Effects of Gap Size and Locations on the Regeneration of Castanopsis Kawakamii I N a Subtropical Natural Forest, China
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Journal of Tropical Forest Science 30(1): 39–48 (2018) Buajan S et al. https://doi.org/10.26525/jtfs2018.30.1.3948 EFFECTS OF GAP SIZE AND LOCATIONS ON THE REGENERATION OF CASTANOPSIS KAWAKAMII I N A SUBTROPICAL NATURAL FOREST, CHINA Buajan S1, Liu JF1, *, He ZS1, Feng XP1 & Muhammad A2 1College of Forestry, Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, Fuzhou 350002, China 2 Fujian Provincial Key Laboratory of Insect Ecology, Department of Plant Protection, Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, Fuzhou 350002, China *[email protected] Submitted February 2017; accepted August 2017 Castanopsis kawakamii is an endangered tree species due to its low population in the middle stage of development and low percentage of seedlings in natural conditions. The present study explored whether a forest gap has the potential to promote the regeneration of C. kawakamii seedlings, and examined favourable locations for seedling regeneration within the gap. Nine sampling gaps were classified into small, medium and large sizes. The number of C. kawakamii, their basal areas and height at four stages (tree, sapling, shrub and seedling) in five locations within the gap (center, south, east, north and west) were determined during the growing season. A significant positive relationship was found between the number ofC. kawakamii and gap area (r = 0.815, p = 0.007), with higher numbers in large gap size (p = 0.031) compared with small gap size. The number of C. kawakamii was predicted by a linear regression model: Number of C. kawakamii = 0.124 × gap area + 10.597, R2 = 0.664. Moreover, the number and size of seedlings in the center of the gap were significantly different (p = 0.041, p = 0.017) from other locations within the gap. Management for C. kawakamii should move forward to provide suitable conditions for regeneration by focusing on the centre and large gap areas. Keywords: Forest gap, seedling regeneration, micro-environment, location within gap INTRODUCTION Forest gap created by forest disturbance is growth (Veblen 1989, Barik et al. 1992, Svenning important in maintaining forest diversity. Gap 2001, Muscolo et al. 2014). creates a micro-environment different from that Castanopsis kawakamii, a member of the of a closed canopy forest, and it is important for Fagaceae family, is an endemic species of southeast species regeneration (Yamamoto 2000). Inside China, particularly in Fujian, Guangdong and the gap area, the micro-environment, such as Jiangxi Province. It is also a native species that is light (Gray et al. 2002), temperature, vapor widely distributed in Taiwan and north Vietnam. pressure deficit, litter moisture (Matlack 1993), The C. kawakamii is categorised as lower risk/ soil water content (Wang et al. 2013) and soil near threatened in The IUCN Red List of chemical properties (Özcan & Gökbulak 2015) Threatened Species (IUCN 1998). Research on differed with the gap size and the location within the population dynamics of this species noted the gap. Gap sizes and locations within the gap that the period of seed and growth were highly have an effect on plant composition and traits, sensitive to disturbances, and the population which is dynamic over time (Kern et al. 2012). mainly exist in matured stages (Liu & Hong The higher survival rate of chestnut (Castanea 1999). The lack of middle stage C. kawakamii dentata) in North American forest was found in causes a decline of the entire population structure gap area, than under the canopy (Dalgleish et al. (Liu et al. 2011), which may soon disappear. As 2015). The quantity demand of resources for each mentioned above, the effect of forest gap on species differ, therefore, micro-environmental species regeneration has encouraged many heterogeneity within the gap encourages species researchers to study C. kawakamii in a natural diversity and supports species regeneration and forest reserve area. © Forest Research Institute Malaysia 39 Journal of Tropical Forest Science 30(1): 39–48 (2018) Buajan S et al. Studies on C. kawakamii in Sanming City rainfall is 1,749 mm. Most of the rainfall Natural Forest Reserve showed that size and (79%) occurs from March to August (Liu development stage of the gap affected the et al. 2009). This C. kawakamii forest in the index which had an effect on species diversity in National Nature Reserve comprises large areas regeneration layers (Liu et al. 2003 & He et al. (approximately 700 ha) of highly pure stands 2012). Studies of microclimate in forest gaps have of C. kawakamii (> 80%)), with an average tree noted that the air temperature, soil temperature age of approximately 150 years (Lin & Qiu and relative humidity in different gap sizes were 1986, Zhang 1993). highly significant, which were higher than canopy area (He et al. 2012a). The higher regeneration Gap areas and environmental factors niche width of C. kawakamii in gaps, than under- measured canopy, shows the improvement of C. kawakamii regeneration (He et al. 2012b). Studies have The naturally formed forest gaps were selected shown that microclimates differ by gap size and using the following sampling method. The location within the gap, and clearly affects C. mother tree distances were controlled, i.e. kawakamii regeneration. However, studies on the every selected gap or under canopy area were most suitable site within the gap for C. kawakamii approximately at a similar distance from the regeneration is still lacking. Relatively, little is mother tree. The gap area was measured by known about favorable locations within the gap taking a photo from the center of each gap, using for C. kawakamii regeneration. Thus, the objectives a fish-eye-lens camera, and calculating the area of this study were 1) to estimate the gap size for by using a computer software (Adobe Illustrator C. kawakamii regeneration and 2) to examine CC 2014). Two hemispherical photographs suitable sites within the gap area for C. kawakamii (THP) method was used to calculate the gap regeneration in the Castanopsis kawakamii Natural areas (Hu & Zhu 2009). The under-canopy Forest Reserve in Sanming City, Fujian Province, areas were selected and plot sizes of 15 m × 15 m China. We expected that 1) gap size may affect the were established. Tree heights around the gaps number of C. kawakamii and 2) the number of C. were approximately 15 to 30 meters. The nine kawakamii will be different in different locations gap areas were classified into three sizes: small, within the gap due to micro-environmental medium and large. The topographical factors heterogeneity. The results from this research and features of each gap are shown in Table 1. In will help to develop a better understanding of gap micro-environmental effects on C. kawakamii each gap, after measuring the width and length regeneration, conservation and management in of the gap, a grid (3 m × 3 m) system was made the C. kawakamii Natural Forest Reserve. to cover the entire gap and canopy areas (Figure. 1). At every point, the environmental factors (air MATERIALS AND METHODS temperature, air humidity and light intensity) were measured. The air temperature and air Site descriptions humidity were measured using TES-1360A handheld digital thermo-hygrometers. The light The C. kawakamii Natural Forest Reserve intensity was measured using a light-intensity in Sanming City, Fujian Province, China, meter. The soil temperature and soil water was select as the study site. It is located at content were measured by using a 6300-needle 26° 10'−26° 12' N and 117° 26'−117° 28' E. Wuyi soil thermometer and a TZS-IIW soil moisture Mountains is the boundary on the northwest, and temperature measuring instrument. A soil while the southeast of the site adjoins Daiyun sample was collected from each point at 0–20 Mountains. This area comprises the evergreen cm depth for soil chemical properties analysis. A broad-leaf forest of C. kawakamii species, with core-soil-sampling with a capacity of 200 cm3 was a middle subtropical monsoon climate. The used to collect soil samples for analysis of physical average annual temperature is 19.5 °C, of properties. The soil samples were preserved in which the lowest temperature is -5.5 °C and a sealed plastic bag and sent to the laboratory the highest is 40 °C. The mean annual relative for analysis. All samples were collected in the humidity is 81%, and the average annual growing season (July 2014). © Forest Research Institute Malaysia 40 Journal of Tropical Forest Science 30(1): 39–48 (2018) Buajan S et al. Table 1 Topographical factors and features of each forest gap at the study site Gap no Small gap size Medium gap size Large gap size factor 1 5 6 3 7 8 2 4 9 Topographical slope 30° 10° 28° 32° 32° 30° 33° 34° 21° Altitude (m asl) 236.4 226.7 246.9 275.4 300.0 262.3 249.5 283.7 226.8 Slope direction E→W N→S S→N S→N S→N N→S E→W E→W E→W Gap feature Gap area (m2) 34.78 30.28 48.52 81.25 72.84 81.50 216.72 182.56 198.59 Gap maker Branch fall Branch fall Branch fall Tree fall Tree fall Tree fall Trees fall Trees fall Trees fall Gap stage a Early Medium Later Medium Early Later Medium Later Early a = secondary data (He 2012) Castanopsis kawakamii population as described in AP and AK. The soil physical investigation properties were measured based on the forest soil analysis reference (Zhang et al. 1999). All In each gap, plots sizes of 5 m × 5 m were set samples were analysed in triplicates. in five directions (center, south, east, north and west) (Figure 1). The C. kawakamii plants Data analysis were classified into four stages based on their height and diameter at breast high (DBH): tree The variation of the number of C.