SURVIVAL, GROWTH AND BIOMASS OF <em>ACACIA</em> <em>AURICULIFORMIS</em> AND <em>SCHIMA</em> <em>SUPERBA</em> SEEDLINGS in DIFFERENT FOREST RESTORATION PHASES IN NAN’AO ISLAND, SOUTH CHINA

Abstract

LI P, HUANG ZL, XIANG YC & REN H. 2011. Survival, growth and biomass of Acacia auriculiformis and
Schima superba seedlings in different forest restoration phases in Nan’ao Island, south China. Accelerating the
succession of degraded ecosystems to regional natural forests has become a key goal in restoration ecology
and forest management. Three plant communities (a degraded hilly land, an artificial Acacia plantation and a
secondary forest) representing three restoration phases were used on Nan’ao Island in south China. Seedlings
of the exotic Acacia auriculiformis and the native Schima superba were transplanted into each community. Leaf
area index, litter stock, soil moisture and soil fertility were higher in the Acacia plantation and secondary
forest than in the degraded hilly land. However, light transmission was much greater in the degraded hilly
land than in the other two communities. Survival and growth of A. auriculiformis were greatest in the degraded
hilly land but survival and growth of S. superba were greatest in the Acacia plantation. Growth responses of
the transplanted seedlings were related to soil water content and light transmission rate. To accelerate the
vegetation restoration of the islands, the existing secondary forest should be protected and the plantations
should be improved by introducing native tree seedlings. As a possible two-stage restoration scheme, Acacia
could be planted in degraded hilly land to serve as nurse plant for S. superba.