Stand structure and woody species diversity in relation to stand stratification in a subtropical evergreen broadleaf forest, Okinawa Island

Stand structure and woody species diversity in a subtropical evergreen broadleaf forest grown in a silicate habitat, Okinawa Island, have been investigated on the basis of stand stratification. The forest stand consisted of four layers. The floristic composition of the top and the lower three layers was only slightly similar, although approximately one-third of the species were common to them. Mean tree weight decreased from the top toward the bottom layer whereas tree density increased from the top downward. This trend resembled the mean weight–density trajectory of self-thinning plant populations. The relationship between mean tree height and tree density for the upper two layers supported Yamakuras quasi –1/2 power law of tree height. The values of the Shannon–Wiener index, H, and the equitability index, J, tended to increase from the top layer downward except for the bottom layer. The values of H and J were, respectively, 4.83 bit and 0.82 for trees taller than 0.10 m. The lower layers contained many species of smaller height. High species diversity of the forest depended on small trees in the lower layers. Conservation of small trees in the lower layers, especially the bottom layer, is indispensable for sound maintenance of Okinawan evergreen broadleaf forests.     

Diversity of forest tree species in Yanbaru,the northern part of Okinawa Island

The natural forests of Yanbaru, in the northern part of Okinawa Island, harbor many endemic and endangered birds and mammals, and are dominated by an evergreen oak, Castanopsis sieboldii. The Simpson diversity (D) and equitability index (J) were calculated using survey data on number of stems ( 4.5 cm DBH) of each species found in sample plots.Near-climax old forests (age 50 yr, without pine trees) showed high species diversity of trees, 0.92 ± 0.01 in D and 0.83 ± 0.05 in J for trees of which DBH 4.5 cm, and 0.81 ± 0.04 in D and 0.75 ± 0.05 in J for trees of DBH 10 cm.These high values are comparable to those of tropical rain forests. Although even young forests showed high species diversity, diversity indices tended to increase with forest age.The U.S. Marine Corps leases the eastern half of Yanbaru which contains most of these near-climax forests. Conservation of natural forests in this area is recommended.     

Microtopography and distribution of canopy trees in a subtropical evergreen broad-leaved forest in the northern part of Okinawa Island,Japan

The spatial distribution of trees in relation to topography was investigated using two topographic indices, slope steepness and slope configuration, in a 4-ha plot in a subtropical evergreen forest in the northern part of Okinawa Island, Japan. Most species showed an aggregated distribution and patch size was related to various microtopographical features, including small ridges and valleys. In a cluster analysis based on the dissimilarity of each species distribution, the species were divided into three major clusters. A significant correlation between the dissimilarity and the distance between each species on the axis of the two topographic indices indicated that species association was, in part, explained by the topographic indices. I suggest that species distributed on steep and concave slopes regenerate depending on disturbances such as landslides on unstable topography, whereas species distributed on ridges and upper slopes regenerate depending on the canopy gap. A number of species that were less abundant in the 4-ha plot occurred in the riparian area near a stream, where the density of more abundant species was low. The results of this study support the existence of habitat niche divergence related to topography in a subtropical evergreen broad-leaved forest.     

Microenvironmental variability and species diversity in treefall gaps in a sub-tropical broadleaved forest

Microenvironmental variability and species diversity in gaps and forest understorey were studied to assess the role of treefall gaps in maintaining composition and patchy distribution in a broad-leaved sub-tropical climax forest, Mawphlang, Meghalaya, India. Photon flux density was higher in gaps than in the surrounding understorey. Relative humidity was low and the litter layer was relatively thin in gaps throughout the year. Soil moisture and photon flux density in the gaps significantly varied between seasons and gaps of different sizes. Relative humidity significantly varied between seasons but difference among gaps was insignificant. Among-gap and among-season variations in soil and air temperature were insignificant.The number of tree species in the gaps was positively correlated with gap area, and tree species abundance showed higher equitability in larger than in smaller gaps. In gaps, -diversity was highest for herbs and lowest for shrubs. -diversity was highest for shrubs and lowest for tree seedlings. -diversity of tree seedlings was higher in the gaps than in the forest understorey. Conversely, -diversity was higher in the understorey than in the gaps. Low species similarity for tree seedlings among the gaps could be an effect of patchy distribution of parent tree species in the forest. Thus a significant change in light and moisture regimes along the gap size gradient played an important role in influencing the composition and abundance of shade tolerant and intolerant tree species in gaps on one hand, and affected the overall species diversity of the forest, on the other.     

百山祖常绿阔叶林木本植物的生境相关性分析

中性理论和生态位理论在解释热带雨林中物种共存机制上发挥了重要作用.本文通过Torus-translation榆测方法对百山祖常绿阔叶林5 ha样地中DBH≥1 cm、个体数大于5的89种木本植物与4个根据地形和物种组成划分的小生境进行了关联性分析.同时按植物的胸径径级大小将其分为幼树期、生长期、成熟期3个生长阶段,并分别分析了植物在这3个生长阶段与生境的关联性.结果表明:89个木本植物中,没有表现出显著的生境相关件的物种多是稀有种或是个体数较少的物种,而大部分的常见种表现出与生境的显著相关性;通过对每个物种不同生长阶段的生境相关性比较,发现多数物种的生境相关性会发生改变,其中只有麂角杜鹃(Rhododendron latoucheae)、褐叶青冈(Cyclobalanopsis stewardiana)和厚叶红淡比(Cleyera pachyphylla)在生长的3个生长阶段没有发生改变.这表明,生境异质性对亚热带常绿阔叶林中木本植物的生物多样性的维持起着重要作用,同时对不同生长时期的物种与生境相关性的分析结果表明,大部分物种与生境的相关性会随着生长阶段的变化而发生变化.     

亚热带森林树种多样性对凋落叶分解胞外酶活性的影响

森林生物多样性与生态系统功能关系是当前群落生态学的热点研究领域。然而, 以往研究更多聚焦在森林植物多样性丧失对群落生产力的影响, 而对森林凋落物分解的相关研究稍显不足。森林凋落叶分解的快慢直接受控于凋落物分解者分泌的胞外酶的活性, 后者更是指示森林生态系统养分循环的重要指标之一。本研究依托我国江西亚热带森林生物多样性与生态系统功能控制实验, 通过对不同植物多样性梯度样方内目标树种凋落叶胞外酶活性、理化性质以及腐生真菌的分析, 探索树种多样性丧失对胞外酶活性的影响及其调控机制, 以探讨森林树种多样性对地表、地下生态过程和功能的影响。结果表明, 样方水平树种多样性丧失显著影响胞外酶的活性, 除单种样方外, 随着样方水平树种丰富度的增加, 胞外酶活性呈现出增长趋势; 与碳周转相关的α-葡萄糖苷酶(AG)、β-葡萄糖苷酶(BG)、纤维二糖水解酶(CB)在树种多样性最大时活性达到最高; 而木糖苷酶(XS)以及与氮、磷和顽拗有机养分分解相关的N-乙酰-β-氨基葡萄糖苷酶(NAG)、酸性磷酸酶(AP)和多酚氧化酶(PPO)在树种多样性较低时活性较高。针对目标树种周围的邻居树种多样性进一步分析发现, 各胞外酶活性随着邻居树种多样性的变化呈“单峰”响应趋势, 酶活性大多在邻居树种丰富度为6时呈现峰值。研究发现真菌分解者在胞外酶活性对植物多样性的响应上可能存在重要的调控作用, 可以推测树种多样性通过改变腐生真菌分解者的群落结构和多度, 从而影响胞外酶活性。     

南亚热带混交人工林树种丰富度与土壤微生物多样性和群落组成的关系

森林植被与土壤微生物作为森林生态系统的重要组成部分,它们之间的相互作用对维持森林生态系统功能和稳定性起着重要作用。以往多在天然草地和森林生态系统开展植物多样性与土壤微生物多样性关系的研究,但人工构建的多树种混交林生态系统中树种多样性对土壤微生物群落组成的影响及其机制尚不完全清楚。因此,以南亚热带人工块状造林后自然恢复形成的多树种混交森林生态系统为研究对象,利用高通量测序技术研究了随树种丰富度(1—10种)变化土壤细菌和真菌多样性的变化规律及主要影响因子。结果表明,随树种丰富度增加,土壤真菌α多样性显著提高,但土壤细菌α多样性差异不显著;不同树种丰富度梯度间土壤细菌和真菌的群落结构组成均差异显著;Pearson相关分析表明土壤细菌α多样性主要受土壤pH和土壤铵态氮影响,而土壤pH和有效磷是土壤真菌α多样性的主要影响因子。距离冗余分析(db-RDA)表明,对土壤细菌群落组成产生显著影响的环境因子分别为土壤pH、硝态氮和芳香碳组分,而土壤有机碳、硝态氮、细根生物量和氧烷基碳组分是影响土壤真菌群落组成的主要因子。本研究的结果说明了南亚热带人工林不同树种混交后形成多树种混交林生态系统的过程中,树...     

季风常绿阔叶林不同恢复阶段藤本植物的物种多样性比较

藤本植物是森林生态系统的重要组成部分,影响群落的恢复与演替。通过对云南普洱地区不同恢复阶段(恢复15a、恢复30a和原始林群落)季风常绿阔叶林群落的野外调查,分析了不同恢复阶段藤本植物的物种丰富度、密度、多度、径级分布、多样性指数及攀援方式,并探讨藤本植物与支持木的关系。结果表明:在0.81hm²的调查样地中,共发现DBH≥0.1cm的藤本植物1292株(分属34科51属64种)。原始林群落的藤本物种丰富度、密度(DBH＜1cm)、胸高断面积和平均胸高断面积都显著高于恢复阶段,原始林和恢复15a群落的密度(DBH≥1cm)、平均胸径和平均长度之间无显著差异,但都显著高于恢复30a。3种群落类型中藤本植物的物种组成和径级分布有显著差异,原始林中藤本植物物种更多,而且大径级(DBH≥10cm)的藤本植物仅出现在原始林及恢复30a的群落。单株藤本攀援的支持木在3种群落类型中均占多数,藤本植物与支持木的胸径存在显著的正相关(P＜0.001),原始林群落中DBH≥15cm的支持木更易被攀援,而恢复阶段则相反。茎缠绕藤本植物对原始林的负面影响要显著少于恢复15a及30a群落,而卷须类藤本植物也反映出原始林正处于一个动态变化的阶段,同时根攀缘和搭靠类藤本植物物种组成和多度变化可以反映出干扰后季风常绿阔叶林的恢复程度。森林砍伐是影响不同恢复阶段藤本植物的物种组成和分布的主要因素。     

亚热带次生常绿阔叶林植物功能性状及多样性对人工抚育的响应

亚热带次生常绿阔叶林普遍存在生长滞缓、固碳功能和经济价值低下等问题,迫切需要通过人工抚育提高其生态系统功能。对植物功能性状及其多样性的深入研究,能够找寻植物共存与群落稳定发展的内在机制,为提升森林生态系统功能的实践提供基础。为了探究人工抚育对亚热带次生常绿阔叶林质量提升的影响,以杭州午潮山国家森林公园内的次生常绿阔叶林为研究对象,实施了不同强度的抚育措施,通过群落植被复查,分析群落植物功能性状以及功能多样性对不同强度人工抚育的响应。结果发现:抚育2年后,群落最大潜在树高与叶片氮、磷、钾含量显著上升,而叶片干物质含量和叶片叶绿素含量均有显著下降,比叶面积有下降趋势,两种强度的抚育之间差异不显著;叶片干物质含量、叶绿素含量与叶片氮含量间的相关性由不显著变为了显著负相关,而叶片干物质含量与叶片叶绿素含量,叶片磷、钾含量与叶片氮含量,叶片磷含量与叶片钾含量间的相关性由不显著变为显著正相关;在20%强度抚育下,功能丰富度指数均值从对照的0.52显著下降为0.16,功能均匀度指数与功能分离度指数的均值则分别上升到0.61和0.67,显著高于对照组的0.51和0.56;在10%强度抚育下,功能丰富度有所下降,功能均匀度与功能分离度均有所上升,但差异不显著。研究表明,人工抚育在一定程度上改变了群落水平的植物功能性状与功能多样性,提高了群落植物利用资源的能力和效率;而适度的抚育强度更能解放资源空间,对群落产生的影响更加明显。该结果为亚热带次生常绿阔叶林的经营与管理提供依据与参考。     

Ecological drivers of avian diversity in a subtropical landscape: Effects of habitat diversity,primary productivity and anthropogenic disturbance

Understanding the roles of ecological drivers in shaping biodiversity is fundamental for conservation practice. In this study, we explored the effects of elevation, conservation status, primary productivity, habitat diversity and anthropogenic disturbance (represented by human population density and birding history) on taxonomic, phylogenetic and functional avian diversity in a subtropical landscape in southeastern China. We conducted bird surveys using 1‐km transects across a total of 30 sites, of which 10 sites were located within a natural reserve. Metrics of functional diversity were calculated based on six functional traits (body mass, clutch size, dispersal ratio, sociality, diet and foraging stratum). We built simultaneous autoregression models to assess the association between the ecological factors and diversity of the local avian communities. Local avian diversity generally increased with increasing habitat diversity, human population density and primary productivity. We also detected phylogenetic and functional clustering in these communities, suggesting that the avian assemblages were structured mainly by environmental filtering, rather than interspecific competition. Compared with sites outside the natural reserve, sites within the natural reserve had relatively lower avian diversity but a higher level of phylogenetic heterogeneity.     

Tree species composition and diversity of tropical mountain cloud forest in the Yunnan, southwestern China

Species composition, physiognomy, and plant diversity of the less known cloud forests in Yunnan were studied based on data collected from 35 sample plots at seven sites. In floristic composition, the cloud forests are mainly comprised of Fagaceae, Ericaceae, Vacciniaceae, Aceraceae, Magnoliaceae, Theaceae, Aquifoliaceae, Illiciaceae, Lauraceae, and Rosaceae. Physiognomically, the forests are dominated by tree and shrub species. Lianas are rare in the forests. The plants with microphyllous or nanophyllous leaves comprise 44.32–63.46% of the total species, and plants with an entire leaf margin account for more than 50% of the tree and shrub species. There are few tree and shrub species with a drip tip leaf apex and papery leaves. Evergreen species make up more than 75% of the total tree and shrub species. In a 2,500 m² sampling area, the number of vascular species ranged between 57 and 110; Simpson’s diversity index ranged from 0.7719 to 0.9544, Shannon–Winner’s diversity index from 1.8251 to 3.2905, and Pielou’s evenness index from 0.5836 to 0.8982 for trees. The cloud forests in Yunnan are physiognomically similar to the tropical cloud forests in America and Southeast Asia. They very much resemble the mountain dwarf mossy forest in Hainan Island, southeastern China, and the Mountain ericaceous forests in the Malay Peninsula. The cloud forests in Yunnan are considered to be developed, as are the tropical upper montane cloud forests in Asia.     

福建中亚热带常绿阔叶林物种多样性的空间格局

对福建中亚热带不同区域、不同海拔梯度的常绿阔叶林群落进行物种多样性测定 ,结果表明 :(1 )在 6个区域中 ,乔木层的物种多样性指数平均值高于灌木层的平均值 ;对丰富度指数 ,太平乔、灌木层 (R1、R2 )最高 ,茂地 (R1、R2 )最低 ;对多样性指数 ,乔木层夏道 (D1、H1)最高 ,土堡 (D1)、茂地 (H1)分别最低 ,灌木层峡阳(D2 )、大洋 (H2 )分别最高 ,太平 (D2 、H2 )最低 ;对均匀度指数 ,乔木层中茂地 (E1、J1)最高 ,土堡 (E1、J1)最低 ,灌木层峡阳 (E2 )、大洋 (J2 )分别最高 ,太平 (E2 、J2 )最低 ;不同区域乔木层的物种多样性指数曲线变化比灌木层缓和 ;(2 )在 6个海拔梯度群落 ,对乔木层物种数和丰富度指数在海拔 2 0 0～ 40 0m(S1、R1)最高 ,对灌木层在海拔 60 0～ 80 0m(S1、R1)最高 ;对乔、灌木层物种数和丰富度指数在海拔 1 0 0 0～ 1 2 0 0m(S1、S2 、R1、R2 )最低 ;对多样性指数 ,在乔木层中在海拔 2 0 0～ 40 0m(D1、H1)最高 ,在海拔 80 0～ 1 0 0 0m(D1、H1)最低 ,在灌木层中在海拔 60 0～ 80 0m(D2 、H2 )最高 ,海拔 80 0～ 1 0 0 0m(D2 、H2 )最低 ;对均匀度指数 ,乔木层中在海拔 10 0 0～ 1 2 0 0m(E1、J1)最高 ,在海拔 80 0～ 1 0 0 0m(E1、J1)最低 ,灌木层中在海拔 1 0 0 0～ 1 2 0 0m(E2 )     

Spatial variation of species diversity across scales in an old-growth temperate forest of China

Species richness and abundance are the two most important diversity variables. Species abundance is additive when aggregated across spatial scale, whereas species richness is non-additive. This study analyzes the effect of spatial scale and site on species abundance and richness in a 25-ha temperate forest plot in the Changbai Mountains, northeastern China. The result shows that species abundance and richness are not only dependent on spatial scales, but also dependent on site. Species abundance responds linearly to changes of spatial scale with no intersection in different sites of the study area. However, although species richness also increases with the increase of spatial scale, there are some intersections for the different sites, suggesting that a species-rich site does not always have a high value if the spatial scale is changed. In all, with respect to additive variables, it is relatively easy to extrapolate them from one spatial scale to another spatial scale, as they and the spatial scale usually form a linear relationship. In contrast, non-additive variables are difficult to extrapolate across spatial scales, because they often respond nonlinearly to spatial scale changes. In order to extrapolate these non-additive variables across spatial scales, it is necessary to estimate the relationships between them and spatial scales. As a result, extrapolation of information among spatial scales may be possible, but very difficult, especially for non-additive variables. Because the 25-ha Changbai plot is very small compared to the extent of the world temperate forests, and the vegetation is a relatively uniform type, more such studies in other ecosystems are needed before theories and generalization about scaling effects can be formulated.     

Species‐habitat associations change in a subtropical forest of China

Question: Do tree and shrub species in an evergreen broadleaf forest show similar habitat associations across different life stages? Location: A 24‐ha evergreen broadleaf forest plot in a heterogeneous landscape in Gutianshan National Nature Reserve, Zhejiang Province, Eastern China. Methods: Species having positive associations with four habitat types (low valley, low ridge, upper valley, and upper ridge) at three life stages (sapling, juvenile, and mature stages) were compared for 60 tree and shrub species using torus‐translation tests. Results: A total of 117 significant positive associations with the four habitats were observed at the three life stages (43, 41, and 33 at the sapling, juvenile, and mature stages, respectively). For the 52 species significantly associated with habitats, only 16 were associated with the same habitat across all three stages. The majority of associated species at the juvenile stage (34 out of 40) were associated with the same habitat at their sapling stage, whereas half of species at the mature stage had consistent associations with the same habitat at their sapling stage. More species were associated with the upper ridge at the sapling and juvenile stages compared to the mature stage. Conversely, more species were associated with the low valley at the mature stage compared to the sapling and juvenile stages. Conclusions: Our results indicate that species ecological habitat associations can differ between developmental stages beyond 1 cm DBH, as most species habitat preferences were consistent from the sapling stage to the juvenile stage but changed at the mature stage.     

Contribution of woody debris to trout habitat modification in small streams in secondary deciduous forest, northern Japan

Field studies to examine the influence of woody debris on rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss) abundance through habitat modification were conducted in two small streams, the Horonai and Uenae streams, running through secondary deciduous forest in south-western Hokkaido, northern Japan. Reach-based woody debris volume (total woody debris volume per 100 m² of study reach) was significantly correlated with the total basal area of riparian stands along the margins of the Horonai stream, but no significant relationship was evident between them for the Uenae stream. This inconsistency between the streams was considered to be a result of the difference in stream size (width, depth and discharge). Woody debris was the principal agent for pool formation, although it had a far smaller volume than that found in streams draining old-growth coniferous forest in North America, where most of the previous studies have been carried out. Untransported debris pieces of larger volume more effectively contributed to pool formation than smaller transported pieces. The volume of individual debris scour pools was positively correlated with the volume of woody debris associated with each. Similarly, reach-based pool volume increased with total woody debris volume, but the relationship was less clear in the Uenae stream, having more abundant transported woody debris than the Horonai stream. The biomass of rainbow trout in individual pools, which were regarded as the most preferred habitat type for stream salmonids, was correlated with pool volume. A positive relationship also existed between reach-based standing crop and pool volume. These results revealed that secondary deciduous forest, like old-growth coniferous forest, plays an important role in enhancing the carrying capacity for rainbow trout by supplying woody debris which promoted preferred habitat formation.     

北热带喀斯特森林木本植物花性状及其生境分异

植物花性状的多样化是植物长期进化及自然选择的结果, 不同植物种间花性状的变异与生境存在一定的相关性。北热带喀斯特季节性雨林具有生境异质性强、群落结构复杂、特有成分丰富等特点, 分析该森林植物性状的变化特征及其与生境的关联性, 有助于理解物种共存、协同进化过程和对生境的适应, 可为阐明喀斯特植物的生态适应性、理解生物多样性维持机理提供依据。本研究在弄岗15 ha森林动态监测样地木本植物开花相对集中的时间段进行, 记录并分析了21个物种花性状的变化。根据物种空间分布及其与生境的关联特性, 将21个物种分成偏好谷底、山坡、山顶的3种类型, 分析了这3种类型植物的花性状差异; 另外又根据花性状对21个物种进行聚类分析, 探讨了聚类分组结果和根据偏好生境分组结果的异同。结果表明: 花大小、花色鲜艳度均与物种优势度存在显著的负相关关系, 花小而不鲜艳的物种在群落中更有优势, 表现出更好的适应性; 不同偏好生境的植物花色明度有显著差异, 其他的花性状差异不显著; 聚类分组与根据偏好生境的分组有较好的一致性, 反映出物种的花性状变化响应了生境的变化。综上结果, 我们认为北热带喀斯特季节性雨林植物花性状与物种的优势度及生境条件有密切联系, 在该区域中生境对花性状的影响可能比传粉者更为深刻。     

Limited effect of anthropogenic habitat fragmentation on molecular diversity in a rain forest skink, Gnypetoscincus queenslandiae

To examine the effects of recent habitat fragmentation, we assayed genetic diversity in a rain forest endemic lizard, the prickly forest skink (Gnypetoscincus queenslandiae), from seven forest fragments and five sites in continuous forest on the Atherton tableland of northeastern Queensland, Australia. The rain forest in this region was fragmented by logging and clearing for dairy farms in the early 1900s and most forest fragments studied have been isolated for 50-80 years or nine to 12 skink generations. We genotyped 411 individuals at nine microsatellite DNA loci and found fewer alleles per locus in prickly forest skinks from small rain forest fragments and a lower ratio of allele number to allele size range in forest fragments than in continuous forest, indicative of a decrease in effective population size. In contrast, and as expected for populations with small neighbourhood sizes, neither heterozygosity nor variance in allele size differed between fragments and sites in continuous forests. Considering measures of among population differentiation, there was no increase in FST among fragments and a significant isolation by distance pattern was identified across all 12 sites. However, the relationship between genetic (FST) and geographical distance was significantly stronger for continuous forest sites than for fragments, consistent with disruption of gene flow among the latter. The observed changes in genetic diversity within and among populations are small, but in the direction predicted by the theory of genetic erosion in recently fragmented populations. The results also illustrate the inherent difficulty in detecting genetic consequences of recent habitat fragmentation, even in genetically variable species, and especially when effective population size and dispersal rates are low.     

Functional and phylogenetic diversity determine woody productivity in a temperate forest

Understanding the relationships between biodiversity and ecosystem productivity has become a central issue in ecology and conservation biology studies, particularly when these relationships are connected with global climate change and species extinction. However, which facets of biodiversity (i.e. taxonomic, functional, and phylogenetic diversity) account most for variations in productivity are still not understood very well. This is especially true with regard to temperate forest ecosystems. In this study, we used a dataset from a stem‐mapped permanent forest plot in northeastern China exploring the relationships between biodiversity and productivity at different spatial scales (20 × 20 m; 40 × 40 m; and 60 × 60 m). The influence of specific environmental conditions (topographic conditions) and stand maturity (expressed by initial stand volume and biomass) were taken into account using the multivariate approach known as structural equation models. The variable “Biodiversity” includes taxonomic (Shannon), functional (FDis), and phylogenetic diversity (PD). Biodiversity–productivity relationships varied with the spatial scales. At the scale of 20 × 20 m, PD and FDis significantly affected forest biomass productivity, while Shannon had only indirect effects. At the 40 × 40 m and 60 × 60 m scales, biodiversity and productivity were weakly correlated. The initial stand volume and biomass were the most important drivers of forest productivity. The local environmental conditions significantly influenced the stand volume, biomass, biodiversity, and productivity. The results highlight the scale dependency of the relationships between forest biodiversity and productivity. The positive role of biodiversity in facilitating forest productivity was confirmed at the smaller scales. Our findings emphasize the fundamental role of environmental conditions in determining forest ecosystem performances. The results of this study provide a better understanding of the underlying ecological processes that influence specific forest biodiversity and productivity relationships.     

Difference in seasonal activity pattern between non-native and native ants in subtropical forest of Okinawa Island,Japan

Biological invasions by non-native tramp ants are reported throughout the world, particularly in island ecosystems. In Okinawa Island, a subtropical island in south-western Japan, many tramp ants including the invasive ant, Anoplolepis gracilipes, already occur. In this study activity patterns of the ground-foraging tramp and native ants were investigated for one year by using food bait traps at the forest edges where both categories of ants coexist. On a seasonal time scale, activity patterns were different between exotic and native ants. Native ants are active and seemingly more dominant from spring to summer whereas tramp ants become more dominant from autumn to winter. These results suggest there might be temporal niche partitioning between tramp and native ants, and native ants might be able to dominate tramp ants in their suitable seasons.