亚热带常绿阔叶林和暖温带落叶阔叶林叶片热值比较研究

植物干重热值(GCV)是衡量植物生命活动及组成成分的重要指标之一,反映了植物光合作用中固定太阳辐射的能力。利用氧弹量热仪测定了亚热带和暖温带两个典型森林生态系统常见的276种常见植物叶片的干重热值,探讨了亚热带和暖温带植物热值分布特征,以及不同生活型、乔木类型间植物热值的变化规律。实验结果发现:亚热带常绿阔叶林和暖温带落叶阔叶林叶片热值的平均值分别为17.83 k J/g(n=191)和17.21k J/g(n=85),整体表现为亚热带植物暖温带植物。不同地带性植被的植物叶片热值在不同生活型间表现出相似的规律,其中亚热带常绿阔叶林表现为:乔木(19.09 k J/g)灌木(17.87 k J/g)草本(16.65 k J/g);暖温带落叶阔叶林表现为:乔木(18.41 k J/g)灌木(17.94 k J/g)草本(16.53 k J/g);不同乔木类型间均呈现常绿乔木落叶乔木、针叶乔木阔叶乔木的趋势。落叶阔叶乔木表现为亚热带暖温带,而常绿针叶乔木则呈现亚热带暖温带的趋势。此外,我们对于两个分布区域内的4种针叶树种叶片热值进行了比较,发现华北落叶松(19.32 k J/g,暖温带)杉木(19.40 k J/g,亚热带)马尾松(19.82 k J/g,亚热带)油松(20.95 k J/g,暖温带)。亚热带常绿阔叶林和暖温带落叶阔叶林植物热值的特征及其变化规律,为森林生态系统的能量流动提供了理论基础。     

中国主要森林生态系统水文功能的比较研究(英文)

 基于中国不同区域生态站的观测资料,着重从降雨截留（林冠截留、枯枝落叶层截持和土壤蓄水）、调节径流和蒸散等3个方面对我国主要森林生态系统的水文生态功能进行了比较研究。各生态系统林冠年截留量在134～626 mm间变动,由大到小排列为：热带山地雨林,亚热带西部山地常绿针叶林,热带半落叶季雨林,温带山地落叶与常绿针叶林,寒温带、温带山地常绿针叶林,亚热带竹林,亚热带、热带东部山地常绿针叶林,寒温带、温带山地落叶针叶林,温带、亚热带落叶阔叶林,亚热带山区常绿阔叶林,亚热带、热带西南山地常绿针叶林,南亚热带常绿阔叶林,亚热带山地常绿阔叶林。枯落物持水量可以达到自身干重的2～5倍,但也因林型而异。土壤非毛管持水量变动在36～142 mm之间,平均89 mm。常绿阔叶林的非毛管持水量通常高于100 mm,而寒温带/温带落叶阔叶林和常绿针叶林通常低于100 mm. 土壤的非毛管持水量通常占生态系统中截持水量的90%,其次是枯落物和林冠层。这说明,森林土壤在调节降雨截留中占有重要地位,其水文功能的大小取决于土壤结构和空隙度,而这些恰恰又受枯落物和森林植被特征的影响。森林皆伐后,一般地表径流会显著地增加,而适当抚育措施则对地表径流影响不大。流域径流受诸多因素的影响,包括植被、土壤、气候、地形、地貌以及人类影响导致的流域景观变化,比较研究表明森林变化对流域径流的影响尚未得到一致的规律性的结果。通过对比研究不同森林的蒸散变化,发现随降雨量的增加,森林蒸散量略有增加,而相对蒸散率却在下降,相对蒸散率在40%～90%间变动。     

AN ECOLOGICAL COMPARISON OF UPLAND DECIDUOUS AND EVERGREEN FORESTS OF CENTRAL TEXAS

Scrub evergreen forests cover most of the cedar breaks region of the Edwards Plateau of central Texas; however, limited strips of deciduous forests are found on north-facing slopes just below the limestone caprock. Dominant species occurring in the deciduous forests in descending order of importance include Quercus texana, Q. glaucoides, Juniperus ashei, Diospyros texana, Prunus serotina, Aesculus pavia, Juglans nigra, and Fraxinus texensis. Nineteen woody species were found in the deciduous forests. Forty-eight percent of the species were exclusive to the deciduous forest community. The deciduous forests had a statistically greater number of species/stand and a higher density. The deciduous species found in the strip forests had combined relative density, dominance and importance values of 59, 93 and 72%, respectively. Dominants in the evergreen forest were J. ashei and D. texana, which had relative density, dominance, and importance values totaling 90, 97 and 93%, respectively. Total dominance was the same for both communities; however, J. ashei dominance was 20 times higher in the evergreen forests. Soils of the deciduous forests were significantly deeper and rockier. Also, these soils had higher organic contents and water retention capacities. The potential field capacity (PFC) was 3.47 times higher for the deciduous forest soils resulting in a 2.36-fold increase in the water availability index (WAI). Factors regulating distribution and composition of the deciduous forest communities appear to be insolation and PFC, resulting in part from differences in topographic position.     

中国4种典型森林中常见乔木叶片的非结构性碳水化合物研究

植物叶片的非结构性碳水化合物(non-structural carbohydrates,NSC)不仅为植物的代谢过程提供重要能量,还能一定程度上反映植物对外界环境的适应策略。以温带针阔混交林(长白山)、温带阔叶林(东灵山)、亚热带常绿阔叶林(神农架)和热带雨林(尖峰岭)4种森林类型的树种为研究对象,利用蒽酮比色法测定了163种常见乔木叶片可溶性糖、淀粉和NSC(可溶性糖+淀粉)含量,探讨了不同森林类型植物叶片NSC的差异及其地带性变化规律。结果显示：（1）从森林类型上看,植物叶片NSC含量从北到南递减,即温带针阔混交林(170.79 mg/g)>温带阔叶林(100.27 mg/g)>亚热带常绿阔叶林(91.24 mg/g)>热带雨林(80.13 mg/g)。（2）从生活型上看,无论是落叶树还是阔叶树,其叶片可溶性糖、淀粉和NSC含量均表现为：温带针阔混交林>温带阔叶林>亚热带常绿阔叶林>热带雨林;北方森林叶片可溶性糖、淀粉和NSC含量均表现为落叶树种>常绿树种,或阔叶树种>针叶树种。（3）森林植物叶片NSC含量、可溶性糖与淀粉含量比值与年均温和年均降水量均呈显著负相关。研究表明,森林植物叶片可溶性糖、淀粉和NSC含量以及可溶性糖与淀粉含量比值均具有明显的从北到南递减的地带性规律;其NSC含量以及可溶性糖与淀粉含量比值与温度和水分均呈显著负相关的变化规律可能是植物对外界环境适应的重要机制之一。该研究结果不仅为阐明中国主要森林树种碳代谢和生长适应对策提供了数据基础,而且为理解区域尺度森林植被对未来气候变化的响应机理提供新的视角。     

THE OCCURRENCE AND DISTRIBUTION OF ACRASIEAE IN FOREST SOILS. I. EUROPE

The deciduous forests of Europe contain fewer species of cellular slime molds than those of Eastern North America. Diclyostelium mucoroides is the most widely distributed and the most abundant species. In Europe this species is as a rule the sole dominant species in a forest-soil acrasian population, a situation that rarely occurs in North America. An explanation of this difference may lie in the severity of the Pleistocene climate on European forests which resulted in the elimination of suitable habitats for the Acrasieae over a long period of time, and the replacement of the original forest by one much poorer in tree species. It is suggested that this modern forest does not offer the diverse of habitat which may be requited to support a mixed population of cellular slime molds.     

论季雨林的水平地带性

季雨林是受制于湿度因子的经度地带性植被类型,它是随着湿度条件的下降由热带雨林向热带疏林过渡的居间类型,而不是受制于温度因子的纬度地带性植被类型,不是随着温度条件的下降由热带雨林向亚热带常绿阔叶林过渡的居间类型。我国南亚热带的榕树群系、黄桐群系,以及热带北缘的青皮群系均不应是季雨林,前二者是典型的南亚热带低地常绿阔叶林或南亚热带雨林,后者则是热带雨林的一分类群。     

山东植物区系的演变和来源

1　现代植物区系山东省位于我国东部、黄河下游 ,北濒渤海 ,东临黄海 ,地理范围介于北纬 34°2 3′～38°2 4′,东经 1 1 4°4 8′～ 1 2 2°4 3′之间。全省总面积为 1 5.72万 km2 ,占全国总面积的 1 .6%。属暖温带季风气候 ,沿海比较湿润 ,地带性植被主要是暖温带落叶阔叶林和松、栎类针阔叶混交林。山东省在中国植物区系的分区地位隶属于泛北极植物区、中国 -日本森林植物亚区、华北植物地区 [1 ]。据最近研究统计 ,现有野生维管植物 1 47科、61 4属 ,约 1 547种 (包括变种 ,下同 )。其中蕨类植物 2 4科 39属 1 0 5种 ,裸子植物 3科 3属 …     

古田山中亚热带常绿阔叶林动态监测样地——群落组成与结构

 亚热带常绿阔叶林是世界上主要植被类型之一,集中分布于我国,其中以中亚热带的常绿阔叶林最为典型。为了更好地研究常绿阔叶林森林生 物多样性维持机理,按照CTFS (Centre for Tropical Forest Science)样地建设的标准,于2004年11月～2005年9月在浙江开化古田山国家级 自然保护区建立了常绿阔叶林24 hm²永久样地。该文对样地内胸径≥1 cm的木本植物进行了统计,初步分析了古田山森林样地(Gutianshan (GTS) forest plot)的群落组成与空间结构。 群落的区系类型以热带成分比较多,在属的水平上53个是热带分布,44个是温带分布。共有159 种,隶属于49科103属,总计140 700株,以常绿树种为主（91个物种,占总优势度的90.6%,重要值为85.6%,占样地总个体数的85.9%）;样地 群落有明显的优势物种和大量稀有种(Rare species,每hm2个体数小于1)。甜槠(Castanopsis eyrei )、木荷(Schima superba)和马尾松 (Pinus massoniana)在群落中占有主要优势; 稀有种占总物种数的37.1％（59/159）;具有温带落叶阔叶林和热带雨林的相关特征,较好地代 表了中亚热带常绿阔叶林群落。垂直结构由林冠层（63个种）、亚乔木层（70个种）和灌木层 （26个种）组成。样地所有木本植物物种总径级 分布呈倒“J"形,群落更新良好。几个优势种空间分布随着径级增大,聚集程度降低;并且它们的分布表现出与生境紧密关联,不同的物种表 现出对生境不同的偏好。该文最后系统地比较了大样地方法与传统取样方法。     

Tropical seasonal forests in monsson Asia: With emphasis on continental southeast Asia

This paper is intended to provide a brief review of the tropical seasonal forest, one type of the tropical moist forests in monsoon Asia. It will also focus on and summarise issues of current concern in relation to their depletion and global environmental issues. Tropical moist forests occur in the rainy tropical and monsoon tropical climate types. The tropical moist evergreen forest or the tropical rain forest, which account for two-thirds of the tropical moist forests are rich in biodiversity and contain valuable tropical hardwood. The tropical moist deciduous forest or the tropical seasonal forest which lie along the fringes of tropical rain forest, are less complex than the tropical rain forest and have more distinct wet and dry periods. Broadleaved deciduous trees of the genera Tectona, Shorea, and Dipterocarpus are predominantly in this forest type. Currently estimates have found that more than 17 million hectares of forest mainly tropical moist forests are being lost each year. There is a widespread recognition that agriculture and the burning of tropical moist forests contribute to global warming but to a much lesser extent than the combustion of fossil fuels and industrial activities in the developed world.     

云南中山湿性常绿阔叶林起源的探讨

云南中山湿性常绿阔叶林广泛分布于海拔1800~3400 m的山地,这类常绿阔叶林在生态外貌上具有亚热带常绿阔叶林特征,但其分布生境却是暖温带-温带气候,且植物区系组成与热带植物区系有古老的渊源。该文以研究得比较深入的哀牢山中山湿性常绿阔叶林为例,对其植物区系与其气候条件的不协调进行剖析。哀牢山的中山湿性常绿阔叶林记录了种子植物110科386属821种。在植物区系科的地理成分上,无论是含种数多的科,还是所有科的分布区类型,都是以热带分布科为主,体现了它的远古热带起源背景。在该种子植物区系中,热带分布属占总属数的47.75%,热带分布种占总种数的33.45%,在近代演化上仍体现出明显的热带亲缘特征。按照哀牢山中山湿性常绿阔叶林分布地区的暖温带-温带气候条件,它相当于中国东部的暖温带落叶阔叶林地区。在中国东部地区类似气候条件的地带性植被的植物区系中,热带分布属通常只占总属数的25%~27%,云南中山湿性常绿阔叶林植物区系的地理成分与所在地的温带气候明显不协调。对这种现象的解释,笔者认为结合哀牢山地区曾经是低海拔夷平面,在第四纪以来才迅速抬升形成的地质历史,可能这里曾经在第四纪以前的热带-亚热带性质的植物区系和常绿阔叶林随着地形的迅速抬升,逐渐适应了因海拔上升而形成的温带气候,成为在云南高海拔山地存在的所谓中山湿性常绿阔叶林,其植物区系和植被的热带-亚热带性质及常绿阔叶生态外貌并未因气候改变而发生改变。     

Palaeovegetation of China: a pollen data-based synthesis for the mid-Holocene and last glacial maximum

Pollen data from China for 6000 and 18,000 ¹⁴C yr bp were compiled and used to reconstruct palaeovegetation patterns, using complete taxon lists where possible and a biomization procedure that entailed the assignment of 645 pollen taxa to plant functional types. A set of 658 modern pollen samples spanning all biomes and regions provided a comprehensive test for this procedure and showed convincing agreement between reconstructed biomes and present natural vegetation types, both geographically and in terms of the elevation gradients in mountain regions of north‐eastern and south‐western China. The 6000 ¹⁴C yr bp map confirms earlier studies in showing that the forest biomes in eastern China were systematically shifted northwards and extended westwards during the mid‐Holocene. Tropical rain forest occurred on mainland China at sites characterized today by either tropical seasonal or broadleaved evergreen/warm mixed forest. Broadleaved evergreen/warm mixed forest occurred further north than today, and at higher elevation sites within the modern latitudinal range of this biome. The northern limit of temperate deciduous forest was shifted c. 800 km north relative to today. The 18,000 ¹⁴C yr bp map shows that steppe and even desert vegetation extended to the modern coast of eastern China at the last glacial maximum, replacing today’s temperate deciduous forest. Tropical forests were excluded from China and broadleaved evergreen/warm mixed forest had retreated to tropical latitudes, while taiga extended southwards to c. 43°N.     

Global distribution of forest soil dictyostelids

Aim The goal of this project was to compile, organize, and present the known distributional data on the dictyostelid cellular slime moulds (CSMs) found in forest soils worldwide. The question of what factors influence CSM distribution patterns was also addressed. Location CSMs have been recovered from soils of temperate deciduous forest, tropical deciduous and seasonal evergreen rainforest, boreal coniferous forest, and tundra by various investigators around the world. Methods Within each of these four biomes, various locations around the world have been sampled by a number of investigators. The current study attempts to synthesize the known dictyostelid distributional data and present specific patterns of distribution. Results Worldwide, sixty-five species of CSM were found to occupy various forest soils. These species’ distributions fell into one of four categories: cosmopolitan, disjunct, restricted, and pantropical. Main conclusions Global CSM distribution patterns are influenced by a variety of factors other than the biota (including but not restricted to climate, latitude, altitude, soil pH, and soil-forming parent materials). The current study supports the thesis that organic inputs from specific plant associations and animal vectors have an important role as well.     

An Ecogeographical Regionalization for Biodiversity in China

Ecogeographical regionalization is the basis for spatial differentiation of biodiversity research. In view of the principle of international ecogeographical regionalization, this study has applied multivariate analysis and GIS method and based on some ecogeographical attributes limited to the distribution of plant and vegetation, including climatic factors, such as minimum temperature, mean temperature of the coldest month, mean temperature of the wannest month, annual average temperature, precipitation of the coldest month, precipitation of the wannest month, annual precipitation, CV of annual precipitation, biological factors such as vegetation types, vegetation division types, NPP, fiorisitic types, fauna types, abundance of plant species, genus and endemic genus; soil factors such as soil types, soil pH;topographical factors as longitude, latitude and altitude etc. The ecogeographical regionalization for biodiversity in China was made synthetically by using fuzzy cluster method. Four classes of division were used, viz., biodomain, subbiodomain, biome and bioregion. Five biodomains, seven subbiodomains and eighteen biomes were divided in China as follows: Ⅰ Boreal forest biodomain. Ⅰ A Eurasian boreal forest subbiodomain. Ⅰ A1 Southern Taiga mountain cold-temperate coniferous forest biome; Ⅰ A2 North Asian mixed coniferous-broad-leaved forest biome. Ⅱ Northern steppe and desert biodomain. Ⅱ B Eurasian steppe subbiodomain. Ⅱ BI Inner Asian temperate grass steppe biome; Ⅱ B2 Loess Plateau warm-temperate forest/shmb steppe biome. Ⅱ C Asia-Mrica desert subbiodomain. Ⅱ C1 Mid-Asian temperate desert biome; Ⅱ C2 Mongolian/Inner Asian temperate desert biome. Ⅲ East Asian biodomain. Ⅲ D East Asian deciduous broad-leaved forest subbiodomain. Ⅲ D1 East Asian deciduous broad-leaved forest biome, Ⅲ E East Asian evergreen broad-leaved forest subbiodomain. Ⅲ El East Asian mixed deciduous-evergreen broad-leaved forest biome; Ⅲ E2 East Asian evergreen broad-leaved forest biome; Ⅲ E3 East Asian monsoon evergreen broad-leaved forest biome; Ⅲ FA Western East Asian mountain evergreen broadleaved forest biome. Ⅳ Palaeotropical subdomain. IV F India-Malaysian tropical forest subbiodomain.Ⅳ Fl Northern tropical rain forest/seasonal rain forest biome; Ⅳ F2 Tropical island coral reef vegetation biome. Ⅴ Asian plateau biodomain. Ⅴ G Tibet Plateau subbiodomain. Ⅴ G1 Tibet alpine highcold shrub meadow biome;Ⅴ G2 Tibet alpine high-cold steppe biome; Ⅴ G3 Tibet alpine high-cold desert biome; Ⅴ G4 Tibet alpine temperate steppe biome; Ⅴ G5 Tibet alpine temperate desert biome.     

中国四种森林类型主要优势植物的C:N:P化学计量学特征

为了评价不同森林类型的生态化学计量特征的差异, 以吉林长白山温带针阔混交林、广东鼎湖山亚热带常绿阔叶林、云南西双版纳热带季雨林和江西千烟洲亚热带人工针叶林为研究对象, 通过对2007年4月-2008年5月4种典型区域森林植物叶片和凋落物的碳(C)氮(N)磷(P)元素质量比与N、P再吸收率的分析, 探讨了4种森林类型N、P养分限制和N、P养分再吸收的内在联系。结果表明: 1)从森林类型上看, 温带针阔混交林叶片的C : N : P为321 : 13 : 1, 亚热带常绿阔叶林叶片的C : N : P为561 : 22 : 1, 热带季雨林叶片的C : N : P为442 : 19 : 1, 亚热带人工针叶林叶片的C : N : P为728 : 18 : 1; 凋落物的C : N : P也是亚热带人工林最高, 达1 950 : 27 : 1, 温带针阔混交林的最低, 为552 : 14 : 1, 热带季雨林的为723 : 24 : 1, 亚热带常绿阔叶林的为1 305 : 35 : 1, 不同森林类型凋落物的C : N : P的计量大小关系与叶片的结果一致; 2)从植物生活型上看, 常绿针叶林叶片的C : N均显著高于常绿阔叶林及落叶阔叶林; 叶片C : P与森林类型的关系并不十分密切; 常绿阔叶林叶片的N : P最高, 常绿针叶林次之, 落叶阔叶林最低; 3)植物叶片的N : P与月平均气温有显著的负相关关系, 但叶片的C : P基本不受月平均气温影响, 叶片的C、N、P计量比与降水的线性关系不显著; 4)高纬度地区的植物更易受N元素限制, 而低纬度地区植物更易受P元素的限制; 但受N或P限制的植物并不一定具有高的N或P再吸收率。研究结果表明, 不同类型森林的叶片与凋落物的化学计量特征具有一致性, 但是环境因子对不同类型植物化学计量比的影响并不相同。     

Pattern of changes in species diversity,structure and dynamics of forest ecosystems along latitudinal gradients in East Asia

We examined effects of seasonality of climate and dominant life form (evergreen/deciduous, broad-leaf/coniferous) together with energy condition on species diversity, forest structure, forest dynamics, and productivity of forest ecosystems by comparing the patterns of changes in these ecosystem attributes along altitudinal gradients in tropical regions without seasonality and along a latitudinal gradient from tropical to temperate regions in humid East Asia. We used warmth index (temperature sum during growing season, WI) as an index of energy condition common to both altitudinal and latitudinal gradients. There were apparent differences in patterns of changes in the ecosystem attributes in relation to WI among four forest formations that were classified according to dominant life form and climatic zone (tropical/temperate). Many of the ecosystem attributes—Fishers alpha of species-diversity indices, maximum tree height and stem density, productivity [increment rate of aboveground biomass (AGB)], and population and biomass turnover rates—changed sharply with WI in tropical and temperate evergreen broad-leaved forests, but did not change linearly or changed only loosely with WI in temperate deciduous broad-leaved and evergreen coniferous forests. Values of these ecosystem attributes in temperate deciduous broad-leaved and evergreen coniferous forests were higher (stem density was lower) than those in tropical and temperate evergreen broad-leaved forests under colder conditions (WI below 100°C). Present results indicate that seasonality of climate and resultant change in dominant life form work to buffer the effects of energy reduction on ecosystem attributes along latitudinal gradients.     

Modelling the vegetation of China using the process-based equilibrium terrestrial biosphere model BIOME3

1 We model the potential vegetation and annual net primary production (NPP) of China on a 10′ grid under the present climate using the processed‐based equilibrium terrestrial biosphere model BIOME3. The simulated distribution of the vegetation was in general in good agreement with the potential natural vegetation based on a numerical comparison between the two maps using the ΔV statistic (ΔV = 0.23). Predicted and measured NPP were also similar, especially in terms of biome‐averages. 2 A coupled ocean–atmosphere general circulation model including sulphate aerosols was used to drive a double greenhouse gas scenario for 2070–2099. Simulated vegetation maps from two different CO₂ scenarios (340 and 500 p.p.m.v.) were compared to the baseline biome map using ΔV. Climate change alone produced a large reduction in desert, alpine tundra and ice/polar desert, and a general pole‐ward shift of the boreal, temperate deciduous, warm–temperate evergreen and tropical forest belts, a decline in boreal deciduous forest and the appearance of tropical deciduous forest. The inclusion of CO₂ physiological effects led to a marked decrease in moist savannas and desert, a general decrease for grasslands and steppe, and disappearance of xeric woodland/scrub. Temperate deciduous broadleaved forest, however, shifted north to occupy nearly half the area of previously temperate mixed forest. 3 The impact of climate change and increasing CO₂ is not only on biogeography, but also on potential NPP. The NPP values for most of the biomes in the scenarios with CO₂ set at 340 p.p.m.v. and 500 p.p.m.v. are greater than those under the current climate, except for the temperate deciduous forest, temperate evergreen broadleaved forest, tropical rain forest, tropical seasonal forest, and xeric woodland/scrub biomes. Total vegetation and total carbon is simulated to increase significantly in the future climate scenario, both with and without the CO₂ direct physiological effect. 4 Our results show that the global process‐based equilibrium terrestrial biosphere model BIOME3 can be used successfully at a regional scale.     

滇南热带季雨林的一些问题讨论

通过分析云南南部的水、热条件及植被分布,讨论了季雨林植被类型及其特征,认为云南南部的季雨林是介于热带雨林与萨王纳之间的,在干季基本上是落叶的一种森林植被类型,符合Schimper (1903)定义的热带季雨林植被,并考虑它是一种生态学意义上的经向地带性植被,与该地区的纬向地带性植被热带季节雨林一起共同构成云南南部的水平地带性植被。在云南南部的石灰岩山坡分布的过去被认为是季雨林的森林植被,尽管也受到季节性干旱的影响而不同程度地具有落叶成分,但它在群落外貌上与典型的季雨林不相同,在植物区系组成上也明显不同于该地区非石灰岩山地的季风常绿阔叶林,在分布上亦是在石灰岩低山沟谷的热带季节性雨林水平地带性植被带之上,根据其生态外貌、植物区系组成和生境特点,我们建议用“热带季节性湿润林”来称呼这类石灰岩山地森林类型,在性质上属东南亚热带北缘石灰岩山地垂直带上的一种植被类型。     

A meta‐analysis on growth,physiological, and biochemical responses of woody species to ground‐level ozone highlights the role of plant functional types

The carbon‐sink strength of temperate and boreal forests at midlatitudes of the northern hemisphere is decreased by ozone pollution, but knowledge on subtropical evergreen broadleaved forests is missing. Taking the dataset from Chinese studies covering temperate and subtropical regions, effects of elevated ozone concentration ([O₃]) on growth, biomass, and functional leaf traits of different types of woody plants were quantitatively evaluated by meta‐analysis. Elevated mean [O₃] of 116 ppb reduced total biomass of woody plants by 14% compared with control (mean [O₃] of 21 ppb). Temperate species from China were more sensitive to O₃ than those from Europe and North America in terms of photosynthesis and transpiration. Significant reductions in chlorophyll content, chlorophyll fluorescence parameters, and ascorbate peroxidase induced significant injury to photosynthesis and growth (height and diameter). Importantly, subtropical species were significantly less sensitive to O₃ than temperate ones, whereas deciduous broadleaf species were significantly more sensitive than evergreen broadleaf and needle‐leaf species. These findings suggest that carbon‐sink strength of Chinese forests is reduced by present and future [O₃] relative to control (20–40 ppb). Given that (sub)‐tropical evergreen broadleaved species dominate in Chinese forests, estimation of the global carbon‐sink constraints due to [O₃] should be re‐evaluated.     

Mid-Holocene and glacial-maximum vegetation geography of the northern continents and Africa

BIOME 6000 is an international project to map vegetation globally at mid‐Holocene (6000 ¹⁴C yr bp ) and last glacial maximum (LGM, 18,000 ¹⁴C yr bp ), with a view to evaluating coupled climate‐biosphere model results. Primary palaeoecological data are assigned to biomes using an explicit algorithm based on plant functional types. This paper introduces the second Special Feature on BIOME 6000. Site‐based global biome maps are shown with data from North America, Eurasia (except South and Southeast Asia) and Africa at both time periods. A map based on surface samples shows the method’s skill in reconstructing present‐day biomes. Cold and dry conditions at LGM favoured extensive tundra and steppe. These biomes intergraded in northern Eurasia. Northern hemisphere forest biomes were displaced southward. Boreal evergreen forests (taiga) and temperate deciduous forests were fragmented, while European and East Asian steppes were greatly extended. Tropical moist forests (i.e. tropical rain forest and tropical seasonal forest) in Africa were reduced. In south‐western North America, desert and steppe were replaced by open conifer woodland, opposite to the general arid trend but consistent with modelled southward displacement of the jet stream. The Arctic forest limit was shifted slighly north at 6000 ¹⁴C yr bp in some sectors, but not in all. Northern temperate forest zones were generally shifted greater distances north. Warmer winters as well as summers in several regions are required to explain these shifts. Temperate deciduous forests in Europe were greatly extended, into the Mediterranean region as well as to the north. Steppe encroached on forest biomes in interior North America, but not in central Asia. Enhanced monsoons extended forest biomes in China inland and Sahelian vegetation into the Sahara while the African tropical rain forest was also reduced, consistent with a modelled northward shift of the ITCZ and a more seasonal climate in the equatorial zone. Palaeobiome maps show the outcome of separate, independent migrations of plant taxa in response to climate change. The average composition of biomes at LGM was often markedly different from today. Refugia for the temperate deciduous and tropical rain forest biomes may have existed offshore at LGM, but their characteristic taxa also persisted as components of other biomes. Examples include temperate deciduous trees that survived in cool mixed forest in eastern Europe, and tropical evergreen trees that survived in tropical seasonal forest in Africa. The sequence of biome shifts during a glacial‐interglacial cycle may help account for some disjunct distributions of plant taxa. For example, the now‐arid Saharan mountains may have linked Mediterranean and African tropical montane floras during enhanced monsoon regimes. Major changes in physical land‐surface conditions, shown by the palaeobiome data, have implications for the global climate. The data can be used directly to evaluate the output of coupled atmosphere‐biosphere models. The data could also be objectively generalized to yield realistic gridded land‐surface maps, for use in sensitivity experiments with atmospheric models. Recent analyses of vegetation‐climate feedbacks have focused on the hypothesized positive feedback effects of climate‐induced vegetation changes in the Sahara/Sahel region and the Arctic during the mid‐Holocene. However, a far wider spectrum of interactions potentially exists and could be investigated, using these data, both for 6000 ¹⁴C yr bp and for the LGM.