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Long-term response of living forest biomass to extensive logging in subtropical China

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Abstract

Forest disturbance and recovery are critical ecosystem processes, but the temporal patterns of disturbance have not been studied in subtropical China. Using a tree-ring analysis approach, we studied post-logging above-ground (ABG) biomass recovery dynamics over a 26-year period in four plots with different degrees of logging disturbance. Before logging, the ABG biomass ranged from 291 to 309 t ha−1. Soon after logging, the plots in primary forest, secondary forest, mixed forest and single-species forest had lost 33, 91, 90 and 100% of their initial ABG biomass, respectively. Twenty-six years after logging, the plots had regained 147, 62, 80 and 92% of their original ABG biomass, respectively. Over the 26 years following logging, the mean CAI (Current annual increment) were 10.1, 5.5, 6.4 and 10.8 t ha−1 a−1 and the average MAI (Mean annual increment) 8.7, 2.5, 5.6 and 7.8 t ha−1 a−1 for the four forest types, respectively. The results indicate that subtropical forests subjected to moderate logging or disturbances do not require intensive management and single-species plantings can rapidly restore the above-ground biomass to levels prior to heavy logging.

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Acknowledgements

Our fieldwork was aided by the Administration Bureau of Jiulian Mountain National Nature Reserve, which granted us permission to conduct surveys and procure samples in the forest. We thank Zhong Hao, Zhong Yuanchang, Liang Yuelong, Hu Hualin and Fu Qinglin for providing logistical support. This manuscript was improved by anonymous reviewers.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Forestry College, Beijing Forestry University, No.35 Tsinghua East Road, Haidian District, Beijing, 100083, People’s Republic of China

    Hua Zhou, Shengwang Meng & Qijing Liu

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  1. Hua Zhou
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  2. Shengwang Meng
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  3. Qijing Liu
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Correspondence to Qijing Liu.

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The online version is available at http://www.springerlink.com

Corresponding editor: Zhu Hong.

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Zhou, H., Meng, S. & Liu, Q. Long-term response of living forest biomass to extensive logging in subtropical China. J. For. Res. 30, 1679–1687 (2019). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11676-018-0761-z

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