Temporal dynamics of and effects of an ice storm on litter production in an evergreen broad-leaved forest in Gutianshan National Nature Reserve

doi:10.3724/SP.J.1003.2011.10237

Abstract

Abstract:

To study litter production, composition, temporal dynamics, and the effects of an ice storm on litter production in a 24-ha evergreen broad-leaved forest dynamic plot in Gutianshan National Nature Reserve, Zhejiang, we set up 169 seed traps, and collected litterfall weekly from October 2006 to December 2009. Total annual litter production in 2007 and 2009 was 532.05 g/m² and 375.17 g/m², respectively. We attribute the remarkable drop in production due to an ice storm in February 2008. Leaves, twigs, bark and miscellaneous materials accounted for 79.0%, 14.7%, 3.3% and 3.0% of mass, respectively. The annual leaf litter production of four dominant tree species (Castanopsis eyrei, Schima superba, Pinus massoniana and Quercus serrata var. brevipetiolata) contributed about 71.36% of the total leaf litter production in 2007. There were two litter fall peaks each year, one in spring (April) and the other in autumn to early winter (between late October and early December). Total litter production, leaf production and twig production decreased significantly after the ice storm (P<0.05), as did the annual leaf production of C. eyrei and Distylium myricoides (P<0.05) and S. superba (P<0.1). The production of miscellaneous materials mainly composed of insect dung increased (P<0.01) in April immediately following the ice storm, indicating that a compensating growth of branches and leaves was occurring in the damaged community.

Key words: forest dynamics plot, mid-subtropical, peak litter fall, ice storm

Lei Zhang, Xiaohe Wang, Xiangcheng Mi, Jianhua Chen, Mingjian Yu. Temporal dynamics of and effects of an ice storm on litter production in an evergreen broad-leaved forest in Gutianshan National Nature Reserve[J]. Biodiv Sci, 2011, 19(2): 206-214.

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URL: https://www.biodiversity-science.net/EN/10.3724/SP.J.1003.2011.10237

https://www.biodiversity-science.net/EN/Y2011/V19/I2/206

Figures/Tables 11

Fig. 1 Location of 169 seed traps in the 24 ha forest dynamic plot in Gutianshan. The units of both axes are 20 m×20 m plots.

Fig. 2 The species composition of leaf litter fall in the evergreen broad-leaved forest in Gutianshan in 2007. 1, Castanopsis eyrei; 2, Other evergreen species; 3, Schima superba; 4, Pinus massoniana; 5, Other deciduous species; 6, Quercus serrata var. brevipetiolata; 7, Rhododendron ovatum; 8, Distylium myricoides; 9, Neolitsea aurata var. chekiangensis; 10, Rhododendron simsii.

Fig. 3 Dynamics of all components of litter fall (leaves, twigs, bark and miscellaneous materials) from October 2006 to December 2009

Fig. 4 Dynamics of 10 components of leaf litter production from October 2006 to December 2009. 1, Castanopsis eyrei; 2, Other evergreen species; 3, Schima superba; 4, Pinus massoniana; 5, Other deciduous species; 6, Quercus serrata var. brevipetiolata; 7, Rhododendron ovatum; 8, Distylium myricoides; 9, Neolitsea aurata var. chekiangensis; 10, Rhododendron simsii.

Fig. 5 Comparison of total litter production and leaf litter production before and after the ice storm in February 2008. 1, Total; 2, Leaves; 3, Evergreen leaves; 4, Deciduous leaves; 5, Coniferous leaves; 6, Twigs; 7, Bark; 8, Miscellaneous.

Table 1 Pairwise t test on the components of total litter production before and after the ice storm in February 2008

凋落量组分 Components	成对t值 Pairwise t	自由度 df	P值 P
总量 Total	2.56	11	0.03^*
叶 Leaves	2.16	11	0.05^*
枝条 Twigs	2.52	11	0.03^*
树皮 Bark	0.50	11	0.63
其他 Miscellaneous	0.08	11	0.94

Table 2 Pairwise t test on the components of leaf litter production before and after the ice storm in February 2008

叶组分 Components	成对t值 Pairwise t	自由度 df	P
叶 Leaves	2.16	11	0.05^*
常绿阔叶叶 Evergreen broad-leaved leaves	2.67	11	0.02^*
落叶阔叶叶 Deciduous broad-leaved leaves	0.64	11	0.54
针叶叶 Coniferous leaves	1.16	11	0.27

Fig. 6 Comparison of leaf litter production of key species before and after the ice storm in February 2008. 1, C. eyrei; 2, S. superba; 3, P. massoniana; 4, Q. serrata var. brevipetiolata; 5, R. ovatum; 6, D. myricoides; 7, N. aurata var. chekiangensis; 8, R. simsii.

Table 3 Pairwise t test to leaf litter production of key species before and after the ice storm in February 2008

物种 Species	成对t值 Pairwise t	自由度 df	P值 P
木荷 S. superba	1.83	11	0.10
甜槠 C. eyrei	2.63	11	0.02^*
马银花 R. ovatum	0.61	11	0.55
杨梅叶蚊母树 D. myricoides	2.29	11	0.04^*
浙江新木姜子 N. aurata var. chekiangensis	0.79	11	0.45
短柄枹 Q. serrata var. brevipetiolata	0.50	11	0.63
映山红 R. simsii	0.68	11	0.51
马尾松 P. massoniana	1.16	11	0.27

Fig. 7 Comparison and pairwise t test of monthly litter production before and after the ice storm in February 2008

Table 4 Pairwise t test to monthly litter production before and after the ice storm in February 2008

月份 Month	成对t值 Pairwise t	自由度 df	P值 P
1	-0.72	13	0.48
2	-2.02	13	0.07
3	1.08	13	0.23
4	1.33	13	0.21
5	1.86	13	0.09
6	1.51	13	0.15
7	-1.07	13	0.31
8	2.62	13	0.02^*
9	2.33	13	0.04^*
10	2.43	13	0.03^*
11	2.49	13	0.03^*
12	0.20	13	0.84

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