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Scientia Silvae Sinicae ›› 2017, Vol. 53 ›› Issue (3): 1-11.doi: 10.11707/j.1001-7488.20170301

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A New Method of Storey Identification of Natural Broad-Leaved Forests in Mid-Subtropical Zone——Maximum Light Receiving Plane

Zhuang Chongyang1, Huang Qinglin1, Ma Zhibo1,2, Zheng Qunrui3, Wang Hong1   

  1. 1. Key Laboratory of Forestry Remote Sensing and Information Technology of State Forestry Administration Research Institute of Forest Resource Information Techniques, CAF Beijing 100091;
    2. Research Institute of Forest Ecology Environment and Protection, CAF Beijing 100091;
    3. Wanmulin Provincial Nature Reserve Management Office of Jian'ou, Fujian Province Nanping 353105
  • Received:2016-04-13 Revised:2017-01-20 Online:2017-03-25 Published:2017-04-25

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Abstract: [Objective] A new storey identification method-Maximum Light Receiving Plane (MLRP) method was developed to identify forest story of typical natural broad-leaved forests in mid-subtropical zone in accordance with whether the tree crowns could receive sunlight directly and the extent of direct sunlight the crowns received, which provide a new way in revealing the patterns of vertical structure of the natural broad-leaved forests in mid-subtropical zone.[Method] The typical natural broad-leaved forests in mid-subtropical zone could be identified as Light Receiving Storey (LRS) and Non-Light Receiving Storey (NLRS) by the MLRP method. The LRS could be separated further by ward method of cluster analysis according to tree height.[Result] The five sample plots of typical natural broad-leaved forests in mid-subtropical zone were divided into LRS(Ⅰ) and NLRS(Ⅱ) by the MLRP method, LRS comprised substorey Ⅰ1 and Ⅰ2. The results of MLRP method of the five sample plots indicated that the height of interface between LRS and NLRS (i.e. the height of the interface between storey Ⅰ and Ⅱ) were 17.0, 16.5, 17.0, 17.0,and 16.0 m, and the height of interface between substorey Ⅰ1 and Ⅰ2 were 25.0, 27.0, 25.0, 22.9,and 25.0 m, respectively. The volume of per hectare of various substoreys, height difference between adjacent storeys and the mean diameter at breast height of various substoreys all conformed to National Standards (GBT 26424-2010) when the storeys were identified by the MLRP method.[Conclusion] The MLRP was proven by CVPA-H curves, it is a simple and practicable field operation without measuring heights of all trees but just by judging whether the tree crowns received direct sunlight and whether the tree crowns were evidently outstanding in the stand (i.e. the extent of direct sunlight received). Comparisons of the storey identification by MLRP method with profile diagram, the changes of variation coefficients of height of different storey identified, and whether the calculations of stand description factors at substoreys conforming to storey identification of the National Standards (GBT 26424-2010) further proved that the MLRP method was scientifically sound. The MLRP method could better reflect the patterns of natural differentiation of vertical structure of the natural broad-leaved forests in mid-subtropical zone. It also reflected the consequence of competition among trees for light and spatial resource, implying a biological significance.

Key words: mid-subtropical zone, natural broad-leaved forest, storey identification, Maximum Light Receiving Plane, ward method of cluster analysis

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