广东黑石顶南亚热带常绿阔叶林树木生长研究(英文)

用测树器和年轮解析法 ,测定了广东黑石顶南亚热带常绿阔叶林的立木和幼树的径向生长和高生长。年轮解析法测得立木的年直径生长量在 0 .1～ 0 .5cm之间 ,一些立木的直径生长呈现出生长快的年份 ( 1～ 3a)和生长慢的年份 ( 1～ 3a)交替的节律。测树器测得立木 5a的年平均直径生长量为0 .0 74cm,5年期间测得有 1 7.6%的个体直径为零增长或负增长。立木的年高增长量为 1 0～ 50 cm,高生长高峰期通常在 1 0～ 30年龄。在树木生长的早期 ,高度的生长优于直径的生长 ,而在树木生长的中、后期 ,直径的生长逐渐优于高度的生长。用游标卡尺和卷尺测得幼树 (通常 1～ 3m高 )的直径和高度 5a的平均生长量分别为 0 .1 0 7cm和 4.76cm。 5a间没有幼树的直径生长为零增长或负增长 ,但约有 9%的个体的高度生长为零增长或负增长。     

Tree regeneration and future dynamics of the laurel forest on Tenerife,Canary Islands

Abstract. We studied two sites in the laurel forest of Tenerife to predict future changes in canopy composition. We used two projection methods: Horn's ‘Markovian Projection’, which utilizes information on juveniles in the vicinity of canopy trees, and a 'Stand Projection’, which ignores such information. We performed these projections both including and excluding a-sexual regeneration. Although all of our projections predict a change in species composition, inclusion of a-sexual reproduction decreased the magnitude of successional change. The persistence of Prunus lusitanica and Ilex canariensis appears to be highly dependent on a-sexual regeneration. Both the Markov- and stand projections predict a slight convergence in species composition between the two sites when only sexual regeneration is considered, and also a higher dominance of the shade-tolerant species Laurus azorica. When a-sexual regeneration is also considered, some divergence is shown, with less projected change in the stand projection than in the Markov projection. In spite of some differences between the models, general patterns such as an increase of shade-tolerant species (Laurus azorica and Prunus lusitanica) and a decrease of shade-intolerant species (Erica arborea, Erica scoparia and Myrica faya) are consistent.     

Comparisons of recruitment, survival, and growth in invasive and native saplings on a volcano

We monitored the recruitment, survival, and growth of tree saplings on invasive (Larix kaempferi) versus native species (Betula and Populus) using 16 20 m × 20 m plots established along elevation gradient on the volcano Mount Koma, Japan, for 7 years because the sapling behaviors should determine forest structures. The crowding of overstory consists mostly of Larix decreased with increasing elevation. Larix recruits were conspicuous, particularly at middle elevation where overstory crowding was intermediate, while Betula recruits were least. Larix overstory crowding inhibited the recruitment of all the taxa, although intermediate crowding promoted the recruitment of Larix. The restriction of sapling emergence was conspicuous at lower elevation where the overstory crowding was highest, probably because of shading, and/or competition with overstory trees. Sapling recruitment for all taxa was restricted at higher elevation, due to high stresses derived from direct solar radiation and strong wind without overstory. The survival of saplings was 96% for Larix and Betula, while it was ca. 50% for Populus. Larix overstory decreased the survival and growth of all the taxa, except Larix survival and Betula growth. The results implied that Larix could establish by high survival once the recruits succeeded everywhere and native sapling regeneration was restricted by Larix overstory. Strong recruitment, survival, and growth of Larix, together with resistance to overstory crowding, enables it to dominate and persist in such disturbed areas regardless of the canopy closure.     

Rethinking species selection for restoration of arid shrublands

Restoration is playing an increasingly important role in ecology as natural habitats become scarcer and chances to restore ecosystems damaged by human activities are more common. However, restoration of degraded Mediterranean arid ecosystems is hampered by drought and poor soils, which cause many establishment failures. To compare how species belonging to different successional stages establish in a very stressful site, we carried out a field experiment with 14 tree and shrub species differing in functional traits. After three growing seasons, mid-successional shrubs such as the leafless Ephedra fragilis and the C₄ Salsola oppositifolia, or green-stemmed legumes like Coronilla juncea, Genista umbellat, and Retama sphaerocarpa, showed survival rates up to 93%, while late-successional species like Tetraclinis articulata, Pinus halepensis, Olea europaea, and Pistacia lentiscus, frequently used and recommended in regular restoration projects, hardly reached 55%. We found that survival was highest for legumes, followed by leafless species, and C₄ shrubs, traits that are believed to maximize resource uptake in cleared and infertile areas while reducing water losses. Thus, selection of mid-successional species having such traits should be considered for successful restoration. These species would increase the success of restoration programs, but also would increase soil fertility, reduce soil erosion processes, and eventually facilitate establishment of other species, therefore accelerating secondary succession. We suggest a new approach for the restoration for arid shrublands in which species are carefully selected based on traits that best suit the environmental conditions.     

杉木连栽土壤对其幼树生长的影响

在会同林区采用３种不同连栽杉木次数的土壤,进行杉木幼树盆栽试验．结果表明,杉木连栽不利其幼树生长．连裁使幼树高生长下降３７—４０％,基径下降１９—２８％,冠幅下降２１—２９％,总生物量减少４５—５０％．杉木连栽还造成土壤养分递减,即腐殖质减少７—２８％,速效养分下降２３—２８％,土壤微生物数量和活性也大大降低．因此,杉木纯林连栽经营方式应尽快改变．     

Effects of defoliation on the saplings of a gap-colonizing neotropical tree

This paper describes a defoliation experiment on saplings of the gap-colonizing pioneer tree Heliocarpus appendiculatus in the tropical rain forest of Los Tuxtlas (Southeast Mexico). Four levels of defoliation (0, 25, 50, and 75% of the leaf area removed) were applied to naturally established plants in a medium-sized forest gap. Records were made of growth (height, diameter, and leaf production) and of whole-plant and leaf survival. Statistical comparisons for all variables showed that plants that had not been defoliated grew better than defoliated ones, but there were no statistically significant differences between the defoliation levels. The risk of death was significantly lower for control plants than for defoliated plants at any level of damage. Leaf survivorship was highly irregular. The most consistent pattern was that the leaves of intact plants always showed higher survivorship, while the most heavily defoliated ones always had the poorest survival. The survivorship pattern of leaves at intermediate defoliation levels was irregular. The results illustrate the lack of a monotonic response to a wide range of defoliation levels, and suggest the potential effect of herbivores as reducers of vegetative growth and survival in pioneer tropical species, and as limiting agents of plant establishment in regenerating forest gaps.     

Forest gap formation and closure along an altitudinal gradient in Tongariro National Park,New Zealand

24 treefall gaps accumulated over a 10 year period along an altitudinal transectcovering 4.6ha on Mt. Hauhungatahi, Tongariro National Park, New Zealand were described quantitatively in terms of the area of damage (‘expanded gap’), the canopy opening (‘Tight-gap’) and the size of the root mound. Tree mortality and branch loss following cyclone Bola, 1988, were recorded. In each gap saplings were ranked by species according to their vigour. Pre-gap and post-gap vertical and horizontal branch growth rates were calculated. Effects in the subalpine forest (> 1050 m) were compared with those in the montane zone. Tree mortality was highly episodic, associated with major storms, and patchy. Falling canopy trees destroyed, on average, 1.3 additional trees (> 10 cm diameter at 1 m). About half the trees were uprooted and the remainder broken off. Uprooted angiosperm (canopy) trees frequently resprouted from their bases, gymnosperms rarely. Expanded gap area averaged 56 m² in the sub-alpine forest and 88 m² in the montane zone. Median expanded gap areas were about twice those of light gaps. Gap size frequency distribution was highly skewed. The largest gap was formed by a single Dacrydium cupressinum which destroyed six other trees creating a gap of ca. 0.03 ha. Expanded gaps, light gaps, and root mounds comprised 4.5, 2.8 and 0.1 % of the forest area in the sub-alpine zone, and 3.8, 2.5 and 0.06 % in the montane forest. These values represent 10 years of accumulation, and imply light gap ‘return times’ of 360 years for the sub-alpine and 400 years for the montane forest. These periods are in agreement with the known longevities of the canopy and emergent trees. Vertical shoot growth rate was about twice that in the horizontal plane, and both increased following gap formation. The relative increase was greatest in the subalpine forest. Using the measured growth rates it is estimated that gaps of median dimensions are filled by lateral extension growth in 31–44 yr. Saplings require longer to reach the mean canopy height and consequently require large (multiple tree) gaps or sequential gap events.     

Canopy gaps and establishment patterns of spruce (Picea abies (L.) Karst.) in two old-growth coniferous forests in central Sweden

The spatial pattern of seedlings, saplings and canopy trees was studied in two spruce (Picea abies (L.) Karst.) forests in central Sweden. Canopy and forest structure were determined in five 0.25 ha plots. Life stage classes were distinguished on the basis of age and size distributions. Ripley's K-function (1977) was used to analyze the spatial patterns within each class. A random distribution of seedlings gave way to a more aggregated pattern on a small scale during the establishment phase. Saplings and sub-canopy trees were strongly aggregated and canopy trees were again randomly distributed within the plots. The proportion of individuals growing in gaps was used as an index of association between the spatial pattern in saplings and sub-canopy trees and the occurrence of small (50–350 m²) canopy gaps. Under the null hypothesis of independence the expected value of this statistic would equal the canopy gap ratio for the stand. Monte Carlo simulation of this statistic, using fixed sapling positions and randomly repositioned canopy gaps, confirmed the importance of canopy gaps for the final success of establishment of spruce. The association of understorey trees with gaps suggest that small gaps are typically closed by recruitment of new saplings from a sapling bank rather than by the release of larger suppressed trees.     

Population ecology of Acacia tortilis in the semi-arid region of the Sudan

Abstract. The population ecology of Acacia tortilis, one of the important woody species in the arid and semi-arid regions of northern Africa, was studied in the Sudan: Ten sample plots were established and all individuals in the plots were mapped and their basal diameter, stem height, crown height and cover measured annually for three years. Individuals were grouped into different height-classes, ‘life-forms’: trees >1.65 m, shrubs > 0.65 m and < 1.65 m, saplings < 0.65 m and seedlings (saplings less than one year old). The population density was 510 ind./ ha in 1985, 432 ind. / ha in 1986 and 218 ind. / ha in 1987. The life-form distribution of the population showed clear differences between plots and years. Mortality in Acacia tortilis, expressed as loss in individuals per year, amounted to 167 ind. / ha / yr. Drought and lethal cutting were found to be the main mortality factors. The population declined by 15.3 % from 1985 to 1986 and by 49.5 % from 1986 to 1987. Natality (recruitment), expressed as number of newly established saplings, was 13 ind. / ha / yr. Recruitment is apparently discontinuous and bound to years with a relatively high precipitation.     

Treefall gap characteristics and regeneration in the laurel forest of Tenerife

Abstract. We conducted a study in the laurel forest of Tenerife (Canary Islands, Spain) to describe the characteristics of natural gaps and to assess the role of treefall gaps in forest dynamics. Very little is left of the natural laurel forest with i.a. Laurus azorica, Ilex canariensis and Prunus lusitanica. We looked for treefall gaps in 80 randomly located 2500 m² plots. These plots represented ca. 1% of the remaining and protected laurel forest of Tenerife. We recorded the characteristics of the species causing the gaps, gap architecture and gap age in all observed gaps larger than 10 m². We inventoried the regeneration in each gap and in a neighbouring control plot with the same topography. Large gaps (>75 m²) were not common in the laurel forest. The absence of large gaps could be due to the physiognomy of the vegetation, the mild weather or the rarity of disturbances. Instead of forming gaps, many trees decompose in place and branches from neighbouring trees and suckers from the decomposed trees occupy the free space. Also, the high rate of asexual regeneration could contribute to the fast closing of the gap. The number of gaps created by Prunus lusitanica was higher than expected (based on canopy composition) while Ilex canariensis and Laurus azorica created fewer gaps. In this evergreen forest, differences between gap and non-gap conditions are not as distinct as in other forest types. Only 0.4% of the canopy is in the gap phase (0.6% including gaps smaller than 10m²). No differences were found in patterns of regeneration between gap and non-gap phases in the forest. Gaps do not explain the persistence of pioneer species in the laurel forest.