Abstract: The present study investigated the response of soil physical and chemical properties of the larch (Larix kaempferi) plantation to thinning intensity after five years in eastern mountainous area of Liaoning Province, through collecting soil sample from the topsoil (0-10 cm) and subsoil (10-20 cm) along a thinning gradient (CK, 20%, 30% and 40%). The results indicated that there were no significant variations in the soil bulk density, total porosity, capillary porosity, total C content, total N content, C∶N, N∶P, and NO₃^--N content under different thinning intensities, compared to the CK treatment. However, the soil waterholding capacity, total C content, total N content, N∶P, and active carbon content in the topsoil (0-10 cm) under the 40% thinning intensity were significantly higher than under the other two thinning intensities. Furthermore, 40% thinning intensity was beneficial to obtaining the largediameter wood. Therefore, the 40% thinning intensity was preferable to the management of the larch plantations in the eastern mountainous area of Liaoning Province.

Key words: Larimichthys polyactis, Sebastiscus marmoratus, trophic niche, carbon and nitrogen stable isotope, marine ranching