Forest biodiversity studies conducted across Europe use a multitude of forestry terms,often inconsistently.This hinders the comparability across studies and makes the assessment of the impacts of forest management on ...Forest biodiversity studies conducted across Europe use a multitude of forestry terms,often inconsistently.This hinders the comparability across studies and makes the assessment of the impacts of forest management on biodiversity highly context-dependent.Recent attempts to standardize forestry and stand description terminology mostly used a top-down approach that did not account for the perspectives and approaches of forest biodiversity experts.This work aims to establish common standards for silvicultural and vegetation definitions,creating a shared conceptual framework for a consistent study on the effects of forest management on biodiversity.We have identified both strengths and weaknesses of the silvicultural and vegetation information provided in forest biodiversity studies.While quantitative data on forest biomass and dominant tree species are frequently included,information on silvicultural activities and vegetation composition is often lacking,shallow,or based on broad and heterogeneous classifications.We discuss the existing classifications and their use in European forest biodiversity studies through a novel bottom-up and top-driven review process,and ultimately propose a common framework.This will enhance the comparability of forest biodiversity studies in Europe,and puts the basis for effective implementation and monitoring of sustainable forest management policies.The standards here proposed are potentially adaptable and applicable to other geographical areas and could be extended to other forest interventions.展开更多
Existing knowledge on degraded mountain landscapes does not shed sufficient light on the socio-economic and ecological opportunities essential for successful restoration initiatives.To address this knowledge lacuna,a ...Existing knowledge on degraded mountain landscapes does not shed sufficient light on the socio-economic and ecological opportunities essential for successful restoration initiatives.To address this knowledge lacuna,a study was conducted on the Bamboutos Mountains landscape in Cameroon with the main objective being to analyse the opportunities for restoring this landscape in line with local,national and international development goals and to minimise the negative effects of land-use decisions.Following the Restoration Opportunity Assessment Methodology(ROAM)approach,five participatory reflection workshops were organized in the five target clusters of the landscape for data collection.The results of the study led to the development of a restoration map that presents five interventions:grassland management on an area of 4,720 ha currently occupied by shrub savannah;the practice of fruit-based agroforestry on 3,221 ha of agricultural fields;the planting of riparian forests on 451 ha of degraded watercourses;the revegetation and conservation of the Bamboutos Mountains forest reserve,sacred forests and relics of degraded forests on 435 ha of area;and the revegetation of 6 ha of degraded water sources.The carbon stocks vary from 2.66 to 345.15 tC/ha depending on the type of restoration intervention with a total carbon stock of 247,367.45 tC/ha on the 8,834 ha of area to be restored.This presents a very satisfactory economic cost-benefit,because for an investment of USD 5,991,269.84,a gain of USD 100,439,519.13 could be achieved after 20 years,i.e.,an estimated profit of USD 94,448,249.29.These results provide an understanding of the types of restoration interventions possible in this landscape,a solid basis for planning a restoration initiative.The results equally provide guidance on priority areas from a social,economic,and ecological perspective.展开更多
Numerous clustering algorithms are valuable in pattern recognition in forest vegetation,with new ones continually being proposed.While some are well-known,others are underutilized in vegetation science.This study comp...Numerous clustering algorithms are valuable in pattern recognition in forest vegetation,with new ones continually being proposed.While some are well-known,others are underutilized in vegetation science.This study compares the performance of practical iterative reallocation algorithms with model-based clustering algorithms.The data is from forest vegetation in Virginia(United States),the Hyrcanian Forest(Asia),and European beech forests.Practical iterative reallocation algorithms were applied as non-hierarchical methods and Finite Gaussian mixture modeling was used as a model-based clustering method.Due to limitations on dimensionality in model-based clustering,principal coordinates analysis was employed to reduce the dataset’s dimensions.A log transformation was applied to achieve a normal distribution for the pseudo-species data before calculating the Bray-Curtis dissimilarity.The findings indicate that the reallocation of misclassified objects based on silhouette width(OPTSIL)with Flexible-β(-0.25)had the highest mean among the tested clustering algorithms with Silhouette width 1(REMOS1)with Flexible-β(-0.25)second.However,model-based clustering performed poorly.Based on these results,it is recommended using OPTSIL with Flexible-β(-0.25)and REMOS1 with Flexible-β(-0.25)for forest vegetation classification instead of model-based clustering particularly for heterogeneous datasets common in forest vegetation community data.展开更多
In forests,a few large trees(L-trees)versus small-medium trees(S-trees)are often considered the major reservoir of aboveground carbon stock(AGCS).Here,we hypothesize that tree species'functional strategies regulat...In forests,a few large trees(L-trees)versus small-medium trees(S-trees)are often considered the major reservoir of aboveground carbon stock(AGCS).Here,we hypothesize that tree species'functional strategies regulate AGCS by tree sizes in temperate deciduous forests across local scale environmental gradients.Using data from 99 plots,we modelled the multivariate effects of the tree-based(tree diversity,stand density and multidimensional tree size inequality)versus the trait-based(multi-trait diversity and single-trait dominance)attributes of L-trees versus S-trees,along topographic and soil conditions,to predict AGCS through four L-trees threshold size(i.e.,≥50 cm fixed-diameter,top 95th percentile,≥top 50%cumulative AGCS descending-ranked ordered,and mean threshold size)approaches.The tree-based and trait-based attributes of L-trees and S-trees shaped species co-occurrence processes but L-trees regulated AGCS more effectively(31.29-93.20%)than S-trees and abiotic factors across four thereshold size approaches and two concepts.Although L-trees threshold size and tree-based attributes mattered for AGCS,the dominant resource-acquisitive strategy of structurally complex L-trees having higher specific leaf area but lower leaf dry matter content and lesser multi-trait dispersion could promote AGCS better than the resource-conservative strategy(low specific leaf area)of S-trees.Capturing tree species'functional strategies,synergies and trade-offs across tree sizes can enhance our understanding of how to achieve nature-based carbon neutrality and lessen climate change.Thus,forest management and restoration initiatives should prioritize high-functioning tree species with dominant productive traits while conserving multi-trait diversified species in temperate deciduous forests.展开更多
Biodegradable plastics are types of plastics that can decompose into water and carbon dioxide the actions of living organisms,mostly by bacteria.Generally,biodegradable plastics are obtained from renewable raw materia...Biodegradable plastics are types of plastics that can decompose into water and carbon dioxide the actions of living organisms,mostly by bacteria.Generally,biodegradable plastics are obtained from renewable raw materials,microorganisms,petrochemicals,or a combination of all three.This study aims to develop an innovative bioplastic by combining chitosan and lignin.Bioplastic was prepared by casting method and characterized by measuring the mechanical properties like tensile strength,Young’smodulus,and elongation at break.The chemical structure,together with the interactions among chitosan and lignin and the presence of new chemical bonds,were evaluated by FTIR,while the thermal properties were assessed by thermogravimetric analysis.The water vapor permeability,tests and transparency as well as biodegradability,were also carried out.The results show a tensile strength value of 34.82 MPa,Young’s modulus of 18.54 MPa,and elongation at a break of 2.74%.Moreover,the interaction between chitosan and lignin affects the intensity of the absorption peak,leading to reduced transparency and increased thermal stability.The chitosan/lignin interactions also influence the crystalline size,making it easier to degrade andmore flexible rather than rigid.The contact angle shows the bioplastic’s ability to resist water absorption for 4minutes.In the biodegradation test,the sample began to degrade after 30 days of soil burial test observation.展开更多
Data Envelopment Analysis （DEA） is a mathematical tech- nique to assess relative efficiencies of decision making units （DMUs）. The efficiency of 14 Iranian forest companies and forest management units was investig...Data Envelopment Analysis （DEA） is a mathematical tech- nique to assess relative efficiencies of decision making units （DMUs）. The efficiency of 14 Iranian forest companies and forest management units was investigated in 2010. Efficiency of the companies was esti- mated by using a traditional DEA model and a two-stage DEA model. Traditional DEA models consider all DMU activities as a black box and ignore the intermediate products, while two-stage models address inter- mediate processes. LINGO software was used for analysis. Overall pro- duction was divided into to processes for analyses by the two-stage model, timber harvest and marketing. Wilcoxon＇s signed-rank test was used to identify the differences of average efficiency in the harvesting and marketing sub-process. Weak performance in the harvesting sub-process was the cause of low efficiency in 2010. Companies such as Neka Chob and Kelardasht proved efficient at timber harvest, and Neka Chob forest company scored highest in overall efficiency. Finally, the reference units identified according to the results of two-stage DEA analysis.展开更多
The effects of municipal sewage irrigation on the soil and black locust （Robinia pseudoacacia L.） tree were studied. For this purpose, two artificial black locust stands under irrigation of municipal sewage and well...The effects of municipal sewage irrigation on the soil and black locust （Robinia pseudoacacia L.） tree were studied. For this purpose, two artificial black locust stands under irrigation of municipal sewage and well water were selected in south of Tehran, Iran. Data were collected using technique of systematic random sampling with 4 replicates in each stand. It was found that the growth of black locust tree, as indicated by diameter at breast height, total height, crown length, average crown diameter, basal area and volume, in sewage irrigation stand was much higher than that of well water irrigation stand （P 〈 0.01）. Plant analysis indicated that concentrations of leaf nutrients （N, E K, Ca, Mg, Na, Fe, Mn, Cu and Zn） were greater in sewage-irrigated trees, without toxicity to the minerals of tree leaf, than those of well waterirrigated trees, and positively correlated with their respective value in soil. Ni, Cr and Pb were not detected in leaf samples. Application of sewage resulted in a 1.5-fold increase in the concentrations of soil nutrients, Ni, Cr and Pb. Among these minerals only Pb and Ni in some soil samples exceeded the toxicity limit. The increase in pH, electrical conductivity （EC） and organic carbon of soil was also observed in sewage irrigation. Results confirm that besides the use as irrigation water, municipal sewages are also a potential source of plant nutrients. However, significant accumulation of heavy metals such as Pb and Ni in soil needs to be monitored.展开更多
Pit and mound micro-relief(resultant microsites from trees uprooted by windthrow) could have regimes of microclimate and soil features that differ from areas of undisturbed soil. In an attempt to provide a comprehensi...Pit and mound micro-relief(resultant microsites from trees uprooted by windthrow) could have regimes of microclimate and soil features that differ from areas of undisturbed soil. In an attempt to provide a comprehensive evaluation of the significance of pits and mounds on soil features and also the dynamics of greenhouse gas(GHG) fluxes at local scale, this study was carried out in a reserved area of Darabkola forest in Mazandaran Province, northern Iran. The age of a pit and mound was considered equal to the degree of decay of the blown down tree. Three microsites were distinguished, consisting of pit bottom(PB), mound top(MT) and undisturbed area(UA). Soil samples were taken at 0–15 and 15–30 cm depths from all microsites and analysed for soil physical, chemical and biological features. Our findings suggested that in context of forest ecology, pits and mounds following windthrow events should be considered as an effective factor influencing soil features(i.e., density, texture, water content, p H, organic C, total N, available nutrients and earthworm density/biomass) and especially GHG fluxes. Results showed that MT acted as a sink for N2O(-0.010 mg N2 O m-2d-1) and CH4(-0.257 mg CH4m-2d-1) fluxes and also produced lower CO2 concentrations(0.095 mg CO2 m-2d-1) than PB(0.207 mg CO2 m-2d-1) and UA(0.098 mg CO2 m-2d-1). As a consequence, a separation into pits/mounds would be important for a precise budgeting of greenhouse gases.展开更多
We measured erodibility and mean weight diameter （MWD） of soil aggregates in different parts of a forest road. Samples of topsoil were collected from cutslope, fillslope, road surface and forest ground to assess the...We measured erodibility and mean weight diameter （MWD） of soil aggregates in different parts of a forest road. Samples of topsoil were collected from cutslope, fillslope, road surface and forest ground to assess the texture, bulk density, moisture, CaCO3 and organic matter. Soil aggregate stability was determined by wet sieving. Soil erodibility on the road surface was 2.3 and 1.3 times higher than on the fillslope and cutslope, respectively. The forest soil had the lowest erodibility. Aggregate stability of cutslope and road surface were low and very low, respectively. There was a significant negative relationship between cutslope erodibility with CaCO3 and sand content. Cutslope erodibility increased with increasing silt, clay and moisture content. On fillslopes, MWD increased with in-creasing rock fragment cover, plant cover, litter cover, organic matter and sand. There was a strong negative correlation between fillslope erodibility and organic matter, sand and MWD. There was no significant difference between erodibility of bare soil and soils beneathRubus hyrcanusL. and Philonotis marchica （Hedw.） Brid.展开更多
The consequence of land-use change from forest to agriculture and other uses has become one of the world’s greatest concerns.The soil,one of the most important components of forests and containing all the required pl...The consequence of land-use change from forest to agriculture and other uses has become one of the world’s greatest concerns.The soil,one of the most important components of forests and containing all the required plant nutrients as soluble ions,is highly impacted by these changes.Because vast areas of the Zagros forests in western Iran have changed in use during the last few decades,the present study investigated the effects of landuse changes of forest area to agriculture,orchard,and agroforestry on soil chemical and physical properties.Soil was sampled at four land-use areas:less-disturbed forest areas(control)and agricultural,orchard,and agroforestry areas.Among each of the two forest-use areas(agroforestry and orchard),we selected five trees with similar-sized crowns and sampled under each tree crown at 0-15 and>15-30 cm depths.Five soil samples also were taken in agriculture area at each depth.The findings indicated that during land-use changes,soil sand particles decreased,and clay and silt particles of soil increased,resulting in a fine soil texture.Moreover,the amount of nitrogen(N),phosphorus(P),organic carbon(OC),and electrical conductivity(EC)of soil decreased at both depths due to the decrease in organic matter.Soil pH and magnesium(Mg)level rose during land-use change at both depths except at agricultural sites.Soil potassium(K)content decreased during agricultural use due to the elimination of tree cover.The level of K decreased only at the depth of 0-15 cm because of K dependency on parent materials.Generally,most soil nutrients were affected by plant removal in the conversion.Forest and agricultural soil are distinguishable by their properties,while land-uses such as agroforestry-orchard separated from the others.Soil nutrients were severely affected by the decrease and elimination of tree cover,plowing,and continuous harvesting,resulting in a decline in soil quality and fertility.展开更多
Seeds of many woody plant species have one of several types of dormancy. They do not germinate unless ,specific environmental signals are in place or events occur. This study was conducted to evaluate the effects of s...Seeds of many woody plant species have one of several types of dormancy. They do not germinate unless ,specific environmental signals are in place or events occur. This study was conducted to evaluate the effects of scarification treatments on seed dormancy and germination of Acacia nilotica （L.） Willd. ex Del., Prosopis juliflora （Sw.） DC. ：and Dodonaea viscosa （L.） Jacq. The following treatments were applied： T1, untreated seed （control）; T2, sulphuric acid （97%） for 45 min; T3, boiling water for 5 min. The seeds were cultured on a Murashige and Skoog （MS） medium after sterilization. The responses of seeds to treatments were compared with each other and with the control treatment. Germination was observed daily for a 30-day period. Results indicated positive responses to treatments, while impermeable Seed coats may be responsible for low germination rates in intact seeds as seen experimentally in the untreated control. The highest germination was obtained for P. juliflora and D. viscosa acid-scarified seeds （80.8%-90.8%） and for scarified seeds of A. nilotica （50.2%） boiled in water. The germination indices, i.e., final germination percentage （FG）, mean daily germination （MDG） and germination rate （GR）, were significantly affected by treatments and species （p 〈 0.01）.展开更多
Microbial indices and their spatial patterns are strongly affected by environmental factors. Spatial variability of soil properties is one of the most important causes of variability in soil microbial indices. This re...Microbial indices and their spatial patterns are strongly affected by environmental factors. Spatial variability of soil properties is one of the most important causes of variability in soil microbial indices. This research was conducted in the Caspian forest to assess spatial variabilities and frequency distributions of microbial properties.Ninety soil samples were taken using a grid sampling design 40 9 40 m. Microbial indices, organic carbon,nitrogen and pH were determined. Soil variable distributions showed that microbial indices had abnormal distributions. Logarithmic transformation produced normal distribution. Spatial continuity using geostatistical(variogram) was studied and maps obtained by point kriging.The variograms revealed the presence of spatial autocorrelation. The results indicate that spatial dependence of soil microbial indices was affected by non-intrinsic factors and forest management procedures. The maps show that soil microbial indices and soil properties have spatial variability. The spatial pattern of microbial indices was correlated to organic carbon and nitrogen.展开更多
For analyzing the effects of forest litter and slope aspect on soil properties eight soil samples were collected at a depth of 0–10 cm near(i.e.,beneath the crown)and away from(i.e.,not influenced by crown)five Persi...For analyzing the effects of forest litter and slope aspect on soil properties eight soil samples were collected at a depth of 0–10 cm near(i.e.,beneath the crown)and away from(i.e.,not influenced by crown)five Persian turpentine trees each on a north and a south slope at the same elevation in a Zagros forest,Iran.The litter beneath tree crowns and slope exposure were found to have significant interactive effects on C,N,P,K,and electrical conductivity of the soils,however,Ca,Mg and the soil pH were not significantly influenced by these factors.The soil beneath the crowns was enriched in cations compared to more distal positions.Generally,Persian turpentine trees have positive impacts on soil properties in the forest.Degrading or killing these trees by sap extraction,extreme grazing,cutting,fire and expansion of agriculture will lead to significant losses in soil fertility and increases in soil erosion.展开更多
A study was carried out to evaluate the effect of shelterwood cutting methods on stand structure and regeneration density. Data were collected from a northern hardwood forest stands in Iran with Fagus orientalis Lipsk...A study was carried out to evaluate the effect of shelterwood cutting methods on stand structure and regeneration density. Data were collected from a northern hardwood forest stands in Iran with Fagus orientalis Lipsky as dominant species, with/without shelterwood cutting operation. Results clearly demonstrate that the management of Fagus orientalis Lipsky with shelterwood cutting system affected the frequency and diversity of the understory herbaceous species. The frequency of Viola silvestris Lam., Asperula odorata L., Carex spp. and Rubus hyr-canus Juz increased significantly after shelterwood cutting. The DBH （diameter at breast height） of commercial species in control stands （57.50±2.15 cm） was greater than that in treated stands （50.67±1.88 cm）, whereas the total height of trees was similar between treated and control plots （21±0.5 m）. The number of Parrotia persica seedlings increased by 13.2% from 1995 to 2005 whereas the number of Fagus orientalis and Carpinus betulus seedlings significantly decreased from 1995 to 2005. In conclusion, it confirms that instead of shelterwood cutting method other silvicultural practices such as selection cutting method should be applied for the mountainous beech stands of Hyrcanian forests.展开更多
We used a goal programming technique to determine the optimal harvest volume for the Iranian Caspian forest. We collected data including volume, growth, wood price at forest roadside, and variable harvesting costs. Th...We used a goal programming technique to determine the optimal harvest volume for the Iranian Caspian forest. We collected data including volume, growth, wood price at forest roadside, and variable harvesting costs. The allometric method was used to quantify seques- trated carbon. Regression analysis was used to derive growth models. Expected mean price was estimated using wood price and variable harvesting costs. Questionnaire was used to determine the constraints and the equation coefficients of the goal programming model. The optimal volume was determined using the goal programming method according to multipurpose forest management. LINGO software was used for analysis. Results indicated that the optimum volumes of species were 250.25 m3.ha-1 for beech, 59 m3.ha-1 for hornbeam, 73 m3.ha-1 for oak, 41 m3.ha-1 for alder, and 32 m3.ha-1 for other species. The total optimum volume is 455.25 m3.ha-1.展开更多
Wood extraction by heavy machinery has always been associated with soil disturbance in mountain forests,and the degree of soil degradation is influenced by several factors,including site and soil characteristics,soil ...Wood extraction by heavy machinery has always been associated with soil disturbance in mountain forests,and the degree of soil degradation is influenced by several factors,including site and soil characteristics,soil moisture,type of equipment used,and number of machine passes.The effects of ground-based skidding operations on the physical properties of soils with different texture were evaluated at different levels of traffic frequency and trail gradient at two sites in an Iranian temperate forest.The treatments included combinations of three different traffic frequencies(3,8,and 14 passes of a rubber-tired cable skidder),three levels of trail gradient(<10%,10%–20%,and>20%) and two soil texture classes,clay loam(Site 1) and sandy loam(Site 2).The average gravimetric soil moisture at the time of skidding was 23%(Site 1) and 20%(Site 2).The average dry bulk density and total porosity of the undisturbed soil(control) were0.71 g cm-3 and 73.3% at Site 1(clay loam) and 0.86 g cm-3and 59.1% at Site 2(sandy loam),respectively.At site 1(fine-textured soil),rutting began after three passes of the skidder,whereas at site 2(coarse-textured soil),rutting occurred only after eight passes.Independent of the traffic frequency and trail gradient,machine impact on the fine-textured soil caused greater increases in bulk density and rut depth compared to that on the coarse-textured soil.After three skidder passes and independent from trail gradients,dry bulk density at Site 1 increased by 54.8% compared to that of the undisturbed control,and the increase was 45.5% at Site 2.Therefore,medium to fine-textured soils are more susceptible to compaction than coarse-textured soils.Such soils,especially when moist,should be protected using brush mats created from harvesting residues during the forest processing phase.展开更多
Non-human primates often live in socially stable groups characterized by bonded relationships among individuals. Social organization can be used to evaluate living conditions and expansion potential. Bisexual group si...Non-human primates often live in socially stable groups characterized by bonded relationships among individuals. Social organization can be used to evaluate living conditions and expansion potential. Bisexual group size, ratio of males to females and group composition are essential elements determining the type of social organization. Although the first report on Shortridge’s capped langurs（Trachypithecus shortridgei） was in the 1970 s, until now, the species only inhabits forests of the Dulongjiang valley in northwest Yunnan, China, with c. 250-370 individuals in 19 populations. To understand its social organization, we collected data from five groups of Shortridge’s langurs at Silaluo in the Dulongjiang valley during August 2012-October 2013. Family groups consist of one adult male, 2–3 adult females and up to five young. Group size averaged 8（7-9） individuals. The ratio of adult males to females（M/F） was 1：2.9, infants to adult females was（I/F） 1：2.2; and ratio of adults to immatures was 1：1.2, indicating the potential of a population increasing. Birth season was during March-July and the inter-birth interval was two years.展开更多
The biodiversity of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi(AMF) was surveyed in the Kolm region of Iran in three adjacent sites, a natural stand, a 10-year-old and a 15-yearold plantation of Amygdalus scoparia. To date, there h...The biodiversity of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi(AMF) was surveyed in the Kolm region of Iran in three adjacent sites, a natural stand, a 10-year-old and a 15-yearold plantation of Amygdalus scoparia. To date, there have been few studies of AMF biodiversity in Iran, especially in the western forests of the country. For this study, soil and root samples were taken from A. scoparia rhizosphere soil in spring and autumn. Almost half of the root length was colonized by AMF. We identified 13 AMF species belonging to Glomeraceae, Claroideoglomeraceae or Diversisporaceae. The three plantations differed in terms of soil electrical conductivity, organic C and P. Spore density was significant correlated with P concentration. Root length colonization was correlated only with soil Ca.Species diversity and richness were significantly correlated with soil N, P, organic C and spore density. AMF diversity in 15-year-old plantations was more similar to that in the natural stand than in the 10-year-old plantation. We confirmed that a 15-year-old plantation is not similar in terms of AMF colonization to natural stands. We conclude that more than 15 years are required for AMF colonization of plantations to resemble that of natural stands.展开更多
Korean pine(Pinus koraiensis Siebold&Zucc.)in Northeastern China has been genetically improved to increase seed yields in addition to timber.To assess seed yield variability and select highly productive clones,14 ...Korean pine(Pinus koraiensis Siebold&Zucc.)in Northeastern China has been genetically improved to increase seed yields in addition to timber.To assess seed yield variability and select highly productive clones,14 cone,seed and nut traits were measured and analyzed.Variance analysis showed that all clones were signifi cantly different in various traits(P<0.01).Phenotypic coeffi cients of variation and repeatability of traits ranged from 9.1 to 34.4%and from 27.5 to 97.7%,respectively.Except for the cone layer and cone seed numbers,the other traits were positively or negatively correlated.Three principal components were identifi ed.Seed and nut traits were the most important traits in the fi rst principal component,and cone traits more important in the second.Using correlation and principal component analyses,cone number and other traits were selected to evaluate materials.Twenty-two clones were selected using a selection rate of 10%based on cone number independently or other combined traits.The genetic gain for diff erent traits ranged from 6.2 to 24.3%.The selected elite clones can supply seedlings for reforestation and the selection method can provide a theoretical basis for selection in other conifer species.展开更多
Land-use changes and land cover strongly influence carbon stock and distribution within ecosystems. Changing the land-use from natural forest to other land-uses has been more rapid in the past few decades than at any ...Land-use changes and land cover strongly influence carbon stock and distribution within ecosystems. Changing the land-use from natural forest to other land-uses has been more rapid in the past few decades than at any time in Iran＇s history. In this study, we investigated the effects of changing the land-use from natural forest to other land-uses on carbon stocks in northern Iran. We selected five sites for this study： （I） a natural forest, （II） an agricultural field and （III） plantations of three different species （Alnus subcordata .L, Acer velutinum .Boiss and Cu- pressus sempervirens）. We examined the effects of land-use changes on： （I） soil carbon stock （0-50 cm depth）, （II） biomass and carbon content of grassy vegetation and litter and （III） above- and below-ground biomass C in trees. Soil C stock was higher under A. velutinum and C. sempervirens whereas it was lower under A. subcordata and agricultural sites. Biomass and C content of grassy vegetation were significantly higher at A. veluti- num and C. sempervirens plantations. However, litter biomass and C content were significantly higher at the natural forest site. Natural forest had the highest amount of C content in above- and below-ground bio- mass. Total ecosystem C stocks declined following land-use changes.展开更多
基金This review was funded by the EU Framework Programme Horizon 2020 through the COST Association(www.cost.eu):COST Action CA18207:BOTTOMS-UP–Biodiversity of Temperate Forest Taxa Orienting Management Sustainability by Unifying Perspectives.TC and TS acknowledge the support of the NBFC to the University of Padova,funded by the Italian Ministry of University and Research,PNRR,Missione 4 Componente 2,“Dalla ricerca all’impresa”,Investimento 1.4,Project CN00000033.
文摘Forest biodiversity studies conducted across Europe use a multitude of forestry terms,often inconsistently.This hinders the comparability across studies and makes the assessment of the impacts of forest management on biodiversity highly context-dependent.Recent attempts to standardize forestry and stand description terminology mostly used a top-down approach that did not account for the perspectives and approaches of forest biodiversity experts.This work aims to establish common standards for silvicultural and vegetation definitions,creating a shared conceptual framework for a consistent study on the effects of forest management on biodiversity.We have identified both strengths and weaknesses of the silvicultural and vegetation information provided in forest biodiversity studies.While quantitative data on forest biomass and dominant tree species are frequently included,information on silvicultural activities and vegetation composition is often lacking,shallow,or based on broad and heterogeneous classifications.We discuss the existing classifications and their use in European forest biodiversity studies through a novel bottom-up and top-driven review process,and ultimately propose a common framework.This will enhance the comparability of forest biodiversity studies in Europe,and puts the basis for effective implementation and monitoring of sustainable forest management policies.The standards here proposed are potentially adaptable and applicable to other geographical areas and could be extended to other forest interventions.
基金the material and logistical support provided by the Environmental Geomatics Laboratory of the Forestry Department of the University of Dschang
文摘Existing knowledge on degraded mountain landscapes does not shed sufficient light on the socio-economic and ecological opportunities essential for successful restoration initiatives.To address this knowledge lacuna,a study was conducted on the Bamboutos Mountains landscape in Cameroon with the main objective being to analyse the opportunities for restoring this landscape in line with local,national and international development goals and to minimise the negative effects of land-use decisions.Following the Restoration Opportunity Assessment Methodology(ROAM)approach,five participatory reflection workshops were organized in the five target clusters of the landscape for data collection.The results of the study led to the development of a restoration map that presents five interventions:grassland management on an area of 4,720 ha currently occupied by shrub savannah;the practice of fruit-based agroforestry on 3,221 ha of agricultural fields;the planting of riparian forests on 451 ha of degraded watercourses;the revegetation and conservation of the Bamboutos Mountains forest reserve,sacred forests and relics of degraded forests on 435 ha of area;and the revegetation of 6 ha of degraded water sources.The carbon stocks vary from 2.66 to 345.15 tC/ha depending on the type of restoration intervention with a total carbon stock of 247,367.45 tC/ha on the 8,834 ha of area to be restored.This presents a very satisfactory economic cost-benefit,because for an investment of USD 5,991,269.84,a gain of USD 100,439,519.13 could be achieved after 20 years,i.e.,an estimated profit of USD 94,448,249.29.These results provide an understanding of the types of restoration interventions possible in this landscape,a solid basis for planning a restoration initiative.The results equally provide guidance on priority areas from a social,economic,and ecological perspective.
基金financially supported by the vice chancellor for research and technology of Urmia University
文摘Numerous clustering algorithms are valuable in pattern recognition in forest vegetation,with new ones continually being proposed.While some are well-known,others are underutilized in vegetation science.This study compares the performance of practical iterative reallocation algorithms with model-based clustering algorithms.The data is from forest vegetation in Virginia(United States),the Hyrcanian Forest(Asia),and European beech forests.Practical iterative reallocation algorithms were applied as non-hierarchical methods and Finite Gaussian mixture modeling was used as a model-based clustering method.Due to limitations on dimensionality in model-based clustering,principal coordinates analysis was employed to reduce the dataset’s dimensions.A log transformation was applied to achieve a normal distribution for the pseudo-species data before calculating the Bray-Curtis dissimilarity.The findings indicate that the reallocation of misclassified objects based on silhouette width(OPTSIL)with Flexible-β(-0.25)had the highest mean among the tested clustering algorithms with Silhouette width 1(REMOS1)with Flexible-β(-0.25)second.However,model-based clustering performed poorly.Based on these results,it is recommended using OPTSIL with Flexible-β(-0.25)and REMOS1 with Flexible-β(-0.25)for forest vegetation classification instead of model-based clustering particularly for heterogeneous datasets common in forest vegetation community data.
基金the Iran National Science Foundation(Grant No.97010593)Hebei University(Special Project No.521100221033).
文摘In forests,a few large trees(L-trees)versus small-medium trees(S-trees)are often considered the major reservoir of aboveground carbon stock(AGCS).Here,we hypothesize that tree species'functional strategies regulate AGCS by tree sizes in temperate deciduous forests across local scale environmental gradients.Using data from 99 plots,we modelled the multivariate effects of the tree-based(tree diversity,stand density and multidimensional tree size inequality)versus the trait-based(multi-trait diversity and single-trait dominance)attributes of L-trees versus S-trees,along topographic and soil conditions,to predict AGCS through four L-trees threshold size(i.e.,≥50 cm fixed-diameter,top 95th percentile,≥top 50%cumulative AGCS descending-ranked ordered,and mean threshold size)approaches.The tree-based and trait-based attributes of L-trees and S-trees shaped species co-occurrence processes but L-trees regulated AGCS more effectively(31.29-93.20%)than S-trees and abiotic factors across four thereshold size approaches and two concepts.Although L-trees threshold size and tree-based attributes mattered for AGCS,the dominant resource-acquisitive strategy of structurally complex L-trees having higher specific leaf area but lower leaf dry matter content and lesser multi-trait dispersion could promote AGCS better than the resource-conservative strategy(low specific leaf area)of S-trees.Capturing tree species'functional strategies,synergies and trade-offs across tree sizes can enhance our understanding of how to achieve nature-based carbon neutrality and lessen climate change.Thus,forest management and restoration initiatives should prioritize high-functioning tree species with dominant productive traits while conserving multi-trait diversified species in temperate deciduous forests.
基金funded by the joint research collaboration of the Research Organization of Agriculture and Food National Research and Innovation Agency(BRIN)FY 2024(Grant number:6/III.11/HK/2024),with Widya Fatriasari as the Principal Investigator.
文摘Biodegradable plastics are types of plastics that can decompose into water and carbon dioxide the actions of living organisms,mostly by bacteria.Generally,biodegradable plastics are obtained from renewable raw materials,microorganisms,petrochemicals,or a combination of all three.This study aims to develop an innovative bioplastic by combining chitosan and lignin.Bioplastic was prepared by casting method and characterized by measuring the mechanical properties like tensile strength,Young’smodulus,and elongation at break.The chemical structure,together with the interactions among chitosan and lignin and the presence of new chemical bonds,were evaluated by FTIR,while the thermal properties were assessed by thermogravimetric analysis.The water vapor permeability,tests and transparency as well as biodegradability,were also carried out.The results show a tensile strength value of 34.82 MPa,Young’s modulus of 18.54 MPa,and elongation at a break of 2.74%.Moreover,the interaction between chitosan and lignin affects the intensity of the absorption peak,leading to reduced transparency and increased thermal stability.The chitosan/lignin interactions also influence the crystalline size,making it easier to degrade andmore flexible rather than rigid.The contact angle shows the bioplastic’s ability to resist water absorption for 4minutes.In the biodegradation test,the sample began to degrade after 30 days of soil burial test observation.
文摘Data Envelopment Analysis （DEA） is a mathematical tech- nique to assess relative efficiencies of decision making units （DMUs）. The efficiency of 14 Iranian forest companies and forest management units was investigated in 2010. Efficiency of the companies was esti- mated by using a traditional DEA model and a two-stage DEA model. Traditional DEA models consider all DMU activities as a black box and ignore the intermediate products, while two-stage models address inter- mediate processes. LINGO software was used for analysis. Overall pro- duction was divided into to processes for analyses by the two-stage model, timber harvest and marketing. Wilcoxon＇s signed-rank test was used to identify the differences of average efficiency in the harvesting and marketing sub-process. Weak performance in the harvesting sub-process was the cause of low efficiency in 2010. Companies such as Neka Chob and Kelardasht proved efficient at timber harvest, and Neka Chob forest company scored highest in overall efficiency. Finally, the reference units identified according to the results of two-stage DEA analysis.
基金supported by the Tarbiat Modares University Research Fundation
文摘The effects of municipal sewage irrigation on the soil and black locust （Robinia pseudoacacia L.） tree were studied. For this purpose, two artificial black locust stands under irrigation of municipal sewage and well water were selected in south of Tehran, Iran. Data were collected using technique of systematic random sampling with 4 replicates in each stand. It was found that the growth of black locust tree, as indicated by diameter at breast height, total height, crown length, average crown diameter, basal area and volume, in sewage irrigation stand was much higher than that of well water irrigation stand （P 〈 0.01）. Plant analysis indicated that concentrations of leaf nutrients （N, E K, Ca, Mg, Na, Fe, Mn, Cu and Zn） were greater in sewage-irrigated trees, without toxicity to the minerals of tree leaf, than those of well waterirrigated trees, and positively correlated with their respective value in soil. Ni, Cr and Pb were not detected in leaf samples. Application of sewage resulted in a 1.5-fold increase in the concentrations of soil nutrients, Ni, Cr and Pb. Among these minerals only Pb and Ni in some soil samples exceeded the toxicity limit. The increase in pH, electrical conductivity （EC） and organic carbon of soil was also observed in sewage irrigation. Results confirm that besides the use as irrigation water, municipal sewages are also a potential source of plant nutrients. However, significant accumulation of heavy metals such as Pb and Ni in soil needs to be monitored.
文摘Pit and mound micro-relief(resultant microsites from trees uprooted by windthrow) could have regimes of microclimate and soil features that differ from areas of undisturbed soil. In an attempt to provide a comprehensive evaluation of the significance of pits and mounds on soil features and also the dynamics of greenhouse gas(GHG) fluxes at local scale, this study was carried out in a reserved area of Darabkola forest in Mazandaran Province, northern Iran. The age of a pit and mound was considered equal to the degree of decay of the blown down tree. Three microsites were distinguished, consisting of pit bottom(PB), mound top(MT) and undisturbed area(UA). Soil samples were taken at 0–15 and 15–30 cm depths from all microsites and analysed for soil physical, chemical and biological features. Our findings suggested that in context of forest ecology, pits and mounds following windthrow events should be considered as an effective factor influencing soil features(i.e., density, texture, water content, p H, organic C, total N, available nutrients and earthworm density/biomass) and especially GHG fluxes. Results showed that MT acted as a sink for N2O(-0.010 mg N2 O m-2d-1) and CH4(-0.257 mg CH4m-2d-1) fluxes and also produced lower CO2 concentrations(0.095 mg CO2 m-2d-1) than PB(0.207 mg CO2 m-2d-1) and UA(0.098 mg CO2 m-2d-1). As a consequence, a separation into pits/mounds would be important for a precise budgeting of greenhouse gases.
文摘We measured erodibility and mean weight diameter （MWD） of soil aggregates in different parts of a forest road. Samples of topsoil were collected from cutslope, fillslope, road surface and forest ground to assess the texture, bulk density, moisture, CaCO3 and organic matter. Soil aggregate stability was determined by wet sieving. Soil erodibility on the road surface was 2.3 and 1.3 times higher than on the fillslope and cutslope, respectively. The forest soil had the lowest erodibility. Aggregate stability of cutslope and road surface were low and very low, respectively. There was a significant negative relationship between cutslope erodibility with CaCO3 and sand content. Cutslope erodibility increased with increasing silt, clay and moisture content. On fillslopes, MWD increased with in-creasing rock fragment cover, plant cover, litter cover, organic matter and sand. There was a strong negative correlation between fillslope erodibility and organic matter, sand and MWD. There was no significant difference between erodibility of bare soil and soils beneathRubus hyrcanusL. and Philonotis marchica （Hedw.） Brid.
文摘The consequence of land-use change from forest to agriculture and other uses has become one of the world’s greatest concerns.The soil,one of the most important components of forests and containing all the required plant nutrients as soluble ions,is highly impacted by these changes.Because vast areas of the Zagros forests in western Iran have changed in use during the last few decades,the present study investigated the effects of landuse changes of forest area to agriculture,orchard,and agroforestry on soil chemical and physical properties.Soil was sampled at four land-use areas:less-disturbed forest areas(control)and agricultural,orchard,and agroforestry areas.Among each of the two forest-use areas(agroforestry and orchard),we selected five trees with similar-sized crowns and sampled under each tree crown at 0-15 and>15-30 cm depths.Five soil samples also were taken in agriculture area at each depth.The findings indicated that during land-use changes,soil sand particles decreased,and clay and silt particles of soil increased,resulting in a fine soil texture.Moreover,the amount of nitrogen(N),phosphorus(P),organic carbon(OC),and electrical conductivity(EC)of soil decreased at both depths due to the decrease in organic matter.Soil pH and magnesium(Mg)level rose during land-use change at both depths except at agricultural sites.Soil potassium(K)content decreased during agricultural use due to the elimination of tree cover.The level of K decreased only at the depth of 0-15 cm because of K dependency on parent materials.Generally,most soil nutrients were affected by plant removal in the conversion.Forest and agricultural soil are distinguishable by their properties,while land-uses such as agroforestry-orchard separated from the others.Soil nutrients were severely affected by the decrease and elimination of tree cover,plowing,and continuous harvesting,resulting in a decline in soil quality and fertility.
文摘Seeds of many woody plant species have one of several types of dormancy. They do not germinate unless ,specific environmental signals are in place or events occur. This study was conducted to evaluate the effects of scarification treatments on seed dormancy and germination of Acacia nilotica （L.） Willd. ex Del., Prosopis juliflora （Sw.） DC. ：and Dodonaea viscosa （L.） Jacq. The following treatments were applied： T1, untreated seed （control）; T2, sulphuric acid （97%） for 45 min; T3, boiling water for 5 min. The seeds were cultured on a Murashige and Skoog （MS） medium after sterilization. The responses of seeds to treatments were compared with each other and with the control treatment. Germination was observed daily for a 30-day period. Results indicated positive responses to treatments, while impermeable Seed coats may be responsible for low germination rates in intact seeds as seen experimentally in the untreated control. The highest germination was obtained for P. juliflora and D. viscosa acid-scarified seeds （80.8%-90.8%） and for scarified seeds of A. nilotica （50.2%） boiled in water. The germination indices, i.e., final germination percentage （FG）, mean daily germination （MDG） and germination rate （GR）, were significantly affected by treatments and species （p 〈 0.01）.
基金the Iran National Science Foundation (INFS) which provided financial support through various steps of our research
文摘Microbial indices and their spatial patterns are strongly affected by environmental factors. Spatial variability of soil properties is one of the most important causes of variability in soil microbial indices. This research was conducted in the Caspian forest to assess spatial variabilities and frequency distributions of microbial properties.Ninety soil samples were taken using a grid sampling design 40 9 40 m. Microbial indices, organic carbon,nitrogen and pH were determined. Soil variable distributions showed that microbial indices had abnormal distributions. Logarithmic transformation produced normal distribution. Spatial continuity using geostatistical(variogram) was studied and maps obtained by point kriging.The variograms revealed the presence of spatial autocorrelation. The results indicate that spatial dependence of soil microbial indices was affected by non-intrinsic factors and forest management procedures. The maps show that soil microbial indices and soil properties have spatial variability. The spatial pattern of microbial indices was correlated to organic carbon and nitrogen.
基金supported by research grants of the University of Kurdistan,Iran。
文摘For analyzing the effects of forest litter and slope aspect on soil properties eight soil samples were collected at a depth of 0–10 cm near(i.e.,beneath the crown)and away from(i.e.,not influenced by crown)five Persian turpentine trees each on a north and a south slope at the same elevation in a Zagros forest,Iran.The litter beneath tree crowns and slope exposure were found to have significant interactive effects on C,N,P,K,and electrical conductivity of the soils,however,Ca,Mg and the soil pH were not significantly influenced by these factors.The soil beneath the crowns was enriched in cations compared to more distal positions.Generally,Persian turpentine trees have positive impacts on soil properties in the forest.Degrading or killing these trees by sap extraction,extreme grazing,cutting,fire and expansion of agriculture will lead to significant losses in soil fertility and increases in soil erosion.
文摘A study was carried out to evaluate the effect of shelterwood cutting methods on stand structure and regeneration density. Data were collected from a northern hardwood forest stands in Iran with Fagus orientalis Lipsky as dominant species, with/without shelterwood cutting operation. Results clearly demonstrate that the management of Fagus orientalis Lipsky with shelterwood cutting system affected the frequency and diversity of the understory herbaceous species. The frequency of Viola silvestris Lam., Asperula odorata L., Carex spp. and Rubus hyr-canus Juz increased significantly after shelterwood cutting. The DBH （diameter at breast height） of commercial species in control stands （57.50±2.15 cm） was greater than that in treated stands （50.67±1.88 cm）, whereas the total height of trees was similar between treated and control plots （21±0.5 m）. The number of Parrotia persica seedlings increased by 13.2% from 1995 to 2005 whereas the number of Fagus orientalis and Carpinus betulus seedlings significantly decreased from 1995 to 2005. In conclusion, it confirms that instead of shelterwood cutting method other silvicultural practices such as selection cutting method should be applied for the mountainous beech stands of Hyrcanian forests.
文摘We used a goal programming technique to determine the optimal harvest volume for the Iranian Caspian forest. We collected data including volume, growth, wood price at forest roadside, and variable harvesting costs. The allometric method was used to quantify seques- trated carbon. Regression analysis was used to derive growth models. Expected mean price was estimated using wood price and variable harvesting costs. Questionnaire was used to determine the constraints and the equation coefficients of the goal programming model. The optimal volume was determined using the goal programming method according to multipurpose forest management. LINGO software was used for analysis. Results indicated that the optimum volumes of species were 250.25 m3.ha-1 for beech, 59 m3.ha-1 for hornbeam, 73 m3.ha-1 for oak, 41 m3.ha-1 for alder, and 32 m3.ha-1 for other species. The total optimum volume is 455.25 m3.ha-1.
基金financially supported by University of Guilan, Iran
文摘Wood extraction by heavy machinery has always been associated with soil disturbance in mountain forests,and the degree of soil degradation is influenced by several factors,including site and soil characteristics,soil moisture,type of equipment used,and number of machine passes.The effects of ground-based skidding operations on the physical properties of soils with different texture were evaluated at different levels of traffic frequency and trail gradient at two sites in an Iranian temperate forest.The treatments included combinations of three different traffic frequencies(3,8,and 14 passes of a rubber-tired cable skidder),three levels of trail gradient(<10%,10%–20%,and>20%) and two soil texture classes,clay loam(Site 1) and sandy loam(Site 2).The average gravimetric soil moisture at the time of skidding was 23%(Site 1) and 20%(Site 2).The average dry bulk density and total porosity of the undisturbed soil(control) were0.71 g cm-3 and 73.3% at Site 1(clay loam) and 0.86 g cm-3and 59.1% at Site 2(sandy loam),respectively.At site 1(fine-textured soil),rutting began after three passes of the skidder,whereas at site 2(coarse-textured soil),rutting occurred only after eight passes.Independent of the traffic frequency and trail gradient,machine impact on the fine-textured soil caused greater increases in bulk density and rut depth compared to that on the coarse-textured soil.After three skidder passes and independent from trail gradients,dry bulk density at Site 1 increased by 54.8% compared to that of the undisturbed control,and the increase was 45.5% at Site 2.Therefore,medium to fine-textured soils are more susceptible to compaction than coarse-textured soils.Such soils,especially when moist,should be protected using brush mats created from harvesting residues during the forest processing phase.
基金supported by the Yunnan Green Environmental Development Fundthe Central Financial Assistance Fund+3 种基金the National Natural Science Foundation of China（31160422,30960084）the Program for New Century Excellent Talents in University（NCET-12-1079）the China Postdoctoral Science Foundation（2013M542379）the Key Subject of Wildlife Conservation and Utilization in Yunnan Province
文摘Non-human primates often live in socially stable groups characterized by bonded relationships among individuals. Social organization can be used to evaluate living conditions and expansion potential. Bisexual group size, ratio of males to females and group composition are essential elements determining the type of social organization. Although the first report on Shortridge’s capped langurs（Trachypithecus shortridgei） was in the 1970 s, until now, the species only inhabits forests of the Dulongjiang valley in northwest Yunnan, China, with c. 250-370 individuals in 19 populations. To understand its social organization, we collected data from five groups of Shortridge’s langurs at Silaluo in the Dulongjiang valley during August 2012-October 2013. Family groups consist of one adult male, 2–3 adult females and up to five young. Group size averaged 8（7-9） individuals. The ratio of adult males to females（M/F） was 1：2.9, infants to adult females was（I/F） 1：2.2; and ratio of adults to immatures was 1：1.2, indicating the potential of a population increasing. Birth season was during March-July and the inter-birth interval was two years.
基金funded by the Ilam University(Grant No.32.1164.)
文摘The biodiversity of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi(AMF) was surveyed in the Kolm region of Iran in three adjacent sites, a natural stand, a 10-year-old and a 15-yearold plantation of Amygdalus scoparia. To date, there have been few studies of AMF biodiversity in Iran, especially in the western forests of the country. For this study, soil and root samples were taken from A. scoparia rhizosphere soil in spring and autumn. Almost half of the root length was colonized by AMF. We identified 13 AMF species belonging to Glomeraceae, Claroideoglomeraceae or Diversisporaceae. The three plantations differed in terms of soil electrical conductivity, organic C and P. Spore density was significant correlated with P concentration. Root length colonization was correlated only with soil Ca.Species diversity and richness were significantly correlated with soil N, P, organic C and spore density. AMF diversity in 15-year-old plantations was more similar to that in the natural stand than in the 10-year-old plantation. We confirmed that a 15-year-old plantation is not similar in terms of AMF colonization to natural stands. We conclude that more than 15 years are required for AMF colonization of plantations to resemble that of natural stands.
基金the Forestry Science Technology and Development Project(KJZXSA2019046)Fundamental Research Funds for the Central Universities(2572017DA02).
文摘Korean pine(Pinus koraiensis Siebold&Zucc.)in Northeastern China has been genetically improved to increase seed yields in addition to timber.To assess seed yield variability and select highly productive clones,14 cone,seed and nut traits were measured and analyzed.Variance analysis showed that all clones were signifi cantly different in various traits(P<0.01).Phenotypic coeffi cients of variation and repeatability of traits ranged from 9.1 to 34.4%and from 27.5 to 97.7%,respectively.Except for the cone layer and cone seed numbers,the other traits were positively or negatively correlated.Three principal components were identifi ed.Seed and nut traits were the most important traits in the fi rst principal component,and cone traits more important in the second.Using correlation and principal component analyses,cone number and other traits were selected to evaluate materials.Twenty-two clones were selected using a selection rate of 10%based on cone number independently or other combined traits.The genetic gain for diff erent traits ranged from 6.2 to 24.3%.The selected elite clones can supply seedlings for reforestation and the selection method can provide a theoretical basis for selection in other conifer species.
基金Tarbiat Modares University for financial, laboratory and scientific support
文摘Land-use changes and land cover strongly influence carbon stock and distribution within ecosystems. Changing the land-use from natural forest to other land-uses has been more rapid in the past few decades than at any time in Iran＇s history. In this study, we investigated the effects of changing the land-use from natural forest to other land-uses on carbon stocks in northern Iran. We selected five sites for this study： （I） a natural forest, （II） an agricultural field and （III） plantations of three different species （Alnus subcordata .L, Acer velutinum .Boiss and Cu- pressus sempervirens）. We examined the effects of land-use changes on： （I） soil carbon stock （0-50 cm depth）, （II） biomass and carbon content of grassy vegetation and litter and （III） above- and below-ground biomass C in trees. Soil C stock was higher under A. velutinum and C. sempervirens whereas it was lower under A. subcordata and agricultural sites. Biomass and C content of grassy vegetation were significantly higher at A. veluti- num and C. sempervirens plantations. However, litter biomass and C content were significantly higher at the natural forest site. Natural forest had the highest amount of C content in above- and below-ground bio- mass. Total ecosystem C stocks declined following land-use changes.
