Search

Close-to-nature management (CTNM) has been proposed as a promising forestry management approach to improve the structure and quality of forests, which integrates wood production and ecological service functions. Research on the effect of CTNM on the univariate and bivariate distribution of the spatial structure of forest stands provides a scientific basis for the evaluation of CTNM implemented in forestry. Here, we analyzed and compared the spatial-structure characteristics of Masson pine (Pinus massoniana) plantations (young, middle-age, and near-mature stages) under CTNM 8 years after selective cutting and unmanaged control. We used univariate and bivariate distribution of three spatial-structure parameters: mingling (M), dominance (U), and uniform-angle index (W). Results showed that the effect of CTNM on spatial structure was more remarkable in middle-aged and near-mature Masson pine forests compared with the young forest. CTNM significantly improved mingling degree and promoted the horizontal distribution, thereby changing from a cluster to a random distribution. Moreover, CTNM improved the proportion of trees with a high mixing degree and random distribution and the proportion of trees having a micro-structure of random distribution with a high degree of mixture and dominance with a high degree of mixture in middle-aged and near-mature Masson pine forest. Overall, the implementation of CTNM 8 years ago showed a positive effect on the improvement of the spatial structure of Masson pine forest, but the present spatial structure is suboptimal. Further implementation of CTNM to adjust the mingling and uniform-angle index is necessary, and CTNM according to this method of frequency distribution of stand structure parameters can improve the success of forest management.

Introduction: Research on the effect of close-to-nature management (CTNM) on stand states and dynamics of forests is crucial for the evaluation of CTNM implemented and sustainable development of forestry. Outcomes: We analyzed and compared the stand states and dynamics of Masson pine ( Pinus massoniana ) plantations in the young, middle-aged, and near-mature stages under CTNM eight years after selective cutting and unmanaged control. Both paired-sample T-tests and RDA ordination results demonstrated that the overall stand states with CTNM were superior to the control treatment in all three stages. The interaction of the CTNM and stand age significantly affected The Shannon-Wiener index of diameter class and regeneration density. Discussion and Conclusion: CTNM and stand age jointly affected the stand state of forests and CTNM accelerated the forest development, which promoted an increase in the heterogeneity of stand parameters and shortened the formation time of a target stand. Greater tree size differentiation and adequate regeneration are particularly important aspects for improving the quality of Masson pineforests during the management processes.

The relationship between height and diameter (H-D) is an important component in forest growth and yield models, and a better understanding of the relationship will improve forest monitoring, management, and biomass estimation. Sixteen nonlinear growth functions were fitted to H-D data for 1261 trees from a Cryptomeria fortunei plantation in the Pingba region of Guizhou Province, China. Of the 1261 trees, 80 % were randomly selected for model calibration, while the remaining trees were reserved for model validation. All models were evaluated and compared by means of multiple-model performance criteria. Although all 16 models showed a good fit to the dataset and each of them accounted for more than 75 % of the total variation in height, a large difference in asymptotic estimates was observed. The Chapman–Richards, Weibull, and Näslund models were recommended for C. fortunei plantations, due to their satisfactory height prediction and biological interpretability.

This study investigated a typical pine-oak mosaic mixed forest in the Qinling Mountains, China. In the sample plot, the population structure and spatial distribution of the stems were analyzed for the predominant species, to identify the mechanisms of species coexistence and successional trends of the forest. The population structures of all species were bimodally distributed, with young trees (DBH

Understanding the mechanisms of assembly of tree communities is very important for restoring and managing pine-oak mixed forests in the Qinling Mountains, China, but the essential mechanisms remain largely unexplored. The objective of this research was to uncover the underlying mechanisms of species coexistence and to identify the key environmental factors influencing the tree community assemblages in these forests. We investigated tree species and 15 environmental factors of topography, soil properties, and stand development of pine-oak mixed forests at an elevation of 1000-2000 m a.s.l. in the Qinling Mountains. Six classical models for the distribution of species abundance were used to fit the observed distributions; a clustering analysis was conducted to divide the ecological species groups, and a redundancy analysis examined the relationship between species assemblages and various environmental factors. Zipf-Mandelbrot, neutral-theory, log-normal, and Zipf models performed well in fitting the patterns of species-abundance distribution in the pine-oak mixed forests, which was related to the complexity of the community structure of the forests. A special combination of the Zipf-Mandelbrot and neutral-theory models, however, best explained the mechanism of species coexistence for the forests and indicated that these forests were progressive successional communities able to maintain stable development during succession. In addition, multiple factors controlled the tree community assemblage of pine-oak mixed forests in the mountainous regions, although available potassium, slope aspect, average tree DBH, and slope position were significant environmental variables.

This paper attempts to explore the characteristics of the spatial structure and development dynamics of three predominant tree populations, Quercus aliena var. acutiserrata Maxim.(QA), Acer caesium subsp. giraldii (Pax) E. Murr.(AC), and Ulmus propinqua Koidz (U. japonica) Sag (UG), in a virgin old-growth oak broad-leaved mixed forest in the Qinling Mountains, China. We employed a bivariate distribution of the structural parameters (mingling, dominance, and uniform angle index) based on the relationship between nearest neighbor tree groups and found that all predominant populations with a high species mixture and random distribution pattern. However, QA and UG are recessional populations, and AC is a progressive population. Predominant populations showed a consistent tendency during stand development that the spatial structures became increasingly mixed; the distribution pattern gradually transformed from clumped to random, and the segregation among the tree species increased. This finding demonst...

The oxidizability of soil organic carbon (SOC) influences soil quality and carbon sequestration. Four fractions of oxidizable organic carbon (very labile (C1), labile (C2), less labile (C3) and non-labile (C4)) reflect the status and composition of SOC and have implications for the change and retention of SOC. Studies of the fractions of oxidizable organic carbon (OC) have been limited to shallow soil depths and agroecosystems. How these fractions respond at deep soil depths and in other types of land-use is not clear. In this study, we evaluated the vertical distributions of the fractions of oxidizable organic carbon to a soil depth of 5.0 m in 10 land-use types in the Zhifanggou Watershed on the Loess Plateau, China. Along the soil profile, C1 contents were highly variable in the natural grassland and shrubland I (Caragana microphylla), C2 and C4 contents were highly variable in the natural grassland and two terraced croplands, respectively, and C3 contents varied little. Among the land-use types, natural grassland had the highest C1 and C2 contents in the 0–0.4 m layers, followed by shrubland I in the 0–0.1 m layer. Natural grassland had the highest C4 contents in the 1.0–4.5 m layers. Natural grassland and shrubland I thus contributed to improve the oxidizability of SOC in shallow soil, and the deep soil of natural grassland has a large potential to sequester SOC on the Loess Plateau.

Understanding the factors that allow the successful regeneration of species is a key step toward the conservation and management of forests. In this study, canonical correspondence analysis was used to examine the relationships between the distribution of the regenerating species in pine-oak mixed forests and 18 environmental factors of topography, soil properties, and forest characteristics in seedlings and saplings in the Qinling Mountains in China. A generalized additive model was used to fit the response of the density of the regenerating species to the various environmental factors. Variation partitioning in both seedling and sapling stories indicated that the order of importance was soil properties > forest characteristics > topography. The distribution of seedlings and saplings was mainly influenced by slope gradient, shrub cover, and available phosphorus. Herb cover and total nitrogen level were major environmental factors affecting the density of the regenerating seedlings, but total pota...

Analyzing the dynamic patterns of species diversity and spatial heterogeneity of vegetation in grasslands during secondary succession could help with the maintenance and management of these ecosystems. Here, we evaluated the influence of secondary succession on grassland plant diversity and spatial heterogeneity of abandoned croplands on the Loess Plateau (China) during four phases of recovery: 1–5, 5–10, 10–20, and 20–30 years. The species composition and dominance of the grassland vegetation changed markedly during secondary succession and formed a clear successional series, with the species assemblage dominated by Artemisia capillaris→ Heteropappus altaicus→ A. sacrorum. The diversity pattern was one of low–high–low, with diversity peaking in the 10–20 year phase, thus corresponding to a hump-backed model in which maximum diversity occurring at the intermediate stages. A spatially aggregated pattern prevailed throughout the entire period of grassland recovery; this was likely linked to the dispersal properties of herbaceous plants and to high habitat heterogeneity. We conclude that natural succession was conducive to the successful recovery of native vegetation. From a management perspective, native pioneer tree species should be introduced about 20 years after abandoning croplands to accelerate the natural succession of grassland vegetation.

Deforestation is a major driver of forest loss and fragmentation, threatening forest biodiversity worldwide. The conservation and restoration of secondary vegetation is thus an important developmental goal. Birch and pine-oak belts have been the two main types of vegetation in the mid-altitude zone of the Qinling Mountains in China but are now mainly covered by secondary growth following large-scale deforestation. Assessing the recovery and sustainability of these forests is essential for their management and restoration. We investigated and compared the tree community assemblages and diversity patterns of secondary forests between birch and pine-oak belts in the Huoditang forest region of the Qinling Mountains after identical natural recoveries. Both the birch and pine-oak belts had richspeciescompositions and similar floristiccomponents but clearly different tree community structures. Niche and neutral processes simultaneously influenced the distribution of species and the community dynamics of the belts. Tree diversity was significantly higher for the birch than the pine-oak belt. Monitoring biodiversity is essential for the recovery and development of forest resources in the Qinling Mountains to safeguard biodiversity, especially tree diversity.

Background Understanding interspecific associations in old-growth forests will help to reveal mechanisms of interspecific replacement in the process of forest development and provide a theoretical basis for vegetation restoration and reestablishment. In this study, we analyzed interspecific associations of eleven dominant tree populations of varying development stages in an old-growth oak forest stand in the Qinling Mountains, China. We examined overall interspecific associations (multiple species) and pairwise interspecific associations (two species). Results Interspecific competition was intense during forest development and was the main factor driving succession. Community structure appears to become more stable over time which supports the harsh-benign hypothesis that interspecific competition is more common in stable sites. Conclusion Old growth oak (Quercus spp.) forests are distributed widely around the world in part due to oak being a typical K-selected species. K-selected species produce fewer, high-quality offspring with higher survival rates, strong competitive ability, and longevity. The resulting distribution shifted from clumped to random, likely as a result of intense interspecific competition creating ecological niche differentiation.