Forest Turnover and Woody Debris Dynamics in Subalpine Conifer Forest Ecosystems in New England

这个项目有两个互补的研究组成部分。其中一部分的重点将是记录新英格兰亚高山针叶林的森林周转变化（即树木补充、生长和死亡率）。对11-13年前建立的7个云杉永久林分和13个香脂冷杉永久林分的植被进行重新采样。这些林分中有几个被认为是“年老的”，在最后阶段，新个体的招募开始了。在第二部分中，将描述与森林更替相关的大规模木质碎片模式和过程。特别是，将测量11-13年前最初取样的100个红云杉和香脂冷杉孔的木材腐烂情况。还将使用含有永久性标记孔的森林地面图来测量森林地面上的凋落物的输入。木质碎屑的输入与林分发育过程中发生的变化直接相关，而且往往是断断续续的。另一方面，木材的腐烂率可能每年都差不多。通过对20个林分中11个林分在11-13年的时间间隔内的输入和衰减数据，研究人员将能够了解景观模式。最后，数据将用于检查林分内有机质动态和演替森林梯度上的净生态系统生产的概念。调查人员是一支优秀的队伍。这项工作的设施相当好。可以期待优秀的科学生产力。

This project has two complementary components of study. In one part, the focus will be on documenting changes in forest turnover (i.e., tree recruitment, growth, and mortality) in the subalpine conifer forest of New England. The vegetation in 7 permanent stands of spruce-fir and 13 permanent stands of balsam-fir originally established 11-13 years ago will be resampled. Several of these stands are considered "old-aged" and in the final stages of scenescence' recruitment of new individuals is beginning. In the second part, broad-scale woody debris patterns and processes associated with forest turnover will be described. In particular, wood decay on 100 red spruce and balsam fir boles initially sampled 11-13 years ago will be measured. Also measured will be the input of wood litter to the forest floor using maps of the forest floor containing permanently marked boles. The input of woody debris is directly related to changes occurring during stand development and is often episodic. Rates of wood decay, on the other hand, are probably similar from year- to-year. By having input and decay data for 11 of the 20 stands of forest over a 11-13 year interval, the investigators will be able to landscape patterns. Finally, data will be used to examine the within-stand organic matter dynamics and the concept of net ecosystem production over a successional forest gradient. The investigators are an excellent team. Facilities for the work are quite good. Excellent scientific productivity can be expected.