As primary and secondary forests are being replaced by plantations across the globe,the soil macrofauna community structure is also affected,but little is known about the impact of mixed culture plantations compared w...As primary and secondary forests are being replaced by plantations across the globe,the soil macrofauna community structure is also affected,but little is known about the impact of mixed culture plantations compared with monocultures on the soil macrofauna.To determine the impact of forest conversion on soil macrofauna,we surveyed the soil macrofauna in two broad-leaved and three coniferous monoculture stands and four coniferous-broadleaved mixed stands,and in adjacent reserved secondary stands as a reference.Soil macro fauna community composition was significant affected by forest type,season and their interaction(P<0.05).The abundance,taxa richness and diversity of soil macro fauna changed to different degrees depending on the plantation type.Broadleaved monoculture stands and secondary stands had similar macrofauna abundance and taxa richness,but values were lower in coniferous stands than in secondary stands.The Shannon index for macrofauna in coniferous stands was also the lowest,but the Pielou index did not differ between forest types.The negative effects of the conifer monoculture on soil macro fauna were not present in the mixed stands with broad-leaved trees.Forest conversion impacted soil properties;soil moisture,NO_(3)^(-),and pH were significant drivers of soil macrofauna community structure.The impact of forest conversion on soil macrofauna was closely dependent on tree species composition and diversity.The macro fauna community structure in the broadleaved and the mixed stands were relatively similar to that in the natural forest,and thus recommended for forest conversion in the study area.展开更多
Conversion of natural secondary broad-leaved forest to Cunninghamia lanceolata plantation is a common management practice in subtropical China. In this study, we compared soil physico-chemical properties, microbial bi...Conversion of natural secondary broad-leaved forest to Cunninghamia lanceolata plantation is a common management practice in subtropical China. In this study, we compared soil physico-chemical properties, microbial biomass in one natural secondary broad-leaved forest and two C. lanceolata plantation sites to estimate the effects of forest conversion on soil microbial biomass at the Huitong Experimental Station of Forestry Ecology, Chinese Academy of Sciences. Concentrations of soil organic carbon, total nitrogen, NH4^＋-N and microbial biomass carbon and nitrogen were much lower under C. lanceolata plantations as compared to natural secondary broad-leaved forest. Soil microbial biomass C in the first and second rotation of C. lanceolata plantations was only 53%, 46% of that in natural secondary broad-leaved forest, and microbial biomass N was 97% and 79%, respectively. The contribution of microbial biomass C to soil organic C was also lower in the plantation sites. However, the contribution of microbial N to total nitrogen and NH4^＋-N was greater in the C. lanceolata plantation sites. Therefore, conversion of natural secondary broad-leaved forest to C. lanceolata plantation and continuous planting of C. lanceolata led to the decline in soil microbial biomass and the degradation of forest soil in subtropical China.展开更多
We tested the effectiveness of the gradual removal of Scots pine(Pinus sylvestris L.)in former plantations of this species in Roztocze National Park(SE Poland)to support the restoration of natural herbaceous flora and...We tested the effectiveness of the gradual removal of Scots pine(Pinus sylvestris L.)in former plantations of this species in Roztocze National Park(SE Poland)to support the restoration of natural herbaceous flora and forest structure.We compared 0.5-ha study plots subjected to selective removal of pine trees with control plots excluded from any kind of human intervention for half a century.The observed changes in forest floor vegetation in the converted plots showed naturalization towards habitat-specific species.However,differences in the spatial distribution of trees between the treatment and control plots showed no universal pattern and revealed subtle but positive shifts from regular to random or clustered patterns.The mean tree diameters were higher in plots subjected to Scots pine removal,which resulted from the vigorous growth of tree species,consistent with habitat types.We conclude that forest restoration through the removal of planted trees can support the naturalization of former Scots pine plantations in protected areas.However,the selection of an appropriate method and its intensity are of vital importance.Methods that resemble typical management practices,such as selection thinning,are not always the best approach,as they may preserve or even increase the regular distribution of trees.Therefore,for restoration purposes,we recommend testing other methods that increase spatial heterogeneity,including systematic cutting or emulating natural disturbances.In addition,low-intensity thinning may not be sufficient to support the restoration of natural forest floor vegetation and the variability in forest stand structure.展开更多
Background:A challenge in current forestry is adaptation of managed forests to climate change,which is likely to alter the main processes of forest dynamics,i.e.natural regeneration.Scots pine will probably lose some ...Background:A challenge in current forestry is adaptation of managed forests to climate change,which is likely to alter the main processes of forest dynamics,i.e.natural regeneration.Scots pine will probably lose some parts of its distribution area in Europe.However,two native oaks,pedunculate and sessile may maintain or expand the area of their occurrence in central Europe.The utilization of spontaneous(not initialized by foresters)oak regeneration in Scots pine stands for the creation of next generation stands is one of the adaptation methods to climate change.Many factors influencing pedunculate oak regeneration are well known,but there is a lack of knowledge on the relation between soil enzyme activity and the establishment and development of the species.The aim of the study was to identify the relationships among stand characteristics,herb species composition,soil enzyme activity and the establishment or recruitment of oak regeneration in Scots pine-dominated stands.Results:The one of the most influential factors shaping the oak seedling count was dehydrogenase activity in the humus horizon.We found that plots without litter and fern cover had higher seedling density.The raspberry ground cover and birch crown projection area had a positive influence on oak seedling number.The factor indicating good conditions for high density of oak saplings was phosphatase activity in the organic horizon.The same enzyme activity but in humus horizon described conditions in which more numerous recruits were observed.Conclusions:The activity of soil enzymes can be used as the predictor of the establishment and advancement of oak regeneration but also could be seen as a new dimension of oak regeneration.The general density of spontaneous oak regeneration was not sufficient for the creation of new generation forest stands dominated by oak,but it is possible to use them as admixtures in new generation stands.展开更多
This paper is an extension of the application of neighborhood interference model--being modified--to the study of the interference between forest plants and herbaceous plants. The exploration of the neighborhood inter...This paper is an extension of the application of neighborhood interference model--being modified--to the study of the interference between forest plants and herbaceous plants. The exploration of the neighborhood interference between triploid Populus tomentosa and Lolium multiflorum shows that the interference of Lolium multiflorum on triploid populus tomentosa is positive, with the primary interference factor living weight, and secondary factor cover degree; the growth of an individual tree is affected by the number, height, and coverage of the Lolium multiflorum; the more dense the coverage of the Lolium multiflorum in a certain area, the taller, faster and more trees will grow as a result of a greater positive neighborhood interference. The modified neighborhood interference model well serves as an effective approach to extend the application of neighborhood interference researches.展开更多
The increasing global demand for timber and forest products has triggered the widespread conversion of subtropical forests into secondary forests and plantations.Soil fauna,the active angel in material cycling,are sen...The increasing global demand for timber and forest products has triggered the widespread conversion of subtropical forests into secondary forests and plantations.Soil fauna,the active angel in material cycling,are sensitive to changes in food resources and soil environments.However,the impact of forest conversion on soil fauna abundance and diversity remains insufficiently understood.To address this,we conducted seasonal soil fauna sampling in a subtropical region of China during July and November 2022,as well as January and March 2023.The sampling covered secondary forests,Castanopsis carlesii(broadleaved)plantations,and Cunninghamia lanceolata(fir)plantations,with natural forests serving as the control.We assessed soil fauna diversity including taxonomic and functional composition,along with soil physicochemical properties.Overall,forest conversion led to a decline in soil fauna abundance and biodiversity,with litter quality and soil moisture emerging as primary drivers according to Post hoc Least Significant Difference tests.Macrofauna demonstrated higher sensitivity to forest conversion than meso-and microfauna,with their abundance decreasing by 10%in secondary forests,18%in broadleaved plantations,and 27%in fir plantations.Moreover,the number of predator and saprophage groups declined more significantly when natural forests were converted into fir plantations(by 24%and 15%,respectively)than into broadleaved plantations(by 16%and 10%,respectively).Additionally,soil fauna showed more sensitive responses to forest conversion in spring and summer,especially in the case of the conversion into fir plantations.Our findings underscore the negative impacts of forest conversion on soil fauna biodiversity,particularly the reduction in predators and saprophages,which may disrupt the food web and increase ecosystem vulnerability to pests and diseases,thereby indicating potential risks to the stability of forest ecosystems.展开更多
The Conversion of Farmland to Forests and Grasses Project is the most symbolic and globally important ecological engineering effort to build the human and natural life community.After the call and mobilization stage s...The Conversion of Farmland to Forests and Grasses Project is the most symbolic and globally important ecological engineering effort to build the human and natural life community.After the call and mobilization stage since the founding of the People’s Republic of China,the first round of Conversion of Farmland to Forests and Grasses occurred at the end of the 20 th century.With the second round of Conversion of Farmland to Forests And Grasses launched in 2014,the central government has invested 535.3 billion yuan altogether by 2020,and 34.83 million ha have been returned to forest and grassland in 25 provinces(autonomous regions and municipalities)(2435 counties included).Among them,14.23 million ha were returned from farmland;barren hills and wasteland afforestation accounted for 17.53 million ha;and sealed mountain forest cultivation represented 3.07 million ha,accounting for 40%of the total afforestation area of national key projects in the same period,and 41 million households and 158 million farmers benefited directly.The project construction has made great achievements.The total value of ecological benefits has reached 1.42 trillion yuan,plus economic benefits of 0.26 trillion yuan,and social benefits of 0.73 trillion yuan,for a total amount of 2.41 trillion yuan.This effort has made outstanding contributions toward building an ecological civilization and a beautiful China.Looking forward to the future,the Conversion of Farmland to Forests and Grasses will embark on a new stage of high-quality development,which will strive to achieve high-quality construction,high efficiency and a high level of management.China will promote the third round of conversion of farmland to forest and grassland from 2021 to 2035,and it is expected to return 6.67 million ha to forests and grasses.展开更多
In order to improve environment and relieve poverty, China has launched a series of major ecological engineering programs since the 1980 s. These include the Natural Forest Conservation Program, the Sloping Cropland C...In order to improve environment and relieve poverty, China has launched a series of major ecological engineering programs since the 1980 s. These include the Natural Forest Conservation Program, the Sloping Cropland Conversion Program, the Desertification Combating Program, and the Protection Forest System Construction Program. There is a growing need to quantify the contributions of these programs to regional carbon stocks.However, the lack of widely accepted, robust methods is one of the key obstacles to quantification. The objective of this study was to review existing methods for quantifying regional carbon stocks and then recommend suitable ones for the Chinese ecological engineering programs. We expect that the recommended methods can be applied to elsewhere in the world where there are similar characteristics and objectives.展开更多
The Conversion of Farmland to Forests Project (CFF) is one of the six great forest ecological Projects inChina and one of the ten great forest ecological Projects in the world, ranking the third in overall scale and t...The Conversion of Farmland to Forests Project (CFF) is one of the six great forest ecological Projects inChina and one of the ten great forest ecological Projects in the world, ranking the third in overall scale and the first ininvestment. CFF was officially initiated in 2002, covering 1897 counties (county-level cities and districts) in 25provinces (autonomous regions or municipalities) of China. The whole investment is more than 40 billion US$ duringabout 20 years (from 1999 to 2017), aiming to form better ecology system in fragile ecology regions and effectivelycontrol the soil and water erosion of the Yangtze and the Yellow River and sandstorm of the Three-north Regions inChina. The experimental Project of CFF began in 1999, including Sichuan, Shanxi and Gansu province, and the scopeof CFF was widened later. About 1.16 million ha of farmlands were converted to forestlands, and one million ha ofplantation in mountains and wasted lands were completed in 3 years, involving 20 provinces (autonomous regions andmunicipalities), 400 counties, 27 thousand villages, 5.7 thousand towns, 4.1 million farm families and 16 millionfarmers.展开更多
The paper chose two counties (Qis) in Inner Mongolia as the research areas to study the policies of conversion of farmland to forest and grazing prohibition and indoor raising implemented in there, which are closely r...The paper chose two counties (Qis) in Inner Mongolia as the research areas to study the policies of conversion of farmland to forest and grazing prohibition and indoor raising implemented in there, which are closely related to the interests of farmers and herdsmen. Based on the investigation and interview among farmer households, the paper analyzed the consistency between land degradation prevention and control policy and the needs of farmers and herdsmen, and finally presented the countermeasures and suggestions which are conducive to improving the effectiveness of land degradation prevention and control policy.展开更多
基金supported by the Fundamental Research Funds for the Central Universities (572017PZ03,2572020DR04 and 2572019CP16)。
文摘As primary and secondary forests are being replaced by plantations across the globe,the soil macrofauna community structure is also affected,but little is known about the impact of mixed culture plantations compared with monocultures on the soil macrofauna.To determine the impact of forest conversion on soil macrofauna,we surveyed the soil macrofauna in two broad-leaved and three coniferous monoculture stands and four coniferous-broadleaved mixed stands,and in adjacent reserved secondary stands as a reference.Soil macro fauna community composition was significant affected by forest type,season and their interaction(P<0.05).The abundance,taxa richness and diversity of soil macro fauna changed to different degrees depending on the plantation type.Broadleaved monoculture stands and secondary stands had similar macrofauna abundance and taxa richness,but values were lower in coniferous stands than in secondary stands.The Shannon index for macrofauna in coniferous stands was also the lowest,but the Pielou index did not differ between forest types.The negative effects of the conifer monoculture on soil macro fauna were not present in the mixed stands with broad-leaved trees.Forest conversion impacted soil properties;soil moisture,NO_(3)^(-),and pH were significant drivers of soil macrofauna community structure.The impact of forest conversion on soil macrofauna was closely dependent on tree species composition and diversity.The macro fauna community structure in the broadleaved and the mixed stands were relatively similar to that in the natural forest,and thus recommended for forest conversion in the study area.
基金Foundation project： This research was supported by Chinese Academy of Science Program （N0. ZCX3-SW-418） and the Natural Science Foundation of China （N0. 30470303）
文摘Conversion of natural secondary broad-leaved forest to Cunninghamia lanceolata plantation is a common management practice in subtropical China. In this study, we compared soil physico-chemical properties, microbial biomass in one natural secondary broad-leaved forest and two C. lanceolata plantation sites to estimate the effects of forest conversion on soil microbial biomass at the Huitong Experimental Station of Forestry Ecology, Chinese Academy of Sciences. Concentrations of soil organic carbon, total nitrogen, NH4^＋-N and microbial biomass carbon and nitrogen were much lower under C. lanceolata plantations as compared to natural secondary broad-leaved forest. Soil microbial biomass C in the first and second rotation of C. lanceolata plantations was only 53%, 46% of that in natural secondary broad-leaved forest, and microbial biomass N was 97% and 79%, respectively. The contribution of microbial biomass C to soil organic C was also lower in the plantation sites. However, the contribution of microbial N to total nitrogen and NH4^＋-N was greater in the C. lanceolata plantation sites. Therefore, conversion of natural secondary broad-leaved forest to C. lanceolata plantation and continuous planting of C. lanceolata led to the decline in soil microbial biomass and the degradation of forest soil in subtropical China.
基金financially supported by a grant from the Forest Fund of the Polish State Forests(Grant No.EZ.0290.1.16.2021).
文摘We tested the effectiveness of the gradual removal of Scots pine(Pinus sylvestris L.)in former plantations of this species in Roztocze National Park(SE Poland)to support the restoration of natural herbaceous flora and forest structure.We compared 0.5-ha study plots subjected to selective removal of pine trees with control plots excluded from any kind of human intervention for half a century.The observed changes in forest floor vegetation in the converted plots showed naturalization towards habitat-specific species.However,differences in the spatial distribution of trees between the treatment and control plots showed no universal pattern and revealed subtle but positive shifts from regular to random or clustered patterns.The mean tree diameters were higher in plots subjected to Scots pine removal,which resulted from the vigorous growth of tree species,consistent with habitat types.We conclude that forest restoration through the removal of planted trees can support the naturalization of former Scots pine plantations in protected areas.However,the selection of an appropriate method and its intensity are of vital importance.Methods that resemble typical management practices,such as selection thinning,are not always the best approach,as they may preserve or even increase the regular distribution of trees.Therefore,for restoration purposes,we recommend testing other methods that increase spatial heterogeneity,including systematic cutting or emulating natural disturbances.In addition,low-intensity thinning may not be sufficient to support the restoration of natural forest floor vegetation and the variability in forest stand structure.
基金performed under the research project entitled“The ability of used oak natural regeneration in Scots pine stand conversion–the role of birds in forest regeneration process”,which was financially supported by the the Ministry of Science and Higher Education(Grant No.240–110).
文摘Background:A challenge in current forestry is adaptation of managed forests to climate change,which is likely to alter the main processes of forest dynamics,i.e.natural regeneration.Scots pine will probably lose some parts of its distribution area in Europe.However,two native oaks,pedunculate and sessile may maintain or expand the area of their occurrence in central Europe.The utilization of spontaneous(not initialized by foresters)oak regeneration in Scots pine stands for the creation of next generation stands is one of the adaptation methods to climate change.Many factors influencing pedunculate oak regeneration are well known,but there is a lack of knowledge on the relation between soil enzyme activity and the establishment and development of the species.The aim of the study was to identify the relationships among stand characteristics,herb species composition,soil enzyme activity and the establishment or recruitment of oak regeneration in Scots pine-dominated stands.Results:The one of the most influential factors shaping the oak seedling count was dehydrogenase activity in the humus horizon.We found that plots without litter and fern cover had higher seedling density.The raspberry ground cover and birch crown projection area had a positive influence on oak seedling number.The factor indicating good conditions for high density of oak saplings was phosphatase activity in the organic horizon.The same enzyme activity but in humus horizon described conditions in which more numerous recruits were observed.Conclusions:The activity of soil enzymes can be used as the predictor of the establishment and advancement of oak regeneration but also could be seen as a new dimension of oak regeneration.The general density of spontaneous oak regeneration was not sufficient for the creation of new generation forest stands dominated by oak,but it is possible to use them as admixtures in new generation stands.
基金the Western Action Project of Chinese Academy of Sciences(KZCX2-XB2-07)the Item of State Council Three Gorges Project Construction Committee Executive Office (SX2001-021)Youth Seed Fund Item of Chinese Academy of Sciences (1100001079)
文摘This paper is an extension of the application of neighborhood interference model--being modified--to the study of the interference between forest plants and herbaceous plants. The exploration of the neighborhood interference between triploid Populus tomentosa and Lolium multiflorum shows that the interference of Lolium multiflorum on triploid populus tomentosa is positive, with the primary interference factor living weight, and secondary factor cover degree; the growth of an individual tree is affected by the number, height, and coverage of the Lolium multiflorum; the more dense the coverage of the Lolium multiflorum in a certain area, the taller, faster and more trees will grow as a result of a greater positive neighborhood interference. The modified neighborhood interference model well serves as an effective approach to extend the application of neighborhood interference researches.
基金supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China(Grant No.32471713)Fujian Natural Science Foundation(Grant No.2022J01642).
文摘The increasing global demand for timber and forest products has triggered the widespread conversion of subtropical forests into secondary forests and plantations.Soil fauna,the active angel in material cycling,are sensitive to changes in food resources and soil environments.However,the impact of forest conversion on soil fauna abundance and diversity remains insufficiently understood.To address this,we conducted seasonal soil fauna sampling in a subtropical region of China during July and November 2022,as well as January and March 2023.The sampling covered secondary forests,Castanopsis carlesii(broadleaved)plantations,and Cunninghamia lanceolata(fir)plantations,with natural forests serving as the control.We assessed soil fauna diversity including taxonomic and functional composition,along with soil physicochemical properties.Overall,forest conversion led to a decline in soil fauna abundance and biodiversity,with litter quality and soil moisture emerging as primary drivers according to Post hoc Least Significant Difference tests.Macrofauna demonstrated higher sensitivity to forest conversion than meso-and microfauna,with their abundance decreasing by 10%in secondary forests,18%in broadleaved plantations,and 27%in fir plantations.Moreover,the number of predator and saprophage groups declined more significantly when natural forests were converted into fir plantations(by 24%and 15%,respectively)than into broadleaved plantations(by 16%and 10%,respectively).Additionally,soil fauna showed more sensitive responses to forest conversion in spring and summer,especially in the case of the conversion into fir plantations.Our findings underscore the negative impacts of forest conversion on soil fauna biodiversity,particularly the reduction in predators and saprophages,which may disrupt the food web and increase ecosystem vulnerability to pests and diseases,thereby indicating potential risks to the stability of forest ecosystems.
基金The National Natural Science Foundation of China(42171279)The Mobility Programme DFG-NSFC(M-0342)The National Forestry and Grassland Administration of China:Research on the Development Strategy of China Conversion of Farmland to Forests and Grasses(TBG2020002)。
文摘The Conversion of Farmland to Forests and Grasses Project is the most symbolic and globally important ecological engineering effort to build the human and natural life community.After the call and mobilization stage since the founding of the People’s Republic of China,the first round of Conversion of Farmland to Forests and Grasses occurred at the end of the 20 th century.With the second round of Conversion of Farmland to Forests And Grasses launched in 2014,the central government has invested 535.3 billion yuan altogether by 2020,and 34.83 million ha have been returned to forest and grassland in 25 provinces(autonomous regions and municipalities)(2435 counties included).Among them,14.23 million ha were returned from farmland;barren hills and wasteland afforestation accounted for 17.53 million ha;and sealed mountain forest cultivation represented 3.07 million ha,accounting for 40%of the total afforestation area of national key projects in the same period,and 41 million households and 158 million farmers benefited directly.The project construction has made great achievements.The total value of ecological benefits has reached 1.42 trillion yuan,plus economic benefits of 0.26 trillion yuan,and social benefits of 0.73 trillion yuan,for a total amount of 2.41 trillion yuan.This effort has made outstanding contributions toward building an ecological civilization and a beautiful China.Looking forward to the future,the Conversion of Farmland to Forests and Grasses will embark on a new stage of high-quality development,which will strive to achieve high-quality construction,high efficiency and a high level of management.China will promote the third round of conversion of farmland to forest and grassland from 2021 to 2035,and it is expected to return 6.67 million ha to forests and grasses.
基金supported by grants from Strategic Priority Research Program of Chinese Academy of Sciences(No.XDA05060101)Graduate Innovation Project Funding of Jiangxi Province(No.YC2013-S117)+1 种基金Jiangxi Provincial Science and Technology International Cooperation Project(No.09003614)GanPo 555 Talent Project Funding of Jiangxi Province
文摘In order to improve environment and relieve poverty, China has launched a series of major ecological engineering programs since the 1980 s. These include the Natural Forest Conservation Program, the Sloping Cropland Conversion Program, the Desertification Combating Program, and the Protection Forest System Construction Program. There is a growing need to quantify the contributions of these programs to regional carbon stocks.However, the lack of widely accepted, robust methods is one of the key obstacles to quantification. The objective of this study was to review existing methods for quantifying regional carbon stocks and then recommend suitable ones for the Chinese ecological engineering programs. We expect that the recommended methods can be applied to elsewhere in the world where there are similar characteristics and objectives.
文摘The Conversion of Farmland to Forests Project (CFF) is one of the six great forest ecological Projects inChina and one of the ten great forest ecological Projects in the world, ranking the third in overall scale and the first ininvestment. CFF was officially initiated in 2002, covering 1897 counties (county-level cities and districts) in 25provinces (autonomous regions or municipalities) of China. The whole investment is more than 40 billion US$ duringabout 20 years (from 1999 to 2017), aiming to form better ecology system in fragile ecology regions and effectivelycontrol the soil and water erosion of the Yangtze and the Yellow River and sandstorm of the Three-north Regions inChina. The experimental Project of CFF began in 1999, including Sichuan, Shanxi and Gansu province, and the scopeof CFF was widened later. About 1.16 million ha of farmlands were converted to forestlands, and one million ha ofplantation in mountains and wasted lands were completed in 3 years, involving 20 provinces (autonomous regions andmunicipalities), 400 counties, 27 thousand villages, 5.7 thousand towns, 4.1 million farm families and 16 millionfarmers.
基金supported by "Capacity Building for Land Degradation Prevention and Control" under "China-GEF Partnership for Land Degradation Prevention and Control in Arid Ecological System"
文摘The paper chose two counties (Qis) in Inner Mongolia as the research areas to study the policies of conversion of farmland to forest and grazing prohibition and indoor raising implemented in there, which are closely related to the interests of farmers and herdsmen. Based on the investigation and interview among farmer households, the paper analyzed the consistency between land degradation prevention and control policy and the needs of farmers and herdsmen, and finally presented the countermeasures and suggestions which are conducive to improving the effectiveness of land degradation prevention and control policy.
