长白山北坡阔叶红松林及其次生白桦林高等植物物种多样性比较

应用Ｓｉｍｐｓｏｎ和Ｓｈａｎｎｏｎ多样性指数及其相应的均匀度,对阔叶红松林及其次生白桦林的高等植物物种多样性进行了对比研究．结果表明,对于木本植物,次生白桦林物种多样性高于阔叶红松林;而对于草本植物,情况正好相反．但在次生白桦林中,无论木本植物还是草本植物,占优势的物种都是一些常见种,而许多阔叶红松林中的珍稀或特有物种在次生白桦林中数量很少,有些甚至完全消失．对群落各种群多度分布的检验表明,２种森林类型中,无论木本植物还是草本植物,各种群的多度分布都遵从对数级数分布．     

Bird population in the pine and birch forests of Kungurskii Raion (Perm’; Krai) under anthropogenic load of various levels

In 1995—2006, the birds inhabiting the pine and birch forests as well as pine plantations were studied in and near the town of Kungur (Perm’ krai). The greatest faunal and biocenotic similarity of the bird populations was revealed in the pine forests in the town and raion, the lowest, in the birch forests. It was found that anthropogenic impact is the highest in the town birch forests, where it is seen in all studied parameters of ornitocenosis—density of bird population, species diversity and domination.     

Spatial hints of forest ecotone indicating forest succession, a case of larch forests in Baihuashan Reserve, north China

In cold or alpine areas of northern China, birch forests and larch forests are the two primary forest types. These forests are also characteristic of a south branch of boreal forests in Asia. Some ecologists argue that larch forests can replace birch forests, but this still remains a question due to fragmentary or short observations. The ecotone between a larch forest patch and a birch forest patch is the arena in which the two species interplay and compete with each other, and studies of these areas are meaningful to understanding forest succession. In the alpine area of the Baihuashan Reserve, northern China, we sampled a larch-birch forest ecotone with eight plots in four transects and then analyzed population structures of larches and birches. The results show that the edges of the larch forest patch are composed of many larch saplings or young trees, but the edges of the birch forest patch are mainly composed of old birches. Across the ecotone, the larches, on average, are taller than the birches. These facts suggest that larch saplings can permeate into birch forest patches, probably by seed dispersal, germination, successful competition and growth, but birch saplings cannot permeate into larch forest patches. Therefore, on the ecotone, larch forest patches can steadily expand by unceasing permeation into birch forest patches, whereas birch forest patches progressively recede due to ultimate death of the old and poor recruitment of the young. Larch forest patches replace birch forest patches in a stepwise manner, causing succession from birch forests to larch forests. This study not only confirms that larch forests can naturally replace birch forests, but also introduces a simple and reliable method, employing spatial hints, to study forest succession. Additionally, the findings are of benefit to cultivation or development of larch forests in cold or alpine areas of the North Temperate Zone, which can be a huge carbon sink.     

Spatial hints of forest ecotone indicating forest succession, a case of larch forests in Baihuashan Reserve, north China

In cold or alpine areas of northern China, birch forests and larch forests are the two primary forest types. These forests are also characteristic of a south branch of boreal forests in Asia. Some ecologists argue that larch forests can replace birch forests, but this still remains a question due to fragmentary or short observations. The ecotone between a larch forest patch and a birch forest patch is the arena in which the two species interplay and compete with each other, and studies of these areas are meaningful to understanding forest succession. In the alpine area of the Baihuashan Reserve, northern China, we sampled a larch-birch forest ecotone with eight plots in four transects and then analyzed population structures of larches and birches. The results show that the edges of the larch forest patch are composed of many larch saplings or young trees, but the edges of the birch forest patch are mainly composed of old birches. Across the ecotone, the larches, on average, are taller than the birches. These facts suggest that larch saplings can permeate into birch forest patches, probably by seed dispersal, germination, success-ful competition and growth, but birch saplings cannot permeate into larch forest patches. Therefore, on the ecotone, larch forest patches can steadily expand by unceasing permeation into birch forest patches, whereas birch forest patches progressively recede due to ultimate death of the old and poor recruitment of the young. Larch forest patches replace birch forest patches in a stepwise manner, causing succession from birch forests to larch forests. This study not only confirms that larch forests can naturally replace birch forests, but also introduces a simple and reliable method, employing spatial hints, to study forest succession. Additionally, the findings are of benefit to cultivation or development of larch forests in cold or alpine areas of the North Temperate Zone, which can be a huge carbon sink.     

Tree shape, forest structure and diversity of drosophilid community: Comparison between boreal and temperate birch forests

Some models, based on the latitudinal variation in sun angle distribution, predict that trees at high latitudes have narrowly conical crowns and constitute simple-layered forests, whereas trees at low latitudes have shallowly dome-shaped and form more structurally complex multilayered forests. There is a hypothesis that structurally complex habitats can harbor potentially more species than simple ones. In this study, we examined latitudinal correlations between tree shape, forest structure and diversity in drosophilid communities, comparing boreal and cool-temperate forests. We selected secondary birch forests with a common canopy tree species, white birch (Betula platyphylla Sukatchev), as study sites. The crown shape of white birch tended to be spherical in the cool-temperate forest, but narrowly conical in the boreal forest. The foliage structure differed between the two forests. The cool-temperate forest was characterized by a clearly two-layered structure, whereas foliage in the boreal forest was less clearly stratified, being distributed somewhat continuously from the ground to the canopy at lower densities. The structural complexity expressed by foliage height diversity was greater in the cool-temperate forest than in the boreal forest. Various measures of drosophilid diversity were higher in the cool-temperate forest than in the boreal forest, probably resulting from the impoverishment of the canopy subcommunity in the boreal forest. Thus, a physical environmental factor (i.e. the angle of solar inclination) could be a potentially important factor in structuring latitudinal patterns of sylvan animal communities through changes in plant structure at the individual and community levels.     

A new classification of the forests of the Muniellos Biological Reserve in Northwest Spain

By means of a cluster analysis, we classified 135 relevés of the forests of the Muniellos Reserve into 8 groups and the species in these relevés into 28 groups. The concentration analysis applied allows to study the relationship between relevé group and species group. The forest types in Muniellos Reserve are: mixed riverside forest, mixed forest with hazel, semideciduous pyrenean oak forest, xerophilous and mesophilous sessile oak forest, beech forest and open and thick birch forest. These forest types are characterized floristically, structurally and ecologically. The pattern of distribution of forest types in the Muniellos Reserve is also discussed; in the siliceous areas of the Orocantabric province this pattern is widespread, but differes to some extent from the accepted pattern.     

Patterns of tree replacement: canopy effects on understory pattern in hemlock-northern hardwood forests

The effect of canopy trees on understory seedling and sapling distribution is examined in near-climax hemlock-northern hardwood forests in order to predict tree replacement patterns and assess compositional stability. Canopy trees and saplings were mapped in 65 0.1-ha plots in 16 tracts of old-growth forests dominated by Tsuga canadensis, Acer saccharum, Fagus grandifolia, Tilia americana, and Betula lutea in the northeastern United States. Seedlings were tallied in sub-plots. Canopy influence on individual saplings and sub-plots was calculated, using several indices for canopy species individually and in total. For each species sapling and seedling distributions were compared to those distributions expected if saplings were located independently of canopy influence. Non-random distributions indicated that sapling and seedling establishment or mortality were related to the species of nearby canopy trees. Hemlock canopy trees discriminate against beech and maple saplings while sugar maple canopy favors beech saplings relative to other species. Basswood canopy discourages growth of saplings of other species, but produces basal sprouts. Yellow birch saplings were rarely seen beneath intact canopy. Since trees in these forests are usually replaced by suppressed seedlings or saplings, canopy-understory interactions should influence replacement probabilities and, ultimately, stand composition. I suggest that hemlock and basswood tend to be self-replacing, maple and beech tend to replace each other, and birch survives as a fugitive by occupying occasional suitable gaps. This suggests that these species may co-exist within stands for long periods with little likelihood of successional elimination of any species. There is some suggestion of geographical variation in these patterns.     

Some synchorological aspects of basiphilous pine forests in Fennoscandia

Basiphilous pine forests and related birch forests are herb-and grass-rich forests on calcareous substrate. These forests are complex communities with floristic/ecological elements from different vegetation types occurring in a subtle micromosaic. These elements are e.g. species from acidophilous conifer forests, thermophilous forest-rim communities, calcareous shallow-soil and steppe communities, eutrophic wet meadows and fens, and in northern Fennoscandia also species from alpine Dryas heaths. Four associations are recognized in Fennoscandia: Convallario-Pinetum, Melico-Piceetum pinetosum, Peucedano-Pinetum and Epipacto atrorubentis-Betuletum. The main association is the Convallario-Pinetum, a widespread community in Fennoscandia and Estonia with a considerable floristic variation between the different regions. Examples of the floristic variation along west-east profiles and south-north profiles in Fennoscandia are presented. The basiphilous pine forest complex can be divided into a number of ecological types along the moisture and nutritional gradients. A further subdivision into geographical types (races) is presented.Nomenclature follows Lid (1974) for vascular plants, Nyholm (1954–1969) for musci and Dahl & Krog (1973) for lichens.     

Epiphytic and epixylic lichen species diversity in Estonian natural forests

The epiphytic and epixylic lichen flora of natural forests was recorded in different parts of Estonia. Altogether 232 taxa of lichens, lichenicolous fungi, or non-lichenized fungi were recorded, 10 of them listed in the Estonian Red Data Book. We found regional differences in lichen species composition and diversity caused by differences in the forest types. The tree-species-rich boreo-nemoral forests had the most diverse lichen flora, while the boreal forest dominated by coniferous trees or birch had the lowest diversity. The stand age proved to be significant in regard to the number of lichen species in a forest. The most remarkable effect on the diversity of forest lichen species was caused by the presence of Populus tremula. Aspen had the highest number of lichen species on the basal trunk and twigs, and also the highest number of host-specific lichen species.     

The role of novel forest ecosystems in the conservation of wood‐inhabiting fungi in boreal broadleaved forests

The increasing human impact on the earth's biosphere is inflicting changes at all spatial scales. As well as deterioration and fragmentation of natural biological systems, these changes also led to other, unprecedented effects and emergence of novel habitats. In boreal zone, intensive forest management has negatively impacted a multitude of deadwood‐associated species. This is especially alarming given the important role wood‐inhabiting fungi have in the natural decay processes. In the boreal zone, natural broad‐leaved‐dominated, herb‐rich forests are threatened habitats which have high wood‐inhabiting fungal species richness. Fungal diversity in other broadleaved forest habitat types is poorly known. Traditional wood pastures and man‐made afforested fields are novel habitats that could potentially be important for wood‐inhabiting fungi. This study compares species richness and fungal community composition across the aforementioned habitat types, based on data collected for wood‐inhabiting fungi occupying all deadwood diameter fractions. Corticioid and polyporoid fungi were surveyed from 67 130 deadwood particles in four natural herb‐rich forests, four birch‐dominated wood pastures, and four birch‐dominated afforested field sites in central Finland. As predicted, natural herb‐rich forests were the most species‐rich habitat. However, afforested fields also had considerably higher overall species richness than wood pastures. Many rare or rarely collected species were detected in each forest type. Finally, fungal community composition showed some divergence not only among the different habitat types, but also among deadwood diameter fractions. Synthesis and applications: In order to maintain biodiversity at both local and regional scales, conserving threatened natural habitat types and managing traditional landscapes is essential. Man‐made secondary woody habitats could provide the necessary resources and serve as surrogate habitats for many broadleaved deadwood‐associated species, and thus complement the existing conservation network of natural forests.     

Ecological-coenotic characteristics of the bacterial dropsy infection rate in birch forests in the southern part of Middle Siberia (Krasnoyarsk group of areas)

As a result of a phytopathological investigation into birch (Betula pendula) stands in the Krasnoyarsk group of areas (south of Middle Siberia), newly appearing and existing nidi of bacterial dropsy have been discovered. The influence of growth conditions on morbid affection in birch forests and the correlation between disease prevalence and characteristics of forest inventory have been established. The specificities of tree affection within phytocenoses and the influence of disease on the sanitary state of birch forests have been discussed.     

Biogeneous carbon fluxes in the boreal forests of Central Siberia

The assessments of the carbon pool and rate of plant biomass production, phytodetritus destruction, new formations of humic matters, and removal of water-soluble decomposition products for the forest ecosystems of the forest tundra and the northern and southern parts of the Central Siberian taiga were given. The rates of the main processes (organic-matter production and degradation) were demonstrated to be balanced in the ecosystems of the forest tundra. The larch forests of the northern taiga serve as a stock for a C atmosphere, which are equivalent to 32–34% of net primary production (NPP). The secondary birch growth where the understory needle-leaved trees have been formed and the primary old-growth fir forests are characterized by the balance of the main carbon fluxes in the southern taiga. The birch forests where the understory trees are just being formed and the fir forests at the age of 50–90 years serve as a stock for an average of 26% of carbon extracted as dioxide to make NPP.     

Spatial and temporal variation in moss-associated dinitrogen fixation in coniferous- and deciduous-dominated Alaskan boreal forests

Dominant canopy tree species have strong effects on the composition and function of understory species, particularly bryophytes. In boreal forests, bryophytes and their associated microbes are a primary source of ecosystem nitrogen (N) inputs, and an important process regulating ecosystem productivity. We investigated how feather moss-associated N₂-fixation rates and contribution to N budgets vary in time and space among coniferous and broadleaf deciduous forests. We measured N₂-fixation rates using stable isotope (¹⁵N₂) labeling in two moss species (Pleurozium schreberi and Hylocomium splendens) in broadleaf deciduous (Alaska paper birch—Betula neoalaskana) and coniferous (black spruce—Picea mariana) stands near Fairbanks, interior Alaska, from 2013 to 2015. N₂-fixation rates showed substantial inter-annual variation among the 3 years. High N₂-fixation was more strongly associated with high precipitation than air temperature or light availability. Overall, contribution of N₂-fixation to N budgets was greater in spruce than in birch stands. Our results enhance the knowledge of the processes that drive N₂-fixation in boreal forests, which is important for predicting ecosystem consequences of changing forest composition.     

Butterflies (Lepidoptera,Diurna) in boreal forests of southeastern Russia: 1. Light coniferous forests

Species groups formed in light coniferous forests prevailing in southeastern Russia are considered using the example of butterflies. Problems concerning the formation of species composition and its originality in some insects groups are discussed. A classification analysis of species checklists for twelve local faunas of Transbaikalia and the southern Far East of Russia is performed. It is shown that the faunas of areas occupied by light coniferous forests have a common background.     

长白山白桦林中红松种群动态的研究

山地红松、云杉、冷杉林(简称红松云冷杉林),是山地云冷杉林与红松阔叶林相连接带上的垂直地带性植被。在长白山分布于海拔1100—1400m之间,构成窄狭的山地红松云冷杉林亚带(周以良、李景文,1964)。红松云冷杉林受干扰后,白桦林是最为主要的派生森林类型之一。所以,红松云冷杉林演替过程中。白桦林阶段以及林下红松的更新居于重要的位置。本世纪以来,由于东北山地森林的大规模开发,红松云冷杉林面积急剧减小;而作为红松云冷杉林演替先锋阶段的白桦林比重相     

Relation of populations of forest-forming species in the fir-aspen-birch forests of West Salair

The spatial structure of the fir undergrowth vs. to the fir, aspen, and birch trees in the climax community of the fir-aspen-birch forest was analyzed by the method of R-functions. The analysis showed that the fir undergrowth is primarily concentrated near old fir trees, but near the fir stumps it is more rare than expected. This distribution of the fir undergrowth should have resulted in the decrease in area and number of fir population. The fir undergrowth concentrates the most near the small-leaved species, where dense fir clumps are formed. The populations of the small-leaved species are a stabilizing factor of the dominant population in the fir-aspen-birch forests.     

Seasonal grazing effects by semi-domesticated reindeer on subarctic mountain birch forests

In northern Fennoscandia, the spatial and temporal grazing practices of semi-domesticated reindeer (Rangifer tarandus tarandus) vary, which implies different grazing effects dependent on natural conditions as well as management regime (i.e., timing and intensity of grazing). We compared density and biomass of main plant groups in semi-dry mountain birch forests exposed to either long-term summer or winter grazing in three reindeer herding districts in the northernmost Finland. Percent plant cover, height, and biomass of reindeer lichens (Cladonia spp.) and dwarf shrubs (Vaccinium uliginosum, Calluna vulgaris, and Betula nana) were lower on summer ranges compared with winter ranges. The biomass of other dwarf shrubs (Vaccinium myrtillus and V. vitis-idaea), and graminoids and herbs, and the % cover of non-vegetated bare soil and litter were, however, higher on summer ranges than on winter ranges. Young mountain birch shoots (Betula pubescens ssp. czerepanovii) were less frequent on summer ranges than on winter ranges. The total leaf biomass under the browsing height of reindeer (<1.5 m) was also lower on summer ranges compared with winter ranges. Especially in drier and nutrient poor mountain birch forests, intensive summer grazing reduces the quantity of lichens and total plant biomass which affects the ecological state and productivity of these forests and also reduces especially their winter grazing value for reindeer. Therefore, in addition to regulating the maximum sustained numbers of reindeer, pasture rotation systems that effectively protect dry and nutrient poor vegetation from summer grazing and trampling should be encouraged.     

Bird population in birch forests of the Southern Urals affected by industrial pollution: Report 1. Reactions of species and the community

The change in the summer bird population of birch forests along the gradient of pollution by emissions from the Karabash Copper Smelter (Chelyabinsk oblast) was investigated in 2009 by means of point counts. As pollution grows, the total density, species richness and diversity of bird population decrease; the proportion of hole nesters in the community decreases; and the proportion of species nesting on the ground and at the top forest canopy increases. Changes in most characteristics of bird populations are limited by the local territory (6–8 km from the plant).     

Ectomycorrhizal fungal succession in mixed temperate forests

Ectomycorrhizal (ECM) fungal communities of Douglas-fir (Pseudotsuga menziesii) and paper birch (Betula papyrifera) were studied along a chronosequence of forest development after stand-replacing disturbance. Previous studies of ECM succession did not use molecular techniques for fungal identification or lacked replication, and none examined different host species. Four age classes of mixed forests were sampled: 5-, 26-, 65-, and 100-yr-old, including wildfire-origin stands from all four classes and stands of clearcut origin from the youngest two classes. Morphotyping and DNA sequences were used to identify fungi on ECM root tips. ECM fungal diversities were lower in 5-yr-old than in older stands on Douglas-fir, but were similar among age classes on paper birch. Host-specific fungi dominated in 5-yr-old stands, but host generalists were dominant in the oldest two age classes. ECM fungal community compositions were similar in 65- and 100-yr-old stands but differed among all other pairs of age classes. Within the age range studied, site-level ECM fungal diversity reached a plateau by the 26-yr-old age class, while community composition stabilized by the 65-yr-old class. Simple categories such as 'early stage', 'multi stage', and 'late stage' were insufficient to describe fungal species' successional patterns. Rather, ECM fungal succession may be best described in the context of stand development.     

川西亚高山桦木林的林地水文效应

川西亚高山森林是我国西南亚高山林区水源涵养林的重要组成部分,原生的亚高山暗针叶林在经历大规模采伐利用后,天然更新的次生桦木林已成为该区域的主要森林类型之一。前人对原始暗针叶林水文学的研究已相当丰富,内容涉及冠层截留、地被物持水特征、森林蒸发散、土壤入渗、根土作用层等诸多方面;而对于采伐后人工林和天然次生林的研究较少,仅有的结论也以人工林为主。通过对林地苔藓、枯落物和土壤的野外调查与室内实验,分析了川西亚高山次生桦木林在不同林龄和海拔梯度间的林地水文效应,这对于丰富亚高山森林水文学的研究、确定长江上游水源涵养林的恢复与重建模式,都具有重要的意义。研究表明:桦木林苔藓蓄积量及最大持水量在不同林龄间差异显著,随林龄增大而显著增加;而在不同海拔间差异不显著。枯落物蓄积量及最大持水量在不同林龄及海拔间均差异显著,随林龄的增大而增加;在林龄相同的条件下,在中海拔(3200m、3400m)较高,在较高(3600m)、较低(3000m)海拔偏低。苔藓最大持水率平均为945%,在林龄和海拔间差异不显著;枯落物最大持水率平均573%,在林龄和海拔间均差异显著。各林龄和海拔梯度上的桦木林,随土壤深度的增加土壤容重均显著增大,最大持水量显著下降,但毛管持水量和最小持水量仅在部分类型下降显著。土壤0~40cm最大持水量在不同林龄间差异不显著,而在不同海拔间差异显著;这种差异主要表现在林龄10~25a的林分,随海拔升高土壤0~40cm最大持水量增大。在大规模采伐后,苔藓层的恢复是一个长期过程,可以作为次生林地水文效应向原始暗针叶林恢复程度的一个指标。