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Question Forest ecosystems are the most important global repositories of terrestrial biodiversity. The mixed temperate forests in northeastern China constitute one of the most biodiverse temperate regions globally and provide nearly one‐third of China’s wood supply. We ask what are spatial patterns and potential drivers of tree species diversity in mixed temperate forests. Location Temperate, mixed forests of northeastern China. Methods Using a large set of ground‐source forest inventory data (FIN) and geospatial covariates derived from published raster layers, we compared different machine learning and statistical models to study spatial patterns of tree species diversity and their underpinning drivers? Results The spatial distribution of tree species diversity (species richness and evenness) varied greatly across northeastern China. Tree species diversity varied most with climatic (annual precipitation and annual mean temperature), topographic (elevation and slope), and anthropogenic factors. Anthropogenic factors affected tree species evenness (importance value=13%) more than tree species richness (importance value=9%). Based on these relationships, we mapped spatial patterns of tree diversity throughout the region at a 1 km × 1 km resolution. Conclusions Our findings shed light on the processes behind community assembly and biodiversity patterns in mixed temperate forests in northeastern China, and provide a benchmark for future assessment of biodiversity. Our high‐resolution tree species diversity maps can be useful to landowners and land management agencies in their decision‐making processes about sustainable forest management, biodiversity conservation, and forest restoration—a priority task outlined by the recently implemented 2050 China National Forest Management Plan.
Weixue Luo; Chunyu Zhang; Xiuhai Zhao; Jingjing Liang. Understanding patterns and potential drivers of forest diversity in northeastern China using machine‐learning algorithms. Journal of Vegetation Science 2021, 32, e13022 .
AMA StyleWeixue Luo, Chunyu Zhang, Xiuhai Zhao, Jingjing Liang. Understanding patterns and potential drivers of forest diversity in northeastern China using machine‐learning algorithms. Journal of Vegetation Science. 2021; 32 (2):e13022.
Chicago/Turabian StyleWeixue Luo; Chunyu Zhang; Xiuhai Zhao; Jingjing Liang. 2021. "Understanding patterns and potential drivers of forest diversity in northeastern China using machine‐learning algorithms." Journal of Vegetation Science 32, no. 2: e13022.
Aims Traditional quantitative approaches to forest classification are based on differences in species abundance or incidence among communities. In these approaches, all species are regarded as biologically equidistant regardless of the biological heterogeneity. The objective of the study is to evaluate the potential of the “Discriminating Avalanche” approach, which integrates species abundance and biological heterogeneity, as a new basis for forest classification. Location China, India, Iran, Ukraine, Germany, Italy, Mexico, Peru, and South Africa. Method We illustrate our approach using a set of 35 large tree‐mapped forest plots from various regions of the world. Our dissimilarity matrices, which integrate species abundance with biological heterogeneity, are compared with the standard Bray–Curtis and Whittaker dissimilarity indices, and provide the quantitative basis for a hierarchical cluster analysis. Results Four distinct groups of forests were identified using the proposed forest dissimilarity matrix. Afro‐montane forests from South Africa constitute a first group. A second group includes temperate deciduous broad‐leaved forests dominated by oak (Quercus) and beech (Fagus) from Europe and China. Conifer‐dominated forests constitute a third group. The remaining forests constitute the fourth group. Conclusion Biological heterogeneity provides a practical basis for vegetation classification. The results of this study, based on a variety of temperate and tropical forests, suggest that a measure of biological dissimilarity based on evolutionary and morphological differences among species is more effective than the traditional species abundance‐based approaches to classify an arbitrary set of plant communities. This approach promises greater refinement and consistency in ecological classification. In particular, it has advantage in classifying forests along large geographic scales in situations of high beta diversity and species turnover.
Minhui Hao; Klaus von Gadow; Seyed Jalil Alavi; Juan Gabriél Álvarez‐González; Juan Rommel Baluarte‐Vásquez; Javier Corral‐Rivas; Gangying Hui; Mykola Korol; Rajesh Kumar; Jingjing Liang; Peter Meyer; Othumbam Kat Remadevi; Ritu Kakkar; Wenzhen Liu; Xiuhai Zhao; Chunyu Zhang. A classification of woody communities based on biological dissimilarity. Applied Vegetation Science 2021, 24, e12565 .
AMA StyleMinhui Hao, Klaus von Gadow, Seyed Jalil Alavi, Juan Gabriél Álvarez‐González, Juan Rommel Baluarte‐Vásquez, Javier Corral‐Rivas, Gangying Hui, Mykola Korol, Rajesh Kumar, Jingjing Liang, Peter Meyer, Othumbam Kat Remadevi, Ritu Kakkar, Wenzhen Liu, Xiuhai Zhao, Chunyu Zhang. A classification of woody communities based on biological dissimilarity. Applied Vegetation Science. 2021; 24 (1):e12565.
Chicago/Turabian StyleMinhui Hao; Klaus von Gadow; Seyed Jalil Alavi; Juan Gabriél Álvarez‐González; Juan Rommel Baluarte‐Vásquez; Javier Corral‐Rivas; Gangying Hui; Mykola Korol; Rajesh Kumar; Jingjing Liang; Peter Meyer; Othumbam Kat Remadevi; Ritu Kakkar; Wenzhen Liu; Xiuhai Zhao; Chunyu Zhang. 2021. "A classification of woody communities based on biological dissimilarity." Applied Vegetation Science 24, no. 1: e12565.
Forests play an important role in both regional and global C cycles. However, the spatial patterns of biomass C density and underlying factors in Northeast Asia remain unclear. Here, we characterized spatial patterns and important drivers of biomass C density for Northeast Asia, based on multisource data from in‐situ forest inventories, as well as remote sensing, bioclimatic, topographic, and human footprint data. We derived, for the first time, high‐resolution (1 km × 1 km) maps of the current and future forest biomass C density for this region. Based on these maps, we estimated that current biomass C stock in northeastern China, the Democratic People's Republic of Korea, and Republic of Korea to be 2.53, 0.40, and 0.35 Pg C, respectively. Biomass C stock in Northeast Asia has increased by 20–46% over the past 20 years, of which 40–76% was contributed by planted forests. We estimated the biomass C stock in 2080 to be 6.13 and 6.50 Pg C under RCP4.5 and RCP8.5 scenarios, respectively, which exceeded the present region‐wide C stock value by 2.85–3.22 Pg C, and were 8–14% higher than the baseline C stock value (5.70 Pg C). The spatial patterns of biomass C densities were found to vary greatly across the Northeast Asia, and largely decided by mean diameter at breast height, dominant height, elevation, and human footprint. Our results suggest that reforestation and forest conservation in Northeast Asia have effectively expanded the size of the carbon sink in the region, and sustainable forest management practices such as precision forestry and close forest monitoring for fire and insect outbreaks would be important to maintain and improve this critical carbon sink for Northeast Asia.
Weixue Luo; Hyun Seok Kim; Xiuhai Zhao; Daun Ryu; Ilbin Jung; Hyunkook Cho; Nancy Harris; Sayon Ghosh; Chunyu Zhang; Jingjing Liang. New forest biomass carbon stock estimates in Northeast Asia based on multisource data. Global Change Biology 2020, 26, 7045 -7066.
AMA StyleWeixue Luo, Hyun Seok Kim, Xiuhai Zhao, Daun Ryu, Ilbin Jung, Hyunkook Cho, Nancy Harris, Sayon Ghosh, Chunyu Zhang, Jingjing Liang. New forest biomass carbon stock estimates in Northeast Asia based on multisource data. Global Change Biology. 2020; 26 (12):7045-7066.
Chicago/Turabian StyleWeixue Luo; Hyun Seok Kim; Xiuhai Zhao; Daun Ryu; Ilbin Jung; Hyunkook Cho; Nancy Harris; Sayon Ghosh; Chunyu Zhang; Jingjing Liang. 2020. "New forest biomass carbon stock estimates in Northeast Asia based on multisource data." Global Change Biology 26, no. 12: 7045-7066.
The relationship between biodiversity and productivity has stimulated an increasing body of research over the past decades, and this topic still occupies a central place in ecology. While most studies have focused on biomass production in quadrats or plots, few have investigated the scale‐dependent relationship from an individual plant perspective. We present an analysis of the effects of biodiversity (species diversity and functional diversity) on individual tree growth with a data set of 16,060 growth records from a 30‐ha temperate forest plot using spatially explicit individual tree‐based methods. A significant relationship between species diversity and tree growth was found at the individual tree level in our study. The magnitude and direction of biodiversity effects varies with the spatial scale. We found positive effects of species diversity on tree growth at scales exceeding 9 m. Individual tree growth rates increased when there was a greater diversity of species in the neighborhood of the focal tree, which provides evidence of a niche complementarity effect. At small scales (3–5 m), species diversity had negative effects on tree growth, suggesting that competition is more prevalent than complementarity or facilitation in these close neighborhoods. The results also revealed many confounding factors which influence tree growth, such as elevation and available sun light. We conclude that the use of individual tree‐based methods may lead to a better understanding of the biodiversity‐productivity relationship in forest communities.
Chunyu Fan; Lingzhao Tan; Chunyu Zhang; Xiuhai Zhao; Lushuang Gao; Klaus Von Gadow. Scale‐dependent effects of neighborhood biodiversity on individual tree productivity in a coniferous and broad‐leaved mixed forest in China. Ecology and Evolution 2020, 10, 8225 -8234.
AMA StyleChunyu Fan, Lingzhao Tan, Chunyu Zhang, Xiuhai Zhao, Lushuang Gao, Klaus Von Gadow. Scale‐dependent effects of neighborhood biodiversity on individual tree productivity in a coniferous and broad‐leaved mixed forest in China. Ecology and Evolution. 2020; 10 (15):8225-8234.
Chicago/Turabian StyleChunyu Fan; Lingzhao Tan; Chunyu Zhang; Xiuhai Zhao; Lushuang Gao; Klaus Von Gadow. 2020. "Scale‐dependent effects of neighborhood biodiversity on individual tree productivity in a coniferous and broad‐leaved mixed forest in China." Ecology and Evolution 10, no. 15: 8225-8234.
It is well understood that biotic and abiotic variables influence forest productivity. However, in regard to temperate forests, the relative contributions of the aforementioned drivers to biomass demographic processes (i.e., the growth rates of the survivors and recruits) have not received a great deal of attention. Thus, this study focused on the identification of the relative influencing effects of biotic and abiotic variables in the demographic biomass processes of temperate forests. This study was conducted in the Changbai Mountain Nature Reserve, in northeastern China. Based on the observational data collected from three 5.2‐hectare forest plots, the annual above‐ground biomass (AGB) increment (productivity) of the surviving trees, recruits, and the total tree community (survivors + recruits) were estimated. Then, the changes in the forest productivity in response to biotic variables (including species diversity, structural diversity, and density variables) along with abiotic variables (including topographic and soil variables) were evaluated using linear mixed‐effect models. This study determined that the biotic variables regulated the variabilities in productivity. Density variables were the most critical drivers of the annual AGB increments of the surviving trees and total tree community. Structural diversity enhanced the annual AGB increments of the recruits, but diminished the annual AGB increments of the surviving trees and the total tree community. Species diversity and abiotic variables did not have impacts on the productivity in the examined forest plots. The results highlighted the important roles of forest density and structural diversity in the biomass demographic processes of temperate forests. The surviving and recruit trees were found to respond differently to the biotic variables, which suggested that the asymmetric competition had shaped the productivity dynamics in forests. Therefore, the findings emphasized the need to consider the demographic processes of forest productivity to better understand the functions of forests.
Qingmin Yue; Minhui Hao; Xiaoyu Li; Chunyu Zhang; Klaus Von Gadow; Xiuhai Zhao. Assessing biotic and abiotic effects on forest productivity in three temperate forests. Ecology and Evolution 2020, 10, 7887 -7900.
AMA StyleQingmin Yue, Minhui Hao, Xiaoyu Li, Chunyu Zhang, Klaus Von Gadow, Xiuhai Zhao. Assessing biotic and abiotic effects on forest productivity in three temperate forests. Ecology and Evolution. 2020; 10 (14):7887-7900.
Chicago/Turabian StyleQingmin Yue; Minhui Hao; Xiaoyu Li; Chunyu Zhang; Klaus Von Gadow; Xiuhai Zhao. 2020. "Assessing biotic and abiotic effects on forest productivity in three temperate forests." Ecology and Evolution 10, no. 14: 7887-7900.
Niche complementarity, mass-ratio, and vegetation quantity effects have been identified as major drivers of the biodiversity-ecosystem functioning (BEF) relationships. However, their relative contribution to biomass and productivity is not yet clear in temperate secondary forests. Based on the observations from a 21.12-ha temperate secondary forest plot in northeastern China, we assessed how these mechanisms regulate forest biomass and productivity. The niche complementarity effect was quantified using a functional diversity metric that was calculated from six locally collected functional traits. The mass-ratio effect was described as functional trait composition using community-weighted mean trait values. Vegetation quantity effect was evaluated using vegetation biomass. We performed structural equation modeling to test the alternative mechanisms. Our results provide evidence for all three mechanisms. Functional diversity increased forest productivity, in line with the niche complementarity hypothesis. Acquisitive traits (e.g., greater specific leaf area and leaf nitrogen concentration) enhance productivity, while conservative traits (e.g., greater wood density) enhance the long-term accumulation of biomass, demonstrating the mass-ratio hypothesis. Furthermore, we observed a significant positive relationship between biomass and productivity, confirming the vegetation quantity hypothesis. We conclude that functional traits drive biomass and productivity through multiple mechanisms. Both niche complementarity and the mass-ratio effects play roles in this temperate secondary forest. In addition, we emphasize the importance of preserving sufficient biomass stock to ensure maximum productivity in secondary forests. Our study contributes to the identification of the mechanisms underlying BEF relationships and has practical significance for guiding temperate secondary forest management and conservation.
Minhui Hao; Christian Messier; Yan Geng; Chunyu Zhang; Xiuhai Zhao; Klaus Von Gadow. Functional traits influence biomass and productivity through multiple mechanisms in a temperate secondary forest. European Journal of Forest Research 2020, 139, 959 -968.
AMA StyleMinhui Hao, Christian Messier, Yan Geng, Chunyu Zhang, Xiuhai Zhao, Klaus Von Gadow. Functional traits influence biomass and productivity through multiple mechanisms in a temperate secondary forest. European Journal of Forest Research. 2020; 139 (6):959-968.
Chicago/Turabian StyleMinhui Hao; Christian Messier; Yan Geng; Chunyu Zhang; Xiuhai Zhao; Klaus Von Gadow. 2020. "Functional traits influence biomass and productivity through multiple mechanisms in a temperate secondary forest." European Journal of Forest Research 139, no. 6: 959-968.
Carbon (C) and nitrogen (N) represent the commonest limiting nutrients for microbial growth in terrestrial ecosystems. However, most of our understanding of how C:N ratios modulate microbial growth comes from short-term growth assays under controlled conditions. Four levels of N additions including control (CK, 0 kg·hm− 2·a− 1), low N (LN, 50 kg·hm− 2·a− 1), medium N (MN, 100 kg·hm− 2·a− 1), and high N (HN, 150 kg·hm− 2·a− 1) inputs were applied monthly in a pine forest (Pinus tabulaeformis). Three C management practices were further conducted in each N additions plot, namely aboveground litter and belowground root removal (LRR), aboveground litter removal (LR), and intact soils (non-removal, NR). Soil bacterial richness, diversity, community composition and soil properties were measured. MN and HN significantly increased the relative abundance of copiotrophic taxa, but decreased that of oligotrophic taxa. Bacterial richness and diversity were not altered by N enrichment. LRR significantly increased the relative abundance of Gemmatimonadetes while decreased that of Actinobacteria. C management did not affect bacterial richness and community structure but LR significantly decreased bacterial diversity. Structural equation modeling showed that N addition induced the decrease in soil pH was responsible for the changes in the bacterial community structure. C management exhibited a direct negative effect on bacterial diversity and had an indirect positive effect on it via increasing soil moisture and microbial biomass C:N ratio. The findings highlight the contrasting impacts of N addition and C management on soil bacterial communities and emphasize the regulation of above- and below-ground C substrate supplies on the N responses of soil bacterial communities.
Lu Yang; Na Wang; Ye Chen; Wen Yang; Dashuan Tian; Chunyu Zhang; Xiuhai Zhao; Jinsong Wang; Shuli Niu. Carbon management practices regulate soil bacterial communities in response to nitrogen addition in a pine forest. Plant and Soil 2020, 452, 137 -151.
AMA StyleLu Yang, Na Wang, Ye Chen, Wen Yang, Dashuan Tian, Chunyu Zhang, Xiuhai Zhao, Jinsong Wang, Shuli Niu. Carbon management practices regulate soil bacterial communities in response to nitrogen addition in a pine forest. Plant and Soil. 2020; 452 (1-2):137-151.
Chicago/Turabian StyleLu Yang; Na Wang; Ye Chen; Wen Yang; Dashuan Tian; Chunyu Zhang; Xiuhai Zhao; Jinsong Wang; Shuli Niu. 2020. "Carbon management practices regulate soil bacterial communities in response to nitrogen addition in a pine forest." Plant and Soil 452, no. 1-2: 137-151.
Seedling dynamics are driven by various biotic factors (for example, neighborhood interactions) and abiotic conditions (for example, light availability, topography, and soil nutrients). Therefore, quantifying the drivers of seedling survival is critical for understanding seedling dynamics within plant communities. However, how the importance of certain biotic and abiotic factors changes over growth stages is still relatively unknown. In the present study, the importance of density and distance dependence were examined, as well as the effects of abiotic factors, in regard to the survival of both newly germinated and established seedlings and saplings (<1 cm DBH; taller than 30 cm in height; and at least 2 years of age). A total of 1305 seedlings belonging to 21 species of a temperate forest in northeastern China were monitored. It was found there were significant conspecific negative density dependence (CNDD) effects impacting the survival of the established seedlings. In addition, the newly germinated seedlings were found to be less affected by the CNDD. The abiotic effects on seedling survival were not found to be significant. These results suggested that at the community level, the density dependence effects may be stronger during the seedling stage when compared with the abiotic factors. The distance dependence was observed to be mainly effective within a radius of approximately 5 m for both the newly germinated and established seedling communities. The directions and magnitudes of the aforementioned factors were affected by different life-history strategies. The seedlings which were wind-dispersed and the shade-tolerant species tended to suffer less from the CNDD. Therefore, based on an unusually large set of observations in a temperate forest, this study identified and analyzed the factors affecting seedling survival for different life-history strategies. The obtained results will potentially provide new perspectives for deepening the understanding of the dynamics of temperate forests.
Jianghuan Qin; Zhonghui Zhang; Yan Geng; Chunyu Zhang; Zilong Song; Xiuhai Zhao. Variations of density-dependent seedling survival in a temperate forest. Forest Ecology and Management 2020, 468, 118158 .
AMA StyleJianghuan Qin, Zhonghui Zhang, Yan Geng, Chunyu Zhang, Zilong Song, Xiuhai Zhao. Variations of density-dependent seedling survival in a temperate forest. Forest Ecology and Management. 2020; 468 ():118158.
Chicago/Turabian StyleJianghuan Qin; Zhonghui Zhang; Yan Geng; Chunyu Zhang; Zilong Song; Xiuhai Zhao. 2020. "Variations of density-dependent seedling survival in a temperate forest." Forest Ecology and Management 468, no. : 118158.
National Forest Inventory and forest assessments are attracting increasing attention owing to their role in providing information related to manifold forest functions. There is a high demand for global information about forests and multiple services that these ecosystems provide. Of particular, current interest are forest assessment systems at national level by countries that wish to engage themselves in the REDD+ initiative. The discipline of Forest Inventory has developed a versatile toolbox of techniques and methods useful for national-level forest assessments. This chapter presents a brief overview of the National Forest Inventory (NFI) in India vis-à-vis some other developed countries and highlights the proposed changes in plot design while revising NFI in India. Some new initiatives by Forest Survey of India have also been highlighted. With an increase in requirement of information and new technological developments, a constant adaptation of the NFI framework and introduction of the new NFI design for India is essential. The new NFI for India has been designed to cope with changing contexts, new technical developments and the unique socio-ecological conditions in India. The details of the new design with a focus on terrestrial assessments using field plots of different sizes and shapes are presented. It is shown why concentric circular plots, which are widely used in the Northern Hemisphere, are found unsuitable for the species-rich forests of India. The particular structure of the new Indian NFI is also briefly discussed and compared with other large-scale NFI’s as well as global Big Data initiatives. A unique feature of the new Indian NFI is an integrated system of temporary and permanent field plots. Permanent observational plots are designed to monitor forest change and complement the network of temporary field plots.
V. P. Tewari; Rajesh Kumar; K. V. Gadow. National Forest Inventory in India: Developments Toward a New Design to Meet Emerging Challenges. Forum for Interdisciplinary Mathematics 2020, 13 -33.
AMA StyleV. P. Tewari, Rajesh Kumar, K. V. Gadow. National Forest Inventory in India: Developments Toward a New Design to Meet Emerging Challenges. Forum for Interdisciplinary Mathematics. 2020; ():13-33.
Chicago/Turabian StyleV. P. Tewari; Rajesh Kumar; K. V. Gadow. 2020. "National Forest Inventory in India: Developments Toward a New Design to Meet Emerging Challenges." Forum for Interdisciplinary Mathematics , no. : 13-33.
Jie Yao; Benedicte Bachelot; Lingjun Meng; Jianghuan Qin; Xiuhai Zhao; Chunyu Zhang. Abiotic niche partitioning and negative density dependence across multiple life stages in a temperate forest in northeastern China. Journal of Ecology 2019, 108, 1299 -1310.
AMA StyleJie Yao, Benedicte Bachelot, Lingjun Meng, Jianghuan Qin, Xiuhai Zhao, Chunyu Zhang. Abiotic niche partitioning and negative density dependence across multiple life stages in a temperate forest in northeastern China. Journal of Ecology. 2019; 108 (4):1299-1310.
Chicago/Turabian StyleJie Yao; Benedicte Bachelot; Lingjun Meng; Jianghuan Qin; Xiuhai Zhao; Chunyu Zhang. 2019. "Abiotic niche partitioning and negative density dependence across multiple life stages in a temperate forest in northeastern China." Journal of Ecology 108, no. 4: 1299-1310.
Beta diversity is an essential topic for understanding the spatial organization of species composition. By partitioning beta diversity into local contributions to beta diversity (LCBDs) and species contributions to beta diversity (SCBDs), this study can help to arrive at a more general and specific understanding of how beta diversity responds to environmental conditions and is affected by ecological and biological traits of species, which will provide useful advice for the conservation of forest biodiversity. In this study, we used data from a temperate near-mature forest in northeastern China. We used the method of beta regression to point out important factors affecting LCBD and SCBD. The results showed that LCBD was strongly related to species richness, abundance and abiotic environmental conditions, while SCBD was significantly affected by abundance and species niche characteristics. We conclude that our results are of considerable importance for the conservation of forest biodiversity and are of the opinion that these can provide detailed plans in conservation decision making.
Lingzhao Tan; Chunyu Fan; Chunyu Zhang; Xiuhai Zhao. Understanding and protecting forest biodiversity in relation to species and local contributions to beta diversity. European Journal of Forest Research 2019, 138, 1005 -1013.
AMA StyleLingzhao Tan, Chunyu Fan, Chunyu Zhang, Xiuhai Zhao. Understanding and protecting forest biodiversity in relation to species and local contributions to beta diversity. European Journal of Forest Research. 2019; 138 (6):1005-1013.
Chicago/Turabian StyleLingzhao Tan; Chunyu Fan; Chunyu Zhang; Xiuhai Zhao. 2019. "Understanding and protecting forest biodiversity in relation to species and local contributions to beta diversity." European Journal of Forest Research 138, no. 6: 1005-1013.
The application of remote sensing in understanding tree species structural diversity and land use patterns relationship is imperative for reforestation and biodiversity conservation efforts. This study assesses land use patterns and tree species structural diversity in previously reforested hilly sandstone regions of northern Togo. The physical height, and diameter at breast height (DBH) more than 5 cm of all tree species in each given plot were measured in summer 2017. A total of 75 plots of 900 m2 installed along the toposequence were recorded. In addition, a semi-supervised classification of Landsat 8 images in January of 2018, was also used to classify the land use patterns. 36 tree species and 19 families were recorded for the entire study area. Meanwhile, 19 tree species and 15 families were recorded for the previously afforested zones. The most abundant species included the Sterculiaceae, Zygophyllaceae, Meliaceae, and Mimosaceae. The trees stand structure represented 8.61 ± 0.57 m, 11.28 ± 1.76 cm, and 0.018 ± 0.009 m2 per hectare for height, diameter and basal area respectively. Major land use patterns were tree and shrub savannahs, parklands and croplands which represented over 60% of the landscape. It is necessary to examine the regeneration and vegetative multiplication potentials of the most frequent and abundant tree species for any eventual future afforestation programs in these hilly sandstone regions of northern Togo.
Fousseni Folega; Wouyo Atakpama; Kperkouma Wala; Beckline Mukete; Shibata Shozo; Osawa Akira; Xiu-Hai Zhao; Koffi Akpagana. Land use patterns and tree species diversity in the Volta Geological Unit, Togo. Journal of Mountain Science 2019, 16, 1869 -1882.
AMA StyleFousseni Folega, Wouyo Atakpama, Kperkouma Wala, Beckline Mukete, Shibata Shozo, Osawa Akira, Xiu-Hai Zhao, Koffi Akpagana. Land use patterns and tree species diversity in the Volta Geological Unit, Togo. Journal of Mountain Science. 2019; 16 (8):1869-1882.
Chicago/Turabian StyleFousseni Folega; Wouyo Atakpama; Kperkouma Wala; Beckline Mukete; Shibata Shozo; Osawa Akira; Xiu-Hai Zhao; Koffi Akpagana. 2019. "Land use patterns and tree species diversity in the Volta Geological Unit, Togo." Journal of Mountain Science 16, no. 8: 1869-1882.
The results of this study, based on a large dataset with mapped tree locations, suggest that the relationship between biodiversity and ecosystem functioning (BEF) is different between the over- and understorey in the investigated forest community. Neither the functional nor the phylogenetic diversity showed a significant advantage in predicting aboveground biomass and biomass production (aboveground biomass increment) when compared with species richness. Consistent conclusions have still not been reached regarding the relative importance of the different diversity indices in predicting biomass production. Furthermore, the effects of certain forest strata on the BEF relationship remain unclear. The woody plant species in the study area were classified as two vertical strata and were referred to as the “overstorey” (trees with dbh > 10 cm) and “understorey” (trees with dbh ≤ 10 cm). The relationships between different metrics of tree diversity and biomass production were quantified using linear models. The set of the best predictors for tree biomass and productions were determined using a multi-model selection approach. The differences in diversity-ecosystem functioning relationships between the two forest vertical strata, and the effects of canopy trees on the understorey trees, were investigated using structural equation models. The relative importance of the species diversity, phylogenetic diversity, and functional diversity in predicting the aboveground biomass production (ABP) was examined to compare the potential of phylogenetic and functional diversity indices and species richness in predicting biomass productivity and compare the influence of niche complementarity, selection effects, or mass-ratio effects on aboveground biomass variables and to assess possible differences in the BEF relationships between the overstorey and understorey layers in the studied ecosystems. Also, this study investigated possible differences in the BEF relationships between the overstorey and understorey layers in the studied ecosystems. The results confirmed a positive diversity-productivity relationship in the natural coniferous and broadleaved mixed forest. However, the relationship in the overstorey stratum was statistically stronger than that in the understorey layer. The combination of diversity indices and functional traits could explain more of the variations in the biomass and productivity than when examined separately. The correlation between the richness of the overstorey and understorey species was found to be positive. However, the aboveground woody biomass of the overstorey layer had negative effects on the understorey biomass. In summary, this study found a stronger positive correlation between the woody plant diversity and productivity in the overstorey than in the understorey stratum. These findings indicate that the BEF relationships are hierarchically dependent, and supported by niche complementarity. Also, a much weaker relationship was observed between the functional diversity and biomass production than between the species diversity and biomass production due to a selection effect. The aboveground woody biomass was found to be enhanced in communities dominated by functional traits correlated to smaller leaf areas, greater maximum tree heights, and higher leaf carbon content. These findings suggest that the BEF relationships were driven by a mass-ratio hypothesis.
Wei Xu; Weixue Luo; Chunyu Zhang; Xiuhai Zhao; Klaus Von Gadow; Zhonghui Zhang. Biodiversity-ecosystem functioning relationships of overstorey versus understorey trees in an old-growth temperate forest. Annals of Forest Science 2019, 76, 64 .
AMA StyleWei Xu, Weixue Luo, Chunyu Zhang, Xiuhai Zhao, Klaus Von Gadow, Zhonghui Zhang. Biodiversity-ecosystem functioning relationships of overstorey versus understorey trees in an old-growth temperate forest. Annals of Forest Science. 2019; 76 (3):64.
Chicago/Turabian StyleWei Xu; Weixue Luo; Chunyu Zhang; Xiuhai Zhao; Klaus Von Gadow; Zhonghui Zhang. 2019. "Biodiversity-ecosystem functioning relationships of overstorey versus understorey trees in an old-growth temperate forest." Annals of Forest Science 76, no. 3: 64.
Simulation and prediction of forest productivity in the context of climate change is more difficult in mixed forests than that in monocultures, because of spatial and species-specific differences in tree growth-climate relationships. A detailed study on species-specific tree growth-climate relationships and their spatial variability is thus essential. Here, we focus on a mixed forest at Changbai Mountain in semi-humid area bestriding the China-Korea border which has experienced rapid climate warming over the past 50 years. Three dominate tree species, one coniferous (Korean pine) and two broad-leaved species (Mongolian oak and Manchurian ash), were selected to analyze how climate warming has affected and will affect tree growth in 21st century along an elevational gradient. Our results showed enhanced growth after 1960s. This trend is predicted to continue until 2070, although elevation could modify the main patterns of climate responses observed among the different species. Compared with low or medium elevations, the correlation coefficient between tree radial growth and temperature was lower at higher sites, except in the case of Mongolian oak, in which there was a similar pattern at all three elevational levels. Korean pine at medium elevation and Machurian ash at the low elevation grew the fastest. Our work confirmed sensitivities of growth-temperature differ in species and across the elevational distribution. It contributes to the estimation of terrestrial carbon sink dynamics.
Jing Cao; Hongyan Liu; Bo Zhao; Zongshan Li; David M. Drew; Xiuhai Zhao. Species-specific and elevation-differentiated responses of tree growth to rapid warming in a mixed forest lead to a continuous growth enhancement in semi-humid Northeast Asia. Forest Ecology and Management 2019, 448, 76 -84.
AMA StyleJing Cao, Hongyan Liu, Bo Zhao, Zongshan Li, David M. Drew, Xiuhai Zhao. Species-specific and elevation-differentiated responses of tree growth to rapid warming in a mixed forest lead to a continuous growth enhancement in semi-humid Northeast Asia. Forest Ecology and Management. 2019; 448 ():76-84.
Chicago/Turabian StyleJing Cao; Hongyan Liu; Bo Zhao; Zongshan Li; David M. Drew; Xiuhai Zhao. 2019. "Species-specific and elevation-differentiated responses of tree growth to rapid warming in a mixed forest lead to a continuous growth enhancement in semi-humid Northeast Asia." Forest Ecology and Management 448, no. : 76-84.
The Species-area relationship is one of the core issues in community ecology and an important basis for scale transformation of biodiversity. However, the effect of scale on this relationship, together with the selection of an optimal species-area model for different sampling methods, is still controversial. This study is based on the data from two sampling areas of 40 km2 in size, one in a Korean pine (Pinus koraiensis Sieb. et Zucc) broad-leaved mixed forest in Mt. Changbai and the other in Jiaohe, Jilin Province. The logarithmic, power, and logistic model were established on a scale of 10 km2, 20 km2, and 30 km2, respectively, using a nested sampling plot and random sampling plot. The goodness of the species-area model was tested by the Akaike information criterion (AIC). The results show that the sampling method affected the relationship between species and area, and the data were fitted better under random sampling compared with nested sampling. The construction of the relationship between species and area was closely related to the upper limit of the sampling area size. On a small scale (10 km2), the data were fitted best with the logarithmic and logistic model, whereas the logistic model was the best fit on a medium (20 km2) and large scale (30 km2). We evaluated the scale dependence of species-area relationship in two forests with nested and random sampling methods. We further showed that the logistic model based on the random sampling plot can explain most soundly the species-area relationship in Jiaohe and Mt. Changbai. More studies are needed in other regions to develop models to optimize sampling designs for different forest types under different density constraints at different spatial scales, and for a more accurate estimation of forest dynamics under long-term observations.
Beibei Chen; Jun Jiang; Xiuhai Zhao; Chen; Zhao. Species-Area Relationship and Its Scale-Dependent Effects in Natural Forests of North Eastern China. Forests 2019, 10, 422 .
AMA StyleBeibei Chen, Jun Jiang, Xiuhai Zhao, Chen, Zhao. Species-Area Relationship and Its Scale-Dependent Effects in Natural Forests of North Eastern China. Forests. 2019; 10 (5):422.
Chicago/Turabian StyleBeibei Chen; Jun Jiang; Xiuhai Zhao; Chen; Zhao. 2019. "Species-Area Relationship and Its Scale-Dependent Effects in Natural Forests of North Eastern China." Forests 10, no. 5: 422.
Quantifying the compositional differences among communities is central to answering some of the most challenging questions in community ecology. Traditional species-based estimates of community dissimilarity convey little information regarding the biological heterogeneity of species. More refined phylogenetic- and functional-based measures can improve the understanding of ecological mechanisms that drive species composition. However, a generalized framework, which unifies taxonomic, phylogenetic, and functional information of communities is still lackling. We present a new general framework for assessing the biological dissimilarity among communities based on species frequencies and biological (including taxonomic, phylogenetic, and functional) distances between species. We used the observations collected in a 30-hectare forest plot in northeastern China to illustrate the application of the new approach and its ability to discriminate communities along spatial and environmental gradients. The results suggested that both spatial and environmental gradients play significant roles in driving the species composition of forest communities. Compared with spatial gradients, local environmental conditions had a greater influence. Conclusion: The ability to measure differences among communities, based on species frequency and biological distances is useful for estimating effects of habitat heterogeneity, for understanding the mechanism of community assembly, and for assessing disturbance effects or species invasions at local or global scales. The Avalanche approach presented in this study represents an effective framework for comparing different measures of biological dissimilarity in one compatible system.
Minhui Hao; Kotiganahalli Narayanagowda Ganeshaiah; Chunyu Zhang; Xiuhai Zhao; Klaus von Gadow. Discriminating among forest communities based on taxonomic, phylogenetic and trait distances. Forest Ecology and Management 2019, 440, 40 -47.
AMA StyleMinhui Hao, Kotiganahalli Narayanagowda Ganeshaiah, Chunyu Zhang, Xiuhai Zhao, Klaus von Gadow. Discriminating among forest communities based on taxonomic, phylogenetic and trait distances. Forest Ecology and Management. 2019; 440 ():40-47.
Chicago/Turabian StyleMinhui Hao; Kotiganahalli Narayanagowda Ganeshaiah; Chunyu Zhang; Xiuhai Zhao; Klaus von Gadow. 2019. "Discriminating among forest communities based on taxonomic, phylogenetic and trait distances." Forest Ecology and Management 440, no. : 40-47.
Understanding the responses of soil respiration (Rs) to thinning is essential to evaluate the effects of management practices on carbon cycling in plantation forest ecosystems. However, how Rs and its components (autotrophic, Ra and heterotrophic respiration, Rh) vary with thinning intensity and the underlying mechanisms are not well understood. In the present study we monitored Rs, Ra and Rh over five growing seasons using a trenching method in a Pinus tabuliformis plantation subjected to four thinning treatments (no thinning, CK; light thinning, LT; moderate thinning, MT and heavy thinning, HT). On average, LT and MT significantly increased Rs by 13% and 17%, respectively, compared with the CK. These increments of Rs were ascribed to the enhanced Ra in LT and MT plots, because light and moderate thinning promoted root growth and productivity (higher fine root biomass). However, HT did not result in a further increase in Ra, suggesting that increases in the activity of remaining trees and understory plants did not compensate for the reduced photosynthesis and the amount of respiring tree roots by extensive tree-cut. In contrast to Ra, variation in Rh was unrelated to thinning, partly due to the stable forest floor mass (non-living organic materials such as litter and fine woody debris) and microbial biomass carbon content (MBC) between thinned and control plots. The temperature sensitivity (Q10) of Ra and Rh ranged from 1.40 to 3.07 and 2.34–3.42, respectively. The highest Q10 of Ra was observed in MT while that of Rh occurred in LT. Soil moisture was significantly correlated with Rh but a poor predictor for Ra. Our findings demonstrated that Ra and Rh responded to thinning intensity independently of each other. The intensity of management and plant-mediated biological processes are of particular importance in evaluating the impacts of forest management on C sequestration potential in plantation forests.
Bo Zhao; Jing Cao; Yan Geng; Xiuhai Zhao; Klaus von Gadow. Inconsistent responses of soil respiration and its components to thinning intensity in a Pinus tabuliformis plantation in northern China. Agricultural and Forest Meteorology 2018, 265, 370 -380.
AMA StyleBo Zhao, Jing Cao, Yan Geng, Xiuhai Zhao, Klaus von Gadow. Inconsistent responses of soil respiration and its components to thinning intensity in a Pinus tabuliformis plantation in northern China. Agricultural and Forest Meteorology. 2018; 265 ():370-380.
Chicago/Turabian StyleBo Zhao; Jing Cao; Yan Geng; Xiuhai Zhao; Klaus von Gadow. 2018. "Inconsistent responses of soil respiration and its components to thinning intensity in a Pinus tabuliformis plantation in northern China." Agricultural and Forest Meteorology 265, no. : 370-380.
Along the urban-rural gradient in megacities, the extent and material composition of impervious surfaces are different. This leads to variations in the frequently mentioned heat-island property, but possibly also to different spectral signatures and, consequently, different accuracies in remote sensing image classification. This, in turn, creates a challenge when iit comes to selecting suitable image processing techniques. In this study, we examine how the accuracy of land-cover classification changes along an urban-rural gradient as a function of spatial resolution and the gradient in landscape structure. RapidEye, Sentinel-2A and Landsat 8 images were used. Land-cover classification was performed using a deep learning model and landscape metrics were used to assess landscape structure. A high degree of landscape heterogeneity and lowest classification accuracy was observed in the transition zone between urban and rural domains, within a stretch of 15 to 20 kilometres from the urban center. As expected, spatial resolution was found to be influential in classification accuracy. A comparison of classifications indicates that within rural landscapes finer resolution images retain more spatial and thematic details in land-cover, e.g., RapidEye and Sentinel-2A imagery better distinguish built-up areas within the agricultural landscape and discriminate more of the mapped land-cover/use classes than Landsat 8. Overall accuracy increased with increasing spatial resolution (30 m, 10 m, 5 m) within the urban and rural areas, however, the 10 m resolution image (Sentinel-2A) produced better results in the transition zone. The findings from this study provide a basis for more focused, consistent and possibly more accurate time-series analyses of land-use dynamics at the urban-rural interface.
Kwame Awuah; Nils Nölke; Maximilian Freudenberg; B.N. Diwakara; V.P. Tewari; Christoph Kleinn. Spatial resolution and landscape structure along an urban-rural gradient: Do they relate to remote sensing classification accuracy? – A case study in the megacity of Bengaluru, India. Remote Sensing Applications: Society and Environment 2018, 12, 89 -98.
AMA StyleKwame Awuah, Nils Nölke, Maximilian Freudenberg, B.N. Diwakara, V.P. Tewari, Christoph Kleinn. Spatial resolution and landscape structure along an urban-rural gradient: Do they relate to remote sensing classification accuracy? – A case study in the megacity of Bengaluru, India. Remote Sensing Applications: Society and Environment. 2018; 12 ():89-98.
Chicago/Turabian StyleKwame Awuah; Nils Nölke; Maximilian Freudenberg; B.N. Diwakara; V.P. Tewari; Christoph Kleinn. 2018. "Spatial resolution and landscape structure along an urban-rural gradient: Do they relate to remote sensing classification accuracy? – A case study in the megacity of Bengaluru, India." Remote Sensing Applications: Society and Environment 12, no. : 89-98.
Increasing atmospheric nitrogen (N) deposition has profound effects on carbon (C) cycling in forest ecosystems. As an important part of belowground C dynamics, soil respiration is potentially affected by changing N availability. However, the responses of total soil respiration (RST) and its three components, soil respiration derived from plant roots (RSR), root-free soil (RSS) and the litter layer (RSL), to such N enrichment remains poorly understood. To assess the effects of N enrichment on soil respiration components, three levels of N addition, namely low (LN, 50 kg N ha−1 year−1), medium (MN, 100 kg N ha−1 year−1) and high (HN, 150 kg N ha−1 year−1), were conducted over five growing seasons from 2011 to 2015 in a temperate Chinese pine (Pinus tabulaeformis) forest in northern China. A control plot without N addition (CK) was also established. The five-year mean annual rate of RST was 2.18 ± 0.43 μmol m−2 s−1, and the contributions of RSR, RSS and RSL were 8.8 ± 3.1%, 82.2 ± 4.5% and 9.0 ± 5.5%, respectively. Compared with CK, RST was significantly increased by 16.5% in the HN plots, but not in the LN or MN treatments. RSS was significantly decreased by 18.1%, 26.6% and 18.4% in the LN, MN and HN plots, respectively, due to the reduction of both microbial biomass carbon (MBC) and enzyme activity. In contrast, RSR was increased by more than twice under the MN treatment, which promoted root growth and activity (higher fine root biomass and N concentration). A significant elevation in RSL was only detected in the HN plots, where the increased litter input enhanced litter decomposition and hence RSL. Our findings clearly demonstrated that N addition of different intensities had different effects on soil components. In particular, the above- and belowground components of heterotrophic respiration, RSL and RSR, showed contrasting responses to high level addition of N. Thus, we highlight that the response of soil respiration components to N addition should be examined individually. Our results may contribute to a better understanding of soil respiration dynamics under future N scenarios, and have important implications in forest management.
Bo Zhao; Yan Geng; Jing Cao; Lu Yang; Xiuhai Zhao. Contrasting Responses of Soil Respiration Components in Response to Five-Year Nitrogen Addition in a Pinus tabulaeformis Forest in Northern China. Forests 2018, 9, 544 .
AMA StyleBo Zhao, Yan Geng, Jing Cao, Lu Yang, Xiuhai Zhao. Contrasting Responses of Soil Respiration Components in Response to Five-Year Nitrogen Addition in a Pinus tabulaeformis Forest in Northern China. Forests. 2018; 9 (9):544.
Chicago/Turabian StyleBo Zhao; Yan Geng; Jing Cao; Lu Yang; Xiuhai Zhao. 2018. "Contrasting Responses of Soil Respiration Components in Response to Five-Year Nitrogen Addition in a Pinus tabulaeformis Forest in Northern China." Forests 9, no. 9: 544.
Increased atmospheric N deposition is known to have significant effects on soil respiration (Rs) in natural and planted forest ecosystems. Responses of Rs to such N enrichment has been widely investigated in forest ecosystems, both in natural and planted forests. As natural and planted forests differ in many aspects (e.g. species composition, forest management and succession stage, soil properties etc.), the responses of Rs in natural and planted forests to N addition may be different. However, so far, few studies have made a direct comparison between natural versus planted forests. To fill this gap, we have examined how autotrophic (Ra), heterotrophic (Rh) and total Rs respond to experimental N addition in a natural and a planted Pinus tabulaeformis forests in northern China. Three levels of N addition (CK = 0, LN = 50 and HN = 100 kg N ha−1 yr.−1) were applied monthly over five growing seasons. Soil respiration and its components, soil properties, microbial biomass (MBC), enzymes activity and fine root biomass were measured. After 5-years of N addition, our results showed that: (1) for all three treatments, mean annual Rs of the planted forest were significantly higher than that of the natural forest; (2) in the natural forest, mean annual Rh was reduced by 16.8 and 28.3% under LN and HN treatments, respectively, whereas in the planted forest, mean annual Rh was reduced by 14.4 and 18.3% under LN and HN treatments, respectively. (3) mean annual Ra was increased by 47.6 and 59.5% under LN and HN, respectively, in the natural forest. In contrast, in the planted forest, LN and HN both enhanced Ra to the same rate. In both natural and planted forests, the inhibition of Rh was largely associated with the decreased microbial biomass C (MBC) and reduced activity of the cellulose degrading enzyme. However, inconsistent patterns of Ra to N addition of different intensities in the natural vs. planted forests might be due to root ammonium toxicity under high N-availability scenarios. We demonstrated that the natural and planted forests may differ in their Rs responses to N addition, depending on different responses of Ra. Our results may have potential implications for forest management and predicting forest ecosystem carbon balance under future N scenarios.
Bo Zhao; Jinsong Wang; Jing Cao; Xiuhai Zhao; Klaus V. Gadow. Inconsistent autotrophic respiration but consistent heterotrophic respiration responses to 5-years nitrogen addition under natural and planted Pinus tabulaeformis forests in northern China. Plant and Soil 2018, 429, 375 -389.
AMA StyleBo Zhao, Jinsong Wang, Jing Cao, Xiuhai Zhao, Klaus V. Gadow. Inconsistent autotrophic respiration but consistent heterotrophic respiration responses to 5-years nitrogen addition under natural and planted Pinus tabulaeformis forests in northern China. Plant and Soil. 2018; 429 (1-2):375-389.
Chicago/Turabian StyleBo Zhao; Jinsong Wang; Jing Cao; Xiuhai Zhao; Klaus V. Gadow. 2018. "Inconsistent autotrophic respiration but consistent heterotrophic respiration responses to 5-years nitrogen addition under natural and planted Pinus tabulaeformis forests in northern China." Plant and Soil 429, no. 1-2: 375-389.