Deciduous Forest Tree Species Research Articles

Vegetation Structure, Composition and Plant Community types in Tropical Dry Deciduous Forests of Jaipur, Rajasthan, India

The research was carried out in the Aravalli Forests of Nahargarh (NWLS) and Jamwa Ramgarh Wildlife Sanctuaries (JRWLS) of Jaipur, Rajasthan, India. The vegetation structure, composition, biodiversity and plant community types were assessed across the five forest stands viz Nahargarh biological park (S1), Nahargarh Sanctuary (S2) in NWLS and Ramgarh (S3), Raisar (S4), and Digota (S5) of JRWLS, respectively. A total of 164 qaudrats of 20*20 m2 were laid to assess the vegetation data including frequency, basal area, density, importance value index (IVI), biodiversity indices (Shannon-weiner, Simpson, Pielou and Margalef’s) and plant community types. The tree basal area ranged between 18.56 -34.36 m2/ha while stand density was 923-1433 tree/ha. Our study indicated the dominance of family Fabaceae with 20 species and 11 genera with Anogeissus pendula showing the maximum frequency, density, mean basal area and IVI. Further, the agglomerative hierarchal clustering showed five types of plant communities with Anogeissus-Adhatoda as the most widely spread community in these forests. Among the two sanctuaries, species diversity was higher for JRWLS (2.83) than NWLS (2.80). The current study provides important baseline data for forthcoming research on monitoring and preserving these forest’s biological diversity. The significance of present study will provide insight into the structure and variety of tree species in tropical dry deciduous forests.

Evidence of mesophication following selective cutting and shelterwood in Virginia’s eastern deciduous forest, USA

The replacement of oaks (Quercus) with mesic tree species in the eastern deciduous forests of North America involves a positive feedback loop being driven by fire suppression and climate change. In this study, we explored the impact of timber harvesting as a potential facilitator of mesophication. Young stands resulting from shelterwoods (on federal lands) and selective cutting (on private lands) were sampled to compare the composition and density of seedlings, saplings, and trees in western Virginia, USA. Oak overstory trees had lower importance values and densities at selective cutting sites compared to shelterwood sites. Among saplings, mesic species had higher importance values and densities than oaks at both selective cutting and shelterwood sites. Evidence of mesophication was found at both selective cutting and shelterwood sites; but a higher level of mesophication appeared to be occurring at the selective cutting sites than at shelterwood sites. At selective cutting sites scarlet oak (Quercus coccinea) was absent from all sampled plots and a dense midstory of subcanopy trees, especially eastern redbud (Cercis canadensis), appeared to be hindering successful oak regeneration. Our results indicate timber harvesting, without regard for the composition of the regeneration layer, may facilitate mesophication in the eastern deciduous forest, with selective cutting resulting in more successful establishment of mesic species compared to shelterwoods. These findings have implications for mesophication on private forest lands, where selective cutting is a very common method of timber harvesting.

Anthropogenic disturbance modifies tree functional traits in the only remnant swamp forest of Bangladesh

The relationship between ecosystem functions and plant functional traits has been well documented and is considered to be one of the most vital topics in ecology. However, the correlation between anthropogenic disturbance and tree functional trait diversity remains largely unclear. The present study investigates the role of anthropogenic disturbance on selected tree functional traits in Ratargul Swamp Forest (RSF) – the only remnant tropical freshwater swamp forest ecosystem in Bangladesh. We established 50 plots and collected six plant traits, i.e., tree height, specific leaf area (SLA), wood density (WD), leaf dry matter content (LDMC), seed mass, and bark thickness. A two-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) was carried out to test the interaction between plant functional traits and anthropogenic disturbance in RSF. Our study found that anthropogenic disturbance has a significant (p< 0.05) influence on deciduous swamp forest tree species’ functional traits but none on evergreen tree species’ functional traits. For deciduous trees, disturbance has a significant positive effect on CWM.SLA (p< 0.05) and CWM.Height (p< 0.05) and a negative impact on CWM.Bark-thickness and CWM.Seed-mass (p< 0.05). There were no significant effects of disturbance on CWM.WD and CWM.LDMC. We believe the present study will contribute toward improving our understanding of the effect of disturbances on tree functional trait diversity in tropical human-dominated landscapes where anthropogenic pressure is increasing at an unprecedented rate. It will also function as an essential conservation for related decision-making of Ratargul Swamp Forest in northeastern Bangladesh and elsewhere in the tropics with a similar context.

Bilateral cooperation - Fostering the ability of native European beech and sessile oak forests in the border region against the impacts of climate change

Adequate adaptions and actions to combat anthropogenic climate change (CC) are significant challenges of the 21st century. In Europe, according to the European Environmental Agency, warming of around 2°C is expected under the moderate climate scenario (RCP 4.5) by the end of the century, but the pessimistic RCP 8.5 scenario project an increase of up to 6°C. In addition to the rise in temperature, changes in precipitation and increased frequency of extreme weather events are predicted. New environmental conditions affect tree species and habitats differently; thus, forest biodiversity and local tree species compositions probably will be altered in many regions in the future. The effects may be manifold: some tree species may persist, locally adapt and migrate, while others may disappear from given regions and be replaced by native or non-native species. The native forests of the Austrian-Hungarian border region are particularly affected by the climate change. To mitigate the consequences of anthropogenic climate change to preserve forest biodiversity for future generations and to enable their use, deliberate and planned human interventions and actions are essential. These require transnational or even global efforts since nature and climate do not recognise man-made borders. The REIN-Forest project (Interreg V-A Austria-Hungary Programme - ATHU150), a bilateral project between Austria and Hungary, aimed to establish harmonised protection measures for the conservation of native forests in Northern, Central and Southern Burgenland, Vienna, Vienna Umland-South, Lower Austria South, Graz and Eastern Styria, Győr-Moson-Sopron, Vas and Zala counties (the so-called programme area). In the scope of this project, international cooperation between three project partners: the Austrian Research Centre for Forests (BFW, Austria), the Forest Research Institute – University of Sopron (SOE ERTI, Hungary) and the Vas County Government Office (VVÖH, Hungary) was established. Previous results and outputs of the SUSTREE project (Interreg Central Europe CE614), such as: a) Transnational delineation model of conservation and forest seed transfer zones in climate change, b) Report of intraspecific response function and derivation of climate transfer limits, SusSelect data, recommendations and c) Application of the species distribution models for the delineation of seed transfer zones/models in Central Europe, were put into practice during the project, focusing on two native deciduous forest tree species of the Austrian-Hungarian border region: European beech (Fagus sylvatica L.) and sessile oak (Quercus petraea (Matt.) Liebl.). During the REIN-Forest project, the following joint documents were prepared and several activities were implemented: 1. Model-based document on the current state and future perspectives of European beech and sessile oak forests; 2. Bilateral strategy for the transfer of forest reproductive material (FRM) and its use in the Austrian-Hungarian border region; 3. Establishment of altogether six demonstration sites (three in each country) with local and climate-adapted FRM of European beech and sessile oak for long-term monitoring; 4. Management and monitoring plan of the demonstration sites; 5. Joint bilingual communication strategy, which included informative programmes and meetings with professionals, locals and schools and also education material for further use. REIN-Forest focused on using scientific results and outputs in the field of applied forestry and awareness-raising. Besides strategies, recommendations and reports that would facilitate forest managers' decisions for the future in the border region, events and workshops were offered for forestry practitioners, school pupils and the public and a short film and educational materials were published.

Exploring monsoon precipitation signal in the Peruvian tropical montane cloud forest: Andean Walnut wood anatomy plasticity

Summary Andean Walnut (Juglans neotropica Diels-Juglandaceae) is a long-lived, deciduous broadleaf Tropical Montane Cloud Forest (TMCF) tree species native to the Andes Cordillera; nevertheless, it has received limited attention for dendro-quantitative wood anatomical studies. Based on 70 increment cores from 50 Andean Walnut trees at two Peruvian TMCFs, two chronologies (from 1969 to 2020 and from 1964 to 2020) were developed. The xylem vessel parameters assessment allowed us to detect South American Monsoon System (SAMS) precipitation signals in the Andean Walnuts’ wood. Dendro-wood anatomical features can be assessed within an annual growth ring, which allows for assessing intra-annual past and present wood anatomy-function relationships and its climate vulnerability.

Structure and phenology characterization of four tree species of tropical deciduous forests

Objective: To determine the structural and phenological characteristics of four major tree species in the tropical deciduous forests. Design/Methodology/Approach: To determine their structure, ≥ 10 cm wide trees were registered at a height of 1.30 m in 30 sites of 500 m2. For phenological purposes, seven sites were selected. The following phenological stages were evaluated: dormancy, vegetative, flowering, fruiting, and seeding. Results: Four hundred and five individuals belonging to the four species under study were found: copal ancho (Bursera copallifera (Sessé & Moc.) ex DC. Bullock), Mexican kidneywood (Eysenhardtia polystachya (Ortega) Sarg.), tecolhuixtle (Mimosa benthamii (J.F. Macbr. var. bentha-mii)), and tepemezquite (Lysiloma divaricatum (Jacq.) Macbride). Tepemezquite ranked first according to the Relative Importance Value Index. Based on the phenological characteristics observed, three species lost foliage at some time of the year and only tecolhuixtle was evergreen. Study Limitations/Implications: The results and conclusions are limited only to individuals with ≥ 10 cm in diameter. Further results can be extrapolated from this data. Findings/Conclusions: The structural and phenological features of the four species evaluated in ejido El Limón have similar characteristics to those that have been described for this type of vegetation in other locations in Mexico.

Tree Diversity in Tropical Moist Deciduous Forests of Gorumara National Park, India

Exploration of the diverse tree species in moist deciduous forests is the urgent need to conserve and restore the degraded forest ecosystem in this sub-Himalayan Terai-Duars part of Eastern India. From Red Data Book and IUCN Red List their threatened status and diversity in the unique ecosystem of Gorumara National Park (GNP), India, were assessed carefully to develop baseline data for natural resource study that will help to prepare a master plan for proper conservation of the sustainable ecosystem of the national park. The study used random sampling in different seasons in various microhabitats within the National Park. The diversity of trees was observed, with 315 taxa representing 198 genera belonging to 61 families. Phytosociology and diversity of the tree layer was also analysed through quadrate sampling. The study reflects very rich tree diversity in the area, with 211 species of wild medicinal plants and NTFP species frequently used in indigenous medicine systems and other uses by locals. The study also reveals that the forest provides a unique environment for wildlife by maintaining an ideal ecosystem and acting as a wildlife corridor by connecting several nearby forest landscapes.

Tree species is more effective than season dynamics on topsoil function andCO2emissions in the temperate forests

AbstractSoil respiration is one of the most important operations controlling carbon (C) erosion from territorial ecosystems and a useful index of whole underground allocation of C and stand efficiency. However, how tree species effects root (i.e., autotrophic respiration) and soil microbial respiration (i.e., heterotrophic respiration), based on precise experiential schemes, are still restricted, even though crucial to guide the selection of species for reforestation and C management purposes. This research was done to study how tree species effect soil characteristics and function at stand level and which are the main drivers of soil CO2emission in mixed temperate forests in northern Iran (Mazandaran province). Four most common tree species at the experimental site (Parrotia persica,Ulmus minor,Quercus castaneifolia, andPopulus caspica) that surrounded by same species, were selected. Around each selected tree, four replicates of soil and litter samples were taken from (30 × 30 × 15 cm) and mixed to characterize soil physicochemical characteristics (i.e., bulk density, texture, water content, pH, electrical conductivity, N, organic carbon, and available P, K, Mg, and Ca), basal respiration and substrate (i.e., D‐manitol, D‐glucose, L‐asparagine, L‐arginine, gluconic acid, quinic acid, succinic acid, malonic acid, D‐glucosamine, L‐glutamine) induced respiration. In the litter characteristics, total N, C (OC), and C/N ratio were measured. Our results confirmed that soil chemical properties are more sensitive to species composition than soil physical ones. Moreover, individual tree species in mixed deciduous forests strongly influence induced microbial respiration, independently of the used substrates. On the contrary, season was the major factor explaining variations of basal respiration.

Changes in particulate matter concentration and meteorological variables after changing forest structure in oak-dominated forests nearby highway tollgate

Oak species are the major dominant tree species of deciduous forests, but the little study was conducted to understand the change of particulate matter concentration after changing the forest structure. This study analyzed the effects of changing forest structure (CFS) on the changes in meteorological factors and air particulate matter (PM) concentration after leaf emergence in oak-dominated forests nearby highway pollutants’ sources. In June 2019, 33% of the total trees were removed from the CFS of oak forests in the vicinity of the tollgate of Misiryeong in Goseong-gun, Gangwon-do, Korea. To understand the changes in leaf emergence between the treatment site (TRS is the site changing forest structure) and control site (CS), we investigated the foliage height profile (FHP, %) at each class of tree height in December 2019 and June 2020. The results showed that FHP (%) was lower in TRS than in CS in both months, and the FHP of the middle canopy class increased after TRS while that of the upper canopy class decreased. The correlation was significant with temperature in March (p < 0.01) and with wind speed in June (p < 0.01), indicating that CFS improved the airflow. There was no significant difference in the PM concentration between CS (PM10: 37.7 µg/m3, PM2.5: 21.1 µg/m3) and TRS (PM10: 37.5 µg/m3, PM2.5: 20.8 µg/m3) in March; however, the PM concentration in TRS (PM10: 65.0 µg/m3, PM2.5: 26.2 µg/m3) was lower than that in CS (PM10: 73.9 µg/m3, PM2.5: 29.1 µg/m3) in June. The rate of PM reduction (%) in TRS was higher in June (PM10: 11.3%, PM2.5: 10.0%) than in March (PM10: 2.3%, PM2.5: 4.0%). The low value of PM concentration in June could be related to the leaf emergence. Overall, the results indicated that meteorological factors and PM concentrations had changed in the inner part of the forest after leaf emergence and that the temperature and wind speed were strongly correlated with the PM concentration. These results suggest that CFS can change the forest structure and the airflow in oak-dominated forests, which PM can flow and settle down into the inner forest's nearby pollutants sources of a tollgate. The results provide basic information for understanding the reduction effect of PM by CFS in oak-dominated deciduous forests nearby highway pollutants source.

Effects of Light Availability on Survival and Growth of Seedling and Sapling of Tropical Dry Deciduous Forest Tree Species in Ballavpur Wild ife anctuary, West Bengal, India

Effects of Light Availability on Survival and Growth of Seedling and Sapling of Tropical Dry Deciduous Forest Tree Species in Ballavpur Wild ife anctuary, West Bengal, India

Combining the Effects of Global Warming, Land Use Change and Dispersal Limitations to Predict the Future Distributions of East Asian Cerris Oaks (Quercus Section Cerris, Fagaceae) in China

Species shift their ranges in response to climate change (CC). However, they may not be able to track optimal conditions as soon as possible, due to limited dispersal ability or habitat fragmentation, caused by land use and land cover change (LULC). This study aimed to explore the combined impacts of CC, LULC and dispersal limitations on the future range dynamics of Quercus acutissima Carruth., Q. variabilis Blume and Q. chenii Nakai, three dominant Cerris oak tree species in warm-temperate and subtropical deciduous forests of China. We used the Maximum Entropy (Maxent) algorithm to predict the suitable habitats for the years 2050 and 2070, under three representative concentration pathways (RCPs). Habitat fragmentation patterns were examined to assess the influence of LULC. Two migration scenarios (full- and partial-migration) were compared to evaluate the effect of dispersal limitations. We found that annual precipitation (AP), minimum temperature in the coldest month (MTCM) and temperature seasonality (TS) play a key role in determining the present distributions of Q. chenii, while AP, MTCM and annual mean temperature (AMT) contribute the most to the distribution models of Q. variabilis and Q. acutissima. For all the three species, LULC will increase the level of habitat fragmentation and lead to the loss of core areas, while limited dispersal ability will restrict the accessibility of future potentially suitable habitats. Under the scenarios of CC and LULC, the suitable areas of Q. chenii will decrease sharply, while those of Q. variabilis in South China will become unsuitable. Our findings highlight the importance of considering dispersal ability, as well as land use and land cover change, for modeling species’ range shifts in the face of global warming. Our study also provides vital information for guiding the management of East Asian Cerris oaks in China; Q. chenii should be listed as a species requiring priority protection, and the threatened habitats of Q. variabilis should be protected to buffer the impacts of CC and LULC.

Diversity of ectomycorrhizal fungi associated with Quercus petraea in the national park Fruška gora in the Republic of Serbia

Although sessile oak is one of the most important deciduous forest tree species in Europe, data on the diversity of ectomycorrhizal (ECM) fungi on sessile oaks in the Republic of Serbia are scarce. The aim of this study was to provide the first insight into the diversity of ECM fungi on sessile oak in Serbia. Two sites Info center and Brankovac, located in National Park Fruška gora were chosen. ECM fungi were identified combining morphological and anatomical characterization with molecular analysis of nuclear rDNA internal transcribed spacer (ITS) region. All vital ECM root tips were counted, diversity indices were calculated, and ECM fungi were classified into the exploration types. The granulometric and chemical composition of soil were analyzed as well. At both sites, 26 different ECM fungal taxa were recorded in total, 17 taxa were observed at the site Info center and 12 taxa at Brankovac. ECM communities consisted of a few abundant taxa and a larger number of rare taxa. Lactarius quietus, Cenococcum geophilum, and Tomentella sublilacina were recorded at both sites. High abundance of contact and short-distance exploration types recorded in studied stands suggests that soils are sufficiently rich in total nitrogen and organic matter. Values of diversity indices recorded in studied sessile oak stands from Fruška gora were lower in comparison to those obtained in stands of different oak species across Europe which is likely induced by drought. To get a more thorough insight into the diversity of ECM fungi on sessile oak, research should be continued at more sites and seasonal dynamics should be included.

How Spatial Resolution Affects Forest Phenology and Tree-Species Classification Based on Satellite and Up-Scaled Time-Series Images

The distribution of forest tree species provides crucial data for regional forest management and ecological research. Although medium-high spatial resolution remote sensing images are widely used for dynamic monitoring of forest vegetation phenology and species identification, the use of multiresolution images for similar applications remains highly uncertain. Moreover, it is necessary to explore to what extent spectral variation is responsible for the discrepancies in the estimation of forest phenology and classification of various tree species when using up-scaled images. To clarify this situation, we studied the forest area in Harqin Banner in northeast China by using year-round multiple-resolution time-series images (at four spatial resolutions: 4, 10, 16, and 30 m) and eight phenological metrics of four deciduous forest tree species in 2018, to explore potential impacts of relevant results caused by various resolutions. We also investigated the effect of using up-scaled time-series images by comparing the corresponding results that use pixel-aggregation algorithms with the four spatial resolutions. The results indicate that both phenology and classification accuracy of the dominant forest tree species are markedly affected by the spatial resolution of time-series remote sensing data (p &lt; 0.05): the spring phenology of four deciduous forest tree species first rises and then falls as the image resolution varies from 4 to 30 m; similarly, the accuracy of tree species classification increases as the image resolution varies from 4 to 10 m, and then decreases as the image resolution gradually falls to 30 m (p &lt; 0.05). Therefore, there remains a profound discrepancy between the results obtained by up-scaled and actual remote sensing data at the given spatial resolutions (p &lt; 0.05). The results also suggest that combining phenological metrics and time-series NDVI data can be applied to identify the regional dominant tree species across different spatial resolutions, which would help advance the use of multiscale time-series satellite data for forest resource management.

Change of Potential Distribution Area of a Forest Tree Acer davidii in East Asia under the Context of Climate Oscillations

The climate oscillations of the quaternary periods have profoundly affected the geographic distributions of current species. Acer davidii is a deciduous forest tree species mainly distributed in East Asia and China, playing a dominant role in the local forest ecosystem. In order to study the potential changes of geographic distributions of A. davidii in climate fluctuations, we collected the relate geographical distribution data and six climatic variables, using maximum entropy modelling to determine the species distribution. The results showed that the Areas Under Curve (AUC) values of the working characteristic curves of the subjects in the five historical periods were all greater than 0.93, suggesting that the results of maximum entropy modelling were accurate. The simulation of species distribution showed that the suitable area of A. davidii was mainly concentrated in central and northern China in contemporary times. From the Last Interglacial Age (LIG) to the Last Glacial Maximum (LGM), and then to the future (2050, 2070), the distribution area of this species experienced a decrease (LGM~Current; the high adaptability areas of central China became moderate) then an increase (Current~2050, the adaptation areas expanded to South Asia, Southeast Asia, and Siberia), and finally decreased (2050~2070, the suitable areas of South Asia, Southeast Asia, and Siberia shrank returning to China at latitude 25 °N). Compared to the LGM, the area of contemporary suitable area increased. Interestingly, the area of suitable growth range under future climatic conditions (2050) increased by half than before, and the suitable distribution area moved from Midwest China to Northeast China. This study on the change of species distribution can provide a typical case for the model study on the response of plants to climate change in the north temperate and subtropical zones of East Asia. Meanwhile, it can also give a basis for planting planning, species protection, and management.

Role of dominant tree species on diversity of herbivorous insect community in temperate forests

• Sampled caterpillars from two 0.1 ha plots in temperate forest. • 738 caterpillars from 223 Lepidopteran species on 34 tree species. • Oaks and hornbeams support large Lepidopteran community. • Other species support diverse but specific herbivores. Oak ( Quercus spp.) and hornbeam ( Carpinus spp.) are one of dominant tree species in East Asian temperate broad leaf deciduous forests and many insect species, including more than 65% of Lepidoptera species, feed on these trees. We sampled lepidopteran caterpillars from two 0.1 ha plots in a temperate forest to investigate the role of dominant trees (oaks and hornbeams) in herbivore community. In total, we identified 738 caterpillars from 223 Lepidopteran species on 34 tree species. Most caterpillar species were from species-rich families such as Geometridae 25% (56 spp.), Noctuidae, and Tortricidae. After excluding dominant trees, plant-herbivore network analyses showed increased network specialization and nestedness and decreased generality and vulnerability. These results suggest that oaks and hornbeams support a large Lepidopteran herbivore community, and co-occurring plant species support diverse but specific herbivores. Geographical distribution and plant community are closely related to diversity of the herbivore community. Future work is needed to investigate the likelihood that specialist herbivores become relatively more abundant in the forest as oaks are succeeded by hornbeams.

Practical Implications of Different Phenotypic and Molecular Responses of Evergreen Conifer and Broadleaf Deciduous Forest Tree Species to Regulated Water Deficit in a Container Nursery

Recent climatic changes have resulted in an increased frequency and prolonged periods of drought and strained water resources affecting plant production. We explored the possibility of reducing irrigation in a container nursery and studied the growth responses of seedlings of four economically important forest trees: broadleaf deciduous angiosperms Fagus sylvatica L., Quercus petraea (Matt.) Liebl., and evergreen conifers Abies alba Mill. and Pinus sylvestris L. We also studied markers of water stress including modifications of biomass allocation, leaf anatomy, proline accumulation, and expression of selected genes. Growth of the broadleaved deciduous species was more sensitive to the reduced water supply than that of conifers. Remarkably, growth of the shade tolerant Abies was not affected. Adjustment of biomass allocations was strongest in P. sylvestris, with a remarkable increase in allocation to roots. In response to water deficit both deciduous species accumulated proline in leaves and produced leaves with shorter palisade cells, reduced vascular tissues, and smaller conduit diameters. These responses did not occur in conifers. Relative transcript abundance of a gene encoding the Zn-finger protein in Q. petraea and a gene encoding the pore calcium channel protein 1 in A. alba increased as water deficit increased. Our study shows major differences between functional groups in response to irrigation, with seedlings of evergreen conifers having higher tolerance than the deciduous species. This suggests that major water savings could be achieved by adjusting irrigation regime to functional group or species requirements.

Structure and composition of tree species in tropical moist deciduous forests of Eastern Ghats of Odisha, India, in response to human-induced disturbances

The changes in plant species diversity and community structure in response to human induced disturbances were studied in 12 ha of tropical moist deciduous forest stands of Eastern Ghats of Odisha, India. The forest stands were classified as undisturbed (UD), moderately disturbed (MD) and highly disturbed (HD) categories based on the types and levels of human-induced disturbance. Twenty four transects, each measuring 0.5 ha (5 m × 1000 m) were laid for enumeration of trees with ≥ 30 cm GBH. In total, 5451 trees under 101 species, 78 genera and 37 families were found to occur in the study site. The density of trees and basal area decreased with the increase in the level of disturbance. While the stand density varied in the range of 185.50 in HD stands to 744 stems ha−1 in UD stands, basal area ranged between 12.54 in HD to 36.95 m2 ha−1in UD stands. The number of individuals and number of species per unit area showed a declining trend with increase in girth class. Maximum number of species and density was recorded for trees of low girth class (30–60 cm) in all three stands. Shannon, Simpson, Fisher’s alpha and Margaleff’s indices varied greatly across the three stands experiencing different levels of disturbance. Shannon’s Index varied between 3.20 and 3.42 and Simpson Index ranged from 0.09 to 0.12. The range of variation in Evenness index, Fisher’s alpha index and Margaleff’s index were recorded between 0.75–0.79, 14.45–16.10 and 29.65–34.83, respectively. The diversity of shrub, liana and herb species and regeneration potential of tree species were assessed from two 5 m × 5 m sub-plots located within each transect. Dominance of trees in undisturbed forests, shrubs and lianas in moderately disturbed and herbs in highly disturbed forests were observed. The data generated in the present investigation may prove useful for formulation of appropriate forest management strategies.

Half-Sib Lines of Pedunculate Oak (Quercus robur L.) Respond Differently to Drought Through Biometrical, Anatomical and Physiological Traits

Quercus robur L. is one of the most valued tree species of deciduous temperate forests. However, in the last decade, serious oak declines and loss of adaptation plasticity have been reported throughout Europe as a consequence of drought. Therefore, the aim of the present study was to define the adaptation potential of five Q. robur half-sib lines from the UNESCO Biosphere Reserve Mura-Drava-Danube to drought, using physiological, anatomical and biometrical traits. Half-sib lines that exhibited drought tolerance had particular suites of trait expression regarding biometrical traits (seedling height, root length, root to shoot ratio of dry mass and specific leaf area), leaf stomatal traits (stomatal density per mm2, stomata guard cell length and width, stomatal aperture length and width) and leaf structural traits (adaxial epidermis thickness, palisade parenchyma thickness, spongy parenchyma thickness, lamina thickness). All of the observed parameters of chlorophyll a fluorescence were shown to be good indicators of short-term and severe drought. For the selection of drought-tolerant half-sib lines, all studied chlorophyll a fluorescence parameters associated with the heat dissipation of light energy (coefficient of non-photochemical quenching, quantum yield of regulated energy dissipation, Stern-Volmer type non-photochemical fluorescence quenching) and one parameter related to photochemical dissipation of light energy (effective quantum yield (efficiency) of PS II photochemistry) were proven to be suitable. On the other hand, the coefficient of photochemical quenching, coefficient of photochemical fluorescence quenching assuming interconnected photosystem II antennae and electron transport rate were not suitable for distinguishing the different responses of the studied half-sib lines under drought. The importance of results of the present study is in the selection of drought-tolerant Q. robur half-sib lines for future reforestation programs, particularly in protected areas with sensitive forest management and restricted activities for mitigation of the adverse effects of climate changes.

模拟穿透雨减少对锐齿栎(Quercus aliena var. acuteserrata)树干液流密度的影响

PDF HTML阅读 XML下载 导出引用 引用提醒 模拟穿透雨减少对锐齿栎(Quercus aliena var. acuteserrata)树干液流密度的影响 DOI: 10.5846/stxb201903060423 作者: 作者单位: 作者简介: 通讯作者: 中图分类号: 基金项目: 国际竹藤中心基本科研业务费专项基金项目（1632018002，1632018004，1632017016）；国家重点研发计划（2018YFC0507301） Effects of manipulated throughfall reduction on sap flux density of Quercus aliena var. acuteserrata Author: Affiliation: Fund Project: International Bamboo and Rattan Center"s special funds for basic research and operation fees;National Key R&D Program 摘要 | 图/表 | 访问统计 | 参考文献 | 相似文献 | 引证文献 | 资源附件 | 文章评论 摘要:降水格局变化是全球气候变化的重要特征之一，未来气候变化下，较为频繁和严峻的干旱将威胁地球中纬度部分地区的森林，但森林植被如何响应季节性干旱胁迫及其机制尚不清楚。北亚热带-暖温带过渡区分布着以锐齿栎（Quercus aliena var. acuteserrata）为优势树种的落叶阔叶林，研究其水分蒸腾代谢过程对干旱的响应是评估气候变化对过渡区天然落叶阔叶林生态系统水碳影响的关键科学问题。在典型的锐齿栎天然林中通过开展模拟穿透雨减少大型野外实验，采用Granier热扩散式探针技术监测锐齿栎树干液流密度的动态变化，研究了不同径级锐齿栎树干液流密度对模拟干旱的响应规律。结果表明：（1）穿透雨减少对树干液流密度的影响呈现季节变异。在7月份，林内穿透雨减少显著降低了锐齿栎的树干液流密度，但生长季后期的10月份林内穿透雨减少反而使锐齿栎树干液流密度显著升高。（2）不同径级的锐齿栎树干液流密度在生长季内对干旱有不同的响应，特别是小径级的树干液流密度与其他径级有较多的不同。小径级的锐齿栎树干液流密度在5、7月份表现为减雨样地显著小于对照样地，在9、10月份则表现为减雨样地显著大于对照样地。中径级的锐齿栎树干液流密度在5、10月份表现为减雨样地显著大于对照样地，在7月份则表现为减雨样地极显著小于对照样地。大径级的锐齿栎树干液流密度在6、7月份表现为减雨样地显著小于对照样地，在10月份则表现为减雨样地显著大于对照样地。 Abstract:The change in precipitation pattern is one of the characteristics of global climate change. Some regions at mid-latitude might experience more frequent and severe drought. However, it is unclear how the precipitation change will affect the forest vegetation in those regions. Amongst, Quercus aliena var. acuteserrata is the dominant canopy tree species of deciduous broad-leaved forests in the warm temperate zone of middle China. Understanding the evapotranspiration responses of Q. aliena to drought induced by climate change is crucial to elucidate carbon-water coupling process. In order to explore the warm-temperate deciduous broad-leaved forest response to precipitation change, a manipulated throughfall reduction experiment was conducted in Baotianman National Nature Reserve since 2013. The Granier thermal diffusion probe (TDP) was used to measure the dynamic change of sap flux density of Q. aliena. The results showed that the throughfall reduction had significant effects on the sap flux density (Js) during the growing season. Firstly, the throughfall reduction significantly reduced the sap flux density of Q. aliena in July. However, in the late growing season (October), the throughfall reduction increased the sap flux density of Q. aliena significantly. Therefore, the sap flux density of Q. aliena differently responded to the throughfall reduction among months during the growing season. Secondly, the sap flux density of Q. aliena of different tree sizes showed different responses to drought during the growing season, especially the small trees (diameter at breast height, DBH≤21 cm) was different from that of medium (21 cm 参考文献 相似文献 引证文献

Evaluation of O3 Effects on Cumulative Photosynthetic CO2 Uptake in Seedlings of Four Japanese Deciduous Broad-Leaved Forest Tree Species Based on Stomatal O3 Uptake

The current level of tropospheric ozone (O3) is expected to reduce the net primary production of forest trees. Here, we evaluated the negative effects of O3 on the photosynthetic CO2 uptake of Japanese forest trees species based on their cumulative stomatal O3 uptake, defined as the phytotoxic O3 dose (POD). Seedlings of four representative Japanese deciduous broad-leaved forest tree species (Fagus crenata, Quercus serrata, Quercus mongolica var. crispula and Betula platyphylla var. japonica) were exposed to different O3 concentrations in open-top chambers for two growing seasons. The photosynthesis–light response curves (A-light curves) and stomatal conductance were measured to estimate the leaf-level cumulative photosynthetic CO2 uptake (ΣPn_est) and POD, respectively. The whole-plant-level ΣPn_est were highly correlated with the whole-plant dry mass increments over the two growing seasons. Because whole-plant growth is largely determined by the amount of leaf area per plant and net photosynthetic rate per leaf area, this result suggests that leaf-level ΣPn_est, which was estimated from the monthly A-light curves and hourly PPFD, could reflect the cumulative photosynthetic CO2 uptake of the seedlings per unit leaf area. Although the O3-induced reductions in the leaf-level ΣPn_est were well explained by POD in all four tree species, species-specific responses of leaf-level ΣPn_est to POD were observed. In addition, the flux threshold appropriate for the linear regression of the responses of relative leaf-level ΣPn_est to POD was also species-specific. Therefore, species-specific responses of cumulative photosynthetic CO2 uptake to POD could be used to accurately evaluate O3 impact on the net primary production of deciduous broad-leaved trees.