In:
Canadian Journal of Forest Research, Canadian Science Publishing, Vol. 33, No. 11 ( 2003-11-01), p. 2184-2192
Kurzfassung:
The litterfall in a subtropical broadleaf forest within the Fushan Experimental Forest in northeastern Taiwan was monitored for 9 years. Mean annual litterfall was very sensitive to typhoon frequency and intensity, ranging from 3 to 11 Mg·ha 1 ·year 1 . Litterfall was significantly higher in years with strong typhoons than in years without typhoons, and the number of strong typhoons explained 82% of interannual variation in litterfall. Nutrient-use efficiency (dry mass/nutrients in litterfall) was high for N, but low for P compared with other tropical forests. This result supports the idea that the study forest is P limited but not N limited. Nutrient loss via litterfall represents a large percentage of aboveground biomass, especially during years with strong typhoons (e.g., 19%41%, 15%40%, 5%12%, for N, P, and K, respectively). Forests that experience infrequent wind disturbance (e.g., temperate or boreal forests) can gradually regain any lost nutrients prior to the next disturbance; this is different from the situation observed in the Fushan Experimental Forest. At Fu-shan the pattern of not responding to typhoons with a flush of new growth appears to be an adaptation to the frequency with which there are multiple typhoons affecting the forest in a single year. Nutrient loss in litterfall caused by frequent typhoon disturbances appears to limit tree growth and contributes to the very low canopy height of the Fushan Experimental Forest.
Materialart:
Online-Ressource
ISSN:
0045-5067
,
1208-6037
Sprache:
Englisch
Verlag:
Canadian Science Publishing
Publikationsdatum:
2003
ZDB Id:
1473096-0
SSG:
23
SSG:
12
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