In the Shennongjia National Nature Reserve of Central China, the vegetative growth behavior of henon bamboo (Phyllostachys nigra var.henonis (Mitford) Stapf. ex Rendle) was studied from shoot recruitment to culm establishment. In May, bamboo shoots emerging from the ground achieved an average density of 2.7 shoots m⁻² during the sprouting phase of 16 days. However, about 32% of the new shoots died back before maturity. Insect damage, withering death and rodent predation were responsible for 57%, 29% and 14% of the total shoot mortality, respectively. From May to June, the shoots attained 400±23 cm during the height growth phase of 34 days, with a daily rate varying from 1 to 56 cm. All branches and leaves unfolded during the branch spreading phase from June to August. Shoot production was positively related to the density of standing culms, but negatively to both coverage and height of herb layers.

A forest fire can be a real ecological disaster regardless of whether it is caused by natural forces or human activities, it is possible to map forest fire risk zones to minimize the frequency of fires, avert damage, etc. A method integrating remote sensing and GIS was developed and applied to forest fire risk zone mapping for Baihe forestry bureau in this paper. Satellite images were interpreted and classified to generate vegetation type layer and land use layers (roads, settlements and farmlands). Topographic layers (slope, aspect and altitude) were derived from DEM. The thematic and topographic information was analyzed by using ARC/INFO GIS software. Forest fire risk zones were delineated by assigning subjective weights to the classes of all the layers (vegetation type, slope, aspect, altitude and distance from roads, farmlands and settlements) according to their sensitivity to fire or their fire-inducing capability. Five categories of forest fire risk ranging from very high to very low were derived automatically. The mapping result of the study area was found to be in strong agreement with actual fire-affected sites.

The species richness of herb layer was investigated among 43 plots of forest vegetation in the eastern Zhongtiao Mountain, in southern Shanxi Province, China. The forest vegetation was divided into two major vegetation types such as the deciduous forest and the coniferous forest by the two-way indicator species analysis (TWINSPAN). The species richness of herb layer was fitted in the topographic and soil feature factors, as well as the topographic relative moisture index (TRMI) by the generalized linear models (GLM). The results showed that canopy cover and altitude were the most significant environmental factors. Soil pH value and soil nutrients index such as total N, organic matter content had no significant influence. The effect of environment factors on species richness of herb layer had significant difference in vegetation types. For the broad-leaved forest, litter depth and TRMI were the important environment factors. For the coniferous forest, soil clay content was another important environment factor. The range of environmental gradient such as altitude may contribute to the difference.

For understanding the reasons that caused the degradation of water quality in lower order streams, systematic sampling was conducted at different spatial locations along the low order streams (1st–5th) of Ashihe River continuum in Maoershan Experimental Forest of Northeast Forestry University, Shangzhi City, Heilongjiang Province, China. The indexes of stream water quality, i.e., the pH, dissolved oxygen(DO), turbidity, temperature, PO₄ ³⁻−P, NO₃ ⁻−N and NH₄ ⁺−N concentrations, total dissolved inorganic nitrogen (TDIN-N, including concentrations of NO₃ ⁻−N and NH₄ ⁺−N), and total phosphorus (inorganic and organic phosphorous, TP) were measured and analyzed. The stream order, related environmental settings and land-use type were recorded for each sampling location. The indexes of stream water quality at different locations with different stream orders and land use types were compared by ANOVA analysis. The indexes of stream water quality at different sampling locations were analyzed by Hierarchical cluster analysis. Result showed that water quality had significant difference in different stream orders and land use types; some locations with different stream features (stream order and land use type) were grouped into same clusters, indicating that random disturbances produced the variations in water quality, which made the spatial variances of stream water quality inconsistent with the general rules.

Based on the tree-ring growth characteristics of Erman's birch (Betula ermanii charm.) and the relationships between it and climatic factors at elevation of 1950m, the sensitivity of tree lines in Changbai Mountain to climatic factors was assessed. The results indicated tree line forest in Changbai Mountain had an obvious, sensitivity to climate factors. However, difference from other study sits is that the main climatic control factor on tree-ring growth was not current growth season temperatures, as might be expected, but previous winter and current March temperature. Although the precipitation in the region was quite abundant, the tree-ring growth was still significantly correlated with the precipitation during previous winter and current spring. Additionally, climatic factors which influenced the Erman's birch growth were not the yearly variables, but seasonal and monthly variables. Therefore the reported increase in yearly mean temperature and total yearly precipitation since 1980s was not responded by sustained increase in ring widths in recent decades.

In order to understand the effects of thinning on microsite conditions and natural regeneration in the larch plantation, thinning experiment was conducted in a 40-year-oldLarix olgensis plantation in Qingyuan County in eastern Liaoning Province, China in 2003–2004. Five thinning treatments (0%, 10.2%, 19.8%, 29.7% and 40.3% thinned) were designed on the same site. After thinning, canopy openness and the microsite conditions such as photosynthetic photon flux density (PPFD), soil moisture content, and soil temperature were measured in one growing season. Meanwhile, the investigation of natural regeneration was conducted at the end of the growing season. The results showed that the canopy openness increased with the increase of thinning intensities. PPFD and soil temperature and soil moisture content in different soil layers were positively relative with canopy openness after thinning. The richness of regenerating tree species did not significantly increase (p=0.30) after one growing season since thinning, but the regeneration density and frequency of tree species increased significantly (p<0.05). In addition, the number of regenerating tree species increased, and the increment was correlated with the characteristics of individual tree species. The increasing percentage of regenerating seedlings of the shade-intolerant tree species was more than that of shade-tolerant tree species. Among the investigated regeneration species, the biggest response of seedling emergency to the canopy openness wasPhellodendron amurense. This paper confirmed the following conclusions: after thinning, the variety of regenerating tree species was correlative with the characteristics of regenerating tree species, and the distribution of unthinned trees and the site conditions in the investigated larch plantation were the additional factors influencing the regeneration.

Albizia saman (Jacq.) F. Muell. commonly known as rain tree seeds were treated with five pre-sowing treatments to study the effect of pre-sowing treatments on germination and initial seedling development in the nursery. The experiment was established in the nursery of the Institute of Forestry and Environmental Sciences, University of Chittagong, Chittagong, Bangladesh. Results revealed that Nail clipping in one side of the seed (at the distal end of the seed) (T₄) provides the highest (50%) seed germination. The second highest germination (42%) was obtained for the seeds treated with immersion in cold water for 24 h (T₁). Germination was completely inhibited when the seeds immersed in boiled water for 30 s followed in cold water soaking for 24 h. Other germination parameter and initial morphological growth and biomass production of the seedlings was also higher for the treatments T₄ and T₁ in comparison to the control (T₀) treatment. Pre-sowing treatments of T₄ e.g. Nail clipping in one side of the seed (at the distal end of the seed) and T₁ (Seeds immersed in cold water for 24 h) may be recommended for maximum germination and initial vigorous seedlings growth ofalbizia saman in the nursery.

The concentrations and seasonal dynamics of DOC in forest floors of monoculture plantations ofCastanopsis kawakamii and Chinese fir (Cunninghamia lanceolata) were assessed in Sanming, Fujian, China (26°11′30″N, 117°26′00″E). Forest floor samples were taken in January, April, July and October in 2002 and divided into undecomposed material (horizon Oi), partially decomposed organic material (horizon Oe), and fully decomposed organic material (horizon Oa). Upon collection, DOC concentrations of samples were analyzed by a High Temperature TOC. The results showed that the annual average DOC concentration of Chinese fir (1341.7 mg·kg⁻¹) in the forest floor was higher than that ofCastanopsis kawakamii (1178.9 mg·kg⁻¹). Difference in DOC concentrations was observed among three horizons of the forest floor. DOC concentration of forest floor in the two forests was the highest in horizon Oe. Seasonal trends of DOC concentrations in different horizons of forest floors were similar and the maximal value occurred in autumn (or winter). The concentration and temporal change of DOC in studied forests were probably related to the variation in moisture, temperature, biological activity and quantity of organic matter in the forest floor.

Keerqin sand land is located in the transitional terrain between the Northeast Plain and Inner Mongolia (42°41′–45°15′N, 118°35′–123°30′E) in Northeast China and it is seriously affected by desertification. According to the configuration and ecotope of the earth's surface, the coverage of vegetation, occupation ratio of bare sandy land and the soil texture were selected as evaluation indexes by using the field investigation data. The evaluation index system of Keerqin sandy desertification was established by using Remote Sensing data, and the occupation ratio of bare sandy land was obtained by mixed spectrum model. This index system is validated by the field investigation data and results indicate that it is suitable for the desertification evaluation of Keerqin.

Genetic relationship of 12 species ofSection Strobus was analyzed with ISSR markers. 117 loci were detected with 12 ISSR primers. Percentage of polymorphic bands (PPB) varied from 5.93% to 19.92%.P. pumila had the highest levels of genetic differentiation andP. flexilis had lowest. Total genetic diversity (H_T) of 12 species inSection Strobus was 26.21%, of which intraspecific genetic diversity (Hs) was 7.66%, and interspecific genetic diversity (D_ST) was 18.55%, and the genetic variation in interspecies accounted for 70.78% of the total genetic diversity. According to the cluster results of genetic distance, the 12 species were classified into two groups. The first group includedP. griffithii, P. armandi, P. fenzeliana, P. kwangtungensis, P. strobus, P. monticola andP. wangii. The second group includedP. albicaulis, P. pumila, P. flexilis, P. sibirica andP. koraiensis.

Inter Simple Sequence Repeat (ISSR) was used to detect genetic variation among nine provenances, including 135 individuals. A total of 108 loci were amplified using 10 random primers. The differentiation of the percentage of polymorphic bands (PPB) among different provenances was evident, ranging from 27% to 54%, of which Honghuaerji provenance had the highest PPB and Kalunshan provenance had the lowest PPB. Shannon's Information index (I) at species level was 0.1581 and Nei's gene diversity (h) was 0.2393. Coefficient of gene differentiation (G_ST) calculated by Popgene was 0.3965, these results indicated that majority of genetic variation (60.35%) was found within provenances. According to dendrogram amongpinus sylvestriv provenances, nine provenances were divided into two provenance areas, namely Daxing's and Xiaoxing'an Mountains provenance area and Hulunbeier provenance area.

Responses of soil microbial activities to elevated CO₂ in experiment sites ofPinus sylvestriformis andPinus koraiensis seedlings were studied in summer in 2003. The results indicated the number of bacteria decreased significantly (p<0.05) under elevated CO₂ forPinus sylvestriformis andPinus koraiensis. Amylase and invertase activities in soil increased forPinus sylvestriformis and decreased forPinus koraiensis with CO₂ enrichment compared with those at ambient (350 μmol·mol⁻¹). The size of microbial biomass C also decreased significantly at 700 μmol·mol⁻¹ CO₂. Bacterial community structure had some evident changes under elevated CO₂ by DGGE (Denaturing Gradient Gel Electrophoresis) analysis of bacterial 16S rDNA gene fragments amplified by PCR from DNA extracted directly from soil. The results suggested that responses of soil microorganisms to elevated CO₂ would be related to plant species exposed to elevated CO₂.

The land covers of Huzhou City (119°14'–120°29'E, 30°22'–31°11'N) that includes five regionalisms of Anji County, Changxing County, Deqing County, Wuxing District and Nanxun District were classified into eight types by using Remote Sensing data, which were forest, grassland, shrub, paddy field, dry land, bare land, water and wetland. The indexes of ecosystem services of each type of land cover were divided six items, such as the producing organic matter, assimilating CO₂, releasing O₂, recycling nutrient matter, holding water, and conserving soil and water. The results showed that the value of ecosystem services for Huzhou City in 2001, 2002, and 2003 was 194.82×10⁸ yuan, 207.68×10⁸ yuan, 173.56×10⁸ yuan, respectively. Anji County of five regionalisms had the best environment conditions among all the districts, which played the most important role in ameliorating the ecological environment for Huzhou City. Environment conditions of Deqing County were at the worst level. The GDP per capita and per unit area of each county (district) was in inverse proportion to the value of ecosystem services per capita and per unit area, which implied that the higher GDP was, the more severe contamination of environment was.

The effects of anthocyanin fromMalva sylvestris on plasma lipids and free radical were investigated by Reagent Kit method and in vitro assay. High fat model was set up with albino rats that were fed with different dosages of anthocyanin fromMalva sylvestris (0.03 g·d⁻¹, 0.04 g·d⁻¹ and 0.05 g·d⁻¹). The results showed that the total cholesterol was decreased by 19.7% at an anthocyanin of 0.04 g·d⁻¹ and triglyceride was decreased by 34.4% at an anthocyanin of 0.05 g·d⁻¹. In vitro assay, some indexes of anthocyanin were measured including the capability of scavenging free radical, reducing force and the capability of anti-lipid peroxidation by orthophenanthroline Fe⁺² oxidation-reduction method. The results indicated that the clearance rate of free radical reached to 43.46% when the content of anthocyanin was 0.20 mg·mL⁻¹ and the inhibition ratio of lipid peroxidation reached 18.82% when the content was 0.5 mg·mL⁻¹. Therefore anthocyanin is a kind of natural and effective free radical remover and antioxidant and can prevent from the formation of the thrombus and reduced the emergence of the cardiovascular disease.

Wood is a kind of porous natural material with very poor electro-conductivity, and it has almost no function of electromagnetic shielding. The method of electroless nickel plating was used to produce wooden material with electrical and effective electromagnetic shielding properties. Ni−P alloy layer was obtained on wood surface. The surface feature of plated wood veneer was observed by SEM and the surface composition and microstructure of the layer under different conditions were investigated by EDS and XRD respectively. Mean-while, the relevant surface resistivity and electromagnetic shielding effectiveness were measured. Correlations of the phosphorous content in the layer to the structure of Ni−P alloy, electro-conductivity and electromagnetic shielding of plated veneers were discussed. SEM photos showed that the surface of electroless nickel plated veneers were covered with Ni−P alloy layer entirely, which made wood veneers more like metal. At the same time, the results showed that with the decreasing of the phosphorous content in the layer, the microstructure of Ni−P alloy layer transformed to be microcrystalline and electro-conductivity and electromagnetic shielding effectiveness were imrpoved. When the phosphorous content was less than 2.37wt pct in the layer, the microstructure of Ni−P alloy layer was microcrystalline structure and its surface resistivity and electromagnetic shielding effectiveness were nearly 0.5 Ω/⊥ and 55–60dB respectively.

The larch wood was treated by microwave irradiation under different radiant intensity and treating duration. The microwave-treated wood specimens together with the un-treated for comparison were impregnated by water in pressure vessel and then tested for permeability, mechanical properties and microstructure change by SEM to study the modification performance of microwave treatment on larch wood. The results showed that under suitable conditions of microwave treatment the permeability of larch wood was improved without noticeable decreasing of the modulus of rupture (MOR) and the modulus of elasticity (MOE). The radical parenchyma and some pit membrane were ruptured, and tiny cracks were formed in the cell walls. The formation of tiny cracks in the cell walls serves as man-made channels of gas and liquid and this contribute to improve the permeability of the wood.

Aluminate-based coupling agent was added as a compatibilizer to make the chemical modification of wood powder. The mechanical properties and morphology of wood powder/polypropylene composites were studied. The results showed that the compatibilizer can increase the impact strength of the wood/polypropylene composites, but it has a slightly negative effect on the tensile and flexural strength. For dynamic mechanical properties and Differential Scanning Calorimetry, Aluminate-based coupling agent can slightly increase the storage modulus and loss modulus, and decrease the melt point and the Calorie of Melt. Scanning electron microscopy showed that Aluminate-based coupling agent had a stronger affinity between the wood and polypropylene surfaces. These results suggested that Aluminate-based coupling agent may play a useful role in improving wood powder/polypropylene composites properties.

Three kinds of composites (fiber/Polypropylene, fiber/Polyethelene, and fiber/Polystyrene) were made by using hot pressing process for substrate of floorboard and the properties of each kind of composites were tested. MORs of PP/wood fiber, PS/fiber, and PE/fiber composites with coupling agent added were raised by 18.4%, 37.1%, and 42%, respectively, compared to those without coupling agent. Among the three kinds of fiber/plastic composites, fiber/PP composite has best mechanical properties, and it can meet quality standard of eligible grade product and come up to the excellent grade products of China when the coupling agent is added. The performance of composite made of PE/fiber or PS/fiber can exceed qualified product grade only with coupling agent added.

Coarse woody debris is an important structure and function unit in forest ecosystem. This review analyzed the ecological functions of coarse woody debris in forest ecosystem and introduced several hotspots and existing problems in coarse woody debris research field. It is suggested that quantitative research should be intensified in the ecological demands of coarse woody debris for providing a technical guidelines in management of productivity, biodiversity and other ecological processes.