Ecosystem Service and Sustainable Watershed Management in North China
International Conference, Beijing, P.R. China, August 23 – 25, 2000
ADVANCE OF LONG-TERM ECOLOGICAL RESEARCH ON
CHANGBAI FOREST ECOSYSTEMS
Limin DAI
Institute of Applied Ecology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shenyang 110015, P.R. China
E-mail: [email protected], Fax:+86-24-23843313
Abstract
Changbai Mountain is one of the most valuable reserves for its various natural ecosystems
and rich gene pool, especially for the altitudinal vegetation zone in the mountain, that makes
the mountain a non-substitutive ecological research site. For a long-term forest ecological
research, the Institute of Forestry and Soil Sciences (presently, the Institute of Applied
Ecology) was entrusted by the Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS) to establish the station in
1979, and the station joined the MAB program in the same year. Since then, a group of
scientists from more than 10 institute led by famous ecologists, Professor Zhan Wang and
Hanxi Yang, has been involved in the research programs. It was promoted as an “Open
Research Station” by the Chinese Academy of Sciences in 1989, selected as a key research
station by Chinese Ecosystem Research Network (CERN) in 1992, and has played an
important role in International Long Term Ecological Research Network (LTER) since 1993.
To reach the object of long-term forest ecological research, in view of ecosystem as a whole
system, forest ecosystem ecology is the main research direction of the station. Based on the
long-term investigation and research, some relative disciplines were also studied and
developed by using computer simulation, systematic analysis, and spatial analysis. The object
of all the studies is to explain the structure, function, and dynamics of forest in Temperate
Zone, and the influence of human activities and environment changing on forest ecosystem.
Now, surrounding the research and development of forest ecology, forest boundary ecology as
a new discipline is carried out, and forested watershed ecology, biodiversity, and service of
forest ecosystems are the important research directions.
The main development of the research includes: 1. Decomposition of fallen wood and litters
in forest; 2. Studies and protection of biodiversity; 3. Structure and function of forest
boundary; 4. Pattern and process of forested watershed ecosystem.
Keywords Changbai Mountain, forest ecology, long-term ecological research
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INTRODUCTION
Changbai Mountain is one of the most valuable reserves for its various natural ecosystems
and rich gene pool, especially for the altitudinal vegetation zonation in the mountain, that
makes the mountain a non-substitutive ecological research site.
For a long term forest ecological research, the Institute of Forestry and Soil Sciences
(presently, the Institute of Applied Ecology) was entrusted by the Chinese Academy of
Sciences (CAS) to establish the station in 1979, and the station joined the MAB program in
the same year. Since then, a group of scientists from more than 10 institute led by famous
ecologists, Professor Zhan Wang and Hanxi Yang, has been involved in the research
programs. It was promoted as an “Open Research Station” by the Chinese Academy of
Sciences in 1989, selected as a key research station by Chinese Ecosystem Research Network
(CERN) in 1992, and has played an important role in International Long Term Ecological
Research Network (LTER) since 1993.
REGIONAL REPRESENTATION AND RESEARCH DIRECTION OF CHANGBAI
MOUNTAIN STATION
Regional representation
Changbai Mountain station is sited on northern slope of Changbai Mountain, which belong to
Changbai Mountain National Reserve and lie in Erdaobaihe town with 128°28’E longitude
and 42°24’N latitude, 736m altitude, Jilin Province. Because its special national, social and
historical condition Changbai Mountain becomes the world-famous forest ecosystem research
base with the well-preserved typical mountain forest ecosystem of Eastern Asia. There has
typical and well-known altitudinal vegetation zonation in Changbai Mountain. With the
increasing of altitude, from the lower to the upper, there exist Broad-leaved Korean pine
mixed forest (below 1100m), Coniferous forest (1100-1800m), Sub-alpine Betula ermanii
forest (1800-2000m) and Alpine tundra (over 2000m) successively (Fig. 1, 2, Table 1). It is
the typical national composition in northeast of Euro-Asia continent.
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Fig. 1. Typical vegetation types of Changbai Mountain
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Fig. 2. Forest cover types on Changbai mountain
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Table 1. Total area for each cover type
Area (ha)
Cover type
Inside reserve
Bare rock
Mountain birch forest
Sky Lake
Evergreen coniferous forest
Korean pine—hardwood forest
Aspen –white birch Forest
Human land use
Meadow
Tundra
Sparse forest
Abandoned land
Windthrow
Total
914.3
10 767.4
648.9
94 823.3
5 281.1
757.1
3 106.8
4 414.4
10 356.9
11 298.9
909.3
2 530.2
198 535.0
outside reserve
454.5
3 219.2
500.4
37 257.2
18 103.5
8 462.7
39 106.4
72.8
6 896.7
2 709.1
0.0
0.0
210 745.9
Total
1 368.8
13 986.6
1 149.3
132 080.5
23 384.6
9 219.8
42 213.2
4 487.2
17 253.6
14 008.0
909.3
2 530.2
409 280.9
Position in the hotspot study of modern ecology
Biodiversity: Broad-leaved Korean pine mixed forest (Fig. 3) in Changbai Mountain is the
only-existing and large-area virgin coniferous broad-leaved mixed forest in the world.
Comparing with the same latitude region in occident, it is well-known by the complex
structure, special compositions and abundant biodiversity. Furthermore, the vegetation type,
which contains various vegetation types from temperate to polar, is diversiform of in
Changbai Mountain region.
Fig. 3. Broad-leaved Korean pine mixed forest
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Global change: Owing to the sensitivity for climate change of several altitudinal zonations
and transects between various zonations, the Changbai Mountain become the ideal research
base on global change and land ecosystem, and it is a ready sample belt.
Sustainable development: Changbai Mountain national reserve is surrounded with some
forestry enterprises which mainly produce the timber, and these forestry enterprises meet the
“resource crisis” by the long-term forest cutting. So, the sustainable development of forestry
becomes one main research task.
Total study direction and goal
Direction: Surrounding the hotspot of study on global population, environment, and resource,
revealing the structure, function and dynamics of temperate forest ecosystem; indicating the
effect of human activity and environment change on the forest ecosystem; questing for the
valid approach of rational management and sustainable development of forest resources.
Chief goal: Taking forest ecology as main subject, basing on the long-term location
observation, and surrounding the sustainable development of forestry and forest resources in
North-East, the synthetic study of different subjects are carrying out to develop forest ecology
theory. Another goal is to make Changbai Mountain Station (Fig. 4) as an international
research center on forest ecology in the future.
Fig. 4. Changbai Mountain Station
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OBTAINED ACHIEVEMENTS
At the early stage of station developing, it has synthesized more than ten disciplines, and
carried out the long-term ecology study item “ Structure, function and approach to improving
productivity of Changbai Mountain forest ecosystem”. Comprehensive investigation on plant,
animal, microbe, soil, meteorology, and hydrology had been carried out in 1979—1982.
Primary studies had been developed on basic character, optimum structure and management
of broad-leaved Korean pine mixed forest in 1983—1986. Phase achievements of this item
obtained the “Second-class award on science and technology advancement” by CAS, and in
1989, this long-term ecology item had been nominated international demonstration item by
the international coordination bureau of MAB of UNESCO.
After the 1979, the station had run two periods of CAS open station fund including 30
programs, and now, the third period programs have already been started. The broad-leaved
Korean pine mixed forest had been mainly taken into consideration in the former two period
programs, and its’ sustainable usage, structure, function, dynamics and management had been
thoroughly and systematically studied. All the studies have made perfect progress, and some
achievements had obtained great awards. For instance, “Mathematics model of succession and
regeneration in broad-leaved Korean pine mixed forest”, “Network experiment on production
potential and land hold”, “Study on harm mechanism of tree living through the winter”, and
“Study on forest hydrology function and simulation” are all awarded.
RESEARCH EMPHASES IN THE NEAR FUTURE
From 1996, the station have taken the stability and sustainable development of forest
ecosystem as the core study target, and the dark coniferous forest ecosystem (Fig. 5) on
northern slope of Changbai Mountain as the main object.
So, the following research directions have been developed.
1) Structure, function and dynamics of forest ecosystem,
2) Rational management and sustainable development,
3) Response to the environment change of forest ecosystem,
4) Effect on forest ecosystem and biodiversity of human activity,
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5) Theory, development and application of modern ecology,
6) Management of biosphere reserve.
Fig. 5. Coniferous forest
UP-TO DATE STUDY ADVANCE
Based on the developing trend of forest ecosystem, stratagem target of national ecoconstruction and development, the open station takes forest ecology as main studying
discipline and experiment ecology as the main measure.
Surrounding research and
construction of forest ecology, five important research directions are established: forest
ecosystem ecology and ecosystem management; forest boundary ecology; forested watershed
ecology; research and preservation of biodiversity; and ecological service function, health
diagnose and evaluation of forest ecosystem.
Forest ecosystem ecology and ecosystem management
The main objective is to consolidate the domestic lead status of Changbai Mountain station on
the forest ecosystem ecology, perfect the studies on fallen wood, fine root, and litterfall
decomposition, and deepen studies on the structure, function, dynamics and
ecological progress of temperate forest ecosystem. Based on 20-year’s research on
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about natural forest ecosystem and combined with the new tasks of forest ecosystem
management, theory and technique system of conservation, management, and
restoration of natural forest is developing. The classification system of natural forest
in Northeast forest region was established and synthetic benefits and ecological
service function of temperate natural forest is also carrying out. All the studies will
provide the theory base for the conservation and practice of natural forest.
Forest boundary ecology
The main objective is to reveal the progress and dynamics mechanism of ecological
boundary at different spatial scale in forest ecosystem and establish the theory and
technical system on forest boundary ecology.
At present, the response and
modulation mechanism of forest ecological boundary to environment stress and the
relationship between disturb of boundary and the stable and function of forest ecosystem are
studied. The farther research contains design and management of forest ecological boundary
and perfecting the theory of forest boundary ecology.
Forested watershed ecology
Research on forested watershed ecology contains studying on the reciprocity between the
freshwater ecosystem and forest ecosystem, ecological model of land and water compound
system, and function and management of riparian. A primary study revealed the relationship
between pattern and process of Changbai Mountain forested watershed ecosystem and its’
representation at different scales. This study emphasizes the intercross of land and water
ecosystem and established the primary theory system of watershed ecology. Moreover, this
study is penetrating into the ecological process of forested watershed ecosystem and
management, and perfecting the theory of forested watershed ecosystem.
Study and conservation of biodiversity
Making full use of the natural condition in Changbai Mountain, the study on biodiversity and
its protection have been deeply carried out. This study emphasizes on the spatial pattern and
maintenance mechanism of biodiversity on northern slope in Changbai Mountain, and
changes of biodiversity by human activity and global change. Spatial pattern of biodiversity
and influence on community structure, function and productivity have been also studied and
made some great progress.
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Ecological service function, health diagnose and evaluation of forest ecosystem
This direction is relatively a new studying area of the station, but a lot of research work has
been carried out recently. Taking temperate forest ecosystem in Changbai Mountain as chief
studying object, this study contains establishing a synthetic evaluation system on
comprehensive benefit of forest ecosystems, ecological service function evaluation, health
diagnose, and response of forest ecosystem by global change.
SOME DEVELOPED THEORIES
Keystone species in regeneration of Korean pine
Dependence on animals (mainly squirrel and pine crow) of the regeneration of Pinus
koraiensis had been approved, which enrich the theory of “key species” in the study of
biodiversity, and provide the scientific basis for maintenance and conservation of biodiversity.
Forest longevity
So far, there still exits the mention about “mature forest” and “over-mature forest” in forestry,
and this notion are citing in forest ecology too. Professor Wang Zhan is always against this
parlance, and he think that “tree can be mature or over-mature, but forest can not be overmature”. When the old tree fallen to death, the lower small trees will grow rapidly, and the
forest always keeps the dynamic balance. Forest fosters the world and cultivates the forest
environment, which can self-maintain and self-develop, so, forest has longevity. Preserving
the longevity of forest is the base for the maintenance and conservation of biodiversity and
various benefit sustainable utilization of forest.
Function of fine root in the maintenance of forest ecosystem productivity
The underground productivity of ecosystem had been often ignored in the past study of
ecosystem productivity. Changbai Mountain station firstly develops this study for broadleafKorean pine forest in China. The output of live fine root is about 20% of total net primary
productivity, and annual mortality is equal to 60% of annual fallen quantity of litterfall in
broadleaf-Korean pine forest.
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Function of fallen wood in forest ecosystem
Fallen wood (Fig. 6) is an important ecological factor in forest ecosystem, and it takes a
critical effect on forest preservation. Fallen wood ecology has been studied in Changbai
Mountain since 1980s, it is the first relative research in China.
Fig. 6. Fallen wood in Erdaobaihe river
Response of forest productivity by global change
Study on the chief xylophyta (woody plant) in northeast region shows that the tree
assimilation capability of photo-carbon will increase with the improvement of CO2
consistency, and response of trees by CO2 increasing is related with the N nutrition.
Productivity have been promoted by the advance of photosynthesis and the reducing of
respiration consume. Hence, it can be forecasted that complex change of forest structure will
happen evidently under the increase of CO2 in the future, nutrition absence will greatly stand
out, and N-fixed plants will show obvious predominance.
Hydrology function of forest ecosystem and its simulation
The first forest hydrology simulation laboratory had been set up in Changbai Mountain in
China, and lab simulation had firstly been triumphantly applied in the study on forest
hydrology. The establishment of the lab enrichs and develops the experiment forest
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hydrology.
Forest management and restoration of biodiversity
Effect on biodiversity varies with the forest management mode (clear cutting selective
cutting with different intensity). Clear cutting destroys the whole ecosystem and makes
biodiversity declined sharply, so the restoration of biodiversity needs a long time. Selective
cutting is different from clear cutting, and it brings light influence on the ecosystem. The
forest in Changbai Mountain has strong potential of biodiversity restoration, but the velocity
of restoration depends on stand condition.
Simulation of forest ecosystem dynamics
Some simulation models such as KOPIDE, CHANGFOR, ZELIG, and NEWCOP were
established. These models surpass the former models which laying particular stress on theory
study, and simulate the effect of natural and human disturb and management on forest
ecosystem dynamics.
Watershed ecology
The aim of this research is to provide theoretical foundation for reasonable decision-making
of exploitation and usage of the land and waters in the watershed so that economic and social
sustainable development of watershed could be realized. Watershed ecology is an appropriate
approach to researches and applications of regional ecology, and it is also a significant way to
economic and social sustainable development of watershed, so it is necessary to develop
systematic research on watershed ecology as soon as possible. Relative studies on forest
watershed of Erdaobaihe in Changbai Mountain have been carried out by the Changbai
Mountain Forest Ecosystem Open Research Station since 1998. The main researches include:
structures and patterns of forested watershed complex ecosystem, influence of fall wood and
litter of stream in stream ecosystem, function and management of riparian zone, processes of
energy and material flow in the forested watershed and so on.
CONCLUSIONS
Changbai Mountain is one of the most valuable reserves for its various natural ecosystems
and rich gene pool, especially for the altitudinal vegetation zone in the mountain, that makes
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the mountain a non-substitutive ecological research site. To reach the object of long-term
forest ecological research, in view of ecosystem as a whole system, forest ecosystem ecology
is the main research direction of the station. Based on the long-term investigation and
research, some relative disciplines were also studied and developed by using computer
simulation, systematic analysis, and spatial analysis. The object of all the studies is to explain
the structure, function, and dynamics of forest in Temperate Zone, and the influence of human
activities and environment changing on forest ecosystem.
Join us on the front-line of ecological research and environment protection!
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Research of forest ecosystem in Changbai Mountain, Volumn (1).
Wang zhan , Xu zhen-bang et.al (1980). The main forest types and their features of
community stracture in northern slope of Changbai Mountain. Research of forest
ecosystem in Changbai Mountain, Volumn (1).
Xu Zhenbang (1992). Periodic review on forest ecosystem researches at Changbai Mountain.
Research of forest ecosystem in Changbai Mountain.Volumn (6).
Zhang Feng shan, Li Xiao yan (1984). Some thermal-hygro characteristics of main Forest
Types on Northern Slope of Changbai Mountain During Growing Season. Research of
forest ecosystem in Changbai Mountain, Volumn (4).
John Miles, D.D French and Xu zhenbang (1983). A preliminary study of the successional
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