Secondary Deciduous Broad-leaved Forest Research Articles

Soil seed bank composition of three forest stands at different developmental stages in a warm-temperate forest in western Japan

ABSTRACTWe investigated the composition of buried viable seeds for woody species in three forest stands in a warm-temperate forest at different developmental stages: a secondary deciduous broad-leaved forest, an evergreen broad-leaved forest where an evergreen oak became dominant recently, and a well-developed evergreen broad-leaved forest. Although no clear relationship was found between total density or species number of buried viable seeds for woody species and the stands, their composition was likely to change from being dominated by wind-dispersed species to frugivore-dispersed species in accordance with their developmental stage. For wind-dispersed species, the distribution of buried viable seed was related to the existence of their reproductive adults, which would significantly decrease as forest development. In the later developmental stage of the stands, buried viable seeds of frugivore-dispersed woody species significantly increased and their distribution tended to be even. It is suggested that the importance of frugivore-dispersed woody species may increase in a soil seed bank as forest stand development progressed in a warm-temperate secondary forest, where evergreen oaks usually become dominant.

Community characteristics and stability analysis of secondary deciduous broad-leaved forest in Mopan Mountains, Jilin Province, China.

The secondary deciduous broad-leaved forests in northeastern China were generally regenerated from the disturbed broad-leaved Korean pine forests, which are widely distributed in Changbai Mountains area. To understand their composition, structure and stability, a 5.76 hm2(240 m × 240 m) forest plot was established in the Mopan Mountains, Jilin Province in 2005, following the standards of the Center for Tropical Forest Science (CTFS). In this study, we analyzed the species composition, size class structure, survival curves of the main tree species and community stability of all woody plants with DBH ≥1 cm. The results showed that a total of 13368 individuals with DBH ≥1 cm were found, belonging to 39 species, 31 genera and 19 families. There were 12 species with importance value ≥1. The species composition was complex, with obvious characteristics of mixed broad-leaved forest. The abundance varied significantly among different species. The rare species and occasional species accounted for 23.1% and 43.6% of the total number of the species, respectively. The size distribution of all individuals showed a reverse "J" shape, which indicated that the community was in a stable and normal growth status. Fraxinus rhynchophylla, Quercus mongolica, Acer mono, and Maackia amurensis out of the six major species fitted reverse "J" form, Juglans manshurica showed an approximately normal distribution, and Ulmus japonica showed a "L" shape distribution. The survival curves of the six major tree species showed that the populations of F. rhynchophylla, Q. mongolica, A. mono, and M. amurensis were stable, J. mandshurica was declining, and U. japonica was growing. Results from the stability analysis of M-Godron indicated that the community was relatively stable at present.

Impacts of human activities on species diversity, species composition and cover of pteridophytes : A comparison of natural evergreen broad-leaved forests and secondary deciduous broad-leaved forests in south Yunnan, China

Impacts of human activities on species diversity, species composition and cover of pteridophytes : A comparison of natural evergreen broad-leaved forests and secondary deciduous broad-leaved forests in south Yunnan, China

Relation between species composition and human disturbances in secondary deciduous broad-leaved forests in an agricultural landscape in the southeastern part of Jilin Province, Northeast China

Relation between species composition and human disturbances in secondary deciduous broad-leaved forests in an agricultural landscape in the southeastern part of Jilin Province, Northeast China

Changes in understory species occurrence of a secondary broadleaved forest after mass mortality of oak trees under deer foraging pressure.

The epidemic of mass mortality of oak trees by Japanese oak wilt has affected secondary deciduous broadleaved forests that have been used as coppices in Japan. The dieback of oak trees formed gaps in the crown that would be expected to enhance the regeneration of shade-intolerant pioneer species. However, foraging by sika deer Cervus nippon has also affected forest vegetation, and the compound effects of both on forest regeneration should be considered when they simultaneously occur. A field study was conducted in Kyôto City, Japan to investigate how these compound effects affected the vegetation of the understory layer of these forests. The presence/absence of seedlings and saplings was observed for 200 quadrats sized 5 m ×5 m for each species in 1992, before the mass mortality and deer encroachment, and in 2014 after these effects. A hierarchical Bayesian model was constructed to explain the occurrence, survival, and colonization of each species with their responses to the gaps that were created, expanded, or affected by the mass mortality of Quercus serrata trees. The species that occurred most frequently in 1992, Eurya japonica, Quercus glauca, and Cleyera japonica, also had the highest survival probabilities. Deer-unpalatable species such as Symplocos prunifolia and Triadica sebifera had higher colonization rates in the gaps, while the deer-palatable species Aucuba japonica had the smallest survival probability. The gaps thus promoted the colonization of deer-unpalatable plant species such as Symplocos prunifolia and Triadica sebifera. In the future, such deer-unpalatable species may dominate gaps that were created, expanded, or affected by the mass mortality of oak trees.

Comparison of fine-scale spatial genetic structure of two sympatricRhododendronshrub species in forest habitat having different seed weights: A case study

AbstractRestricted seed dispersal is one of the most prevalent determinants of spatial genetic structure (SGS) at a fine spatial scale within a plant population.Rhododendron kaempferiandR. semibarbatumare common and coexistent Ericaceous species in the shrub layer of secondary deciduous broad-leaved forests in the northern Kanto District, central Japan. The two species have entomophilous flowers and are thought to have similar pollination styles. However,R. kaempferiproduces threefold heavier seeds thanR. semibarbatum. Therefore, we tested the hypothesis that the intensity of SGS was stronger inR. kaempferithan inR. semibarbatumin a forest stand. We comparatively examined the SGS for 73 individuals ofR. kaempferiand 36 individuals ofR. semibarbatumby using highly variable nuclear microsatellite loci. The analysis revealed significant SGS in both species at the shortest distance (<3 m); a measure to quantify SGS showed a counterintuitive result:R. semibarbatumexhibited stronger SGS thanR. kaempferi. This result might be explained by the ecological consequences ofR. semibarbatumproducing lighter seeds, which might have greater dispersal efficacy, but its safe sites could be more restricted than those ofR. kaempferi; in contrast,R. kaempferiproducing heavier seeds might have more limited seed dispersal, but its safe sites for seedling establishment could be more prevalent than those forR. semibarbatum. The different strategies for the trade-off between seed weight and site selection of the twoRhododendronspecies might be reflected in the difference in the intensity of SGS in this study plot.

How do changes in forest stand development affect frugivorous bird abundance and fruit removal in warm-temperate forests of western Japan?

To better understand how plant–frugivore interactions change in relation to forest stand development, we investigated the abundance and species composition of frugivorous bird assemblages, and their fruit removal over several years in three warm-temperate forest stands. All stands were located in an urban forested area of western Japan, and each was at a different developmental stage: a secondary deciduous broad-leaved forest stand (DB), an evergreen broad-leaved forest stand where an evergreen oak became dominant recently (EB-I), and a well-developed evergreen broad-leaved forest stand (EB-II). Although the species richness and Shannon diversity indices of frugivorous birds did not vary among the three stands, the abundance of birds was almost always greatest in the EB-II stand, lowest in the DB stand, and intermediate in the EB-I stand. Generalized linear mixed model analyses using data on monthly fruit availability and the number of frugivorous birds observed in censuses showed that forest stand differences had a significant effect on the abundance of frugivorous birds, whereas fruit availability had no significant positive influence on bird abundance. Fruit removal was most intensive in the EB-II stand, where both fruit and bird abundance were highest, followed by the EB-I stand, where bird abundance was intermediate but fruit abundance was lowest. Our study demonstrates that increasing structural complexity during forest stand development likely had positive effects on the abundance of frugivorous birds, which in turn influenced fruit removal in this urban forested area. Hence, a positive feedback mechanism of plant–bird interactions would exist for the development of forest stands.

Litterfall and nutrient return in moist evergreen broad-leaved primary forest and mixed subtropical secondary deciduous broad-leaved forest in China

Litterfall plays an important role in carbon and nutrient cycling of a forest ecosystem which is generally affected by climate, vegetation, forest type and age. The majority of the subtropical forests of China are occurring in nutrient poor environment, and thus there is a need to understand the role of litterfall on the recycling of C and nutrients in these forests for their proper management. We measured litter production, and carbon and nutrient return in an evergreen broad-leaved primary forest (Mt. Ailao, SW China) and a deciduous broad-leaved secondary forest (Mt. Damei, East China). The annual litterfall productions were 1124 and 490 g m−2 at the primary evergreen forest and secondary deciduous forest, respectively. Carbon return in primary evergreen forest was approximately three times greater than that in secondary deciduous forest. Litter N concentrations in the secondary deciduous forest were higher than that of the primary evergreen forest and consequently, the use efficiency of N of the secondary deciduous forest was lower than the primary evergreen forest. This reflects a stronger nutrient conservation mechanism in the primary evergreen forest than in the secondary forest.

年輪解析による落葉広葉樹二次林の成立過程の推定

年輪解析による落葉広葉樹二次林の成立過程の推定

北関東における落葉採取林と未採取林のオサムシ科甲虫群集

北関東における落葉採取林と未採取林のオサムシ科甲虫群集

Seasonal dynamics in leaf area index in three typical temperate montane forests of China: a comparison of multi-observation methods

Aims Leaf area index(LAI)is one of the most frequently used parameters for analysis of canopy structure and forest productivity.It can be determined by direct or indirect methods.Sources of errors in indirect LAI measure-ments with optical instruments include non-photosynthetic components,element clumping,and a topography ef-fect.Our objective was to find an appropriate method for evaluating LAI and its seasonal dynamics in typical temperate montane forest.Methods We examined the applicability of three indirect methods(LAI-2000 plant canopy analyzer,CI-110 plant canopy analyzer and digital hemispherical photograph(DHP))and one direct method(litterfall)to determine the seasonal dynamics of LAI in three typical temperate forests in Dongling Mountain of Beijing.The forests in-cluded a secondary deciduous broad-leaved forest dominated by Quercus mongolica and two plantations(Larix gmelinii var.principis-rupprechtii and Pinus tabuliformis).These represent deciduous broad-leaved forest,de-ciduous needle-leaved forest and evergreen needle-leaved forest,respectively.The optically-based effective leaf area index(LAIe)values were corrected to eliminate wood elements and clumping effects and then compared with the direct measurement of LAI based on litter collection.Important findings For all the three forests,the LAI seasonal dynamic shows a uni-modal pattern with a peak in July.Optically-based LAIe underestimated the amplitude of the seasonal dynamics.Wood element elimination can strengthen the seasonal sensitivity of LAI,especially in the seasonally distinct deciduous forest.The order of LAIe measured by the three optically-based methods in three stands is LAI-2000 plant canopy analyzerDHP CI-110 plant canopy analyzer.There was good correspondence with the direct measurement LAI for the corrected LAI of LAI-2000 plant canopy analyzer and DHP.The correction method based on gap-size distribution was ap-propriate for the LAI-2000 plant canopy analyzer and the method based on both gap fraction and gap-size distri-bution for DHP.Considering economics and practical convenience,we recommend DHP for LAI evaluation in these temperate montane forests.

Analysis of forest damage caused by the snow and ice chaos along a transect across southern China in spring 2008

An abrupt ice and snow storm disaster which occurred in the spring of 2008 severely destroyed forests over a surprisingly large portion of southern China. A transect crossing Jinggang Mountain-Jitai Basin-Yushan Mountain-Wuyi Mountain was selected as the study area. The authors integrated field data collected in two field surveys to analyze the impacts of the disturbance on forests. The following results were obtained. (1) The extent of damage to plantations along the transect decreased in the order of slash pine > masson pine > mixed plantation > Chinese fir. Slash pine is an introduced species from southern America which is characterized by fast growth, low wood quality and rich oleoresin, and showed a damage rate of 61.3% of samples, of which 70.4% cannot recover naturally. Masson pine is the native pioneer species of forests with harder wood, and 52.5% were damaged due to turpentine, of which 60.9% cannot recovery naturally. Chinese fir is a local tree species and samples showed a rate of 46% and a relative rate of 32.5%, lower than the mixed plantation. (2) From west to east along the transect, we can see that evergreen broad-leaved forest of the western transect on Jinggang Mountain showed the lightest damage extent, and a Cryptomeria plantation at an altitude of 700 m was severely destroyed while Chinese fir showed light damage below 700 m and relatively severe damage above 900 m. Masson pine and slash pine in the central transect in Jitai Basin were damaged severely due to turpentine activities, and closed natural secondary deciduous broad-leaved forest was damaged severely due to high ice and snow accumulation on intertwined shrubs. Masson pine aerial-seeding plantations below 400 m along the eastern transect in Xingguo and Ningdu counties were nearly undamaged for small tree sizes, and Chinese fir at 500–900 m altitude showed a lighter damage extent. However, masson pine which was distributed above 400 m and planted in the 1960s, was severely damaged due to turpentine.

Analysis on the Patch Characteristics of Vegetation Landscape of Xiaoxiangling Mountains in Sichuan Province

The spatial pattern characters of vegetation landscape of Xiaoxiangling Mountains in Sichuan were meticulously analyzed in four respects,that is,the basic characteristics,the shape characteristics,the aggregation and interspersion characteristics and the diversiform characteristics of patches,by the method of 3S technology combined with Landscape ecology.Our results indicate that:(1) there are 9 vegetation types in these Mountains with 1 849 number of patch,18 6951 hm2 areas.Coniferous and broad-leaved mixed forest is the background of the area because of its biggest distribution area and densest inlaid there;Secondary deciduous broad-leaved forest is of the lowest heterogeneity degree for its smallest area.(2) Evergreen broad-leaved and deciduous broad-leaved mixed forest is of the most simply shape,and high degree of patch aggregation.But Coniferous and broad-leaved mixed forest is of the most complicated of both patch shape and edge.Besides,secondary deciduous broad-leaved forest is of its least connectivity,and alpine shrub is of the highest degree of patch aggregation.(3) These Mountains' species richness,dominance and diversity are 1.54,0.66 and 0.67.It is found to be the main features of the vegetation landscape and the inlaid degree of each vegetation types is better in Mountains.

Effects of Sika deer (Cervus nippon) on species richness and species composition of secondary deciduous broad-leaved forests in the warm-temperate zone of western Japan

Effects of Sika deer (<i>Cervus nippon</i>) on species richness and species composition of secondary deciduous broad-leaved forests in the warm-temperate zone of western Japan

Collembolan community in broad-leaved forests and in conifer stands of Cryptomeria japonica in Central Japan

Collembolan communities in conifer plantations (Japanese cedar, Cryptomeria japonica) and secondary deciduous broad-leaved forests of varying ages were investigated to determine the extent to which forest conversion (broad-leaved to coniferous) affects the species richness and assemblage composition of Collembola in central Japan. Density and total species richness of Collembola not differed between the broad-leaved and cedar forests except immediately after clear-cutting. The amount of forest-floor organic matter was larger in cedar forests and positively correlated with the species richness of detritus feeders. Species richness of fungal feeders and sucking feeders positively correlated with the species richness of forest-floor plants. There was difference in collembolan species composition between the forest types. The age of the forests seemed to have only small importance for the collembolan community, except during the first four years after clear-cutting. The conversion to artificial cedar stands has not reduced the abundance or species richness of collembolan communities, but has affected community composition. Differences in species composition may be related to the ground floras.

Gradient Variations in Landscape Pattern from Northwest to Southeast in Tangjiahe Nature Reserve, Sichuan Province

To explore gradient variations of landscape pattern in Tangjiahe nature reserve,the belt transect(width of 2 km and length of 22 km) was set from northwest to southeast on the remote sensing vegetation image by employing GIS technology.Our results indicate that:(1) as a well-developed vegetation type,the woodland distributes widely in the nature reserve and occupies approximately 91.65% of the total study area.In detail,the evergreen broad-leaved and deciduous broad-leaved mixed forest is considered as background of landscape in the reserve because of biggest distribution area.In contrast,sub-alpine shrub meadow and farmland have lower heterogeneity degree because of small area and simple patch edge.(2) With space change from northwest to southeast,the landscape indices vary in three different ways at the landscape scale: increasing,decreasing and no consistent trend.In general,value of some indices,such as edge density,mean proximity index,landscape shape index and mean patch fractal dimension,maintains a increasing trend along the belt transect,but the value of mean patch size index and mean nearest neighbor distance index decrease obviously.The other indices such as Shannon's diversity index,Shannon's evenness index,largest patch index and interspersion juxtaposition index keep a steady fluctuate.(3) On the other hand,secondary deciduous broad-leaved forest,evergreen broad-leaved and deciduous broad-leaved mixed forest,coniferous and broad-leaved mixed forest and coniferous forest are dominant classes at the patch scale,and have obvious peaks in variation of landscape indices value along belt transect in the reserve.

Tree age composition and the regeneration process of a secondary deciduous broad-leaved forest

Tree age composition and the regeneration process of a secondary deciduous broad-leaved forest

Stand dynamics of a Bamboo Forest Adjacent to a Secondary Deciduous Broad-leaved Forest

A 12-years monitoring was conducted of a bamboo forest adjacent to a deciduous broad-leaved forest to clarify the bamboo stand dynamics during its expansion into an adjacent forest. The bamboo forest gradually expanded its area into the deciduous broad-leaved forest at an invasion rate of 7 m over 12 years. The density and aboveground biomass of bamboo living culms in the study plot increased. Conversely, the understory trees' density and species number decreased. The mean diameter at breast height (dbh) of living culms did not differ between the interior zone and the periphery zone of the bamboo stand through observation. Although increment number and aboveground biomass were constant in three innermost sub-plots, they were markedly increased in outer part, which increased understory trees' mortality.

Stand structure of a fragmented evergreen broad-leaved forest at a shrine and changes of landscape structures surrounding a suburban forest, in northern Kyushu.

Stand structure such as species composition and canopy gap formation in a fragmented evergreen broad-leaved forest and changing patterns of a matrix surrounding the forest over the past 42 years based on vegetation maps made from aerial photos were examined. The suburban landscape had changed significantly. Some forest-type elements such as scrub and secondary deciduous broad-leaved forests had decreased in area, although plantations, Phyllostachys forests and secondary evergreen broad-leaved forests had increased in area. The area of the fragmented forest, which was well-developed secondary evergreen broad-leaved forest at a shrine, had not significantly changed. Some species such as Distylium racemosum, Persea thunbergii, Camellia japonica and Eurya japonica regenerated in the forest the same way as in old-growth evergreen broad-leaved forests, suggesting that population structure and dynamics of those species were not greatly influenced by landscape ecological factors or secondary succession of the forest. Regeneration behaviour of some species such as Neolitsea sericea and Quercus salicina in the forest differed significantly from that in the old-growth forests. Furthermore, the density of N. sericea seedlings was extremely high, although only a few mature individuals and saplings of the species occurred in the forest. Population structure of the species might be influenced by changing patterns of the matrix surrounding the fragmented forest.

Horizontal Distribution of Stolons of a Temperate Liana Wisteria floribunda DC. and Its Ecological Significance

The spatial distribution of stolons of Wisteria floribunda DC. was investigated, and the ecological significance of clonal growth of this temperate liana is discussed. The study plot (0.15 ha) was located in a secondary deciduous broad-leaved forest dominated by Quercus serrata in central Japan. The tree canopy was almost closed with a mean openness of 4.2%. W. floribunda was dominant among lianas accounting for 86% of their total basal area. W. floribunda stolons of three individuals branched numerous times and intersected among individuals, and showed a large horizontal “web-like” extension on the ground. The total length of stolons was 66.0, 260.2, and 310.6 m, respectively, for each individual. A mean of 25 ramets were established on stolons per individual, and one-third of the ramets obtained a host tree. These results suggested that the expansion of stolons was effective in obtaining host trees for W. floribunda individuals. On the other hand, clonal growth of W. floribunda did not always contribute to vertical growth of ramets in the study forest, since few ramets reached the forest canopy. Lack of sub-canopy trees in this forest appeared to constrain the vertical growth of W. floribunda ramets, since sub-canopy trees are thought to bridge lianas from smaller trees to canopy trees.