兴安落叶松天然林2种林型林分更新特征

分析了内蒙古大兴安岭林分结构对兴安落叶松林更新的影响。结果表明:1)年龄56~65 a草类-落叶松林平均更新密度达1 363株/hm2,较54~63 a杜香-落叶松林和36~48 a草类-落叶松林分别高12.8%,36.5%。2)年龄36~65 a,密度315~3 263株/hm2范围内的草类-落叶松和年龄54~63 a密度865~2 241株/hm2范围内的杜香-落叶松林,在其它条件相近情况下,随着林分年龄和密度增加,林分更新呈增加趋势;随着枯倒木数量和其腐烂程度的增加,更新密度增加;随着林下草本和灌木盖度增加,更新密度呈下降趋势。3)不同水平格局的林分更新不同,当聚集分布、随机分布和均匀分布时,平均更新密度分别为1 415株/hm2,1 165株/hm2,118株/hm2。     

闽北闽粤栲天然林林隙特征及干扰状况

研究林隙结构对天然林更新演替具有重要意义,以闽北闽粤栲天然林林隙的基本特征及干扰状况为研究对象,通过对闽北闽粤栲天然林中的28个林隙进行调查,进而分析其林隙大小结构、年龄结构、形成方式、形成木特征及干扰规律。结果表明,在闽北闽粤栲天然林中,冠林隙中10-20 m2所占的数量比例和面积比例都是最大的。扩展林隙个数以50 m2所占的数量比例最大,以50-100 m2所占的面积比例最大。林隙年龄以10-15 a所占的数量比例最大。林隙形成方式主要是折干与掘根风倒共同作用,占总株数的57.14%。林隙多由1-4株形成木形成的,平均每个林隙有4.04株形成木,形成木的径级以10、20 cm为主,占82.30%。林隙的线状密度为12.84个·km-1,冠林隙和扩展林隙的形成速率分别为2.08和7.02 m·km-1·a-1。林隙干扰的周期为476.19 a。     

4种寒温带兴安落叶松林土壤CO_2,CH_4和N_2O排放通量特征

利用静态箱-气相色谱法,研究大兴安岭4种典型落叶松林(藓类-兴安落叶松林、杜香-兴安落叶松林、草类-兴安落叶松林和杜鹃-兴安落叶松林)在生长季主要温室气体(CO_2、CH_4和N_2O)排放通量特征及与土壤理化性质的关系。结果表明:4种落叶松林均为CO_2的排放源,平均排放通量分别为45.88(藓类-兴安落叶松林)、38.68(杜香-兴安落叶松林)、54.54(草类-兴安落叶松林)和62.98(杜鹃-兴安落叶松林) mg·m~(-2)h~(-1)。其中杜鹃-兴安落叶松林排放通量最高,4种林型土壤CO_2排放通量均与土壤温度呈显著正相关。CH_4平均排放通量依次为0.089(藓类-兴安落叶松林)、-0.037(杜香-兴安落叶松林)、0.004(草类-兴安落叶松林)和-0.03(杜鹃-兴安落叶松林)mg·m~(-2)h~(-1),藓类-兴安落叶松林和草类-兴安落叶松林为CH_4的源,另2种林型表现为CH_4的汇。其中藓类-兴安落叶松林贡献了该地区95%以上的CH_4排放量。草类-兴安落叶松林和杜鹃-兴安落叶松林与土壤温度存在显著相关性。藓类-兴安落叶松林和杜香-兴安落叶松林与土壤有机碳呈显著负相关。4种林型中仅杜鹃-兴安落叶松林土壤CH_4排放通量与5 cm深土壤含水量存在显著相关性。N_2O平均排放通量依次为0.007 3(藓类-兴安落叶松林)、0.012(杜香-兴安落叶松林)、0.009 3(草类-兴安落叶松林)和-0.0003(杜鹃-兴安落叶松林)mg·m~(-2)h~(-1),表现为N_2O的源(杜鹃除外)。不同月份N_2O排放通量研究结果显示,该地区4种林型N_2O的排放主要集中在夏末和秋季。影响N_2O排放通量的环境因子因林型而异,其中草类-兴安落叶松林与10 cm土壤温度呈显著正相关,与全氮、碱解氮和有机碳呈显著负相关;杜鹃-兴安落叶松林与土壤温度和土壤含水量均呈显著正相关性;藓类-兴安落叶松林和杜香-兴安落叶松林分别与土壤全氮和有机碳存在显著相关性,与土壤温度、含水量、pH值无显著相关性。     

兴安落叶松天然林不同林分结构林木水平分布格局特征研究

通过样地调查,分析了不同结构草类-落叶松林和杜香-落叶松林林木分布格局特征。研究表明:(1)年龄36 - 65年草类-落叶松林和年龄54 - 63年杜香-落叶松林分布格局中,均匀分布、随机分布和聚集分布所占比例分别为6.2%、50%、43.8%;(2)按林型分,草类-落叶松林分布格局中,均匀分布和随机分布所占比例均11.1%,聚集分布占77.8%。杜香-落叶松林分布格局均为随机分布;(3)树种组成在6落4阔 - 10落范围内,草类-落叶松林和杜香-落叶松林分布格局主要为聚集分布和随机分布两种类型。聚集分布主要集中在树种组成7落3阔 - 9落1阔范围内。     

木兰围场华北落叶松人工林林隙对天然更新的影响

为了阐明华北落叶松人工林不同林隙大小对更新的影响规律,对木兰围场低效华北落叶松人工林林隙内苗木更新特性进行了研究。结果表明:林隙内更新苗的主要种类有华北落叶松、山杨和油松。华北落叶松和山杨的密度在林隙面积为120~140m2时最大,达到2 411株/hm2;而油松的密度在林隙面积为20~40m2时最大,为196株/hm2。随着林隙面积的增大,华北落叶松和山杨大径级和大高度级更新幼苗数量基本呈现增加的趋势,在林隙面积达到160~180m2时达到最大值;而油松在40~60m2时达到最大,径级大于2cm的更新苗密度为69株/hm2。     

长白山区次生阔叶林采伐林隙更新研究

从林隙大小和林隙年龄两个方面研究了以椴树、色木槭和蒙古栎为主的次生阔叶林经营采伐形成的林隙及其更新特征.结果表明:冠林隙面积＜20 m2的林隙占42.8%,20～40 m2的林隙占23.8%,40～60 m2的林隙占33.4%.38.1%的林隙呈圆形,61.9%的林隙呈椭圆形,其中38.5%为南-北方向,46.2%为东-西方向,15.3%为东北-西南方向.林隙一般由3～4株采伐木形成,采伐木主要由椴树、蒙古栎和山槐组成.非林隙林分更新中灌木占优势,林隙更新中乔木占优势,且随林隙面积和形成年龄增加而增强.林隙内的树种多样性和更新密度明显高于非林隙林分.综合多样性随林隙面积和年龄的增加而下降.不同大小级林隙内的优势种不同,以阳性树种占大多数.     

长白山自然保护区阔叶红松林林隙更新状况

该以长白山大面积分布的阔叶红松林林隙为研究对象．系统调查了林隙形成木和林隙填充的特征，并对其主要树种的更新环境进行研究。结果表明，长白山阔叶红松林林隙多数是由1．4株形成木形成的，林隙形成木主要是红松、水曲柳、蒙古栎和紫椴；林隙填充中，紫椴和色木槭的数量最多，红松所占比例较小。不同大小林隙内填充的数量也不同，近似呈一个偏左的正态分布。现有的红松幼树一般都分布在林隙内或林隙边缘，更新环境良好。     

茂兰喀斯特森林干扰状况与林隙特征

调查茂兰喀斯特森林林隙干扰特征,并对林隙特征、林隙的形成方式进行探讨。结果表明:1)林隙大小分布表现出以小林隙为主的偏正态分布,但在总林隙面积比例上,大林隙所占的比例较大;2)林隙大多数在20年前形成,估计林隙形成速率为0.55个·hm-2a-1,返回间隔期为270年;3)林隙密度约为20个·hm-2,林隙平均面积(69.7±45.71)m2,扩展林隙平均面积(152.7±79.43)m2,林隙和扩展林隙占所调查林分面积的比例分别为13.9%和30.6%;4)林隙形成方式以折干为主,但因地形差异,槽谷、坡地、漏斗的主要形成方式分别为干中折断、拔根倒和干基折断;5)大多数林隙由1～4株形成木形成,平均每个林隙的形成木为2.5株。大部分林隙形成木为森林建群种,常绿和落叶树种分别占61.5%和38.5%。林隙形成木以小径级为主,表明本地森林林隙干扰十分频繁。     

大兴安岭兴安落叶松原始林倒木养分含量研究

在大兴安岭兴安落叶松原始林内选择杜香-兴安落叶松林、草类-兴安落叶松林和杜鹃-兴安落叶松林3个典型林型,按照不同树种对倒木的养分含量进行了测定。依据现有的资料,结合研究对象实际,制定了大兴安岭兴安落叶松原始林落叶松和白桦倒木的腐朽等级划分标准。结果表明:不同林型内不同树种倒木有机C、全K、全Na,以及Ca和Mg的含量随着倒木的不断分解均没有明显的变化规律;全N含量均有增加的趋势;全P均保持相对稳定。对3个林型内兴安落叶松倒木的各养分含量之间进行对比,有机C、全K、全P百分含量均为杜鹃-兴安落叶松林﹥草类-兴安落叶松林﹥杜香-兴安落叶松林;全N、全Na和Ca百分含量均为杜鹃-兴安落叶松林﹥杜香-兴安落叶松林﹥草类-兴安落叶松林;Mg百分含量为草类-兴安落叶松林﹥杜鹃-兴安落叶松﹥杜香-兴安落叶松。     

兴安落叶松原始林生态系统碳密度与碳储量研究

选择大兴安岭杜香-兴安落叶松林、杜鹃-兴安落叶松林、柴桦-兴安落叶松林、草类-兴安落叶松林和藓类-兴安落叶松林5种原始林的林木、下木植被、枯落物、木质残体4种碳库层、林木各器官采用野外实地取样与室内实验分析相结合的方法分别进行碳密度和碳储量的研究。结果表明:1)林木器官碳密度大小序列为树干>树根>树皮>树枝>树叶,分别占林木总碳密度的54.89%,21.98%,10.76%,9.65%和2.72%。2)5种林分类型碳密度大小依次为草类-兴安落叶松林型(83.992 4 t/hm2)>杜鹃-兴安落叶松林型(54.788 8t/hm2)>藓类-兴安落叶松林型(50.612 1 t/hm2)>杜香-兴安落叶松林型(49.396 4 t/hm2)>柴桦-兴安落叶松林型(48.587 8 t/hm2),得出兴安落叶松原始林生态系统平均碳密度为57.475 5 t/hm2。3)研究区内兴安落叶松原始林生态系统总碳储量为2.840 3TgC,各碳库层的空间分布序列为林木层(2.054 3 TgC)>枯落物层(0.349 5 TgC)>下木植被层(0.231 6 TgC)>木质残体层(0.204 9 TgC),分别占生态系统总碳储量的72.33%,12.31%,8.15%和7.21%。     

兴安落叶松过伐林枯立木分布格局特征分析

以内蒙古根河林业局潮查林场境内的在20世纪80年代初主伐利用后形成的兴安落叶松过伐林为研究对象,利用兴安落叶松林8块标准地每木定位数据,分析林木分布格局和样方(5 m×5 m)林木株数对枯立木株数影响,探讨了林分大树和更新幼树位置与枯立木位置的关系,阐明了枯立木分布格局形成机制。结果表明:1)各树种枯立木比例,随树种组成成数增加而增大。枯立木主要在更新幼树阶段形成,径级分布集中在4径阶以下,其株数占总数的比例平均达82.2%。在更新幼树(含枯立木)中,生成枯立木的比例平均达8.8%。2)枯立木分布格局为聚集分布。林木分布格局、样方林木株数和更新株数与枯立木株数有显著正相关关系,林木分布格局对枯立木分布格局无显著影响。林木聚集度越大,形成枯立木的可能性越大,数量也就越多。3)枯立木位置与更新幼树和大树位置有显著相关关系。主要表现为落叶松和白桦相互关系。枯立木出现位置主要在大树和更新幼树集聚区域。大树对枯立木形成影响较更新幼树大,而且均以落叶松较白桦明显。白桦更新幼树对落叶松枯立木的形成,无显著影响。受影响的枯立木主要是枯立木株数中所占比例和树种组成成数较高的树种。影响枯立木位置的林木主要取决于其样方内位置和林木株数。     

Effect of intervention and type of forest management on quality and quantity characteristics of dead wood in managed and reserve forests: A case study

We compared the dead wood (DW) conditions of Cheshmeh-sar forest and Sardab forest with different management history,including reserve forest and harvested forest. The First forest took 100% inventory from all the available DW. Also dead trees were compared interms of species, shape, location and quality of fracture in both forests.Volumes of dead wood in Cheshmeh-sar and Sardab forests were 207.47and 142.74 m3, respectively. Due to this significant difference, impact onthe management level was determined. In Cheshmeh-sar forest, 42% ofdead trees were standing and 58% were fallen type while in Sardab forest 38.6% were standing and 61.4% fallen. But the difference was not statistically significant between them (p = 0.0587). In terms of quality, dead trees of hard, soft and hollow had the highest frequency, respectively.However, 71.5% of DW was seen as hard dead in Cheshmeh-sar forestwhile hard dead trees in Sardab forests were 54.2%. Soft quality degree ofdead trees which formed in Cheshmeh-sar and Sardab forest were calculated as 26.6% and 43.4% respectively. Also 30% of the dead trees of Sardab forest were eradicated while in Cheshmeh-sar this amount was reduced to 12%. Due to this significant difference ((Р=0/018), it is concluded that the type of management and human interference are affecting the quality of dead trees and makes us to think the human interferences could effect on the ecosystem of touched forests.     

Canopy dynamics in unlogged and logged forest stands in the eastern Amazon

Selective logging of tropical forests damages residual trees and creates canopy openings throughout the stand. In the Amazon, reduced-impact logging results in significantly less damage than conventional unplanned logging; yet either logging method leads to substantial fragmentation of the forest canopy. Increased mortality rates of trees damaged in logging have been documented. In this paper, we investigate the effect of logging disturbance on treefall rates.Using repeat inventories of canopy trees (≥35 cm dbh) in six large (≥50-ha) forest stands at two sites in the eastern Amazon, we measured mortality rates in three treatment classes: unlogged, conventionally logged (CL) and logged using reduced-impact methods (RIL). At least 3000 trees were mapped and inventoried per stand prior to timber harvests. In the second inventory, 3 years after harvests in the logged stands, all trees were located and scored as living, standing dead, uprooted or broken.We found significantly higher overall mortality rates for trees in logged forest (both CL and RIL stands) than in adjacent unlogged forest. This effect was largely due to higher rates of treefall (i.e., stems uprooted or broken from natural causes). Moreover, significantly higher treefall rates were recorded for trees in logged forest that were not damaged in the logging than for trees in unlogged stands. Treefall rates were nearly twice as high in conventionally logged forest as in forest logged using reduced-impact methods. We found indirect support for the hypothesis that increased treefall rates in logged forest are related to increased canopy opening and fragmentation through analysis of the locations of fallen trees in relation to canopy disturbance.     

Dead trees and protected polypores in unmanaged north-temperate forest stands of Lithuania

The availability of coarse woody debris (CWD) and distribution of dead trees into categories of mortality (dead standing, broken and uprooted) were investigated in north-temperate forests of central Europe (Lithuania). The studied area comprised 188.7 ha and included 18 different stands 40–130 years of age with a variety of tree species (spruce (Picea abies (L.) Karst.), pine (Pinus sylvestris L.), alder (Alnus glutinosa (L.) Gaertn.), birch (Betula pendula Roth and B. pubescens Ehrh.), aspen (Populus tremula L.), oak (Quercus robur L.), forest types (caricus-sphagnum, vaccinium-myrtillus, oxalis, myrtillus-oxalis, caricus-calamagrostis) and edaphic conditions (peaty, sandy, loamy soils of different moisture). The stands were excluded from wood harvesting for at least 30 years. A total of 11 365 dead trees (over 10 cm in DBH) or 6160.7 m³ of dead wood was found (60.2 trees/ha and 32.6 m³/ha). The volume of CWD per hectare was larger in older stands (r_S=0.78, P<0.01). Tree mortality during the last 2 years consisted of 482 trees and 381 m³, or 1.28 trees/ha×year and 1.01 m³/ha×year. In 25–33% of cases it was wind-related. Uprooted and broken trees were of larger DBH than dead standing. The distribution into the categories of mortality was strongly dependent on tree species (chi-square test, d.f.=10,P=0). Dead standing dominated in CWD of pine and alder. Broken trees comprised almost a half in CWD of aspen, and about one-third in birch, alder and oak. Uprooting most often occurred in spruce, aspen and birch. Edaphic conditions and stand age had a pronounced impact on distribution into mortality categories for spruce (chi-square test, d.f.=20, P<0.00001) and pine (d.f.=8, P≤0.0003). On peat soil, only a minority of trees of both pine and spruce was uprooted, and standing dead prevailed. In CWD of spruce and pine, the proportions of both dead standing and broken decreased and that of uprooted trees increased on mineral soils of higher moisture and bulk density in older stands. By contrast, uprooting in birch and alder occurred less often on more wet sites, where the proportions of standing snags were higher. A total of 41 species of wood-decomposing polypores were found in the study area. Among those, 10 (24%) were of conservation value.     

Forest characteristics and their variation along the lakeshore–upland ecotone

Abstract

In forestry operations riparian buffer zones have been retained mainly to protect water quality. Because riparian forests are also important for maintaining terrestrial biodiversity, the associated ecotones need to be characterized and defined. Forest characteristics were studied along 50 m lakeshore–upland gradients in semi-natural forests in boreonemoral Sweden. Significant changes in the density of living and dead trees, as well as in their diameters, were recorded. The edge influence was generally discernible 10–30 m from the shoreline and was manifested in the very high density of understorey and midcanopy trees. The species-specific responses reflected the known shade and flooding tolerances of tree species. Most dead trees were standing, or broken from the roots or tree base; relatively few uprooted trees were recorded, suggesting that wind is only a moderate mortality factor. In comparison with the literature, the studied lakeshore forests are distinct from managed and set-aside upland forests in terms of tree species composition and woody debris characteristics; they thus contribute to landscape heterogeneity. If buffer zones along lakes were designed so that they captured the entire riparian ecotone, this would increase their contribution to the conservation of terrestrial biodiversity.     

红花尔基沙地樟子松天然林枯立木特征分析

[目的]了解沙地樟子松天然纯林中枯立木的数量及空间结构特征,探究枯立木形成的原因,为樟子松林的保护和经营提供依据。[方法]在沙地樟子松天然纯林中设置2块1 hm~2的大样地,用全站仪对样地中所有胸径大于5 cm的立木进行定位并进行全面调查;对调查样地的基本特征,枯立木的数量特征及径级分布进行了分析,提出了用于表达林分中枯立木微环境的活立木比的概念,并采用林分空间结构参数一元分布和二元分布分析方法,对枯立木与其最近4株相邻木的关系进行分析。[结果]2块不同密度的樟子松天然纯林下更新幼苗和枯立木数量相差较大,密度较小(样地1)的样地更新幼苗和枯立木较少,而密度较大的样地(样地2)中枯立木达到200棵,林下更新幼苗数量达到15 280株·hm~(-2);樟子松天然纯林样地内枯立木主要以小径级木为主,胸径集中在11 cm以下;样地1枯立木径级连续分布,幅度较窄;样地2中的枯立木径级幅度较宽,但在20 22 cm缺刻,有2株大于23 cm的枯立木;2块样地中枯立木的分布格局均为随机分布,样地1中枯立木周围的4株相邻立木大多为活立木,且胸径较枯立木大;样地2中,只有一半的枯立木周围的最近4株立木为活立木,且有三分之一以上的枯立木胸径不是最小的,枯立木有连续分布的现象。2块样地中枯立木的角尺度-大小比数二元分布特征的差异不明显,而角尺度-活立木比二元分布特征和大小比数-活立木比二元分布特征差异明显,样地1中枯立木的最近4株随机分布于其周围的相邻木为活立木且胸径大于枯立木的比例明显高于样地2,而枯立木最近4株随机分布于其周围的相邻木有枯立木的比例明显小于样地2。[结论]樟子松天然纯林枯立木以小径级林木为主,枯立木的数量与林分密度相关,林木竞争是林木死亡的主要原因,密度过大也会产生病虫害,因此,对天然樟子松纯林要进行适度经营,保持合理密度。     

Diversity and spatio-temporal dynamics of dead wood in a temperate near-natural beech forest (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Fagus sylvatica</Emphasis>)

The diversity, spatial patterns and temporal dynamics of dead wood were examined within the near-natural beech forests (Fagus sylvatica) of Serrahn (North-eastern Germany). Data were collected in an 8 ha sample plot and in two permanent plots (0.36 and 0.25 ha) that had been established at the end of the 1960s. The mean volume of dead wood was 94 m³ ha⁻¹, amounting to 14% of the total volume of all trees. The dead wood displayed a large variation in dead wood type, tree size and decay class. Standing dead wood accounted for about one-third of the total dead wood volume. The densities of standing dead trees were about 10% of the densities of the living trees over a wide range of diameters. The overall spatial distribution of dead trees exhibited a random pattern. Among the different dead wood types, standing entire dead trees and uprooted trees deviated from this pattern by displaying a significantly aggregated pattern. In the permanent plots a high mortality of overstorey trees was observed (1.3% year⁻¹) and the average amount of dead wood increased greatly from 2.9 to 111.6 m³ ha⁻¹ over the 35-year observation period. The near-natural beech forests of Serrahn have experienced a long period of low human interference. Nevertheless, our results suggest that the structure and dynamics of dead wood are strongly affected by the last major disturbance events that took place at the end of the Middle Ages. Information about the forest history is therefore a basic requirement when interpreting the results obtained in near-natural forests.     

Availability of standing trees for large cavity-nesting birds in the eastern boreal forest of Québec,Canada

Large cavity-nesting birds depend on large-diameter trees for suitable nest sites. The increased spatial extent of commercial timber harvesting is modifying forest structure across the land base and may thus compromise the availability of large trees at the landscape scale. In this study, our objectives were to (1) characterize the availability of large living and dead trees in old-growth stands dominated by different tree species and surficial deposits that encompass the range of natural cover types of eastern Québec's boreal forest; (2) analyze the distribution of trees among decay-classes; and (3) compare the availability of large trees in unharvested, remnant, and harvested stands for the entire range of decay-classes. A total of 116 line transects were distributed across unharvested forests, remnant linear forests, and cutblocks in cutover areas. Unharvested forest stands (black spruce [Picea mariana], balsam fir [Abies balsamea]–black spruce, balsam fir–white spruce [Picea glauca] and balsam fir) reflected a gradient of balsam fir dominance. The remnant forests selected were isolated for 5–15 years. Analyses were performed at two diameter cut-off values. Trees with DBH ≥20 cm were considered for availability of total trees whereas trees with DBH ≥30 cm were considered for availability of large trees. Forest stands comprised high proportions of standing dead trees (33% of all stems, 8% were large dead stems). Availability of total and large standing trees increased with the dominance of balsam fir in stands. Forest stands located on thick surficial deposits showed higher densities of large dead trees for every stand type suggesting a higher productivity on those sites. Availability of stems according to decay-classes showed a dome-shaped distribution with higher densities of snags in intermediate decay stages. However, for large stems, black spruce stands showed a significantly lower availability that was consistent across all decay-classes. In linear remnant forests, pure balsam fir stands were absent. Remnant stands thus showed a much lower availability in large trees when compared with unharvested balsam fir stands. Clearcuts had the lowest densities of dead trees across sampled stands. Current even-aged management practices clearly affect availability and recruitment of large trees, therefore forest-dwelling wildlife relying on these structures for breeding is likely to be affected by large-scale harvesting in coniferous boreal forests.     

Ecology of wood‐inhabiting fungi in northern forests of Iran

Wood‐decay fungi are important in forest ecosystems and play an important role in nutrient and carbon recycling. The scope of this research was to identify wood‐inhabiting and wood‐decay macrofungi and determine their ecology. We sampled standing trees and dead wood of oak and hornbeam in the northern forests of Iran, specifically in Mazandaran and Golestan provinces. We assessed the influence of field slope, elevation, site direction and the height of fungal sporocarp position on the tree. The species of wood‐inhabiting and wood‐decay fungi belonged to 11 families: Polyporaceae; Stereaceae; Ganodermataceae; Physalacriaceae; Agaricaceae; Xylariaceae; Pluteaceae; Coprinaceae; Strophariaceae; Pleurotaceae; and Hydnaceae. The most common fungal species identified belonged to the Polyporaceae and Ganodermataceae and predominantly grew on trees growing on a slope of 20%, at an altitude of 700–900 m, 0–3 m from the ground a southwesterly site direction and the northern sides of both tree species. These results indicated that field slope was the most important factor in determining fungal sporocarp abundance.     

The process of decline of an endangered tree species,Pinus armandii Franch. var.amamiana (Koidz.) Hatusima, on the southern slope of Mt. Hasa-dake in Yaku-shima Island

The process of decline of an endangered tree species,Pinus armandii var.amamiana, was monitored on the southern slope of Mt. Hasa-dake in Yaku-shima Island from 1994 to 1998. There are 163 trees ofP. armandii var.amamiana over 1.3 m in height. They are distributed on steep ridges and rocks with a thin soil layer mostly consisting of friable granite. During the monitoring period, 21 trees ofP. armandii var.amamiana died and the mortality rate was 12.9%. Dead trees were categorized into three types: standing, uprooted and landslide. The uprooted- and landslide-typed dead trees were found only after a severe typhoon struck Yaku-shima Island. This suggests that the combination of fragile site conditions and severe typhoons play an important role in the process of decline ofP. armandii var.amamiana. The standing-typed dead trees were presumed to have been killed by pine wilt disease, accounting for 71.4% of the dead trees. However,Bursaphelenchus xylophilus, the cause of pine wilt disease, was not detected from any of the wood chips or branch samples from the standing-typed dead trees ofP. armandii var.amamiana. This might indicate that some factor(s) other than pine wilt disease could be responsible for the standing-typed death ofP. armandii var.amamiana in natural habitats. A part of this paper was presented at the 109th Meeting of the Japanese Forestry Society.