松属、青冈属乔木侧根的强度在防护林固土护坡作用中的意义

 乔木根系的土壤加强作用是防护林稳定土壤和保护坡面的最有效的机械途径,其中侧根的牵引效应在林地的固土护坡过程中具有重要作用,其潜能与侧根的抗张强度呈正相关关系。本研究构建了侧根抗张强度与其牵引效应的数学模型,对云南山地以云南松林和滇青冈林为代表的松属和青冈属乔木群落进行了分析。结果表明：青冈属和松属乔木侧根的抗张强度分别在40一10MPa和30～5 MPa范围内,量值的高低随侧根直径的增加而降低。两种乔木的侧根在0～60cm的土壤深处有较高的分布密度,由于具有一定的强度,通过它们的牵引效应,侧根使这一深度的根际土层的抗张强度提高了6.85～12.41 kPa。在各个土层,青冈属乔木固土护坡能力明显高于松属,说明松属侧根在浅层土体加固方面具有局限性。     

The effect of plant succession on slope stability

The aim of this field investigation was to study the enrichment of biodiversity of the slope at an early phase of succession, initiated by selected pioneers, and to study how this enrichment related to enhancement of the slope stability. Four experimental plots, with differing plant pioneers and number of species (diversity), were designed in order to assess the effects of plant succession on slope stability. Plant growth pattern was assessed by observing the increment in species diversity (number), species frequency and plant biomass. Higher vegetation biomass in a mixed culture situation (LLSS) in the field with Leucaena leucocephala as a pioneer, marked an increase in species diversity after 24 months of observation. In contrast, G (grasses and legume creepers) plot revealed the slowest rate of succession and the lowest above-ground biomass amongst the plots. The mixed-culture plot without L. leucocephala (SS) had also shown a lower biomass, a similar phenomenon observed in a plot grown by L. leucocephala (LL) with low plant diversity. Consequently, these plant growth patterns gave a positive effect on slope stability where the regression study showed that the shear strength was much affected by plant biomass. Meanwhile, throughout the succession process in LLSS plot, root length density reached the highest value amongst the plots, 23 Km m^?3. In relation to this, the saturation level of the slope indicates the unsaturated condition of the soil which resulted in the enhancement of both soil penetrability and soil shear strength of the plot. These attributes reveal a strong positive relationship between the process of natural succession and the stability of slopes.     

Effect of Root Moisture Content and Diameter on Root Tensile Properties

The stabilization of slopes by vegetation has been a topical issue for many years. Root mechanical characteristics significantly influence soil reinforcement; therefore it is necessary to research into the indicators of root tensile properties. In this study, we explored the influence of root moisture content on tensile resistance and strength with different root diameters and for different tree species. Betula platyphylla, Quercus mongolica, Pinus tabulaeformis, and Larix gmelinii, the most popular tree species used for slope stabilization in the rocky mountainous areas of northern China, were used in this study. A tensile test was conducted after root samples were grouped by diameter and moisture content. The results showedthat:1) root moisture content had a significant influence on tensile properties; 2) slightly loss of root moisture content could enhance tensile strength, but too much loss of water resulted in weaker capacity for root elongation, and consequently reduced tensile strength; 3) root diameter had a strong positive correlation with tensile resistance; and4) the roots of Betula platyphylla had the best tensile properties when both diameter and moisture content being controlled. These findings improve our understanding of root tensile properties with root size and moisture, and could be useful for slope stabilization using vegetation.     

Multivariate path analysis of the relationships between seedling regeneration and environmental factors beneath a dwarf bamboo understory

Seedling emergence and establishment are fragile processes that determine the direction and structure of forest succession and regeneration. However, seedling emergence and establishment are easily affected by biotic and abiotic (environmental) factors. A dense and expanding understory of dwarf bamboo is one such important factor that can seriously hinder the seedling regeneration. We conducted a field experiment to investigate the emergence and establishment of canopy tree seedlings under artificially controlled densities of dwarf bamboo. We found that understory dwarf bamboo obstructed seedling emergence but reduced the death of seedlings. Although understory dwarf bamboo reduced the median retention time of seedlings, dense bamboo increased the mean survival time of seedlings. Our results suggest that understory dwarf bamboo has multiple selectivities for tree seedling emergence and establishment: high‐density dwarf bamboo was beneficial to evergreen species but lower‐density of bamboo was conducive to the survival of deciduous species, it means the dwarf bamboo potentially alters successional trajectories of forest communities. Path analysis revealed that the most important factors affecting tree seedling emergence and death were the abundance of seeds in the seed bank and the density of emerged seedlings, and that the soil temperature promoted seedling emergence but increased seedling death, the thickness of litter limited seedling emergence, and the leaf area index of the bamboo canopy limited seedling death. The present study suggests that dwarf bamboo can directly alter the microenvironment, significantly reducing light levels and soil temperature but increasing the thickness of litter and soil humus, thereby indirectly impacting the regeneration of tree seedlings. Our results indicate that various factors affected seedling emergence, and there were complex indirect relationships among these factors. In general, biological factors had a stronger influence on tree seedling regeneration than environmental factors.     

Plant biomechanical strategies in response to frequent disturbance: uprooting of Phyllostachys nidularia (Poaceae) growing on landslide-prone slopes in Sichuan, China

Bamboo is considered useful for controlling landslides, but we observed numerous shallow-slope failures in forests of big node bamboo (Phyllostachys nidularia) in Sichuan, China. Therefore, we inventoried landslide occurrence and vegetation type along one valley. To quantify bamboo root anchorage, we performed uprooting tests and measured plant morphological characteristics. Landslide occurrence was greatest at sites with bamboo and young trees. Culm failure was common because of the high length to diameter ratio (242 ± 6). Uprooting tests showed that the maximal force to cause failure was small (1615 ± 195 N). Uprooting force was strongly and positively regressed with a combination of the predictors lateral root number and volume (R(2) = 0.92), and root systems were highly superficial (depth = 0.15 ± 0.12 m), contributing little to slope stability. In P. nidularia, which grows on landslide-prone slopes, surprisingly few resources have been allocated to anchorage. We suggest that this strategy puts this pioneer at an advantage on steep slopes, where it contributes little to slope stability and colonizes frequently formed gaps through vegetative regeneration. Fewer disturbances would result in subsequent secondary succession and dying back of this shade intolerant species.     

3-D numerical investigations into the shear strength of the soil–root system of Makino bamboo and its effect on slope stability

This study attempts to quantify the reinforcement effect of the Makino bamboo (Phyllostachys makinoi Hayata) root system on the stability of slopeland through numerical analyses and in situ tests. Based on the field surveys of Makino bamboo root morphology, a three-dimensional (3-D) numerical model of the soil–root system consisting of the reverse T-shape tap root and hair roots was developed and successfully applied to the finite element simulations of in situ pull-out tests. In the simulations, the soil mass was simulated by a soil element with a perfect elastic–plastic (or Mohr–Coulomb) material model whereas the root system was simulated by a ground anchor element with a linear elastic material model. In addition, a mechanical conversion model with simple mathematical form, which enables a direct transformation of the ultimate pull-out resistance into the shear strength increment of soil–root system was proposed. The conversion model offered a convenient way to quantify the reinforcement effect of the Makino bamboo root system required for the 3-D slope stability analyses. The numerical results indicated that the shear strength increment of the Makino bamboo soil–root system ranged from 18.4 to 26.3 kPa and its effect on the slope stability was insignificant when compared with those adverse influence factors such as the steep slope angle (=50–70°), shallow root depth (=0.8–1.0 m) and large growth height (>10 m) of the Makino bamboo forest slopeland. It can be also speculated that the tension cracks widespread over the slope surface due to the wind loading acting on the bamboo stems and the sequential rainwater infiltration is the dominating factor in the collapse failure of slopeland. For a Makino bamboo forest slopeland with medium slope (25° < slope angle β < 40°), the reinforcement effect of the Makino bamboo root system can mobilize its maximum stabilization capacity when compared with those of slopeland with mild (β < 25°) and steep slopes (β > 40°). Conclusively, the contribution of the Makino bamboo root system to the stability of slopeland is not as significant as expected.     

喀斯特坡地2种地埂篱根-土复合体抗剪和抗冲性能综合评价

分析喀斯特地区不同地埂篱根系的形态和力学特性，量化其根-土复合体抗剪和抗冲性能的强弱，探寻该地区地埂篱根系固土抗蚀性能的评价因子，为喀斯特坡地水土流失治理中植被恢复措施的科学应用提供参考。选取重庆酉阳龙潭槽谷为研究区，分上、中、下坡分别布设拉巴豆和光叶苕子2种地埂篱，采用根系扫描仪和电子万能试验机测定其根系形态和力学参数，应变控制式直剪仪测定复合体抗剪强度，原状土冲刷水槽法测定复合体抗冲指数。结果表明：(1)抗剪复合体中，拉巴豆平均根长密度和根表面积密度分别高出光叶苕子59.32%和16.86%;抗冲复合体中，拉巴豆平均根长密度、根表面积密度和根体积密度较之光叶苕子高出30.48%、57.78%、92.98%;拉巴豆根系极限抗拉力和抗拉强度均显著高于光叶苕子。(2)2种地埂篱根系均能增强土壤的抗剪和抗冲性能，其中拉巴豆和光叶苕子复合体粘聚力较之对照土体分别增强了113.06%—124.37%和51.56%—87.12%,抗冲指数最高达到对照土体的2.81倍和2.45倍。(3)不同坡位，下坡2种植物的根长密度显著高于上、中坡；拉巴豆根系抗拉特性在下坡表现最优，光叶苕子在上坡表现更好；拉巴...     

Symbiosis of Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Fungi and Robinia pseudoacacia L. Improves Root Tensile Strength and Soil Aggregate Stability

Robinia pseudoacacia L. (black locust) is a widely planted tree species on Loess Plateau for revegetation. Due to its symbiosis forming capability with arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungi, we explored the influence of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi on plant biomass, root morphology, root tensile strength and soil aggregate stability in a pot experiment. We inoculated R. pseudoacacia with/without AM fungus (Rhizophagus irregularis or Glomus versiforme), and measured root colonization, plant growth, root morphological characters, root tensile force and tensile strength, and parameters for soil aggregate stability at twelve weeks after inoculation. AM fungi colonized more than 70% plant root, significantly improved plant growth. Meanwhile, AM fungi elevated root morphological parameters, root tensile force, root tensile strength, Glomalin-related soil protein (GRSP) content in soil, and parameters for soil aggregate stability such as water stable aggregate (WSA), mean weight diameter (MWD) and geometric mean diameter (GMD). Root length was highly correlated with WSA, MWD and GMD, while hyphae length was highly correlated with GRSP content. The improved R. pseudoacacia growth, root tensile strength and soil aggregate stability indicated that AM fungi could accelerate soil fixation and stabilization with R. pseudoacacia, and its function in revegetation on Loess Plateau deserves more attention.     

黄土丘陵区微地形对草地植物群落结构组成和功能特征的影响

对黄土丘陵区微地形(阳坡坡上、中、下部,坡顶,阴坡坡上、中、下部)条件下草地植物群落进行群落组成调查和地上、地下生物量测定,分析微地形对草地植物群落结构组成和功能特征的影响.结果表明： 研究区内草地植物群落主要由菊科、禾本科和豆科物种组成.群落地上和地下生物量以及根系年生长量分别为164.12 g·m^-2、1044.87 g·m^-2、731.77 g·m^-2·a^-1.群落地上和地下生物量以及根系年生长量在不同坡向的大小均为：阴坡>阳坡>坡顶.在阴坡,群落生物量和根系年生长量的大小为：坡下部>坡中部>坡上部>坡顶部,阳坡群落生物量在不同坡位的大小顺序与阴坡不同.根系生长主要集中在0～20 cm土层,且从上到下逐渐减小.根系周转率的平均值为0.75 a^-1,在不同微地形条件下不同土层内大小不同.     

Factors influencing the distribution and growth of dwarf bamboo, <Emphasis Type="Italic">Fargesia nitida</Emphasis>, in a subalpine forest in Wolong Nature Reserve,southwest China

Dwarf bamboos impose intense resource competition in subalpine coniferous forests, and their exclusive densities have crucial impacts on tree regeneration and understory species diversity. We studied the factors influencing the distribution and growth of dwarf bamboo, Fargesia nitida, in a subalpine forest in southwest China. TWINSPAN, based on an attribute matrix, could divide the subalpine forest into 11 sub-associations, and more clearly reflected ecological functional features of the subalpine forest than analysis based on a species matrix. TWINSPAN was also generally consistent with DCA ordination based on the attribute matrix. DCA and DCCA ordination showed relationships between the distribution of F. nitida population and environment factor. The first DCCA axis showed topography and disturbance gradients (except fallen trees and broken branches); the second DCCA axis showed canopy density and composition gradients. Stepwise multiple regression analyses showed that distribution (culm density and coverage) of F. nitida decreased significantly with landslide and slope aspect, and increased significantly with soil status. The light condition had positive effects on growth and size of bamboo. A stable environment in the northern slope and more broadleaved species dominating in canopy would increase the dwarf bamboo biomass. Thus, the disturbance regimes, the slope aspect and the BA of evergreen conifer trees can provide useful guidelines for the control and management of F. nitida populations, and in helping to understand the succession and regeneration of subalpine forest in this region.     

秦岭大熊猫栖息地巴山木竹生物量

巴山木竹是秦岭大熊猫冬、春季食物的主要来源,其生长状况、数量和空间分布格局与大熊猫的生存与活动有着密切的关系。为了探讨不同立地因子对巴山木竹生物量的影响,确定巴山木竹生长的主导因子和适宜立地条件,在秦岭大熊猫栖息地内选取54块样地,对不同立地条件下巴山木竹生物量进行了测定。通过统计分析,结果表明:由于不同地区气候和土壤条件的差异,导致了巴山木竹生物量亦存在较大差别;巴山木竹生物量在其分布区内随海拔的升高而呈规律性变化,1500—1700 m为最适分布区域,其生物量最大;坡度越大生物量越小,陡坡不适宜竹林的生长;上坡位不利于竹林生长,而中、下坡位生物量没有显著差异;坡向对生物量的影响不明显,均适宜巴山木竹生长;在落叶阔叶和针阔混交林中,当林冠郁闭度>0.6时,竹林生长减弱。在这些立地因子中,影响巴山木竹生物量积累的主导因子是坡位和林冠郁闭度。     

西南地区松属侧根的强度特征对其防护林固土护坡作用的影响

森林植被固土护坡的机械效应主要源于树干和根系与斜坡土壤间的机械作用 ,具体包括土壤加强作用、锚固作用、斜向支撑作用、坡面负荷作用等。乔木根系的土壤加强作用是植被稳定土壤的最有效的机械途径 ;根系可以加强土壤颗粒对根的粘聚力和根际土层的聚合力 ,在土壤本身内摩擦角度不变的情况下 ,提高土层对滑移的抵抗力。加强作用可分为侧根的斜向加强作用 (或侧根牵引效应 )和垂直根的垂向加强作用[1,2 ] ,前者指侧向伸延的根系以侧根牵引阻力的形式提高根际土层斜向抗张强度从而提高土体抗滑力的作用。通常情况下 ,土壤滑动和蠕移首先在坡…     

Dense understory dwarf bamboo alters the retention of canopy tree seeds

Tree seed retention is thought to be an important factor in the process of forest community regeneration. Although dense understory dwarf bamboo has been considered to have serious negative effects on the regeneration of forest community species, little attention has been paid to the relationship between dwarf bamboo and seed retention. In a field experiment we manipulated the density of Fargesia decurvata, a common understory dwarf bamboo, to investigate the retention of seeds from five canopy tree species in an evergreen and deciduous broad-leaved mixed forest in Jinfoshan National Nature Reserve, SW China. We found that the median survival time and retention ratio of seeds increased with the increase in bamboo density. Fauna discriminately altered seed retention in bamboo groves of different densities. Arthropods reduced seed survival the most, and seeds removed decreased with increasing bamboo density. Birds removed or ate more seeds in groves of medium bamboo density and consumed fewer seeds in dense or sparse bamboo habitats. Rodents removed a greater number of large and highly profitable seeds in dense bamboo groves but more small and thin-husked seeds in sparse bamboo groves. Seed characteristics, including seed size, seed mass and seed profitability, were important factors affecting seed retention. The results suggested that dense understory dwarf bamboo not only increased seeds concealment and reduced the probability and speed of seed removal but also influenced the trade-off between predation and risk of animal predatory strategies, thereby impacting the quantity and composition of surviving seeds. Our results also indicated that dense understory dwarf bamboo and various seed characteristics can provide good opportunities for seed storage and seed germination and has a potential positive effect on canopy tree regeneration.     

Coarse root spatial distribution determined using a ground-penetrating radar technique in a subtropical evergreen broad-leaved forest, China

Coarse roots play a critical role in forest ecosystems and both abiotic and biotic factors affect their spatial distribution. To some extent, coarse root density may reflect the quantity of root biomass and biotic competition in forests. However, using traditional methods (e.g., excavation) to study coarse roots is challenging, because those methods are time-consuming and laborious. Furthermore, these destructive methods cannot be repeated in the same forests. Therefore, the discovery of non-destructive methods for root studies will be very significant. In this study, we used a ground-penetrating radar technique to detect the coarse root density of three habitats (ridge, slope and valley) and the dominant tree species (Castanopsis eyrei and Schima superba) in a subtropical forest. We found that (i) the mean of coarse root density for these three habitats was 88.04 roots m^?2, with roots being mainly distributed at depths of 0–40 cm. Coarse root densities were lower in deeper soils and in areas far from the trunk. (ii) Coarse root densities differed significantly among the three habitats studied here with slope habitat having the lowest coarse root density. Compared with S. superba, C. eyrei had more roots distributed in deeper soils. Furthermore, coarse roots with a diameter >3 cm occurred more frequently in the valleys, compared with root densities in ridge and slope habitats, and most coarse roots occurred at soil depths of 20–40 cm. (iii) The coarse root density correlated negatively with tree species richness at soil depths of 40–60 cm. The abundances of the dominant species, such as C. eyrei, Cyclobalanopsis glauca, Pinus massoniana, had significant impacts on coarse root density. (iv) The soil depth of 0–40 cm was the “basic distribution layer” for coarse roots since the majority of coarse roots were found in this soil layer with an average root density of 84.18 roots m^?2, which had no significant linear relationships with topography, tree species richness, rarefied tree species richness and tree density. Significant relationships between coarse root density and these factors were found at the soil depth of 40–60 cm, which was the “potential distribution layer” for coarse root distribution.     

Structural dynamics of a natural mixed deciduous forest in western Thailand

Abstract. Structural dynamics of a natural tropical seasonal – mixed deciduous – forest were studied over a 4-yr period at Mae Klong Watershed Research Station, Kanchanaburi Province, western Thailand, with particular reference to the role of forest fires and undergrowth bamboos. All trees > 5 cm DBH in a permanent plot of 200 m × 200 m were censused every two years from 1992 to 1996. The forest was characterized by a low stem density and basal area and relatively high species diversity. Both the bamboo undergrowth and frequent forest fires could be dominant factors that prevent continuous regeneration. Recruitment, mortality, gain (growth of survival tree plus ingrowth) and loss in basal area (by tree death) during the four years were 6.70%/yr, 2.91%/yr, 1.22%/yr and 1.34%/yr, respectively. Mortality was size dependent; middle size trees (30–50 cm) had the lowest mortality, while the smallest (5–10 cm) had the highest mortality. Tree recruitment was observed particularly in the first two years, mostly in the area where die-back of undergrowth bamboo occurred. The bias of the spatial distribution of recruitment to the area of bamboo die-back was significant and stronger than that to the forest canopy gaps. Successful regeneration of trees which survive competition with other herbs and trees after dieback of bamboo could occur when repeated forest fires did not occur in subsequent years. It is suggested that both the fire disturbance regime and bamboo life-cycle greatly influence the structure and dynamics of this seasonal tropical forest.     

Effects of dwarf bamboo, Fargesia nitida (Mitford) Keng f. ex Yi, on bark stripping by ungulates in a subalpine Abies faxoniana Rehder & E. H. Wilson forest, southwest China

Incidence and intensity of bark stripping of trees by ungulates was investigated at no bamboo (Fargesia nitida (Mitford) Keng f. ex Yi) (B-) site and understory bamboo dominant (B+) site of a subalpine Abies faxoniana Rehder & E. H. Wilson forest, southwest China. The percentage of damaged trees in B-site was higher than in B+ site. Bark stripping obviously occurred more frequently on Abies faxoniana compared to other tree species. Appearance of stripped bark and dead stems of the trees in different size-classes of A. faxoniana strongly depended on the density of dwarf bamboo at the site, and also on the size and bark structure of the trees, with highest damage rates occurring on the smaller DBH classes (10–40 cm) in B-site. The bark stripping intensity of A. faxoniana decreased significantly with higher density and coverage of F. nitida around damaged trees. Therefore, there is an indirect negative effect of the distribution of dwarf bamboo, F. nitida, on bark stripping of tree species. We suggest the indirect effects of dwarf bamboo species should be taken into account while considering the succession and regeneration of natural forests.     

Effects of flooding regime and woody bamboos on tree community dynamics in a section of tropical semideciduous forest in South-Eastern Brazil

The influence of a population of the understorey woody bamboo Merostachys riedeliana and different flooding regimes on tree community dynamics in a section of tropical semideciduous forest in South-Eastern Brazil was examined. A forest section with an area of 1.6 ha composed of 71 adjacent plots was located on a slope ending at the river margin. The section was divided into five topographical sectors according to the mean duration of river floods. In 1991 and 1998 all trees with a diameter at the base of the trunk ≥ 5 cm were measured, identified and tagged, and all live bamboo culms were counted. Annualised estimates of the rates of tree mortality and recruitment, gain and loss of tree basal area, and change in bamboo density were calculated for each of the 71 plots and five topographical sectors as well as for diameter classes and tree species. To segregate patterns arising from spatially autocorrelated events, geostatistical analyses were used prior to statistical comparisons and correlations. In general, mortality rates were not compensated by recruitment rates but there was a net increase in basal area in all sectors, suggesting that the tree community as a whole was in a building phase. Tree community dynamics of the point bar forest (Depression and Levée sectors) differed from that of the upland forest (Ridgetop, Middle Slope and Lower Slope sectors) in the extremely high rates of gain in basal area. The predominant and specialised species, Inga vera and Salix humboldtiana, are probably favoured by relaxed competition in an environment stressed by long-lasting floods. In the upland forest, mortality rates were highest at the Middle Slope, particularly for smaller trees, while recruitment rates were lowest. As bamboo clumps were concentrated in this sector, the locally higher instability in the tree community probably resulted from the direct interference of bamboos. The density of bamboo culms in the upland forest was negatively correlated with the rates of tree recruitment and gain in basal area, and positively correlated with tree mortality rates. Bamboos therefore seemed to restrict the recruitment, growth and survival of trees. This revised version was published online in June 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

晋西土石山区森林次生演替过程中群落结构及复杂性

在晋西黄土高原中阳县土石山区阴坡地段,选择4种典型群落次生演替阶段样地,研究了森林次生演替过程中群落结构和群落复杂性的变化规律.结果表明,群落演替过程中,群落高度级结构及径级结构呈现明显的变化规律,高大个体在群落中所占比例逐渐增加,低高度级和小径级个体数量则呈先增加后减少的趋势.按高度级结构计算的群落树种组成复杂性H(X)、层次结构复杂性H(Y|X)、群落总体复杂性H(X,Y)均呈先增加后减小的趋势:H(X)指数值在演替初期阶段为2.96,演替中期增加到3.85,至乔木林阶段又降低为3.75;H(Y|X)指数值演替初期为1.27,演替中期增加为1.66,至乔木林阶段则为1.37.     

长白山落叶阔叶混交林的物种多样性、种群空间分布格局及种间关联性研究

根据在吉林省蚊河实验管理局1hm^2落叶阔叶混交林样地调查结果,对落叶阔叶混交林的群落结构、物种多样性、主要树种的空间分布格局以及树木种群的种间关联进行了研究．结果表明,树木种群优势程度不明显;乔木、灌木、草本的均匀度指数、生态优势度指数都较低．对5个主要乔木种群的空间格局均呈现聚集分布;15个主要树种之间有14个种对存在着显著的种间关联,一个种独立;树种之间正关联的种对少,关联强度低,而负关联多且较高,群落结构组成不稳定,处于软阔叶林向硬阔叶林直至红松阔叶林过渡的阶段．