Mountain National Nature Reserve Research Articles

A survey of Phrurolithidae spiders from Jinggang Mountain National Nature Reserve, Jiangxi Province, China.

Phrurolithidae spiders were collected from Jinggang Mountain National Nature Reserve, Jiangxi Province, China, during the past six years. The new genus Alboculus Liu, gen. nov., with the type species Phrurolithus zhejiangensis Song & Kim, 1991, is described, and its previously unknown male is described for the first time. Furthermore, seven new species of Otacilia are described: O. acutangula Liu, sp. nov. (♂♀), O. bijiashanica Liu, sp. nov. (♂♀), O. longtanica Liu, sp. nov. (♀), O. ovoidea Liu, sp. nov. (♂♀), O. shenshanica Liu, sp. nov. (♂♀), O. subovoidea Liu, sp. nov. (♂♀), and O. xiaoxiica Liu, sp. nov. (♀). All species are illustrated with photographs and their distributions are mapped.

Nonlinear mixed-effects height to crown base model based on both airborne LiDAR and field datasets for Picea crassifolia Kom trees in northwest China

Height to crown base (hcb) is an important tree-level characteristic used for determination of crown size and for prediction of the initiation and propagation potential of crown fires. Crown size variables are often used as input variables for forest growth and yield models. In this study, a nonlinear mixed-effects hcb model was developed using measurements from 510 Picea crassifolia Kom trees in 16 sample plots in the Xishui forest farm of SunanYuguzu Autonomous County, Gansu Qilian Mountain National Nature Reserve, China. The modeling data were based on the airborne light detection and ranging (LiDAR), which serves as a reliable database for large forest areas. In general, field-based measurements are considered relatively more accurate compared with remote sensing data, but the LiDAR database can be applied for large forest area at a relatively low inventory cost when appropriate hcb prediction models are available. Given that measurements from the same sample plots were significantly correlated, we incorporated the random-effect component in the model to account for hcb variations at the sample plot-level. Among several potential predictors evaluated, we observed that diameter at breast height, LiDAR-derived total tree height, LiDAR-derived crown width, and LiDAR-derived plot dominant tree height were highly significant in the nonlinear mixed-effects hcb model. Four strategies for selection of sample trees per sample plot (largest trees, medium-sized trees, smallest trees, and randomly selected trees) and seven sample sizes (two to eight selected trees per sample plot) were evaluated for calibration of our nonlinear mixed-effects hcb model. The empirical best linear unbiased prediction method was applied to estimate the random effects for calibration and sample plot-specific hcb prediction. Calibration results revealed increased accuracy with increased number of selected trees per sample plot. However, selecting many sample trees per sample plot to calibrate the nonlinear mixed-effects hcb model may increase inventory costs with little gain in accuracy. Therefore, we recommended, in our study, that selection of five medium-sized trees per sample plot provides a compromise between measurement cost, model use efficiency, and prediction accuracy.

Understory vegetation should not be ignored in the estimation of forest carbon stocks in Qilian Mountains National Nature Reserve

The Qilian Mountain National Nature Reserve is an important ecological barrier in northwestern China; therefore, it is of great importance to accurately evaluate the carbon storage of its main arbor forest. In this study, the Tianlaochi Basin of Qilian Mountain Nature Reserve was used as the research area to measure the carbon storage of the main arbor forests and determine the relationship between neglect of understory vegetation and errors in estimated carbon storages. The results showed that: (1) The total carbon storages of Picea crassifolia and Sabina przewalskii in Qilian Mountain Nature Reserve were 6.05 × 107 and 9.48 × 106 Mg and the carbon density were 426.07 Mg/hm2 and 338.72 Mg/hm2, respectively. (2) The understory carbon storage of Picea crassifolia and Sabina przewalskii accounted for 7.03% and 5.5% of the total carbon storage, respectively (6.81% combined). When the understory vegetation was neglected, the carbon storage in Qilian Mountain Nature Reserve was estimated to be less than 9.72 × 105 Mg. (3) There are large areas of Picea and Sabina forests worldwide; therefore, ignoring understory vegetation in these systems when estimating the carbon stock will lead to underestimations. Our research can provide a reference when estimating the carbon storage of similar tree species.

Different responses of soil CO2 and N2O emissions to simulated N deposition in forests with divergent N transformation characteristics

AbstractCO2 and N2O are important greenhouse gases that are related to soil mineralization–immobilization turnover and nitrification. To explore the responses of CO2 and N2O emissions to N deposition in forests with different N transformation characteristics, CO2 and N2O fluxes were measured in two NH4NO3 fertilized plots. One plot was in a temperate pine plantation in Heilongjiang Liangshui National Nature Reserve (LS) with slow and minimally coupled mineralization–immobilization turnover and a high nitrification rate. The other plot was in a subtropical bamboo forest in the Fujian Daiyun Mountain National Nature Reserve (DY) in China with rapid and coupled mineralization–immobilization turnover but a low nitrification rate. The results showed that CO2 emissions in the DY with a high mineralization rate were greater than those in the LS. Cumulative CO2 emissions were significantly enhanced by N addition in DY, but in LS, they were not affected. The mean N2O fluxes in the control were 0.010 and 0.008 mg N m−2 hr−1 for LS and DY, respectively. High N addition stimulated N2O emissions in both LS and DY, but the response ratio for N2O flux in LS (8.6) was larger than that in DY (2.9). These results suggested that soils with rapid and coupled mineralization–immobilization turnover are beneficial to CO2 emissions and their positive response to N deposition. A high nitrification rate contributed to high N2O emissions and the sensitive response of N2O emissions to N deposition.

Description of two new species of Tonsilla Wang & Yin, 1992 with an updated key to species (Araneae, Agelenidae).

Two new species of Tonsilla Wang & Yin, 1992 are described from Jinggang Mountain National Nature Reserve, Jiangxi Province, China: T.jinggangensis K. Liu & X. Xu, sp. nov. (♀) and T.subyanlingensis K. Liu & X. Xu, sp. nov. (♂♀). The new species are illustrated, and their distributions are mapped. Detailed generic characters and an updated key to Tonsilla species are also given.

Assessing temporal trends of soil erosion and sediment redistribution in the Hexi Corridor region using the integrated RUSLE-TLSD model

Accurately evaluating soil water-erosion dynamics and drivers is crucial for mitigating soil and water loss. To simulate the potential or net soil erosion process in China’s Hexi region (a 2.3 × 105 km2 area including three river basins), this study attempted to integrate the transport limited sediment delivery (TLSD) function within the revised universal soil loss equation (RUSLE) model (the spatial resolution of the maps was 90 × 90 m). A geographically weighted regression model was used to evaluate the contribution of influencing factors to the net water-erosion rate and the soil and water conservation benefits of the “Grain to Green Program” (GTGP) (The area proportion of land types in 2015: 6.84% (cultivated land), 3.48% (forest land), 21.68% (grassland), 66.69% (unused land), 0.75% (water), and 0.56% (construction land). The results revealed that the RUSLE-TLSD model could reliably simulate the soil erosion process in Hexi (the Nash-Sutcliffe model efficiency coefficient exceeded 0.602). The potential water erosion rate was between 6.24 and 31.01 t/ha/a from 1982 to 2015, and the net water erosion rate declined slightly, with a slope of −0.0029. Water erosion was severe in high-altitude areas (altitude > 3306 m) with slopes of more than 21° and annual precipitation above 235 mm and weak in low-altitude areas (altitude <1920 m) with slopes less than 4° and annual precipitation below 114 mm. Nearly 10% of the Qilian Mountain National Nature Reserve (QMNNR) areas experienced intensive erosion, and nearly 29% of the QMNNR areas experienced sediment deposition. Slope was the primary factor affecting soil erosion. Extreme precipitation directly aggravated the water-erosion risk, and this factor should be given increased attention particularly in arid and semi-arid regions. The GTGP effectively reduced water soil erosion caused by extreme precipitation and improved water retention and soil consolidation in Hexi.

Effects of seasonal variation on soil microbial community structure and enzyme activity in a Masson pine forest in Southwest China

Soil microbial communities and enzyme activities play key roles in soil ecosystems. Both are sensitive to changes in environmental factors, including seasonal temperature, precipitation variations and soil properties. To understand the interactive mechanisms of seasonal changes that affect soil microbial communities and enzyme activities in a subtropical masson pine (Pinus massoniana) forest, we investigated the soil microbial community structure and enzyme activities to identify the effect of seasonal changes on the soil microbial community for two years in Jinyun Mountain National Nature Reserve, Chongqing, China. The soil microbial community structure was investigated using phospholipid fatty acids (PLFAs). The results indicated that a total of 36 different PLFAs were identified, and 16:0 was found in the highest proportions in the four seasons, moreover, the total PLFAs abundance were highest in spring and lowest in winter. Bacteria and actinomycetes were the dominant types in the study area. Seasonal changes also had a significant (P < 0.05) influence on the soil enzyme activity. The maximum and minimum values of the invertase and catalase activities were observed in autumn and winter, respectively. However, the maximum and minimum values of the urease and phosphatase acid enzymatic activities were found in spring and winter, respectively. Canonical correspondence analysis (CCA) analysis revealed that the seasonal shifts in soil community composition and enzyme activities were relatively more sensitive to soil moisture and temperature, but the microbial community structure and enzyme activity were not correlated with soil pH in the study region. This study highlights how the seasonal variations affect the microbial community and function (enzyme activity) to better understand and predict microbial responses to future climate regimes in subtropical area.

&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;A new species of &lt;em&gt;Craterium&lt;/em&gt; (Myxomycetes, Physaraceae) growing on living grass and new records of the genus from China&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

A new species of Craterium (C. subpurpurea) collected in the Changbai Mountain National Nature Reserve, Jilin Province, northeastern China, is described. The fruiting bodies of C. subpurpurea are long cylindrical with distinct ridges, with large spinulose spores (8–10 μm diam.) as well as a persistent purplish pale peridium at the base of the sporotheca. A newly described species, C. aureonuleatum, has been documented in China for the first time, based on material collected from the Shennongjia National Nature Reserve, Hubei Province and the Gexigou National Nature Reserve, Sichuan Province. Craterium aureonuleatum is characterized by a yellowish pseudocolumella at the apex of the sporocarp and a persistent cup-like peridium when mature. Descriptions and scanning electron micrographs for these members of the genus Craterium are provided.

Trial marriage model-Female mate choice under male interference.

In sexually reproducing animals, the process of mate choice by females is often mixed with the process of male-male competition. Current models of female male choice focus mainly on how females identify the higher quality of males, but neglect the effect of male-male competition on the mate choice of females. Therefore, it remains controversial what is the relative importance of two processes in forming a social bond. We propose a new 'trial marriage' model for females' mate choice. The model assumes that females unconditionally accept any male they first encounter as their mating partner, and then conditionally switch mates to a new male of higher quality than their current partner when male-male competition occurs. This model was tested in the green weevil Hypomeces squamosus by exploring how females switched mates when males' mating interference was experimentally induced. The likelihood that females switched mates, as well as their conditional acceptance criteria of a new mate, was both raised with the intensity of males' mating interference that was manipulated in an enhanced encounter rate experiment, and in male introduction or stepwise removal experiments. These experimental findings confirm that a 'trial marriage' strategy occurs during females' mate choice. Compared with other strategies, it is more beneficial for females to choose a better mate without paying the costs of identifying males as suggested by the 'trial marriage' strategy. More importantly, using the current partner quality as the conditional acceptance threshold of new mates, females can choose better males in future encounters with potential mates. In the green weevils, males' preference for larger females and the higher possibility of the largest male winning an interference are mixed together when males' mating interference reaches a higher intensity. Therefore, the consequence of a male interference will determine which male could be chosen by a female. Under this condition, conditional acceptance of the winner becomes the most beneficial strategy of females in choosing their mates. We thus suggest that the 'trial marriage' strategy would be more efficient when males' mating interference becomes the determinant factor of females' mate choice.

Effects of Different Forest Vegetation Types on Soil Nitrogen-Related Microbial Communities and Functions in Jinyun Mountain

To clarify the response of a nitrogen-related microbial community and function to different vegetation types in subtropical forest, soil samples were collected for analysis from the topsoil of five vegetation types in the Jinyun Mountain National Nature Reserve, i.e., coniferous forest, broadleaf forest, mixed broadleaf-coniferous forest, P. pubescen forest, and grassland. To analyze the microbial abundance, community, and function discrepancy between different vegetation soils, multiple molecular techniques, such as terminal restriction fragment length polymorphism (T-RFLP) and quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) analysis, and nitrogen-related microbial enzyme activity procedures were used. The results showed:① The denitrifying enzyme activity was much higher than nitrifying potential in Jinyun Mountain National Nature Reserve, and the two enzyme activities were much lower in coniferous forest soil than in the other vegetation soils (P<0.05). In addition, dissolved organic carbon, soil water content, and total nitrogen were the key environmental factors controlling enzyme activity. ② The qPCR data showed that the abundance of nitrogen-related microbes was highest in P. pubescen forest, whereas it was lowest in coniferous forest. The abundances of the three nitrogen-related microbes were all significantly correlated with dissolved organic carbon, total nitrogen, available nitrogen, total potassium, and available potassium (P<0.01). ③ Based on T-RFLP data, the α-diversity of nitrogen-related microbes was highest in broadleaf forest, whereas it was lowest in P. pubescen forest. Principal co-ordinates analysis (PCoA) showed that the community structure of ammonia-oxidizing archaea responded significantly to different vegetations, and the community structure of nitrogen-related microbes showed the most difference in coniferous forest. In addition, distance-based redundancy analysis (db-RDA) showed that the community structure of nitrogen-related microbes was mainly shaped by dissolved organic carbon (P<0.001), available nitrogen (P<0.002), and soil water content (P<0.001). ④ Soil-denitrifying enzyme activity was mainly affected by the abundance of nirS-denitrifiers, ammonia-oxidizing archaea, and the community structure of nitrogen-related microbes, whereas nitrifying potential was only controlled by the abundance of ammonia-oxidizing archaea. Above all, subtropical forest vegetation significantly affects the abundance and community structure of soil nitrogen-related microbes, thereby changing their function of controlling the soil nitrogen cycle. This study can provide basic data for the coupling mechanism between soil microbes and N2O release in subtropical forests in China.

Relationship between Pinus taiwanensis seedling regeneration and the spatial heterogeneity of soil nitrogen in Daiyun Mountain, southeast China

• Regeneration of Pinus taiwanensis seedling conforms aggregated distribution. • Soil nitrogen shows mosaic-type distribution. • Regeneration of P. taiwanensis seedling prefers habitat with high soil nitrogen. Forest soil plays vital importance on plant community pattern formation, ecosystem productivity and ecological restoration. The relationship between the regeneration of Pinus taiwanensis seedling and the heterogeneity of soil nitrogen (N) in Daiyun Mountain National Nature Reserve (DYMNNR) were determined using geo-statistics method and geographic information system (GIS) technology. The results showed the regeneration of P. taiwanensis seedlings conformed aggregated distribution. The contents of soil total nitrogen (TN), available nitrogen (AN), nitrate nitrogen (NO 3 − -N) and ammonium nitrogen (NH 4 + -N) presented moderate variability. The optimum semivariance model for TN and AN were spherical model, while those of NO 3 − -N and NH 4 + -N were exponential model. The N heterogeneity mainly dominated by spatial autocorrelation ranging from 11.06 to 21.30 m. The distribution of TN, AN, NO 3 − -N and NH 4 + -N was anisotropic, and an obvious mosaic pattern of distribution appeared with zonal and patchy characteristics. High levels of N all appeared in the central, south central, and southeast directions of the study plot, while lower levels of TN and AN distributed in the southwest and north central directions. Low levels of NO 3 − -N and NH 4 + -N were mainly located in the eastern and western directions of the study plot, respectively. Higher N resulted in better survival possibility for P. taiwanensis seedlings, which displayed obvious habitat preferences. This study provides guidance relating to soil sampling design and the practice of natural management of P. taiwanensis forest.

Assessing fractional vegetation cover changes and ecological quality of the Wuyi Mountain National Nature Reserve based on remote sensing spatial information

The Wuyi Mountain National Nature Reserve (WYS), established in 1979, is the largest and most intact subtropical forest ecosystem in southeastern China. No study has assessed the vegetation coverage change along with its ecological effect after the protection of the reserve for almost 40 years. In this study, the NDVI data of Landsat Image was corrected using the NDVI data of MODIS, the fractional vegetation cover (FVC) and the remote sensing based ecological index (RSEI) were calculated to assess the change of FVC and ecological quality in WYS with five Landsat images representing a period from 1979 to 2017. The results showed that after protection for nearly 40 years the FVC of the reserve had been significantly increased from 73.6% in 1979 to 89.5% in 2017, which consequently improved ecological quality from 0.801 in 1988 to 0.823 in 2017. In 2017, the area with the good and excellent ecological quality grades accounted for 98.7% of the total. Spatially, the ecologically-improved areas mainly distributed in the northeast core area and the center of the southwest core area. The ecologically-declined areas mostly occurred along roadsides and peaks. Vertically, the highest FVC and ecological quality areas distributed in the elevations between 1300-1900 m. In general, the improvement of FVC and ecological quality in the Wuyi Mountain National Nature Reserve was due largely to the effective policies and the successful protection by local government and people, except for some special year that may be affected mainly by climate conditions.

模拟酸雨对我国亚热带毛竹林土壤呼吸及微生物多样性的影响

PDF HTML阅读 XML下载 导出引用 引用提醒 模拟酸雨对我国亚热带毛竹林土壤呼吸及微生物多样性的影响 DOI: 10.5846/stxb201905241073 作者: 作者单位: 作者简介: 通讯作者: 中图分类号: 基金项目: 国家自然科学基金项目（31770680）；浙江省自然科学基金项目（LY15C160005，LQ19C160013） Effects of simulated acid rain on soil respiration and microbial diversity in Moso bamboo forest in subtropical China Author: Affiliation: Fund Project: The National Natural Science Foundation of China (General Program, Key Program, Major Research Plan)，Zhejiang Provincial Natural Science Foundation 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:酸沉降造成的土壤持续酸化对毛竹林生态系统碳循环具有重要的影响，为量化酸沉降我国亚热带毛竹林土壤的影响，于2016年在浙江省杭州临安天目山国家级自然保护区毛竹林持续开展了2年野外模拟酸雨淋溶土壤实验，设置pH 4.0（T1）和pH 2.0（T2）两个模拟酸雨处理，以pH 5.8天然湖水为对照（CK），分析酸雨作用下土壤CO2排放及土壤微生物多样性的变化趋势，并明确毛竹林土壤呼吸、土壤微生物及土壤理化性质三者之间的关系。结果表明：土壤呼吸速率在酸雨作用下经过缓冲期后呈现先促进后抑制的变化，作用强度表现为：T2>T1。不同处理的土壤呼吸对温度的敏感性由高到低依次是：T2、CK、T1。PCR-DGGE分析表明，模拟酸雨改变了土壤微生物菌群结构，T2处理抑制了土壤细菌的多样性和丰富度，而T1处理对土壤真菌多样性和丰富度具有促进作用。土壤pH值、有效钾、可溶有机碳、微生物量碳、碱解氮和有效磷对土壤微生物群落结构及土壤呼吸具有显著的影响（P<0.05）。综上所述，模拟酸雨能够显著抑制毛竹林的土壤呼吸，并改变土壤微生物群落结构及多样性，这些结果为进一步研究毛竹林土壤生态系统对环境问题响应机制提供理论基础。 Abstract:Acid rain is an important phenomena in global climate change and it can strongly influence forest ecology. Many studies have shown the impacts of acid rain on soil respiration, but the results are very different due to the different species and environmental conditions. The persistent acidification of soil caused by acid rain has an important impact on the carbon cycle of the Moso bamboo forest ecosystem. To quantify the effect of acid rain on the soil ecosystem of Moso bamboo forest in subtropical China, the experiment of soil by simulated acid rain in the field was carried out for two years of 2016-2018. Two treatments of the simulated acid rain with pH value of 4.0 (T1) and 2.0 (T2) were set, at the same time taking pH value of 5.8 (CK) as control. The relationship between soil CO2 emission and soil microbial diversity in the Moso bamboo forest of Tianmu Mountain National Nature Reserve under the simulated acid rain was analyzed, and the relationship between soil respiration, soil microbial and soil physical and chemical properties in subtropical Moso bamboo forest was determined. The results showed that soil respiration rate increased firstly and then decreased after the buffer period under the action of acid rain, and the intensity of the action was T2>T1. The sensitivity of soil respiration to temperature in different treatments from high to low was T2, CK, T1, and increased seasonally with increasing temperature. PCR-DGGE analysis showed that strong acid rain treatment inhibited the growth of soil bacterial community and the order of soil bacteria diversity and richness from high to low was CK, T1, and T2. The weak acid rain had a positive effect on the diversity and abundance of soil fungi, and the opposite was strong acid rain. The effects of acid rain resulted in the decrease or disappearance of Bacillus, Caulobacter, Cystobacteraceae, Bradyrhizobium and Candida, as well as inhibiting soil respiration, while Carnobacterium, Propionibacterium, and Clostridium played greater roles in soil respiration under the simulated acid rain. Soil pH, available potassium, soluble organic carbon and microbial biomass carbon were closely and positively correlated with the soil microbial community structure under simulated acid rain treatment, while alkali nitrogen and available phosphorus were negatively correlated with the soil microbial community structure. In general, simulated acid rain can significantly inhibit soil respiration in Moso bamboo forests, and change soil microbial community structure and diversity. These results provide theoretical basis for further study on the response mechanism of soil ecosystem of Moso bamboo forest to environmental problems. 参考文献 相似文献 引证文献

Life form dynamics of the tree layer in evergreen and deciduous broad-leaved mixed forest during 1996–2017 in Tianmu Mountains, eastern China

In the forest areas of eastern China, there is a change from forest dominated by deciduous broad-leaved trees to forest dominated by evergreen broad-leaved trees as the latitude or altitude decreases. Different life forms have different survival strategies to deal with climate change, and studying the life form dynamics of the tree layers in the mixed forest in eastern China, with increasing temperature, can help us understand how the forest responds. This study was performed in a 1 ha plot in evergreen and deciduous broad-leaved mixed forest in Tianmu Mountain National Nature Reserve. Based on the data from two surveys (1996 and 2017), the changes in life form composition and biodiversity over the past 21 years were analyzed. We obtained the following results: (1) The proportion of evergreen trees increased from 55.0% in 1996 to 67.5% in 2017, and the dominance of evergreen species was enhanced. (2) The diversity of both life forms increased, and the tree species were more abundant. (3) The average annual recruitment rate of the evergreen species was 2.1% greater than their mortality rate, and the average annual recruitment rate of the deciduous species was 0.5% less than their mortality rate. (4) The competition among the trees in the small-diameter class (10 cm ≤ DBH &lt; 20 cm) was fierce for many tree species. The proportion of the evergreen species in the small-diameter class was high. The life forms making up the mixed climax forest community has changed over the past 21 years, with the proportion and dominance of evergreen trees increasing significantly.

Butterfly community structure and species-abundance distribution in different habitats in the Xinglong Mountains National Nature Reserve

Butterfly community structure and species-abundance distribution in different habitats in the Xinglong Mountains National Nature Reserve

Mapping Spatial Variations of Structure and Function Parameters for Forest Condition Assessment of the Changbai Mountain National Nature Reserve

Forest condition is the baseline information for ecological evaluation and management. The National Forest Inventory of China contains structural parameters, such as canopy closure, stand density and forest age, and functional parameters, such as stand volume and soil fertility. Conventionally forest conditions are assessed through parameters collected from field observations, which could be costly and spatially limited. It is crucial to develop modeling approaches in mapping forest assessment parameters from satellite remote sensing. This study mapped structure and function parameters for forest condition assessment in the Changbai Mountain National Nature Reserve (CMNNR). The mapping algorithms, including statistical regression, random forests, and random forest kriging, were employed with predictors from Advanced Land Observing Satellite (ALOS)-2, Sentinel-1, Sentinel-2 satellite sensors, digital surface model of ALOS, and 1803 field sampled forest plots. Combined predicted parameters and weights from principal component analysis, forest conditions were assessed. The models explained spatial dynamics and characteristics of forest parameters based on an independent validation with all r values above 0.75. The root mean square error (RMSE) values of canopy closure, stand density, stand volume, forest age and soil fertility were 4.6%, 33.8%, 29.4%, 20.5%, and 14.3%, respectively. The mean assessment score suggested that forest conditions in the CMNNR are mainly resulted from spatial variations of function parameters such as stand volume and soil fertility. This study provides a methodology on forest condition assessment at regional scales, as well as the up-to-date information for the forest ecosystem in the CMNNR.

The Impacts of Place Attachment on Environmentally Responsible Behavioral Intention and Satisfaction of Chinese Nature-Based Tourists

Increasing visits to protected areas in China have drawn public attention on the negative impacts on ecologically sensitive areas. Understanding potential determinants of the environmentally responsible behavioral intention of nature-based tourists has become a common focus in tourism studies. Scholars seek to explore potential determinants of visitors’ behavior, and the findings can be referenced by the managers of protected areas to formulate visitor management strategies. On the basis of a sample of 402 questionnaires collected in protected areas in South China, namely, Nanling National Forest Park and Dinghu Mountain National Nature Reserve, we explore the association between visitors’ place attachment and their satisfaction and environmentally responsible behavioral intention. The results show that place dependence and place identity are positively correlated with the satisfaction and environmentally responsible behavioral intention of visitors; thus, our results differ from those of previous studies on Western visitors. The lack of significant results regarding place social bonding revealed the shortcomings associated with visitor management in China’s protected areas. Chinese culture has a great influence on various findings in this study. All of the findings provide significant insights for management and policy-making regarding protected areas worldwide to accommodate the rising number of nature-based visitors to China.

Conflict between nature reserves and surrounding communities in China: An empirical study based on a social and ecological system framework

The conflicts between nature reserves and surrounding communities are attracting growing attention. These conflicts, through complexities of resource, socio-economic, and governance conditions, are produced through interactive processes. We report a case study of Taibai Mountain National Nature Reserve in Shaanxi, China, where we employ Ostrom's Social and Ecological System framework and conflict theory, in context of a high motivation of investment in rural China. The results reveal that social and ecological systems in each of the three examined villages were varied with respect to natural resource systems and units, actors, governance, and degrees of reserve-village conflicts. The competing interests of using reserve resources for both conservation and tourism generated a high level of conflict in Hetaoping Village. Changhushan village showed low levels of conflict. This was due to a polycentric governance system with strong self-organization and networking processes, along with well-planned investment and rational harvesting of natural resources outside the nature reserve. This allowed Changhushan to utilize their resources in multiple ways, with relatively lower conflict. Dali village had medium level of conflict. Upon the reserve's creation, the government had included the village's forest within the reserve without feasible economic compensation or effective means of conflict resolution. These decisions have severely limited the capacity of the current nature reserve administration. Our study indicated that nature reserves and their surrounding villages could coexist well when polycentric governance played roles in both curbing emerging conflicts and solving existing ones. We discuss policy implications to foster environmentally friendly economies and polycentric governance for all village's social and ecological systems.

Disporum nanchuanense (Colchicaceae), a new species from Chongqing, China.

Disporum nanchuanense (Colchicaceae), a new species from Jinfo Mountain National Nature Reserve, Nanchuan District, Chongqing, China, is described and illustrated. It is similar to D. longistylum and D. megalanthum, but differs from the former in its stem branched type, tepals colour and size, stamens and pistil size; and it differs from the latter in inflorescence position, tepals shape, stamens position, pistil position and size. Meanwhile, the new taxon is assessed as Vulnerable (VU D2), according to the IUCN Red List criteria. Furthermore, an identification key to all Chinese species of Disporum is provided.

Impacts of climate change and human factors on land cover change in inland mountain protected areas: a case study of the Qilian Mountain National Nature Reserve in China.

Over the past few decades, natural reserves have been affected by both climate change and human activities, and their land cover has changed dramatically, especially in mountain reserves, which are more sensitive to climate change and human activities. This paper used long-term Landsat and MODIS NDVI remote sensing data to monitor the changes of land cover and vegetation conditions in the Qilian Mountain National Nature Reserve (QMNNR) in China from 1975 to 2015, and analysed the impacts of climate change and human activities in combination with meteorological and socioeconomic data. The results show that the land cover structure of the QMNNR has remained stable over the past 40years, but the total area of natural vegetation has decreased by 49.55km2, the artificial surface and cropland has expanded by 13.68 and 32.57km2 in some areas, respectively, and the glacier has retreated by 33.34km2 as a whole. The warming and humidification trend of the climate is the leading factor for glacial retreat and the improvement of the overall vegetation condition, while population growth and economic benefits lead to the expansion of cropland and artificial surfaces in some areas, thus causing the reduction of 18.80 and 28.30km2 in shrubland and grassland. This study proves that the system of protected areas plays a key role in maintaining the stability of the ecosystem structure and that reducing the population density around the protected areas and changing the mode of economic development can effectively reduce the intensity of human interference. Under the background of climate warming, the change of the ecosystem function in mountain protected areas is full of uncertainty, so management and protection strategies need to be studied in depth.