Showing papers on "Undergrowth published in 2007"

The influence of gaps on tree regeneration: a case study of the mixed lime-hornbeam [Tilio-Carpinetum Tracz. 1962] communities in the Bialowieza Primeval Forest

Abstract: Tree stand regeneration in ten natural gaps, ranging in size from 250 to 1610 m 2 , and three artificial clearings of 650-1150 m 2 was compared to the undergrowth in the adja- cent stands representing mesic lime-hornbeam (Tilio-Carpinetum Tracz. 1962) assemblages of the Bialowieza Primeval Forest. The purpose of the study was to find how gaps influence the tree regeneration in such forests, regarding sapling density and composition. Most of the gaps were formed by the decline of groups of spruce (Picea abies (L.) Karst.) trees. In the largest openings spruce logs contributed to more than 80% of the volume of fallen trees. Having four times higher all saplings density and eight times higher tall saplings (h> 1.3 m) density, comparing to the canopy-sheltered un- dergrowth, gaps play an important role of suc- cessful tree regeneration centres. Pioneering, intolerant species such as birch (Betula pendula Roth), aspen (Populus tremula L.), goat willow (Salix caprea L.), rowan (Sorbus aucuparia L.), and alder (Alnus glutinosa L.), regenerate almost solely in gaps. The gap size had no influence on the gap-filler composition. The most success- ful gap-fillers, both in small and large gaps were tolerant species: hornbeam (Carpinus betulus L.) and lime (Tilia cordata Mill.). Spruce, the third dominant canopy species of the neighbouring stands was absent in the gap-filling regeneration. The study showed that under the current en- vironmental conditions only hornbeam reveals a continuous mode of regeneration giving it a big competitive advantage both under canopy and in gaps. Other species, including lime, oak (Quercus robur L.) as well as pioneering birch and aspen seem to regenerate in a discrete and irregular manner. It was hypothesised that their regenera- tion depends on ephemeral opportune circum- stances occurring at the initial phase of gap filling, such as presence of layering fresh logs, sprouting stumps and roots, spots of exposed mineral mate- rial, as well as inaccessibility to browsers. Artificial openings, created by forestry op- erations, considerably differ from natural gaps, mimicking a 'catastrophic mode' of dynamics, quite uncommon in the observed forest assem- blages, favouring abundant regeneration of pio- neering species. Further research necessary to explain impor- tant structural and dynamic characteristics of natu- ral stands should address the following questions: - overall gap size structure; - mechanisms determining successful regen- eration of less competitive and intolerant species; - history of the gap dynamics (dendrochro- nology) and its future development (modelling); - average rate of disturbance and turnover time in Tilio-Carpinetum; − minimal conservation area.

Effects of Soil Amelioration and Tree Planting on Restoration of an Air-Pollution Damaged Forest in South Korea

Abstract: In order to restore the forest ecosystem in the vicinity of an industrial park, Ulsan, southeastern Korea, which has been heavily acidified by air pollution, a preliminary experiment by applying tolerant plants selected through several procedures, and dolomite and sewage sludge as soil ameliorators was carried out. Furthermore, a restoration based on the results was executed and the effects were evaluated based on the creation of safe sites, where new species can establish: regeneration of the forest with species similar in composition to the natural vegetation of native forests that are distant from the industrial park; increase in species diversity. In a preliminary study, the necessity of soil amelioration was diagnosed. Quercus serrata, Alnus firma and Ligustrum japonicum, which represent for tree, subtree, and shrub layers of vegetation in this region, were used as sample plants. Dolomite, sludge, and a mixture of both materials were applied as soil ameliorators. Bare ground (BG), and two grasslands dominated by forbs (GF) and grass (GG), respectively were designated as experimental plots based on a vegetation map of the corresponding area. BG and GF plots, which have lower organic matter contents, increased the growth of sample plants in response to soil amelioration, whereas that with higher contents, GG plot, did not show this response. The result suggests that necessity of soil amelioration depends on site quality. The effects of soil amelioration depended also on the sample plants. This difference is due to an ecological property of A. firma, which can fix atmospheric nitrogen through a symbiotic relationship with actinomycetic fungi. This result implies that this alder could be used as a substitute for soil ameliorators in restoration plan of this area. The height and standing crop of undergrowth, which forms dense grass mat and thereby impedes establishment of new plants, decreased in the restored stands. Such a decrease in the height and biomass of undergrowth could be recognized as providing safe sites, in which the other plants can invade, by removing the dense carpet formed by Miscanthus sinensis. The results of stand ordination showed a progression of the former bare grounds to either M. sinensis (GG) or Pueraria thunbergiana (GF) stands, suggesting a natural recovery through succession toward the stands dominated by both plants. But the change was not progressed beyond the grassland stage. Active restoration practice, which was carried out by applying tolerant plants, however, led to a change toward species composition similar to the natural vegetation before devastation. Furthermore, restored stands reflected the restoration effect by showing higher diversity than the stands in the degraded state. These results showed that the restorative treatment carried out by introducing tolerant plants functioned toward increasing both biological integrity and ecological stability and thereby could meet the restoration goal.

Birds Breeding in Unmanaged Monoculture Plantations in Goa, India

Abstract: It is controversial whether monoculture plantations support birds, particularly their breeding or not. The present study was conducted in monoculture plantations of Teak, Cashew and Australian Acacia, for two years from March 2001 to February, 2003 in Goa and bird species and their breeding was observed and recorded. Put together eleven bird species were observed, out of which five were recorded from teak plantation and cashew plantation and four from Acacia plantation. Teak plantation seemed better due to abundant supply of earthworms as bird's food, and cashew plantation thick undergrowth giving protective cover and food for ground foragers. Presence of undergrowth and stray indigenous trees seems to have improved condition in the plantations for bird species.

Natural under-canopy regeneration and height-age structure of small-leaved linden (Tilia cordata Mill.) undergrowth in water-conservation forests around Pavlovskoe Reservoir, Ufa River

Abstract: Natural regeneration and the height-age structure of small-leaved linden (Tilia cordata Mill) under a forest canopy were studied with regard to specific features of forest typology on the Ufa Plateau For the first time, the height-age structure of linden undergrowth was analyzed by an anatomical method, which allowed accurate determination of the actual plant age and linear increment The results of this analysis made it possible to reveal three periods in the development of linden undergrowth with respect to the linear growth rate and abundance of plants More successful regeneration of linden was observed in open elements of relief

Identyfikacja i ocena stanu zachowania siedlisk grądowych (kod natura 2000: 9170) w lasach polski środkowej

Abstract: Two a ssociations of oak-lime-hornbeam forest – Tilio-Carpinetum and Galio-Carpinetum are distinguished and described in Central Poland. Both of the associations show natural geographical and ecological diversity (geographical forms, sub-associations and fertilities variants). Over a century of use of the oak-limehornbeam forests, such as the fragmentation of forest complexes, exploitation of the forest for timber, plantation of monocultures, introduction of alien wood species, the natural vegetation has been deformed. The communities show a great differentiation regarding their deformation. The most of forest secondary communities are related to the introduction of Pinus sylvestris (pinetyzation). Other degenerative forms: monotypization (characterised by simplified layer structure and reduced species composition), fruticetyzation (an expansive development of undergrowth),

Forest biomass and its dynamics in Pearl River Delta

Abstract: Based on the observation data obtained from 69 sampling sites of different age class forests, and by using biomass expansion factor function, the regression equations of stand biomass and volume of the main forest types in Pearl River Delta were built, and the regional forest biomass and its dynamics were estimated on the basis of forest inventory data. The results showed that most of the forests in Pearl River Delta were of young-medium age, which occupied 80% or more of the total forest area, and their undergrowth biomass accounted for about 33% of the total forest biomass, indicating that the regional forest biomass could be estimated more exactly if undergrowth biomass was fully concerned. In the periods of 1989-1993, 1994-1998 and 1999-2003, the forest biomass in Pearl River Delta increased by 14. 67 x 10(6) t in total, among which, Pinus massoniana forest, evergreen broadleaf forest, and conifer and deciduous mixed forest contributed about 80%. Young-medium age forest biomass accounted for 90% of the total, but the proportion was decreased gradually. The forest area in the Delta almost kept unvaried, and the forest biomass was increasing year after year, with an annual increment of about 1.2%. Better fostering and managing the existing forests is very important to have more forest biomass and better environmental effect that regional forests offered.

Transformation of Ground Vegetation under the Effect of Fires in Pine Forests of Middle Siberia

Abstract: In Siberia, pine forests are widespread and grow in diverse habitats. Under zonal conditions, pine shows a wide amplitude of ecological flexibility, being an edificator species in areas with different soils, from shallow podzols with a low base exchange capacity to soddy calcareous soils. The expansion of pine forests far beyond the limits of the zone with a true forest (boreal) climate is apparently explained by the ability of pine to take full advantage of local edaphic conditions, thereby alleviating the impact of adverse climatic factors and broadening its potential climatic range. In this respect, pine is superior to other conifers (Shumilova, 1962). The range of pine forests in Siberia is mainly confined to the Angara basin in its upper and lower reaches and to the watershed separating it from the upper reaches of the Podkamennaya Tunguska, Lena, and Nizhnyaya Tunguska rivers. These forests are typologically diverse, but forest types with green mosses, lichens, and mesoxerophytic herbs dominating in the ground vegetation are more widespread. Fires in boreal forests are a permanent natural factor accounting for the formation of their structure and species diversity. In pine forests, they have always been a factor of evolutionary significance, since these forests are characterized by a high fire frequency. The vegetation of pine forests had been exposed to selection by fires for many millennia, which provided for the development of a variety of adaptations to the impact of fires in pine and produced a significant effect on the composition and properties of its ecobiomorphs, species, and biotypes (Sannikov, 1973). The frequency of fires in pine forests depends on their zonal location and the degree of landscape isolation. In pine forests of Central Siberia, the average interval between fires was estimated at 38.5 years (McRae et al., 2006). A relatively simple structure, ecological flexibility, and high fire frequency in pine forests make them a convenient object for studying the dynamics of postfire succession. The purpose of this study was to reveal changes in the species diversity and structure of ground vegetation at early stages of pyrogenic succession after fires of different intensities. Studies were performed in a dwarf shrub‐lichen‐ green moss pine forest growing on an island in a bog located on the right bank of the Togulan River, which flows into the Yenisei in its middle reaches. This forest occupies a low ridge with a depression in the middle, at an elevation of 60 m a.s.l. The uneven-aged pine stand (10P) is of quality classes 4 and 5, with tree diameter and height averaging 26 cm and 22 m. The undergrowth (10P) is also uneven-aged, up to 0.5 m high; its distribution is uniform. The shrub layer is sparse and consists of Rosa acicularis and Salix caprea . Ground vegetation is differentiated according to microenvironmental conditions. The moss layer is dominated by Pleurozium schreberi , with its coverage ranging from 60 to 100%. In the lichen layer (20‐100% coverage), Cladina arbuscula, Cl. rangiferina, and Cl. stellaris are dominant. The herb‐dwarf shrub layer is 20‐35 cm high, and its coverage varies from 15‐20% to 40%. Dominance belongs to mesophytic dwarf shrubs. The main dominants are Vaccinium vitis-idaea in relatively welldrained biotopes, Vaccinium myrtillis in mesotrophic biotopes, and Ledum palustre and Vaccinium uliginosum in overmoistened sites.

Diversity of Forest Undergrowth of North Eastern Region of Bangladesh

Abstract: The d iversity of undergrowth (shrubs, herbs and grasses) of forested north east ern region (part of Sylhet forest division) of Bangladesh was assessed and di scussed. The study area identified major 14 species of 12 families of shrubs and 25 species of 16 families of herbs and grasses. The result revealed that Gramineae family was dominated with 5 s pecies and Verbenaceae was dominated with 3 species followed by Leguminosae family with 3 species and t he family Araceae, Umbelliferae, Piperaceae, Cimpositae contains 2 s pecies each. Among the shrubs the highest density (53.57 pl ants/100 m ) and 2

Study on Spatial-Temporal Changes on Undergrowth the Plantation Soil Bulk Density and Soil Porosity of Quanshan Nature Reserve in Xuzhou

Abstract: The soil bulk density in four sampling areas in Platycladus orientalis plantation forests and Robinia pseudoacacia forest of Quanshan Nature Reserve in Xuzhou are determined and compared with that in bare area.The results show that there's no rule of the variation between undergrowth soil bulk density and soil porosity and the depth;while the rule of the variation of undergrowth soil spatial structure is clear.Regardless at what time the soil bulk density gets larger with the soil gets deeper while the soil porosity gets smaller with the soil gets deeper,besides,the effects of Platycladus orientalis plantation forests is larger than that of Robinia pseudoacacia forest.Besides,the soil bulk density of park greenery plot soil is larger than that of bare area and the soil bulk density gets smaller by the humus of plantation,which makes the penetration and retentivity fertilizer get better.

Short-term effects of tending on the undergrowth diversity of Platycladus orientalis plantations in Beijing mountainous areas

Abstract: The Platycladus orientalis plantation is one of the major non-commercial plantations in Beijing mountainous areasDue to the generally high stand density, the forests could not grow wellThere is very little vegetation undergrowth,the biodiversity is degrading,and the general quality of the stand is in poor conditionThe ecological functions of the plantations hence cannot be fully activatedTending,as the fundamental method of forest management,has significant effects in improving the general quality of plantations,recovering the undergrowth diversity and reconstructing the deteriorated ecosystemIn order to investigate the dynamic variance of the undergrowth and to provide reference for reasonable tending,in 2004,41 sample plots in the low hill sunny slope with thin soil,sunny slope with thick soil and half sunny slope with thick soil,were selected in Beijing mountainous areas and light,medium and heavy tending on each sample plots were conducted,respectivelyIn the summers of 2005 and 2006,changes of the undergrowth diversity were investigated and analyzedThe results showed: 1) in the 1st and 2nd tending years,the species and quantity of undergrowth,Simpson index(D),Shannon-Wiener biodiversity index(H′) and the total amount of the undergrowth biomass all increased along with enhancing tending intensity;and the distribution of vertical structure of the community became more significantly as the tending intensity was enhanced;2) after two years of heavy tending,the shrub species increased in the sunny slope with thin soil,sunny slope with thick soil and half sunny slope with thick soil by 4,5 and 5,and these numbers for the herb species increased by 13,10 and 8 respectivelyBesides, the heavy tending has an effect in improving the undergrowth's turning to xero-mesophytes and meso-xerophytes;3) after the medium and heavy tending,the undergrowth biomass can reach more than 5 t/hm~2Among the short-term effects,the medium and heavy tending are more favorable to the increase of plant diversity

Charakterystyka lasów przerębowych w wybranych nadleśnictwach Regionalnej Dyrekcji Lasów Państwowych w Krakowie

Abstract: Research was carried out in 13 fir stands representing a spectrum of typical Carpathian selection forests. In most of them, no selection cutting was applied except for Krynica I and II stands. The stand volume oscillated between 384 m3 /ha and nearly 628 m 3 /ha. The maximum dbh age of the stands ranged from 100− −120 to over 200 years. Dbh distributions attained the form of a J−shaped curve with the highest number of trees in the smallest diameter class, however, none of these curves showed conformance with Liocourt− −Meyer's theoretical distribution. From the analysis of the undergrowth, it can be concluded that three stands showed unsatisfactory amount of undergrowth. In general, the intensity of cuts in the majority of sites was high. This is related to the specifics of these stands which, in most cases, have not yet been managed under the selection system.

BUMBLEBEES AND CUCKOO-BUMBLEBEES (Apiformes: Bombini) OF UNDERGROWTH AND GRASSLAND - HERBS FOREST ENVIRONMENTS IN THE TERRITORY OF THE ŒWIÊTOKRZYSKI NATIONAL PARK

Abstract: In the years 2001 and 2002, from April till the end of September, bumblebees and cuckoo-bumblebees (Bombini) were studied on 13 sites in the Œwiêtokrzyski National Park. The study aimed at presenting the dynamics of the community structure of these insects in anthropogenically differentiated forest communities of the Park. In total, 11 species of bumblebees (Bombus Latr.) and five species of cuckoo-bumblebees (Psithyrus Lep.) were recorded in the study area. Bombus pascuorum (Scop.), B. lucorum (L.), B. pratorum (L.), Ps. bohemicus (Seidl.), Ps. campestris (Pz.) and Ps. rupestris (F.) were the most frequently recorded species. Those were also the dominating species in the study area. The average density of insects was the highest in Bombini communities of semi-natural and segetal habitats, and the evenness index J’ reached the highest parameters (0.4) in the assemblage of Bombini communities of segetal habitats. The species and quantitative similarity of the structure of insects’ communities decreased starting from natural environments, through semi-natural towards segetal and ruderal environments.

Landscape quality evaluation and vertical structure optimization of natural broadleaf forest

Abstract: Taking the natural broadleaf forest in Wuyuan County of Jiangxi Province as study object, a total of 30 representative photos of near-view landscapes and related information were collected. The scenic beauty values were acquired by public judgment method, and the relationship models of scenic beauty values and landscape elements were established by using multiple mathematical model. The results showed that the main elements affecting the near-view landscape quality of natural broadleaf forest were the trunk form, stand density, undergrowth coverage and height, natural pruning, and color richness, with the partial correlation coefficients being 0.4482-0.7724, which were significant or very significant by t-test. The multiple correlation coefficient of the model reached 0.9508, showing very significant by F test (F = 36.11). Straight trunk, better natural pruning and rich color did well, while the super-high or low stand density and undergrowth coverage and height did harm to the scenic beauty. Several management measures for the vertical structure optimization of these landscape elements were put forward.

The Influences of Closing for Afforestation on Vegetation Diversity Restoration under Chinese Fir Plantation

Abstract: By density control and 6 years' closed and non-closed management for Chinese fir pure stands,it was found that short-term closing had no significant influence on the overall performance of Chinese fir plantation,but remarkably affected the vegetation biodiversity and growth under forest.In closed area,there were 116 plant species belonging to 101 genera of 60 families,with the vegetation coverage 85%,while in the non-closed area,there were only 88 plant species belonging to 78 genera of 49 families,the vegetation coverage was about 60%.Furthermore,there existed a woody vegetation layer with the height2 m in closed area.The result of key trait value analysis showed that the relative density,relative coverage and some other important traits in closed area were higher than that in non-closed area.In closed area,Ficus hispida had the highest importance value: 100.43%,and other 16 species had the importance value no less than 35%,which occupied 13.79% of total undergrowth species.In non-closed area,Gelsemium elegans had the highest importance value(34.77%) and there were no species with importance value ≥35%.The dominance of undergrowth in closed area was more obvious than that in non-closed area.

Effect of Reserve Density on Undergrowth Development of Aerial Seeding Pinus tabulaeformis Stands

Abstract: Four thinning intensities with the reserved densities of 5 600,4 100,3 700 and 1 830 tree/hm2,and a concontrol,with reserve density of 8 000 tree/hm2 were established in the 9-year-old air-seeded Pinus tabulaeformis stands in of Yanqing Country,Bejing.In 2005,5 years after thinning,the composition,abundance,diversity,and biomass of the undergrowth in the four plots were investigated and compared.The results showed that the life-form spectrum could be affected by thinning intensity as well as latitude and altitude.Meanwhile,the composition of the dominant species varied and the meso-xerophytes tended to the mesophytes of shrub layers with the decline of the reserved density.Compared with control,both the rate of substituted species and biomass among undergrowth were accelerated by the drop of reserved density.However,too high or too low shade density was negative to the development of the undergrowth,the peak values of diversity indices appeared when the shade density was between 0.8 and 0.9.Based on the results,it was concluded that reasonable thinning intensity was benefitial to the development of the undergrowth and it could be an effective way for the sustainable use of stands.Generally,when the stand with both site class Ⅳ and high density of 8 000 trees·hm-2 grows up to 9 years old,the reasonable density should be 4 100 trees/hm2 or so by thinning.

The Effects of Density on Undergrowth Plant and Soil Fertility of Cunninghamia laceolata Hook Plantation

Abstract: 根据对10年生不同造林密度杉木人工林林下植被生长状况调查和土壤理化性质的测定,结果表明,随杉木人工林造林密度增大,林下植被高度、覆盖度和生物量减少,土壤物理性质不良,土壤养分含量降低杉木人工林生长过程中要经常调整密度以促进林下植被生长,从而改善土壤理化状况,提高土壤肥力

Effects of thinning intensity on the development of undergrowth in Pinus tabulaeformis plantations.

Abstract: The effects of thinning intensity with four different treatments of 0(CK),40.1%(Ⅰ),51.3%(Ⅱ) and 65.7%(Ⅲ) on the undergrowth were carried out in the 18 years old Pinus tabulaeformis stands with initial density of 3 130 trees/hm~2 in the lower hilly lands of Yingpan,Yanqing County of Beijing.In 2005,ie three years after thinning,the composition,abundance,diversity,and biomass of the undergrowth in the four plots were investigated and compared.The results showed that both the number and evenness of species predominated by genus and family were enhanced by thinning density.Meanwhile,the life-form spectra were influenced and the percentage of chamaephytes was as the following: ⅢCKⅠⅡ,opposite to the trend of the phanerophytes.Also,the composition of dominant species of the four undergrowth varied greatly,which of the herb layer responded more than that of the shrub layer.Compared with CK,the abundance of undergrowth was improved,in which the undergrowth with middle thinning was the greatest followed by the slight thinning intensity.Additionally,the biomass of undergrowth was positively related to the thinning intensity.It is concluded that reasonable thinning intensity is benefitial to the development of the undergrowth,and so can be an effective way to the sustainable use of plantations.Generally,when the stand with initial density of 3 130 trees/hm~2 growing up to 18 years old,the reasonable thinning intensity should be about 51.3%.

Modello di distribuzione delle specie del sottobosco delle faggete dell'Appennino centrale in relazione ai parametri edafici

Abstract: Distribution model of understory vegetation in beech forests from Central Apennines (Italy) in relation to edaphic parameters. The first results of a study of monitoring species and habitats in the framework of the Life 04NAT/IT/000190 "Tutela dei siti Natura 2000 gestiti dal Corpo Forestale dello Stato" are presented. This study was carried out by the Department of Plant Biology of the University of Rome (La Sapienza) and the National Forest Service. We focused the investigation on the relationships between herbaceous species and pedological parameters (humus and soil) in Central-Apennine beech forests. Data have been collected throu­ gh 40 phytosociological releves, 15 soil profiles and 40 humus profiles in 40 forest plots, between March 2005 and September 2006. In this paper we presented data elaborated on a subset of 15 plots where soil profiles were available. The species of undergrowth showed different ecological requirements to some edaphic and humus parameters (pH, sand, loam, clay, organic matter, nitrogen, carbon/nitrogen ratio, Ca ++ , K + ;thickness and carbon content of the organic layers): significant correlations have been found using Pearson correlation test. The multiple regression analysis allowed to identify the factors more influencing the species distribu­ tion: thickness of the organic layers, carbon content (% C) and carbon/nitrogen ratio (C/N). Basing on the thickness of humus horizons (OL, OF, OH), and on carbon content, two species groups with different ecolo­ gy have been recognized: (a) nemoral species typical of shady beech stands on oligomull/dysmull/thin am­ phimull (0 < 1cm.; 5.7 < %C < 9.9); (b) heliophilous species of more xeric stands on thick amphimull (1.25 < 11.5 cm.; 9.9 < %C < 13.7). The relationships among species and soil parameters and humus forms allow to recognize small differences within a homogeneous habitat and therefore they can provide management indi­ cations also at micro-scale level.

EROSÃO HÍDRICA EM LA TOSSOLO VERMELHO SOB DIVERSOS SISTEMAS DE MANEJO DO CAFEEIRO NO SUL DE MINAS GERAIS 1 Water erosion in red latosol under diverse coffee plant management systems at South of Minas Gerais State, Brazil

Abstract: Water erosion reduces the sustainability of agricultural systems. The present study evaluated under natural rainfall, the soil, water, nutrients and organic carbon losses in a typic dystroferric Red Latosol, with 12 % slope, located at Lavras region, Minas Gerais state, Brazil. The work was conducted in soil losses experimental plots. The studied treatments were: coffee under conventional cultivation with manual weeding (CCC); conventional cultivation with cleared undergrowth (CCR); conventional cultivation with herbicide use (CCH); organic cultivation with manual weeding (COC); organic cultivation with cleared undergrowth (COR); and test plot with bare soil (SD). In the systems where the expontaneous vegetation covers were maintained (cleared undergrowth) there was more efficiency of soil protection than in the systems where there was soil exposition (weeding). The system with herbicide use had an intermediate behaviour. All the management systems showed to be conservative in relation to water erosion, where the dense spacement deserves to be emphasized.