The role of breeding system in community dynamics: Growth and mortality in forests of different successional stages

Plant sexual systems appear to play an important role in community assembly: Dioecious species are found to tend to have a higher propensity to colonize communities in early successional stages. Here, we test two demographic hypotheses to explain this pattern in temperate forests. First, we test demographic differences between hermaphrodite and dioecious species in stressful younger successional stages: Previous theory predicts that hermaphrodite seed production is more harmed in stressful environments than that of dioecious populations leading to an advantage for females of dioecious species. Second, in primary forest, we hypothesized that dioecious species would show demographic advantage over monomorphic ones. We used data from two temperate forest plots in Northeast China surveyed over 10 years to compare the rates of growth and mortality of tree species with contrasting breeding systems in both secondary and primary forests. We assessed the effect of breeding system on the growth‐mortality trade‐off, while controlling for other traits usually considered as correlates of growth and mortality rates. We show that in the secondary forest, dioecious species showed weak advantage in demographic rates compared with monomorphic species; dioecious species showed considerably both lower relative growth and mortality rates compared to the hermaphrodites in the primary forest over 10 years, consistent with a priori predictions. Hermaphrodites showed strong growth‐mortality trade‐offs across forest stages, even when possibly confounding factors had been accounted for. These results suggest that sexual system influences community succession and assembly by acting on the rates of growth and mortality, and the trade‐off between them. As vegetation develops, the demographic differences between breeding systems are much larger. Our results demonstrate the association between breeding system, succession, and community assembly and that this relationship is succession‐stage dependent. Our findings support the suggestion that the demographic advantage of dioecious species facilitates the coexistence of sexual systems in primary forest.     

Estimating the defaecation rate of the African forest elephant (Loxodonta cyclotis) in Banyang-Mbo Wildlife Sanctuary, south-western Cameroon

Defaecation rate is an important parameter in the conversion of dung counts to elephant numbers, yet estimates of elephant defaecation rates are available for a few sites, especially rainforest sites. The Banyang‐Mbo Wildlife Sanctuary in south‐western Cameroon is no exception in this regard. We tracked a radio‐collared herd of four forest elephants, counted their fresh droppings in two 24‐h periods each month in 36 consecutive months. Our results show a mean defaecation rate of 15.9 [95% CI (12.2–19.7)] dung piles per elephant per day. We found significant monthly and inter‐annual variation in defaecation rates with implications for their predictability and forest elephant surveys. In particular, our results show that mean defaecation rates are higher for the wettest period of the year than the relatively dry months.     

森林生态系统中枯落物分解速率研究方法

林地枯落物分解率是研究森林生态系统养分循环的重要内容之一,传统的尼龙网袋实测法虽然能提供某一具体年份枯落物分解率的准确数据,但因其费时费力且不能反映整个历史时期的平均水平而难以推广,基于林地枯落物积累平衡原理,首次提出了利用枯落物平衡模型推算枯落物分解率的方法（简称平衡法）,并将之应用于黄土残塬沟壑区刺槐林地枯落物分解率的计算。这种由平衡法推算所得枯落物分解率能反映林地的历史水平,弥补了尼龙网袋实测法的不足,建议在森林生态系统研究中推广应用。     

古田山常绿阔叶林主要树种2002-2007年间更新动态

种群更新是森林发育和演替过程中的重要环节.为了解古田山常绿阔叶林主要树种的更新动态,本研究以古田山自然保护区5 ha常绿阔叶林动态样地为对象,在对胸径(DBH)≥1 cm的木本植物个体2002年和2007年两次每木调查的基础上,比较主要树种的补员(recruitment)和死亡状况,分析种群大小变化趋势,研究了群落中主要木本植物的更新特点.结果表明:(1)5年间样地内木本植物个体从13,338株增长到16,812株,增幅达26.05%.新增4,758株胸径≥1 cm的补员个体,同时死亡1,384株.(2)乔木、小乔木或灌木、小灌木3种生长型的补员个体数目均随径级的增大而下降,但死亡个体却表现出不同的径级分布特点.(3)43个主要树种的平均年死亡率和年补员率分别为2.26%和5.90%.其中,19种小乔木或灌木在径级Ⅰ(1 cm≤DBH<2.5 cm)的补员率均高于死亡率,但径级Ⅱ(2.5cm≤DBH<5 cm)、径级Ⅲ(DBH≥5 cm)的补员率均和死亡率差别不大:而24种乔木各径级死亡率和补员率的关系则相对复杂.(4)43个主要树种中有31个为增长型种群,其余12个呈小幅度负增长.10个种群大小变化率在5%以上,属于快速变动的种群,其中以柳叶蜡梅(Chimonanthus salicifolius)(45.13%)和矩形叶鼠刺(Itea oblonga)(16.35%)的增幅最大,橙木(Loropetalum chinense)(-3.10%)和短柄袍(Quercus serrata vat.brevipetiolata)(-1.86%)的降幅最大.研究发现,3种生长型中,不同物种及其各个径级的补员率和死亡率各异,种群更新动态也有所差别,我们推测与密度制约和牛境波动有关.     

东北林区不同尺度森林的含碳率

准确估算森林生态系统碳储量对整个陆地生态系统碳循环及全球变化研究具有至关重要的作用.本研究利用2007、2008年东北林区(大兴安岭林区、小兴安岭林区、张广才岭和长白山林区)标准地调查数据及同一时期的一类样地清查数据,采用地面乔、灌、草生物量模型及实验室Multi N/C 3000分析仪测定的林木含碳率,计算不同尺度上森林生物量及碳储量,分析不同尺度森林含碳率的变化及稳定性.结果表明: 东北林区林木不同器官的含碳率差异明显,其平均含碳率为树叶(0.4448)＞树枝(0.4422)＞树皮(0.4398)＞树干(0.4351).张广才岭和长白山林区针叶林的含碳率高于阔叶林,而大、小兴安岭林区阔叶林的含碳率高于针叶林.研究区域森林的含碳率相对稳定,东北林区森林总含碳率为0.44.     

沈阳城区五种乔木树种的光合特性

采用LI-6400红外气体分析仪和多元逐步回归统计分析方法,研究了沈阳城市森林中主要乔木树种—银中杨、旱柳、白榆、刺槐和山桃不同季节光合速率的日变化与季节变化.结果表明:各树种的光合速率日变化曲线多为单峰型;季节变化趋势均为夏季>秋季>春季;影响光合速率的主要因子是光合有效辐射、气孔导度和胞间CO2浓度.并建立了净光合速率与环境因子关系模型.     

半干旱区四种针叶林蒸腾作用的研究

樟子松(Pinus sylvestris var. mongolica)等是北方重要的绿化树种,已有离体称重法测定了其蒸腾速率及其与气候因子的关系。但是,由于土壤湿度是影响林木蒸腾的重要因子,因而,我们在查明林下土壤水分动态的同时,直接测试了活体的蒸腾速率的日季变化,并且估算了三种针叶林的蒸腾量,为适地适树造林提供科学依据。     

Vegetation carbon sequestration in Chinese forests from 2010 to 2050

Forests store a large part of the terrestrial vegetation carbon (C) and have high C sequestration potential. Here, we developed a new forest C sequestration (FCS) model based on the secondary succession theory, to estimate vegetation C sequestration capacity in China's forest vegetation. The model used the field measurement data of 3161 forest plots and three future climate scenarios. The results showed that logistic equations provided a good fit for vegetation biomass with forest age in natural and planted forests. The FCS model has been verified with forest biomass data, and model uncertainty is discussed. The increment of vegetation C storage in China's forest vegetation from 2010 to 2050 was estimated as 13.92 Pg C, while the average vegetation C sequestration rate was 0.34 Pg C yr^?1 with a 95% confidence interval of 0.28–0.42 Pg C yr^?1, which differed significantly between forest types. The largest contributor to the increment was deciduous broadleaf forest (37.8%), while the smallest was deciduous needleleaf forest (2.7%). The vegetation C sequestration rate might reach its maximum around 2020, although vegetation C storage increases continually. It is estimated that vegetation C sequestration might offset 6–8% of China's future emissions. Furthermore, there was a significant negative relationship between vegetation C sequestration rate and C emission rate in different provinces of China, suggesting that developed provinces might need to compensate for undeveloped provinces through C trade. Our findings will provide valuable guidelines to policymakers for designing afforestation strategies and forest C trade in China.     

Comparison of soil nitrogen mineralization and nitrification in a mixed grassland and forested ecosystem in central Taiwan

We used the buried bag incubation method to study temporal patterns of net N mineralization and net nitrification in soils at Ta-Ta-Chia forest in central Taiwan. The site included a grassland zone, (dominant vegetation consists of Yushania niitakayamensis and Miscanthus transmorrisonensis Hayata) and a forest zone (Tsuga chinensis var. formosana and Yushania niitakamensis). In the grassland, soil concentration NH₄ ⁺ in the organic horizon (0.1–0.2 m) ranged from 1.0 to 12.4 mg N kg^–1 soil and that of NO₃ ^– varied from 0.2 to 2.1 mg N kg^–1 soil. In the forest zone, NH₄ ⁺ concentration was between 2.8 and 25.0 mg N kg^–1 soil and NO₃ ^–varied from 0.2 to 1.3 mg N kg^–1 soil. There were lower soil NH₄ ⁺ concentrations during the summer than other seasons. Net N mineralization was higher during the summer while net nitrification rates did not show a distinct seasonal pattern. In the grassland, net N mineralization and net nitrification rates were between –0.1 and 0.24 and from –0.04 to 0.04 mg N kg^–1 soil day^–1, respectively. In the forest zone, net N mineralization rates were between –0.03 and 0.45 mg N kg^–1 soil day^–1 and net nitrification rates were between –0.01 and 0.03 mg N kg^–1 soil day^–1. These differences likely result from differing vegetation communities (C₃ versus C₄ plant type) and soil characteristics.     

基于Farquhar改进模型的北亚热带森林常见树种光合限速因子研究

为探讨北亚热带地区植物的光合限速因子,利用改进的Farquhar模型研究了9种常见树种的光合特性。结果表明,与常绿树种相比,落叶树种枫香(Liquidambar formosana)和乌桕(Sapium sebiferum)的最大净光合速率(Pmax)和表观羧化速率(CE)较大;核酮糖-1,5-二磷酸羧化酶/加氧酶(Rubisco)活性是他们的光合限速因子。地带性树种青冈栎(Cyclobalanopsis glauca)的Pmax和CE在常绿木本植物中最大,青冈较强的光合能力可能是来源于Vcmax和TPU。耐阴灌木八角金盘(Fatsia japonica)和美人茶(Camellia uraku)的Pmax较小,其光合限速因子是叶肉细胞导度和呼吸速率。低光照下植物较低的光合能力是由于较小的叶肉导度(gm)和TPU导致的;有效光合辐射短时间的降低使得物种的gm平均减少了60.14%。因此,不同树种在不同环境条件下的光合限速因子不尽相同,应根据树种不同的光合生理特性来合理布局,科学育林。     

Leaf attributes and tree growth in a tropical dry forest

Questions: How are leaf attributes and relative growth rate (RGR) of the dominant tree species of tropical deciduous forest (TDF) affected by seasonal changes in soil moisture content (SMC)? What is the relationship of functional attributes with each other? Can leaf attributes singly or in combination predict the growth rate of tree species of TDF? Location: Sonebhadra district of Uttar Pradesh, India. Methods: Eight leaf attributes, specific leaf area (SLA); leaf carbon concentration (LCC); leaf nitrogen concentration (LNC); leaf phosphorus concentration (LPC); chlorophyll concentration (Chl), mass‐based stomatal conductance (Gs_mass); mass based photosynthetic rate (A_mass); intrinsic water use efficiency (WUEi); and relative growth rate (RGR), of six dominant tree species of a dry tropical forest on four sites were analysed for species, site and season effects over a 2‐year period. Step‐wise multiple regression was performed for predicting RGR from mean values of SMC and leaf attributes. Path analysis was used to determine which leaf attributes influence RGR directly and which indirectly. Results: Species differed significantly in terms of all leaf attributes and RGR. The response of species varied across sites and seasons. The attributes were positively interrelated, except for WUEi, which was negatively related to all other attributes. The positive correlation was strongest between Gs_mass and A_mass and the negative correlation was strongest between Gs_mass and WUEi. Differences in RGR due to site were not significant when soil moisture was controlled, but differences due to season remained significant. The attributes showed plasticity across moisture gradients, which differed among attributes and species. Gs_mass was the most plastic attribute. Among the six species, Terminalia tomentosa exhibited the greatest plasticity in six functional attributes. In the step‐wise multiple regression, A_mass, SLA and Chl among leaf attributes and SMC among environmental factors influenced the RGR of tree species. Path analysis indicated the importance of SLA, LNC, Chl and A_mass in determining RGR. Conclusion: A _mass, SMC, SLA and Chl in combination can be used to predict RGR but could explain only three‐quarters of the variability in RGR, indicating that other traits/factors, not studied here, are also important in modulating growth of tropical trees. RGR of tree species in the dry tropical environment is determined by soil moisture, whereas the response of mature trees of different species is modulated by alterations in key functional attributes such as SLA, LNC and Chl.     

哀牢山木果柯林及退化植被下土壤氮素矿化和硝化作用

采用封顶埋管法,我们于11月21日至次年4月15日,分3个培养期共165天(包括干季初期、中期和末期),对哀牢山原生木果柯林(Lithocarpusxylocarpusforest)、栎类次生林(secondary oakforest)和人工茶叶地(teaplantation)三种群落类型的土壤氮素矿化和硝化作用进行了研究.结果表明:在3个培养期中,不同群落下土壤的氮素矿化和硝化作用都具有明显差异;而且它们均具有明显的干季动态,但变化趋势不尽相同.净氨化速率远高于净硝化速率,后者约为前者的0.5%～10%.结果表明,培养期、群落类型和样方诸因子对净氮矿化速率和净硝化速率的影响均存在不同程度的交互作用.人为干扰能导致氮素矿化和硝化速率等生态系统过程的变化,我们的研究结果为此提供了证据支持.与木果柯原始林相比,茶地和次生林的氮素转化过程更多地受物理因素的控制(如温度和水分).这意味着哀牢山地区的木果柯原始林的保护应该受到重视.     

Sleep stages classification based on heart rate variability and random forest

An alternative technique for sleep stages classification based on heart rate variability (HRV) was presented in this paper. The simple subject specific scheme and a more practical subject independent scheme were designed to classify wake, rapid eye movement (REM) sleep and non-REM (NREM) sleep. 41 HRV features extracted from RR sequence of 45 healthy subjects were trained and tested through random forest (RF) method. Among the features, 25 were newly proposed or applied to sleep study for the first time. For the subject independent classifier, all features were normalized with our developed fractile values based method. Besides, the importance of each feature for sleep staging was also assessed by RF and the appropriate number of features was explored. For the subject specific classifier, a mean accuracy of 88.67% with Cohen's kappa statistic κ of 0.7393 was achieved. While the accuracy and κ dropped to 72.58% and 0.4627, respectively when the subject independent classifier was considered. Some new proposed HRV features even performed more effectively than the conventional ones. The proposed method could be used as an alternative or aiding technique for rough and convenient sleep stages classification.     

哀牢山木果柯林及退化植被下土壤氮素矿化和硝化作用(英文)

采用封顶埋管法,我们于11月对21至次年4月15日,分3个培养期共165天(包括干季初期、中期和末期),对哀牢山原生本果柯林(Lithocarpus xylocarpus forest)、栎类次生林(sccondary oak forest)和人工茶叶地(tea planation)三种群落类型的土壤氮素矿化和硝化作用进行了研究。结果表明:在3个培养期中,不同群落下土壤的氮素矿化和硝化作用都具有明显差异;而且它们均具有明显的干季动态,但变化趋势不尽相同。净氨化速率远高于净硝化速率,后者约为前者的0.5％～10％。结果表明,培养期、群落类型和样方诸因子对净氮矿化速率和净硝化速率的影响均存在不同程度的交互作用。人为干扰能导致氮素矿化和硝化速率等生态系统过程的变化,我们的研究结果为此提供了证据支持。与木果柯原始林相比,茶地和次生林的氮素转化过程更多地受物理因素的控制(如温度和水分)。这意味着哀牢山地区的木果柯原始林的保护应该受到重视。     

基于提高森林覆盖率目标的跨区县横向生态补偿与供需对接——以重庆市为例

建立以提高森林覆盖率为目标的横向生态补偿,使保护发展生态的地区利益得到保障,绿化空间有限的地区在发展经济的同时也尽到绿化责任,从而推动各地间生态保护与经济发展的良性互动。以重庆市为例,考虑不同类型森林资源的数量、质量、造林管护成本差异,确定森林生态补偿指标价,同时建立灰色预测GM(1,1)模型,对标十四五规划,分析38个区县2025年森林覆盖率预期目标达成率,探索在全市森林覆盖率达到供需平衡下跨区县横向生态补偿供需对接关系。结果表明：(1)兼顾森林资源数量、质量和成本下38个区县单位面积森林补偿指标价介于5.69—7.32万元/hm²,平均为6.72万元/hm²,较目前基于成本的统一指导价3.75万元/hm²,高出0.79倍。(2)近10a森林覆盖率除大渡口区、江北区、九龙坡区、南岸区、长寿区、永川区、潼南区和忠县8个区县出现负增长外,其余30个区县呈正增长,预测到2025年达标的区县数量占全市总数的45%,其中达成率最高的是沙坪坝区(117.37%),最低是江北区(41.49%)。(3)依据各区县供需级别、对口帮扶结对...     

甘肃兴隆山主要森林类型凋落物累积量及持水特性

2010年,采用野外实地观测与室内浸水法,对甘肃兴隆山6种主要森林类型(青杆林、青杆-白桦林、山杨-白桦林、灌丛林、落叶松林、油松林)林下凋落物的累积量、持水量、持水率和吸水速率进行了研究.结果表明:不同森林类型凋落物层累积量在13.40～46.32 t·hm-2,为油松林＞青杆-白桦林＞落叶松林＞青杆林＞灌丛林＞山杨-白桦林,且针叶林累积量高于阔叶林;半分解层累积量所占比例均高于未分解层.凋落物最大持水率为185.5％～303.6％,落叶松林最大,油松林最小,持水率与浸水时间呈对数关系;针叶林未分解层持水率均小于半分解层,而阔叶林则相反.凋落物最大持水量在3.94～8.59 mm,为油松林＞落叶松林＞青杆-白桦林＞青杆林＞灌丛林＞山杨-白桦林;持水量与浸水时间存在对数关系;半分解层持水量均大于未分解层.凋落物吸水速率与浸水时间存在幂函数关系,在浸水前1h内,吸水速率均直线下降,而浸水1.0h后吸水速率较小,且不同时段间变化较小;半分解层吸水速率高于未分解层.凋落物有效拦蓄量(深)为青杆-白桦林(5.97 mm)＞油松林(5.59 mm)＞落叶松林(5.46 mm)＞青杆林(4.30 mm)＞灌丛林(3.03 mm)＞山杨-白桦林(2.13 mm).     

北京密云水库流域水源保护林区径流空间尺度效应的研究

通过10a的森林水文定位观测,对比研究了北京密云水库流域水源保护林和对照荒坡地径流在坡面尺度（约0.9hm^2）和小流域尺度（约2.7hm^2）上的空间尺度效应。结果表明,荒坡地和水源保护林地的径流系数在坡面和试验流域尺度上与降雨量呈显著的对数相关关系;在坡面尺度和小流域尺度,荒坡地径流系数都显著地大于水源保护林地;而且随着降雨量级的增大,荒地与水源保护林地的径流系数之差在小流域尺度比坡面尺度更大;随着研究尺度从坡面到小流域的扩展,茺地径流系数显著增大,而水源保护林地的径流系数变化微小。这一尺度效应说明水源保护林对水文过程具有较大的调蓄能力,表现为较强的水源函养作用。     

森林凋落物动态及其对全球变暖的响应

综述了森林凋落物研究的进展,森林凋落物动态的研究随研究方法的改进而不断深化。制约凋落物分解速率的因素有内在因素即凋落物自身的化学物理性质和外在因素即凋落物分解过程发生的外部环境条件,如参与分解的异养微生物和土壤动物群落的种类、数量、活性（生物类因素）和气候、土壤、大气成分等（非生物类因素）。讨论了全球变暖可能引起的凋落物量和凋落物分解的变化。气温上升可能引发植被分布、物候特征和制约凋落物分解因素的改变,影响森林凋落物动态,最终影响森林生态系统物质循环的功能。     

鼎湖山森林群落的总生产力

本文根据鼎湖山季风常绿阔叶林和针阔叶混交林的垂直结构和成层现象,应用红外线CO_2气体分析等方法,分层测定了主要植物33种57株的光合速率,研究了两个群落的总初级生产力。结果表明:季风常绿阔叶林的总生产力(吨干物质·公顷~(-1),年~(-1))为146.695,针阔叶混交林为128.5597,前者比后者高,但后者叶面积指数适度,林内透光良好,树干生长粗壮,因而经济效益较高。     

Forest structure and carbon dynamics in Amazonian tropical rain forests

Living trees constitute one of the major stocks of carbon in tropical forests. A better understanding of variations in the dynamics and structure of tropical forests is necessary for predicting the potential for these ecosystems to lose or store carbon, and for understanding how they recover from disturbance. Amazonian tropical forests occur over a vast area that encompasses differences in topography, climate, and geologic substrate. We observed large differences in forest structure, biomass, and tree growth rates in permanent plots situated in the eastern (near Santarém, Pará), central (near Manaus, Amazonas) and southwestern (near Rio Branco, Acre) Amazon, which differed in dry season length, as well as other factors. Forests at the two sites experiencing longer dry seasons, near Rio Branco and Santarém, had lower stem frequencies (460 and 466 ha^–1 respectively), less biodiversity (Shannon–Wiener diversity index), and smaller aboveground C stocks (140.6 and 122.1 Mg C ha^–1) than the Manaus site (626 trees ha^–1, 180.1 Mg C ha^–1), which had less seasonal variation in rainfall. The forests experiencing longer dry seasons also stored a greater proportion of the total biomass in trees with >50 cm diameter (41–45 vs 30% in Manaus). Rates of annual addition of C to living trees calculated from monthly dendrometer band measurements were 1.9 (Manaus), 2.8 (Santarém), and 2.6 (Rio Branco) Mg C ha^–1 year^–1. At all sites, trees in the 10–30 cm diameter class accounted for the highest proportion of annual growth (38, 55 and 56% in Manaus, Rio Branco and Santarém, respectively). Growth showed marked seasonality, with largest stem diameter increment in the wet season and smallest in the dry season, though this may be confounded by seasonal variation in wood water content. Year-to-year variations in C allocated to stem growth ranged from nearly zero in Rio Branco, to 0.8 Mg C ha^–1 year^–1 in Manaus (40% of annual mean) and 0.9 Mg C ha^–1 year^–1 (33% of annual mean) in Santarém, though this variability showed no significant relation with precipitation among years. Initial estimates of the C balance of live wood including recruitment and mortality as well as growth suggests that live wood biomass is at near steady-state in Manaus, but accumulating at about 1.5 Mg C ha^–1 at the other two sites. The causes of C imbalance in living wood pools in Santarém and Rio Branco sites are unknown, but may be related to previous disturbance at these sites. Based on size distribution and growth rate differences in the three sites, we predict that trees in the Manaus forest have greater mean age (~240 years) than those of the other two forests (~140 years).