Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Modeling the Effects of Global Climatic Change at the Ecotone of Boreal Larch Forest and Temperate Forest in Northeast China

  • Published:
Climatic Change Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

The dynamics of the forest at the ecotone of the boreal forest and temperate forest in Northeast China were simulated using the adapted gap model BKPF under global climatic change (GFDL scenario) and doubled CO2 concentrations at 50 years in the future. The response of tree species and species with similar biological characteristics under global climate change and double CO2 concentrations were based on biophysical limits of the tree species in the area and their biological competition. The results showed that after 50 years the stand density and LAI (leaf area index) of the forest growing from a clear-cut would not be significantly different from those under current conditions. Stand productivity would increase about 7%, and stand aboveground biomass would increase 15%. However, the stand density of the current mature forest would be reduced by more than 20%. The stand would be dominated by Quercus mongolica Fisch., Populus davidiana Dode., Betula spp. and other broadleaved tree species, and Quercus mongolica would account for about 50% of the total density. The stand biomass would be reduced by more than 90%. Quercus mongolica would comprise about 57% of the total stand biomass. The stand productivity would not change significantly, but it would be comprised mainly of Quercus mongolica, Populus davidiana, Betula spp. The current stand height would decrease slightly. The stand LAI would decline dramatically, moreover, Quercus mongolica would comprise about 50% of the stand LAI.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Bao, C-S.: 1991, ‘Nutrient Cyclings in a Birch Forest’, in Zhou, X-F. (ed.), Long-term Located Research on Forest Ecosystems (Volume 1), Northeast Forestry University Press, Harbin, pp. 217–227.

    Google Scholar 

  • Bassett, J. R.: 1964, ‘Tree Growth as Affected by Soil Moisture Availability’, Soil Sci. Process 28, 436–438.

    Google Scholar 

  • Bazzaz, F. A.: 1990, ‘Growth Response of Seven Major Cooccuring Tree Species of the Northeastern United States to Elevated CO2’, Can. J. Forest Res. 20, 1479–1484.

    Google Scholar 

  • Beerling, D. J.: 1999, ‘Long-term Responses of Boreal Vegetation to Global Change: An Experimental and Modelling Investigation’, Global Change Biol. 5, 55–74.

    Google Scholar 

  • Beijing Meteorology Center: 1984, Ground Meteorological Information of China, Meteorology Press, Beijing.

    Google Scholar 

  • Bonan, G. B. and Sirois, L.: 1992, ‘Air Temperature, Tree Growth, and the Northern and Southern Range Limits to Picea Mariana’, J. Vegetation 3, 495–506.

    Google Scholar 

  • Botkin, D. B., Janak, J. F., and Wallis, J. R.: 1972, ‘Some Ecological Consequences of a Computer Model of Forest Growth’, J. Ecol. 60, 849–873.

    Google Scholar 

  • Bugmann, H. K. M.: 1996, ‘A Simplified Forest Model to Study Species Composition along Climate Gradients’, Ecology 77, 2055–2074.

    Google Scholar 

  • Ceulemans, R. and Mousseau, M.: 1994, ‘Effects of Elevated Atmospheric CO2 on Woody Plants’, New Phytol. 127, 425–446.

    Google Scholar 

  • Chen, X-W. and Wang, F-Y.: 1997, ‘Effects of CO2 Enrichment on Ecological Physiology of the Seedlings of Pinus koraiensis and Larix olgensis’, in Xu, D-Y., Guo, Q-S., and Yan, H. (eds.), A Study on the Impacts of Climate Change on the Forests in China, Chinese Science and Technology Press, Beijing, pp. 97–104.

    Google Scholar 

  • Chen, X-W. and Wang, F-Y.: ‘Simulation of the Potential Response of Mixed Coniferous and Broadleaved Korean Pine Communities by BKPF Model’, Acta Phytoecologica Sinica 24, 327–331.

  • Climate Change 1995: The Science of Climate Change, Contribution of Working Group I to the second assessment report of the intergovernmental panel on climate change, Cambridge Univ. Press, Cambridge.

    Google Scholar 

  • DeLucia, E. H., Hamilton, J. G., Naidu, S. L., Thomas, R. B., Andrews, J. A., Finzi, A., Lavine, M., Matamala, R., Mohan, J. E., Hendrey, G. R., and Schlesinger, W. H.: 1999, ‘Net Primary Production of a Forest Ecosystem with Experimental CO2 Enrichment’, Science 284, 1177–1179.

    Google Scholar 

  • Drake, B. G. and Leadley, P. W.: 1991, ‘Canopy Photosynthesis of Crops and Native Plant Communities Exposed to Long-term Elevated CO2’, Plant Cell Environ. 14, 853–860.

    Google Scholar 

  • Eamus, D. and Javis, P. G.: 1989, ‘The Direct Effects of Increase in the Global Atmospheric CO2 Concentration on Natural and Commercial Temperate Trees and Forests’, Adv. Ecol. Res. 9, 1–55.

    Google Scholar 

  • Editorial Board of Heilongjiang Forest: 1993, Heilongjiang Forest, Northeast Forest Press, Harbin.

    Google Scholar 

  • Editorial Committee of Trees of China: 1985, Trees of China, China Forestry Publishing House, Beijing.

    Google Scholar 

  • Evans, L., Pettersson, R., Lee, H. S. J., and Jarvis, P. G.: 1993, ‘Effects of Elevated CO2 on Birch’, Vegetatio 104, 452–459.

    Google Scholar 

  • Ge, J-P.: 1993, Study of the Structure, Dynamics and Growth of Korean Pine Forest in Xiaoxinanling, Ph.D. Thesis of Northeast Forestry University.

  • Goulden, M. L., Wofsy, S. C., Harden, J. W., Trumbore S. E., Crill, P. M., Gower, S. T., Fries, T., Daube, B. C., Fan, S-M., Sutton, D. J., Bazzaz, A., and Munger, J. W.: 1998, ‘Sensitivity of Boreal Forest Carbon Balance to Soil Thaw’, Science 279, 217.

    Google Scholar 

  • Higginbotham, K. O., Mayo, J. M., and Hirondelle, L. S.: 1985, ‘Physiological Ecology of Lodgepole Pine (Pinus Contorta) in an Enriched CO2 Environment’, Can. J. Forest Res. 15, 417–421.

    Google Scholar 

  • Hou, X-Y.: 1960, Vegetation of China, People's Education Press, Beijing.

    Google Scholar 

  • Idso, K. E. and Idso, S. B.: 1994, ‘Plant Responses to Atmospheric CO2 Enrichment in the Face of Environmental Constraints: A Review of the Past 10 Years’ Research’, Agric. For. Meteorol. 69, 153–203.

    Google Scholar 

  • Jones, T. H., Thompson, L. J., Lawton, J. H., Bezemer, T. M., Bardgett, R. D., Blackburn, T. M., Bruce, K. D., Cannon, P. F., Hall, G. S., Hartley, S. E., Howson, G., Jones, C. G., Kampichler, C., Kandeler, E., and Ritchie, D. A.: 1998, ‘Impacts of Rising Atmospheric Carbon Dioxide on Model Terrestrial Ecosystems’, Science 280, 441–443.

    Google Scholar 

  • Ker, J. W. and Smith, J. H. G.: 1955, ‘Advantages of the Parabolic Expression of Height-diameter Relationships’, For. Chron. 31, 235–246.

    Google Scholar 

  • Malanson, G. P.: 1997, ‘Effects of Feedbacks and Seed Rain on Ecotone Patterns’, Landscape Ecol. 12, 27–38.

    Google Scholar 

  • Manabe, S. and Wetherald, R. T.: 1987, ‘Large Scale Changes in SoilWetness Induced by an Increase in Carbon Dioxide’, J. Atmos. Sci. 44, 1211–1235.

    Google Scholar 

  • Meng, F-R., Shao, L-P., Huang, Y-Q., Song, R-Q., and Xue, Y.: 1991, ‘Decomposition Microfungus Flora in the Litter of Natural Secondary Poplar and Birch Stands’, in Zhou, X-F. (ed.), Long-term Located Research on Forest Ecosystems (Volume 1), Northeast Forestry University Press, Harbin, pp. 281–286.

    Google Scholar 

  • Mortenson, L. M.: 1983, ‘Growth Response of Some Greenhouse Plants to Environment. VIII Effect of CO2 on Photosynthesis and Growth of Norway Spruce’, Meldinger fra Norges Landbrukshogskole 62, 1–13.

    Google Scholar 

  • Mousseau, M. and Saugier, B.: 1992, ‘The Direct Effect of Increased CO2 on Gas Exchange and Growth of Forest Tree Species’, J. Exp. Bot. 43, 1121–1130.

    Google Scholar 

  • Musselman, R. C. and Fox, D. G.: 1991, ‘A Review of the Role of Temperate Forests in the Global CO2 Balance’, J. Air Waste Manage. Assoc. 41, 798–807.

    Google Scholar 

  • Oddvar, S. and Marius, N.: 1999, ‘CO2 and Winter Temperature Effects on White Birch’, Chemosphere: Global Change Sci. 1, 469–483.

    Google Scholar 

  • Pereira, J. S. and Chaves, M. M.: 1996, ‘Impacts of Climate Change and Elevated CO2 on Trees in Regions with aMediterranean Type of Climate’, in Mohren, G. M. L., Kramer, K., and Sabate, S. (eds.), Impacts of Global Change on Tree Physiology and Forest Ecosystems, Kluwer Academic Publishers, Dordrecht, the Netherlands, pp. 213–224.

    Google Scholar 

  • Pooter, H., Roumet, C., and Campbell, B. D.: 1996, ‘Interspecific Variation in the Growth Response of Plants to Elevated CO2: A Search for Functional Types’, in Körner, C. and Bazzaz, F. A. (eds.), Carbon Dioxide, Populations, and Communities, Academic Press Inc., New York, N.Y., pp. 375–412.

    Google Scholar 

  • Prentice, I. C., Sykes, M. T., and Cramer, W.: 1993, ‘A Simulation Model for the Transient Effects of Climate Change on Forest Landscapes’, Ecol. Modelling 65, 51–70.

    Google Scholar 

  • Schimel, D., Melillo, J., Tian, H., McGuire, A. D., Kicklighter, D., Kittel, T., Rosenbloom, N., Running, S., Thornton, P., Ojima, D., Parton, W., Kelly, R., Sykes, M., Neilson, R., and Rizzo, B.: 2000, ‘Contribution of Increasing CO2 and Climate to Carbon Storage by Ecosystems in the United States’, Science 287, 2004–2006.

    Google Scholar 

  • Shugart, H. H. and West, D. C.: 1977, ‘Development of an Appalachian Deciduous Forest Succession Model and its Application to Assessment of the Impact of the Chestnut Blight’, J. Environ. Manage. 5, 161–179.

    Google Scholar 

  • Shugart, H. H.: 1984, A Theory of Forest Dynamics, Springer-Verlag, New York.

    Google Scholar 

  • Shao, L-P., Huang, Y-Q., Song, R-Q., and Meng, F-R.: 1991a, ‘Fungus Flora in the Litter of Broadleaved Korean Pine Stands’, in Zhou, X-F. (ed.), Long-term Located Research on Forest Ecosystems (Volume 1), Northeast Forestry University Press, Harbin, pp. 260–271.

    Google Scholar 

  • Shao, L-P., Song, R-Q., Huang, Y-Q., and Meng, F-R.: 1991b, ‘Mycoflora of Litter in Larch plantations’, in Zhou, X-F. (ed.), Long-term Located Research on Forest Ecosystems (Volume 1), Northeast Forestry University Press, Harbin, pp. 272–279.

    Google Scholar 

  • Shao, G-F., Zhao, S. D., and Shugart, H. H.: 1995, Forest Dynamics Modeling-Preliminary Explanations of Optimizing Management for Korean Pine Forest, China Forestry Publishing House, Beijing, pp. 70–111.

    Google Scholar 

  • Smith, T. M. and Urban, D. L.: 1988, ‘Scale and Resolution of Forest Structure Pattern’, Vegetatio 74, 143–150.

    Google Scholar 

  • Tolley, L. C. and Strain, B. R.: 1984, ‘Effects of CO2 Enrichment and Water Stress on Growth of Linguidambar styraciflua and Pinus taeda Seedlings’, Can. J. Forest Res. 62, 2135–2139.

    Google Scholar 

  • Urban, D. L., Bonan, G. B., Smith, T. M., and Shugart, H. H.: 1991, ‘Spatial Applications of Gap Models’, Forest Ecol. Manage. 42, 95–110.

    Google Scholar 

  • Wang, F-Y., Wang, Y-C., and Liu, C-Z.: 1991, ‘Forest Litter Ecology in Deciduous/Pinus Koraiensis Forests: (I) Litterfall and its Dynamics in the Four Community Types’, in Zhou, X-F. (ed.), Long term Located Research on Forest Ecosystems (Volume 1), Northeast Forestry University Press, Harbin, pp. 227–237.

    Google Scholar 

  • Wei, X-H. and Zhou, X-F.: 1991, ‘Nutrient Cyclings in an Oak Forest Ecosystem’, in Zhou, X F. (ed.), Long-term Located Research on Forest Ecosystems (Volume 1), Northeast Forestry University Press, Harbin, pp. 118–133.

    Google Scholar 

  • Whittaker, R. H.: 1975, Communities and Ecosystems, 2nd edn., MacMillan Publishing, New York.

    Google Scholar 

  • Whittaker, R. H. and Marks, P. L.: 1975, ‘Methods of Assessing Terrestrial Productivity’, in Lieth, H. and Whittaker, R. H. (eds.), Primary Productivity of the Biosphere, Ecological Studies, Springer, Berlin, pp. 14, pp55–118.

    Google Scholar 

  • Xu, S-Q. and Song, R-Q.: 1991, ‘Microfungi in the Litter of Oak Stands’, in Zhou, X-F. (ed.), Longterm Located Research on Forest Ecosystems (Volume 1), Northeast Forestry University Press, Harbin, pp. 217–227.

    Google Scholar 

  • Zhou, X-F., Wang, Y-H., and Zhao, H-X.:1981, ‘Growth Rhythm of Some Important Tree Species (I)’, J. North-eastern Forestry Institute 2, 49–60.

    Google Scholar 

  • Zhou, Y-L.: 1986, Trees of Heilongjiang Province, Heilongjiang Science and Technology Press, Harbin, China.

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Laboratory of Quantitative Vegetation Ecology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100093, P.R. China

    Xiongwen Chen

Authors
  1. Xiongwen Chen
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Chen, X. Modeling the Effects of Global Climatic Change at the Ecotone of Boreal Larch Forest and Temperate Forest in Northeast China. Climatic Change 55, 77–97 (2002). https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1020273107954

Download citation

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1020273107954

Keywords

Search

Navigation