ABOVEGROUND BIOMASS OF LIANAS AND ITS RESPONSE TO ANTHROPOGENIC DISTURBANCES IN MOIST EVERGREEN BROAD-LEAVED FORESTS IN THE AILAO MOUNTAINS OF SOUTHWESTERN CHINA

doi:10.3773/j.issn.1005-264x.2009.05.003

Abstract

Abstract:

Aims Lianas (woody vines) are important floristic and ecological elements in forests throughout the world, especially in tropical and subtropical areas. However, ecological studies on lianas are relatively scarce because field research is difficult. Our objectives were to develop liana biomass regression models, examine liana biomass composition and distribution in a natural moist evergreen broad-leaved forest, and assess the effects of anthropogenic disturbances on the biomass of lianas.
Methods We compared power functional models for biomass of canopy lianas (length ≥5.0 m) and understory lianas (length ＜5.0 m) based on 48 samples of lianas, using variables of basal diameter, length, and squared basal diameter × length. In the Ailao Mountains of southwestern China, we established three 20 × 20 m sample plots in each of a natural undisturbed moist evergreen broad-leaved primary forest and four secondary forests: old (100 a) and younger (50 a) secondary Lithocarpus forests, a Populus bonatii secondary forest and an Alnus nepalensis secondary forest. In each plot, we enumerated all liana stems ≥0.5 m in length (from the roots) and measured their basal diameters (30 cm along the stem from roots).
Important findings The regression model developed by liana basal diameters had the highest correlation coefficients and is preferred for practical use because measurement of liana basal diameter is easy and accurate. The total aboveground biomass of lianas in the natural moist evergreen broad-leaved forest was 9.82×10³ kg·hm^-2, 99.70% of which was canopy lianas. Anthropogenic disturbances result in the decrease of liana biomass. The biomass of understory lianas was relatively greater in younger secondary forests, but the biomass of lianas (especially large canopy lianas) was significantly lower. The aboveground biomass of lianas in the old secondary Lithocarpus forest was 91.03% of that of the natural moist evergreen broad-leaved forest, after about 100 years of restoration succession.

Key words: Lianas, biomass regression models, aboveground biomass, moist evergreen broad-leaved forest, anthropogenic disturbances

YUAN Chun-Ming, LIU Wen-Yao, LI Xiao-Shuang, YANG Guo-Ping. ABOVEGROUND BIOMASS OF LIANAS AND ITS RESPONSE TO ANTHROPOGENIC DISTURBANCES IN MOIST EVERGREEN BROAD-LEAVED FORESTS IN THE AILAO MOUNTAINS OF SOUTHWESTERN CHINA[J]. Chin J Plant Ecol, 2009, 33(5): 852-859.

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Figures/Tables 6

References 31

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项目 Items		回归模型 Regression models	标准误 SE	相关系数 Correlation coefficients	p	样本数 Sample number
冠层藤本 Canopy lianas	茎 Stem	Ln (W) = -2.041 + 2.723 Ln (D)	0.469	0.9597	＜ 0.001	18
	枝 Branch	Ln (W) = -2.888 + 2.891 Ln (D)	0.401	0.9735	＜ 0.001	18
	叶 Leaf	Ln (W) = -3.474 + 2.363 Ln (D)	0.479	0.9450	＜ 0.001	18
	全株 All	Ln (W) = -1.423 + 2.155 Ln (D)	0.358	0.9767	＜ 0.001	18
林下藤本 Understory lianas	茎 Stem	Ln (W) = -1.604 + 2.292 Ln (D)	0.812	0.7210	＜ 0.001	30
	叶 Leaf	Ln (W) = -3.713 + 1.518 Ln (D)	1.007	0.4245	＜ 0.001	30
	全株 All	Ln (W) = -1.423 + 2.155 Ln (D)	0.735	0.7364	＜ 0.001	30

项目 Items		回归模型 Regression models	标准误 SE	相关系数 Correlation coefficients	p	样本数 Sample number
冠层藤本 Canopy lianas	茎 Stem	Ln (W) = -2.041 + 2.723 Ln (D)	0.469	0.9597	＜ 0.001	18
	枝 Branch	Ln (W) = -2.888 + 2.891 Ln (D)	0.401	0.9735	＜ 0.001	18
	叶 Leaf	Ln (W) = -3.474 + 2.363 Ln (D)	0.479	0.9450	＜ 0.001	18
	全株 All	Ln (W) = -1.423 + 2.155 Ln (D)	0.358	0.9767	＜ 0.001	18
林下藤本 Understory lianas	茎 Stem	Ln (W) = -1.604 + 2.292 Ln (D)	0.812	0.7210	＜ 0.001	30
	叶 Leaf	Ln (W) = -3.713 + 1.518 Ln (D)	1.007	0.4245	＜ 0.001	30
	全株 All	Ln (W) = -1.423 + 2.155 Ln (D)	0.735	0.7364	＜ 0.001	30

项目 Items	冠层藤本 Canopy lianas	林下藤本 Understory lianas	合计 Total
生物量 Biomass (×10³ kg?hm^-2)	9.803 (4.570)	0.020 (0.012)	9.823 (4.559)
百分数 Percentage (%)	99.70	0.30	100

项目 Items	冠层藤本 Canopy lianas	林下藤本 Understory lianas	合计 Total
生物量 Biomass (×10³ kg?hm^-2)	9.803 (4.570)	0.020 (0.012)	9.823 (4.559)
百分数 Percentage (%)	99.70	0.30	100

项目 Items	茎 Stem	枝 Branch	叶 Leaf	合计 Total
生物量 Biomass (×10³ kg?hm^-2)	5.718 (2.647)	3.586 (1.700)	0.519 (0.234)	9.823 (4.570)
百分数 Percentage (%)	58.21	36.51	5.28	100