Forest edge effect on biomass carbon along altitudinal gradients in Chinese Fir (Cunninghamia lanceolata): A study from Southeastern China

Chinese fir (Cunninghamia lanceolata (Lamb.) Hook) is the most commercially important conifer in China, and the Nanjing Forestry University – Fujian Province Chinese fir Cooperation (NJFU – Fujian Cooperation) breeding program has advanced it into the third cycle of selection and breeding. In this paper, we estimated genetic parameters from four sites for 80 half-sib families and summarized previous estimates of genetic parameters in Chinese fir with an objective to propose optimal breeding strategy. Heritability averaged 0.20 and 0.14 for height and diameter at breast height (DBH), respectively, for the four sites. A significant genotype–environment interaction (G × E) for growth was also observed among the four sites, with the greatest interactions between a marginal site and the three central sites in the Fujian Province Chinese fir plantation region. The average estimated type-B genetic correlation between the marginal site and the three central sites was 0.08 for height and –0.09 for DBH. However, the highly productive families were among the most stable across the four sites. The results from this study in combination with summarized genetic parameters from literature were used to discuss and propose an optimal breeding strategy for the third generation of the breeding program for Chinese firs in Fujian Province.

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Dynamics and Edge Effect of an Atlantic Forest Fragment in Brazil

Floresta e Ambiente ◽

10.1590/2179-8087.064713 ◽

2016 ◽

Vol 23 (3) ◽

pp. 340-349 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Poliana Gabriella Araújo Mendes ◽

Maria Amanda Menezes Silva ◽

Tassiane Novacosque Feitosa Guerra ◽

Ana Carolina Borges Lins-e-Silva ◽

Airton de Deus Cysneiros Cavalcanti ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Species Richness ◽

Atlantic Forest ◽

Edge Effect ◽

Woody Plants ◽

Response Times ◽

Forest Edge ◽

Northeastern Brazil ◽

Forest Fragment ◽

Canopy Tree ◽

Forest Interior

ABSTRACT The woody plants in an edge area formed approximately 35 years ago in an Atlantic Forest fragment in northeastern Brazil were examined, and three environments defined: edge, intermediate, and interior. Canopy tree densities and basal areas were found to be similar in all three environments, and also similar to previous published studies in the same region; species richness was greatest at the forest edge. The understory showed greater species richness in the forest interior, but greater diversity and equitability in the intermediate environment. Understory environments close to the forest edge demonstrated larger stem diameters than in the forest interior, although at lesser densities and with smaller total basal areas. Our results indicated the existence of distinct patterns in canopy and understory that most likely reflect differences in the response times of these two vegetation layers, with the understory being more sensitive to alterations in environmental structure.

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