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Leaf inclination angle distribution directly decides the amount of radiation interception by vegetation canopy, and also, decides the size and direction of the incident radiation, being the key parameter in quantitative remote sensing. This paper simulated the leaf inclination angle distribution of the main tree species in Daxing'an Mountains forest region based on the Campbell ellipsoid distribution model and iterative method, and quantitatively analyzed the fitting results of canopy with and without leaf stratification as well as the effects of tree age group on the leaf inclination angle distribution. For the test 6 main tree species, the leaf inclination angle distribution was in planophile shape, and the mean leaf inclination angle was smaller for coniferous tree than for broadleaved tree. Whether with or without stratify, the fitting result and the measured result were basically identical. For Betula platyphylla and Larix gmelinii, the correlation coefficient between the simulated and measured values was 0.8268 and 0.8192, and the root mean square error was 3.7% and 4.3% respectively, indicating that the Campbell model was reliable applied for forest canopy. Considering the effects of tree age group, though the leaf inclination angle distribution trend with leaf stratification had no correlation with age group, the mean leaf inclination angle of young L. gmelinii was relatively smaller than that mature one, suggesting that age group had positive effects on the numerical design of leaf inclination angle distribution and negative effects on the numerical design of extinction coefficient.

Based on the forest resources investigation data and the forest fire inventory in 1953-2011, in combining with our field research in burned areas and our laboratory experiments, this paper estimated the carbonaceous gases carbon dioxide (CO2), carbon monoxide (CO), methane (CH4), and nonmethane hydrocarbons (NMHC) emission from the forest fires in Xiao Xing' an Mountains of Heilongjiang Province, Northeast China in 1953-2011. The total carbon emission from the forest fires in the Xiao Xing'an Mountains in 1953-2011 was 1.12 x 10(7) t, and the annual emission was averagely 1.90 x10(5) t, accounting for 1.7% of the annual average total carbon emission from the forest fires in China. The emission of CO2, CO, CH4, and NMHC was 3.39 x 10(7), 1.94 x 10(5), 1.09 x 10(5), and 7.46 x 10(4) t, respectively, and the corresponding annual average emission was 5.74 x 10(5), 3.29 x 10(4), 1.85 x 10(3), and 1.27 x 10(3) t, accounting for 1.4%, 1.2%, 1.7%, and 1.1% of the annual carbonaceous gases emitted from the forest fires in China, respectively. The combustion efficiency and the carbon emission per unit burned area of different forest types decreased in order of coniferous forest > broad-leaved forest > coniferous broadleaved mixed forest. Some rational forest fire management measures were put forward.

Taking the Korean pine broadleaved forest in Liangshui Nature Reserve of Heilongjiang Province, Northeast China as test object, this paper studied the species composition and diameter class structure, and by using point pattern analysis, analyzed the spatial distribution pattern and spatial association of the main populations. In the Reserve, there were a total of 16 species with diameter greater than 1 cm in tree layer, and great differences were observed in the densities of main populations. Coniferous trees such as Pinus koraiensis and Abies nephrolepis were dominant. The diameter class structure of the populations presented as an inverse "J" curve, indicating a good regeneration across the community. The main populations were mostly in aggregated distribution pattern, except that the P. koraiensis populations at the scales of 19-21 m and 44 m as well as the Acer tegmentosum populations close to the largest research scale were in random distribution. The P. koraiensis populations at all research scales were approximately in random distribution, and had the minimum aggregation. A. nephrolepis, Tilia amurensis, and A. tegmentosum populations all presented a random distribution trend. Except that the P. koraiensis and A. nephrolepis at 2-3 m scale and the A. nephrolepis and A. tegmentosum populations at 37-81 m scale had significant positive association, no significant associations were observed between other populations. All the tree species presented an overall non-significant positive association.

Based on the hydrological data from the Beikouqian and Nandianyu stations in the upstream of Hun River and Taizi River as well as the meteorological data from the Qingyuan, Xinbin, and Benxi County stations, Northeast China in 1998-2007, a distributed hydrological model (DHS-VM) was applied to simulate the hydrological process in Hun-Tai basin. The scientific applicability of the model was validated, and the reference values of the most sensitive model parameters were provided. The simulated monthly runoff Nash-Suttclife coefficient (E value) for the source region of Hun River in calibration period (1998-2002) and validation period (2003-2007) was 0.9675 and 0. 8957, respectively, which could better reappear the monthly runoff process in this source region. The simulated monthly and annual runoff E values for the upstream of Taizi River were greater than 0.6, indicating that this model had good applicability in Hun-Tai basin, and the calibrated parameter scheme had a good reliability. This paper established a solid framework for the hydrological study over ungauged basin, and constructed a reasonable parameter scheme.

Model simulation and in situ observation are the two most important means in studying the water and carbon cycles of terrestrial ecosystems, but have their own advantages and shortcomings. To combine these two means would help to reflect the dynamic changes of ecosystem water and carbon fluxes more accurately. Data assimilation provides an effective way to integrate the model simulation and in situ observation. Based on the observation data from the Harvard Forest Environmental Monitoring Site (EMS), and by using ensemble Kalman Filter algorithm, this paper assimilated the field measured LAI and remote sensing LAI into the Biome-BGC model to simulate the water and carbon fluxes in Harvard forest area. As compared with the original model simulated without data assimilation, the improved Biome-BGC model with the assimilation of the field measured LAI in 1998, 1999, and 2006 increased the coefficient of determination R2 between model simulation and flux observation for the net ecosystem exchange (NEE) and evapotranspiration by 8.4% and 10.6%, decreased the sum of absolute error (SAE) and root mean square error (RMSE) of NEE by 17.7% and 21.2%, and decreased the SAE and RMSE of the evapotranspiration by 26. 8% and 28.3%, respectively. After assimilated the MODIS LAI products of 2000-2004 into the improved Biome-BGC model, the R2 between simulated and observed results of NEE and evapotranspiration was increased by 7.8% and 4.7%, the SAE and RMSE of NEE were decreased by 21.9% and 26.3%, and the SAE and RMSE of evapotranspiration were decreased by 24.5% and 25.5%, respectively. It was suggested that the simulation accuracy of ecosystem water and carbon fluxes could be effectively improved if the field measured LAI or remote sensing LAI was integrated into the model.

The Three-North Shelter Forest Program is a key forestry ecological project in China. The quantity and spatial distribution of the shelter forest in the program affect the ecological environment of the entire Three-North region. In this paper, multi-sensor remote sensing data were used to scientifically, objectively and comprehensively estimate the quantity and spatial distribution pattern of the shelter forest in this region in 1978-2008. Firstly, the Landsat TM images (30 m in resolution) were adopted to extract the shelter forest data in this region in 2008. Then, based on random sampling techniques, the calibration formulae for the shelter forest area in different precipitation climate regions estimated by the SPOT5 (2.5 m in resolution) and Landsat TM were constructed. By using the above-mentioned results, the shelter forest area in the Three-North region in 2008 was estimated. In 2008, the total area of the shelter forest (canopy density of arbor shelter forest was >0.3, coverage of shrub shelter forest was > 40%, and accuracy was about 85%) in this region was 328360.03 km2, with 116244.55 km2 in Northeast China, 42981.32 km2 in North China, 76767.05 km2 in Loess Plateau, and 92367.11 km2 in Mongolia-Xinjiang Region. According to the classification of shelter forest types, the areas of coniferous forest, broadleaved forest, mixed broadleaf-conifer forest and shrubland were 62614.74, 121628.51, 22144.09 and 121972.69 km2, respectively.

By using Biolog Ecoplate system, this paper studied the structure and functional diversity of soil microbial community under different vegetation types in Wuyishan National Nature Reserve, aimed to probe into the effects of vegetation type on the diversity of soil microbial community. The results showed that the soil chemical properties, soil enzyme activities, and average well color development (AWCD) were higher in natural forest than in planted forest, and were the lowest in abandoned field. The AWCD reflecting soil microbial activity and functional diversity was increased with increasing incubation time, but there existed significant differences among different vegetation types. The carbon sources mostly used by soil microbes were carbohydrates and carboxylic acids, followed by amino acids, phenolic acids and polymers, and amines had the lowest utilization rate. The Simpson index, Shannon index, Richness index and McIntosh index in natural forest were holistically higher than those in planted forest. Principal component analysis (PCA) identified 2 principal component factors in relation to carbon sources, explaining 56.3% and 30.2% of the variation, respectively. The carbon sources used by soil microbial community differed with vegetation types. Amino acids and amides were the two main carbon sources separating the 2 principal component factors. The results of this study could provide basis for further approaching the relationships between vegetation diversity and soil microbial community diversity.

Based on the neutral landscapes under different degrees of landscape fragmentation, this paper studied the effects of sampling plot number on the prediction of tree species distribution at landscape scale under climate change. The tree species distribution was predicted by the coupled modeling approach which linked an ecosystem process model with a forest landscape model, and three contingent scenarios and one reference scenario of sampling plot numbers were assumed. The differences between the three scenarios and the reference scenario under different degrees of landscape fragmentation were tested. The results indicated that the effects of sampling plot number on the prediction of tree species distribution depended on the tree species life history attributes. For the generalist species, the prediction of their distribution at landscape scale needed more plots. Except for the extreme specialist, landscape fragmentation degree also affected the effects of sampling plot number on the prediction. With the increase of simulation period, the effects of sampling plot number on the prediction of tree species distribution at landscape scale could be changed. For generalist species, more plots are needed for the long-term simulation.

As a regional artificial disturbance component, road exerts great effects on vegetation types, and plays a substantial role in defining vegetation distribution to a certain extent. Aiming at the tropical rainforest degradation and artificial forest expansion in Yunnan Province of Southwest China, this paper analyzed the effects of road network extension on regional vegetation types. In the Province, different classes of roads had different effects on the vegetation types, but no obvious regularity was observed in the effects on the patch areas of different vegetation types due to the great variations of road length and affected distance. However, the vegetation patch number was more affected by lower class roads because of their wide distribution. As for different vegetation types, the vegetations on cultivated land were most affected by roads, followed by Castanopsis hystrix and Schima wallichii forests. Road network formation contributed most to the vegetation fragmentation, and there existed significant correlations between the human disturbance factors including village- and road distributions.

Using the measurement data from an 8-level vertical profile of CO2/H2 0 in a temperate deciduous broadleaved forest at the Maoershan Forest Ecosystem Research Station, Northeast China, this paper quantified the errors of CO2 storage flux (Fs ) calculated with three scalar variables, i. e. , CO2 density (rho c), molar fraction (cc), and molar mixing ratio relative to dry air (Xc). The dry air storage in the control volume of flux measurement was not a constant, and thus, the fluctuation of the dry air storage could cause the CO2 molecules transporting out of or into the control volume, i. e. , the variation of the dry air storage adjustment term (Fsd). During nighttime and day-night transition periods, the relative magnitude of Fsd to eddy flux was larger, and ignoring the Fsd could introduce errors in calculating the net CO2 exchange between the forest ecosystem and the atmosphere. Three error sources in the Fs calculation could be introduced from the atmospheric hydrothermal processes, i. e. , 1) air temperature fluctuation, which could cause the largest error, with one order of magnitude larger than that caused by atmospheric pressure (P) , 2) water vapor, its effect being larger than that of P in warm and moist summer but smaller in cold and dry winter, and 3) P, whose effect was generally smaller throughout the year. In estimating the effective CO2 storage (Fs_E) , the Fs value calculated with rho c, cc, and Xc was overestimated averagely by 8. 5%, suggested that in the calculation of Fs, adopting the Xc conservation to atmospheric hydrothermal processes could be more appropriate to minimize the potential errors.

To accurately interpolate the missing precipitation data from meteorological observation stations within a region to obtain a complete precipitation series is of significance in improving the spatial and temporal resolution in analyzing the effects of climate change. By using spatial correlation and stepwise regression techniques, this paper interpolated the missing precipitation data for an individual day or less than 7 days in a month from the 853 meteorological stations in the forest region of Eastern China in 1961-2010, as a consequent establishment of the complete time series precipitation datasets of the observation stations in 1961-2010 established. Based on these, trend analysis approach was applied to analyze the variation characteristics of the annual precipitation, annual precipitation days, and extreme precipitation events in the region in 1961-2010. During the study period, the annual precipitation in the region presented an insignificant increasing trend, with a tendency of 5.58 mm (10 a) -1, but the decadal variation was obvious. The annual precipitation days reduced significantly, while the annual extreme precipitation days and extreme precipitation volumes increased significantly, with a tendency of 0.12 d (10 a) -1 and 10. 22 mm (10 a)-1, respectively. Since the 1990s, the extreme precipitation events became frequently and intensively, and the proportion of the volumes of extreme precipitation to total precipitation increased significantly. Both the extreme precipitation days and the volumes of extreme precipitation had an abrupt change in 1993.

Based on the TM images and 3S technology, and by using normalized burn ratio (NBR) , this paper quantitatively evaluated the fire severity of burnt area in Huzhong forest region of the Great Xing' an Mountains from 1986 to 2010, and analyzed the relationships of the fire severity with environmental factors such as vegetation type, elevation, slope, and aspect. In Huzhong forest region, the fire occurrence frequency and total burnt area had an obvious inter-annual change. High incidence of forest fire was from June to August, and heavily burnt area occupied 84. 2% of the total burnt area. In the burnt area, larch forest accounted for 89. 9%. 68. 8% of burnt area located at the elevations from 1000 m to 1500 m, and 62. 5% located in eastern, southern, western, and northern slopes. There was no obvious difference in the burnt area between sunny and shady slopes. The burnt area at the slope degrees 15 degree-25 degrees occupied 38.4% of the total. High severity burnt area was the largest (70% of the total), followed by moderate severity burnt area (about 10%), and low severity burnt area and un-burnt area (<5% ). The majority of the forest fires in Huzhong forest region were of high severity fire, which caused great damages to the forest resources. It was suggested that in the forest fire management in Great Xing' an Mountains forest region, it would be urgent to implement forest fuel treatments to reduce fire severity to guarantee the forest ecosystem security.

Based on the land cover datasets of Poyang Lake region in 1980, 2005, and 2010, and by using GIS, RS, and landscape ecology approaches, this paper studied the land cover and landscape pattern changes in this region from 1980 to 2010, and quantitatively analyzed the land cover types change degree, patch area index, patch shape index, margin density index, and landscape diversity index. In 1980-2010, the main land cover types in this region were paddy field, inland water, evergreen broadleaf forest, and urban built-up area, and their areas and spatial patterns varied dramatically. Overall, the areas of inland water and urban built-up area had a significant increase, while those of paddy field and dry farmland decreased somewhat. Due to the effects of population growth and economic development, the landscape fragmentation degree and landscape diversity index presented a decreasing trend, but the decrement was small, which implied that the previous environmental management of this region had exerted important roles, but a long term challenge was still faced with between the regional environmental protection and sustainable development.

By using spatially explicit landscape model (LANDIS 6.0 PRO), and parameterized this model with the long-term research and observation data of Tiantong National Station of Forest Eco-system Observation and Research, this paper simulated the natural succession of evergreen broad-leaved forest in Tiantong National Forest park, Zhejiang Province in the future 500 years, analyzed the spatial distribution and age structure of dominant species and major landscapes, and explored the succession pattern of the evergreen broad-leaved forest. In the park, the species alternation mostly occurred before the stage of evergreen broad-leaved forest. Pinus massoniana, Quercus fabric, and Liquidambar formosana occupied a large proportion during the early succession, but gradually disappeared with the succession process. Schima superba and Castanopsis fargesii took the main advantage in late succession, and developed to the climax community. Under the conditions without disturbances, the community was mainly composed of young forests in the early succession, and of mature or over-mature forests in the late succession, implying the insufficient regeneration ability of the community. LANDIS model could be used for simulating the landscape dynamics of evergreen broad-leaved forest in eastern China. In the future research, both the model structure and the model parameters should be improved, according to the complexity and diversity of subtropical evergreen broad-leaved forest.

Based on the A2a and B2a climatic scenarios for both the baseline period (1961-1990) and the future scenario periods (2010-2039, 2040-2069, and 2070-2099) from the Hadley Centre's General Circulation, and by using Delta method, WGEN downscaling methods, and Canadian Forest Fire Danger Rating System, this paper classified the forest fire dangers in Great Xing' an Mountains region of Heilongjiang Province, Northeast China, predicted the changes of the forest fire danger rating in the period 2010-2099 relative to baseline period (1961-1990), and analyzed the uncertainty of the long-term prediction of forest fire danger rating. It was predicted that under the background of climate warming, the mean annual days of extremely high, very high, and medium forest dangers in study region in the 21st century all showed an increasing trend, while the mean annual days of high and low forest dangers were in adverse. Relative to the baseline period of 1961-1990, the mean annual days of extremely high and very high forest dangers in the 2040-2069 and 2070-2099 under the scenarios of SRES A2a and B2a would be increased by 43 and 36, and 62 and 61, respectively.

With the combination of forest landscape model (LANDIS) and forest gap model (LINKAGES), this paper simulated the effects of climate change on the boreal forest landscape in the Great Xing'an Mountains, and compared the direct effects of climate change and the effects of climate warming-induced fires on the forest landscape. The results showed that under the current climate conditions and fire disturbances, the forest landscape in the study area could maintain its dynamic balance, and Larix gmelinii was still the dominant tree species. Under the future climate and fire disturbances scenario, the distribution area of L. gmelinii and Pinus pumila would be decreased, while that of Betula platyphylla, Populus davidiana, Populus suaveolens, Chosenia arbutifolia, and Pinus sylvestris var. mongolica would be increased, and the forest fragmentation and forest diversity would have an increase. The changes of the forest landscape lagged behind climate change. Climate warming would increase the growth of most tree species except L. gmelinii, while the increased fires would increase the distribution area of P. davidiana, P. suaveolens, and C. arbutifolia and decrease the distribution area of L. gmelinii, P. sylvestris var. mongolica, and P. pumila. The effects of climate warming-induced fires on the forest landscape were almost equal to the direct effects of climate change, and aggravated the direct effects of climate change on forest composition, forest landscape fragmentation, and forest landscape diversity.

Based on the two successive years observation of the water content of ten representative shrub species in Maoershan Mountain region of Northeast China, this paper studied the dynamics of the water content of these shrub species during their growth period and related affecting factors, with the prediction models of the shrub water content established. For the ten shrub species, their minimal water content during growth period was higher than 100% , and most of the species had a water content higher than 200% within the period from the late phase of leaf-unfolding to early phase of leaf-falling. Euonymus verrucosus, Sorbaria sorbifolia, and Sambucus williamsii were incombustible in their whole growth period due to the extremely high water content, while Syringa reticulate, Philadelphus schrenkii, Euonymus verrucosus, Spiraea chamaedryfolia, Lonicera maackii, Lonicera ruprechtiana, and Rhamnus parvifolia were combustible only in the phases of budding and leaf-falling. Soil moisture content and daily maximum temperature had effects on the water content of most (7) of the ten shrubs, and canopy drought severity index affected the water content of 5 of the ten shrubs. The established 9 prediction models could explain more than 35% of the water content variance of the shrub species, with a mean MRE of 35.9% and a mean MRE of 13.4%.

By using Delta and WGEN downscaling methods and Canadian Forest Fire Weather Index, this paper analyzed the variation characteristics of summer fire in Great Xing' an Mountains forest region of Heilongjiang Province in 1966-2010, estimated the change trends of the summer fire danger in 2010-2099, compared the differences of the forest fire in summer, spring, and autumn, and proposed the prevention and control strategies of the summer fire based on the fire environment. Under the background of climate warming, the summer forest fire in the region in 2000-2010 showed a high incidence trend. In foreseeable future, the summer forest fire across the region in 2010-2099, as compared to that in the baseline period 1961-1990, would be increased by 34%, and the increment would be obviously greater than that of spring and autumn fire. Relative to that in 1961-1990, the summer fire in 2010-2099 under both SRES A2a and SRES B2a scenarios would have an increasing trend, and, with the lapse of time, the trend would be more evident, and the area with high summer fire would become wider and wider. Under the scenario of SRES A2a, the summer fire by the end of the 21st century would be doubled, as compared to that in 1961-1990, and the area with high summer fire would be across the region. In the characteristics of fire source, attributes of forest fuel, and fire weather conditions, the summer forest fire was different from the spring and autumn forest fire, and thus, the management of fire source and forest fuel load as well as the forest fire forecast (mid-long term forecast in particular) in the region should be strengthened to control the summer forest fire.

This paper explored the effects of light quality on the seed germination of five dominant tree species (Larix kaempferi, Phellodendron amurense, Acer mono, Fraxinus mandshurica, and Pinus koraiensis) in a secondary forest ecosystem of Northeast China, based on the experiments with the seeds of the five tree species in laboratory and those of the P. koraiensis and L. kaempferi in the field. Four treatments of different light quality were designed in laboratory (taking dark as the control), and three treatments of R/FR (the ratio of red light and far red light intensity) were installed in the field. The laboratory experiment showed that light quality had less effect on the seed germination of L. kaempferi, but the seed germination rates of the other four tree species were significantly different under the treatments of different light quality. P. amurense had the highest seed germination rate under white light, whereas A. mono, F. mandshurica, and P. koraiensis had the highest one under the alternative irradiation with red light and far red light (R-FR-R). In consistence with the results in laboratory, the seed germination rate of P. koraiensis in the field decreased with decreasing R/FR ratio, while that of L. kaempferi was less affected. Under natural condition, the R-FR-R fluctuated with the activity of sun-fleck, and the seed germination patterns of A. mono, F. mandshurica, and P. koraiensis could be the adaptation to the sun-fleck environment in forest stand. The germination of large seeds was significantly affected by light quality.

By using dilution plate, fumigation extraction, and phospholipid fatty acid (PLFA) methods, this paper studied the quantities of soil microbial populations and the characteristics of soil microbial community structure in a Chinese fir (Cunninghamia lanceolata) plantation converted from an evergreen broadleaved forest. The results showed that, during the vegetation change from evergreen broadleaved forest to Chinese fir plantation, the microbial biomass carbon and the quantities of culturable bacteria and actinomyces were decreased. The total PLFAs, bacterial PLFAs, and fungi PLFAs in the woodland soil from Chinese fir plantation were decreased by 49.4%, 52.4%, 46.6%, simultaneously. And G+ and G- bacterial PLFAs in Chinese fir plantation were lower than in evergreen broadleaved forest. As compared with those in rhizosphere soil from Chinese fir plantation, the microbial biomass carbon and the quantities of culturable bacteria and actinomyces in bulk soil were decreased. The total PLFAs, bacterial PLFAs, and G+ and G- bacterial PLFAs in the rhizosphere soil were increased, while the ratio of fungal to bacterial PLFAs was lowered. The principal component analysis of the soil microbial community structure indicated that the first principal component (PC1) and the second principal component (PC2) together accounted for 78.2% of total variation of soil microbial community structure. This study showed there were some differences in the soil microbial community structure between evergreen broadleaved forest and Chinese fir plantation.

Land use change has significant effects on vegetation biomass via altering ecosystem structure. By adopting a spatially explicit land use change model, this paper simulated the spatiotemporal pattern of land use change in China till 2030, based on the historical scenario (in this scenario, the land use trend in 1988-2005 was extrapolated to obtain the area of each land use type in the future) and the planned scenario (in this scenario, the area of each land use type in the future was based on the national scale land use planning). On the basis of this simulation and using a biomass density approach, the spatial pattern of vegetation biomass change in China was estimated. The simulation showed that under the historical scenario, the forest area would be decreased but the forest age would be in adverse, and accordingly, the forest biomass density would have an increase. Till 2030, the overall vegetation biomass in China would be 14619 Tg, with an increase of 251.19 Tg as compared to the situation in 2005. Under the planned scenario, the forest area would be increased, and the overall vegetation biomass in 2030 would be 15468 Tg, with an increase of 1100 Tg as compared to the situation in 2005. In the planned scenario, the planted forest area would be larger while the forest age would be younger, resulting in a much lower vegetation biomass density in 2030 than that in the historical scenario, and thus, the China's vegetation in the planned scenario would have a higher potential to act as a carbon sink.

Forest fire is an important factor affecting forest ecosystem succession. Recently, forest fire, especially forest lightning fire, shows an increasing trend under global warming. To study the relationships of forest fire with lightning is essential to accurately predict the forest fire in time. Daxing' anling Mountains is a region with high frequency of forest lightning fire in China, and an important experiment site to study the relationships of forest fire with lightning. Based on the forest fire records and the corresponding lightning and meteorological observation data in the Mountains from 1966 to 2007, this paper analyzed the relationships of forest fire with lightning in this region. In the period of 1966-2007, both the lightning fire number and the fired forest area in this region increased significantly. The meteorological factors affecting the forest lighting fire were related to temporal scales. At yearly scale, the forest lightning fire was significantly correlated with precipitation, with a correlation coefficient of -0.489; at monthly scale, it had a significant correlation with air temperature, the correlation coefficient being 0.18. The relationship of the forest lightning fire with lightning was also related to temporal scales. At yearly scale, there was no significant correlation between them; at monthly scale, the forest lightning fire was strongly correlated with lightning and affected by precipitation; at daily scale, a positive correlation was observed between forest lightning fire and lightning when the precipitation was less than 5 mm. According to these findings, a fire danger index based on ADTD lightning detection data was established, and a forest lightning fire forecast model was developed. The prediction accuracy of this model for the forest lightning fire in Daxing' anling Mountains in 2005-2007 was > 80%.

By using 1998-2010 SPOT-VGT NDVI images, this paper analyzed the spatiotemporal variation of vegetation in northern Shaanxi. In 1998-2010, the NDVI in northern Shaanxi had an obvious seasonal variation. The average monthly NDVI was the minimum (0.14) in January and the maximum (0.46) in August, with a mean value of 0.28. The average annual NDVI presented an overall increasing trend, indicating that the vegetation in this area was in restoring. Spatially, the restoration of vegetation in this area was concentrated in central south part, and the degradation mainly occurred in the north of the Great Wall. Air temperature and precipitation were the important climate factors affecting the variation of vegetation, with the linear correlation coefficients to NDVI being 0.72 and 0.58, respectively. The regions with better restored vegetation were mainly on the slopes of 15 degrees-25 degrees, indicating that the Program of Conversion of Cropland to Forestland and Grassland had a favorable effect in the vegetation restoration in northern Shaanxi.

As one of the high-latitude cold regions, the permafrost zone of Northeast China (PZNC) is more sensitive to global change. Based on the AVHRR GIMMS NDVI and MODIS NDVI, and by using CASA model, this paper simulated the net primary productivity (NPP) in the PZNC from 1982 to 2009. In 1982-2009, the mean annual air temperature, annual solar radiation and sunshine duration, and atmospheric CO2 concentration and its annual increasing rate in the PZNC increased significantly while the annual precipitation had a significant decrease, and the annual NPP showed an up-and-down trend, with the turning point in 1998. The annual NPP had a high spatial heterogeneity, with an average of 623 g C X m(-2). Comparing with air temperature, the precipitation in growth season was the main factor affecting the NPP. Land use change altered land cover, and thus, the spatiotemporal characteristics of NPP. A significant positive correlation was observed between the NPP and atmospheric CO2 concentration. The impact of permafrost degradation on NPP differed with regional environment. The NPP had a significant positive correlation with the mean annual ground temperature, but a negative correlation with the annual maximum permafrost depth.

From the viewpoint of forest fire behavior, and based on the key parameters of fuels, three standard forest fuel models for the forests differed significantly in fuel characteristics and local environmental conditions in Fenglin Natural Reserve were established by using hierarchical cluster analysis. The three models were FL-I, FL-II, and FL-III for the broadleaved-Korean pine forest, spruce-fir forest, and poplar-birch forest, the representative forest types in the Reserve, respectively. According to the forest structure and composition, land cover type, and horizontal and vertical continuity, the three models FL-I , FL-II, and FL-III were similar to the models C-5, C-2, and D-1 in Canada CFBPS fuel classification system, respectively. The forest ground features and the horizontal and vertical characteristics of the three models established in this paper could help the investigators to identify the fuel types in fuel inventory.

Based on the measurements of the foliar carbon content (Cmass, nitrogen content (Nmass), isotope abundance (delta13C and delta15N), and light response curve of 10 dominant plant species (Larix gmelinii, Quercus mongolica, Fraxinus mandshurica, Tilia amurensis, Acer mono, Pinus koraiensis, Cunninghamia lanceolata, Schima superba, Pinus massoniana, and Castanea henryi) in the main forests along the North-South Transect of Eastern China (NSTEC), this paper analyzed the differences and the relationships between the foliar water use efficiency and nitrogen use efficiency of the plant species. There existed significant differences in the foliar Nmass and delta15N among the plant species, manifesting as broadleaved species > coniferous species, and deciduous species > evergreen species. The maximum photosynthetic rate (Pn max) was coniferous species > broadleaved species, and deciduous species > evergreen species. Broadleaved and evergreen species tended to have higher foliar instantaneous water use efficiency (WUEi) and long-term water use efficiency (WUE), as compared to coniferous and deciduous species, but an opposite trend was observed in the foliar instantaneous nitrogen use efficiency (NUE) and long-term nitrogen use efficiency (NUE). Moreover, there was a significant difference in the foliar NUE between evergreen and deciduous species. No significant correlation was observed between WUEi and WUE, but a significant positive correlation existed between NUEi and NUE. There was a significant negative correlation between the foliar water use efficiency and nitrogen use efficiency at instantaneous or long-term time scales. In sum, the foliar water use efficiency and nitrogen use efficiency were dominated by plant life-form, and a trade-off existed between the two resources use efficiencies.

To accurately estimate forest carbon storage is of significance in researching terrestrial ecosystem carbon cycle and global change. Based on the survey data from the representative plots in Northeast China forest area (Da Xing' an Mountains, Xiao Xing' an Mountains, Zhangguangcai Mountains and Changbai Mountains) in 2007 and 2008 and the inventory data in the same period, and by using the models for estimating ground tree biomass, shrub biomass, and grass biomass and the Multi N/C 3000 for measuring forest carbon rate in laboratory, this paper calculated the forest biomass and carbon storage in the forest area, and analyzed the variation and stability of the forest carbon rates at different scales. There was an obvious difference in the carbon rates among tree organs, being the highest in leaf (0.4448), followed by in branch (0.4422), bark (0.4398), and trunk (0.4351). In Changbai and Zhangguangcai Mountains, coniferous forest had a higher carbon rate than broad-leaved forest; whereas in Daxing' an and Xiaoxing' an mountains, it was in adverse. In Northeast China forest area, the forest carbon rates were relatively stable, with a total value of 0.44.

Transpiration is a major component of vegetation evapotranspiration, and a core in the study of plant water physiological ecology. Its measurement methods attracted extensive attention, among which, thermal dissipation is considered as an optimal method for measuring tree transpiration. Numerous studies showed that thermal dissipation method was relatively accurate in measuring individual tree transpiration and stand-scale water consumption. However, there exist potential errors between the true value and the measurements during measurement process. In this paper, the potential errors of thermal dissipation method in measuring sap flux density and of the temperature difference determination from single tree to stand-scale were reviewed, and the research prospects on the potential errors of thermal dissipation method in China were discussed. The corresponding solutions were also proposed.

Based on the total radiation and photosynthetically active radiation (PAR) observations with net radiometer (CNR1) and quantum sensor (Li-190SB) in 4 ChinaFLUX forest sites (Changbaishan, Qianyanzhou, Dinghushan, and Xishuangbanna) in 2003-2008, this paper analyzed the uncertainties and the radiometers performance changes in long-term and continuous field observation. The results showed that the 98% accuracy of the total radiation measured with CNR1 (Q(cNR1)) could satisfy the technical criterion for the sites except Xishuangbanna where the Q(CNR1) was averagely about 7% lower than Q(CM11), the radiation measured with high accuracy pyranometer CM11. For most sites, though the temperature had definite effects on the performance of CNR1, the effects were still within the allowable range of the accuracy of the instrument. Besides temperature, the seasonal fog often occurred in tropical rain forests in Xishuangbanna also had effects on the performance of CNR1. Based on the long-term variations of PAR, especially its ratio to total radiation in the 4 sites, it was found that quantum sensor (Li-190SB) had obvious performance attenuation, with the mean annual attenuation rate being about 4%. To correct the observation error caused by Li-190SB, an attempt was made to give a post-correction of the PAR observations, which could basically eliminate the quantum sensor's performance attenuation due to long-term field measurement.

Forest Simulation and Optimization System (FSOS) model has been widely used in British Columbia of Canada and in Changbai Mountains of China. This model is based on the viewpoint of harmonized and balanced management of forest resources and the application of simulated annealing optimized algorithms in arranging forest management schemes, aimed to realize the sustainable and harmonized development of forest resources multiple objective management and to transform forests to their desired status. The multiple functions (or the multiple objectives) in the FSOS model include water storage and purification, carbon sequestration, wildlife habitat protection, biodiversity conservation, visual landscape quality, and timber production, and the desired forest status is comprehensively defined by experts, environmental organizations, and government policies. This paper introduced in detail the simulated annealing algorithms in FSOS, including solution representation, evaluations, and transitions, and the potential applications of the algorithms in forest ecosystem planning, aimed to provide helps to the planning and management of forest resources and to the governments to quantify, analyze, and manage the forest resources, effectively monitor forest operations, and achieve the sustainable development of forest ecosystem.

Based on the sixth national forest inventory (1999-2003) and the investigation data of 1030 forest sampling plots in subtropical China collected from publications, and by using stand growth empirical equation, this paper estimated the carbon sequestration potential of forest vegetation under natural growth in Jiangxi and Zhejiang provinces in 2004-2013. In the meanwhile, the effects of three forest management measures, including interplanting, selective thinning, and fertilization, on the future forest carbon sequestration were explored by using the survey data of 455 sampling plots. In 2004-2013, the mean annual carbon sequestration potential of forest vegetation under natural growth in Jiangxi and Zhejiang could reach 11.37 and 4.34 Tg C a(-1) (1 Tg=10(12) g), respectively. Interplanting could generate the largest carbon sequestration potential of forest vegetation, followed by selective thinning, and fertilization, resulting in an increase in the potential by (6.54 +/- 3.9) Tg C a(-1), (3.81 +/- 2.02) Tg C a(-1), and (2.35 +/- 0.6) Tg C a(-1) in Jiangxi and by (2.64 +/- 1.28) Tg C a(-1), (1.42 +/- 0.69) Tg C a(-1), and (1.15 +/- 0.29) Tg C a(-1) in Zhejiang, respectively.

Taking the 4 hm2 fixed sampling plot in the Beigou forest farm of Weichang County in Hebei Province as test object, and by adopting the parameters (point pattern distribution, mingling, and size differentiation), this paper analyzed the community structure and distribution pattern of a natural secondary forest in the farm. There were eleven populations in the arbor layer of the forest, among which, Populus davidiana and Betula platyphylla had the obvious advantage in population density and basal area, being the dominant and constructive species of the arbor layer. Spatially, these two species all presented cluster modes remarkably, and competed each other greatly. The main accompanying species Larix principis-rupprechti and Acer truncatum also presented cluster modes, but the density and volume were significantly lower than the two dominant species', not able to compete with the dominate species. Affected by the low mingling of dominant species, the average mingling of the whole stand was only 0.40, while the mingling of accompanying species generally presented moderate or high. The mean size differentiation of the whole stand was 0.49, and P. davidiana, B. platyphylla, L. principis-rupprechti, and Quercus mongolica were of dominance or sub-dominance in the spatial structural units, while the other accompanying species had no obvious dominance.

This paper studied the quantitative characteristics of main tree species along a forest gap gradient (gap center-near gap center-gap border) of mixed broadleaved Korean pine forest in Xiaoxing'an Mountains, as well as the effects of forest gap size on the regeneration of the tree species. In forest gap, the density of shrub species was obviously larger than that in non-gap, and the density ratio of the same shrub species in forest gap to in non-gap ranged from 1.08 to 18.15. With the increase of gap size, the regeneration density of tree seedlings increased, and that of sapling I (H > or = 1 m, DBH < or = 2 cm) and sapling II (H > or = 1 m, 2 cm < DBH < or = 5 cm) exhibited multiple peak curve. The overall regeneration density of shrubs in forest gaps varied mainly with the amounts of tree seedlings and sapling I. The mean height, mean basal diameter, species density, and individual density of trees in different locations of forest gaps were all different. From gap center to non-gap, the importance value of tree species seedlings in regeneration layer was ranked in gap center > near gap center > gap border > non-gap, the tree species evenness presented a variation of high-low-high, and the species diversity decreased in the order of early phase gap > mid phase gap > late phase gap.

By using canonical correspondence analysis (CCA), this paper studied the effects of small-scale topographic changes on the distribution patterns of ground plants with different growth forms in the montane evergreen broad-leaved forest in Chebaling National Nature Reserve of North Guangdong, China. It was observed that slope aspect, slope grade, and slope position had significantly integrative effects on the distribution patterns of four growth form ground plants (fern, liana, herb, and shrub). Slope aspect had significant effects on the distribution patterns of all four ground plants but slope position didn't have, whereas slope grade only affected the distribution pattern of shrub significantly. From shady slope to semi-shady slope, and to semi-sunny slope, the abundance of the four growth form ground plants decreased gradually, indicating that shade plants were dominant in the ground vegetation of subtropical montane evergreen broad-leaved forest. Most shrubs were shade-tolerant species, and their change patterns of richness and diversity with slope aspect were the same as the change pattern of abundance. Shrubs were sensitive to the change of slope grade, and richer on gentle slopes. In hilly and low mountains, slope position changed little, and had less effects on the distribution patterns of ground plants. At stand-level, horizontal topographic factor (slope grade aspect) had much greater effects on the distribution patterns of ground plants, as compared with vertical topographic factors (slope grade and slope position), which suggested that slope aspect was the major factor affecting the water and heat conditions in subtropical montane forest.

Based on the 1974-2008 forest fire and meteorological data in Tahe County of Great Xing' an Mountains region, and with the help of Canadian Forest Fire Weather Index System (CFFWIS), this paper qualitatively and quantitatively analyzed the dynamics of forest fire weather indices in the region. In 1974-2008, the mean annual fire occurrence in the region showed an increasing trend, and the increment in 2000-2008 was 72.2%, compared with that in 1974-1999. The fuel moisture codes, fire behavior indices, and fire severity indices in 1974-2008 had an overall increasing trend, which was more evident with time extended. In the future, the probability of forest fire occurrence in the region would be increasing, fuels would be getting drier, fire intensity would be increased, fire weather would be more serious, and fire control would be more difficult. Therefore, more efforts should be made to improve the capability of forest fire control, especially in summer. As a fundamental technique, prescribed burning should be applied to reduce the fuel load. From this doing, the probability of fire occurrence and the fire potential intensity could be reduced.

Taking the broad-leaved Korean pine forest stands at four different succession stages after clear-cutting in Changbai Mountains as test objects, this paper studied the change characteristics of community composition and dominant species. The tree species richness, Shannon diversity index, and Simpson dominance index at different succession stages had less change, but the evenness and abundance changed greatly. As succession progressed, the community composition changed constantly, i.e., species number decreased, while the basal area sum and the maximum importance value of dominant tree species increased, suggesting that the dominance of dominant species was continuously improved with succession. In the succession process of broad-leaved Korean pine forest in Changbai Mountains, Betula platyphylla, Populus davidiana, Phellodendron amurense, Ulmus japonica, and other intolerant or semi-intolerant tree species decreased, while Tilia amurensis, Fraxinus mandshurica, Pinus koraiensis, Acer mono, and other shade-tolerant species increased.

This paper analyzed the food production by the households in the counties with high population (Mizhi County) and low population (Wuqi County) in North Shaanxi, and studied the food security and its affecting factors in the two counties by using minimum cropland area per capita and Cobb-Douglass production function methods. The results demonstrated that the food production in low population county could meet the basic standard of food security, while that in high population county could not. Cultivated area and investment in agricultural technology were the major factors affecting food security; labor force, labor quality, and grain subsidy also had positive effects on food production. The current technology and labor quality did not reach their potential for food production. This region needed to increase grain production area to reach the minimum standard of 0.14 bm2 per capita, put much stress on labor force training, and formulate appropriate following policies for 'Grain for Green' to realize the food security strategy.

Based on the investigation data of monsoon evergreen broad-leaved forest at its different succession stages (primary, CP; 15 years of succession, CF; and 30 years of succession, CT) in Pu' er of Yunnan Province, this paper studied the species-area relationship of this forest at each succession stage. It was found that in the communities at each succession stage, the number of total species, trees, shrubs, and lianas had a significant correlation with sampling area, with the area explained over 94% of the total variation. The Z value of the total species (0.334) and trees (0.394) was the lowest at CT, whereas that of shrubs (0.437) and lianas (0.326) was the lowest at CF. No significant differences were observed in the intercepts of the species-area curve of total species, trees, shrubs, and lianas among different succession stages, but the coefficient of determination (R2) of the species-area curve of total species and lianas was the highest at CP. The richness of trees and shrubs at CF explained 99.9% of the variance of Z value, but the richness of total species, trees, shrubs, and lianas at CP and CT had no significant correlations with the Z value.

By using indicator species analysis (ISA) method, this paper studied the feasibility of using indicator species to reflect the responses of species diversity and community composition of subtropical forests in Huitong of China to forest management. Ninety-four significant indicator species from 357 understory species were identified, and a new indicator species dataset (community level) was constructed to examine the association between indicator species dataset and original community dataset, and to evaluate the predictive potential of indicator species in reflecting forest management effect. There existed a strong association between the two datasets (Mantel r = 0.898). The indicator species dataset could well predict the management effect on species diversity (regression analysis, R2 > 0.74) and community composition (ANOVA, F >16.79). When the two datasets were applied to Nonmetric Multi-Dimensional Scaling (NMDS) ordination and K-mean cluster analysis, the indicator species dataset could well identify the forest types with different management treatments, as the original community dataset did. Also, the indicator species dataset nearly played the same role as the original community dataset in identifying the species diversity, community composition, and forest type. It was suggested that for saving costs in overall investigation of forest ecosystem, indicator species could be used as a surrogate of full community to predict forest management effect.

Based on the 1982-2006 NDVI remote sensing data and meteorological data of Southwest China, and by using GIS technology, this paper interpolated and extracted the mean annual temperature, annual precipitation, and drought index in the region, and analyzed the correlations of the annual variation of NDVI in different vegetation types (marsh, shrub, bush, grassland, meadow, coniferous forest, broad-leaved forest, alpine vegetation, and cultural vegetation) with corresponding climatic factors. In 1982-2006, the NDVI, mean annual temperature, and annual precipitation had an overall increasing trend, and the drought index decreased. Particularly, the upward trend of mean annual temperature was statistically significant. Among the nine vegetation types, the NDVI of bush and mash decreased, and the downward trend was significant for bush. The NDVI of the other seven vegetation types increased, and the upward trend was significant for coniferous forest, meadow, and alpine vegetation, and extremely significant for shrub. The mean annual temperature in the areas with all the nine vegetation types increased significantly, while the annual precipitation had no significant change. The drought index in the areas with marsh, bush, and cultural vegetation presented an increasing trend, that in the areas with meadow and alpine vegetation decreased significantly, and this index in the areas with other four vegetation types had an unobvious decreasing trend. The NDVI of shrub and coniferous forest had a significantly positive correlation with mean annual temperature, and that of shrub and meadow had significantly negative correlation with drought index. Under the conditions of the other two climatic factors unchanged, the NDVI of coniferous forest, broad-leaved forest, and alpine vegetation showed the strongest correlation with mean annual temperature, that of grass showed the strongest correlation with annual precipitation, and the NDVI of mash, shrub, grass, meadow, and cultural vegetation showed the strongest correlation with drought index. There existed definite correlations among the climatic factors. If the correlations among the climatic factors were ignored, the significant level of the correlations between NDVI and climatic factors would be somewhat reduced.

In order to understand the landscape pattern gradient dynamics and desakota features in rapid urbanization area, this paper took the rapidly urbanizing Panyu District of Guangzhou City as a case, and analyzed its land use and land cover data, based on four Landsat TM images from 1990 to 2008. With the combination of gradient analysis and landscape pattern analysis, and by using the landscape indices in both class and landscape scales, the spatial dynamics and desakota feature of this rapidly urbanizing district were quantified. In the study district, there was a significant change in the landscape pattern, and a typical desakota feature presented along buffer gradient zones. Urban landscape increased and expanded annually, accompanied with serious fragmentation of agricultural landscape. The indices patch density, contagion, and landscape diversity, etc., changed regularly in the urbanization gradient, and the peak of landscape indices appeared in the gradient zone of 4-6 km away from the urban center. The landscape patterns at time series also reflected the differences among the dynamics in different gradient zones. The landscape pattern in desakota region was characterized by complex patch shape, high landscape diversity and fragmentation, and remarkable landscape dynamics. The peaks of landscape indices spread from the urban center to border areas, and desakota region was expanding gradually. The general trend of spatiotemporal dynamics in desakota region and its driving forces were discussed, which could be benefit to the regional land use policy-making and sustainable development planning.

By using eddy covariance technique, this paper quantitatively analyzed the photosynthetic characteristics of tropical seasonal rainforest ecosystem and related environmental controlling factors in Xishuangbanna in 2003-2006. In the study period, less interannual difference was observed in the net photosynthesis of the ecosystem, with the maximum photosynthesis rate (P(eco,opt)), respiration at daytime (R(eco,d)), and apparent quantum yield (alpha) averaged by 0.813 mg x m(-2) x s(-1), 0.238 mg x m(-2) x s(-1), and 0.0023 mg x micromol(-1), respectively. As affected by the interaction of air temperature (Ta) and vapor pressure deficit (VPD), the photosynthetic characteristics had some seasonal differences. In rainy season, the ecosystem had the strongest photosynthetic capacity because of the higher precipitation and warmer air temperature; in foggy and cool season, fog drip played an important role in the water relations of plants, and thereby, the ecosystem photosynthetic capacity was still higher; in dry and hot season, due to the limited precipitation and high temperature, the Ta and VPD increased, inducing a decrease of ecosystem alpha and P(eco,opt). The net CO2 exchange of the ecosystem strongly depended on the Ta above 20 degrees C and the VPD above 1 kPa.

By using the Landsat images in 1979, 1988, 1999, 2005, and 2009, and the linear unmixed model at pixel scale, this paper analyzed the spatiotemporal variation of vegetation coverage in Beijing mountainous area. After detecting the areas of vegetation degradation or restoration, the impacts of elevation, slope, and soil type on vegetation restoration were studied. From 1979 to 1988, the vegetation coverage in the study area had no obvious change, but in the following 12 years, the vegetation coverage was seriously destroyed due to the fast development of social economy. Fortunately, many protective measures were taken since 2000, which improved the vegetation coverage to 72% in 2009, with an increment of 13% compared to the vegetation coverage in 1999. A significant correlation was observed between the variations of vegetation coverage and territorial features. The areas with poor soil or large slope were more easily suffered from degradation than other places, and the flat regions with low elevation were more affected by human activities.

Based on the sub-pixel analysis model, and by using 2000-2009 MODIS NDVI (250 m resolution), this paper quantitatively analyzed the spatiotemporal change characteristics and their causes of fractional vegetation coverage (FVC) in Shannxi Province. From 2000 to 2009, the FVC in the Province had a significant increasing trend, with the great magnitude of 35.0%. During that period, the vegetation coverage increased from 56.9% in 2000 to 68.9% in 2009 in the provincial scale, and the increment was much higher in northern Shannxi, being 21.6% in Yulin and 22.0% in Yan' an. Though the vegetation coverage had an overall increase, it was locally degraded in some areas. The areas with improved vegetation coverage at the significance levels of < 0.01, and < 0.05 were 37.8% and 11.9%, while those with non-improved and degraded vegetation coverage were 46.1% and 4.2%, respectively. The areas whose vegetation coverage had a change rate of 200%, 200%-100%, 100%-10%, 10%-10%, and < -10% occupied 12.2%, 13.3%, 38.8%, 29.3%, and 6.4% of the total, respectively. During the study period, the structure of vegetation coverage in the Province also improved. The areas with high and normal vegetation density increased significantly by 10% and 8.4%, respectively, while the area with low vegetation density decreased significantly by 18.4%. The improvement of the FVC in Shaanxi Province was the interactive effect of natural factors and human activities, but the main cause was the implementation of a series of ecological construction projects such as closing hill for forestation and restoring farmland into forestland and grassland.

Based on the two-year continuous observation on the carbon exchange of Chinese boreal forest during its growth seasons in 2007 and 2008 by the method of open path eddy covariance, this paper analyzed the seasonal dynamics of the gross ecosystem productivity (GEP), ecosystem respiration (Re), and net ecosystem carbon exchange (NEE) of the forest, with related regulation mechanisms approached. The GEP, Re, and NEE of the forest reached to their maximum in the vigorous growth period from late June to mid August, but the dates of the maximum appeared differed. The mean daily GEP, Re, and NEE were 19.45, 15.15, and -1.45 g CO2 x m(-2) x d(-1) in 2007, and 17.67, 14.11, and -1.37 g CO2 x m(-2) x d(-1) in 2008, respectively. The intensity of the carbon exchange during growth season was obviously stronger in 2007 than in 2008, possibly due to the higher mean air temperature (12.46 degrees C in 2007 vs. 11.04 degrees C in 2008) and the higher mean photosynthetically active radiation (PAR) (697 micromol x m(-2) x s(-1) in 2007 vs. 639 micromol x m(-2) x s(-1) in 2008). The GEP had close linear relationships with air temperature and PAR, and the correlation coefficient of GEP and air temperature was around 0.55 (P<0.01). The Re was mainly controlled by air temperature, with the correlation coefficient being 0.66-0.72 (P<0.01), and the NEE was mainly controlled by PAR, with the correlation coefficient being 0.59-0.63 (P<0.01).

The annual occurrence of forest fire in Jiangxi Province of China in 1950-2008 was averaged 762 times and covering 1.578 x 10(4) hm2. Based on the forest fire statistic data, meteorological data, forest inventory data, and other parameters, this paper analyzed the characters of forest fire in the province, and estimated its carbon release and transfer. In the province, the total forest biomass loss from forest fire in 1950-2008 was about 61. 155 Tg, and the biomass carbon loss was about 30.993 Tg C, accounting for 15.92% of the vegetation carbon pool in the whole province. Before the 1970s, the biomass carbon loss occupied 74.3% of the total loss in 1950-2008, but after the 1990s, this loss decreased rapidly, with an annual average carbon loss less than 0.097 Tg C. The released CO2, CH4, and CO from the forest fire were about 5.408 Tg, 0.047 Tg, and 0.486 Tg, respectively, and led to 22.436 Tg of biomass carbon transferred into soil carbon. The snow and ice disaster in the beginning of 2008 resulted in high frequency forest fire, and led to a 0.463 Tg biomass carbon loss, which was 2. 56 times of the average value (0.181 Tg) in 2003-2007.

Based on the shrub census of 600 quadrats (5 mx5 m) in a 25 hm2 plot of broad-leaved Korean pine mixed forest in Changbai Mountains, this paper analyzed the species composition, structure, and spatial distribution of shrubs in the forest. A total of 18 shrub species, including 6435 shrub individuals and 11369 stems, were found in the census, with Philadelphus schrenkii, Corylus mandshurica, and Acer barbinerve being the dominant species. P. schrenkii had the highest amounts of individuals and stems, occupying 40.6% and 33.4% of the total, respectively. There existed great differences in the clumpy ratio, stem number per clump, crown size, and basal diameter among the shrub species, and the height of different shrub species also varied significantly, with obvious vertical stratification observed in the community. The dominant species P. schrenkii had a wide distribution, while Sorbaria sorbifolia, Spiraea chamaedryfolia, S. salicifolia, and Euonymus pauciflorus had obvious heterogeneous distributions.

Leaf area index (LAI) is one of the most important structural parameters of terrestrial ecosystem, while the remote sensing retrieval and the ground optical instrument measurement and based on canopy gap model are the effective approaches to rapidly obtain LAI. However, these two approaches can only acquire effective LAI (LAI(e)), due to the clumping of vegetation canopy. Taking the experimental forest farm of Northeast Forestry University at Maoershan Mountain in Heilongjiang Province of Northeast China as study site, this paper measured the forest canopy LAI(e) by LAI2000, and estimated the LAI by the combination of TRAC (tracing radiation and architecture of canopies) measurement of foliage clumping index. A LAI remote sensing retrieval model was constructed through the analysis of the relationships between different vegetation indices calculated from Landsat5-TM and measured LAI(e). The results showed that at the study site, the LAI of broad leaved forests was close to the LAI(e), but the LAI of needle leaved forests was 27% larger than the LAI(e). Reduced simple ratio index (RSR) had the highest relationship with measured LAI(e) (R2 = 0.763, n = 23), which could be used as the best predictor of LAI. The LAI at study site increased rapidly with increasing elevation when the elevation was below 400 m, but had a slow increase when the elevation was from 400 m to 750 m. When the elevation was above 750 m, the LAI decreased. There was a significant correlation between the forest canopy LAI and aboveground biomass.

Historical range of variability (HRV) characterizes the fluctuations of ecosystem structure and processes under natural disturbances, and is helpful in understanding the causes and consequences of ecosystem change, providing the researchers and managers a reference to evaluate the present status of ecosystems and guiding managers to develop effective management strategies to ultimately drive ecosystems to a sustainable state. In recent years, HRV has played an increasingly important role in forest ecosystem management, and has been successfully used in indicating the causes of ecosystem change, conservation of biological diversity and endangered species, and restoration of ecosystem function, etc. This paper outlined the concept of HRV, and discussed the applications, limitations (lack of data, environmental change, and human impacts, etc.), and challenges of applying HRV in forest ecosystem management. Strengthening data mining, focusing on the changes of natural environment and human society, and increasing the public's recognition of HRV would benefit the improvement of the application efficacy of HRV in forest ecosystem management, and make the forest ecosystem ultimately achieve a sustainable state.

This paper studied the spatiotemporal variations of normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI) in Zhejiang Province in 1982-2006, and their relations to the dominant eco-climatic factors in the Province. In the study period, the vegetation cover in the Province had a slowly decreasing trend, and the area with a significant decrease of NDVI occupied 30.71% of the total. There were significant relationships between the eco-climatic indices and the NDVI of the following year. The NDVI was significantly positively correlated with biological aridity/humidity index, and significantly negatively correlated with biological warmth index, suggesting that the increase of humidity could promote vegetation growth, while excessive heat could inhibit the vegetation growth in the study area.