Quantification of Spatial Structure Characteristics of Typical Natural Secondary Forest Gaps in Northeastern China

Abstract Background: To understand the theory of forest cycle and reveal the relationship between forest gaps and forest structure, species composition and biodiversity, we need to study the spatial structure of forest gaps. However, the complexity of natural secondary forest structure makes it difficult to quantify the spatial structure characteristics of gaps in large areas by field measurement. In this study, aerial orthophotos, and light detection and ranging (LiDAR), were used as data sources. The experimental area was Maoer Mountain Forest Farm, a typical natural secondary forest in northeastern China, and we used the investigation data of forest resources as reference material. We extracted 1343 forest gaps by manual digitization combined with canopy height model correction. The spatial characteristics of the extracted gaps were quantified from the spatial characteristics (area, shape complexity index), spatial heterogeneity (gap height diversity index) and spatial distribution characteristics (Clark–Evans index) of individual gaps.Results: In the three types of natural secondary forest, the frequency distribution of gap area showed a negative exponential distribution: 90% of the gap area was less than 100 m2. As forests aged, the proportion of gap area decreased from young forest to near-mature forest, and increased from near-mature forest to over-mature forest. The maximum frequency range of shape index changed from 1.2 to 1.4 for young forest, middle age forest and near-mature forest; and which is from 1.4 to 1.6 for mature forest and over-mature forest. The gap height diversity index increased from young forest to near-mature forest, decreased when the forest was mature and increased when it was over-mature. The spatial pattern of forest gaps was mainly random. The proportion of random distribution increased from young forest to middle-aged forest, decreased from near-mature forest to mature forest and increased from over-mature forest.Conclusions: Most of the gaps in the natural secondary forest were small and medium-sized; the shapes were complex; the internal spatial heterogeneity was high; and the gaps were mostly randomly distributed. Use of aerial orthophoto and canopy height model sets was efficient and reliable in quantifying the spatial characteristics of forest gaps, and can replace the time-consuming (and usually field-based) measurement of their subjective spatial characteristics.

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Spatial Structure Evaluation of Natural Secondary Forest around Dongting Lake Based on Entropy Weight - Cloud Model

Journal of Coastal Research ◽

10.2112/si103-098.1 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 103 (sp1) ◽

pp. 484

Author(s):

Xianliang Li ◽

Gui Zhang ◽

Jianjun Li

Keyword(s):

Spatial Structure ◽

Secondary Forest ◽

Cloud Model ◽

Dongting Lake ◽

Entropy Weight ◽

Natural Secondary Forest ◽

Structure Evaluation

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Biomass and Soil Carbon Stocks in Wet Montane Forest, Monteverde Region, Costa Rica: Assessments and Challenges for Quantifying Accumulation Rates

International Journal of Forestry Research ◽

10.1155/2016/5812043 ◽

2016 ◽

Vol 2016 ◽

pp. 1-8 ◽

Cited By ~ 3

Author(s):

Lawrence H. Tanner ◽

Megan T. Wilckens ◽

Morgan A. Nivison ◽

Katherine M. Johnson

Keyword(s):

Costa Rica ◽

Soil Carbon ◽

Secondary Forest ◽

Cloud Forest ◽

Montane Forest ◽

Carbon Stocks ◽

Age Difference ◽

Biomass Carbon ◽

Mature Forest ◽

Large Trees

We measured carbon stocks at two forest reserves in the cloud forest region of Monteverde, comparing cleared land, experimental secondary forest plots, and mature forest at each location to assess the effectiveness of reforestation in sequestering biomass and soil carbon. The biomass carbon stock measured in the mature forest at the Monteverde Institute is similar to other measurements of mature tropical montane forest biomass carbon in Costa Rica. Local historical records and the distribution of large trees suggest a mature forest age of greater than 80 years. The forest at La Calandria lacks historical documentation, and dendrochronological dating is not applicable. However, based on the differences in tree size, above-ground biomass carbon, and soil carbon between the Monteverde Institute and La Calandria sites, we estimate an age difference of at least 30 years of the mature forests. Experimental secondary forest plots at both sites have accumulated biomass at lower than expected rates, suggesting local limiting factors, such as nutrient limitation. We find that soil carbon content is primarily a function of time and that altitudinal differences between the study sites do not play a role.

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Patterns of Diversity and Distribution of Arboreal Social Bees’ Beehives within Chimpanzees’ Home Range in a Forest-Savanna Mosaic (Comoé National Park, Côte d’Ivoire)

Sociobiology ◽

10.13102/sociobiology.v66i3.4384 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 66 (3) ◽

pp. 480

Author(s):

Angele Nicodenin Soro ◽

Juan Lapuente ◽

Abduoulaye Ngolo Kone ◽

Kolo Yeo ◽

Souleymane Konate

Keyword(s):

National Park ◽

Secondary Forest ◽

Ground Level ◽

Home Ranges ◽

Gallery Forest ◽

Habitat Types ◽

Social Bees ◽

Mature Forest ◽

Forest Island ◽

Forest Habitats

The goal of this study was to explain the patterns of diversity and distribution of arboreal social bees nesting in forest habitats of the Comoé National park, within the home-ranges of wild chimpanzees that consume their honey. Investigations were done using a total sixteen plots, one hectare each, established in three habitat types (mature forest island, secondary forest island and gallery forest). The diversity and distribution of arboreal social bees was estimated with visuals searches. The exploitation of the beehives of these bee by the chimpanzees was also evaluated using chimpanzees’ honey dipping tools as indicators. Results revealed five bees’ species belonging to two tribes; Meliponini (Meliponula ferruginea, Meliponula togoensis, Meliponula bocandei, Hypotrigona gribodoi) and Apini (Apis mellifera). Frequent exploitation of the honey of stingless bees by the chimpanzees was observed, except for H. gribodoi. Meliponula ferruginea was the most exploited species by chimpanzees. A total of 114 beehives were found in the overall established plots leading to an estimated density of 2.4 beehives/ha in the study area. Among the surveyed habitats, mature forest island was found to harbor the highest beehive density (4.2 beehives/ha), followed respectively by secondary-forest island (1.9 beehives/ha) and gallery forest (1.1 beehives/ha). Finally, all bee species were found nesting in cavities of trees with a DBH ranging from 15 to 87.3 cm, with a special preference for Dialium guinneense. However, the DBH of nesting trees and beehives’ height, measured from the ground level, did not significantly influence the honey exploitation by chimpanzees. In sum bee species diversity and distribution might be important in the survival of chimpanzees of a forest savanna landscape.

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Soil and soil microbial biomass contents and C:N:P stoichiometry at different succession stages of natural secondary forest in sub-alpine area of western Sichuan, China

Acta Ecologica Sinica ◽

10.5846/stxb202008202170 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 41 (12) ◽

Author(s):

胡宗达，刘世荣，刘兴良，胡璟，罗明霞，李亚非，石松林，吴德勇，肖玖金 HU Zongda

Keyword(s):

Microbial Biomass ◽

Soil Microbial Biomass ◽

Secondary Forest ◽

C:N:P Stoichiometry ◽

Western Sichuan ◽

Natural Secondary Forest ◽

Soil Microbial ◽

Alpine Area

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Impact of risk factor management on the sanitary condition of Norway spruce (Picea abies [L.] Karst.) pure stands in Latvia

Journal of Forest Science ◽

10.17221/4/2014-jfs ◽

2014 ◽

Vol 60 (No. 5) ◽

pp. 181-189

Author(s):

J. Rūba ◽

O. Miezīte ◽

S. Luguza

Keyword(s):

Risk Factors ◽

Risk Factor ◽

Spatial Structure ◽

Health State ◽

Anthropogenic Factor ◽

Forest Stands ◽

Risk Factor Management ◽

Sanitary Condition ◽

Young Forest ◽

Empirical Material

In management of young forest stands, it is often the case in forestry that several risk factors, biotic, abiotic and anthropogenic ones, have to be dealt with. An anthropogenic factor is of great importance in management of forests, because humans, using ecosystems for their needs, still have to maintain the spatial structure of the forest and prevent the worsening of the health state. Covering all territory of Latvia, empirical material was gathered in 25 pure stands. To find out how neighbouring stands impact the young forest stands of spruce, the location in forest array was detected. In identifying the risk factors, attention should be paid to the shape of compartment and its location in forest array. A correlation between the occurrence and intensity of damage caused by cloven-hoofed game is relevant rfact = 0.988 > rcrit = 0.088 with 95% probability. Also the occurrence and intensity of Lophophacidium hyperboreum Lagerb., and damage by Heterobasidion spp. are relevant rfact = 0.991 > rcrit = 0.062 and rfact = 0.981 > rcrit = 0.088 with of 95% probability.

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