The Unique Features of The Nanjenshan Forest Ecosystem

• Main Authors: Hsieh, kuei-jen, 謝桂禎
• Other Authors: Kuo, yau-lun
• Format: Others
• Language: zh-TW
• Published: 2002
• Online Access: http://ndltd.ncl.edu.tw/handle/53776799730374461719

碩士 === 國立屏東科技大學 === 熱帶農業研究所 === 90 === The Nanjenshan forest is the only remained, relatively complete, lowland forest in Taiwan. In 1995, the Nanjenshan was designated as one of the long-term ecological study sites in Taiwan, which was financially supported by the National Science Council. This cross-disciplined, integrated research conducted thus far has enabled the research team to gain a preliminary understanding of the unique features of the Nanjenshan forest ecosystem. However, there appears to have a gap in understanding the ecosystem between the general public and the professional, academic researchers. In order to assist the general public to better understand the Nanjenshan forest ecosystem through the understanding of the results of academic research and also to provide the national park a useful material to facilitate its programs in public education and interpretation, this study was to integrate the results of the long-term ecological study on the Nanjenshan forest conducted in the past several years. Results of this study could be used as reference by all interest parties. The vegetation in the Nanjenshan, under the long-term influence of northeasterly monsoon wind, showed a high degree of regional diversity. There was a significant difference in the physiognomy of the forest among the mountain ridges on the windward side, the slope on the leeward side and the valleys. The trees on the mountain ridges and on the windward side were generally low and short in shape and high in density. Majority of these tree species was subtropical or temperate evergreen, broad leaf trees. However, the shape of the trees in the valleys, where the influence of northeasterly wind was less, was usually large and tall, typical in tropical plants. Based on the short-term dynamics of the Nanjenshan forest in a 7-year internal, there was a very little variation in the composition of the tree species and the total number of trees, an increase of the basal areas of trees, a gradual shift of trees from small stem to large stem, a stable status maintained by dominant species or common species in the forest, and a continuous distribution of the sizes of tree stems, indicating a possible continued growth of the forest. There was an enormous amount of litter falls in the Nanjenshan; however, the organic contents were low due to an active decomposition process found there. The soil nutrient contents in the forest were higher on the leeward slope than on the windward slope. Similarly, the contents were higher in the valleys than on the mountain ridges. Microbes such as bacteria and fungi and invertebrate animals played an important role in the decomposition of the deciduous parts. Those invertebrate animals participated in the decomposition process were important members with large quantity, serving as food for many amphibians, reptiles and birds in a food chain. The stomach contents of adult frogs, amphibians, in Nanjenshan were found to contain a high proportion of invertebrate animals. The birds found in the Nanjenshan were under a significant influence of seasons in habitat utilization and food selection. Because of the availability of fruits and nesting environment, the quantity of birds in the forest on the leeward side was higher than that on the windward side. It is generally concluded that the northeasterly monsoon wind influenced the green plant populations that served as producer and habitat provider. Consequently, it also directly or indirectly influenced the animal populations in the Nanjenshan forest. The biodiversity of various species of animals was higher in the valleys than on the mountain ridges. Even in the same habitat as in the lake plot, the biodiversity in the non-monsoon seasons was higher than that in the monsoon seasons. The unique features of the Nanjenshan forest ecosystem were characterized by a complex environmental condition created as a result of its unique geographical location and the influence of the northeasterly monsoon wind and typhoons. Various organisms lived and interacted among themselves in this unique ecosystem and each occupied its special niche in a food web. Through predation, the process of nutrient recycling and energy flowing existed continuously from one living organism to another.