Death Rides the Forest: Perceptions of Fire, Land Use, and Ecological Restoration of Western Forests

Abstract:  Large wild fires occurring in forests, grasslands, and chaparral in the last few years have aroused much public concern. Many have described these events as "catastrophes" that must be prevented through aggressive increases in forest thinning. Yet the real catastrophes are not the fires themselves but those land uses, in concert with fire-suppression policies that have resulted in dramatic alterations to ecosystem structure and composition. The first step in the restoration of biological diversity (forest health) of western landscapes must be to implement changes in those factors that have caused degradation or are preventing recovery. This includes changes in policies and practices that have resulted in the current state of wildland ecosystems. Restoration entails much more than simple structural modifications achieved though mechanical means. Restoration should be undertaken at landscape scales and must allow for the occurrence of dominant ecosystem processes, such as the natural fire regimes achieved through natural and/or prescribed fires at appropriate temporal and spatial scales.     

Forest Stand Dynamics and Livestock Grazing in Historical Context

Abstract:  Livestock grazing has been implicated as a cause of the unhealthy condition of ponderosa pine forest stands in the western United States. An evaluation of livestock grazing impacts on natural resources requires an understanding of the context in which grazing occurred. Context should include timing of grazing, duration of grazing, intensity of grazing, and species of grazing animal. Historical context, when and under what circumstances grazing occurred, is also an important consideration. Many of the dense ponderosa pine forests and less-than-desirable forest health conditions of today originated in the early 1900s. Contributing to that condition was a convergence of fire, climate, and grazing factors that were unique to that time. During that time period, substantially fewer low-intensity ground fires (those that thinned dense stands of younger trees) were the result of reduced fine fuels (grazing), a substantial reduction in fires initiated by Native Americans, and effective fire-suppression programs. Especially favorable climate years for tree reproduction occurred during the early 1900s. Exceptionally heavy, unregulated, unmanaged grazing by very large numbers of horses, cattle, and sheep during the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries occurred in most of the U.S. West and beginning earlier in portions of the Southwest. Today, livestock numbers on public lands are substantially lower than they were during this time and grazing is generally managed. Grazing then and grazing now are not the same.     

Concentrations of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in soils of a mangrove forest affected by forest fire

Surface soils affected by forest fires from Igbanko mangrove forest in Nigeria were analyzed for 16 EPA priority polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) using gas chromatography–mass spectrometry (GC–MS). The total PAHs concentrations in the soils ranged from 63 to 188?µg?kg^?1 dry weight (average: 108?µg?kg^?1). The three predominant PAHs in the soils were naphthalene (Na), fluoranthene (Flu), and benzo(b)fluoranthene (BbF). Compared to the control sample (19?µg?kg^?1), elevated PAHs concentrations were observed in the soils, an indication of some level of PAHs contamination. PAHs source diagnostic ratios of Flu/(Flu?+?Pyr) and Ant/(Ant?+?Phe) indicated that the PAHs have a pyrogenic origin which may have resulted from combustion of grass, wood, or coal. An assessment based on Canadian soil quality guidelines indicated that the studied locations do not pose any serious adverse risk on human health.     

Conservation Threat of Increasing Fire Frequencies in the Western Ghats, India

Abstract:  The acceleration of processes such as forest fragmentation and forest fires in landscapes under intense human pressures makes it imperative to quantify and understand the effects of these processes on the conservation of biodiversity in these landscapes. We combined information from remote-sensing imagery and ground maps of all fires in the Mudumalai Wildlife Sanctuary (MWLS) in the Western Ghats of India over 14 years (1989–2002). These spatial data on fire occurrence were integrated with maps of vegetation types found in the MWLS to examine fire conditions in each. We calculated the average fire-return interval for each of the vegetation types individually and for the MWLS as a whole. Using vegetation data from the larger Nilgiri Biosphere Reserve and the entire Western Ghats region, we conservatively estimated fire-frequency information for these larger regions. Because the MWLS does not contain tropical evergreen or montane forests, we were unable to estimate fire conditions in these forest types, which represent 31% of all Western Ghats vegetation cover. For the MWLS, all vegetation types had average fire-return intervals of <7 years, and the sanctuary as a whole had a fire-return interval of 3.3 years. Compared with a 13-year MWLS fire data set from 1909–1921, this represents a threefold increase in fire frequency over the last 80 years. We estimated average fire-return intervals of roughly 5 years for both the larger Nilgiri Biosphere Reserve and the entire Western Ghats region. Given other recent reports, the estimated fire frequencies for the Western Ghats forests outside protected reserves are conservative. We conclude that the current fire regime of the Western Ghats poses a severe and persistent conservation threat to forests both within and outside protected reserves.     

Chromatographic measurement of molecular markers of sources of atmospheric aerosol particles

Various organic compounds in aerosol particles in ambient air near a coniferous forest fire in Boulder, Colorado were identified as molecular markers of wood burning and forest fires. Particle samples were collected by filtering small volumes of air. The samples were analysed using thermal desorption followed by gas chromatographic separation and detection, a highly sensitive analytical method. Several compounds unique to softwood combustion were identified in the samples. Additionally, a predominance of odd-carbon-numbered n-alkanes over the corresponding even-carbon-numbered n-alkanes was observed. This predominance is a well-documented molecular pattern indicative of epicutical waxes in plants.     

Preemptive and Salvage Harvesting of New England Forests: When Doing Nothing Is a Viable Alternative

Abstract:  One unexpected consequence of natural disturbances in forested areas is that managers often initiate activities that may impose greater ecosystem impacts than the disturbances themselves. By salvage logging areas affected by windstorms or other impacts, by harvesting host trees in advance of insect infestation or disease, or by preemptively harvesting forests in an attempt to improve their resilience to future disturbances and stresses, managers initiate substantial changes in the ecosystem structure and function. Much of this activity is undertaken in the absence of information on the qualitative and quantitative differences between disturbance impacts and harvesting. To provide insight for such decisions we evaluated the ecosystem consequences of two major disturbance processes in New England (U.S.A.)—intense windstorms and invasive pests and pathogens—and contrasted them with impacts from preemptive and salvage harvesting. Despite dramatic physical changes in forest structure resulting from hurricane impacts and insect infestation, little disruption of biogeochemical processes or other ecosystem functions typically follows these disturbances. Indeed, the physical and organic structures produced by these disturbances are important natural features providing habitat and landscape heterogeneity that are often missing due to centuries of land use. From an ecosystem perspective there are strong arguments against preemptive and salvage logging or the attempt through silvicultural means to improve the resistance or resilience of forests to disturbance and stress. There are often valid motivations for salvage or preemptive logging including financial considerations, human safety, and a desire to shape the long-term composition and resource-production characteristics of forests. Nonetheless, there are many ecological benefits derived from leaving forests alone when they are affected or threatened by disturbances and pest and pathogen outbreaks.     

大兴安岭火烧迹地土壤动物的群落多样行

以大兴安岭地区不同年份火烧迹地土壤动物为研究对象,对火烧后不同恢复时间土壤动物群落多样性及相关指数的变化进行分析.结果表明,大型土壤动物的个体数、DIC指数、丰富度指数及优势度指数变化趋势均表现为火烧恢复初期迅速增加,然后缓慢增加并逐渐接近对比样地值;如果不考虑8 a迹地数据极大值的影响,中小型土壤动物的个体数、DIC指数、丰富度指数及优势度指数也大致呈现火烧恢复初期迅速增加,然后缓慢增长的趋势;在垂直方向上,大型土壤动物DIC指数、个体数及丰富度指数在0～5 cm最大,向上、向下减少,而中小型土壤动物的各项指数都是凋落物层最大,向下迅速减小;相关分析表明,大型和中小型土壤动物的个体数和丰富度指数与DIC指数都具有极高的相关性;群落相似性分析显示,各火烧迹地间土壤动物群落具有较高的相似性.图1表3参26     

Assessment of forest fire vulnerability zones in Missouri,United States of America

Forest fire is one of the major disasters that distresses the terrestrial environment and causes economic disruptions for people and communities in areas prone to forest fire. Information on forest fire risk zones is therefore essential for effective and sound decision-making in forest management. Forest fire risk assessment is a critical part and the most important step in forest management because it enables us to know where the risk is higher in order to minimize threats to life, property and natural resources. This study used a hazard assessment model to assess forest fire risk in Missouri based on several measurable environmental parameters influencing forest fire risk vulnerability. Using the four ecological zones in Missouri as the basis of analysis, three forest risk zones were identified. These were high forest fire risk zones, moderate forest fire risk zone and low forest fire risk zone. Strategies for the mitigation of the hazard of forest fire in the state were also recommended.     

Toward Meaningful Snag-Management Guidelines for Postfire Salvage Logging in North American Conifer Forests

Abstract:  The bird species in western North America that are most restricted to, and therefore most dependent on, severely burned conifer forests during the first years following a fire event depend heavily on the abundant standing snags for perch sites, nest sites, and food resources. Thus, it is critical to develop and apply appropriate snag-management guidelines to implement postfire timber harvest operations in the same locations. Unfortunately, existing guidelines designed for green-tree forests cannot be applied to postfire salvage sales because the snag needs of snag-dependent species in burned forests are not at all similar to the snag needs of snag-dependent species in green-tree forests. Birds in burned forests have very different snag-retention needs from those cavity-nesting bird species that have served as the focus for the development of existing snag-management guidelines. Specifically, many postfire specialists use standing dead trees not only for nesting purposes but for feeding purposes as well. Woodpeckers, in particular, specialize on wood-boring beetle larvae that are superabundant in fire-killed trees for several years following severe fire. Species such as the Black-backed Woodpecker ( Picoides arcticus ) are nearly restricted in their habitat distribution to severely burned forests. Moreover, existing postfire salvage-logging studies reveal that most postfire specialist species are completely absent from burned forests that have been (even partially) salvage logged. I call for the long-overdue development and use of more meaningful snag-retention guidelines for postfire specialists, and I note that the biology of the most fire-dependent bird species suggests that even a cursory attempt to meet their snag needs would preclude postfire salvage logging in those severely burned conifer forests wherein the maintenance of biological diversity is deemed important.     

Why the Conservation of Forest Genetic Resources Has Not Worked

Abstract:  Genetic diversity is indispensable for long-term forest sustainability and is therefore mentioned in numerous binding and nonbinding political covenants calling for action. Nevertheless, there are significant obstacles to the conservation of forest genetic resources. We discuss hindrances to genetic conservation, mainly in Europe. We identified impediments by reviewing the literature and on the basis of the experiences of the authors in this field and their participation in related political processes. The impediments include (1) difficulties in assessing and monitoring genetic erosion and human impacts (e.g., by the lack of markers showing adaptive variation and the lack of record keeping on the use and transfer of forest-tree germplasm), (2) complexities of European national structures that make the development of a common strategy toward forest genetic conservation problematic, (3) lack of effective forest governance in many parts of the world, (4) the general unattractiveness of genes as flagships in raising public awareness, (5) lack of integration of genetic aspects into biodiversity conservation, and (6) the fact that scientists and politicians are often at cross-purposes. To overcome these impediments, forest geneticists and their peers in species conservation have to participate more actively in decision making. In doing so, they must be prepared to face challenges on 2 fronts: participating in political processes and the provision of significant research findings to ensure that decisions with respect to forest genetic diversity are politically implementable and effectively address targets.     

辽宁东部山区几种主要森林植被类型土壤渗透性能研究

沿辽河水系设置临时标准地 ,对辽宁东部山区具有代表性的油松林、落叶松林、红松林、柞木林、杂木林及灌丛 6种植被类型的土壤水分的入渗性能进行了研究。结果表明 ,辽东山区 6种植被类型下土壤都表现出较强的渗透性能。A层的初始入渗率 (f0 /mm·min- 1) 1 2 .8～ 6 1 .1 ,平均值为 38.7,B层 1 6 .8～4 1 .7,平均值为 2 7.0 ,C层 2 9.2～ 38.2 ,平均值为 2 4 .4 ;A层的稳定入渗率 (fc/mm·min- 1) 2 .6～ 4 .2 ,平均值为 3.5 ,B层 2 .2～ 4 .1 ,平均值为 2 .9,C层 1 .1～ 3.3,平均值为 2 .2 ;A层的饱和导水率 (k10 /mm·min- 1)1 .5 3～ 2 .2 3,平均值为 1 .86 ,B层 0 .77～ 2 .0 5 ,平均值为 1 .2 7,C层 0 .5 0～ 1 .2 8,平均值为 0 .79。不同植被类型下不同土壤发生层次的入渗能力差异显著 :一般地 ,阔叶林下土壤的入渗性能明显好于针叶林 ,榛丛下土壤也表现出很好的渗透性能 ;不同土层入渗性能大小为A层 >B层 >C层。林龄差异在 2个龄级以上时 ,林龄越大 ,土壤初渗性能越好。用Horton方程拟合土壤饱和渗透过程 ,模拟结果与实测结果相近。     

Conservation of Epiphyte Diversity in an Andean Landscape Transformed by Human Land Use

Abstract: Epiphytes are diverse and important elements of tropical forests, but as canopy‐dwelling organisms, they are highly vulnerable to deforestation. To assess the effect of deforestation on epiphyte diversity and the potential for epiphyte conservation in anthropogenically transformed habitats, we surveyed the epiphytic vegetation of an Ecuadorian cloud forest reserve and its surroundings. Our study was located on the western slopes of the Andes, a global center of biodiversity. We sampled vascular epiphytes of 110 study plots in a continuous primary forest; 14 primary forest fragments; isolated remnant trees in young, middle‐aged, and old pastures; and young and old secondary forests. It is the first study to include all relevant types of habitat transformation at a single study site and to compare epiphyte diversity at different temporal stages of fragmentation. Epiphyte diversity was highest in continuous primary forest, followed by forest fragments and isolated remnant trees, and lowest in young secondary forests. Spatial parameters of habitat transformation, such as fragment area, distance to the continuous primary forest, or distance to the forest edge from inside the forest, had no significant effect on epiphyte diversity. Hence, the influence of dispersal limitations appeared to be negligible or appeared to operate only over very short distances, whereas microclimatic edge effects acted only in the case of completely isolated trees, but not in larger forest fragments. Epiphyte diversity increased considerably with age of secondary forests, but species assemblages on isolated remnant trees were impoverished distinctly with time since isolation. Thus, isolated trees may serve for recolonization of secondary forests, but only for a relatively short time. We therefore suggest that the conservation of even small patches of primary forest within agricultural landscape matrices is essential for the long‐term maintenance of the high epiphyte diversity in tropical cloud forests.     

Disturbance-Mediated Mammal Persistence and Abundance-Area Relationships in Amazonian Forest Fragments

Abstract:  Few researchers have investigated the synergistic effects of tropical forest fragmentation and disturbance on species persistence and abundance. We examined effects of both forest-patch metrics and forest disturbance in determining richness and abundance of midsized to large-bodied mammal species in a highly fragmented Amazonian forest landscape. Twenty-one forest fragments, ranging from 2 to 14,480 ha, and two continuous forest sites were sampled based on sightings, tracks, line-transect censuses, armadillo burrow censuses, and camera trapping. Patch occupancy of 37 species recorded ranged from 4% to all forest sites surveyed. Forest fragment size was the strongest predictor of species persistence, explaining 90% of the variation in species richness. Information-theoretic analysis confirmed that fragment area was the most important explanatory variable for the overall species richness and abundance of mammal species, followed by surface fires, which affected the abundance of seven species. Large mammal species were typically absent from fragments <100 ha, whereas some ubiquitous species were favored by fragmentation, exhibiting hyperabundance in small patches. Our findings highlight the importance of large (>10,000 ha), relatively undisturbed forest patches to maximize persistence and maintain baseline abundances of Neotropical forest mammal species.     

论城市森林及其生态系统的建设

由于城市森林及其生态系统是一项重要的绿化基础设施，是城市中人与自然关系的纽带与桥梁，因此，大力加强城市森林生态系统建设是历史发展的必然．以此为依据，阐述了城市森林及其生态系统的概念、研究方法与内容、发展概况，提出了城市森林生态系统建设的5项原则，最后，探讨了城市森林生态系统建设的未来两大发展趋势．     

南京市典型森林群落枯枝落叶层的生态功能研究

对南京市5种典型森林群落枯枝落叶层现存量、营养元素氮磷贮存量、持水量以及吸纳重金属等生态功能的研究结果表明,5种典型森林群落枯枝落叶层现存量、对氮的贮存能力以及最大拦蓄量均以麻栎-栓皮栎群落最大;对磷和5种重金属的贮存量以银杏群落最大,麻栎-栓皮栎群落次之;枫香-桂花和三角枫群落的各项生态功能相对较弱。建议在南京市的城市森林规划和建设中,应保护好现存的地带性植物群落———以麻栎-栓皮栎为优势种的落叶阔叶林群落或营建类地带性植物群落,维护林地枯枝落叶层的完整性,将有助于改善城市生态环境。     

川西高山森林生态系统林下生物量及其随林窗的变化特征

作为森林生态系统的重要组成部分,林下植被及其残体的分布受到林冠层的影响,但迄今有关林窗对林下植被和残体生物量的影响尚无研究报道.于2013 年8 月2 日至20 日,以海拔3 600 m 的川西岷江冷杉原始林林下植被为研究对象,根据区域内的坡向和林分组成等因素设置3 个100 m×100 m 的典型样地,调查其生物量及其随林窗的变化特征.在每个样地内选择3 个大林窗,在林窗、林缘和林下分别设置3 个20 m×20 m 的样方,调查粗木质残体长度或高度、大小头直径、枯立木记录胸径、腐烂等级等;在林窗、林缘和林下分别设置3 个5 m×5 m 的样方,采用“收获法”收集样方内直径在2.5-10 cm之间的细木质残体和灌木生物量;在林窗、林缘和林下分别设置3 个1 m×1 m 的样方来调查凋落物储量和草本生物量;在1m×1 m 的样方内随机选择1 个20 cm×20 cm 的小样方来调查地被植物生物量.结果表明,（1）川西高山森林生态系统总生物量为72.75 t·hm^-2,其中林下生物量为67.92 t·hm^-2,占生态系统生物量的95.17%.活体植被以灌木为主,其生物量为9.81t·hm^-2;残体部分以粗木质残体为主,其储量为53.00 t·hm^-2;（2）林窗对灌木、草本、地被植物的影响各不相同,且不同物种的灌木生物量表现出不同的分布规律;草本生物量表现出明显的“边缘效应”,在林缘显著高于林下;林窗和林缘的地被植物生物量相对较低;（3）粗木质残体储量从林下到林窗呈现减小的趋势,但总体储量仍然较大,林窗和林缘的细木质残体储量高于林下.这些结果为认识高山森林生态系统林下生物量及其格局,以及林窗在森林生态系统的重要作用提供了基础理论依据.     

季风常绿阔叶林演替系列菌根资源及其与群落多样性的关系

随着森林生态系统的正向演替,植物物种多样性、群落结构、生产力以及土壤条件均会发生显著的变化,这些变化对菌根类型和多样性会产生不同程度的影响。为了探讨群落结构和功能的变化对菌根资源可能产生的影响,选择季风常绿阔叶林及其演替系列上的代表性森林生态系统为对象,对菌根化根系、菌根类型和菌根真菌孢子密度进行调查,并结合已有的群落信息和土壤养分状况,分析在森林演替过程中菌根资源的变化情况和可能的影响因素。结果表明:季风常绿阔叶林各演替阶段的森林生态系统中菌根化比例接近70%,但不同演替阶段森林的优势菌根类型存在明显的差异。处于演替初期的马尾松(Pinus massoniana)林以丛枝菌根为主,占菌根总数的78%;演替中期的针阔叶混交林中的外生菌根占有绝对优势,占75%,是丛枝菌根的3倍;演替顶级的季风常绿阔叶林中的外生菌根和丛枝菌根的比例相当。马尾松林的菌根真菌孢子密度最高,每20 g风干土壤中的孢子数量高达2 925个,是针阔叶混交林的2.5倍,季风常绿阔叶林的2倍。演替系列上的森林生态系统的菌根类型的差异与植物物种多样性和群落结构,尤其是林下的灌木、草本层密度存在一定的相关性,同时也受土壤养分状况的影响。马尾松林具有较丰富的草本植物和较高的草本层密度,并且该森林的土壤相对贫瘠,这些条件都有利于丛枝菌根真菌侵染草本植物的根系形成丛枝菌根并产生大量孢子。针阔叶混交林中外生菌根的优势主要受该森林中外生菌根植物在群落组成上的绝对优势影响。季风常绿阔叶林的物种丰富,群落结构复杂,因此该森林呈现了两种类型菌根优势相当的现象。该文的结果表明,随着季风常绿阔叶林演替的进行,菌根资源在类型上会出现较大的分异,而这种变化受植物物种数量、群落结构的影响,与土壤养分状况存在一定的关系,并且不同演替阶段森林生态系统影响菌根组成的因素存在差异。