Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Estimation of epiphytic biomass and nutrient pools in the subtropical montane cloud forest in the Ailao Mountains, south-western China

  • Original Article
  • Published:
Ecological Research

Abstract

Canopy organic matter (COM) composed of epiphyte community exists as a complex subsystem in the montane cloud forest (MCF). We estimated the biomass and nutrient pools of COM in a subtropical MCF in the Ailao Mountain National Nature Reserve (NNR). The diameter at breast height (DBH) of host trees was the best parameter in the estimation of epiphytic biomass, compared to the height (H) of host trees and the combination of both parameters. The effect of host tree species was negligible in the estimation. Therefore, it was concluded that the DBH data of all trees of a forest regardless of species was a suitable index for the non-destructive estimation of epiphytic biomass in field surveys, especially for investigations of larger study areas. According to species-specific equations, the total COM biomass was estimated to be 2,261 ± 537 (SD) kg ha−1, which was dominated by bryophytes (73.6%) and canopy humus (13.9%). The greatest proportion of COM was located on the inner branches (52.2%), followed by outer branches, trunks, the understory, and branch junctions. The nutrient pools (mean ± SD, kg ha−1) of the COM were: N = 37.9 ± 9.0, P = 1.97 ± 0.47, K = 9.6 ± 2.3, Ca = 9.6 ± 2.3, Mg = 2.64 ± 0.63 and Na = 0.25 ± 0.06. Assessments of epiphytic biomass and nutrient capital supported the idea that the canopy subsystem holds a substantial pool of nutrients, especially when compared to the labile components of the forest ecosystem.

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.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1
Fig. 2
Fig. 3
Fig. 4
Fig. 5
Fig. 6

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Bohlman SA, Matelson TJ, Nadkarni NM (1995) Moisture and temperature patterns of canopy humus and forest floor soil of a montane cloud forest, Costa Rica. Biotropica 27:13–19

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Bruijnzeel LA, Hamilton LS (2000) Decision time for cloud forests. Humid tropics programme series no 13. IHO-UNESCO, Paris

    Google Scholar 

  • Bubb P, May I, Miles L, Sayer J (2004) Cloud forest agenda. UNEP-WCMC, Cambridge

    Google Scholar 

  • Cayuela L, Glicher DJ, Rey-Benayas JM (2006) The extent, distribution, and fragmentation of vanishing montane cloud forest in the highlands of Chiapas, Mexico. Biotropica 38:544–554

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Curtis JT, McIntosh RP (1951) An upland forest continuum in the prairie-forest border region of Wisconsin. Ecology 32:476–496

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Edwards P, Grubb PJ (1977) Studies of mineral cycling in a montane rain forest in New Guinea. J Ecol 65:943–969

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Ellwood MDF, Foster WA (2004) Doubling the estimate of invertebrate biomass in a rainforest canopy. Nature 429:549–551

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Freiberg M (2001) The influence of epiphyte cover on branch temperature in a tropical tree. Plant Ecol 153:241–250

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Freiberg M, Freiberg E (2000) Epiphyte diversity and biomass in the canopy of lowland and montane forests in Ecuador. J Trop Ecol 16:673–688

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Gehring C, Park S, Denich M (2004) Liana allometric biomass equations for Amazonian primary and secondary forest. For Ecol Manage 195:69–83

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Golley F, Mcginnis K, Clements R (1971) La biomass y la estructura de algunos bosques de Darien, Panama. Turrialba 21:189–196

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Hamilton LS, Juvik JL, Scatena FN (1995) The Puerto Rico tropical cloud forest symposium: Introduction and workshop synthesis. In: Hamilton LS, Juvik JO, Scatena FN (eds) Tropical MCFs. Ecological studies. Springer, Berlin Heidelberg New York, p 110

    Google Scholar 

  • Hofstede RGM, Wolf JH, Benzing DH (1993) Epiphyte biomass and nutrient status of a Colombian upper montane rain forest. Selbyana 14:37–45

    Google Scholar 

  • Hsu CC, Horng FE, Kuo CM (2002) Epiphyte biomass and nutrient capital of a moist subtropical forest in north-eastern Taiwan. J Trop Ecol 18:659–670

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Inoue A (2004) Relationships of stem surface area to other stem dimensions for Japanese cedar (Cryptomeria japonica D. Don) and Japanese cypress (Chamaecyparis obtuse Endl.) trees. J For Res 9:45–50

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Institute of Soil Academia Sinica (1978) Analysis of soil physics and chemistry. Science and Technology of Shanghai Publications, Shanghai

    Google Scholar 

  • Jin ZZ (1983) Elfin woodland and its secondary bush in Daxueguoshan, the peak of Ailao Mts. In: Wu zy (ed) Research of forest ecosystem on Ailao Mountains, Yunnan. Yunnan Science and Technology Press, Kunming, pp 215–221

    Google Scholar 

  • Johansson D (1974) Ecology of vascular epiphytes in West African rain forest. Acta Phytogeographica Suedica 59:1–136

    Google Scholar 

  • Ketterings QM, Coe R, Mv Noordwijk, Ambagau Y, Palm CA (2001) Reducing uncertainty in the use of allometric biomass equations for predicting above-ground tree biomass in mixed secondary forests. For Ecol Manage 146:199–209

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Köhler L, Tobón C, Arnoud Frumau KF, Bruijnzeel LA (2007) Biomass and water storage dynamics of epiphytes in old-growth and secondary montane cloud forest stands in Costa Rica. Plant Ecol 193:171–184

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Liu WY, Fox JED, Xu ZF (2000) Leaf litter decomposition of canopy trees, bamboo and moss in a montane moist evergreen broad-leaved forest on Ailao Mountain, Yunnan, south-west China. Ecol Res 15:435–447

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Liu WY, Fox JED, Xu ZF (2002) Nutrient fluxes in bulk precipitation, throughfall and stemflow in montane subtropical moist forest on Ailao Mountains in Yunnan, south-west China. J Trop Ecol 18:527–548

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Liu WY, Fox JED, Xu ZF (2003) Nutrient budget of a montane evergreen broad-leaved forest at Ailao Mountain National Reserve, Yunnan, southwest China. Hydrol Process 17:1119–1134

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Murphy PG, Lugo AE (1986) Structure and nutrient capital of a subtropical dry forest in Puerto Rico. Biotropica 18:89–96

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Nadkarni NM (1984a) Epiphyte biomass and nutrient capital of a neotropical elfin forest. Biotropica 16:249–256

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Nadkarni NM (1984b) Biomass and mineral capital of epiphytes in an Acer macrophyllum community of a temperate moist coniferous forest, Olympic Peninsula, Washington State. Can J Bot 62:2223–2228

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Nadkarni NM, Schaefer D, Matelson TJ, Solano R (2002) Comparison of arboreal and terrestrial soil characteristics in a lower montane forest, Monteverde, Costa Rica. Pedobiologia 46:24–33

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Nadkarni NM, Schaefer D, Matelson EJ, Solano R (2004) Biomass and nutrient pools of canopy and terrestrial components in a primary and a secondary montane cloud forest, Costa Rica. For Ecol Manage 198:223–236

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Pócs T (1980) The epiphytic biomass and its effect on the water balance of two rain forest types in the Uluguru mountains (Tanzania, East Africa). Acta Bot Acad Sci Hungaricae 26:143–167

    Google Scholar 

  • Qiu XZ, Xie SC, Liu XY (1998) Studies on the forest ecosystem in Ailao Mountains,Yunnan. Yunnan Sciences and Technology Press, Kunming

    Google Scholar 

  • Shi JP, Zhu H (2008) Tree species composition and diversity of tropical mountain cloud forest in the Yunnan, southwestern China. Ecol Res. doi:10.1007/s11284-008-0484-2

  • Stadtmüller T (1987) Cloud forests in the humid tropics. The United Nations University, Tokyo and Centro Agronomico Tropical de Investigacion y Ensenanza, Turrialba, Costa Rica

    Google Scholar 

  • Swank WT, Schreuder HT (1974) Comparison of three methods of estimating surface area and biomass for a forest of young eastern white pine. For Sci 20:91–100

    Google Scholar 

  • Takao G, Minowa M (1993) A stand growth model of coniferous plantation in light of the reduction in respiration per unit stem volume. Bull Tokyo Univ For 89:113–153

    Google Scholar 

  • Tanner EVJ (1980) Studies on the biomass and productivity in a series of montane rain forest in Jamaica. J Ecol 68:573–588

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Tanner EVJ (1985) Jamaican montane forests: nutrient capital and cost of growth. J Ecol 73:553–568

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Whittaker RH, Woodwell GM (1967) Surface area relations of woody plants and forest communities. Am J Bot 54:931–939

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Xie SC (1987) The dominant species of the dwarfing mossy forest on the summit of Mt. Ailao in Jingdong. Yunnan—Lithocarpus pachyphylloides. Acta Bot Sin 29:331–335

    Google Scholar 

  • Yang XD, Warren M, Zou XM (2007) Fertilization responses of soil litter fauna and litter quantity, quality and turnover in low and high elevation forests of Puerto Rico. Appl Soil Ecol 37:63–71

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • You CX (1983) Classification of vegetation in Xujiaba region in Ailao Mts. In: Wu zy (ed) Research of forest ecosystem on Ailao Mountains, Yunnan. Yunnan Science and Technology Press, Kunming, pp 74–117

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgments

This project was funded by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (No. 30771705, No. 30470305). The Management Authority of the Ailao Mountain Nature Reserve is thanked for granting permission for the research reported. Thanks to Yang Guoping, Li Dawen, Li Xiaoshuang, Liu Yongjie, Yang Wenzheng, and Qi Jinhua for their assistance during fieldwork. We thank Dr. Ma Wenzhang and Li Su for identifying the specimens, and Wu jiafu for preparing Fig. 1. Ms. Fu Yun is particularly thanked for her assistance with chemical analysis of samples. We are grateful to Dr. Jocelyn Behm from the University of Wisconsin who refined the language. We also thank reviewers for their important and constructive comments on this paper.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Xingshuangbanna Tropical Botanical Garden, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Xue Fu Road 88, 650223, Kunming, China

    Lin Chen, Wen-yao Liu & Gao-sheng Wang

  2. Graduate School of Chinese Academy of Sciences, 100039, Beijing, China

    Lin Chen & Gao-sheng Wang

  3. School of Environmental Biology, Curtin University of Technology, Perth, WA, 6845, Australia

    Wen-yao Liu

Authors
  1. Lin Chen
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Wen-yao Liu
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Gao-sheng Wang
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Wen-yao Liu.

About this article

Cite this article

Chen, L., Liu, Wy. & Wang, Gs. Estimation of epiphytic biomass and nutrient pools in the subtropical montane cloud forest in the Ailao Mountains, south-western China. Ecol Res 25, 315–325 (2010). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11284-009-0659-5

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11284-009-0659-5

Keywords

Search

Navigation