Tree Planting:How Fast Can It Accelerate Post-fire Forest Restoration?——A Case Study in Northern Da Hinggan Mountains,China

In 1987,a catastrophic fire burned over 1330000 ha in the densely forested area of the Da Hinggan Mountains in the northeastern China.After the fire,intensive management including burned trunk harvesting and coniferous tree planting had been conducted to accelerate forest restoration.To study the long term effect of these activities on forest recovery,we used a simulation modeling approach to study long-term(300 years) forest dynamics under current planting and natural regeneration scenarios.Results indicat...     

RS AND GIS-BASED FOREST FIRE RISK ZONE MAPPING IN DA HINGGAN MOUNTAINS

1INTRODUCTIONForests are one of the major natural resources that per-form important environmental and recreational func-tions (COSTANZA and GROOT, 1997). It is well known that forests can absorb atmospheric carbon, maintain a certain degree of humidity in atmosphere, regulate rainfall, moderate temperature, and restrain soil erosion, etc. (AURELIA, 2003). So, the health of a forest in any given area is a very important indicator of the ecological conditions. But fire is the great…     

A PROJECT OF SUSTAINABLE UTILIZATION OF FOREST RESOURCES SUPPORTED BY GIS

lINThODUCnoNResourcesarethefoundationofeconomicdevel-opment,andsustainabledevelopmentistheinevitabletrendofhumandevelopment.Thesustainabedevel-opmentofChineseforestryisanimPOrtantPOrtionofChinesesustainabledevelopmentstrategy,andforestresourceisthekeyproblemofsustaialleforestryde-velopment.Therefore,exploringthereasonableforestresourcemanagementandutilizationprojecthasimpor-tantsignificancefortherealizationofsustainableforestrydevelopment-DaHingganMountainsforestdistrictisoneoftheimPOrt…     

Effects of forest roads on habitat pattern for sables in Da Hinggan Mountains,northeasten China

The anthropogenic managements of forest have created a network of roads resulting in the loss and alternation of habitat. To better understand road＇s impact on animal habitats, we assessed the habitat pattern of sables （Martes zibellina）, one of rodents within national first-class protected species, when roads are considered in Huzhong area in Da Hinggan Mountains, northeastern China. Em- ploying published literatures about behavior ecology, aerial photographs and forest stand maps, we classified the study area into three habitat types including best-suitable, suitable and unsuitable habitats based on sable habitat requirements at the landscape scale includ- ing four variables derived from forest source map with attribute database. Results indicated the loss and significant fragmentation of best-suitable habitat and home range habitat when roads, especially 150 m avoidance distance of roads, were considered. The roads re- duced and fragmented highly suitable habitats more significantly during earlier development period than the later development period. Additionally, the suitable area percentage increased with increasing distance to roads. This study helped to identify the suitable area for sables and location of sable population. Also, this study suggested the passage construction and road management involving road clo- sure and removal will reduce the fragmentation functionally and benefit the sable population.     

Value Assessment of Wetland Ecosystem Services in the Da Hinggan Mountains,China

This study examined regional differences in ecosystem services for the Da Hinggan Mountains(DHM),China.A correction index was constructed based on ten-year aver...     

Symbiosis of Marshes and Permafrost in Da and Xiao Hinggan Mountains in Northeastern China

Recently, the degradation of permafrost and marsh environments in the Da and Xiao Hinggan Mountains has become a great concern as more human activities and pronounced climate warming were observed during the past 30 years and projected for the near future. The distr/bution patterns and development mechanisms of the permafrost and marshes have been examined both in theories and in field observations, in order to better understand the symbiosis of permafrost and marshes. The permafrost and marshes in the Da and Xiao Hinggan Mountains display discernible zonations in latitude and elevation. The marsh vegetation canopy, litter and peat soil have good thermal insulation properties for the underlying permafrost, resulting in a thermal offset of 3 ℃ to 4℃ and subsequently suppressing soil temperature. In addition, the much higher thermal conductivity of frozen and ice-rich peat in the active layer is conducive to the development or in favor of the protection of permafrost due to the semi-conductor properties of the soils overlying the permafrost. On the other hand, because permafrost is almost impervious, the osmosis of water in marsh soils can be effectively reduced, timely providing water supplies for helophytes growth or germination in spring. In the Da and Xiao Hinggan Mountains, the permafrost degradation has been accelerating due to the marked climate warming, ever increasing human activities, and the resultant eco-environmental changes. Since the permafrost and marsh environments are symbiotic and interdependent, they need to be managed or protected in a well-coordinated and integrated way.     

Dynamics of soil fauna in Da Hinggan Mountains, Northeast China

The dynamics of soil animals was studied in seven representative forest communities in the north of the Da Hinggan Mountains, Northeast China. The results indicate that it was distinctive in the changes of the numbers of soil animals and groups and diversity in relationship with seasons for macrofauna and torso-micro fauna in the study area. The numbers of the observed soil animals in different months were: October>August>June. Group number was larger in August and October, but smaller in June. The change of diversity index in different months was: August>June>October. The biomass for macrofanna in different months was: October>June>August. The composition and number of each functional group was relatively stable. In the community of the predominant soil environment, the percentage of saprophagous animals was higher than carnivorous animals and herbivorous animals. The dynamics changes of saprophagous and carnivorous animals were distinctive, increasing from June to October, while the change of herbivorous animals was unremarkable.     

内蒙古白音诺尔铅锌矿铅同位素研究

内蒙古白音诺尔铅锌矿床是大兴安岭地区储量最大的铅锌矿床,矿体主要沿花岗闪长(斑)岩与大理岩接触带产出。为了查明成矿物质来源,对矿石中的硫化物和矿区内及外围主要侵入岩开展了铅同位素示踪分析。测试结果表明:矿石中硫化物的N(206Pb)/N(204Pb)为18.266～18.372,平均值18.296,N(207Pb)/N(204Pb)为15.501～15.579,平均值15.536,N(208Pb)/N(204Pb)为38.016～38.339,平均值38.138。铅同位素年龄校正计算结果表明:矿石中硫化物的Pb同位素比值与大理岩和花岗闪长(斑)岩非常相似,表明矿石中的铅主要来自花岗闪长(斑)岩和大理岩,说明成矿物质也主要来自这两类岩石,进一步证明了白音诺尔铅锌矿床的成矿与花岗闪长(斑)岩和大理岩有关,属于矽卡岩型矿床,与喷流沉积型和火山岩块状硫化物矿床有明显的差别。与区域上其他银多金属矿床对比发现,本区银多金属矿床的Pb同位素组成非常相似,其组成范围多有重叠,暗示这些矿床的矿石铅来源也非常相似,可能表明有一个共同的富银的基底或地层为这些银多金属矿床的形成提供了成矿物质来源。     

Examining Forest Net Primary Productivity Dynamics and Driving Forces in Northeastern China During 1982–2010

Forest net primary productivity （NPP） is a key parameter for forest monitoring and management. In this study, monthly and annual forest NPP in the northeastern China from 1982 to 2010 were simulated by using Carnegie-Ames-Stanford Approach （CASA） model with normalized difference vegetation index （NDVI） sequences derived from Advanced Very High Resolution Radiometer （AVHRR） Global Invento y Modeling and Mapping Studies （GIMMS） and Terra Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer （MODIS） products. To address the problem of data inconsistency between AVHRR and MODIS data, a per-pixel unary linear regres- sion model based on least ~;quares method was developed to derive the monthly NDVI sequences. Results suggest that estimated forest NPP has mean relative error of 18.97% compared to observed NPP from forest inventory. Forest NPP in the northeastern China in- creased significantly during the twenty-nine years. The results of seasonal dynamic show that more clear increasing trend of forest NPP occurred in spring and awmnn. This study also examined the relationship between forest NPP and its driving forces including the climatic and anthropogenic factors. In spring and winter, temperature played the most pivotal role in forest NPR In autumn, precipitation acted as the most importanl factor affecting forest NPP, while solar radiation played the most important role in the summer. Evaportran- spiration had a close correlation with NPP for coniferous forest, mixed coniferous broadleaved forest, and broadleaved deciduous forest. Spatially, forest NPP in the Da Hinggan Mountains was more sensitive to climatic changes than in the other ecological functional re- gions. In addition to climalie change, the degradation and improvement of forests had important effects on forest NPP. Results in this study are helpful for understanding the regional carbon sequestration and can enrich the cases for the monitoring of vegetation during long time series.     

Alternative stable states in mountain forest ecosystems: the case of European larch (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Larix decidua</Emphasis>) forests in the western Alps

European larch (Larix decidua) forests of the western Alps form extensive cultural landscapes whose resilience to global changes is currently unknown. Resilience describes the capacity of ecological systems to maintain the same state, i.e., the same function, processes, structure, and composition despite disturbances, environmental changes and internal fluctuations. Our aim is to explore the resilience of larch forests to changes in climate and land use in the western Italian Alps. To do so, we examined whether larch forests can be described as an alternative stable state in mountain forest ecosystems. We used tree basal area data obtained from field forest inventories in combination with topography, forest structure, land use, and climate information. We applied three different probabilistic methods: frequency distributions, logistic regressions, and potential analyses to infer the resilience of larch forests relative to that of other forest types. We found patters indicative of alternative stable states: bimodality in the frequency distribution of the percent of larch basal area, and the presence of an unstable state, i.e., mixed larch forests, in the potential analyses. We also found: (1) high frequency of pure larch forests at high elevation, (2) the probability of pure larch forests increased mostly with elevation, and (3) pure larch forests were a stable state in the upper montane and subalpine belts. Our study shows that the resilience of larch forests may increase with elevation, most likely due to the altitudinal effect on climate. Under the same climate conditions, land use seems to be the main factor governing the dominance of larch forests. In fact, subalpine larch forests may be more resilient, and natural succession after land abandonment, e.g., towards Pinus cembra forests, seems slower than in montane larch forests. In contrast, in the upper montane belt only intense land use regimes characterized by open canopies and forest grazing may maintain larch forests. We conclude that similar approaches could be applied in other forest ecosystems to infer the resilience of tree species.     

Spatial-temporal Patterns and Driving Forces of Water Retention Service in China

Overwhelming water-deficiency conditions and an unbalanced water supply and demand have been major concerns of both the Chinese government and the general public during recent decades. Studying the spatial-temporal patterns and impact factors that influence water retention in China is important to enhance the management of water resources in China and other similar countries. We employed a revised Integrated Valuation of Ecosystem Services and Tradeoffs(InVEST) model and regression analyses to investigate the water retention service in China. The results showed that the southeastern China generally performed much better than Northwest China in terms of the spatial distribution of water retention. In general, the efficacy of the water retention service in China increased from 2000 to 2014; although some areas still had a downward trend. Water retention service increased significantly(P 0.05) in aggregate in the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau, and the Da Hinggan Mountains and Xiao Hinggan Mountains. However, the service in southwestern China showed a decreasing trend(P 0.05), which would have significant negative impact on the downstream population. This study also showed that in China the changes in water retention service were primarily due to climate change(which could explain 83.49% of the total variance), with anthropogenic impact as a secondary influence(likewise the ecological programs and socioeconomic development could explain 9.47% and 1.06%, respectively). Moreover, the identification of water retention importance indicated that important areas conservation and selection based on downstream beneficiaries is vital for optimization protection of ecosystem services, and has practical significance for natural resources and ecosystem management.     

Alternative stable states in mountain forest ecosystems: the case of European larch(Larix decidua) forests in the western Alps

European larch(Larix decidua) forests of the western Alps form extensivecultural landscapes whose resilience to global changes is currently unknown. Resilience describes the capacity of ecological systems to maintain the same state, i.e., the same function, processes, structure, and composition despite disturbances, environmental changes and internal fluctuations. Our aim is to explore the resilience of larch forests to changes in climate and land use in the western Italian Alps.To do so, we examined whether larch forests can be described as an alternative stable state in mountain forest ecosystems. We used tree basal area data obtained from field forest inventories in combination with topography, forest structure, land use, and climate information. We applied three different probabilistic methods: frequency distributions, logistic regressions, and potential analyses to infer the resilience of larch forests relative to that of other forest types.We found patters indicative of alternative stable states: bimodality in the frequency distribution of the percent of larch basal area, and the presence of an unstable state, i.e., mixed larch forests, in the potential analyses. We also found:(1) high frequency ofpurelarchforestsathighelevation,(2)the probability of pure larch forests increased mostly with elevation, and(3) pure larch forests were a stable state in the upper montane and subalpine belts.Our study shows that the resilience of larch forests may increase with elevation, most likely due to the altitudinal effect on climate. Under the same climate conditions, land use seems to be the main factor governing the dominance of larch forests. In fact, subalpine larch forests may be more resilient, and natural succession after land abandonment, e.g., towards Pinuscembra forests, seems slower than in montane larch forests. In contrast, in the upper montane belt only intense land use regimes characterized by open canopies and forest grazing may maintain larch forests.We conclude that similar approaches could be applied in other forest ecosystems to infer the resilience of tree species.     

AGE STRUCTURES OF MODULES OF CLONAL PEATLAND SEDGE Carex middendorffii

Age structure of a plant population carries important information on population dynamics. The traditional age classification of individuals by development phases could not explain the generation relationship neither between individuals nor between modules, and it could not accurately predict the future of population or the tendency of peatland evolution. In a peatland of the Xiao Hinggan Mountains, China, at the middle of the growth season, the age structures of 3 modules, ramets, active buds and rhizomes of a Carex middendorffii clonal population were investigated, with the method of classifying age classes of ramets and active buds by counting generation quantity of tiller nodes, and classifying age classes of rhizomes by their real survival time. The quantity of vegetative ramets was dominant. Tiller nodes of ramets can propagate vegetatively for a maximum of 3 generations. The population of ramets consisted of 3 age classes of ramets at the middle of the growth season, and showed a stable age structure. In the two sampling events, there was no significant difference between quantities and age structure of the population. The maximum age of an excavated rhizome was 12 years old. Rhizomes were classified in 8 age classes, and age classes 4-6 contributed most to the total biomass. There was no significant difference in total length and total biomass per unit area, or in biomass per unit length in rhizomes between the two samplings. Four age classes of active buds were recognized, and their number increased from July to August. The Carex middendorffii clonal population achieved regeneration by budding from the tiller nodes of ramets. The age structures of the 3 modules suggested that the Carex middendorffii clonal population could persist in the early development phase of the oligotrophic peatland in the Xiao Hinggan Mountains, but it could not be dominant. It also faces the risk to disappear from the community as the peatland develops further.     

Responses of soil fauna structure and leaf litter decomposition to effective microorganism treatments in Da Hinggan Mountains, China

Microorganisms are nutritious resources for various soil fauna.Although soil fauna grazing affects microorganism composition and decomposition rate,the responses of soil fauna and leaf litter decomposition to added microorganism is little understood.In this study,in the coniferous and broad-leaved mixed forest of Tahe County in the northern Da Hinggan Mountains,China,three sampling sites(each has an area of 10 m2) were selected.The first two sites were sprinkled with 250 times(EM1) and 1000 times(EM2) diluted effective microorganism(EM) preparations evenly,and the third site was sprinkled with the same volume of water as a control site.The responses of soil fauna structure and leaf litter decomposition to EM treatment were conducted during three years.The results revealed that EM treatment resulted in significant increase of soil organic matter.The number of soil fauna in the EM1 and EM2 sites increased by 12.88% and 2.23% compared to the control site,and among them springtails and mites showed the highest increase.However,the groups of soil fauna in the EM1 and EM2 sites decreased by 6 and 9,respectively.And the changes in the diversity and evenness index were relatively complicated.EM treatment slowed the decomposition of broad-leaved litter,but accelerated the decomposition of coniferous litter.However,the decomposition rate of broad-leaved litter was still higher than that of coniferous litter.The results of this study suggested that the added microorganisms could help individual growth of soil fauna,and this method led to a change in the process of leaf litter decomposition.This paper did not analyze the activity of soil microorganisms,thus it is difficult to clearly explain the complex relationships among litter type,soil fauna and soil microorganisms.Further research on this subject is needed.     

Do Forest Landscape Pattern Planning and Optimization Play a Role in Enhancing Soil Conservation Services in Mountain Areas of Western China?

The relationship between landscape patterns and soil conservation, as well as the need for nature-based soil erosion control and landscape pattern optimization, have increasingly gained attention in the scientific and political community in the past decade. With the implementation of a series of afforestation/reforestation projects in the western China, the optimization and management of forest landscape patterns will become more important for soil conservation. In this study, the Bailongjiang Watershed(BLJW), in the western China, was used as a case study to explore the relationship between the forest landscape pattern and soil conservation services using mathematical and spatial statistics methods. A spatially-explicit model called the sediment delivery ratio(SDR) model of the Integrated Valuation of Ecosystem Services and Tradeoffs(InVEST) was used to assess the soil conservation service in each sub-basin of BLJW in 1990, 2002, and 2014, and landscape indices were used to describe changes in forest landscape patterns in each sub-basin. Nine forest landscape indices, including the percentage of landscape(PLAND), largest patch index(LPI), edge density(ED), landscape shape index(LSI), mean patch shape(SHAPE_MN), patch cohesion index(COHESION), landscape division index(DIVISION), splitting index(SPLIT) and aggregation index(AI), were significantly correlated to the soil conservation service. PLAND, AI, LSI and SPLIT of forestland were determined to be the more important landscape indicators. The results also indicated that soil conservation was substantially scale-dependent. The results demonstrated that landscape type diversity greatly affected watershed soil conservation and can be used for forest landscape restoration and management. Furthermore, spatial statistics analysis indicated that the Spatial Lag Model(SLM) was superior to the Ordinary Least Squares(OLS) for soil conservation regressions in 1990 and 2014, while OLS was more appropriate for the regression in 2002. These findings will be useful for enhancing soil conservation and for optimizing mountainous forest landscape patterns for afforestation/reforestation and regional development. Future planning and implementation of ecological restoration should focus more on strategic spatial planning and integrated landscape management with full consideration of future climate, water availability/consumption, hydrological regime, topography, and watershed features, especially on afforestation and revegetation projects in western mountainous China, where the socio-ecological system is fragile and poor.     

Spatial patterns in natural <Emphasis Type="Italic">Picea crassifolia</Emphasis> forests of northwestern China,as basis for close-to-nature forestry

Close-to-nature forest management has been proposed as an effective method for improving the quality of plantation forests. Knowledge of spatial distribution patterns, structure, and succession trajectories in natural forests can provide guidelines for the establishment of close-to-nature forest plantations. Such knowledge is lacking in natural spruce (Picea crassifolia) forests in the Qilian Mountains of China, impeding the establishment of production forests. We conducted a case study in the Qilian Mountains to analyze the relationships between the naturally-formed forest patches and terrain factors, spatial heterogeneity of stand characteristics, and stand structure following harvesting disturbance. Our results suggested that spruce plantations will be effective on the N, NE, and NW slopes, at elevations between 2700 and 3300 m, and on slopes ranging from 15° to 45°. Further, planted forest patches should occupy 64% of the slope area on semi-shady slopes (NE, NW). Spatial patterns in the studied forest exhibited a strong scale-effect, and an area of 0.25 ha could be used as the most efficient plot scale for the management of spruce plantations. Partial logging is an effective method for the conversion of spruce planted forests into nearnatural forests, and the intensity of partial logging can be determined from the negative exponential function relationship between stand density and DBH. Our results provided critical information for the development of spruce plantations and conversion of existing plantations.     

U-Pb geochronology,geochemistry and tectonic implications ofdiorite from Nangnimsan of Mehe in northern Da Hinggan Mountains

LA-ICP-MS zircon U-Pb dating indicates that the weighted average age of diorite from Nangnimsan,Mohe in the northern Da Hinggan Mountains in Heilongjiang Province is 516.2±1.7 Ma,as a result of magmatic intrusion of Early Cambrian. Geochemistry analysis indicates that the rocks belong to high-K calc-alkaline series,with low content of SiO_2( 52.24%-53.64%) and high Mg( MgO = 5.67%-6.56%,Mg~#= 61. 05-65. 46).The rocks are characterized by the enrichment of LREE and LILE( e.g. Rb,Ba,Pb),and relative depletion in HREE and HFSE( e.g. Ta,Nb,P,Ti),and with a high content of Sr( 442. 3-622. 3) × 10~(-6),Yb( 2.49-3.42) ×10~(-6) and Y( 25.64-35.49) ×10~(-6),and slightly negative Eu anormaly( δEu= 0.60-0.81). Based on Rb/Sr( 0.15-0.25) and Rb/Nb( 8.27-15.12),it is concluded that the primary magma of diorite was derived from the mixture of the crust and mantle. Combined with background of regional tectonic evolution,it is suggested that diorite was formed in the extensional environment after the collage of the EGM with the Siberian.     

天山西部林区护林防火信息系统构建

天山西部林区护林防火信息系统是综合运用空间信息技术、数据库技术及森林防火专业技术,依托地理基础信息、森林资源信息及护林防火专题信息,在Arc GIS Engine开发平台上,通过VB.NET可视化开发语言的二次开发,构建的专业应用系统。该系统的框架包括数据库及林火预测预报、火灾指挥扑救、灾后损失评估、森林资源管理等子系统,可实现火点智能定位、火场信息查询显示、辅助决策指挥等具体功能。为林区护林防火部门进行宏观管理、分析决策提供多源、及时、科学的空间信息服务,旨在改善林区防灾、减灾及森林安全工作的被动局面,提升林火管理的科学化、信息化水平。     

Influence of ginseng cultivation under larch plantations on plant diversity and soil properties in Liaoning Province,Northeast China

Currently, transforming the mode of forest management and developing multiple forest management practices are actively encouraged in China. As one forest management type, ginseng cultivation under larch plantations has been developed significantly in the east of Liaoning Province. However, research on the influence of the ecological environment for this mode of production is still deficient. Based on this, our study compares the plant diversity and soil properties in the ginseng cultivation under larch plantations (LG) with larch plantations (LP) and natural secondary forests (SF). First, we randomly selected three plots for each of the three stand types which have similar stand characteristics; then, we carried out a plant diversity survey and soil sampling in each of the nine plots. The results show that no significant difference was found in plant diversity between LG and LP, but the evenness of herbs was significantly lower in LG than LP. No obvious changes in soil physical properties were found in LG, but a significant decrease in most of the soil nutrient content was presented in LG. Furthermore, we found a correlation between plant diversity (H') and soil properties in the three kinds of stand types, especially between herbaceous plant diversity and soil properties. We conclude that ginseng cultivation under larch plantations has no obvious effect on plant diversity, except the herbaceous evenness. Soil fertility can be depleted significantly in LG, but physical structures are not affected. Moreover, maintaining the diversity of herbaceous plants and controlling the density of ginseng cultivation in LG by farmers are important for the ecological environment. Based on this study and its good comprehensive benefits and with the support of policy, we think this forest management type should be promoted moderately in the region.     

欧亚北方森林MODIS 14数据的林火变化分析——以俄罗斯欧洲地区为例

人为或自然因素造成的森林火灾常导致森林覆盖和结构的变化,对森林碳循环产生重大影响。MODIS热异常-火灾产品(MOD14)包含地表火灾位置、可信度、火点辐射能量及其他属性信息,可用于火灾频率、等级及其变化的监测。本研究以俄罗斯欧洲地区的北方森林为研究对象,采用2005-2010年每日MODIS14数据和GIS空间分析方法,对研究区过火像元进行判别提取,分析该地区林火时空变化规律,并探讨驱动因素。结果显示,俄罗斯欧洲地区森林火灾主要分布在中南部。近年来,火灾数量呈上升趋势,2010年的火灾覆盖范围是2005年的1.5倍;年内火灾发生情况随时间波动,火险期为每年的4-10月;极端干旱天气造成的的特大型火灾事件在本研究结果中得以反映。