Forest Stratification Research Articles

DIVERSITAS SERANGGA PADA HUTAN TANAMAN MONOKULTUR DAN HUTAN HETEROGEN DENGAN METODE WINDOW TRAPS

Insects are a very important role in an ecosystem. Among these roles are: herbivori, predation, parasitism, decomposition, pollination, and so on (Speight et al., 1999). In addition to the role of insects have been used as an indicator species. Several recent studies (Davids, 2000; Talvi, 2000; Castillo and Wagner, 2002; McGeoch, 1998 & 2002) shows that insects have a response that indicates the extent of damage to forest habitat. To see how much effect the change will see the diversity of insects flying at both locations using the window trap. This method was chosen because it will look at the role of flying insects that can be used as indicators of changes in land to the stratification of the existing trees at both locations. The expected goal in this study were 1) To determine the level of insect diversity in both forest site 2) To determine the effect of changes in forest insect conditions in each forest stratification. From this research it was found that it contained the highest density of heterogeneous forests there are 29 families of 41 species and 119 individuals from arrest (day and night) while in monoculture forests with 32 species of 22 families and 98 individuals in which the degree of diversity between the forest with a monoculture in the heterogeneous forest monoculture forests range 2.14 <H <2.84. Whereas in heterogeneous forests ranges between 2 <H <3 and the third similarity index was not significantly different strata.

The use of airborne laser scanning to develop a pixel-based stratification for a verified carbon offset project

BackgroundThe voluntary carbon market is a new and growing market that is increasingly important to consider in managing forestland. Monitoring, reporting, and verifying carbon stocks and fluxes at a project level is the single largest direct cost of a forest carbon offset project. There are now many methods for estimating forest stocks with high accuracy that use both Airborne Laser Scanning (ALS) and high-resolution optical remote sensing data. However, many of these methods are not appropriate for use under existing carbon offset standards and most have not been field tested.ResultsThis paper presents a pixel-based forest stratification method that uses both ALS and optical remote sensing data to optimally partition the variability across an ~10,000 ha forest ownership in Mendocino County, CA, USA. This new stratification approach improved the accuracy of the forest inventory, reduced the cost of field-based inventory, and provides a powerful tool for future management planning. This approach also details a method of determining the optimum pixel size to best partition a forest.ConclusionsThe use of ALS and optical remote sensing data can help reduce the cost of field inventory and can help to locate areas that need the most intensive inventory effort. This pixel-based stratification method may provide a cost-effective approach to reducing inventory costs over larger areas when the remote sensing data acquisition costs can be kept low on a per acre basis.

Composição e similaridade florística entre duas áreas de Floresta Atlântica Montana, São Paulo, Brasil

O trabalho foi desenvolvido em duas parcelas de 1 ha de Floresta Ombrófila Densa Montana do Núcleo Santa Virgínia, Parque Estadual da Serra do Mar, São Luiz do Paraitinga/SP, Brasil. Além de determinar a estrutura e a composição florística do componente arbóreo de cada parcela, o trabalho teve como objetivo comparar uma área (PLOT N) onde, segundo relatos de antigos moradores da região, houve corte seletivo de madeira até meados da década de 70 do século passado, com outra área (PLOT K) sem histórico de perturbação antrópica recente. As duas parcelas, que distam entre si cerca de 4 km, foram subdivididas em 100 subparcelas de 10 × 10 m e todos os indivíduos com DAP > 4,8 cm foram marcados, mapeados, medidos e identificados. Ao todo foram amostrados 3.503 indivíduos, sendo 2.269 árvores (64,7 %), 860 palmeiras (24,5%) e 159 (4,5%) fetos arborescentes, distribuídos em 265 espécies e 51 famílias. O restante dos indivíduos (215) estava morto. Dentre as famílias mais abundantes (Arecaceae, Myrtaceae, Lauraceae, Cyatheaceae), Monimiaceae é a única considerada típica da fitofisionomia Montana da Floresta Ombrófila Densa Atlântica. Euterpe edulis Mart. (Arecaceae) é a espécie dominante no PLOT K (pristina), onde foram registrados 1.852 indivíduos, distribuídos em 189 espécies e 43 famílias, sendo Myrtaceae (48), Lauraceae (26) e Monimiaceae (13) as que apresentaram a maior diversidade de espécies. É importante mencionar que moitas de bambu nativo (Merostachys neesii Ruprecht, Poaceae) estão presentes em 93 das 100 subparcelas desse plot, totalizando 3.813 colmos. Em contraste, no PLOT N, em que Euterpe edulis também é a espécie dominante, mas os bambus não estão tão presentes, foram identificados 1.436 indivíduos, distribuídos em 149 espécies e 40 famílias, com destaque para Myrtaceae (27), Lauraceae (15) e Fabaceae (oito) em termos de número de espécies. Na área de floresta secundária (PLOT N) o índice de diversidade de Shannon (H' = 4,05 ) e o índice de equidade (J ' = 0,8) são mais altos do que os valores encontrados na área que não sofreu corte seletivo (PLOT K) onde H' = 3,72 nats.ind-1 e J' = 0,7. No entanto, a estimativa do número máximo de espécies esperado no ponto de rarefação do PLOT N (IC% 95-158,54) se sobrepõe parcialmente à estimativa do número mínimo de espécies do PLOT K (95% - 157,12), mostrando que o número de espécies de ambas as áreas se equivaleriam em 1420 indivíduos. Embora a maior árvore amostrada tenha sido encontrada no PLOT K, no qual os estratos da floresta são mais evidentes, não há diferença significativa entre as somas de área basal de indivíduos vivos das duas parcelas. Considerando o histórico de perturbação da região, os resultados sugerem que a recuperação da estrutura da floresta pode ocorrer dentro de 25 anos, mas, como mostrado pelo número total de espécies e pelo índice H' do PLOT K, este período é insuficiente para recuperação da diversidade de espécies arbóreas características da Floresta Ombrófila Densa Atlântica antiga.

Intermediary disturbance increases tree diversity in riverine forest of southern Brazil

Floods are frequently associated with disturbance in structuring riverine forests and they lead to environmental heterogeneity over space and time. We evaluated the distribution of tree species, ecological groups, species richness and diversity from the point bar to the slope of a riverside forest in southern Brazil (Lat. 30°01′S, Long. 52°47′W) to analyze the effects of flooding on soil properties and forest structure. A plot of 50 × 200 m divided in five contiguous transects of 10 × 200 m parallel to the river was installed, where we measured all the individual trees with pbh ≥ 15 cm. A detailed topographical and soil survey was carried out across the plot and indicated significant differences in organic matter and most mineral nutrients through the topographical gradient. The 1,229 surveyed individuals belonged to 72 species and 35 families. We used Partial CCA and Species Indicator Analysis to observe the spatial distribution of species. Both analyses showed that species distribution was strongly related to the flooding gradient, soil properties and also by space and pure spatial structuring of species and environmental variables (spatial autocorrelation), although a large part of variation remains unexplained. The ecological groups of forest stratification, plant dispersal and requirements for germination indicated slight differences among frequently, occasional and non-flooded transects. Species richness and diversity were higher at intermediate elevations and were associated to the increased spatial–temporal environmental heterogeneity. Across the plot, the direct influence of flooding on tree species distribution created a vegetation zonation that is determined by predicted ecological traits.

A GIS-BASED DECISION SUPPORT SYSTEM FOR FOREST MANAGEMENT PLANS IN TURKEY

This study is designed to develop a Geographic Information System (GIS) based contemporary forest management planning model (ET APKlasik) enabling to embrace the features of forest management planning guidelines. The model is implemented at a forest management unit level for even-age, uneven-age and coppice forests. The model has four modules as Data Input with inventory compilation, Harvest Scheduler with classical approach and Data Output as reporting and mapping with GIS functionalities. The model has been successfully tested on a case study site in Kizilcasu planning unit in Turkey. The results showed that ET APKlasik model easily compiled the sampling data from field inventory and mapped the results of plan (forest stratification, age class and site maps etc.). Harvest scheduling was conducted according to even-age and uneven-age planning methods. The outputs are generated according to the management guidelines. In conclusion, the model has contributed to the forest management process with the help of information technologies enabling the process to be faster, sound and timely using relatively less amount of time and labor. ET AKlasik has the potential for use in preparing contemporary forest management planning process.

Floristic composition, woody species diversity, and spatial distribution of trees based on architectural stratification in a subtropical evergreen broadleaf forest on Ishigaki Island in the Ryukyu Archipelago, Japan

The floristic composition, woody species diversity, and spatial distribution of trees in a subtropical evergreen broadleaf forest on Ishigaki Island, Japan, were investigated based on architectural stratification. Five architectural layers made up the forest stand. The floristic composition was almost similar between the third and the bottom layers, whereas it was almost exclusive between the top and the lower four layers. The fourth layer contained the highest potential number of species (90). Castanopsis sieboldii, Daphniphyllum teijmannii, Neolitsea aciculata, and Distylium racemosum were typical facultative shade species that appeared in all layers. Ardisia quinquegona was the most dominant species, as it had the highest importance value at the stand level; it was also considered a small climax species because of its disappearance in the top layer but higher importance value in the lower four layers. The values of Shannon’s index H’ and Pielou’s index J’ were 4.36 bit and 0.69, respectively, for the entire stand; these values tended to increase from the bottom layer upward, except for the H' -value of the top layer. Furthermore, woody species diversity was higher in the upper strata than the lower strata. The spatial distribution of trees was random in each layer, except in the bottom layer where trees were aggregately distributed. The degree of overlap in tree habitats differed among layers, and the results suggested that trees in the second layer could capture moderate light, while light could not easily penetrate the lower three layers. Therefore, most species in the lower layers must be shade-tolerant. The mean tree weight of each layer decreased from the top layer to the bottom layer, whereas the corresponding tree density increased. We concluded that this trend might be a general phenomenon in subtropical evergreen broadleaf forests of the Ryukyu Archipelago, and we designated this trend as the quasi mean tree weight-density trajectory of forest stratification. The relationship of mean tree height to tree density for the upper two layers supported Yamakura’s quasi -3/2 power law system.

Predicting forest stand variables from LiDAR data in the Great Lakes – St. Lawrence forest of Ontario

Models were developed to predict forest stand variables for common species of the Great Lakes – St. Lawrence forest of central Ontario, Canada from light detection and ranging (LiDAR) data. Stands that had undergone various ranges of partial harvesting or initial spacing treatments from multiple geographic sites were considered. A broad forest stratification was adopted and consisted of: (i) natural hardwoods; (ii) natural conifers; and (iii) plantation conifers. Stand top height (R2 = 0.96, 0.98, and 0.98); average height (R2 = 0.86, 0.76, and 0.98); basal area (R2 = 0.80, 0.80, and 0.85); volume (R2 = 0.89, 0.81, and 0.91); quadratic mean diameter (R2 = 0.80, 0.68, and 0.83); and density (R2 = 0.74, 0.71, and 0.73) were predicted from low density (i.e., 0.5 point m-2) LiDAR data for these 3 strata, respectively. Key words: light detection and ranging, LiDAR, airborne laser scanning, forest modelling, remote sensing, forest stand variables, Great Lakes – St. Lawrence forest

Estimation of forest biophysical variables from Indian Earth Observation Satellite Cartosat‐1 stereo data

Indian Earth Observation Satellite Cartosat‐1 data were evaluated for the estimation of biophysical variables, including as tree height, crown diameter, canopy density and canopy gap, that are crucial for the estimation of stand volume, biomass and generation of site index (an indicator of site quality of growing stock). Investigations were carried out at a site covering the major dominant forest species grown in India. Cartosat‐1 stereo data were analysed in conjunction with differential global positioning system (DGPS) measurements to generate a digital elevation model (DEM) and an orthoimage, which were used to estimate the biophysical variables. Analysis using grey‐level co‐occurrence texture measures was performed for separation of forest species, homogeneity of the classes of forest stands, stratification and measurement of crown area, canopy gap and stand density. Field measurements of tree height, diameter at breast height (DBH), stand density, age and crown diameter were conducted for each stand. Empirical models for the estimation of DBH were developed and validated with Cartosat‐1‐derived height and crown diameter. Measured and estimated values were found to be in close proximity to each other. A local contrast co‐occurrence measure (contrast, mean and variance) was suitable for the estimation of average crown diameter, stand density and canopy gap area for each forest stand class. The texture image provided information on structural attributes (i.e. stand density, crown diameter and canopy gap of the forest tree stands). The results presented in this study show that the Cartosat‐1‐derived DEM and orthoimage have potential for the estimation of stem volume, growing stock conditions, and biomass and site index for important timber species.

Classificação da capacidade produtiva de povoamentos não desbastados de clones de eucalipto

O objetivo deste trabalho foi desenvolver e propor um procedimento para a estratificação de florestas de clones de eucalipto não desbastados, para a classificação de sua capacidade produtiva. Utilizaram-se dados provenientes de 70 clones, distribuídos em 5.020 parcelas permanentes de inventários florestais contínuos, com pelo menos três medições, de periodicidade anual, em cada clone. Para todos os clones, foi ajustado o modelo de Schumacher para as variáveis: área basal; altura dominante; diâmetro médio; e volume comercial, com casca. Com esses parâmetros, foi utilizado o método de Tocher, que se mostrou eficiente para agrupar clones com tendências semelhantes de crescimento em altura dominante. A estimativa de índice de local, para clones com menos de três medições, pode ser determinada a partir das informações de altura dominante, diâmetro médio, área basal e volume, obtidas do inventário florestal contínuo de outros clones.

Stand stratification and woody species diversity of a subtropical forest in limestone habitat in the northern part of Okinawa Island

Stand stratification and woody species diversity were studied in a subtropical forest in limestone habitat in the northern part of Okinawa Island, Japan. The forest stand consisted of four architectural layers. Cinnamomum japonicum Sieb. was the most dominant species as it had the highest importance value in all layers, especially in the lower three layers. Although Rhus succedanea L. was a major top-layer species, it might disappear because of its absence in the lower two layers. The lower two layers had similar floristic composition, while the composition of the top layer differed greatly from that of the lower two layers. The value of H' in each layer increased from the bottom to the second layer and then decreased, and the value of J' in each layer consistently increased from the bottom layer upward. The values of Shannon's index H' and Pielou's index J' were 4.27 bit and 0.74, respectively, at the stand level. The trends of H' and J' based on the cumulative height range from the top layer downward were, respectively, the same as those in each layer for the present forest in limestone habitat. However, these trends were opposite from those of a nearby subtropical forest in silicate habitat, where the values of H' and J' based on the cumulative height range decreased steadily from the bottom layer upward.

An empirical ecological-type model for predicting stone pine ( Pinus pinea L.) cone production in the Northern Plateau (Spain)

Data from a 10 year series of cone production taken from 755 trees were used to model individual cone production in stone pine ( Pinus pinea L.) stands in the Northern Inland Plateau of Spain following three different approaches. The first step was the construction of a silvicultural model, including typical forest growth covariates as tree size, stand density, site index and distance independent competition indices. Remaining between-plot variability was related with ecological attributes, as winter rainfall and altitude, resulting in a hybrid model. The third approach attempted to develop an ecological-type based model by considering a previous stratification of stone pine forests based on altitude, soil, geology and climate characteristics. The best model in terms of likelihood, bias and accuracy on predictions was the ecological-type one, producing unbiased marginal estimates for the main part of the territory with an efficiency reaching up to 39%. Due to the hierarchical structure of data set, proposed model was formulated as a multilevel mixed model. Stochastic formulation allows simulating cone production under different changing scenarios and describing real distribution of cone production within a given stand. Developed model constitutes the cone yield module for PINEA2, an integrated single tree model for the management of stone pine stands within the northern Plateau of Spain.

Assessment of higher insect taxa as bioindicators for different logging‐disturbance regimes in lowland tropical rain forest in Sabah, Malaysia

AbstractOne of the serious environmental problems since the 1980s has been the conflict between the high rate of deforestation and maintenance of healthy ecosystem services and biological values in tropical forests. There is an urgent demand for setting up an appropriate environmental assessment to keep healthy ecosystem functions and biodiversity along with sustainable forest use based on ecology. In this study, we tried to assess logging‐disturbance effects on the abundances of several flying insect groups (higher‐taxon approach) in lowland tropical rain forest (Deramakot Forest Reserve, Sabah, Malaysia), while considering seasonal changes and vertical forest stratification. The season was the most important factor affecting the abundances of all the insect groups. Effects of logging disturbance were prominent in the understorey but obscure in the canopy. Changes in physical conditions caused by logging—possibly an increased evaporation due to solar radiation—may have decreased the abundance of desiccation‐sensitive insects, especially in the understorey. There are also two probable reasons for the difference between events in the understorey and those in the canopy: (1) noise effects of various physical, environmental factors may have obscured insect responses to logging disturbance in the canopy; (2) higher spatio‐temporal variation in quality and quantity of living food resources—such as leaves, flowers and fruits—provided in the canopy may have affected the abundance of their consumer insects independently of logging disturbance. Thus, this study suggests that the abundance of some insect groups at higher‐taxon level, especially in the understorey, can be used as bioindicators for assessing effects of logging disturbance on the forest ecosystem.

Phenomorphology and Eco-morphological Characters of Rhododendron Lauroid Forests in the Western Mediterranean (Iberian Peninsula, Spain)

The evergreen broad-leaved forest of Rhododendron ponticum represents a special type of Mediterranean vegetation because of their relict nature (allegedly pre-glacial, Southern-Iberian and Pontic) and connection with Macaronesian-Atlantic flora. The findings of ecomorphological (growth forms) and phenological (phenology) studies point to characteristics typical of its relict character and its relationship with subtropical lauroid vegetation (greater forest stratification, larger leaves, high percentage of photosynthetic stems, scarce tomentosity, pre-flowering in a season different to Mediterranean species and closeness of autumn–winter flowering species). There are, however, links with typical Mediterranean vegetation (Quercus L. forests) that surrounds the Rhododendron stands, due to its adaptation to Mediterranean climate (sclerophyll leaves, plant and leaf duration, post-fire regeneration, fleshy fruit and fruit setting-seed dispersal seasonality). Within the community, different groups of plants show different adaptations to the same biotope, suggesting their distinct paleo-phytogeographical origins. The results confirm the singularity of this vegetation within the typically Mediterranean environment where it grows and its connections with other extra-Mediterranean types.

Canopy stratification in peatland forests in Finland

Abundance and species number of the tree and shrub vegetation in different canopy layers were analysed according to site quality class and drainage succession phase on permanent sample plots on spruce mires (n = 268) and pine mires (n = 628) in the Finnish National Forest Inventory in 1995. The abundances based on the crown coverage were compared with the abundances based on the parallel basal area of the tree stand. The canopy coverages and species number for peatland forests were also compared with those for mineral soil forests on the permanent sample plots (n = 1725) in 1995. In general, effective temperature sum correlated positively, although not very strongly, with the coverages and species number in most of the canopy layers, as well as with the mean range of the diameter distribution. The effects of both site quality class and drainage phase were stronger on pine mires than on spruce mires, most probably due to the longer fertility gradient and large potential free growing space in the former group. On pine mires, drainage increased the abundances and species number in the different canopy layers, as well as the structural inequality of the tree stands. On spruce mires, the increase was principally allocated to the abundances of the dominant and intermediate tree layers. The correlations between the total crown coverage of the tree layers and stand basal area were r = 0.45 for spruce mires and r = 0.70 for pine mires. Compared to mineral soil forests, in addition to having a higher abundance of Betula pubescens, the dominant layer was not as pronounced in peatland forests. On spruce mires, the coverage of the shrub layer on mesotrophic and meso-oligotrophic sites was higher than that in mineral soil forests. The average species number in different canopy layers did not differ significantly between spruce mires and mineral soil forests in corresponding site quality classes. On pine mires, the species number was generally lower (except for the mesotrophic sites) than that in corresponding mineral soil forests.

Estratificação vertical em floresta ombrófila densa de terra firme não explorada, Amazônia Oriental

Este estudo foi conduzido na Unidade de Manejo Florestal (UMF) da Fazenda Tracajás (02º35'53"S e 47º47'10"W), no município de Paragominas, Estado do Pará, Brasil, e teve como objetivo a estratificação vertical da floresta ombrófila densa de terra firme não explorada, empregando-se análises de agrupamento e discriminante. A floresta foi estratificada em três áreas homogêneas, denominadas classes I, II e III de estoques volumétricos. Em cada classe de estoque volumétrico foram instaladas, aleatoriamente, cinco parcelas de 100 x 100 m (1,0 ha) cada uma, cujas alturas totais de árvores individuais com dap > 15 cm foram utilizadas na estratificação vertical da floresta. As árvores individuais foram organizadas em ordem crescente de altura total e classificadas em classes de 1 m de amplitude, desde a altura total mínima até a altura total máxima. Elaborou-se uma matriz X de altura total, em que cada variável x ij representou a altura total da i-ésima árvore classificada na j-ésima classe de altura total. A matriz X foi utilizada como input nas análises de agrupamento e discriminante. A aplicação da análise de agrupamento, utilizando o método de Ward, resultou em agrupamentos hierárquicos e seqüenciais das classes de altura em estratos de altura total (inferior, médio e superior). A análise discriminante, utilizando o método de Fisher, evidenciou que a classificação foi 100% correta. A subdivisão da estrutura vertical da floresta em estratos de altura total com o emprego da análise multivariada mostrou-se um método eficiente e exeqüível de estratificação vertical de florestas ineqüiâneas.

Quantification of forest stock using remote sensing and gis

Forest stock is key information required in forest mensuration, forest utilization and forest management. The present study highlights the application of the state-of-the-art technology of satellite remote sensing, Geographical Information System (GIS) and Global Positioning System (GPS) in quantification of forest growing stock. The stratification of forest in to various forest cover types and structural canopy density classes and use of sampling procedures facilitate in obtaining the required information in the shortest time and cost effective manner. In general, the forest areas refer to natural stands of woody vegetation in which trees predominate. Forests are known to be one of the very important renewable natural resources which change with time and space. The direct benefits from forests are mainly timber and non-timber minor forest products. The list of indirect benefits is quite huge, including the amelioration of climate, soil and water conservation, biodiversity conservation, habitat for a variety of fauna, tourism and recreation, etc. Broadly, there are six major groups in h,dian forests, namely tropical moist forests, tropical dry forests, montane sub-tropical forests, montane temperate forests, sub-alpine forests and alpine forests. These have been further divided into 16 types, 46 sub-types and 221 ecologically stable formations (Champion and Seth, 1968). The information about the size of forest areas and the growing stock are the two important parameters of forest inventory. Forest inventory, therefore, makes an attempt to describe the quality and quantity of forests. It is undertaken at the national or state levels for knowing the location, extent, nature, condition and productive capacity of forests. The outputs are used for formulating the policies, plans/projects and monitoring purposes.

移植用専用重機を用いて造成された樹林の階層構造の変化が土壌動物相に及ぼす影響

移植用専用重機を用いて造成された樹林の階層構造の変化が土壌動物相に及ぼす影響

Comparison of sampling methods for inventorying the stand volume using satellite remote sensing

Remote sensing is being increasingly used for forest resource inventory as it saves time and the cost. Aerial photographs and satellite images have been effectively utilized for forest inventory all over the world. This study highlights the application of IRS LISS-III imagery for inventorying the stand volume in Lachchhiwala Forest Range of Siwaliks. The satellite image was visually interpreted for forest type and density stratification. Both random as well as stratified random sampling techniques were used to see their impact on the volume estimates. Field sampling was done in the plots of 0.1 ha size. The total growing stock in all types of forests in the study area was estimated to be 1.87 mill.m3, of which Sal Forest accounted for 1.32 mill.m3, Sal Mixed Forest for 0.09 mill.m3, Mixed Sal Forest for 0.08 mill.m3, Miscellaneous Forest for 0.06 mill.m3 and Forest Plantations for 0.02 mill.m3. The results were compared with an independent field-based inventory carried out by forest department. The two sampling methods were compared by ratioing of the mean of variance (gain in precision) and it was found that the timber volume estimates using stratified random sampling technique were 15 per cent more accurate than simple random sampling. The satellite image-based inventory using stratified random sampling was found to have about 90 per cent correspondence with the inventory done by the Forest Department.

The suitability of leaves from different canopy layers for a generalist herbivore (Lepidoptera: Lasiocampidae) foraging on sugar maple

Variations of leaf suitability within forest canopies may have important consequences for the biology of phytophagous insects. In this study we examined over 4 consecutive years (1994–1997), the influence of vertical stratification of leaves within a sugar maple (Acer saccharum Marsh.) stand on biological performance and feeding preference of Malacosoma disstria Hbn. Each year, 10 healthy sugar maple trees and about 15 understory sugar maple seedlings were selected. Leaves were collected from the lower (3–6 m above ground) and the upper crown (20–25 m above ground) sections of the trees and from seedlings. Sampled leaves were set in Petri dishes for insect rearings in controlled environment. The performance of the insect, especially pupal masses and the number of eggs of adult females, was higher when larvae were fed with leaves from the upper crown section of trees. Results for the feeding preference tests showed that larvae of fourth instars consumed more surface area from leaves collected in the upper crown section of the trees. More total nitrogen found in leaves from the upper tree crown could explain the higher performance of this insect. Our results confirm the importance of the heterogeneity in leaf suitability along a vertical stratification in forests by its influence on biological performance and feeding preference of M. disstria.

Forest Stratification and Species Diversity of Cryptomeria japonica Natural Forests on Yakushima

Forest Stratification and Species Diversity of Cryptomeria japonica Natural Forests on Yakushima