Effects of fire disturbance on the soil physical and chemical properties and vegetation of Pinus massoniana forest in south subtropical area

A variety of studies on the impact of fire disturbance on ecosystems has shown that the physical and chemical properties of soil after fire disturbance change notably. Meanwhile, little is known about the effects of different fire intensities on the soil properties and vegetation after fire disturbance, especially in the south subtropical area. In this paper, we analyzed the soil physical and chemical properties, vegetation species and species diversity of fire center, fire edge (which was burned a year ago) and non-burned Pinus massoniana plantation in Gaoyao, Guangdong province, China. The results showed that the soil conductivity, water content, total nitrogen, total potassium, and available potassium content of fire center were significantly higher than those of the non-burned land, and pH was higher than that of fire edge, whereas the available nitrogen, total phosphorus and organic matter content were much lower, which were generally existed in 0–10 cm soil layer and 10–30 cm soil layer. Changes of the soil properties of fire edge were similar with those of fire center, but less significant, and seemed to be more complex. Effects of burning on the vegetation of fire disturbance plots were found to be notable, species number and average height of plants of fire disturbance plots were lower than those of the non-burned plots, a difference of species diversity and uniformity were also shown, and finally, the composition of plant community also changed, e.g., pioneer species such as D. dichotoma, etc., dominated, and drought-resistant plants, heat-resistant plants and positive plants increased after burning.     

民勤梭梭人工林天然更新的生态条件

针对民勤绿洲梭梭人工林天然更新不良现状,从群落天然更新的必要条件出发,通过对种子萌发、幼苗存活与生长所需生态条件的对比研究,对民勤梭梭人工林天然更新生态条件与限制因子进行了分析,结果表明:民勤多年(1971—2002年)平均降水量为116mm,是适宜梭梭生长的区域,但降雨的季节变化却影响到梭梭天然更新的进行;梭梭的更新与所处的立地类型关系密切,不同立地条件下梭梭人工林植株生长、母株结实状况和土壤水分都存在较大的差异,立地类型是影响梭梭人工林更新的另一影响因素。     

Performance of an age series of alnus-cardamom plantations in the Sikkim Himalaya: productivity,energetics and efficiencies

Biomass, net primary productivity, energetics and energy efficiencies were estimated in an age series of Alnus-cardamom plantations in the eastern Himalaya. The impact of stand age (5, 10, 15, 20, 30 and 40 years) on the performance of mixtures of N2-fixing (Alnus nepalensis) and non-N2-fixing (large cardamom) plants was studied. Large cardamom (Amomum subulatum) is the most important perennial cash crop in the region and is cultivated predominantly under Alnus trees. Net primary productivity was lowest (7 t ha(-1) per year) in the 40-year-old stand and was more than three times higher (22 t ha(-1) per year) in the 15-year-old stand. Agronomic yield of large cardamom peaked between 15 and 20 years of age. Cardamom productivity doubled from the 5- to the 15-year-old stand, and then decreased with plantation age to reach a minimum in the 40-year-old stand. Performance of cardamom in association of N2-fixing Alnus remained beneficial until 20 years of age. Annual net energy fixation was highest (444 x 10(6) kJ ha(-1) per year) in the 15-year-old stand, being 1.4 times that of the 5-year-old stand and 2.9-times that of the 40-year-old stand. Inverse relationships of production efficiency, energy conversion efficiency and energy utilized in N2-fixation against stand age, and a positive relationship between production efficiency and energy conversion efficiency suggest that the younger plantations are more productive. The Alnus-cardamom plantation system will be sustainable by adopting a rotational cycle of 15 to 20 years.     

Performance of an age series of Alnus-cardamom plantations in the Sikkim Himalaya: nutrient dynamics

Nutrient cycling, nutrient use efficiency and nitrogen fixation in an age series of Alnus-cardamom plantations were studied in the eastern Himalaya. The impact of stand age (5, 10, 15, 20, 30 and 40 years) on the nutrient dynamics of mixtures of N2-fixing (Alnus nepalensis) and non-N2-fixing (large cardamom) plants was assessed. Foliar nutrient concentrations of Alnus decreased with advancing age groups of plantations and showed an inverse relationship with stand age. Annual N fixation increased from the 5-year-old stand (52 kg ha(-1)), peaking in the 15-year-old stand (155 kg ha(-1)) and then decreased with increasing plantation age. Nitrogen and phosphorus uptake was lowest in the 40-year-old stand, and highest in the 15- and 5-year-old stand, respectively. Nutrient storage in understorey cardamom was very high: up to 31 % N and 59 % P of the stand total in the 15-year-old stand. Nutrient use efficiency was higher (with faster turnover times) in younger stands and decreased (with slower turnover times) in older plantations. Nitrogen retranslocation showed a strong positive relationship with stand age, while that of P was inversely related to stand age. Nutrient standing stock, uptake and return were also highest in the 15-year-old stand. Nitrogen and P cycling in Alnus-cardamom plantations was functionally balanced. Nutrient cycling and dynamics indicated that Alnus-cardamom plantations performed sustainably up to 15-20 years. The management practice should be altered to incorporate replantation after this age.     

The cashew nut, Anacardium occidentale (Anacardiaceae), and its perennial association with ants: extrafloral nectary location and the potential for ant defense

Cashew nut trees are consistently ant-visited throughout the year, with the ants attracted to a large number of extrafloral nectaries on the leaves, inflorescences, flowers, and developing nuts. The commercial production of cashew nut, for example, in India, Brazil, and east Africa, consistently applies pesticides, especially insecticides, in large monoculture plantings. Each year prophylactic spraying begins with the first flush of new leaves, continues through flowering, ending at about mid-nut development. We surveyed for ant diversity in sprayed and unsprayed cashew monocultures of various sizes and ages in Sri Lanka, India, and Malaysia to document the ant-cashew relationship and to explore the potential of ants replacing chemical pesticides in insect control. Using for-profit, commercial-size plantations as examples, we present information that cashew has a strong potential for arthropod-dependent protection from pests and suggest important habitat considerations for encouraging ants within cashew plantings.     

Patterns of Richness and Abundance in a Tropical African Leaf‐litter Herpetofauna1

I compared species richness and habitat correlates of leaf‐litter herpetofaunal abundance in undisturbed and selectively logged forests, and an abandoned pine plantation in Kibale National Park, Uganda. I sampled 50 randomly located 25 m² litter plots in each area during the wet and dry seasons in 1997. Ten anuran, five lizard, and three snake species were captured in plots over the study. Assemblage composition was most similar at logged and unlogged sites. The logged forest herpetofauna had higher species richness and abundance than the unlogged forest, but diversity was greater in the unlogged forest due to greater evenness. In contrast, the pine plantation site had the highest richness, abundance, and evenness of the three study sites, but species composition was distinct from the other areas. Herpetofaunal densities were significantly lower in all three areas during the dry season than in the wet season. During the dry season, soil moisture, litter mass, topography, shrub cover, and number of fallen logs were significant positive predictors of herpetofaunal presence in litter plots, but only soil moisture was significant in the wet season. The interaction of moisture and topography appears to be important in determining seasonal patterns of litter herpetofaunal distribution. Comparison of litter herpetofaunal studies across the tropics have shown that mid‐elevation faunas generally support fewer species than lowland faunas. Compared with other tropical mid‐elevation litter faunas, Kibale supports an intermediate number of species, but at lower densities than observed at any other mid‐elevation site reported in the literature.     

Quantifying carbon storage and sequestration by native and non-native forests under contrasting climate types

Non-native trees may have significant impacts on the carbon sink capacity of forested lands. However, large-scale patterns of the relative capacity of native and non-native forests to uptake and store carbon remain poorly described in the literature, and this information is urgently needed to support management decisions. In this study, we analyzed 17,065 plots from the Spanish Forest Inventory (covering c. 30 years) to quantify carbon storage and sequestration of natural forests and plantations of native and non-native trees under contrasting climate types, while controlling for the effects of environmental factors (forest structure, climate, soil, topography, and management). We found that forest origin (non-native vs. native) highly influenced carbon storage and sequestration, but such effect was dependent on climate. Carbon storage was greater in non-native than in native forests in both wet and dry climates. Non-native forests also had greater carbon sequestration than native ones in the wet climate, due to higher carbon gains by tree growth. However, in the dry climate, native forests had greater carbon gains by tree ingrowth and lower carbon loss by tree mortality than non-native ones. Furthermore, forest type (classified by the dominant species) and natural forests versus tree plantations were important determinants of carbon storage and sequestration. Native and non-native Pinus spp. forests had low carbon storage, whereas non-native Eucalyptus spp. forests and native Quercus spp., Fagus sylvatica, and Eurosiberian mixed forests (especially not planted ones) had high carbon storage. Carbon sequestration was greatest in Eucalyptus globulus, Quercus ilex, and Pinus pinaster forests. Overall, our findings suggest that the relative capacity of native and non-native forests to uptake and store carbon depends on climate, and that the superiority of non-native forests over native ones in terms of carbon sequestration declines as the abiotic filters become stronger (i.e., lower water availability and higher climate seasonality).     

Establishment of willow cuttings grown in porous membrane root envelopes

Small diameter fine, fibrous roots of willow are exceedingly difficult to remove from most soils. Where field retrieval of entire plants including clean roots may be important, porous membrane rooting envelopes are a method of choice.Purple osier willow (Salix purpurea L.) stem cuttings (clone SP3) were field rooted in buried porous membrane envelopes permeable to water and nutrients. Ramets were grown for two and four months, then separated into component parts for dry weight analysis.At two months, cuttings grown in rooting envelopes were no different in shoot dry weight than plants grown in clay pots or in soil. Tests indicated that rooting envelopes may be reused at least once without affecting shoot or total plant dry weight. Likewise, membrane pore sizes of 0.45, 1.2 and 3 m did not affect SP3 dry weight in four month tests. The importance of matching plant material and experiment duration to envelope size was illustrated by the limitation of growth by envelope edges at four months compared to two months.     

林下养鸡年限对杨树人工林土壤磷素形态和生物有效性的影响

林下养殖是一种经济有效的林地空间利用方式,但长期高负载的林下养殖对林地土壤性状究竟产生何种影响,目前尚无定论.以不同林下养鸡年限(0年、1年、3年和5年)的美洲黑杨(Populus deltoides)人工林为对象,采用Hedley磷素分级法,分析其林地土壤的磷素组成和形态变化,探讨林下养鸡年限对土壤磷库特征及其生物有...     

Comparisons of food availability and group density of Japanese macaques in primary, naturally regenerated, and plantation forests

We compared food availability and group density of Japanese macaques in Yakushima, southern Japan, among primary forest and two habitats that had been disturbed by logging and had different regeneration histories. The study was conducted in an undisturbed national park, forest that was logged 7-18 years ago and later naturally regenerated, and forest that was logged 19-27 years ago and later planted with Japanese cedar (Cryptomeria japonica) trees. The plantation forest was primarily composed of large Cryptomeria japonica trees at low stand density, while the naturally regenerated forest was composed of many small trees. The total basal area and number of trees in the primary forest were comparable to those in the plantation forest. Annual fruit production was greatest in the naturally regenerated forest, intermediate in the primary forest, and negligible in the plantation forest. Herb availability was high in the naturally regenerated forest, but low in the primary and plantation forests. The group density of Japanese macaques was high in the naturally regenerated forest, intermediate in the primary forest, and low in the plantation forest. Since group size in the naturally regenerated forest was small, individual density was almost the same as in the primary forest. These results suggest that the effects of regeneration on macaques vary between the two habitats. The plantation forest consisted mostly of Cryptomeria japonica, which supplies only flowers as food in a limited season, and had a lower density of macaques. On the other hand, in the naturally regenerated forest, fruit production and herb availability were high (probably because of the enhanced light conditions after logging), and the density of macaques was as high as in the primary forest.