0.05, not significant difference.
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Figure 1 The change pattern comparisons of forest community along an altitudinal gradient between 1963 and 2006 in Changbai Mountaint Natural Reserve. (a) Stem density in tree layer; (b) stem basal area at breast height in tree layer; (c) species richness in tree layer; (d) species richness in under-wood layer; (e)-(h) Shannon-Wiener index for main story, succession layer, shrub layer, and herb layer.
stem density increased from the bottom, and then sharply declined at 1400 m a.s.l, increased until 1500 m a.s.l as peak, and finally decreased gradually with the altitude (Figure 1(a)). Basal area at breast height fluctuated in 1400~1500 m a.s.l, unrelated with altitude (Figure 1(b)). Tree species diversity of canopy layer, richness and Shannon-Wiener index for example, has a negative relationship with altitude (Figure 1(c) and (e)). The same results, mentioned above, have been proved in other altitudinal gradient pattern studies on the north slope of Changbai Mountain[20,26]. In MCBF, distributing below 1000 m a.s.l., there is a suitable hydro-thermal condition for plant growth, and broad-leaved tree accounts for a high proportion. Rich plant species and complex community structure are the main characters in
this type of forest. Such community features have caused inter-specific surviving competition and self thinning, which lowered stem density of tree layer, and raised proportion of big tree and crown density. Therefore, the total basal area at breast height is not affected by stem density, and has kept in a certain level steadily in 43 years. With the increased elevation, the proportion of conifer species which are more adaptive to the alpine environments continuously increased, and the broad-leaved trees gradually disappeared at the same time. The higher the elevation is, the less is the tree richness. The area between broad-leaved tree dominant forest and conifer tree dominant forest is the forest ecotone, in which the tree layers dynamically succeeded (Anna, 2004). Shan-
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non-Wiener index shows a supporting fluctuation in our research. The peak occurred in the middle section (1100 -1200 m a.s.l.), and a significant fluctuation of stem density and basal area at breast height appeared in the elevation 1400 m a.s.l. 2.3.2 Trend of plant diversity under canopy. It is distinct from tree layer, plant diversity of shrub and herb layers in both 1963 and 2006 changed with altitude well. The under-canopy plants are more sensitive to the environmental changes than the top trees[27]. The composition and structure of the shrub and herb are easily affected by micro environments. According to the biodiversity value, tree layer biodiversity (canopy and succession layers) in 2006 is higher than that in 1963, whereas of the value in shrub and herb is contrary, obvious drop in the herb layer. We find some similar trend in the shrub and herb biodiversity between 1963 and 2006. In these two layers, the high richness and Shannon-Wiener values appear in high and low altitude, and bottom ones in middle altitude. For these two indices, the lowest point distributes in elevations 1300 m a.s.l. and 1200 m a.s.l. respectively (Figure 1(d) and (h)). Two peak values of the herb plant diversity exist in 1000 m a.s.l. and 1500 m a.s.l. in 1963. However, there is no obvious peak in 2006, and the substitute phenomenon is the moderate decreasing rate around the past peak elevation. In the shrub layer, Shannon-Wiener index generally declines with the rise of altitude. For this index, 1000~1100 m a.s.l. and 1400 m a.s.l. are the two peak point, and the obvious valley appears in 1200 m a.s.l. (Figure 1(g)). Both the two peaks coincide with the ecotones of different types of forest. This phenomenon supports the edge effect hypothesis. That is the plant diversity increases at the community boundaries[25,28]. Because of surveying time and sample area differences, the relationship between under canopy plant diversity and altitude is still a controversy[20,29]. 2.3.3 Similitude and difference in community change trend. Although climatic change is obvious in global scale, there is no great change for the altitudinal pattern of climatic and soil environmental factors in North Slope of Changbai Mountain[18,22]. The plant community composition and spatial diversity pattern are still determined by these factors. Further more, the conservation management, such as prohibiting cutting trees in CNR, soundly protected canopy trees and the forest structure. 954
The entire forest spatial pattern in North Slope of Changbai Mountain has not been disturbed by human activities. Nevertheless, we should not neglect the 2 differences in plant spatial pattern between 1963 and 2006. The first is that the herb-layer biodiversity peak disappears in the ecotones. This suggests that the herb layer is being disturbed by other factors, except for under canopy environment. The second is the great spatial-pattern difference between 2 surveying in succession layer (Figure 1(f)). A certain relationship between plant diversity of succession layer and altitude is obvious in 1963. The diversity value increases with altitude at the lower altitude. After reaching the peak at 900 m a.s.l., the value appears a negative correlation with elevation until to the middle elevation. Then, another peak appears at 1500 m a.s.l. However, there is no such a relation in 2006, 2 peaks at 1000 and 1400 m a.s.l.. As the progress of tree layer’s succession goes up, the determinants of plant structure in succession layer has changed from climate and soil factors to the micro environments under canopy. Therefore, further specific analysis of biodiversity changes and its reasons in each forest types is necessary.
3 Discussion The initial effect of external factors in one community usually is on keystone species, such as dominant tree species and highly sensitive herb species. Then the deep effect extends to the entire community through the interactions between plants[30,31]. Biodiversity of tree layer in MCBF and MCF increases from 1963 to 2006, but the value of shrub layer decreases; while biodiversities of all layers in SCF decreases in the same period. We conducted systematically comprehensive analysis in the factors that cause these changes. These factors contain the following aspects: climatic change and human disturbance, statistics comparisons of AIV composition and keystone species in each forest types, and plant physiological characters in canopy, succession and under canopy layers (Figure 2). 3.1 Biodiversity change in MCBF MCBF is the zonal forest ecosystem of this region. With its high stability and resistance to disturbances, different generations of Korean Pine distribute in this community[1,32]. The human disturbances in this forest are the collection of potherb, wild mushroom, Chinese herbal
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Figure 2 Important value changes of different shade-toleration species in three forest type of Changbai Mountain between 1963 and 2006. M, Main canopy story; S, succession layer; U, under-canopy layer; SI, shade-intolerant species; I, intermediate-tolerant species; ST, shade-tolerant species.
medicine and pine nut. Among these factors, pine nut collection is slight, so the main disturbances focus on the under layers. Consistent with our analysis, the co-dominant tree species and orders haven’t changed significantly. Referred to our survey, the top three AIV species from big to small are Korean pine, Acer and fir (Table 2). But the human effects on shrub and herb layers are obvious. The reduction of the richness and biodiversity in these layers reaches up to more than 20%. What’s more, the warming climate will aggravate the worsening situation in this area[31]. The research on the Korean pine in succession layers shows that the decline of this species cannot be simply determined by its bad regeneration ability under the closed canopy. As we know, the lack of light limits the growth of the pine seedling. So, in our sampling fields, there are just seedlings, no saplings[32]. Korean pine is still the dominant tree species in our study, but its AIV decreases from 0.27 in 1963 to 0.19 in 2006. The second co-dominant species accounts for more percent, and the proportion of other broad-leaved species increases. That caused the Korean pine declined for a certainty in forest. The generation succession of MCBF has been simulated by Markov chain model[33]. The results showed that the Korean pine decreased due to the lack of seedlings, thereby broad-leaved species increase. As a result of the increasing crown density in tree layer, the proportion of shade-tolerant species in succession and under
canopy layers have risen by 27% and 4% respectively from 1963 to 2006 (Figure 2). This is another evidence for the decline of Korean pine and the increase of broad-leaved species. It also caused the increase of the biodiversity in tree layer. Meanwhile, as the crown density of tree layer increases, the micro environment under canopy becomes more shading and homogenous, which lead to the rise of evenness and the increasing proportion of shade species, and the reduction of biodiversity. The obvious change in AIV appears in Q. mongolica. The AIV of Q. mongolica is just 0.03 in 1963, and fast rises to 0.10 in 2006. In the latest survey, this species has become new co-dominant species. Some research pointed out that the more proportion Korean pine occupies in the community, the more timber volume and water holding ability the forest obtains. Site condition varies from moist to dry in soil with the decline of the Korean pine, so such water-liking and shade-intolerant broad-leaved species can not healthily grow. This creates a good environment for Q. mongolica which is more adapted to dry soil condition. The Q. mongolica forest is thought as the possible succession direction of disturbed Korean pine forest[34,35]. Zhang et al.[22] summarized the climatic data from 1980 to 2000, and concluded the fluctuated increase of temperature, and the insignificant changed precipitation. Global warming will exacerbate the dry trend of forest site in this region, and promote the succession to Q. mongolica with the co-effect of
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human being disturbance. 3.2 Biodiversity changes in MCF MCF is in the middle section of 2 other forest communities, and its structure stability and resistance to disturbance are weak. However, it is the most severely disturbed by human. The heavy undermining to under canopy and tree layer of this forest is mainly imposed by widely pine nut collection and tourism industry. Especially, the large range collection of pine nuts greatly reduced the seed source for Korean pine regeneration. That follows by the worsened regeneration condition which is a crushing lower to one species[1]. Replacement of dominant species in tree layer (Table 2), sharply decline of plant diversity, and the decrease of evenness in under canopy layers are the concrete phenomena of frequent and severe human disturbance to forest ecosystem[36]. A. nephrolepis was the third dominant tree species in 1963. But it has exceeded the 1963’s first dominant species L. olgensis var. changpaiensis to be the major dominant one in 2006. Korean pine declines from the second place in 1963 to the third in 2006. For A. nephrolepis is a shade-tolerant species, proportion of shade-tolerant species has increased (Figure 2). The AIV of P. jezoensis var. komarovii greatly decreases from 1.1 in 1963 to 0.6 in 2006. This change induces a big difference in dominant species between 2 surveys, and has caused an obvious fall of evenness index in tree layer. In the other side, other broad-leaved species increases from 0.9 to 2.3, this is the main reason for the increases of biodiversity and richness in tree layer, similar with MCBF. The reason of obvious decline in tree species AIV is speculated to be tree mortality, nature disasters and human activities under tree layer. Many fallen trees were found in the sample plots. Heart rot and strong wind are the main cause of this large number of fallen trees according to the experiences of native people. The temporal shelters constructed by pine nut collectors and forest protectors were all made of nearby trees. But for the poor wood quality of A. nephrolepis, rare wood products were got from this species, which lead to the maintenance of A. nephrolepis in the forest, and the others tree species declined. Forest gaps formed by dead trees and fallen ones reduced the crown density of tree layer. That has caused variance of micro environment under tree layers, which can be evidenced by 9% rise of 956
shade-intolerant species in succession layer and another 5% rise in under tree layer from 1963 to 2006. 3.3 Biodiversity changes in SCF Area above 1500 m a.s.l. in North Slope of Changbai Mountain is assigned to develop tourism industry. Several measures of limiting tourism shuttles and fixed visiting tours have reduced the effects of tourism activities on nature ecosystem. But the reality of deduction in plant diversity is unquestionable attributed to human disturbances. The decrease rate of biodiversity in shrub and herb layers in this forest is the least among the 3 forests. This result complies with the common rule that biodiversity loss positively relates with disturbance extent of human being to natural communities[36,37]. Because of historical and traffic problems, tourism industry development of Changbai Mountain hasn’t reached its highest capacity, but the new airport construction will change this situation. The rapidly rising visitor number will add more pressure to natural ecosystem. The natural virgin state of SCF will be further threatened by such economic development. The change pattern of plant species composition in SCF resembled with that in MCF during this 43 years period, A. nephrolepis which replaced dominant places of L. olgensis var. changpaiensis in 1963 has become the major dominant species in 2006. As the 13% rise of the A. nephrolepis AIV, the proportion of shade-tolerant species greatly increases by 20%. The proportions of shade-intolerant species in succession and under wood layers have risen by 10% and 3% during 43 years respectively. Alternations of tree layer induce the decrease in crown density, and then evenness of all layers decreased[9]. Because of the high elevation, there are just a few tree species suitable to this environment. No big change happens in tree species richness, and the tree biodiversity index has decreased a little during 43 years. From our survey, the integrality of spatial pattern of forest plant community in Chanbai Mountain Nature Reserve has been completely conserved, and the general effects of protection are efficient. The prohibition of tree cutting has helped to preserve the tree layer. However, global warming has caused an obviously proportion increase in broad-leaved tree species, meanwhile human activity in the forest, such as tourism and pine nuts collection, has disturbed the under canopy plants and the succession layer. Generally, it is thought that human activities under canopy can not greatly alter the landscape,
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so human activities are permitted and neglected. The effects of frequent human disturbances[27] would gradually influence plant growth and tree regeneration. The keystone species and herb layers, sensitive to environmental changes, could be affected at first. Then crown density and under canopy environment change, which would disorder the essential symbiosis. Finally, permanent changes of ecosystem features and functions will be formed[5].
4 Conclusions The 2 community field observations of interval time were used to analyze the forty three years change of plant species diversity of Changbai Mountains on the north slope in altitude interval of 800~1700 m. From this research, we assessed the protection effect in this reserve. By contrasting the two surveys, we found that the conserve measures, such as forbidding tree cutting, soundly protecting tree layers, and the integrality of spatial pattern of forest plant community was been conserved completely. The co-dominant species in each type of forest was similar between 2006 and 1963. There was an obvious negatively correlation between species diversity in tree layers and the altitude. However, plant diversity was mainly controlled by micro environment for the under canopy layer. The temperature in Changbai Mountain area fluctuated increasing during 1963~2006. Human activities, such as illegal collection and tourism industry, disturbed all the three forests at certain extents, and caused some biodiversity and co-dominant species change. Biodiversity of shrub and herb layers in three forests significantly declined. Both diversity and evenness indices in MCBF increased. The reduction of the AIV of original domi1
dilemma. Ecol Appl, 1999, 9: 1459-1476
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nant species Korean pine and the rising of that value for Mongolic oak shows a possible succession for this forest. The increasing proportion of broad-leaved species brings about the larger proportion of shade-tolerant species under canopy. The evenness of tree layers in MCF and SCF both dropped. For biodiversity, it is increase in MCF and decrease in SCF. A. nephrolepis replaced dominant species L. olgensis var. changpaiensis (in 1963), and become the major dominant species. Shade-intolerant species was invading the forest gapes during this period. Land utilization can be divided into 3 phases: agriculture phase, industrial phase and information phase respectively[38]. The establishment of CRN has avoided the disastrous damage to nature ecosystem which appears in the industrial phase with the timber demanding as its main character. Nature reserve does have obvious positive effects on the protection of ecosystem integrity. The disturbances under trees would not cause significant landscape changes in short time. But the long term interference would have negative influences on plant diversity. As the science and technology advancing, there are less and less limits in human activities. The range, that human could arrive at, is larger and larger. However, some valuable nature ecosystems, which are fortunately remained for historical or geographic reasons, are suffering some uncertain nature and human damage. Tourism and estate industries are in the beginning period in Changbai Mountain. Therefore, it is necessary to soundly plan the tourism industry development in CRN. Hopefully, the reinforced management and plan can change the decreasing trend of Korean pine forest and recover the lost shrub and herb diversity in the future.
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