[Succession of Larix olgensis and Betula platyphlla-marsh ecotone communities in Changbai Mountain].
The succession of communities within the ecotone between forest and marsh in Changbai Mountain was studied to identify the interrelation between the succession of ecotone communities and the mesophytization of the ecotone. The succession regime of the ecotone communities was studies by patch size (the volume of each mound) and age class of different tree species, water transmission from soil to atmosphere through the transpiration of different tree species, and regional climate warming and community succession. The results demonstrated that both patch size and water loss through transpiration were increased with age class. The increased volume of mounds and water loss through transpiration of trees were converted to the raised ground surface level and the lowered ground surface water level. Within 60 years, the ground surface level would be raised by 0.405-0.590 m, depending on the distance to the marsh, and the aboveground water level would be lowered by 1.050-1.442 m. Climate had a great effect on the community dynamics. Community succession and regional climate warming intensified the mesophytization process of forest-marsh ecotone, and the ecotone communities would eventually change into forest communities within a relatively short period.
Department of Forest Resources and Environment, Northeast Forestry University, Harbin 150040, China. mccnefu@yahoo.com
Changcheng
C
Mu
D029662:Betula / Q000254:growth & development*; D002980:Climate; D017753:Ecosystem; D028221:Larix / Q000254:growth & development*; D018526:Plant Transpiration; D014197:Trees / Q000254:growth & development*