An ecological perspective of afforesting Chinese pine (Pinus tabulaeformis) plantations in western Liaoning Province
辽西地区油松造林的生态学思考

In allusion to the decline of Chinese pine(Pinus tabulaeformis) plantations in western Liaoning Province,and applying the basic principles of ecology,this paper analyzed the characters and succession patterns of zonal vegetations as well as the current situation and degree of ecosystems degradation in western Liaoning,predicted the trend of climate change in this area up to 2025,and discussed the adaptability of P.tabulaeformis based on the research products about P.tabulaeformis afforestation over the past 20 years.It was indicated that in this area,the zonal vegetations were with the characters of margin,ecotone and variability,P.tabulaeformis plantations were not the only communitiy of climax forest,long-term converse succession resulted in the degradation from forest to scrub,grassland,and even bare land in the majority of this area,and P.tabulaeformis was less adaptable to the semi-arid climate and barren soil.Therefore,adopting the afforestation of P.tabulaeformis on seriously degraded sites as the common restoration pattern was the primary cause of the decline of P.tabulaeformi in this area.Our prediction showed that as a whole,western Liaoning would be changed into semi-arid area in the year around 2025,which would further disadvantage the natural distribution and growth of P.tabulaeformi.