scholarly journals Association distribution characteristics of natural and artificial Larix gmelinii forests along environmental gradients in northeast China

2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Xiaohang Bai ◽  
Jinghua Yu ◽  
Shusheng Yuan ◽  
Yihong Tan

Abstract Background: Larix gmelinii forest is one of coniferous forests in cold-temperate zone, which is a vital part of national strategic landscape of ecological security of China. Plant association distribution is different in natural and artificial Larix gmelinii forests, meanwhile, determining mechanisms in typical associations of Larix gmelinii forests still need to be explored. The study focused on which environmental factors actuated association distribution of natural and artificial Larix gmelinii forests in northeast China. Two-way indicator species analysis (TWINSPAN) and canonical correspondence analysis (CCA) were used to classify plant associations and explored the relationship between species and environment. Results: All the plots (n=175, size=30 m×30 m) of Larix gmelinii forests were classified into 6 plant associations by TWINSPAN. Species diversity in natural forests were higher than that in artificial forests. Ass.III and Ass.IV only appeared in natural forests, meanwhile, Ass.VI only appeared in artificial forests. The primary environmental drivers of species diversity patterns in natural forests were annual mean temperature, followed by annual precipitation, elevation, slope aspect, and canopy density. However, elevation and annual precipitation had strong effects in determining association distribution in artificial forests. Conclusions: Plant association distribution showed habitat preferences, besides, natural forests had higher species diversity and more resistance than artificial forests. The study can be used as a reference for Larix gmelinii forest ecosystem protection in northeast China and a theoretical basis for scientific management in similar areas.

2015 ◽  
Vol 25 (1) ◽  
pp. 20-29 ◽  
Author(s):  
N. Awasthi ◽  
S. K. Bhandari ◽  
Y. Khanal

Scientific forest management is an emerging need for managing existing natural forests of Nepal on the basis of silvicultural intervention. The study was carried out in Lumbini Collaborative Forest at Rupandehi District of Nepal, where Sal (Shorea robusta) forests are being managed under Irregular Shelterwood System with eighty years of cutting cycle since 2011–2012. The study was purposed to find out the intial effects of silvicultural intervention on plant species diversity and regeneration of Sal forest. The vegetative sampling was done using quadrate method based on the principle of simple random sampling both in the managed as well as the unmanaged parts of forest. The study found out remarkable increase in regeneration as well as decrease in plant diversity in the managed first and second-year stands (Block I and Block II respectively) as compared to the unmanaged stand (Block III) at its initial level of implementation. The mean value of diversity, richness, evenness, dominance index and regeneration of S. robusta varied significantly (p?0.05) between the managed blocks (stands). The seedling density of S. robusta was found higher in the managed blocks (Block I and Block II) as compared to the unmanaged one (Block III) in terms of height class. The study recommends implementation of Irregular Shelterwood System for managing the existing degraded Sal forests of the Terai region of Nepal, however, its long term effects on plant species diversity should be further studied in detail.Banko Janakari, A Journal of Forestry Information for NepalVol. 25, No. 1Page: 20-29


2013 ◽  
Vol 17 (2) ◽  
pp. 455-472 ◽  
Author(s):  
Xiaoshuang Chen ◽  
Weibo Wang ◽  
Hong Liang ◽  
Xiaoli Liu ◽  
Liangjun Da

1978 ◽  
Vol 58 (1) ◽  
pp. 117-128
Author(s):  
J. M. DESCHENES ◽  
J. C. ST-PIERRE

Intensive studies of soil and vegetation were performed in Rivière-du-Loup County to identify various plant associations of meadows and pastures, describe the successional trends of each ecological habitat and establish a relationship between plant associations and various environmental factors. After vegetation survey and analysis, four plant associations and their successional trends were described. Each plant association was identified by the dominant species at the most advanced stage of secondary succession: (1) red fescue-bent grass association, (2) red fescue-Lindberg’s plume moss association, (3) bent grass–red fescue association, and (4) poverty grass–mouse-eared hawkweed association. All four plant associations were distributed in space according to the physiography and nature of the soils. Vegetation was highly influenced by age of sites. Young meadows and pastures were dominanted by timothy, red top, white clover and Canada bluegrass. Red fescue was very important on all 10 yr-old sites and remained so in all successional stages except in bent grass–red fescue and poverty grass–mouse-eared hawkweed associations. Vegetation changes with age depended on both ecological factors and land utilization. The results suggest that intensive soil studies and a rapid survey of vegetation would have provided results very similar to those obtained by a very detailed ecological study.


2005 ◽  
Vol 62 (1) ◽  
pp. 93-108 ◽  
Author(s):  
E.I. Badano ◽  
L.A. Cavieres ◽  
M.A. Molina-Montenegro ◽  
C.L. Quiroz

Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document