The biology of the Bush rat, Aethomys hindei Thomas in Southern Uganda

Studies were made on the Bush rat, Aethomys hindei in Lunyo forest (0° 5', 32° E) on the Northern shores of Lake Victoria. Rats were trapped daily (Monday-Saturday) for 47 weeks during November 1970 to November 1972 from 20–49 live traps set in a 40 by 100 m grid. In the laboratory they were examined for the condition of the external genitalia and for signs of pregnancy. Some pregnant rats were kept in the laboratory and their progeny measured at weekly intervals. The rate of growth (weight gain in g per day) was determined for both laboratory and field rats. Growth curves of laboratory rats were used to calculate the ages of young (<100 g) field rats, even though the results showed that at between 50 to 100 g field rats grew faster than laboratory rats and between 100 to 150 g, laboratory rats grew faster than field rats.
The weight distribution of rats in the field showed a clear weight difference between males and females; with some males weighing as much as 171 g while the maximum weight recorded for females was only 146 g. The weights obtained extend the weight range of these rats beyond that previously published.
Breeding (pregnancies) in the field occurred mostly in the wetter months of November- December and April whereas young animals occurred more in the drier months of December and January. Births obtained by calculation from laboratory growth curves occurred more in November.
Seasonality in the intensity of breeding was indicated although monthly breeding throughout the year was observed. The months of highest population densities were December, January and April.     

The spatio-temporal pattern of historical disturbances of an evergreen broadleaved forest in East China: a dendroecological analysis

Evergreen broadleaved forests (EBLF), the zonal forest ecosystem of the subtropical zone in east China, have been degraded from recent anthropogenic disturbance. Understanding the role of past disturbances in EBLFs would be helpful to the restoration of degraded EBLFs. We used dendroecological techniques to reconstruct the disturbance history of a secondary EBLF dominated by Schima superba and Castanopsis carlesii in Tiantong National Forest Park (29°48′N, 121°47′E), Zhejiang Province, East China. The disturbances were inferred from tree-ring growth release and long-term establishment patterns obtained from 91 overstory trees. The initial growth rates of these trees were compared to trees originating in the understory to evaluate the intensity of past disturbances. The spatial distribution patterns of disturbances were portrayed with tree mapping. The results revealed that there were five disturbances, averaging one disturbance per decade over the past half century. The first disturbance event was probably most intense given that most canopy trees established at that time and displayed high initial growth rates. The timing of the second disturbance event coincided with the documented selective logging. The last three disturbances, having lower tree growth responses and a clumped spatial distribution of gap creation, were probably the result of recurring typhoons. The first two disturbances led to tree regeneration and secondary succession, represented mainly by long-lived deciduous trees in the forest. The subsequent disturbances facilitated the stand development process, creating a complex three-dimensional structure from a pre-existing single-age cohort. This study suggests that EBLFs affected by large disturbances can recover in a few decades and the frequent gap disturbances probably facilitate its process in the early successional stages.     

Throughfall,stemflow and interception of rainwater in an evergreen broadleaved forest

In order to analyze the dyanmics of heavy metals in a forest ecosystem, throughfall and stemflow were collected for individual rain showers in an evergreen broad-leaved forest dominated byCastanopsis cuspidata. The relation between throughfall (or stemflow) (Px) and gross rainfall (P) was approximated by a linear regression equationPx=a(P-b). The values of coefficient “a” were 0.32–2.02 for throughfall at each sampling point and the mean values for 1976 and 1977–1978 were 0.682 and 0.767, respectively. The stemflow volume differed widely among individual trees, depending mainly on the tree form of each species. In particular, the tree form ofPasania edulis was found to be especially suited to collecting stemflow. OneP. edulis tree collected 64% of the rainwater that fell onto its crown as stemflow. The ratio of stemflow to gross rainfall decreased in summer resulting from an increase in leaf biomass and an increase in air temperature. In fact, the values of coefficient “a” for mean stemflow per unit area were 0.180 for summer and 0.229 for other seasons in 1976, and 0.145 for summer and 0.155 for other seasons in 1977–1978 for different sampled trees.     

山地常绿落叶阔叶混交林种子雨的地形格局

种子雨是森林群落更新繁殖体的主要来源。而地形对植被空间格局异质性的影响机制之一 ,就是作用于种子雨的空间分布。为了在亚热带山地常绿落叶阔叶混交林群落中检验这一假设 ,在湖北宜昌市大老岭国家森林公园内、海拔 130 0～ 14 95 m之间的一片天然次生林内进行野外比较观测实验。选择 10个不同的地形部位 ,在每一点设置重复 (5个 )的种子雨收集器 ,在种子雨期间定期收集并记录种子雨的种类及数量。 2 0 0 1、2 0 0 2年的观测数据分析表明 :(1)种子雨密度和物种丰富度在不同地形坡位、坡形上差异显著 ,都沿山脊 -山坡 -山谷梯度和凸坡 -平坡 -凹坡梯度而减小 ;(2 )种子雨的密度和物种丰富度受坡向和坡度的影响不显著 ;(3)种子雨和乔木层物种构成的相似性与坡位和坡形呈显著的正相关 ;与坡度呈不显著的负相关 ,与坡向值间存在非线性关系 ;(4 )地形影响种子雨扩散的可能机制包括 ,影响不同种类母树的分布及其密度格局 ,影响不同坡位或坡形上分布的母树种子生产的强度和节律 ,影响风力的方向和大小的分布 ,从而形成水平方向种子流的源 -汇分化。     

Spatial distribution of Eurya japonica in an old-growth evergreen broad-leaved forest,SW Japan

Abstract. The spatial distribution of Eurya japonica, an evergreen understorey species, was studied on a 4-ha permanent plot in an old-growth, temperate, evergreen broad-leaved forest in southwestern Japan. The pattern of spatial dispersion varied with size class, the environmental heterogeneity produced by tree-fall gaps and microtopography and the scale of observation. Seedlings (0.05 to < 0.5 m high) had the most clumped distributions, followed by saplings (0.5 to 1.3 m high) and adults (> 1.3 m). Individuals were more clumped at the smallest grid size, 1.56m × 1.56 m, and became less clumped as grid size increased for all size classes. On grids of less than 6.25 m × 6.25 m, no spatial correlations were found between seedlings and larger size classes; positive spatial correlations were found between saplings and adults at this scale. Abundant seedlings appeared in tree-fall gaps formed by uprooted trees, but seedlings were frequent on ridge tops and upper slopes. Saplings and adults also occurred on upper slopes, but their spatial distribution had little relation to current tree-fall gaps. The spatial distribution of E. japonica individuals was largely attributed to the distribution of tree-fall gaps and the differential responses to microtopographic variation by individuals at different size classes.     

Increasing drought decreases phosphorus availability in an evergreen Mediterranean forest

Mediterranean ecosystems are water-limited and frequently also nutrient-limited. We aimed to investigate the effects of increasing drought, as predicted by GCM and eco-physiological models for the next decades, on the P cycle and P plant availability in a Mediterranean forest. We conducted a field experiment in a mature evergreen oak forest, establishing four drought-treatment plots and four control plots (150 m² each). After three years, the runoff and rainfall exclusion reduced an overall 22% the soil moisture, and the runoff exclusion alone reduced it 10%. The reduction of 22% in soil moisture produced a decrease of 40% of the accumulated aboveground plant P content, above all because there was a smaller increase in aerial biomass. The plant leaf P content increased by 100 ± 40 mg m⁻² in the control plots, whereas it decreased by 40 ± 40 mg m⁻² in the drought plots. The soil Po-NaHCO₃ (organic labile-P fraction) increased by 25% in consonance with the increase in litterfall, while the inorganic labile-P fraction decreased in relation to the organic labile-P fraction up to 48%, indicating a decrease in microbial activity. Thus, after just three years of slight drought, a clear trend towards an accumulation of P in the soil and towards a decrease of P in the stand biomass was observed. The P accumulation in the soil in the drought plots was mainly in forms that were not directly available to plants. These indirect effects of drought including the decrease in plant P availability, may become a serious constraint for plant growth and therefore may have a serious effect on ecosystem performance.     

Genetic structure of Camellia japonica L. in an old-growth evergreen forest, Tsushima, Japan

The spatial genetic structure of Camellia japonica was investigated, using microsatellite markers, in a 4-ha permanent plot within an old-growth forest. Spatial distribution of individuals was also assessed to obtain an insight into spatial relationships between individuals and alleles. Morisita's index of dispersion showed that 518 C. japonica individuals in the plot were clumped, and Moran's I spatial autocorrelation coefficient revealed weak genetic structure, indicating a low level of allele clustering. Average I correlograms showed that there was stronger genetic structure over short-distance classes. The clumped distribution of individuals and the positive autocorrelation over short-distance classes may result from the limited seed dispersal and microsite heterogeneity of the stand, while the genetic structure may be weakened by overlapping seed shadow and extensive pollen flow, mediated by animal vectors, and the high outcrossing rate found in C. japonica.     

帽峰山常绿阔叶林辐射通量特征

常绿阔叶林作为南亚热带气候条件下森林的典型代表,在森林辐射研究中扮演着重要的角色.基于广州帽峰山常绿阔叶林1 a的辐射观测数据,分析了其时序变化和分配等规律.结果表明:太阳总辐射(K ↓)、反射辐射(K↑)和净辐射(Rn)通量日变化呈典型的单峰曲线,大气逆辐射(L↓)、森林长波辐射(L↑)呈余弦曲线,长波有效辐射(Ln)呈波浪形.各辐射总量均为雨季大于旱季,Ln除外;帽峰山常绿阔叶林K ↓年总量为4201.22 MJ/m2,Rn、K↑和Ln占其比例分别为63％、11％和26％.Rn通量分配率日变化呈倒“U”型曲线,Ln和K↑呈“U”型曲线.林冠上光合有效辐射(PARa)日平均值旱季小于雨季,林冠下(PARb)则相反;PARa变异系数旱雨季均小于PARb;PARa日变化呈典型的单峰曲线,PARb整体和PARa一致,仅在中午时刻出现微弱双峰.PAR透射率日峰值出现时间范围与K↓基本一致,尤其是在雨季,PAR透射率日平均值雨季大于旱季.帽峰山常绿阔叶林PAR/K↓比率为20％左右.     

三峡库区常绿阔叶林优势种群的结构和格局动态

重庆丰都世坪森林公园的常绿阔叶林是长江三峡库区低海拔区残存的较典型的常绿阔叶林.在此地选择具有代表性群落设立1hm2固定样地,应用相邻格子法进行每木调查,通过乔木层优势种群结构和格局研究,探讨群落的特点和动态.结果表明(1)此群落的优势树种是小红栲(Castanopsis carlesii)、丝栗栲(Castanopsis fargesii)和枫香(Liquidambar formosana).(2)小红栲和丝栗栲种群立木级结构呈不规则金字塔型,幼苗储备丰富,为增长种群,种群从Ⅰ、Ⅱ级幼苗发育到幼树过程中的死亡率较高,中等径级的株数偏少.枫香种群幼苗缺乏,为衰退种群.(3)应用偏离指数、Lloyd的平均拥挤度和聚块性指数及Morisita指数,在10×10m2尺度下对优势种群进行格局分析,发现3种优势种群成树总体上均为集群分布;小红栲和丝栗栲种群在发育过程中分布格局是由集群分布过渡到随机分布,而枫香是由随机分布过渡到集群分布.     

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 )     

武夷山常绿阔叶林空间结构参数分布特征

基于武夷山9.6hm~2常绿阔叶林动态监测样地调查资料,采用角尺度、大小比数、混交度等空间结构参数分析其群落乔木层内部空间结构特征,阐述群落结构的形成与维持机制。结果表明,该样地乔木层以随机分布为主,聚集分布为辅;树种混交度也极高,具有很强的物种异质性;树种的优劣程度参差不齐,整体处于中庸的生长状态。样地呈强度混交的轻度聚集分布格局。前10位优势树种均呈集聚分布,且它们的树种混交程度都极高。木荷、甜槠等喜阳植物在乔木上层占有一定的生长优势;随着林内微环境的不断改变,赤楠、格药柃等喜阴植物开始在乔木下层广布繁殖,并占据有利地位,这不仅提高了该区域的物种混交程度,还大大增加了该生境中的物种多样性,有助于群落形成较为稳定的动态结构。同时,该样地当前以中、幼龄树木居多,暂未有建群种出现,可能正处于演替中后期。只有角尺度和混交度这两个参数间存在着极显著负相关,说明当一个样地内的树种混交程度越高,物种多样性越大,其空间分布也就越密集,反之亦然。     

2008特大冰冻灾害后大明山常绿阔叶林林冠结构动态

林冠结构是研究森林生态系统众多关键生态功能和过程的重要参数,常绿阔叶林是亚热带林区具有代表性的森林类型,对其林冠结构及动态特征的研究还很不深入。在广西大明山中山区选择了一个斜坡水平长200 m、宽160 m的典型坡面,在整个坡面建立了80个20 m×20 m的样地,将样地均匀分为5个坡段,每个坡段包含16个连续的样地,在2009—2012年的生长季测定了林冠高度(CH)、林冠体积(CV)、林冠覆盖度(CC)、林冠上/下冠盖比(HLr)和林冠叶面积指数(LAI),分析了各林冠结构指标的坡位及年际动态,揭示了亚热带常绿阔叶林的林冠结构特征及短期动态规律。研究结果表明,大明山常绿阔叶林林冠结构的一般特征是:平均CH(12.09±0.05)m,平均CV(2642.51±278.33)m~3(每400 m~2样地),平均CC(59.90±3.29)%,平均HLr2.48±0.23,平均LAI 2.00±0.06。大明山常绿阔叶林的林冠结构存在多层性,上层林冠覆盖度平均为42.20%,中层为30.35%,下层为18.05%。大明山常绿阔叶林的林冠结构存在坡面和年际差异,坡面变异系数为CV(29.84%—55.89%)HLr(32.90%—53.52%)LAI(22.48%—43.89%)CC(16.61%—25.74%)CH(8.26%—12.77%);年际变异系数为HLr(47.33%—57.00%)CV(39.70%—49.06%)LAI(21.58%—48.13%)CC(20.35%—24.15%)CH(9.19%—12.59%),表明CH有较强的稳定性。林冠LAI存在明显的坡面尺度效应,即向下顺坡每滑动100 m冠层LAI升高0.34。坡位对CH、HLr有显著(P=0.022)和极显著(P0.001)影响;年份对HLr有显著影响(P=0.013),对CV和CC有极显著影响(P0.001);坡位×年份对CV和LAI的交互作用显著(P=0.016,P=0.017)。回归分析发现树冠面积与林木胸径呈极显著的线性关系。此研究结果表明大明山常绿阔叶林冠层高度较低、林冠体积较小、林冠覆盖度不高、上/下冠盖比和叶面积指数偏小,这与研究区域的海拔较高(934—1223 m),土层浅薄(30—45 cm)以及经常受到冰冻灾害(特别是2008年的特大冰冻灾害)的影响有关,是山地常绿阔叶林树冠结构与山地环境条件长期适应的结果。     

Canopy dynamics estimated from shoot morphology in an evergreen broad-leaved forest

Summary A forest canopy structure may be defined as the spatial distribution pattern of foliage density, and dynamics of canopy can be considered as changes of spatial distribution of foliage density. To study this process, the annual intrinsic growth factor (r) of foliage and the speed with which foliage shifts its position were estimated from shoot branching and shoot length. The spatial distributions of these parameters were obtained from a profile of evergreen broad-leaved forest. r was large in the upper canopy layer and canopy gap; this indicated the active development of foliage. This phenomenon may be a major reason for the existence of dense foliage in the upper canopy. The speed with which foliage shifts its position was high in the canopy gap. For dominant species, light conditions affected positively on the distribution of r.     

The ecological changes of Echuya afromontane bamboo forest, Uganda

Echuya forest reserve was gazetted in 1939 and was then mainly a bamboo forest with very few hardwood trees. However, the current ecological situation shows that hardwood trees are replacing bamboo. This study analysed the current ecological situation in relationship to past ecological changes and influences. Line transects were laid systematically at 1000 m intervals across the forest in order to describe the current vegetation variation. Echuya forest has changed in size and composition from 1954 to the present. The area occupied by pure bamboo has decreased from 20.5% to 12.5%, bamboo–hard wood mixture decreased from 48.2% to 26.2% and pure hardwood stands increased from 16% to 51%. It can be suggested that the exclusion of fire, herbivores and human activities after reservation of Echuya have gradually led to the conversion of the grassland–bamboo ecosystem into a hardwood forest ecosystem. Macaranga kilimandscharia Pax. is the major colonizing hardwood tree species. Most of the gaps are covered with heavy loads of Mimulopsis species climbers, which suppress bamboo growth.     

百山祖常绿阔叶林优势种群的生态位

为了理解百山祖中山常绿阔叶林备优势种群在群落中的关系、地位和功能,用定量分析法,对该群落中平均重要值大于1%的13个优势种群的生态位特征进行了研究。结果表明:多脉青冈、麂角杜鹃和窄基红褐柃的生态位宽度较大,它们的Hurlbert生态位宽度(B_a)分别为0.878、0.825、0.806;而厚叶红淡比、亮叶水青冈和水丝梨的生态位宽度较小,它们的B_a分别为0.341、0.320、0.272。物种的生态位宽度与其重要值大小无关,但与其在各样方中的重要值均匀程度呈极显著的线性正相关。生态位相似性比例(C_(ih))最大的是多脉青冈与尖连蕊茶(0.832),最小的是凸脉冬青和水丝梨(0.248)。对生境需求相似而生态位宽度较小的厚叶红淡比与亮叶水青冈的C_(ih)高达0.758。同属植物多脉青冈与褐叶青冈、台湾冬青与凸脉冬青之间并不具有较大的C_(ih)值。生态位宽度较大的物种与其他物种的生态位重叠值一般较大;生态位相似性比例大的物种的生态位重叠值一般较大。多脉青冈与褐叶青冈、台湾冬青与凸脉冬青的生态位重叠值并不大。总体来看,群落优势种群之间的生态位重叠程度较低,说明该群落主要优势种群之间竞争不激烈群落稳定。该研究揭示了群落优势种群的生态位特征和结构稳定性,为生物多样性保护、群落演替和种群进化等研究提供了理论基础,也为自然保护区管理机构制定和完善保护措施提供参考依据。     

闽西常绿阔叶林植物区系分析

采用群落生态学的方法对闽西常绿阔叶林植被展开调查。结果表明:闽西常绿阔叶林植物种类丰富,维管植物计有116科235属398种(包括亚种和变种) ;在科、属和种的分布区类型统计与分析中,热带分布55科、温带分布21科,热带分布142属、温带分布68属,热带分布231种、温带分布148种,其中中国特有分布类型有1科、7属51种,热带、亚热带分布区类型与温带分布区类型的比例分别为100∶38 .18、100∶47 .89和100∶64 .07 ,说明闽西常绿阔叶林植物区系具有明显的热带、亚热带地理性质;构成闽西绿阔叶林群落乔木与灌木层的数量优势表征科为樟科、壳斗科、木兰科、山茶科、茜草科、大戟科、桑科、冬青科等多为热带或亚热带科,均为华夏植物区系的典型成分,且含有许多古老、原始的类群;通过比较不同纬度分布的常绿阔叶林植物区系,闽西常绿阔叶林植物区系具有显著的中亚热带植物区系向南亚热带植物区系过渡的特点。     

天童常绿阔叶林林窗的地形分布格局

为探究多维地形因素对林窗分布的影响,以天童20 hm²常绿阔叶林动态监测样地内的林窗为对象,结合地理信息系统软件,分析了林窗空隙率、林窗密度以及林窗面积在海拔、坡度、坡向、坡形、坡位5种地形因子下的分布格局.结果表明: 该样地林窗空隙率为13.1%,林窗密度为9.5个·hm^-2,林窗平均面积为137.82 m²;因高海拔台风干扰的强度较大,高海拔段(≥500 m)林窗的空隙率和密度显著大于中低海拔段(<500 m);台风带来的强降雨极易引起小范围滑坡,使得沟谷的林窗空隙率和密度显著大于侧坡,林窗平均面积显著大于侧坡和山脊.台风及其带来的强降雨是造成林窗在海拔及坡位梯度上具有显著性差异的主要原因.     

广州帽峰山主要常绿阔叶林植物区系成分分析

对帽峰山主要常绿阔叶林植物区系成分进行了分析。14400m^2的典型样地调查结果表明;群落共有维管束植物209种,隶属于77科147属,数量优势科为大戟科、樟科、茜草科、禾本科、紫金牛科、蝶形花科、山茶科和冬青科。从属的地理分布区类型来看,以泛热带分布属的比例最高,其次为旧世界热带分布属和热带亚洲分布属,群落缺乏典型的热带成分,但具有南亚热带植物区系的基本特征。