Warm Temperate Coniferous Forests

Abstract

Warm temperate coniferous species, principally including Pinus yunnanensis, Pinus kesiya, Pinus armandii, Pinus massoniana, Keteleeria evelyniana, Keteleeria davidiana, Cunninghamia lanceolata, Cryptomeria japonica var. sinensis, Cupressus funebris and Cupressus duclouxiana, are often found in areas where the evergreen broad-leaved forest formerly existed in SW China. After destruction of the evergreen broad-leaved forest by human activities, these coniferous species grow in early or intermediate-successional stands in the subtropical evergreen broad-leaved forest zone. Topo-climax warm temperate coniferous forests (e.g. Tertiary relict forests consisting of so-called living fossil plants, such as coniferous Taiwania cryptomerioides, Metasequoia glyptostroboides, Cathaya argyrophylla, Thuja sutchuenensis, and gymnospermous Ginkgo biloba) also grow in the subtropical region.

In Yunnan, a large area is now dominated by the coniferous Pinus yunnanensis forest, which has naturally regenerated and represents an early intermediate stage in the reestablishment of the evergreen broad-leaved forest after human disturbance. Forest fires are frequent in Yunnan. The dynamics of the seral Pinus yunnanensis forest after a major fire indicate that the burned Pinus communities should recover naturally to their pre-fire condition over a period of between 20 and 35 years, assuming that regeneration does occur and the colonists are not predominantly exotic. Disturbance by fire has facilitated Pinus regeneration. Natural succession of plant communities after a major fire, as opposed to human intervention as in plantations, is the most efficient way to its reestablishment.