Ecosystem Service Function Of Forest Vegetation In The Mountainous Area Of The West Lake In Hangzhou

The forest vegetation in the mountainous area of the West Lake was the study object in this paper. Based on the combination of the field investigation and the picture from satellites, its modulabitlity to the habitat, the actuality of its biomass, productivity and carbon storage, its maintenance function of biodiversity and the continuable utilizing strategies were discussed, meanwhile, a set of scientific theory system was brought forward for the estimating whether a ecosystem was healthy or not. 1. Forest vegetation modulability to the habitat and influence of the disturbanceLight intensity was relatively large in the coniferous forest (CF) and the bamboo forest (BF). Air temperature was relatively high in the CF, low in the broad-leaved forest and coniferous and broad-leaved mixed forest, and layers were not distinct In all the vegetation types the surface soil temperatures were higher than 8cm-underground soil temperature, and CF soil temperatures were higher than mat in broad-leaved forest. As to the air relatively humidity, it was highest and steady in the broad-leaved forest Deeper in the soil, humidor in it too, and soil humidity was relatively large in the south slope. The modulability of the bamboo forest was smallest because it was managed by people and its structure was simlpe.Habitat was influenced by human disturbance. A. Id Wuguitan and Qixialing belt transects, light intensity changed most intensely. B. The change trends of air temperature were consistent at the two levels, which were surface level and 1.5m above soil surface. While the soil temperature changes were different at soil surface and 8cm under surfade level, soil temperature at 8cm underground was lower than that at surface level, and the change range of the former was small. Temperature rised in road disturbance belt transect and dropped in building belt transect from the outside of the forest to the inside. C. Air relative humidity was smaller at 1.5m above soil surface than it was at surface level. Air relative humidity changed steadily from the outside of the forest to the inside, and there were three types of change. The change of the soil humidity was complex. Soil was humider inside the forest in the building belt transect, but in the other types of disturbance there were not rules.Litter layer storage ranked: coniferous forest > broad-leaved and coniferous mixed forest > bamboo forest > evergreen broad-leaved forest > evergreen and deciduous broad-leaved mixed forest > deciduous broad-leaved forest. Largest water-holding capacity ranked: bamboo forest > broad-leaved and coniferous mixed forest > evergreen broad-leaved forest > coniferous forest > deciduous broad-leaved forest > evergreen and deciduous broad-leaved mixed forest. 2. Biomass, productivity and carbon storageTree layer biomass was largest in broad-leaved and coniferous mixed forest, the second was in bamboo forest, the smallest was in coniferous forest, and there was littler differ in the three types of the broad-leaved forest. Biomass of broad-leaved and coniferous mixed forest was highest because its density was high and it consisted of Pinus massoniana Lamb and aged broadleaves. Productivity of different vegetation types ranked: broad-leaved and coniferous mixed forest > deciduous broad-leaved forest > evergreen broad-leaved forest > evergreen and deciduous broad-leaved mixed forest > coniferous forest. Tree layer carbon storage was related with biomass, and it ranked: broad-leaved and coniferous mixed forest > bamboo forest > broad-leaved forest > coniferous forest Carbon storage in mixed forest was larger than that in pure forest, and in pure forest carbon storage of the bamboo forest was largest, that of broad-leaved forest was in the middle, and that of the coniferous forest was smallest Tree layer carbon storage in the mountainous area of the West Lake was higher man the average of China but lower than the average of the world.3. Species diversity maintenanceIn the various forest communities, plant diversity was higher in deciduous broad-leaved forest, evergreen and deciduous broad-leaved mixed forest and bamboo and broad-leaved forest, average in coniferous forest, broad-leaved and coniferous mixed forest and evergreen broad-leave forest, and lowest in the bamboo forest. Spermatophyte was distributed most in the WuYun Mountain, least in the Feilai Mountain. Insects were distributed most in arboretum, less in TianZhu Mountain and BeiGaoFeng Mountain, and least in PuFuLing area. Bird species was richest in arboretum, secondly in MaoJiaPu, GuShang Mountain, JiuXi and so on, lowest in BeiGaoFeng Mountain, TianZhu Mountain, NanGaoFeng Mountain, WuYun Mountain, WuShan Mountain and so on. Biodiversity maintenance capability. WuYun Mountain > BaoShi Mountain and BeiGaoFeng Mountain > NanGaoFeng Mountain and TianZhu Mountain.4. Ecosystem service function and continuable utilizing strategiesForest vegetation in mountainous area of West Lake contributed much to modulating microclimate and soil, carbon fixation, air purification, biodiversity maintenance and social service. Light intensity was largest, air and soil temperature were highest and air relative humidity and soil humidity were lowest in downtown; while it was on the opposite in the mountainous area of the West Lake. Average carbon storage was 71.99t/ha in the mountainous area of the West Lake, much higher than China average 41.32t/ha, little lower than world average 86.00t/ha. Forest in mountainous area of the West Lake could absorb CO₂ 235854t, produce O₂ 173635t, reduce ash 39 432t, absorb SO₂ 710t Meanwhile, suggestion to biodiversity protection was brought forward for the purpose of balancing traveling and ecosystem, educating the publich, protecting the biodiversity, and maintaining continuable development.5. Ecosystem health indicatorEcosystem health indicators of the mountainous area of the West Lake were divided by two aspects, ecocharacter and functional conformity. Ecocharacter included: vigor, safety, species diversity, ecosystem diversity, resilience and resistance. Functional conformity included: modulating climate, purifying air, keeping soil and so on. Vegetation types, tree layer productivity, diversity index, litter layer storage and water-holding capability were chosen in this paper to analyze the health degree of various areas. The health degree ranked: QiXiaLing > NanGaoFeng Mountain > LingYin tee garden > LingYin Temple > YuHuang Mountain > HuPao Mountain > LingFeng Mountain > WuGuiTan > MeiJiaWul > JiuXi > BeiGaoFeng Mountain > MeiJiaWu2.