sustaining diversity without large canopy gaps. The vulnerability of taller trees to being blown down has resulted in the short-stature FEF (mean canopy height is 10.2 m). As the FEF is P-limited and a large fraction of total annual P export occurs during typhoons, these storms may have the effect of reducing productivity over time. DIN and K⁺ export only remain elevated for days at FEF, in contrast to the several years observed in Puerto Rico. High resilience is also evident in the rapid recovery of leaf area following typhoons. Heavy defoliation and slow decomposition are among the processes responsible for the high resistance and resilience of FEF to typhoon disturbance. These key structural features may emerge in other forest ecosystems if the frequency of major storms increases with climate change.     

台风对森林的影响

台风通过树枝折断、吹落叶果、产生倒木和折干等许多途径影响林分结构和动态。森林受害程度随树种、林龄、森林类型、树高和地形而异。高密度的森林通常具有较差的根系和较大的树高/胸径比值,在台风袭击下,往往具有较高的受损和死亡的风险。台风疏开郁闭的林冠层,促进了先锋树种的大量增加、生长和成熟,形成的林隙也为个体更新提供了机会。强风造成了土壤基质的多样化,从而促进了实生苗和幼树的更新和生物多样性的增加。台风也通过改变粗木质残体,枯枝落叶层,地洞和土墩,以及繁殖可用性来影响生物多样性。台风产生的粗死木和枯枝落叶使森林的碳储量迅速归还土壤,并影响土壤的养分分布。台风减少了动物的食物供应和恶化栖息地的环境,减少鸟的数量,促进昆虫扩散。受害森林给害虫滋生提供了场所。今后的研究热点是受台风干扰森林的长期监测,不同森林土壤的有机碳贮藏,土壤和养分流失规律,台风和其他自然灾害的交叉影响,改进数学模型以准确预测台风损害。     

海南岛尖峰岭热带山地雨林及其更新群落的凋落物量与贮量

 本文对海南岛尖峰岭热带山地雨林及其更新群落的凋落物产量动态、各组分的季节变化规律及凋落物贮量进行了研究,分析比较了这两个林分的凋落节律的异同,并对凋落枝的收集方法进行了对比。本文指出：“双凋落峰”和“由于台风影响而产生大量非正常凋落物”是尖峰岭热带森林的两个重要的凋落特征。本项研究对深入了解热带林生态系统的功能、对热带森林资源的保护和永续利用均有重要意义。     

Forest response to increasing typhoon activity on the Korean peninsula: evidence from oak tree‐rings

The globally observed trend of changing intensity of tropical cyclones over the past few decades emphasizes the need for a better understanding of the effects of such disturbance events in natural and inhabited areas. On the Korean Peninsula, typhoon intensity has increased over the past 100 years as evidenced by instrumental data recorded from 1904 until present. We examined how the increase in three weather characteristics (maximum hourly and daily precipitation, and maximum wind speed) during the typhoon activity affected old‐growth oak forests. Quercus mongolica is a dominant species in the Korean mountains and the growth releases from 220 individuals from three sites along a latitudinal gradient (33–38°N) of decreasing typhoon activity were studied. Growth releases indicate tree‐stand disturbance and improved light conditions for surviving trees. The trends in release events corresponded to spatiotemporal gradients in maximum wind speed and precipitation. A high positive correlation was found between the maximum values of typhoon characteristics and the proportion of trees showing release. A higher proportion of disturbed trees was found in the middle and southern parts of the Korean peninsula where typhoons are most intense. This shows that the releases are associated with typhoons and also indicates the differential impact of typhoons on the forests. Finally, we present a record of the changing proportion of trees showing release based on tree‐rings for the period 1770–1979. The reconstruction revealed no trend during the period 1770–1879, while the rate of forest disturbances increased rapidly from 1880 to 1979. Our results suggest that if typhoon intensity rises, as is projected by some climatic models, the number of forest disturbance events will increase thus altering the disturbance regime and ecosystem processes.     

Litterfall Production Along Successional and Altitudinal Gradients of Subtropical Monsoon Evergreen Broadleaved Forests in Guangdong, China

Evaluation of litterfall production is important for understanding nutrient cycling, forest growth, successional pathways, and interactions with environmental variables in forest ecosystems. Litterfall was intensively studied during the period of 1982–2001 in two subtropical monsoon vegetation gradients in the Dinghushan Biosphere Reserve, Guangdong Province, China. The two gradients include: (1) a successional gradient composed of pine forest (PF), mixed pine and broadleaved forest (MF) and monsoon evergreen broadleaved forest (BF), and (2) an altitudinal gradient composed of Baiyunci ravine rain forest (BRF), Qingyunci ravine rain forest (QRF), BF and mountainous evergreen broadleaved forest (MMF). Mean annual litterfall production was 356, 861 and 849 g m⁻² for PF, MF and BF of the successional gradient, and 1016, 1061, 849 and 489 g m⁻² for BRF, QRF, BF and MMF of the altitudinal gradient, respectively. As expected, mean annual litterfall of the pioneer forest PF was the lowest, but rapidly increased over the observation period while those in other forests were relatively stable, confirming that forest litterfall production is closely related to successional stages and growth patterns. Leaf proportions of total litterfall in PF, MF, BF, BRF, QRF and MMF were 76.4%, 68.4%, 56.8%, 55.7%, 57.6% and 69.2%, respectively, which were consistent with the results from studies in other evergreen broadleaved forests. Our analysis on litterfall monthly distributions indicated that litterfall production was much higher during the period of April to September compared to other months for all studied forest types. Although there were significant impacts of some climate variables (maximum and effective temperatures) on litterfall production in some of the studied forests, the mechanisms of how climate factors (temperature and rainfall) interactively affect litterfall await further study.     

Effect of typhoon disturbance on fine litterfall and related nutrient input in a subtropical forest on Okinawa Island, Japan

Typhoons are frequent on Okinawa Island, southwestern Japan. The effects of typhoon disturbance on the patterns of fine litterfall and related nutrient inputs in a subtropical evergreen broad-leaved forest were studied over 5 years from May 1996 to April 2001. Annual fine litterfall averaged 7558 kg ha⁻¹ (range from 6188 to 9439 kg ha⁻¹) for six sampling plots over 5 years, which differed significantly among years (p<0.001) but not among plots (p=0.122). A seasonal maximum was most evident for leaf litter component. Woody litter fell more irregularly through the year, and peak fall varied with typhoon and windstorm. The mean ratio of annual litterfall mass of sexual organs to leaves was 0.06, much lower than that in other tropical and subtropical rain forests. Nutrient concentrations varied in litterfall components, but were not significantly different among plots. The lowest concentrations of N and P in leaf litter were observed in March, which is also the month with the greatest leaf fall. However, the highest concentrations were recorded in typhoon season. Nitrogen and P concentrations were 34% and 106% greater in the green leaves that fell during typhoons than in senescent leaves. Mean nutrient inputs by litterfall were: N 83, P 3.2, K 25, Ca 71, Mg 19, Al 12, Na 10, Fe 0.86 and Mn 3.9 kg ha⁻¹ yr⁻¹, and differed significantly among years for all elements (p<0.0005) and among plots only for K (p<0.05) and Mn (p<0.0001). Typhoon disturbance strongly affected annual fine litterfall and related nutrient inputs, which contributed an average of 30% of the annual litterfall mass, and from 30% to 39% (for different nutrient elements) of annual total nutrient inputs. The results from this study suggest that typhoon-driven maintenance of rapid cycling of P and N and their high availability in soil appears to be an important mechanism to maintain productivity in the subtropical forest on Okinawa Island.     

A first assessment of the impact of the extreme 2018 summer drought on Central European forests

In 2018, Central Europe experienced one of the most severe and long-lasting summer drought and heat wave ever recorded. Before 2018, the 2003 millennial drought was often invoked as the example of a “hotter drought”, and was classified as the most severe event in Europe for the last 500 years. First insights now confirm that the 2018 drought event was climatically more extreme and had a greater impact on forest ecosystems of Austria, Germany and Switzerland than the 2003 drought. Across this region, mean growing season air temperature from April to October was more than 3.3°C above the long-term average, and 1.2°C warmer than in 2003. Here, we present a first impact assessment of the severe 2018 summer drought and heatwave on Central European forests. In response to the 2018 event, most ecologically and economically important tree species in temperate forests of Austria, Germany and Switzerland showed severe signs of drought stress. These symptoms included exceptionally low foliar water potentials crossing the threshold for xylem hydraulic failure in many species and observations of widespread leaf discoloration and premature leaf shedding. As a result of the extreme drought stress, the 2018 event caused unprecedented drought-induced tree mortality in many species throughout the region. Moreover, unexpectedly strong drought-legacy effects were detected in 2019. This implies that the physiological recovery of trees was impaired after the 2018 drought event, leaving them highly vulnerable to secondary drought impacts such as insect or fungal pathogen attacks. As a consequence, mortality of trees triggered by the 2018 events is likely to continue for several years. Our assessment indicates that many common temperate European forest tree species are more vulnerable to extreme summer drought and heat waves than previously thought. As drought and heat events are likely to occur more frequently with the progression of climate change, temperate European forests might approach the point for a substantial ecological and economic transition. Our assessment also highlights the urgent need for a pan-European ground-based monitoring network suited to track individual tree mortality, supported by remote sensing products with high spatial and temporal resolution to track, analyse and forecast these transitions.     

浙江普陀山岛森林凋落物动态与微气候的关联性

森林凋落物动态是森林生态系统过程中的重要组成部分, 探索森林凋落物动态特征与微气候间的关系, 对深入了解生态系统变化过程运行机理具有重要意义。该研究以浙江普陀山岛典型森林类型枫香(Liquidambar formosana)林、天竺桂(Cinnamomum japonicum)+红楠(Machilus thunbergii)林、马尾松(Pinus massoniana)林、青冈(Cyclobalanopsis glauca)林、台湾蚊母树(Distylium gracile)林为研究对象, 探究森林凋落量与微气候的关系。结果表明: 1)森林年凋落量介于3.45-5.36 t·hm^-2·a^-1, 年凋落量各组分比例表现出不同的组成特征, 森林类型与森林月凋落量无关。2)森林月凋落量动态模式主要呈双峰型和三峰型, 凋落峰值和风速峰值趋势相一致, 主要集中在台风干扰较大的4、7、12月份。3)冗余分析结果表明, 影响不同组分月凋落量的微气候因子不同: 月总凋落量、叶凋落量、果凋落量和碎屑凋落量的主要控制因素均为空气温度, 随空气温度的升高而增大; 枝凋落量的主要影响因素是森林上层风速, 同样起着显著的正向作用; 花凋落量与空气湿度之间呈负相关关系。森林年凋落量各组分所占比例存在差异, 森林月凋落量和森林类型无关, 主要与空气温度、空气湿度、森林上层风速等微气候因子有关。     

Effects of Nutrient Limitation on Aboveground Carbon Dynamics during Tropical Dry Forest Regeneration in Yucatán,Mexico

Tree growth (as diameter increment), litterfall production, and litter biomass were studied in two secondary tropical dry forests of the Yucatán Peninsula under four treatments of nutrient addition. The studys objective was to assess how variations in the nutrient supply affect aboveground net primary production and carbon (C) accumulation on the floor of two forests in different stages of regeneration. The study included an area of young forest (10 years old) with phosphorus (P)-poor soils and an area of old forest (around 60 years old) where soil P was comparatively less limiting. Four replicate plots (12 × 12 m) at each forest were either left intact (controls) or fertilized with nitrogen (N), P, or N plus P during 3 consecutive years. After 3 years of fertilization, relaxation of the constraints on nutrient limitation resulted in increased trunk growth rates at both the young and old forests. This effect was more pronounced with the addition of P or N plus P (trunk growth doubled with respect to controls), whereas N addition increased tree growth by 60% in comparison to trees in plots without nutrient supplements. In both forests, there were no significant differences in litterfall production among treatments during the first 2 years after fertilization. In the 3rd year of nutrient addition, litterfall production was significantly higher in plots fertilized with N plus P compared to control plots at both forest sites; however, changes in litterfall were not accompanied by litter accumulation in the floor of the two forests. The results of this study support the hypothesis that there is nutrient limitation during tropical dry forest regeneration. They further show that it may be maintained in the long term during secondary succession.     

云南哀牢山原生林及次生林群落附生地衣物种多样性与分布

附生地衣是森林附生植物的重要类群之一, 在维护森林生态系统的物种多样性以及水分和养分循环等方面发挥着重要作用。作者于2005年12月至2006年5月利用树干取样法调查了云南哀牢山徐家坝地区原生山地常绿阔叶林及其次生群落栎类萌生林、滇山杨(Populus bonatii)林和花椒(Zanthoxylum bungeanum)人工林中525株不同种类和径级树木距地面 0–2.0 m处附生地衣的组成和分布, 并收集了各个群落地面上凋落的地衣, 分析了林冠层附生地衣的物种组成。研究结果表明, 该区森林中附生地衣物种比较丰富。共收集到附生地衣61种, 分属17科29属, 其中原生林、栎类萌生林、滇山杨林和花椒人工林分别有51、53、46和23种。在树干距地面 0–2.0 m位置, 各群落中的附生地衣组成明显不同;但在林冠层中, 各群落内的附生地衣基本相似。原生林中附生地衣种类较多, 但分布不均匀。树干附生地衣的Shannon-Wiener和Simpson多样性指数以栎类萌生林最高, 分别为2.71和0.89;花椒林和滇山杨林次之, 分别为2.43–2.45和0.88–0.89;原生林最低, 为1.25和0.67。树干方位、宿主种类和宿主径级等都对附生地衣的物种组成和多样性有着重要影响, 附生地衣更多地出现于树干南向方位, 云南越桔(Vaccinium duclouxii)的附生地衣最为丰富, 胸径5.0–25.0 cm的树木上附生地衣较多。哀牢山山地森林群落中丰富的附生地衣种类及物种多样性在维系本区山地森林生态系统生物多样性格局方面具有重要的作用。     

The effect of different anthropogenic disturbances on litterfall of a dominant pioneer rain forest tree in Gabon

Tropical rain forests worldwide are affected by anthropogenic disturbances, and secondary forests that develop afterwards are often dominated by pioneer tree species, but the consequences of different anthropogenic disturbances on nutrient cycling are poorly understood. Because most nutrient cycling in tropical rain forests occurs through litterfall and in the soil organic layer, we measured litterfall of a widespread and dominant pioneer tree, okoume (Aucoumea klaineana, Burseraceae) in Gabon, in one forest previously disturbed by logging and in another by agriculture. Litterfall of okoume trees, measured over 14 months, was 18.2 Mg ha⁻¹ year⁻¹ in the formerly logged forest, which was 72.6% greater than in the forest more recently disturbed by agriculture (10.6 Mg ha⁻¹ year⁻¹). Litter decomposition rates were more rapid in the formerly logged forest, and this may explain why litter thickness was 32% lower in the formerly logged forest, despite the greater litterfall within it. Our results highlight that two widespread anthropogenic disturbances in Gabonese rain forests have significantly different consequences on litterfall of a dominant tree and therefore are likely to have different effects on nutrient cycling and forest ecosystem function.     

Associations between litterfall dynamics and micro-climate in forests of Putuoshan Island,Zhejiang, China

Aims Seasonal litterfall production plays an important role in the carbon and nutrient cycling in forest ecosystems. This study examines the effects of micro-environmental factors on seasonal litterfall dynamics in the forests of Putuoshan Island, Zhejiang Province of eastern China.
Methods The study covers five forest types, including Liquidambar formosana forest, Cinnamomum japonicum and Machilus thunbergii forest, Pinus massoniana forest, Cyclobalanopsis glauca forest, and Distylium gracile forest, in Putuoshan Island. We collected micro-meteorological data, and measured monthly litterfall in stands of the five forest types over one year. Redundancy analysis (RDA) was performed to determine the effects of micro-climatic factors on litterfall production．
Important findings The average annual litterfall production ranged from 3.45 to 5.36 t·hm^-2·a^-1 across five types of forests, albeit no effect of forest types on the litterfall production. The partitioning of litterfall components differed among the five forest types. The seasonal litterfall production exhibited two contrasting patterns, i.e. double climax curve and triple peaks, and varied significantly among the five forest types. Moreover, the peak in the litterfall production mostly occurred in the windy months of the year, such as in April, July and December, which was consistent with the dynamics of wind speed. RDA results showed that components of litterfall production in different months were controlled by different micro-climatic factors. The total, leaves, fruits, and miscellaneous litterfall productions were directly and positively affected by air temperature. Twig litterfall production was positively affected by the overstory wind velocity. Flower litterfall production was negatively affected by air humidity. In summary, forest types had no effects on litterfall production. However, variations in litterfall productions were explained by air temperature, air humidity, and overstory wind velocity in the forests studied.     

Modeling above‐ground litterfall in eastern Mediterranean conifer forests using fractional tree cover,and remotely sensed and ground data

Question: How can we model above‐ground litterfall in Mediterranean conifer forests using remotely sensed and ground data, and geographic information systems (GIS)? Location: Eastern Mediterranean conifer forest of Turkey. Methods: Above‐ground litterfall from Mediterranean forest stands of Pinus nigra, Cedrus libani, Pinus brutia and Juniperus excelsa and mixed Abies cilicica, C. libani and P. nigra was modeled as a function of fractional tree cover using a regression tree algorithm, based on IKONOS and Landsat TM/ETM+data. Landsat TM/ETM+images for the study area were used to map actual stand patterns, based on a land‐cover map of species stands using a supervised classification. Results: Total amount of annual above‐ground litterfall for the entire study area (12 260 km²) was estimated at 417.2 Mg ha^?1 for P. brutia, 291.1 Mg ha^?1 for the mixed stand, 115.5 Mg ha^?1 for P. nigra, 54.6 Mg ha^?1 for J. excelsa and 45.9 Mg ha^?1 for C. libani. The maps generated indicate the distribution of the seasonal amount of total above‐ground litterfall for different species and the distribution of species stands in the study area. There was an increase in the amount of above‐ground litterfall for P. brutia stand in summer, for J. excelsa in autumn and for C. libani, P. nigra and the mixed stand of A. cilicica, P. nigra and C. libani in winter. Conclusion: Application of this model helps to improve the accuracy of estimated litterfall input to soil organic carbon pools in the Mediterranean conifer forests.     

西南干旱对哀牢山常绿阔叶林凋落物及叶面积指数的影响

为探讨2010年初西南干旱对这一地区原生植被林冠和凋落物量的影响,以及这一地区凋落物量和气候条件之间的关系,对比研究了哀牢山亚热带常绿阔叶林2010年和一般年份的凋落物特征以及各层的叶面积指数,并分析了凋落物量和气候因子之间的关系.2010年凋落物总量和往年相比无显著差异,但是叶凋落总量、旱季凋落物总量、旱季叶凋落量为历年来最高,其中旱季叶凋落物量比一般年份平均高35.2％ (0.81 t/hm2).而2010年附生苔蘚年凋落量为历年来最低.2010年最旱月的乔木层和灌木层叶面积指数和2005同期相比无显著差异,但是草本层叶面积指数却极显著低于2005年同期.因此,2010年初西南干旱尽管使哀牢山常绿阔叶林旱季落叶增加,但还没有到显著影响冠层叶面积指数的程度.而草本层和附生苔藓的生长则受到了干旱事件的显著影响.此外,哀牢山常绿阔叶林年总凋落量和年降水量显著正相关,而和年均温却不相关,表明该亚热带森林凋落物量主要由降水而非温度决定.     

Brown planthopper Nilaparvata lugens was concentrated at the rear of the typhoon Soudelor in Eastern China in August 2015

Sometimes, extreme weather is vital for the population survival of migratory insects by causing sudden population collapse or outbreak. Several studies have shown that rice planthopper migration was significantly influenced by typhoons in eastern Asia. Most typhoons occur in the summer, especially in August. In August, brown planthopper Nilaparvata lugens (Stål) migrates northward or southward depending on wind direction, and thus typhoons can potentially influence its migration process and population distribution. However, this has not yet been studied. This paper reported a case study on the effects of Typhoon Soudelor on the summer migration of N. lugens in eastern China in 2015. The migration pathways of N. lugens were reconstructed for the period under the influence of a typhoon by calculating the trajectories and migration events in eight counties of the Yangtze River Valley region with ancillary information. Trajectory modelling showed that most migrants took short distance migrations (less than 200 km) under the influence of the Typhoon Soudelor. Numerous N. lugens migrants were concentrated and deposited at the rear of the typhoon during the last 5 days of Typhoon Soudelor on August 9–13 due to horizontal convergence, and this led to an outbreak population. These results indicated that the N. lugens population was redistributed by the typhoon in the summer and that the population dynamics at the rear of a typhoon should be kept under close surveillance. This study provided insight into migratory organisms adapting to atmospheric features.     

Comparison of the litterfall and forest floor organic matter and nitrogen dynamics of upland forest ecosystems in north central Wisconsin

It has been suggested that a feedback exists between the vegetation and soil whereby fertile (vs infertile) sites support species with shorter leaf life spans and higher quality litter which promotes rapid decomposition and higher soil nutrient availability. The objectives of this study were to (1) characterize and compare the C and N dynamics of dominant upland forest ecosystems in north central Wisconsin, (2) compare the nutrient use efficiency (NUE) of these forests, and (3) examine the relationship between NUE and site characteristics. Analyzing data from 24 stands spanning a moisture / nutrient gradient, we found that resource-poor stands transferred less C and N from the vegetation to the forest floor, and that N remained in the forest floor at least four times longer than in more resource-rich stands. Analyzing data by leaf habit, we found that less N was transferred to the forest floor annually via litterfall in conifer stands, and that N remained in the forest floor of these stands nearly three times longer than in hardwood stands. NUE did not differ among forests with different resource availabilities, but was greater for conifers than for hardwoods. Vitousek's (1982) index of nutrient use efficiency (I_NUE1)=leaf litterfall biomass / leaf litterfall N) was most closely correlated to litterfall specific leaf area and percent hardwood leaf area index, suggesting that differences in species composition may have been responsible for the differences in NUE among our stands. NUE2, defined as ANPP / leaf litterfall N, was not closely correlated to any of the site characteristics included in this analysis.     

Spatiotemporal variation in avian diversity and the short-term effects of typhoons in tropical reef-karst forests on Taiwan

The diversity and spatiotemporal variation of avifauna in different settings of tropical coral reef-karst forests on the Hengchun Peninsula, Taiwan, were examined. The short-term effects on bird assemblages following two typhoons that severely impacted Hengchun were investigated. Line-transect census recorded 46 species of birds, dominated by forest-associated gleaning insectivores or omnivores, and 13% of the endemics of Taiwan. Prior to the typhoons, the continuous-canopy forest was close to the open forest setting in species evenness, but the species heterogeneity was lower and more variable. The continuous-canopy and open forests differed in overall avian composition, whereas two continuous-canopy forest settings were similar in composition. Typhoons did not significantly lower the mean numbers of either species or birds, nor affect the pattern of their spatial distribution in the forest settings. However, they did increase similarities in the species composition between the open and continuous-canopy settings, and caused a decrease in the similarity between forest edges and interiors. Overall, typhoons affected species composition more in the continuous-canopy forests than in the open setting, and more in interiors than in forest edges. This pattern corresponded to an increase in the species heterogeneity and species evenness in the forest interiors, indicating movements of birds from the edge toward the interior. Among different functional groups, gleaning omnivores tended to retain a pattern of higher abundance in the open forest setting than in the continuous-canopy forests, whereas the abundances of gleaning insectivores and cavity-nesting frugivores tended to decline in the latter or both settings.