Caloric Values of Seven Dominant Species in Tiantong National Forest Park,Zhejiang Province,China

The ash contents and caloric values of different aboveground organs for three dominant tree species and four dominant shrub species in the east subtropical evergreen broad-leaved forest in Tiantong National Forest Park(TNFP),Zhejiang Province were studied in the paper.The results showed that the gross caloric values(GCV)and the ash-free caloric values(AFCV) of various aboveground organs are different among dominant species,the GCV and AFCV of three dominant tree species can be ranked in a decreasing order as Schima superba Castanopsis carlesii C.fargesii,and their GCV and AFCV during mature trees are the biggest among the different developmental phases.Meanwhile the GCV and AFCV of the three tree species during the saplings and seedlings are higher than those of shrub species too.GCV and AFCV of the same organ in different aboveground layers decreased from tree species to shrub species,therefore it suggested that the caloric values are closely related to the light gradient within the community.For the same species,the caloric values altered greatly among different organs,the GCV and AFCV of leaves are higher than those of branch and bark.The paper also showed that the gross caloric values are affected obviously by the ash contents.