Long-Term Effects of Group-Selection Timber Harvesting on Abundance of Forest Birds

Abstract:  Relatively few studies have examined the ecological effects of group-selection timber harvesting, and nearly all have been short-term and have lacked experimental manipulations that allow pre- and posttreatment comparisons. We have been documenting the effects of a group-selection timber harvest on bird abundance in a Maine forest for 24 years (preharvest, 1983–1987; postharvest, 1988–2006). Here we characterized the trends in bird abundance over the first 20 years of the study in the managed and control halves of the 40-ha study area. Species responses to the group-selection harvest were idiosyncratic, but in general the mature-forest bird community was retained and species dependent on early successional habitat temporarily (≤8 years) benefited. The Eastern Wood-Pewee ( Contopus virens ) , Winter Wren ( Troglodytes troglodytes ) , Pine Warbler ( Dendroica pinus ) , and White-throated Sparrow ( Zonotrichia albicollis ) increased in abundance in the managed half of the study area following timber harvest, whereas the Veery ( Catharus fuscescens ) decreased. The Black-and-White Warbler ( Mniotilta varia ) , Nashville Warbler ( Vermivora ruficapilla ) , and Common Yellowthroat ( Geothlypis trichas ) responded positively to harvesting, as indicated by decreases in abundance in the control area and more protracted declines or stable abundances in the managed area. This study constitutes the longest experimental investigation to date of the effects of a group-selection harvest on birds and thus provides important information on the strength, direction, and duration of temporal changes in bird populations following forest management.     

Effects of Road Clearings on Movement Patterns of Understory Rainforest Birds in Central Amazonia

Abstract:  The impacts of potential linear barriers such as roads, highways, and power lines on rainforest fauna are poorly understood. In the central Brazilian Amazon, we compared the frequency of local movements (≤300 m long) of understory birds within intact forest and across a 30- to 40-m-wide road over a 2-year period. Rainforest had regenerated along some road verges, to the extent that a nearly complete canopy was formed in some areas, so we also assessed whether this facilitated bird movement. Movement data were determined from 1212 recaptures of 3681 netted birds at six study sites. The road significantly inhibited total bird movement across roads at five of the six sites. Bird foraging guilds varied in their responses to the road and different ages of regrowth. Movements of frugivorous and edge and gap species were not inhibited at any site, whereas most forest-dependent insectivores (mixed-species flocks, terrestrial species, and army-ant followers) had markedly inhibited road-crossing movements, except at sites with extensive regrowth. Solitary understory species were especially vulnerable, rarely crossing even roads overgrown by tall regrowth. For sensitive species, road-crossing movements were inhibited because individuals tended to avoid both edge-affected habitat near the road and the road clearing itself. Our results suggest that even narrow roads with low traffic volumes can reduce local movements of many insectivorous birds in Amazonia.     

贵州水城盆地人类活动及其地质环境效应

由于强烈的人类活动：过量开采地下水、工业三废和城市生活垃圾的任意排放以及其它一些工农业活动，贵州水城盆地岩溶环境问题十分突出，如地下水严重污染、岩溶塌陷、水土流失、土地石漠化以及频繁的旱涝灾害。通过分析水城盆地主要人类活动，评价其负面地质环境效应，为规划岩溶区土地利用、指导人类行为提供决策依据。     

湖南隆回打鸟坳迁徙鸟类资源的调查研究

采用路线调查、样方调查法、鸟类鸣叫声音统计法和走访调查等调查研究方法,对湖南隆回打鸟坳迁徙鸟类资源进行了调查研究,发现该地计有迁徙鸟类10目21科56种,其中留鸟有22种,占39%,夏候鸟有7种,占13%,旅鸟有27,占48%.同时分析了打鸟坳鸟类扑火的原因,并对打鸟坳鸟类资源保护提出了一些建议.     

Effects of Traffic Noise on Occupancy Patterns of Forest Birds

Abstract: Noise may drive changes in the composition and abundance of animals that communicate vocally. Traffic produces low‐frequency noise (<3 kHz) that can mask acoustic signals broadcast within the same frequency range. We evaluated whether birds that sing within the frequency range of traffic noise are affected by acoustic masking (i.e., increased background noise levels at the same frequency of vocalizations reduce detection of vocalization) and are less abundant in areas where traffic noise is loud (44–57 dB). We estimated occupancy, the expected probability that a given site is occupied by a species, and detection probabilities of eight forest‐breeding birds in areas with and without traffic noise as a function of noise and three measures of habitat quality: percent forest cover, distance from plot center to the edge of forest, and the number of standing dead trees or snags. For the two species that vocalize at the lowest peak frequency (the frequency with the most energy) and the lowest overall frequency (Yellow‐billed Cuckoo [Coccyzus americanus] and White‐breasted Nuthatch [Sitta carolinensis]), the presence of traffic noise explained the greatest proportion of variance in occupancy, and these species were 10 times less likely to be found in noisy than in quiet plots. For species that had only portions of their vocalizations overlapped by traffic noise, either forest cover or distance to forest edge explained more variation in occupancy than noise or no single variable explained occupancy. Our results suggest that the effects of traffic noise may be especially pronounced for species that vocalize at low frequencies.     

The Combined Effects of Remnant Vegetation and Tree Planting on Farmland Birds

Abstract:  Biodiversity conservation on agricultural land is a major issue worldwide. We estimated separate and joint effects of remnant native woodland vegetation and recent tree plantings on birds on farms (approximately 500–1000 ha) in the heavily cleared wheat and sheep belt of southern Australia. Much of the variation (>70%) in bird responses was explained by 3 factors: remnant native-vegetation attributes (native grassland, scattered paddock trees, patches of remnant native woodland); presence or absence of planted native trees; and the size and shape of tree plantings. In terms of the number of species, remnant native vegetation was more important than tree planting, in a 3:1 ratio, approximately. Farms with high values for remnant native vegetation were those most likely to support declining or vulnerable species, although some individual species of conservation concern occurred on farms with large plantings. Farm management for improved bird conservation should account for the cumulative and complementary contributions of many components of remnant native-vegetation cover (e.g., scattered paddock trees and fallen timber) as well as areas of restored native vegetation.     

森林净生态系统生产力及其生物影响因子研究进展

在全球大气二氧化碳浓度上升的背景下,陆地生态系统碳循环及碳汇功能研究得到了广泛的关注,日益成为今后的政治和外交的重大议题之一.净生态系统生产力(net ecosystem production, NEP)是生态系统光合固定的碳与生态系统呼吸损失的碳之间的差值;或者为生态系统净的碳积累速率.NEP 的研究整合生态系统地上和地下部分,把生态系统碳循环的影响因子有机地联系了起来.当NEP为正值时,说明生态系统为碳汇,NEP为负值则表明生态系统为碳源.随着植物和土壤相互联系及其对生态系统过程研究的深入,NEP已经成为生态系统碳循环研究的核心概念之一.以森林NEP为出发点,综述了国内外的最近的 NEP 研究进展,分析了 NEP 研究的科学意义;探讨了植物群落组成/生物多样性、土壤微生物群落、大型/土壤动物和人为的管理或干扰等生物因子对NEP的影响.根据综述研究提出未来研究应在:(1)土壤生物过程、土壤食物网及其与地上部分植物/动物相互作用对NEP的影响;(2)自然林生物多样性的竞争/共存机制与生态系统碳吸存稳定性;(3)人工林固碳潜力和不同植物功能群(灌草层)对生态系统碳动态影响等方面加强,以期为全面认识生物因子对森林生态系统系统固碳现状、机制和潜力提供理论基础.     

Effects of the Surrounding Matrix on Tree Recruitment in Amazonian Forest Fragments

Abstract:  Little is known about how the surrounding modified matrix affects tree recruitment in fragmented forests. We contrasted effects of two different matrix types, Vismia - and Cecropia -dominated regrowth, on recruitment of pioneer tree species in forest fragments in central Amazonia. Our analyses were based on 22, 1-ha plots in seven experimental forest fragments ranging in size from 1 to 100 ha. By 13 to 17 years after fragmentation, the population density of pioneer trees was significantly higher in plots surrounded by Vismia regrowth than in plots surrounded by Cecropia regrowth, and the species composition and dominance of pioneers differed markedly between the two matrix types. Cecropia sciadophylla was the most abundant pioneer in fragments surrounded by Cecropia regrowth (constituting nearly 50% of all pioneer trees), whereas densities of species in Vismia -surrounded fragments were distributed more evenly. Thus the surrounding matrix had a strong influence on patterns of tree recruitment in Amazonian forest fragments.     

Effects of Future Infrastructure Development on Threat Status and Occurrence of Amazonian Birds

Abstract:  Researchers predict that new infrastructure development will sharply increase the rate and extent of deforestation in the Brazilian Amazon. There are no predictions, however, of which species it will affect. We used a spatially explicit model that predicts the location of deforestation in the Brazilian Amazon by 2020 on the basis of historical patterns of deforestation following infrastructure development. We overlaid the predicted deforested areas onto maps of bird ranges to estimate the amount of habitat loss within species ranges. We also estimated the amount of habitat loss within modified ecoregions, which were used as surrogates for areas of bird endemism. We then used the extent of occurrence criterion of the World Conservation Union to predict the future conservation status of birds in the Brazilian Amazon. At current rates of development, our results show that at least 16 species will qualify as threatened or will lose more than half of their forested habitat. We also identified several subspecies and isolated populations that would also qualify as threatened. Most of the taxa we identified are not currently listed as threatened, and the majority are associated with riverine habitats, which have been largely ignored in bird conservation in Amazonia. These habitats and the species they hold will be increasingly relevant to conservation as river courses are altered and hydroelectric dams are constructed in the Brazilian Amazon.     

春季福建柏林内、林缘与市区的舒适度对比研究

用陆鼎煌提出的“综合舒适度指数（S）”表征人体舒适度这一生物气象指标,比较了春季福建柏林内外与市区小气候的差异,结果表明：福建柏林缘与市区相比降温幅度为0．6～3．5℃;福建柏林内与市区相比降温幅度为1．3～4．2℃。在增湿率方面,福建柏林缘与市区相比增湿幅度为5．28％～29．27％;福建柏林内与市区相比增湿幅度为7．7％。33．7％。在降低风速方面,林缘与市区相比平均风速降低了0．05m／s;林内与市区相比平均风速降低了0．74m／s。综合各下垫面人体感觉舒适的时间分别为福建柏林内（8h）：福建柏林缘（8h）〉市区（4h）。     

亚热带赤红壤不同林型对土壤微生物区系的影响

研究不同人工林型下上壤微生物区系的差异与变化．定期采样测定结果表明，不同林型下的土壤微生物总数顺序为混交林＞豆科纯林＞纯桉林；其数量在一年中随季节变化很大，各种林型均以秋季最大．其次是春、冬季，夏季最小；三大类随中又以细菌所占比例最大，其次为放线菌、真菌；它们各自的优势种群在组成上各林地间差别不大，而且全年都保持较稳定的比例．无论是微生物种类还是其数量，都以混交林多于纯林，而在纯林中又以豆科纯林多于桉林．     

模拟氮沉降对温带森林凋落物分解的影响

森林凋落物的分解是生态系统养分循环的重要过程,以北京西山地带性植被栎树林（辽东栎：Quercus liaotungensis）为对象,主要研究温带森林植物凋落物分解对模拟氮沉降的响应,为更好地了解氮沉降对温带森林地区凋落物的分解过程提供参考.通过模拟氮沉降,研究不同形态氮（硝态氮、铵态氮和混合态氮）和不同水平氮沉降（对照0 kg·hm^-2·a^-1、低氮处理50 kg·hm^-2·a^-1 和高氮处理150 kg·hm^-2·a^-1）对凋落物分解的影响,在2 年的时间内调查分析了凋落物分解过程中质量损失动态和碳（C）、N 含量及w（C）/w（N）比值的变化.研究结果表明,氮沉降均使凋落物分解速率减缓,且随氮沉降剂量增加,凋落物分解速率相比对照分别减慢了9.88%（硝态氮低氮）、15.02%（硝态氮高氮）、11.46%（铵态氮低氮）、14.62%（铵态氮高氮）、13.04%（混合态氮低氮）和16.20%（混合态氮高氮）.且不同氮沉降类型、不同氮沉降水平间差异显著.不同形态、不同水平的氮沉降显著地增加了凋落物N 含量（P=0.061,P=0.087）,其中混合态氮沉降对凋落物中N 素含量增加最显著（P=0.044）.但在分解过程中,各处理均未对凋落物C 含量产生显著影响.不同水平的氮沉降显著降低了凋落物的w（C）/w（N）比值,而且不同类型不同水平氮沉降对凋落物w（C）/w（N）比值具有显著的交互作用（P=0.011）.综上所述,通过对模拟氮沉降后凋落物残留率等的变化分析,得出氮沉降对温带森林凋落物的分解产生了抑制作用.     

降雨对林地养分输入与土壤侵蚀的作用

用定位观测研究表明,降雨是林地形成土壤肥力的重要机制;特别是通过林冠层的穿透水和树干的径流水,其养分通量平均要比林外雨高80％左右,但在不向的气候条件下和在不同的森林类型里,降雨输入土壤的养分存在着较大的差异,在无植被覆盖的坡地上,降雨会造成土壤侵蚀,使土壤养分入不敷出。     

Effects of Conversion of Dry Tropical Forest to Agricultural Mosaic on Herpetofaunal Assemblages

Abstract: We explored the impact of forest conversion to agricultural mosaic on anuran, lizard, snake, and turtle assemblages of Neotropical dry forests. Over 2 years, we sampled 6 small watersheds on the west coast of Mexico, 3 conserved and 3 disturbed. The disturbed watersheds were characterized by a mosaic of pastures and cultivated fields (corn, beans, squash) intermingled with patches of different successional stages of dry forest. In each watershed, we conducted 11 diurnal and nocturnal time‐constrained searches in 10 randomly established plots. We considered vulnerability traits of species in relation to habitat modification. Eighteen anuran, 18 lizard, 23 snake, and 3 turtle species were recorded. Thirty‐six species (58%) occurred in both forest conditions, and 14 (22%) and 12 species (19%) occurred only in the conserved and disturbed sites, respectively. Assemblages responded differently to disturbance. Species richness, diversity, and abundance of lizards were higher in disturbed forests. Anuran diversity and species richness were lower in disturbed forest but abundance was similar in both forest conditions. Diversity, richness, and abundance of turtles were lower in disturbed forest. The structure and composition of snake assemblages did not differ between forest conditions. We considered species disturbance sensitive if their abundance was significantly less in disturbed areas. Four anuran (22%), 2 lizard (11%), and 3 turtle (100%) species were sensitive to disturbance. No snake species was sensitive. The decline in abundance of disturbance‐sensitive species was associated with the reduction of forest canopy cover, woody stem cover, roots, and litter‐layer ground cover. Anuran species with small body size and direct embryonic development were especially sensitive to forest disturbance. An important goal for the conservation of herpetofauna should be the determination of species traits associated with extinction or persistence in agricultural mosaics.     

Effects of Pioneer Tree Species Hyperabundance on Forest Fragments in Northeastern Brazil

Abstract: Despite many studies on fragmentation of tropical forests, the extent to which plant and animal communities are altered in small, isolated forest fragments remains obscure if not controversial. We examined the hypothesis that fragmentation alters the relative abundance of tree species with different vegetative and reproductive traits. In a fragmented landscape (670 km²) of the Atlantic Forest of northeastern Brazil, we categorized 4056 trees of 182 species by leafing pattern, reproductive phenology, and morphology of seeds and fruit. We calculated relative abundance of traits in 50 1‐ha plots in three types of forest configurations: forest edges, small forest fragments (3.4–83.6 ha), and interior of the largest forest fragment (3500 ha, old growth). Although evergreen species were the most abundant across all configurations, forest edges and small fragments had more deciduous and semideciduous species than interior forest. Edges lacked supra‐annual flowering and fruiting species and had more species and stems with drupes and small seeds than small forest fragments and forest interior areas. In an ordination of species similarity and life‐history traits, the three types of configurations formed clearly segregated clusters. Furthermore, the differences in the taxonomic and functional (i.e., trait‐based) composition of tree assemblages we documented were driven primarily by the higher abundance of pioneer species in the forest edge and small forest fragments. Our work provides strong evidence that long‐term transitions in phenology and seed and fruit morphology of tree functional groups are occurring in fragmented tropical forests. Our results also suggest that edge‐induced shifts in tree assemblages of tropical forests can be larger than previously documented.     

Effects of Forest Fragmentation and Habitat Degradation on West African Leaf-Litter Frogs

Abstract:  Habitat degradation alters the dynamics and composition of anuran assemblages in tropical forests. The effects of forest fragmentation on the composition of anuran assemblages are so far poorly known. We studied the joint influence of forest fragmentation and degradation on leaf-litter frogs. We specifically asked whether the processes structuring leaf-litter anuran assemblages in fragmented forests are the same as those in continuous forests. We analyzed anuran assemblages with respect to habitat characteristics, including fragmentation and degradation parameters. In comparison with continuous forests, species richness and diversity were lower and assemblage composition was altered in forest fragments. These changes seemed to be mainly caused by habitat degradation rather than forest fragmentation. Availability of aquatic sites for breeding, vegetation structure (including those variables indicating degradation), and leaf-litter cover had the most influence on the presence of single species. The comparatively small impact of fragmentation on anurans might be due to the location of the study area; it still possessed large tracts of continuous forest. These forest blocks may stabilize the regional rainforest climate and thus weaken the effects of fragmentation .     

森林改善空气环境质量功能监测与评价研究

为全面了解森林内部属性与森林改善空气环境功能之间的内在关系与规律,以及不同森林在改善空气环境质量方面的能力强弱,以中国林业科学研究院热带林业试验中心为研究对象,于2014年7─8月按照2 km×2 km网格间距进行系统抽样,设置51个样地对森林空气温度、湿度、负氧离子含量等空气环境状况指标及林分特征因子进行了监测,并对林分类型、发展阶段、郁闭度等林分因子与森林空气温度、湿度、负氧离子含量之间的关系进行了分析。采用温湿指数、安培空气质量评价系数、森林空气负氧离子评价模型对不同类型森林的空气环境质量进行了评价。结果表明：1）森林改善空气环境质量功能主要与其林分类型、发展阶段、林分郁闭度有关;2）在调节空气温湿度,改善空气环境舒适度方面,针叶混交林最强,然后依次为针阔混交林、阔叶混交林、针叶纯林、阔叶纯林、灌木林,以未成林最弱。在吸附污染物、净化空气方面,针阔混交林最强,然后依次为阔叶混交林、阔叶纯林、针叶混交林、针叶纯林、灌木林,以未成林最弱;3）不同发展阶段的林分在改善空气环境舒适度方面的差异不明显,但随着林分发展阶段的深入,森林的结构越来越复杂,森林净化空气的能力也逐渐增强;4）森林在调节空气温湿度,改善空气环境舒适度等方面的功能随郁闭度的增加而增强,当郁闭度大于0.4时,森林改善空气环境舒适度的功能显著增强。郁闭度在0.4~0.7之间的林分净化空气的功能较强,尤以郁闭度为0.5时最强,当林分郁闭度低于0.4或高于0.7以后,林分净化空气的功能均有所降低;5）总体来说混交林改善空气环境质量的功能要显著强于纯林。研究结果对于经营单位如何通过林分状态的调控来增强森林的空气环境改善功能具有重要指导意义。     

上海沿海防护林空气负离子水平测定

空气负离子被誉为“空气维生素”,是衡量空气质量的重要指标。为了探讨城市防护林改善人居环境的效应,选择上海南汇地区的沿海防护林作为研究对象,对空气负离子水平进行了分析测定。结果表明,不同土地利用方式、林分内不同空间空气负离子分布呈现显著差异;负离子水平随林分树种不同而变化。不同土地利用方式下负离子浓度表现为：林地〉小区〉公园〉村落〉农用地;空间分布上,距离林带10m的浓度达到603个／cm^3,比30m距离和50m距离分别多13个／cm^3和61个／cm^3;距地面不同高度测定,地表处的负离子浓度最高,为2298个／cm^3;不同林分中,中山杉（Ascendens mltcronatttm）林地