Forest gap disturbance has important consequences on plant species assemblage, stand structure and ecosystem functions of forests via changing micro-scale heterogeneity and community succession. Here, we reviwed research progress in the effects of forest gap disturbance on forest ecosystem. The effects of forest gap disturbance on plant species assemblage was analyzed based on the intrinsic biological characteristics and external environmental factors. The effects of forest gap disturbance on stand structure was discussed from the perspectives of texture and architecture of plant community. Forest gap disturbance effect on forest ecosystem functions was reviewed. After analyzing the theoretical shortcomings and the key bottleneck of forest ecosystem management practices, the following research directions were proposed, including the methods of determining threshold of forest gap, the mechanism of canopy closure, the effect of forest gap disturbance on forest ecosystem processes, and the relationship between forest gap disturbance and forest productivity. The advantage of forest gap disturbance in accelerating plant species regeneration and structure complexities could provide scientific evidence for enhancing the quality of low yield and low function plantations in China.
林隙干扰通过改变森林微生境异质性和群落演替进程,对森林物种组成、林分结构和系统功能产生重要影响。本研究评述了有关林隙干扰对森林生态系统影响的最新研究进展,从物种生物学特性和环境因素两个方面分析了林隙干扰对森林物种组成变化的影响规律,基于群落组件和群落架构阐述了林隙干扰对森林结构的作用关系,梳理了林隙干扰对森林生态系统功能的影响机制。基于已有研究的分析和目前森林生态系统经营亟需解决的问题,提出未来研究所需关注的重点领域和问题: 林隙面积阈值确定方法;林隙闭合机制;林隙干扰对森林生态系统过程的影响;林隙干扰与森林生产力的关系。林隙干扰在促进物种更新和提升森林结构复杂性等方面具有优势,因此本研究可为我国低产低效人工林改造提供科学依据。.
Keywords: forest ecosystem; forest gap; forest regeneration; species composition.