Soil bacteria are integral to ecosystem functioning,significantly contributing to nutrients cycling and organic matter decomposition,and enhancing soil structure.This research considered the composition and dynamics o...Soil bacteria are integral to ecosystem functioning,significantly contributing to nutrients cycling and organic matter decomposition,and enhancing soil structure.This research considered the composition and dynamics of soil bacterial communities under different vegetation types(native Quercus brantii Lindl.and Amygdalus scoparia Spach,and non-native Pinus eldarica Medw.and Cupressus arizonica Greene.)in Zagros mountain area of Iran.This study involved a comparative analysis of soil culturable heterotrophic bacterial communities in spring(wet season)and summer(dry season)to clarify the effects of seasonal changes and vegetation on the dynamics of soil microorganisms.Soil samples were randomly collected under the canopies of various tree species and a control area,yielding a total of 48 composite samples analyzed for bacterial composition.Results indicated that 11 Gram-negative(e.g.,Citrobacter freundii,Enterobacter cloacae,Escherichia coli,Klebsiella oxytoca,Klebsiella pneumoniae,etc.)and 2 Gram-positive(Staphylococcus epidermidis and Staphylococcus aureus)bacteria were identified,showing significant seasonal variation.Specifically,53.85%of bacterial species were common to both seasons,with notable shifts in community composition observed between spring and summer,highlighting a higher abundance of Gram-negative species in spring.Bacterial community structure was significantly influenced by vegetation type,with various tree species shaping distinct microbial assemblages.Moreover,Pearson's correlations revealed that soil properties,particularly pH,phosphorus,and moisture content,were critical drivers of bacterial diversity and abundance.Our findings underscore the dynamic nature of soil bacterial communities in response to seasonal and vegetation changes,emphasizing the importance of repeated temporal sampling for accurate assessments of microbial diversity.Understanding these microbial dynamics is essential for improving soil management strategies and enhancing ecosystem resilience,particularly in arid and semi-arid areas where environmental fluctuations play a pivotal role.This research not only confirms our hypotheses but also enhances our understanding of soil biogeochemical processes and informs future vegetation management practices.展开更多
Changes in the soil environment induced by major global changes in climate are affecting carbon emissions in cold-temperate coniferous forests.A randomized block experiment simulating warming,rainfall increase and nit...Changes in the soil environment induced by major global changes in climate are affecting carbon emissions in cold-temperate coniferous forests.A randomized block experiment simulating warming,rainfall increase and nitrogen addition in a Larix gmelinii forest was carried out to study the effects on soil carbon,nitrogen,and CO_(2)flux during the thawing,growing,and freezing periods.Our study found that warming(0-2.0℃)increased soil organic carbon(SOC)and total nitrogen(STN),dissolved organic carbon(DOC)and dissolved organic nitrogen(DON),and microbial biomass carbon(MBC)and microbial biomass nitrogen(MBN).Warming played a direct role in regulating soil CO_(2)emissions,stimulated microbial and plant root respiration and soil CO_(2)flux rapidly increased.Rainfall increase initially increased soil carbon and nitrogen,but a 30%increase in mean annual rainfall caused losses of SOC,STN,DOC,and DON,while MBC and MBN accumulated.Soil CO_(2)emissions were regulated by MBC after an increase in rainfall,excess moisture inhibited microbial activity,and soil CO_(2)flux showed a trend of R2(20%rainfall increase)>R1(10%rainfall increase)>CK(control)>R3(30%rainfall increase).The addition of nitrogen increased SOC,STN,DOC,DON,MBC and MBN.Soil CO_(2)flux progressively decreased with nitrogen inputs(2.5,5.0 and 10.0 g m^(-2)a^(-1)),as more N intensified plant-microbe competition.Nitrogen addition indirectly regulated soil CO_(2)emissions by altering SOC and STN,with MBC and MBN acting as secondary regulators.The results highlight the role of cold-temperate coniferous forest soils in predicting carbon-climate feedback in high-latitude forest permafrost regions.展开更多
Frequent droughts pose considerable threat to global forest carbon uptake,but little is known about the response of forest carbon fluxes in climatic transition zones to seasonal drought.In this study,the responses of ...Frequent droughts pose considerable threat to global forest carbon uptake,but little is known about the response of forest carbon fluxes in climatic transition zones to seasonal drought.In this study,the responses of carbon fluxes to seasonal drought in two natural forests(Quercus aliena var.acute serrata Maxim and Pinus tabuliformis Carr.)in the Baotianman Nature Reserve were investigated.The Q.aliena forest exhibited a high resilience with stable gross primary productivity(GPP).However,ecosystem respiration(Re)significantly declined by 18.4%compared with normal years,leading to an increase in net carbon sequestration capacity of 4.1%.This resilience was attributed to its deep root system accessing soil water(SWC_(50cm))to sustain stomatal openness,coupled with the efficient utilization of photosynthetically active radiation to drive photosynthesis.In contrast,the P.tabuliformis forest,which relied on shallow soil moisture(SWC_(20cm)),experienced simultaneous decreases in both GPP and Re during drought,with a sharply greater decrease in GPP,resulting in low net carbon sink capacity.Further analysis revealed that the Q.aliena forest prioritized carbon assimilation through a deep water-stomatal synergy strategy(anisohydric behavior),whereas the P.tabuliformis forest adopted an isohydric strategy favoring water conservation at the expense of carbon fixation efficiency.These findings highlight distinct mechanisms underlying drought adaptation between forest types,providing critical insight into optimizing forest carbon cycle models and selecting drought-resistant species under the influence of climate change.展开更多
Urban forests are essential components of green infrastructure,however,rapid urbanization-induced changes in landscape patterns may affect their ecosystem services through complex ecological processes.A total of 184 s...Urban forests are essential components of green infrastructure,however,rapid urbanization-induced changes in landscape patterns may affect their ecosystem services through complex ecological processes.A total of 184 sample plots in the built-up areas of Nanchang,China,were used as research sites.Urbanization intensities were categorized by the rate of impervious surface area,and forest types were classified into landscape and relaxation forest,attached forest(AF),road forest(RF),and ecological public welfare forest.This study aimed to explore the spatial variations in vegetation characteristics and landscape pattern indices of different forest types under rapid urbanization.The results indicated that the largest patch index(LPI),aggregation index(AI),and percentage of landscape(PLAND)in RF and AF were lower than those in the other forest types(p<0.05).With increasing urbanization intensity,the mean perimeter-area ratio increased by 130.84%,whereas the PLAND,LPI,and AI decreased by 22−86%(p<0.05).Redundancy analysis and variation partitioning suggested that the interpretation rate of landscape pattern indices for variations in vegetation characteristics increased from low to heavy urbanization areas.Especially,the landscape shape index,patch connection index,PLAND,and mean patch size were significantly correlated with vegetation characteristics(e.g.,tree richness,herb coverage,and tree height).In the future,appropriate landscape layout superiority cases should be considered in different urbanization areas and forest types;for instance,increasing the patch connection index will beneficially improve the diversity of trees and herbs in heavy urbanization areas and the RF.This study serves as a reference for maximizing the ecosystem services of urban forests.展开更多
Xishui National Forest Park in Heilongjiang Province hosts China's most pristine temperate forests and serves as a key site for ecotourism and forest therapy.However,the emission patterns of phytoncides(key bio ac...Xishui National Forest Park in Heilongjiang Province hosts China's most pristine temperate forests and serves as a key site for ecotourism and forest therapy.However,the emission patterns of phytoncides(key bio active compounds) remain poorly understood,limiting their therapeutic application.This study provides the first comprehensive characterization of spatiotemporal dynamics in airborne phytoncides and their synergistic interactions with environmental factors throughout the autumn-early spring seasonal transition in a temperate forest ecosystem.We analyzed the compositional dynamics of phytoncides and terpenoid content variations using thermal desorption-gas chromatography-mass spectrometry(TD-GC-MS) from September 2024 to March 2025.This period encompassed seasonal transitions from autumn to early spring,including diurnal variations in September and snowfall events in November.The method demonstrated detection limits(LODs) ranging from 1.35 to 5.33 ng m-3 and quantification limits(LOQs) from 4.09 to 16.15 ng m-3.Our results revealed pronounced seasonal fluctuations in phytoncide composition.In September,terpenoids,esters,alcohols,and alkanes displayed a diurnal "decrease-increase" trend,whereas aldehydes and ketones peaked at midday.Notably,esters and alcohols were undetectable in November and January.By January,terpenoids reached their lowest proportion(0.17±0.02%) at noon.Five terpenoids(α-pinene,myrcene,D-limonene,camphene,p-cymene) were detected in September,four(α-pinene,D-limonene,camphene,p-cymene) in November,two(D-limonene,p-cymene) in January,and only p-cymene in March.The total concentration and emission rate of the five terpenoids peaked in September afternoons at 1961.58±106.67 ng m^(-3) and653.86±35.56 ng m^(-3) h^(-1),respectively.Nocturnal emissions(32131.95±2522.21 ng m^(-3)) significantly surpassed daytime levels(14473.04±958.49 ng m^(-3)),with emission rates escalating from 1447.30±95.85 ng m^(-3) h^(-1)(day) to 5355.33±420.37 ng m^(-3) h^(-1)(night),marking a3.7-fold increase.Snowfall dramatically elevated terpenoid concentrations(pre-snowfall:158.58±14.12 ng m^(-3);post-snowfall:1080.57±57.76 ng m^(-3)) and emission rates(pre-snowfall:52.86±4.71 ng m^(-3) h^(-1);post-snowfall:360.19±19.25 ng m^(-3) h^(-1)),reflecting a 6.8-fold surge.This study underscores the profound influence of light intensity,seasonal shifts,and climatic conditions on airborne phytoncide levels,offering a scientific foundation for optimizing forest therapy and ecotourism strategies.展开更多
The net primary productivity(NPP)of forest ecosystems plays a crucial role in regulating the terrestrial carbon cycle under global climate change.While the temporal effect driven by ecosystem processes on NPP variatio...The net primary productivity(NPP)of forest ecosystems plays a crucial role in regulating the terrestrial carbon cycle under global climate change.While the temporal effect driven by ecosystem processes on NPP variations is well-documented,spatial variations(from local to regional scales)remain inadequately understood.To evaluate the scale-dependent effects of productivity,predictions from the Biome-BGC model were compared with moderate-resolution imaging spectroradiometer(MODIS)and biometric NPP data in a large temperate forest region at both local and regional levels.Linear mixed-effect models and variance partitioning analysis were used to quantify the effects of environmental heterogeneity and trait variation on simulated NPP at varying spatial scales.Results show that NPP had considerable predictability at the local scale,with a coefficient of determination(R^(2))of 0.37,but this predictability declined significantly to 0.02 at the regional scale.Environmental heterogeneity and photosynthetic traits collectively explained 94.8%of the local variation in NPP,which decreased to 86.7%regionally due to the reduced common effects among these variables.Locally,the leaf area index(LAI)predominated(34.6%),while at regional scales,the stomatal conductance and maximum carboxylation rate were more influential(41.1%).Our study suggests that environmental heterogeneity drives the photosynthetic processes that mediate NPP variations across spatial scales.Incorporating heterogeneous local conditions and trait variations into analyses could enhance future research on the relationship between climate and carbon cycles at larger scales.展开更多
Warm-wet climatic conditions are widely regarded as conducive to remarkable tree growth,alleviating climatic pressures.However,the notable decline in tree growth observed in the southern edge of boreal forests has hei...Warm-wet climatic conditions are widely regarded as conducive to remarkable tree growth,alleviating climatic pressures.However,the notable decline in tree growth observed in the southern edge of boreal forests has heightened concerns over the spatial-temporal dynamics of forest decline.Currently,attaining a comprehensive grasp of the underlying patterns and their propelling factors remains a formidable challenge.We collected tree ring samples from a network of 50 sites across the Greater Xing'an Mountains.These samples were subsequently grouped into two distinct clusters,designated as Groups A and B.The percentage change of growth(GC,%)and the proportion of declining sites were utilized to assess forest decline.The decline in tree growth within Larix gmelinii forests exhibits significant regional variation,accompanied by temporal fluctuations even within a given region.Group A exhibited a pronounced increase in frequency(59.26%)of occurrences and encountered more severe declines(21.65%)in tree growth subsequent to the 1990s,contrasting sharply with Group B,which observed lower frequencies(20.00%)and relatively less severe declines(21.02%)prior to the 1980s.The primary impetus underlying the opposite radial growth increments observed in Larix gmelinii trees from the interplay between their differential response to temperatures and wetter climatic conditions,which is significantly influenced by varying stand densities.In cold-dry conditions,low-density forests may experience soil water freezing,exacerbating drought conditions and thereby inhibiting tree growth,in Group B.Trees growth in high-density stands is restrained by warm-wet conditions,in Group A.These results provide new insights into the variability at the southern edge of the boreal forest biome with different responses to density and climate.展开更多
Understanding competition between trees is essential for sustainable forest management as interactions between trees in uneven-aged mixed forests play a key role in growth dynamics. This study investigated nine compet...Understanding competition between trees is essential for sustainable forest management as interactions between trees in uneven-aged mixed forests play a key role in growth dynamics. This study investigated nine competition indices(CIs) for their suitability to model the effects of neighboring trees on silver fir(Abies alba) growth in Dinaric silver fir-European beech(Fagus sylvatica) forests. Although numerous competition indices have been developed, there is still limited consensus on their applicability in different forest types, especially in mature, structurally complex forest stands. The indices were evaluated using the adjusted coefficient of determination in a linear model wherein the volume growth of the last five years for 60 dominant silver fir trees was modeled as a function of tree volume and competition index. The results demonstrated that distance-dependent indices(e.g., the Hegyi height-distance competition and Rouvinen-Kuuluvainen diameter-distance competition indices), which consider the distance to competitors and their size, perform better than distance-independent indices. Using the optimization procedure in calculating the competition indices, only neighboring trees at a distance of up to 26-fold the diameter at breast height(DBH) of the selected tree(optimal search radius) and with a DBH of at least 20% of that of the target tree(optimal DBH) were considered competitors. Therefore, competition significantly influences the growth of dominant silver firs even in older age classes. The model based solely on tree volume explained 32.5% of the variability in volume growth, while the model that accounted for competition explained 64%. Optimizing the optimal search radius had a greater impact on model performance than optimizing the DBH threshold. This emphasizes the importance of balancing stand density and competition in silvicultural practice.展开更多
Evergreen broad-leaved forests(EBLFs) are widely distributed in East Asia and play a vital role in ecosystem stability. The occurrence of these forests in East Asia has been a subject of debate across various discipli...Evergreen broad-leaved forests(EBLFs) are widely distributed in East Asia and play a vital role in ecosystem stability. The occurrence of these forests in East Asia has been a subject of debate across various disciplines. In this study, we explored the occurrence of East Asian EBLFs from a paleobotanical perspective. By collecting plant fossils from four regions in East Asia, we have established the evolutionary history of EBLFs. Through floral similarity analysis and paleoclimatic reconstruction, we have revealed a diverse spatio-temporal pattern for the occurrence of EBLFs in East Asia. The earliest occurrence of EBLFs in southern China can be traced back to the middle Eocene, followed by southwestern China during the late Eocene-early Oligocene. Subsequently, EBLFs emerged in Japan during the early Oligocene and eventually appeared in central-eastern China around the Miocene. Paleoclimate simulation results suggest that the precipitation of wettest quarter(PWet Q, mm) exceeding 600 mm is crucial for the occurrence of EBLFs. Furthermore, the heterogeneous occurrence of EBLFs in East Asia is closely associated with the evolution of the Asian Monsoon. This study provides new insights into the occurrence of EBLFs in East Asia.展开更多
The study determined the carbon stocks and litter nutrient concentration in tropical forests along the ecological gradient in Kenya.This could help understand the potential of mitigating climate change using tropical ...The study determined the carbon stocks and litter nutrient concentration in tropical forests along the ecological gradient in Kenya.This could help understand the potential of mitigating climate change using tropical forest ecosystems in different ecological zones,which are being affected by climate change to a level that they are becoming carbon sources instead of sinks.Stratified sampling technique was used to categorize tropical forests into rain,moist deciduous and dry zone forests depending on the average annual rainfall received.Simple random sampling technique was used to select three tropical forests in each category.Modified consistent sampling technique was used to develop 10 main 20 m×100 m plots in each forest,with 202 m×50 m sub-plots in each plot.Systematic random sampling technique was used in selecting 10 sub-plots from each main plot for inventory study.Non-destructive approach based on allometric equations using trees’diameter at breast height(DBH),total height and species’wood specific gravity were used in estimating tree carbon stock in each forest.Soil organic carbon(SOC)and litter nutrient concentration(total phosphorus and nitrogen)were determined in each forest based on standard laboratory procedures.The results indicated that,whilst trees in rain forests recorded a significantly higher(p<0.001)DBH(20.36 cm)and total tree height(12.1 m),trees in dry zone forests recorded a significantly higher(p<0.001)specific gravity(0.67 kg m^(−3)).Dry zone tropical forests stored a significantly lower amount of total tree carbon of 73 Mg ha^(−1),compared to tropical rain forests(439.5 Mg ha^(−1))and moist deciduous tropical forests(449 Mg ha^(−1)).The SOC content was significantly higher in tropical rainforests(3.9%),compared to soils from moist deciduous(2.9%)and dry zone forests(1.8%).While litter from tropical rain forests recorded a significantly higher amount of total nitrogen(3.4%),litter from dry zone forests recorded a significantly higher concentration of total phosphorus(0.27%).In conclusion,ecological gradient that is dictated by the prevailing temperatures and precipitation affects the tropical forests carbon stock potential and litter nutrient concentration.This implies that,the changing climate is having a serious implication on the ecosystem services such as carbon stock and nutrients cycling in tropical forests.展开更多
Old-growth forests are of major importance for biodiversity conservation and climate change mitigation,as well as being a benchmark for the implementation of sustainable forest management.Although dedicated studies ha...Old-growth forests are of major importance for biodiversity conservation and climate change mitigation,as well as being a benchmark for the implementation of sustainable forest management.Although dedicated studies have significantly increased in the last decades,there is still limited knowledge of Mediterranean forests,especially those dominated by Quercus pubescens and related taxa.To fill this knowledge gap,we primarily studied in the field two downy oak forests possessing old-growth traits,localized in Sicily(Mediterranean,Italy).Second,we used a structural heterogeneity index(SHI)to assess their old-growthness level,in comparison with the downy oak stands surveyed in the Regional Forest Inventory(RFI)of Sicily.Third,we tested the effect of different sets of structural parameters on SHI scores,thus assessing whether their choice could affect the final score and the stand assessment.SHI was well proven to discriminate these two stands from the others,both showing,on average,a SHI score just higher than 80,whilst SHI in RFI plots was just under 50,a significantly lower value.The methodological approach used in our study highlights the need to standardize the parameters used to characterize the old-growthness level of Mediterranean forests in order to allow more reliable comparisons.Most of the structural parameters were higher in the two selected stands,except for the attributes related to standing deadwood,suggesting a still limited contribution of standing dead trees and snags in the potential old-growth stands under investigation.The application of a structural index has proven effective for the purpose it was tested for,demonstrating its usefulness in discriminating between two potential old-growth stands from ordinary stands of the same forest type.We believe that both forests deserve primary attention and tailored management measures,as well as inclusion in the recently established Italian Network of old-growth forests.展开更多
Over the past decades,the expansion of natu-ral secondary forests has played a crucial role in offsetting the loss of primary forests and combating climate change.Despite this,there is a gap in our understanding of ho...Over the past decades,the expansion of natu-ral secondary forests has played a crucial role in offsetting the loss of primary forests and combating climate change.Despite this,there is a gap in our understanding of how tree species’growth and mortality patterns vary with eleva-tion in these secondary forests.In this study,we analyzed data from two censuses(spanning a five-year interval)conducted in both evergreen broadleaved forests(EBF)and temperate coniferous forests(TCF),which have been recovering for half a century,across elevation gradients in a subtropical mountain region,Mount Wuyi,China.The results indicated that the relative growth rate(RGR)of EBF(0.028±0.001 cm·cm^(-1)·a^(-1))and the mortality rate(MR)(20.03%±1.70%)were 27.3%and 16.4%higher,respec-tively,than those of TCF.Interestingly,the trade-off between RGR and MR in EBF weakened as elevation increased,a trend not observed in TCF.Conversely,TCF consistently showed a stronger trade-off between RGR and MR compared to EBF.Generalized linear mixed models revealed that ele-vation influences RGR both directly and indirectly through its interactions with slope,crown competition index(CCI),and tree canopy height(CH).However,tree mortality did not show a significant correlation with elevation.Additionally,DBH significantly influenced both tree growth and mortal-ity,whereas and CH and CCI had opposite effects on tree growth between EBF and TCF.Our study underscores the importance of elevation in shaping the population dynamics and the biomass carbon sink balance of mountain forests.These insights enhance our understanding of tree species’life strategies,enabling more accurate predictions of forest dynamics and their response to environmental changes.展开更多
With the rapid economic development and continuous expansion of human activities,forest degradation—characterized by reduced forest stock within the forest including declining carbon storage—poses significant threat...With the rapid economic development and continuous expansion of human activities,forest degradation—characterized by reduced forest stock within the forest including declining carbon storage—poses significant threats to ecosystem stability.Understanding the current status of forest degradation and assessing potential carbon stocks in China are of strategic importance for making forest restoration efforts and enhancing carbon sequestration capacity.In this study,we used the national forest inventory data from 2009 to 2018 to develop a set of standard measures for assessing degraded forests across China,based on five key indicators:forest accumulation growth rate(FAGR),forest recruitment rate(FRR),tree species reduction rate(TSRR),forest canopy cover reduction rate(FCCRR),and forest disaster level(FDL).Additionally,we estimated standing carbon stock,potential carbon stock,and theoretical space to grow by developing a stand growth model,which accounts for stand density across different site classes,to evaluate the restoration potential of degraded forests.The results indicate that degraded forest area in China is 36.15 million hectares,accounting for 20.10% of a total forest area.Standing carbon stock and potential carbon stock of degraded forests in China are 23.93 million tons and 61.90 million tons,respectively.Overall,degraded forest varies significantly across different regions.The results highlight the important trade-offs among environmental factors,policy decisions,and forest conditions,providing a robust foundation for developing measures to enhance forest quality.展开更多
Forests play a vital role in mitigating climate change through their physiological functions and metabolic processes,including their ability to convert solar energy into biomolecules.However,further research is necess...Forests play a vital role in mitigating climate change through their physiological functions and metabolic processes,including their ability to convert solar energy into biomolecules.However,further research is necessary to elucidate how structural characteristics of a forest and topographic settings influence energy conversion and surface temperature of a forest.In this study,we investigated a beech forest in central Germany using airborne laser scanning(ALS)point cloud data and land surface temperature(LST)data derived from Landsat 9 satellite imagery.We constructed 30 m×30 m plots across the study area(approximately 17 km2)to align the spatial resolution of the satellite imagery with the ALS data.We analyzed topographic variables(surface elevation,aspect and slope),forest attributes(canopy cover,canopy height,and woody area index),as well as forest structural complexity,quantified by the box-dimension(Db).Our analysis revealed that LST is significantly influenced by both forest attributes and topographic variables.A multiple linear regression model demonstrated an inverse relationship(R^(2)=0.38,AIC=8105)between LST and a combination of Db,elevation,slope,and aspect.However,the model residuals exhibited significant spatial dependency,as indicated by Moran’s I test.To address this,we applied a spatial autoregressive model,which effectively accounted for spatial autocorrelation and improved the model fit(AIC=746).Our findings indicate that elevation exerts the most substantial influence on LST,followed by forest structural complexity,slope,and aspect.We conclude that forest management practices that enhance structural complexity can effectively reduce land surface temperatures in forested landscapes.展开更多
Rapid urbanization has caused significant changes along the urban-rural gradient,leading to a variety of landscapes that are mainly shaped by human activities.This dynamic interplay also influences the distribution an...Rapid urbanization has caused significant changes along the urban-rural gradient,leading to a variety of landscapes that are mainly shaped by human activities.This dynamic interplay also influences the distribution and characteristics of trees outside forests(TOF).Understanding the pattern of these trees will support informed decision-making in urban planning,in conservation strategies,and altogether in sustainable land management practices in the urban context.In this study,we employed a deep learning-based object detection model and high resolution satellite imagery to identify 1.3 million trees with bounding boxes within a 250 km^(2)research transect spanning the urban-rural gradient of Bengaluru,a megacity in Southern India.Additionally,we developed an allometric equation to estimate diameter at breast height(DBH)from the tree crown diameter(CD)derived from the detected bounding boxes.Our study focused on analyzing variations in tree density and tree size along this gradient.The findings revealed distinct patterns:the urban domain displayed larger tree crown diameters(mean:8.87 m)and DBH(mean:43.78 cm)but having relatively low tree density(32 trees per hectare).Furthermore,with increasing distance from the city center,tree density increased,while the mean tree crown diameter and mean tree basal area decreased,showing clear differences of tree density and size between the urban and rural domains in Bengaluru.This study offers an efficient methodology that helps generating instructive insights into the dynamics of TOF along the urban-rural gradient.This may inform urban planning and management strategies for enhancing green infrastructure and biodiversity conservation in rapidly urbanizing cities like Bengaluru.展开更多
In this study,we used an extensive sampling network established in central Romania to develop tree height and crown length models.Our analysis included more than 18,000 tree measurements from five different species.In...In this study,we used an extensive sampling network established in central Romania to develop tree height and crown length models.Our analysis included more than 18,000 tree measurements from five different species.Instead of building univariate models for each response variable,we employed a multivariate approach using seemingly unrelated mixed-effects models.These models incorporated variables related to species mixture,tree and stand size,competition,and stand structure.With the inclusion of additional variables in the multivariate seemingly unrelated mixed-effects models,the accuracy of the height prediction models improved by over 10% for all species,whereas the improvement in the crown length models was considerably smaller.Our findings indicate that trees in mixed stands tend to have shorter heights but longer crowns than those in pure stands.We also observed that trees in homogeneous stand structures have shorter crown lengths than those in heterogeneous stands.By employing a multivariate mixed-effects modelling framework,we were able to perform cross-model random-effect predictions,leading to a significant increase in accuracy when both responses were used to calibrate the model.In contrast,the improvement in accuracy was marginal when only height was used for calibration.We demonstrate how multivariate mixed-effects models can be effectively used to develop multi-response allometric models that can be easily calibrated with a limited number of observations while simultaneously achieving better-aligned projections.展开更多
Prescribed burning is commonly used to maintain forest ecosystem functions and reduce the risk of future wildfires.Although many studies have investigated the response of microbial community to wildfires in forest eco...Prescribed burning is commonly used to maintain forest ecosystem functions and reduce the risk of future wildfires.Although many studies have investigated the response of microbial community to wildfires in forest ecosystems,the effects of prescribed burnings on soil microbial community structure are less studied.It is also unclear that how post-fire soil physiochemical properties changes affected soil microbial communities.Here,we studied the impacts of prescribed burning on soil microbiome in three typical temperate forests of northern China by collecting soil physicochemical and high-throughput sequencing for 16S rRNA and 18S rRNA was applied to analyze the diversity and community composition of soil microbes(bacteria and fungi).Compared with pre-fire condition,prescribed burning significantly decreased Chaol index and altered soil bacterial communities(P<0.05),whereas it had no significant effect on fungal diversity and community structure of the(P>0.05).Planctomycetes and Actinobacteria made the greatest contributions to the bacterial community dissimilarity between the pre-fire and post-fire conditions.The main variables influencing the post-fire soil microbial community structure are soil pH,available phosphorus,total nitrogen,and the ratio of soil total carbon to soil total nitrogen,which could account for 73.5% of the variation in the microbial community structure in these stands.Our findings demonstrated a great discrepancy in the responses of bacteria and fungi to prescribed burning.Prescribed burning altered the soil microbial structure by modifying the physicochemical properties.Our results pointed that it is essential to evaluate the impact of prescribed burnings on forest ecosystem functions.These findings provide an important baseline for assessing post-fire microbial recovery in the region and offer critical guidance for restoration efforts.展开更多
Fine roots play a crucial role in the biogeochemical cycles of terrestrial ecosystems.Patterns of fine roots biomass formation for broad geographical areas are still unclear.We use published estimates of characteristi...Fine roots play a crucial role in the biogeochemical cycles of terrestrial ecosystems.Patterns of fine roots biomass formation for broad geographical areas are still unclear.We use published estimates of characteristics of European pine and spruce stands to determine their productivity and calculate the needle biomass.Then,the relationship between the fine-root:needle biomass ratio of European pine and spruce forests and the stand quality index,which is a proxy of soil fertility,was determined.We show that a rise in soil fertility is accompanied by a decrease in this ratio.Moving from the northern edge of the boreal zone southwards,with the related rise in air and soil temperatures,we see a decline in the mass ratio of fine roots and needle.The change in the fine-root:needle biomass ratio is controlled by the change in specific water uptake by roots,which is related to the osmotic pressure of the solution in the absorbing root's central vascular cylinder.The fine-root:needle ratio does not vary among stands of the same age if the stand quality index and the geographical latitude(a proxy of air and soil temperatures)are constant.These findings may be useful for further in-depth analysis of forest ecosystem functioning in Europe.展开更多
Extreme disturbance activity is a signature of anthropogenic environmental change. Empirical information describing the historical normative limits of disturbance regimes provides baseline data that facilitates the de...Extreme disturbance activity is a signature of anthropogenic environmental change. Empirical information describing the historical normative limits of disturbance regimes provides baseline data that facilitates the detection of contemporary trends in both disturbances and community-level responses. Quantifying the attributes of historical disturbances is challenging due to their transient episodic nature, with decades-to centurieslong intervals between recurrences. Unmanaged primary forests that support centuries-old trees therefore serve as unique reference systems for quantifying past disturbance regimes. We surveyed relict stands of primary beech-dominated forests over wide environmental gradients in the Carpathian Mountains of Europe. We collected core samples from 3,026 trees in 208 field survey plots distributed across 13 forest stands in two countries. We used dendrochronological methods to analyze time-series of annually-resolved ring-width variation and to identify anomalous growth patterns diagnostic of past forest canopy removal. A 180-year record(1810–1990) of spatially and temporally explicit disturbance events(n =333) was compiled and used to derive s tatistical attributes of the disturbance regime. We quantified disturbance severity(canopy area lost), patch size, and return intervals. Our analyses describe a complex regime where a background of relatively frequent, smallscale, low-to intermediate-severity disturbance was punctuated by episodic large-scale high-severity events. Even the most severe events were non-catastrophic at a stand level, leaving significant residual tree cover that supported a continuity of ecological function. We did not detect evidence for an expected climate-induced intensification of disturbance with time, but methodological limitations precluded an assessment of disturbance activity in the decades since 1990.展开更多
文摘Soil bacteria are integral to ecosystem functioning,significantly contributing to nutrients cycling and organic matter decomposition,and enhancing soil structure.This research considered the composition and dynamics of soil bacterial communities under different vegetation types(native Quercus brantii Lindl.and Amygdalus scoparia Spach,and non-native Pinus eldarica Medw.and Cupressus arizonica Greene.)in Zagros mountain area of Iran.This study involved a comparative analysis of soil culturable heterotrophic bacterial communities in spring(wet season)and summer(dry season)to clarify the effects of seasonal changes and vegetation on the dynamics of soil microorganisms.Soil samples were randomly collected under the canopies of various tree species and a control area,yielding a total of 48 composite samples analyzed for bacterial composition.Results indicated that 11 Gram-negative(e.g.,Citrobacter freundii,Enterobacter cloacae,Escherichia coli,Klebsiella oxytoca,Klebsiella pneumoniae,etc.)and 2 Gram-positive(Staphylococcus epidermidis and Staphylococcus aureus)bacteria were identified,showing significant seasonal variation.Specifically,53.85%of bacterial species were common to both seasons,with notable shifts in community composition observed between spring and summer,highlighting a higher abundance of Gram-negative species in spring.Bacterial community structure was significantly influenced by vegetation type,with various tree species shaping distinct microbial assemblages.Moreover,Pearson's correlations revealed that soil properties,particularly pH,phosphorus,and moisture content,were critical drivers of bacterial diversity and abundance.Our findings underscore the dynamic nature of soil bacterial communities in response to seasonal and vegetation changes,emphasizing the importance of repeated temporal sampling for accurate assessments of microbial diversity.Understanding these microbial dynamics is essential for improving soil management strategies and enhancing ecosystem resilience,particularly in arid and semi-arid areas where environmental fluctuations play a pivotal role.This research not only confirms our hypotheses but also enhances our understanding of soil biogeochemical processes and informs future vegetation management practices.
基金funded by the Science and Technology Programme of Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region(Grant No.:2023YFDZ0026 and 2024KYPT0003)the 2024 Postgraduate Research and Innovation Programme of Inner Mongolia Agricultural University。
文摘Changes in the soil environment induced by major global changes in climate are affecting carbon emissions in cold-temperate coniferous forests.A randomized block experiment simulating warming,rainfall increase and nitrogen addition in a Larix gmelinii forest was carried out to study the effects on soil carbon,nitrogen,and CO_(2)flux during the thawing,growing,and freezing periods.Our study found that warming(0-2.0℃)increased soil organic carbon(SOC)and total nitrogen(STN),dissolved organic carbon(DOC)and dissolved organic nitrogen(DON),and microbial biomass carbon(MBC)and microbial biomass nitrogen(MBN).Warming played a direct role in regulating soil CO_(2)emissions,stimulated microbial and plant root respiration and soil CO_(2)flux rapidly increased.Rainfall increase initially increased soil carbon and nitrogen,but a 30%increase in mean annual rainfall caused losses of SOC,STN,DOC,and DON,while MBC and MBN accumulated.Soil CO_(2)emissions were regulated by MBC after an increase in rainfall,excess moisture inhibited microbial activity,and soil CO_(2)flux showed a trend of R2(20%rainfall increase)>R1(10%rainfall increase)>CK(control)>R3(30%rainfall increase).The addition of nitrogen increased SOC,STN,DOC,DON,MBC and MBN.Soil CO_(2)flux progressively decreased with nitrogen inputs(2.5,5.0 and 10.0 g m^(-2)a^(-1)),as more N intensified plant-microbe competition.Nitrogen addition indirectly regulated soil CO_(2)emissions by altering SOC and STN,with MBC and MBN acting as secondary regulators.The results highlight the role of cold-temperate coniferous forest soils in predicting carbon-climate feedback in high-latitude forest permafrost regions.
基金financially supported by the National Key Research and Development Program of China(2021YFD2200405)the National Natural Science Foundation of China(31930078)special funds for Baotianman Forest Ecosystem Research Station from Chinese Academy of Forestry and Ministry of Science and Technology of China。
文摘Frequent droughts pose considerable threat to global forest carbon uptake,but little is known about the response of forest carbon fluxes in climatic transition zones to seasonal drought.In this study,the responses of carbon fluxes to seasonal drought in two natural forests(Quercus aliena var.acute serrata Maxim and Pinus tabuliformis Carr.)in the Baotianman Nature Reserve were investigated.The Q.aliena forest exhibited a high resilience with stable gross primary productivity(GPP).However,ecosystem respiration(Re)significantly declined by 18.4%compared with normal years,leading to an increase in net carbon sequestration capacity of 4.1%.This resilience was attributed to its deep root system accessing soil water(SWC_(50cm))to sustain stomatal openness,coupled with the efficient utilization of photosynthetically active radiation to drive photosynthesis.In contrast,the P.tabuliformis forest,which relied on shallow soil moisture(SWC_(20cm)),experienced simultaneous decreases in both GPP and Re during drought,with a sharply greater decrease in GPP,resulting in low net carbon sink capacity.Further analysis revealed that the Q.aliena forest prioritized carbon assimilation through a deep water-stomatal synergy strategy(anisohydric behavior),whereas the P.tabuliformis forest adopted an isohydric strategy favoring water conservation at the expense of carbon fixation efficiency.These findings highlight distinct mechanisms underlying drought adaptation between forest types,providing critical insight into optimizing forest carbon cycle models and selecting drought-resistant species under the influence of climate change.
基金supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China(32460380,42007042)State Key Laboratory of Subtropical Silviculture(SKLSSKF2023-06)+2 种基金Natural Science Foundation of Jiangxi Province(20242BAB25389)National Undergraduate Innovation and Entrepreneurship Training Program(202410410029X)Jiangxi Province Graduate Student Innovation Special Fund Project(YC2024-S330).
文摘Urban forests are essential components of green infrastructure,however,rapid urbanization-induced changes in landscape patterns may affect their ecosystem services through complex ecological processes.A total of 184 sample plots in the built-up areas of Nanchang,China,were used as research sites.Urbanization intensities were categorized by the rate of impervious surface area,and forest types were classified into landscape and relaxation forest,attached forest(AF),road forest(RF),and ecological public welfare forest.This study aimed to explore the spatial variations in vegetation characteristics and landscape pattern indices of different forest types under rapid urbanization.The results indicated that the largest patch index(LPI),aggregation index(AI),and percentage of landscape(PLAND)in RF and AF were lower than those in the other forest types(p<0.05).With increasing urbanization intensity,the mean perimeter-area ratio increased by 130.84%,whereas the PLAND,LPI,and AI decreased by 22−86%(p<0.05).Redundancy analysis and variation partitioning suggested that the interpretation rate of landscape pattern indices for variations in vegetation characteristics increased from low to heavy urbanization areas.Especially,the landscape shape index,patch connection index,PLAND,and mean patch size were significantly correlated with vegetation characteristics(e.g.,tree richness,herb coverage,and tree height).In the future,appropriate landscape layout superiority cases should be considered in different urbanization areas and forest types;for instance,increasing the patch connection index will beneficially improve the diversity of trees and herbs in heavy urbanization areas and the RF.This study serves as a reference for maximizing the ecosystem services of urban forests.
基金supported by the Key Research and Development Plan Project of Heilongjiang Province (2022ZX02C13)。
文摘Xishui National Forest Park in Heilongjiang Province hosts China's most pristine temperate forests and serves as a key site for ecotourism and forest therapy.However,the emission patterns of phytoncides(key bio active compounds) remain poorly understood,limiting their therapeutic application.This study provides the first comprehensive characterization of spatiotemporal dynamics in airborne phytoncides and their synergistic interactions with environmental factors throughout the autumn-early spring seasonal transition in a temperate forest ecosystem.We analyzed the compositional dynamics of phytoncides and terpenoid content variations using thermal desorption-gas chromatography-mass spectrometry(TD-GC-MS) from September 2024 to March 2025.This period encompassed seasonal transitions from autumn to early spring,including diurnal variations in September and snowfall events in November.The method demonstrated detection limits(LODs) ranging from 1.35 to 5.33 ng m-3 and quantification limits(LOQs) from 4.09 to 16.15 ng m-3.Our results revealed pronounced seasonal fluctuations in phytoncide composition.In September,terpenoids,esters,alcohols,and alkanes displayed a diurnal "decrease-increase" trend,whereas aldehydes and ketones peaked at midday.Notably,esters and alcohols were undetectable in November and January.By January,terpenoids reached their lowest proportion(0.17±0.02%) at noon.Five terpenoids(α-pinene,myrcene,D-limonene,camphene,p-cymene) were detected in September,four(α-pinene,D-limonene,camphene,p-cymene) in November,two(D-limonene,p-cymene) in January,and only p-cymene in March.The total concentration and emission rate of the five terpenoids peaked in September afternoons at 1961.58±106.67 ng m^(-3) and653.86±35.56 ng m^(-3) h^(-1),respectively.Nocturnal emissions(32131.95±2522.21 ng m^(-3)) significantly surpassed daytime levels(14473.04±958.49 ng m^(-3)),with emission rates escalating from 1447.30±95.85 ng m^(-3) h^(-1)(day) to 5355.33±420.37 ng m^(-3) h^(-1)(night),marking a3.7-fold increase.Snowfall dramatically elevated terpenoid concentrations(pre-snowfall:158.58±14.12 ng m^(-3);post-snowfall:1080.57±57.76 ng m^(-3)) and emission rates(pre-snowfall:52.86±4.71 ng m^(-3) h^(-1);post-snowfall:360.19±19.25 ng m^(-3) h^(-1)),reflecting a 6.8-fold surge.This study underscores the profound influence of light intensity,seasonal shifts,and climatic conditions on airborne phytoncide levels,offering a scientific foundation for optimizing forest therapy and ecotourism strategies.
基金supported by the National Key R&D Program of China(No.2023YFF1304001-01)the Science and Technology Project of the Department of Transportation of Heilongjiang Province(No.HJK2023B024-3)the Program of National Natural Science Foundation of China(No.32371870).
文摘The net primary productivity(NPP)of forest ecosystems plays a crucial role in regulating the terrestrial carbon cycle under global climate change.While the temporal effect driven by ecosystem processes on NPP variations is well-documented,spatial variations(from local to regional scales)remain inadequately understood.To evaluate the scale-dependent effects of productivity,predictions from the Biome-BGC model were compared with moderate-resolution imaging spectroradiometer(MODIS)and biometric NPP data in a large temperate forest region at both local and regional levels.Linear mixed-effect models and variance partitioning analysis were used to quantify the effects of environmental heterogeneity and trait variation on simulated NPP at varying spatial scales.Results show that NPP had considerable predictability at the local scale,with a coefficient of determination(R^(2))of 0.37,but this predictability declined significantly to 0.02 at the regional scale.Environmental heterogeneity and photosynthetic traits collectively explained 94.8%of the local variation in NPP,which decreased to 86.7%regionally due to the reduced common effects among these variables.Locally,the leaf area index(LAI)predominated(34.6%),while at regional scales,the stomatal conductance and maximum carboxylation rate were more influential(41.1%).Our study suggests that environmental heterogeneity drives the photosynthetic processes that mediate NPP variations across spatial scales.Incorporating heterogeneous local conditions and trait variations into analyses could enhance future research on the relationship between climate and carbon cycles at larger scales.
基金National Nature Science Foundation of China(No.32371871)。
文摘Warm-wet climatic conditions are widely regarded as conducive to remarkable tree growth,alleviating climatic pressures.However,the notable decline in tree growth observed in the southern edge of boreal forests has heightened concerns over the spatial-temporal dynamics of forest decline.Currently,attaining a comprehensive grasp of the underlying patterns and their propelling factors remains a formidable challenge.We collected tree ring samples from a network of 50 sites across the Greater Xing'an Mountains.These samples were subsequently grouped into two distinct clusters,designated as Groups A and B.The percentage change of growth(GC,%)and the proportion of declining sites were utilized to assess forest decline.The decline in tree growth within Larix gmelinii forests exhibits significant regional variation,accompanied by temporal fluctuations even within a given region.Group A exhibited a pronounced increase in frequency(59.26%)of occurrences and encountered more severe declines(21.65%)in tree growth subsequent to the 1990s,contrasting sharply with Group B,which observed lower frequencies(20.00%)and relatively less severe declines(21.02%)prior to the 1980s.The primary impetus underlying the opposite radial growth increments observed in Larix gmelinii trees from the interplay between their differential response to temperatures and wetter climatic conditions,which is significantly influenced by varying stand densities.In cold-dry conditions,low-density forests may experience soil water freezing,exacerbating drought conditions and thereby inhibiting tree growth,in Group B.Trees growth in high-density stands is restrained by warm-wet conditions,in Group A.These results provide new insights into the variability at the southern edge of the boreal forest biome with different responses to density and climate.
基金funded by the Slovenian Research and Innovation Agency(https://www.aris-rs.si/sl/)ProgramResearch Core Fund-ing No.P4-0107(TL)and No.P4-0059(MK)+1 种基金Young Researcher Program Grant(MK)funded by the Slovenian Forestry Institute(P4-0107).
文摘Understanding competition between trees is essential for sustainable forest management as interactions between trees in uneven-aged mixed forests play a key role in growth dynamics. This study investigated nine competition indices(CIs) for their suitability to model the effects of neighboring trees on silver fir(Abies alba) growth in Dinaric silver fir-European beech(Fagus sylvatica) forests. Although numerous competition indices have been developed, there is still limited consensus on their applicability in different forest types, especially in mature, structurally complex forest stands. The indices were evaluated using the adjusted coefficient of determination in a linear model wherein the volume growth of the last five years for 60 dominant silver fir trees was modeled as a function of tree volume and competition index. The results demonstrated that distance-dependent indices(e.g., the Hegyi height-distance competition and Rouvinen-Kuuluvainen diameter-distance competition indices), which consider the distance to competitors and their size, perform better than distance-independent indices. Using the optimization procedure in calculating the competition indices, only neighboring trees at a distance of up to 26-fold the diameter at breast height(DBH) of the selected tree(optimal search radius) and with a DBH of at least 20% of that of the target tree(optimal DBH) were considered competitors. Therefore, competition significantly influences the growth of dominant silver firs even in older age classes. The model based solely on tree volume explained 32.5% of the variability in volume growth, while the model that accounted for competition explained 64%. Optimizing the optimal search radius had a greater impact on model performance than optimizing the DBH threshold. This emphasizes the importance of balancing stand density and competition in silvicultural practice.
基金supported by National Key R&D Program of China(No.2022YFF0800800)National Science Fund for Distinguished Young Scholars(No.32225005)+3 种基金National Natural Science Foundation of China(NSFC)(Nos.42072024,42320104005,42372033)the Young and Middle-aged Academic and Technical Leaders of Yunnan(No.202305AC160051)Basic Research Project of Yunnan Province(No.202401AT070222)the 14th Five-Year Plan of the Xishuangbanna Tropical Botanical Garden,Chinese Academy of Sciences(Nos.XTBG-1450101,E3ZKFF7B).
文摘Evergreen broad-leaved forests(EBLFs) are widely distributed in East Asia and play a vital role in ecosystem stability. The occurrence of these forests in East Asia has been a subject of debate across various disciplines. In this study, we explored the occurrence of East Asian EBLFs from a paleobotanical perspective. By collecting plant fossils from four regions in East Asia, we have established the evolutionary history of EBLFs. Through floral similarity analysis and paleoclimatic reconstruction, we have revealed a diverse spatio-temporal pattern for the occurrence of EBLFs in East Asia. The earliest occurrence of EBLFs in southern China can be traced back to the middle Eocene, followed by southwestern China during the late Eocene-early Oligocene. Subsequently, EBLFs emerged in Japan during the early Oligocene and eventually appeared in central-eastern China around the Miocene. Paleoclimate simulation results suggest that the precipitation of wettest quarter(PWet Q, mm) exceeding 600 mm is crucial for the occurrence of EBLFs. Furthermore, the heterogeneous occurrence of EBLFs in East Asia is closely associated with the evolution of the Asian Monsoon. This study provides new insights into the occurrence of EBLFs in East Asia.
基金funded by the Kenya National Research Fund(NRF-Kenya,2018).
文摘The study determined the carbon stocks and litter nutrient concentration in tropical forests along the ecological gradient in Kenya.This could help understand the potential of mitigating climate change using tropical forest ecosystems in different ecological zones,which are being affected by climate change to a level that they are becoming carbon sources instead of sinks.Stratified sampling technique was used to categorize tropical forests into rain,moist deciduous and dry zone forests depending on the average annual rainfall received.Simple random sampling technique was used to select three tropical forests in each category.Modified consistent sampling technique was used to develop 10 main 20 m×100 m plots in each forest,with 202 m×50 m sub-plots in each plot.Systematic random sampling technique was used in selecting 10 sub-plots from each main plot for inventory study.Non-destructive approach based on allometric equations using trees’diameter at breast height(DBH),total height and species’wood specific gravity were used in estimating tree carbon stock in each forest.Soil organic carbon(SOC)and litter nutrient concentration(total phosphorus and nitrogen)were determined in each forest based on standard laboratory procedures.The results indicated that,whilst trees in rain forests recorded a significantly higher(p<0.001)DBH(20.36 cm)and total tree height(12.1 m),trees in dry zone forests recorded a significantly higher(p<0.001)specific gravity(0.67 kg m^(−3)).Dry zone tropical forests stored a significantly lower amount of total tree carbon of 73 Mg ha^(−1),compared to tropical rain forests(439.5 Mg ha^(−1))and moist deciduous tropical forests(449 Mg ha^(−1)).The SOC content was significantly higher in tropical rainforests(3.9%),compared to soils from moist deciduous(2.9%)and dry zone forests(1.8%).While litter from tropical rain forests recorded a significantly higher amount of total nitrogen(3.4%),litter from dry zone forests recorded a significantly higher concentration of total phosphorus(0.27%).In conclusion,ecological gradient that is dictated by the prevailing temperatures and precipitation affects the tropical forests carbon stock potential and litter nutrient concentration.This implies that,the changing climate is having a serious implication on the ecosystem services such as carbon stock and nutrients cycling in tropical forests.
基金Field surveys were carried out within the forest monitoring activities of Action A1.3 of the Project LIFE4OAKFORESTS(LIFE16NAT/IT/000245),in collaboration with“Ente di Gestione per i Parchi e la Biodiversità-Romagna”.
文摘Old-growth forests are of major importance for biodiversity conservation and climate change mitigation,as well as being a benchmark for the implementation of sustainable forest management.Although dedicated studies have significantly increased in the last decades,there is still limited knowledge of Mediterranean forests,especially those dominated by Quercus pubescens and related taxa.To fill this knowledge gap,we primarily studied in the field two downy oak forests possessing old-growth traits,localized in Sicily(Mediterranean,Italy).Second,we used a structural heterogeneity index(SHI)to assess their old-growthness level,in comparison with the downy oak stands surveyed in the Regional Forest Inventory(RFI)of Sicily.Third,we tested the effect of different sets of structural parameters on SHI scores,thus assessing whether their choice could affect the final score and the stand assessment.SHI was well proven to discriminate these two stands from the others,both showing,on average,a SHI score just higher than 80,whilst SHI in RFI plots was just under 50,a significantly lower value.The methodological approach used in our study highlights the need to standardize the parameters used to characterize the old-growthness level of Mediterranean forests in order to allow more reliable comparisons.Most of the structural parameters were higher in the two selected stands,except for the attributes related to standing deadwood,suggesting a still limited contribution of standing dead trees and snags in the potential old-growth stands under investigation.The application of a structural index has proven effective for the purpose it was tested for,demonstrating its usefulness in discriminating between two potential old-growth stands from ordinary stands of the same forest type.We believe that both forests deserve primary attention and tailored management measures,as well as inclusion in the recently established Italian Network of old-growth forests.
基金funded by the National Natural Science Foundation of China(Grant No.32271872).
文摘Over the past decades,the expansion of natu-ral secondary forests has played a crucial role in offsetting the loss of primary forests and combating climate change.Despite this,there is a gap in our understanding of how tree species’growth and mortality patterns vary with eleva-tion in these secondary forests.In this study,we analyzed data from two censuses(spanning a five-year interval)conducted in both evergreen broadleaved forests(EBF)and temperate coniferous forests(TCF),which have been recovering for half a century,across elevation gradients in a subtropical mountain region,Mount Wuyi,China.The results indicated that the relative growth rate(RGR)of EBF(0.028±0.001 cm·cm^(-1)·a^(-1))and the mortality rate(MR)(20.03%±1.70%)were 27.3%and 16.4%higher,respec-tively,than those of TCF.Interestingly,the trade-off between RGR and MR in EBF weakened as elevation increased,a trend not observed in TCF.Conversely,TCF consistently showed a stronger trade-off between RGR and MR compared to EBF.Generalized linear mixed models revealed that ele-vation influences RGR both directly and indirectly through its interactions with slope,crown competition index(CCI),and tree canopy height(CH).However,tree mortality did not show a significant correlation with elevation.Additionally,DBH significantly influenced both tree growth and mortal-ity,whereas and CH and CCI had opposite effects on tree growth between EBF and TCF.Our study underscores the importance of elevation in shaping the population dynamics and the biomass carbon sink balance of mountain forests.These insights enhance our understanding of tree species’life strategies,enabling more accurate predictions of forest dynamics and their response to environmental changes.
基金supported by National Key Research and Development Program of China(No.2021YFD2200405(S.R.L.))Natural Science Foundation of China(Grant No.31971653).
文摘With the rapid economic development and continuous expansion of human activities,forest degradation—characterized by reduced forest stock within the forest including declining carbon storage—poses significant threats to ecosystem stability.Understanding the current status of forest degradation and assessing potential carbon stocks in China are of strategic importance for making forest restoration efforts and enhancing carbon sequestration capacity.In this study,we used the national forest inventory data from 2009 to 2018 to develop a set of standard measures for assessing degraded forests across China,based on five key indicators:forest accumulation growth rate(FAGR),forest recruitment rate(FRR),tree species reduction rate(TSRR),forest canopy cover reduction rate(FCCRR),and forest disaster level(FDL).Additionally,we estimated standing carbon stock,potential carbon stock,and theoretical space to grow by developing a stand growth model,which accounts for stand density across different site classes,to evaluate the restoration potential of degraded forests.The results indicate that degraded forest area in China is 36.15 million hectares,accounting for 20.10% of a total forest area.Standing carbon stock and potential carbon stock of degraded forests in China are 23.93 million tons and 61.90 million tons,respectively.Overall,degraded forest varies significantly across different regions.The results highlight the important trade-offs among environmental factors,policy decisions,and forest conditions,providing a robust foundation for developing measures to enhance forest quality.
文摘Forests play a vital role in mitigating climate change through their physiological functions and metabolic processes,including their ability to convert solar energy into biomolecules.However,further research is necessary to elucidate how structural characteristics of a forest and topographic settings influence energy conversion and surface temperature of a forest.In this study,we investigated a beech forest in central Germany using airborne laser scanning(ALS)point cloud data and land surface temperature(LST)data derived from Landsat 9 satellite imagery.We constructed 30 m×30 m plots across the study area(approximately 17 km2)to align the spatial resolution of the satellite imagery with the ALS data.We analyzed topographic variables(surface elevation,aspect and slope),forest attributes(canopy cover,canopy height,and woody area index),as well as forest structural complexity,quantified by the box-dimension(Db).Our analysis revealed that LST is significantly influenced by both forest attributes and topographic variables.A multiple linear regression model demonstrated an inverse relationship(R^(2)=0.38,AIC=8105)between LST and a combination of Db,elevation,slope,and aspect.However,the model residuals exhibited significant spatial dependency,as indicated by Moran’s I test.To address this,we applied a spatial autoregressive model,which effectively accounted for spatial autocorrelation and improved the model fit(AIC=746).Our findings indicate that elevation exerts the most substantial influence on LST,followed by forest structural complexity,slope,and aspect.We conclude that forest management practices that enhance structural complexity can effectively reduce land surface temperatures in forested landscapes.
基金financial support provided by the German Research Foundation,DFG,through grant number KL894/23-2 and NO 1444/1-2 as part of the Research Unit FOR2432/2the China Scholarship Council(CSC)that supports the first author with a Ph D scholarshipsupport provided by Indian partners at the Institute of Wood Science and Technology(IWST),Bengaluru。
文摘Rapid urbanization has caused significant changes along the urban-rural gradient,leading to a variety of landscapes that are mainly shaped by human activities.This dynamic interplay also influences the distribution and characteristics of trees outside forests(TOF).Understanding the pattern of these trees will support informed decision-making in urban planning,in conservation strategies,and altogether in sustainable land management practices in the urban context.In this study,we employed a deep learning-based object detection model and high resolution satellite imagery to identify 1.3 million trees with bounding boxes within a 250 km^(2)research transect spanning the urban-rural gradient of Bengaluru,a megacity in Southern India.Additionally,we developed an allometric equation to estimate diameter at breast height(DBH)from the tree crown diameter(CD)derived from the detected bounding boxes.Our study focused on analyzing variations in tree density and tree size along this gradient.The findings revealed distinct patterns:the urban domain displayed larger tree crown diameters(mean:8.87 m)and DBH(mean:43.78 cm)but having relatively low tree density(32 trees per hectare).Furthermore,with increasing distance from the city center,tree density increased,while the mean tree crown diameter and mean tree basal area decreased,showing clear differences of tree density and size between the urban and rural domains in Bengaluru.This study offers an efficient methodology that helps generating instructive insights into the dynamics of TOF along the urban-rural gradient.This may inform urban planning and management strategies for enhancing green infrastructure and biodiversity conservation in rapidly urbanizing cities like Bengaluru.
基金supported by the European Union and the Romanian Government through the Competitiveness Operational Programme 2014–2020, under the project“Increasing the economic competitiveness of the forestry sector and the quality of life through knowledge transfer,technology and CDI skills”(CRESFORLIFE),ID P 40 380/105506, subsidiary contract no. 17/2020partially by the FORCLIMSOC Nucleu Programme (Contract 12N/2023)+2 种基金project PN 23090101CresPerfInst project (Contract 34PFE/December 30, 2021)“Increasing the institutional capacity and performance of INCDS ‘Marin Drǎcea’in RDI activities-CresPer”LM was financially supported by the Research Council of Finland's flagship ecosystem for Forest-Human-Machine Interplay–Building Resilience, Redefining Value Networks and Enabling Meaningful Experiences (UNITE)(decision number 357909)
文摘In this study,we used an extensive sampling network established in central Romania to develop tree height and crown length models.Our analysis included more than 18,000 tree measurements from five different species.Instead of building univariate models for each response variable,we employed a multivariate approach using seemingly unrelated mixed-effects models.These models incorporated variables related to species mixture,tree and stand size,competition,and stand structure.With the inclusion of additional variables in the multivariate seemingly unrelated mixed-effects models,the accuracy of the height prediction models improved by over 10% for all species,whereas the improvement in the crown length models was considerably smaller.Our findings indicate that trees in mixed stands tend to have shorter heights but longer crowns than those in pure stands.We also observed that trees in homogeneous stand structures have shorter crown lengths than those in heterogeneous stands.By employing a multivariate mixed-effects modelling framework,we were able to perform cross-model random-effect predictions,leading to a significant increase in accuracy when both responses were used to calibrate the model.In contrast,the improvement in accuracy was marginal when only height was used for calibration.We demonstrate how multivariate mixed-effects models can be effectively used to develop multi-response allometric models that can be easily calibrated with a limited number of observations while simultaneously achieving better-aligned projections.
基金financially supported by the National Natural Science Foundation(No.32471868,No.32001324)Youth Lift Project of China Association for Science and Technology(No.YESS20210370)+1 种基金Fundamental Research Funds for the Central Universities(2572023CT01)We thank the Grassland Bureau and the National Innovation Alliance of Wildland Fire Prevention and Control Technology of China for supporting this research.
文摘Prescribed burning is commonly used to maintain forest ecosystem functions and reduce the risk of future wildfires.Although many studies have investigated the response of microbial community to wildfires in forest ecosystems,the effects of prescribed burnings on soil microbial community structure are less studied.It is also unclear that how post-fire soil physiochemical properties changes affected soil microbial communities.Here,we studied the impacts of prescribed burning on soil microbiome in three typical temperate forests of northern China by collecting soil physicochemical and high-throughput sequencing for 16S rRNA and 18S rRNA was applied to analyze the diversity and community composition of soil microbes(bacteria and fungi).Compared with pre-fire condition,prescribed burning significantly decreased Chaol index and altered soil bacterial communities(P<0.05),whereas it had no significant effect on fungal diversity and community structure of the(P>0.05).Planctomycetes and Actinobacteria made the greatest contributions to the bacterial community dissimilarity between the pre-fire and post-fire conditions.The main variables influencing the post-fire soil microbial community structure are soil pH,available phosphorus,total nitrogen,and the ratio of soil total carbon to soil total nitrogen,which could account for 73.5% of the variation in the microbial community structure in these stands.Our findings demonstrated a great discrepancy in the responses of bacteria and fungi to prescribed burning.Prescribed burning altered the soil microbial structure by modifying the physicochemical properties.Our results pointed that it is essential to evaluate the impact of prescribed burnings on forest ecosystem functions.These findings provide an important baseline for assessing post-fire microbial recovery in the region and offer critical guidance for restoration efforts.
基金funded by state order to the Karelian Research Centre of the Russian Academy of Sciences(Forest Research Institute of KarRC RAS)。
文摘Fine roots play a crucial role in the biogeochemical cycles of terrestrial ecosystems.Patterns of fine roots biomass formation for broad geographical areas are still unclear.We use published estimates of characteristics of European pine and spruce stands to determine their productivity and calculate the needle biomass.Then,the relationship between the fine-root:needle biomass ratio of European pine and spruce forests and the stand quality index,which is a proxy of soil fertility,was determined.We show that a rise in soil fertility is accompanied by a decrease in this ratio.Moving from the northern edge of the boreal zone southwards,with the related rise in air and soil temperatures,we see a decline in the mass ratio of fine roots and needle.The change in the fine-root:needle biomass ratio is controlled by the change in specific water uptake by roots,which is related to the osmotic pressure of the solution in the absorbing root's central vascular cylinder.The fine-root:needle ratio does not vary among stands of the same age if the stand quality index and the geographical latitude(a proxy of air and soil temperatures)are constant.These findings may be useful for further in-depth analysis of forest ecosystem functioning in Europe.
基金supported by the Czech Science Foundation project GACR21-27454STechnology Agency of the Czech Republic(project Center for Landscape and Biodiversity,SS02030018).
文摘Extreme disturbance activity is a signature of anthropogenic environmental change. Empirical information describing the historical normative limits of disturbance regimes provides baseline data that facilitates the detection of contemporary trends in both disturbances and community-level responses. Quantifying the attributes of historical disturbances is challenging due to their transient episodic nature, with decades-to centurieslong intervals between recurrences. Unmanaged primary forests that support centuries-old trees therefore serve as unique reference systems for quantifying past disturbance regimes. We surveyed relict stands of primary beech-dominated forests over wide environmental gradients in the Carpathian Mountains of Europe. We collected core samples from 3,026 trees in 208 field survey plots distributed across 13 forest stands in two countries. We used dendrochronological methods to analyze time-series of annually-resolved ring-width variation and to identify anomalous growth patterns diagnostic of past forest canopy removal. A 180-year record(1810–1990) of spatially and temporally explicit disturbance events(n =333) was compiled and used to derive s tatistical attributes of the disturbance regime. We quantified disturbance severity(canopy area lost), patch size, and return intervals. Our analyses describe a complex regime where a background of relatively frequent, smallscale, low-to intermediate-severity disturbance was punctuated by episodic large-scale high-severity events. Even the most severe events were non-catastrophic at a stand level, leaving significant residual tree cover that supported a continuity of ecological function. We did not detect evidence for an expected climate-induced intensification of disturbance with time, but methodological limitations precluded an assessment of disturbance activity in the decades since 1990.
