Resprouting Responses Dynamics of Schima superba Following a Severe Ice Storm in Early 2008 in Southern China: A Six-Year Study

Abstract

In 2008, an unexpected and severe ice storm affected the forest of southern China. This storm caused damage in regeneration of an important dominant tree, Schima superba (Gugertree). To study this damage, we set up permanent monitoring plots in an ice-storm-damaged subtropical evergreen broad-leaved secondary forest dominated by S.superba in Jianglang Mountains, China. We surveyed the damage to all trees with a minimum basal diameter of 4 cm and monitored their growth for 6 consecutive years. We analyzed the degrees and types of damage for S.superba and their relationships with resprouting characteristics. The results revealed that the main damage types of S.superba were decapitation (45.45%) and uprooting (28.41%). The distribution percentage for both decapitated and uprooted trees were commonly highest in the range of 10–16 cm basal diameter (BD) size class. A great number of individuals sprouted vigorously after the storm. The mean total sprout number and sprout biomass per tree for S.superba varied by tree BD size class. During the first three years after the ice storm, decapitated trees of larger BD classes produced more sprouts per tree than trees of smaller BD classes. However, the opposite trend was seen in uprooted and leaning trees. There was a trade-off between the total number and length of the sprouts. The difference of mean sprouts number and biomass per tree with size class was mainly related to the damage types. As the recovery progressed since the ice storm, the number of sprouts and sprout biomass in uprooted trees was found mainly on the middle trunk sections of uprooted trees, but in the upper sections of decapitated trees. After six years, the mean number of sprouts per tree, on different parts of the tree and for the three types of damaged trees all declined; however, sprout biomass per tree all increased. The mean number of sprout and sprout biomass per tree on different sections for decapitated trees was always highest over time since the storm. Our study will help to provide data on resprouting ability to develop a predictive model for resprouting.

A 6-year study on the mortality dynamics of sprouts germinated on Schima superba after a severe ice storm in southern China

“…The study area is located in Mount Jianglang Nature Reserve (28°52′26″N, 118°48′37″E), Zhejiang Province, China (Figure 1). The altitudinal range, soil type, annual average temperature, annual average precipitation, natural vegetation, and so on in this study site were elaborated in our previous research (Cao et al, 2020). Below 900 m sea level, the vegetation of the mountain included forests of S. superba, Masson's pine (Pinus massoniana Lamb.…”

“…), Chinese fir [Cunninghamia lanceolata (Lamb.) Hook], Moso bamboo [Phyllostachys edulis (Carriere) J. Houzeau], secondary shrubs, and other vegetation types [see Cao et al (2020)].…”

“…Oerst.] (Cao et al, 2020). The damaged forests selected for the permanent plot are located at an altitude height of 350 to 500 m and on a southwest or northwest slope at angles of 28°to 37°.…”

“…The literature regarding the relationships between regeneration, vigor of sprouts from ice storm-damaged trees, type of damage, and sprout mortality is scarce (Cao et al, 2020). To the best of our knowledge, there are no reports about branch sprout mortality rates on damaged trees during the period of recovery.…”

“…We aimed to 1) examine the effect of this ice storm on the regeneration ability and sprout vigor of S. superba, (2) examine the variance of sprout mortalities and sprout life spans post-disturbance, and 3) explore the correlation between the accumulative mortality rates and the average diameter of new sprouts. The information gathered had important practical and theoretical values in understanding and managing the recovery of forests and vegetation succession after ice storms (Sun et al, 2012;Cao et al, 2020;Liu et al, 2020).…”