Test of a Model to Assess the Condition of Lodgepole Pine Stands

/ A predictive model for assessing stand condition as a function of suitability for achieving specified management objectives was originally developed using a data set for only 28 stands. In this study, we evaluate the model using an operational-sized data set composed of currently collected stand inventory data for 238 stands in the Snowy Range of the Medicine Bow National Forest in southern Wyoming. We compared its predictions of old growth suitability to results of a separate special old growth survey. Stands were characterized as profiles of variables derived from stand inventory data, and plotted as points in two-dimensional space where similarity between stands was reflected by the distance between their points. Results suggest the model is useful for classifying stand condition using relatively large sets of data currently collected during routine stand inventories.     

保靖县油桐林分混交模式及其生态经济效益

湖南省保靖县是我国主要的油桐产区之一。针对该县多年来由于油桐林分结构单一而产生的诸多生态和经济问题，提出了桐树混交、桐灌混交和桐草混交三种改造模式，并对其生态和经济效益进行了分析。     

川西亚高山森林土壤有机层碳、氮、磷储量特征

同步研究了川西亚高山云杉林、冷杉林和白桦林生态系统土壤有机层(OL)和矿质层(MS)的有机碳、全氮及全磷储量特征.所有土壤剖面上的有机碳和易氧化有机碳含量均随土壤深度增加而降低,即未分解层<半分解层<完全分解层<腐殖质层<淀积层<母质层.云杉林、冷杉林和白桦林土壤有机层的有机碳储量分别为29.38(±1.28)thm-2、22.70(±1.20)thm-2和8.63(±0.95)thm-2,矿质土壤中分别为17.84(±1.92)thm-2、19.74(±1.76)thm-2和14.92(±1.64)thm-2.冷杉林和白桦林土壤剖面上的全氮和全磷含量大小顺序为半分解层<完全分解层<腐殖质层,但腐殖质层>淀积层>母质层.云杉林、冷杉林、白桦林土壤有机层的全氮储量分别为0.85(±0.11)thm-2、0.68(±0.06)thm-2和(0.36±0.03)thm-2,全磷储量分别为0.29(±0.03)thm-2、0.22(±0.03)thm-2和0.06(±0.02)thm-2.图2表2参22     

Effects of Selective Logging on Bat Communities in the Southeastern Amazon

Abstract:  Although extensive areas of tropical forest are selectively logged each year, the responses of bat communities to this form of disturbance have rarely been examined. Our objectives were to (1) compare bat abundance, species composition, and feeding guild structure between unlogged and low-intensity selectively logged (1–4 logged stems/ha) sampling grids in the southeastern Amazon and (2) examine correlations between logging-induced changes in bat communities and forest structure. We captured bats in understory and canopy mist nets set in five 1-ha study grids in both logged and unlogged forest. We captured 996 individuals, representing 5 families, 32 genera, and 49 species. Abundances of nectarivorous and frugivorous taxa (Glossophaginae, Lonchophyllinae, Stenodermatinae, and Carolliinae) were higher at logged sites, where canopy openness and understory foliage density were greatest. In contrast, insectivorous and omnivorous species (Emballonuridae, Mormoopidae, Phyllostominae, and Vespertilionidae) were more abundant in unlogged sites, where canopy foliage density and variability in the understory stratum were greatest. Multivariate analyses indicated that understory bat species composition differed strongly between logged and unlogged sites but provided little evidence of logging effects for the canopy fauna. Different responses among feeding guilds and taxonomic groups appeared to be related to foraging and echolocation strategies and to changes in canopy cover and understory foliage densities. Our results suggest that even low-intensity logging modifies habitat structure, leading to changes in bat species composition.     

Thresholds in Songbird Occurrence in Relation to Landscape Structure

Abstract:  Theory predicts the occurrence of threshold levels of habitat in landscapes, below which ecological processes change abruptly. Simulation models indicate that below critical thresholds, fragmentation of habitat influences patch occupancy by decreasing colonization rates and increasing rates of local extinction. Uncovering such putative relationships is important for understanding the demography of species and in developing sound conservation strategies. Using segmented logistic regression, we tested for thresholds in occurrence of 15 bird species as a function of the amount of suitable habitat at multiple scales (150–2000-m radii). Suitable habitat was defined quantitatively based on previously derived, spatially explicit distribution models for each species. The occurrence of 10 out of 15 species was influenced by the amount of habitat at a landscape scale (≥500-m radius). Of these species all but one were best predicted by threshold models. Six out of nine species exhibited asymptotic thresholds; the effects of habitat loss intensified at low amounts of habitat in a landscape. Landscape thresholds ranged from 8.6% habitat to 28.7% (     = 18.5 ± 2.6%[95% CI]). For two species landscape thresholds coincided with sensitivity to fragmentation; both species were more likely to occur in large patches, but only when the amount of habitat in a landscape was low. This supports the fragmentation threshold hypothesis. Nevertheless, the occurrence of most species appeared to be unaffected by fragmentation, regardless of the amount of habitat present at landscape extents. The thresholds we identified may be useful to managers in establishing conservation targets. Our results indicate that findings of landscape-scale studies conducted in regions with relatively high proportions of habitat and low fragmentation may not be applicable in regions with low habitat proportions and high fragmentation.     

An Inverse Gaussian distribution of tree frequencies based on tree size

Forest stand management often depends on data from a single fixed area inventory plot located at random in a forest stand. The plot provides detailed information about tree size distribution but not about per unit area tree frequency distribution unless one assumes a Poisson (POI) distribution. The POI assumption ignores any relationship between a tree's size and its demand for growing space. This study argues for the Inverse Gaussian (IG) distribution as a more realistic model. Maximum likelihood estimates of the IG parameters are obtained from a transformation of tree size data (diameter) to proxies of tree counts. Data from two stands indicated that an IG model was better at predicting the tree frequency distribution than a POI model.     

基于人工神经网络的森林资源管理模型研究

介绍了人工神经网络方法，建立了森林资源管理的三层前馈反向传播神经网络模型，并与Ｌｏｇｉｓｔｉｃ函数进行了比较。仿真结果表明，人工神经网络模型优于Ｌｏｇｉｓｔｉｃ模型，可应用于森林资源动态模拟。     

Forest land use change in the philippines and climate change mitigation

Tropical forests in countries like thePhilippines are important sources and sinks of carbon(C). The paper analyzes the contribution of Philippineforests in climate change mitigation. Since the 1500s,deforestation of 20.9 M ha (10⁶ ha) of Philippineforests contributed 3.7 Pg (10¹⁵ g) of C to theatmosphere of which 2.6 Pg were released this century. At present, forest land uses store 1091 Tg(10¹² g) of C and sequester 30.5 Tg C/yr whilereleasing 11.4 Tg C/yr through deforestation andharvesting. In the year 2015, it is expected that thetotal C storage will decline by 8% (1005 Tg) andtotal rate of C sequestration will increase by 17%(35.5 Tg/yr). This trend is due to the decline innatural forest area accompanied by an increase intree plantation area. We have shown that uncertaintyin national C estimates still exists because they arereadily affected by the source of biomass and Cdensity data. Philippine forests can act as C sink by:conserving existing C sinks, expanding C stocks, andsubstituting wood products for fossil fuels. Here weanalyze the possible implications of the provisions ofthe Kyoto Protocol to Philippine forests. Finally, wepresent current research and development efforts ontropical forests and climate change in the Philippinesto improve assessments of their role in the nations Cbudgets.     

长江上游防护林体系不同林种的生态经济效益研究

通过对长江上游环境背景特征研究，探讨了防护林体系建立的重要性，并进行防护林体系配置，由此设置生态效益监测体系，以流域为单元，分层研究防护林体系的综合效益。研究表明：防护林体系配置后，坡面径流减少６２％，径流含沙量减少６９％，土壤肥力、土壤微生物活性均比荒坡高４～５倍；林地地温和气温均比农耕地低２～３℃，相对湿度提高３０％～４０％；流域的年地表径流减少，森林覆被率每增加１％，年地表径流减少４．１ｍｍ，年产沙量可减少５％～７％。生物措施可减少２５％的泥沙，工程措施减少２９％的泥沙。营建防护林后，经济效益明显：在中、低山区，林地直接经济效益净增值为９２１．５～９９２．４元／ｈm₂·ａ，四川盆地净增值为８５０．３～１４３８．６元／ｈm₂·ａ。