Seasonal variations in C/N/P/K stoichiometric characteristics in different plant organs in the various forest types of Sygera Mountain

We explored the resource acquisition and growth strategies of plants adapting to different environments, focusing on the typical forest types of Sygera Mountain: Pinus armandii, Picea likiangensis var. Linzhiensis, Abies georgei var. Smithii, and Juniperus saltuaria. Then, we analyzed the nutrient content and stoichiometric ratios of C, N, P, and K in different plant organs (leaves, branches, trunks, and roots) to examine the stoichiometric characteristics and nutrient balance mechanisms in these forests. Results show that within the same forest type, different plant organs exhibit high C and low N, P, and K levels. N content in all organs followed the order leaves > branches > roots > trunks. During the growth phase, the concentrations of P and K in PLL and AGS follow the order branches > leaves > roots > trunks. In the dormant phase, the distribution in different organs had the order leaves > branches > roots > trunks. C content remained relatively stable over time. In the same organ across different forest types, increase in nitrogen content in plant leaves is an active adaptation of JS plants, indicating that JS has a conservative growth strategy and can adapt to environmental stress. Owing to the influence of seasons, the evolution process of N and P content fluctuates, allocating nutrients to supporting and transporting organs for resource optimization and allocation. The N and P content were lower in the growth phase than in the dormant phase. Seasonal variations in the C/N, C/P, and C/K ratios in different forests were inversely correlated with changes in N, P, and K content in plant organs, supporting the "growth rate hypothesis." Stoichiometric analysis suggests that different limiting elements exist in organs across various forest types. Principal component analysis indicates that the seasonal patterns of stoichiometric ratios in the organs of different forest types show species-specific characteristics, reflecting the evolutionary nutrient utilization strategies of plant genera. In summary, plant growth in different Sygera Mountain forest types is limited by N and P, with a high tendency toward nitrogen limitation. The nutrient utilization and distribution differences among various organs during different growth stages are primarily influenced by the limited availability of environmental nutrients and inherent physiological characteristics of the plants.

The Diverse Mycorrizal Morphology of Rhododendron dauricum, the Fungal Communities Structure and Dynamics from the Mycorrhizosphere

It is generally believed that mycorrhiza is a microecosystem composed of mycorrhizal fungi, host plants and other microscopic organisms. The mycorrhiza of Rhododendron dauricum is more complex and the diverse morphology of our investigated results displays both typical ericoid mycorrhizal characteristics and ectomycorrhizal traits. The characteristics of ectendoomycorrhiza, where mycelial invade from the outside into the root cells, have also been observed. In order to further clarify the mycorrhizal fungi members and other fungal communities of R. dauricum mycorrhiza, and explore the effects of vegetation and soil biological factors on their community structure, we selected two woodlands in the northeast of China as samples-one is a mixed forest of R. dauricum and Quercus mongolica, and the other a mixed forest of R. dauricum, Q. mongolica, and Pinus densiflor. The sampling time was during the local growing season, from June to September. High-throughput sequencing yielded a total of 3020 fungal amplicon sequence variants (ASVs), which were based on sequencing of the internal transcribed spacer ribosomal RNA (ITS rRNA) via the Illumina NovaSeq platform. In the different habitats of R. dauricum, there are differences in the diversity of fungi obtained from mycorrhizal niches, and specifically the mycorrhizal fungal community structure in the complex vegetation of mixed forests, where R. dauricum is found, exhibits greater stability, with relatively minor changes over time. Soil fungi are identified as the primary source of fungi within the mycorrhizal niche, and the abundance of mycorrhizal fungi from mycorrhizal niches in R. dauricum is significantly influenced by soil pH, organic matter, and available nitrogen. The relationship between soil fungi and mycorrhizal fungi from mycorrhizal niches is simultaneously found to be intricate, while the genus Hydnellum emerges as a central genus among mycorrhizal fungi from mycorrhizal niches. However, there is currently a substantial gap in the foundational research of this genus, including the fact that mycorrhizal fungi from mycorrhizal niches have, compared to fungi present in the soil, proven to be more sensitive to changes in soil moisture.

[Classification of forest types in Cuigang Forest Farm based on time series data of Landsat 8]

To explore the practical role of enhanced vegetation index (EVI) time series data in improving the accuracy of forest type recognition could promote the deep application of optical remote sensing data in forest resources investigation and monitoring. With Cuigang Forest Farm of Xinlin Forestry Bureau in Daxing'anling as the object, we constructed six classification schemes, using random forest algorithm with spectral feature, texture feature and EVI time series feature. The data sources were 20-view Landsat 8 OLI time series data from 2014 to 2018, 56 fixed plots data from 2017-2019, and the 2016 Class II survey data. Our aims were to realize the classification of forest types in Cuigang Forest Farm and to evaluate the accuracy of different classification schemes. The results showed the EVI values of Larix gmelinii forest, Betula platyphylla forest, coniferous-broadleaved mixed forest, coniferous mixed forest and broadleaved mixed forest were significantly different in non-growing seasons (36-111 days and 287-367 days), with the EVI value of mixed conifer forest being significantly higher, and that of mixed broadleaf forest being always lower than the other four forest types. In the early growing season (111-143 days), the EVI value of B. platyphylla forest were higher than L. gmelinii forest, which could effectively distinguish the two forests. Among the six classification schemes, spectral feature, texture feature, and EVI time series feature had the highest classification accuracy, with a Kappa of 0.82 and a classification accuracy of 86.1%. The comparison results showed that the overall accuracy of adding vegetation index time series feature was improved by 14.3% compared with that of spectral feature. The random forest algorithm with combined spectral, texture and EVI time series features could effectively classify forest stand types in Cuigang Forest Farm, with good recognition accuracy and confidence.

Carabid beetle (Coleoptera, Carabidae) richness, diversity, and community structure in the understory of temporarily flooded and non-flooded Amazonian forests of Ecuador

Although tropical regions harbor the greatest arthropod diversity on Earth, the majority of species are taxonomically and scientifically unknown. Furthermore, how they are organized into functional communities and distributed among habitats is mostly unstudied. Here we examine species richness, diversity, and community composition of carabid beetles (Coleoptera: Carabidae) and compare them between flooded (FP) and non-flooded terra firme (TF) forests in the Yasuní area of Ecuador. The forest understory was sampled using flight intercept traps (FITs) and systematic hand collections at night in June and July 2011 and 2012, and FITs in October and November 2011. A total of 1,255 Carabidae representing 20 tribes, 54 genera, and 143 morphospecies was collected. Mean number of individuals and mean species richness did not differ significantly between FP and TF; however, numbers of Cicindelini (tiger beetles) and Pentagonicini were higher in TF forest while numbers of Lachnophorini and Scaritini were higher in FP forest. Overall, FP had significantly higher rarefied richness but extrapolation of rarefaction curves using the Chao1 nonparametric diversity estimator show that this difference may decrease with additional sampling. The inverse Simpson index was significantly higher for FP than TF forest. Nonmetric multidimensional scaling (NMDS) ordination and dissimilarity coefficient values show that FP and TF forests maintain unique assemblages with minimal overlap in community composition. Given ongoing anthropogenic pressures, particularly petroleum extraction, and those resulting from climate change, a greater understanding of the richness, diversity and community assemblages of Yasuní rainforest are needed to better conserve the fauna of this megadiverse area of Amazonia.

[Characteristics of phosphorus fractions and their driving factors in forest soils with different parent materials in the mid-subtropics, China]

With the aim to understand the influence degree and mechanism of parent material and forest type on soil phosphorus component, we analyzed soil P fractions, iron and aluminum oxides, microbial biomass, and phosphatase activity in Castanopsis carlesii and Cunninghamia lanceolata forest soils developed from two types of parent materials, sandstone and granite, in Sanming, Fujian Province. The results showed that both parent material and forest type significantly affected the contents of different P fractions. The contents of total P, labile inorganic/organic P, moderately labile inorganic/organic P, and non-labile P from sandstone-developed soils were significantly higher than those from granite-developed soils. Moreover, soil labile organic P, moderately labile inorganic/organic P and non-labile P fraction in sandstone-developed soils of C. carlesii forest were significantly higher than those of C. lanceolata forest, while the corresponding soil P fractions in granite-deve-loped soils had no significant difference between the two types of forests. The activity of acid phosphatase (ACP) in granite-developed soils was significantly higher than that in sandstone-developed soils under two types of forest, while soil microbial biomass carbon (MBC) and P (MBP) in sandstone-developed soils were significantly higher under C. carlesii forest than under C. lanceolata fo-rest. The content of soil P fractions was significantly positively correlated with the content of different forms of iron and aluminum oxides, MBP, and MBC, but negatively correlated with soil pH and acid phosphatase activity (ACP). Our results indicated that parent material and forest types might affect soil P fractions and characteristics mainly through altering soil iron and aluminum oxides, ACP, MBP in mid-subtropical forest soils.

[Distribution characteristics of surface soil organic carbon and total nitrogen in forest plantation of hilly area of Taihang Mountains, Chin]

To explore the effects of forest types and slope positions on the content of soil organic carbon (SOC) and total nitrogen (TN) in the lower hilly area of Taihang Mountains, we examined the distribution pattern of SOC and TN contents in Quercus variabilis plantation (Qo), and Platycladus orientalis plantation (Po), and abandoned land (Al). The results showed that in the same forest type or slope position, the contents of SOC and TN gradually decreased with increasing soil depth. Under different slope conditions, the contents of SOC and TN showed the tendency of upper-slope (U) > middle-slope (M) > lower-slope (L) in the planted forests (Qo and Po), but showed the tendency of L>U>M in Al. Under different forest types, the contents of SOC and TN in the U and M showed the trend of Qo>Po>Al. At the LS, the contents of SOC and TN of Al were the highest. The C/N ratio followed an order of Qo>Po> Al at U and M, while Qo>Al> Po at L. Within the same forest type, C/N of different slopes was different, but not significant. Our results suggested that the adaptability of the Qo plantation is the best in the lower hilly area of Taihang Mountains.

[Seasonal dynamics of soil mineral nitrogen pools and nitrogen mineralization rate in different forests in subtropical China]

We conducted an in situ incubation experiment to determine soil mineral N (NH₄⁺-N and NO₃^--N) concentrations and soil net N mineralization rates (net ammonification rate and net nitrification rate) using close-top PVC tubes in three adjacent forests (natural forest, Castanopsis kawakamii and Cunninghamia lanceolata plantation) from September 2014 to August 2015 in subtropical China, investigating the effects of forest type and season on soil inorganic N concentrations and soil net N mineralization rates. Results showed that soil NO₃^--N was the dominant form in mi-neral N pool in all three forests, and the proportion of NO₃^--N to soil inorganic N content ranged from 55.1% to 87.5% and from 56.1% to 79.1% in natural forest and Cunninghamia lanceolata plantation, respectively. The effects of forest types on soil mineral N pool were only significant on soil NO₃^--N, and the concentration of NO₃^--N in Castanopsis kawakamii was significantly lower than in the other two forests. The NO₃^--N and mineral N pool varied seasonally in all forests, and were higher in dormant season (October to February) than in growing season (March to September). Soil nitrification rate was very low in the whole year in all three forests and soil net ammonification was the major process of soil net mineralization. Tree species significantly affected soil net ammonification rate, and the value under Chinese fir was significantly lower than the other two fore-sts. The seasonal patterns of the soil net ammonification rate were not similar in all the three forests, but with the lowest value occurring in November and February in the following year. Analysis using variance of repeated measures indicated that soil mineral N concentrations and soil N mineralization rates were significantly affected by forest type and season, and correlation analysis showed that soil mineral N and soil N mineralization rate were significantly affected by water moisture and temperature, and the effects of litter on soil N mineralization rate were mainly through quality control, ra-ther than the quantity control.

[Effects of forest types on soil dissolved organic carbon and nitrogen in surface and deep la-yers in subtropical region, China.]

Forest types have significant effects on the availability and dynamics of soil dissolved organic carbon (DOC) and dissolved organic nitrogen (DON). By now the impacts of forest types on soil DOC and DON were mainly focused on surface soil (0-10 cm). Based on the comparisons between natural forest, Phyllostachys pubescens, Castanopsis kawakamii and Cunninghamia lanceolata plantations, we investigated the effects of forest types on soil DOC and DON pools in top (0-10 cm) and deep soils (40-60 cm). Cold water, hot water and KCl solutions were used to extract soil DOC and DON from surface and deep soils. Results showed that the effects of forest types on soil DOC, DOC/TOC, DON and soil microbial biomass carbon were only significant in the surface soil. The concentrations of DOC and DON varied with extract methods and hot water extracted the largest amounts of DOC and DON, and cold water the least. Correlations among hot water, KCl and cold water extracted DOC and DON were significant, suggesting that the organic C and N released by these three solutions might be at least partly from similar pools. The concentrations of DOC and DON and DOC/TOC in surface soil under natural forest and P. pubescens were greater than under C. kawakamii and C. lanceolata. It indicated that the concentrations of DOC and DON were greater under the natural forest and P. pubescens than under the C. kawakamii and C. Lanceolata, and more beneficial to improve soil fertility.