Chin J Plant Ecol ›› 2008, Vol. 32 ›› Issue (6): 1323-1334.DOI: 10.3773/j.issn.1005-264x.2008.06.013

• Original article • Previous Articles     Next Articles

INFLUENCE OF TYPHOON DAMREY ON THE TROPICAL MONTANE RAIN FOREST COMMUNITY IN JIANFENGLING, HAINAN ISLAND, CHINA

XU Han1, LI Yi-De1,*(), LUO Tu-Shou1, LIN Ming-Xian1, CHEN De-Xiang1, MO Jin-Hua2, LUO Wen2, HUANG Hao2   

  1. 1Research Institute of Tropical Forestry, Chinese Academy of Forestry, Guangzhou 510520, China
    2Jianfengling National Nature Reserve of Hainan Province, Ledong, Hainan 572542, China
  • Received:2008-02-21 Accepted:2008-07-03 Online:2008-02-21 Published:2008-11-30
  • Contact: LI Yi-De

Abstract:

Aims My objective was to determine the impact of a strong typhoon on the tropical montane rain forest community in Hainan Island.

Methods A 2 600 m2permanent plot in Jianfengling, Hainan Island was surveyed in June 2005 before Typhoon Damrey and in October 2005 after the typhoon. All individuals with diameter at breast height >1.0 cm were recorded and classified into four injury types. I analyzed changes in species composition, basal area, number of individuals, influence of wind-blown trees, biological diversity, biomass change and carbon return.

Important findings Many wind-blown trees, broken branches and fallen leaves appeared after Typhoon Damrey and this decreased crown density, increased penetrating light and produced many canopy gaps. Community composition and structure changed significantly, with 514 individuals (26.1%) damaged totally. Wind-blown individuals accounted for a large proportion, with 206 individuals (10.5%). ANOVA analysis showed that wind-blown and the normal trees did not differ in basal area, tree height and wood density. However, damage in the tree, sapling and understory layers was significantly different. Damages included direct and indirect damage. Direct damage mainly influenced the tree layer, where large-diameter individuals were damaged severely. The relative Importance Values of some species decreased; some became associate species and some sub-dominant species became co-dominant with formerly dominant species. Indirect damage mainly influenced the sapling and understory layers with wind-blown trees, broken branches and fallen leaves affecting other individuals. Individuals died in small areas, and some species disappeared from these layers. Individuals of some dominant species decreased, but accounted for only a small part of their populations. Shannon-Wiener and Simpson diversity indices decreased slightly in the tree layer, in contrast to the sapling and understory layer. However, a few species disappeared and the number of individuals of some species decreased in all layers. At least 10.42% of the forest biomass was lost after Typhoon Damrey, which greatly influenced the carbon cycle of the forest ecosystem.

Key words: Jianfengling, Typhoon Damrey, community composition and structure, biomass change, carbon return