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A special issue of Forests (ISSN 1999-4907). This special issue belongs to the section "Forest Ecology and Management".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 31 March 2024 | Viewed by 6929

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Special Issue Editors

Dr. Xiaoping Zhang

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Guest Editor

China National Bamboo Research Center, Hangzhou 310012, China
Interests: soil organic carbon; microbial community; bamboo; metagenomics; endophyte
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Dr. Zhanchao Cheng

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor

International Center for Bamboo and Rattan, Beijing 100102, China
Interests: Moso bamboo; floral transition; floral organ; flower development; rapid growth

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Bamboo is an important forest resource in subtropical and tropical regions. Due to biological characteristics and growth habits, bamboo not only brings economic benefits but also has enormous potential for alleviating many environmental problems. Environmental changes have threatened bamboo ecosystems, but the determinant factors of responses, functions, and managements remain unclear.

In this Special Issue, we welcome articles that address how bamboo responds to environmental changes, as well as articles that address strategies to improve the ecological function of bamboo forests or reduce the negative impacts of management activities.

Potential topics include, but are not limited to:

Carbon (C), nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P) cycles in bamboo ecosystems;
Microbial community and functions in bamboo forests;
Response of bamboo physiology and development to environmental changes;
Bamboo for phytoremediation;
Bamboo carbon sequestration;
Silviculture of bamboo forests;
Bamboo forest ecological recreation function.

Dr. Xiaoping Zhang
Dr. Zhanchao Cheng
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Forests is an international peer-reviewed open access monthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2600 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

nutrient cycling
carbon sequestration
bamboo development
bamboo invasion
bamboo microbiome
ecological function

Published Papers (7 papers)

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Research

Open AccessArticle

Enhancement of Phytoremediation of Heavy Metal Pollution Using an Intercropping System in Moso Bamboo Forests: Characteristics of Soil Organic Matter and Bacterial Communities

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Forests 2023, 14(9), 1895; https://doi.org/10.3390/f14091895 - 18 Sep 2023

Viewed by 277

Abstract

Heavy metal pollution in soil is a major global issue, and one effective method for addressing it is phytoremediation through bamboo planting. Nevertheless, there is a notable gap in our knowledge as no studies have explored the characteristics of soil organic matter (SOM) and the bacterial communities in bamboo forests during the remediation process. To bridge this knowledge gap, we conducted research to investigate the impact of different bamboo planting patterns on the SOM characteristics and microbial communities in soils contaminated with heavy metals. The contents of SOM and dissolved organic matter (DOM) in rhizosphere and non-rhizosphere soils differed significantly between monocropping and intercropping systems, with DOM accounting for only 1.7%–2.5% of SOM. Fourier transform infrared spectra showed that the contents of SOM polysaccharides C-O, carbonate C-O, aliphatic methyl, and methylene increased, while the aromatic C=C abundance decreased in the intercropping rhizosphere soil. The differences between bamboo cultivation patterns in the rhizosphere and non-rhizosphere soils were elucidated using the biomarkers, including MND1 and Nitrospira (non-rhizosphere), and Sphingomonas (rhizosphere). Heavy metals, DOM, SOM, and refined organic functional groups, especially C-O in polysaccharides and symmetric carboxylate, were the determining factors of soil bacterial communities. Compared to monocropping, intercropping increased the accumulation of Zn and Cd in bamboo shoots by 35% and 40%, respectively, and hence, intercropping soil, with a low toxicity, was suitable for bamboo shoot sprouting. Intercropping can alter the characteristics of SOM and bacterial communities and plays a vital role in phytoremediation and shoot growth in bamboo forests. Future studies on soil carbon dynamics and nutrient status during heavy metal remediation will improve our knowledge of soil transformation and its impact on soil ecosystem health and productivity. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Ecological Functions of Bamboo Forests: Research and Application)

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Open AccessArticle

Aboveground Biomass Productivity and Nutrient Use Dynamics of Clumping Tropical Bamboos in Northern Thailand

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Forests 2023, 14(7), 1450; https://doi.org/10.3390/f14071450 - 14 Jul 2023

Viewed by 419

Abstract

Bamboo has great potential in restoring degraded lands while providing multiple environmental benefits and harvestable products at regular intervals due to its unique characteristics of rapid growth. However, a comprehensive and species-specific knowledge of biomass productivity, nutrient dynamics, and potential harvest-induced nutrient losses is lacking. This study compared the biomass and nutrient dynamics of four bamboo species Bambusa oldhamii Munro, Dendrocalamus latiflorus Munro, Bambusa tulda Roxburgh, and Dendrocalamus brandisii (Munro) Kurz in Northern Thailand. Field measurements, laboratory analyses, and statistical modeling were used to estimate their aboveground biomass (AGB), nutrient use efficiency (NUE), and nutrient stocks. Culm diameter at breast height (DBH) and age were identified as the most reliable predictors of AGB. The study revealed that D. brandisii had superior productivity and NUE compared to the other species, particularly the introduced non-native bamboo species. These findings emphasize the need for species-specific strategies that consider both biomass productivity and nutrient dynamics. Furthermore, D. brandisii can be suggested as a native candidate for bamboo plantations in Northern Thailand and similar environments, given its high productivity and efficient nutrient use, underpinning its potential contribution to environmental rehabilitation and rural livelihoods. However, more research is required to minimize nutrient losses and maintain a productive age structure. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Ecological Functions of Bamboo Forests: Research and Application)

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Open AccessArticle

The Dominant Factor Affecting Soil Organic Carbon in Subtropical Phyllostachys edulis Forests Is Climatic Factors Rather Than Soil Physicochemical Properties

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Forests 2023, 14(5), 958; https://doi.org/10.3390/f14050958 - 06 May 2023

Viewed by 637

Abstract

Phyllostachys edulis, also known as moso bamboo, is widely distributed in China, has strong carbon sequestration potential, and contributes significantly to carbon sinks at the regional scale. However, the distribution and influencing factors of soil organic carbon (SOC) are unclear in bamboo forests at the regional scale. We selected six sites in Phyllostachys edulis forests in the northern subtropics, middle subtropics, and southern subtropics of China to determine the SOC contents and estimate its stocks. The relationships between the SOC and geographic position, climate, vegetation, and the soil’s physical and chemical characteristics were analyzed via Pearson correlation coefficients. Structural equation modeling (SEM) was established to reveal the direct and indirect effects of all factors on the SOC. The SOC content significantly decreased with an increase in soil depth in the subtropics. The Pearson correlation analysis and structural equation modeling results indicated that the climate was closely related to and had the most significant effect on the SOC in moso bamboo forests. The maximum effect values of the annual mean temperature (MAT) and annual mean precipitation (MAP) on SOC were −0.975 and 0.510, respectively. Elevation and latitude were strongly correlated with Phyllostachys edulis forests and 0–10 cm SOC content and significantly contributed to the SOC with effect values of 0.488 and 0.240, respectively. The soil’s physical properties and forest biomass had significant negative effects on the SOC. Both NH₄⁺-N and available phosphorus (SAP) were significantly and positively correlated with the SOC at different soil depths in moso bamboo forests to different degrees, but he soil’s chemical properties, in general, had no significant direct effect on the SOC. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Ecological Functions of Bamboo Forests: Research and Application)

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Open AccessArticle

The “Oxygen Sink” of Bamboo Shoots Regulates and Guarantees the Oxygen Supply for Aerobic Respiration

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Forests 2023, 14(5), 944; https://doi.org/10.3390/f14050944 - 04 May 2023

Viewed by 1181

Abstract

The amazingly rapid growth of bamboo shoots requires strong respiration and provides a large amount of energy and intermediate metabolites. Strong aerobic respiration requires a large amount of O₂. This raises the following question: What is the source and mechanism of O₂ supply to meet aerobic respiration? However, currently, this remains unknown. The underground buds (US), the 2-m-high overground buds (AS), and the 8-m-high growth arrest buds (HS) of bamboo (Phyllostachys prominens) were collected to represent their different stages of growth and development. The fifth bamboo shoot node at each stage was sealed by two membranes, and treated in a polyethylene zip-lock bag filled with air (21% O₂ + 79% N₂) and nitrogen (100% N₂) for 1.5 h. The concentrations of free O₂ and CO₂ in the shoot cavities in polyethylene zip-lock bags, and the ethanol content in the shoot body before and after treatment were determined. In addition, the photosynthetic rates of the fifth bamboo internodes of 1 y/o, 2 y/o and 3 y/o bamboo in the field were measured. The results indicated that: (1) When treated with air and nitrogen, US, AS and HS mainly exhibited aerobic respiration, and there was almost no anaerobic respiration; (2) When treated with air, 59.66%, 54.47% and 45.84% of the O₂ in the aerobic respiration of US, AS and HS came from the polyethylene zip-lock bag, 0.06%, 0.57% and 0.650% came from the shoot cavity, but 40.28%, 44.96% and 53.51% of the O₂ was of an unknown source; (3) Treated by nitrogen, 0.19%, 4.71% and 4.79% of O₂ in aerobic respiration of US, AS and HS came from shoot cavity, while the other 99.808%, 95.290% and 95.21% of O₂ came from unknown sources; and (4) The photosynthesis of the fifth internodes of 1 y/o, 2 y/o and 3 y/o bamboo generated little oxygen that could not absolutely meet the huge O₂ supply for aerobic respiration. It was concluded that the respiration of P. prominens shoots in its different growth and development stages was dominated by aerobic respiration. O₂ supply pathways were mainly via the sheath stomata; however, there was little absorption from dissolved O₂ in the soil water and little supply produced by shoot/stem photosynthesis. It was found that the large supply of oxygen in the aerobic respiration of bamboo shoots and young bamboo was of an unknown source under air treatment and nitrogen treatment, i.e., 40.28%–53.51% and 95.21%–99.81% of oxygen in the aerobic respiration of bamboo shoots and young bamboo was of unknown origin, respectively. Therefore, we proposed that bamboo shoots may exhibit the phenomenon of acting as an “oxygen sink”, which can provide a large amount of O₂ from unknown sources to ensure the rapid growth of bamboo shoots and young bamboo. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Ecological Functions of Bamboo Forests: Research and Application)

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Open AccessArticle

Predicting Aboveground Biomass and Carbon Storage for Ma Bamboo (Dendrocalamus latiflorus Munro) Plantations

Tian-Ming Yen

Pai-Kuan Sun

and

Long-En Li

Forests 2023, 14(4), 854; https://doi.org/10.3390/f14040854 - 21 Apr 2023

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 792

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to predict aboveground biomass (AGB) and aboveground carbon storage (AGCS) in Ma bamboo (Dendrocalamus latiflorus Munro) plantations. A total of 25 bamboo samples were selected and felled based on age and diameter at breast height (DBH) classes. Two types of allometric equations (with and without an age factor) were used to develop biomass models for foliage, branches, culms and aboveground parts. Moreover, three intensively managed Ma bamboo plantations were used in this study to predict AGB and AGCS. The above two biomass models and a diameter distribution model were used to predict AGB for the three bamboo stands. The AGCS was predicted based on the AGB and percent carbon content. The results showed that the proportions of foliage, branches and culms to AGB were 11.1, 23.7 and 65.2%, respectively, at the individual bamboo level. The mean percent carbon content was predicted to be 41.68, 44.21 and 46.72% for foliage, branches and culms, respectively. The allometric equation with the age factor had better predictive ability than that without the age factor, with the former having higher R² and lower root mean square error values. Compared to the AGB predicted by the allometric model with the age factor at the stand level, the range of relative error was from −16.56 to 5.26% and from −40.0 to 71.7% for the AGB predicted by the allometric model without the age factor and that by the diameter distribution model, respectively. According to the allometric model with the age factor, the AGB and AGCS were predicted to be 35.7 ± 3.4 and 16.3 ± 1.5 Mg ha⁻¹, respectively, in Ma bamboo plantations. The results also reflected that the current status of Ma bamboo management is intensive management, where the focus is on harvesting bamboo shoots. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Ecological Functions of Bamboo Forests: Research and Application)

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Open AccessArticle

Genome-Wide Analysis, Characterization, Expression and Function of SERK Gene Family in Phyllostachys edulis

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Forests 2023, 14(3), 540; https://doi.org/10.3390/f14030540 - 09 Mar 2023

Viewed by 889

Abstract

Somatic mmbryogenesis receptor-like kinase (SERK) is a kind of protein kinase widely distributed in plants. It plays a vital role in regulating plant immunity and responses to abiotic stress. The SERK gene family has not been systematically studied in moso bamboo (Phyllostachys edulis). In this study, we identified six PeSERK genes and classified them into four groups in moso bamboo. PeSERKs of each group shared a highly similar distribution of conserved domains. Cis-element analysis indicated that many stress and hormone response elements are distributed on the promoters of PeSERKs. Moreover, we analyzed the chromosomal locations and synteny of PeSERKs. A collinear gene pair, PeSERK1 and PeSERK3, shared a high similarity, 93%, and the expression analysis showed similar expression patterns. Compared to PeSERK3, PeSERK1 had a higher expression in all tissues examined and all stages of shoot development. PeSERK3 was expressed mainly in leaf sheaths but with a low expression in other tissues. The expressions of PeSERKs were analyzed in seedlings under abiotic and hormone treatments using qRT-PCR. Except for PeSERK1 and PeSERK3, the expressions of most genes were downregulated or had no big difference at 0 h of drought treatment. Under drought treatment, PeSERK1 and PeSERK3 had a similar expression trend of increasing first and then decreasing. However, the expression level of PeSERK3 was higher than PeSERK1 after 3 h of drought treatment. PeSERK3 might play a more vital role in the drought stress response than PeSERK1. This study provides a theoretical basis for the further study of the SERK response to stress conditions in moso bamboo. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Ecological Functions of Bamboo Forests: Research and Application)

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Open AccessArticle

Explaining Landscape Levels and Drivers of Chinese Moso Bamboo Forests Based on the Plus Model

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Forests 2023, 14(2), 397; https://doi.org/10.3390/f14020397 - 15 Feb 2023

Cited by 2 | Viewed by 939

Abstract

China is the richest country in the world in terms of bamboo forest resources, with moso bamboo as the dominated landscape distribution. Analysis of its spatial distribution, landscape change, and its drivers is crucial for forest ecosystem management and sustainable development. However, investigations on the effects of multiple geographical and environmental factors on changes in the landscape of moso bamboo forests are still limited. In this study, Chinese moso bamboo forests in 2010, 2015 and 2020 were selected as the study objects, and 19 provinces (data for Hong Kong, Macao, and Taiwan are unavailable), where Chinese moso bamboo forests were actually distributed, were taken as the study areas. This paper aims to determine the spatial distribution and landscape level of moso bamboo forests in China, as well as to conduct a preliminary study on the natural and socioeconomic factors of landscape change within moso bamboo forests and their buffer zones through density analysis, landscape fragmentation analysis, and patch-generating land use simulation model. The analysis using ArcGIS kernel density analysis revealed significant variability in the spatial distribution of moso bamboo forests in China, expanding in both the north and southwest directions. China’s moso bamboo forests expanded fast between 2010 and 2020, with the landscape becoming more fragmented, landscape fragmentation increasing, aggregation diminishing, and overall landscape quality declining. Climate has the greatest influence on the shifting landscape distribution of moso bamboo forests, followed by locational factors and soil and terrain, and socioeconomic factors such as location, population density, and GDP also impact the shifting distribution and landscape of the moso bamboo forest. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Ecological Functions of Bamboo Forests: Research and Application)

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