Spatial segregation of pines and oaks under different fire regimes in the Sierra Madre Occidental

Surface fire can modify spatial patterns and self-thinning in pine-oak ecosystems. Spatial pattern analyses were used to compare pattern development and interspecific spatial interactions in trees and seedlings in five Madrean pine-oak stands with different recent fire histories. Interspecific and intraspecific patterns were compared in small (< 15 cm dbh) and large (< 15 cm dbh) diameter classes of the pines (Pinus durangensis, P. teocote, and P. leiophylla) and oaks (Quercus sideroxylla, Q. crassifolia, and Q. laeta) that collectively dominated the five stands. Numbers of juvenile trees in 2.5 × 2.5 m subplots were correlated with cumulative distances to adult trees. Small pine and oak trees were intraspecifically clustered at all scales, irrespective of fire regime. Large pines were strongly clustered only in stands with longer fire-free intervals, and patterns of large versus small pine trees were regular or random in frequent fire stands. These patterns were consistent with fire-induced mortality of maturing trees under frequent fire. Large and small pines were segregated from small oaks at short and long distances in one stand with a 32-year fire-free interval, implying that two or more dynamic factors had produced regular patterns at different scales. Such regular spatial patterns at short distances were not seen in other stands. Therefore, there was little evidence for direct competition between oaks and pines. The results reported here are consistent with studies from other pine-oak ecosystems showing that different fire regime and site factors interact to influence stand development processes and relative dominance of pines and oaks. In some stands, the continued absence of fire could foster increasing tree densities and an intensification of local neighborhood effects, producing segregation of pine and oak species at longer distances. This revised version was published online in August 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

海南岛霸王岭热带低地雨林树木的空间格局

树木空间格局及其形成过程是物种共存及生物多样性维持机制研究的一个重要方面。该文以海南岛两个1 hm ²的典型热带低地雨林老龄林森林动态样地为基础, 通过4个点格局模型(均质Poisson过程、异质Poisson过程、均质Thomas过程和异质Thomas过程)模拟扩散限制和生境异质性作用对树木空间分布格局的影响, 并分析不同空间尺度下(< 2 m, 2-5 m, 5-10 m, 10-15 m, 15-20 m和20-25 m)不同作用的相对重要性。结果表明: 热带低地雨林的所有树木总体上呈现聚集分布的空间格局, 随着尺度的增大, 聚集强度逐渐减小。树种在模拟空间分布格局最优模型中的比例由高到低分别是: 均质Thomas过程, 均质Poisson过程、异质Thomas过程和异质Poisson过程。扩散限制作用是形成热带低地雨林树木空间分布格局最重要的生态过程, 其次是完全随机作用以及生境异质性和扩散限制的联合作用, 而生境异质性的作用最小。不同空间尺度上模拟各树种空间分布格局的最优模型比例差异显著, 扩散限制作用能够在多数空间尺度上模拟多个树种的空间分布格局, 其次为随机作用; 生境异质性和扩散限制的联合作用主要在小尺度(0-5 m)影响树种分布, 而生境异质性在较大尺度(15-25 m)上影响树种的空间分布格局。     

Structural heterogeneity and spatial autocorrelation in a natural mature Pinus sylvestris dominated forest

The tree species composition, vertical stratification and patterns of spatial autocorrelation at the tree and quadrate (25 × 25 m) scales were studied in a natural mature PinuS sylvestris dominated forest in eastern Finland. For the analyses we mapped the locations and dimensions of trees taller than 10 m in a 9 ha (300 × 300 m) area, and within this area we mapped all trees taller than 0.3 m on a core plot of 4 ha (200 × 200 m). The overall tree size distribution was bimodal. the dominant layer and the understory forming the peak frequencies. Pinus sylvestris dominated the main canopy, together with scattered Betula pendula and Picea abies. Alnus incana, Populus tremula, Salix caprea, Sorbus aucuparia and Juniperus communis occurred only in the under- and middlestories. Autocorrelation analysis (semivarianee) of tree size variation revealed spatial patterns, which were strongly dependent on the size of trees included in the analysis. When all living trees, including the understory regeneration, were taken into account, the autocorrelation pattern ranged up to 35 m inter-tree distances, reflecting the spatial scale of understory regeneration patches. Competitive interaction among middle- and upperstory trees (height>10 m) had contrasting effects on autocorrelation pattern depending on spatial scale. At the fine scale, dominant trees suppressed their smaller close neighbors (asymmetric competition), which was shown as increased tree size variation at small inter-tree distances (<2 m). At slightly larger inter-tree distances, specifically among large trees of similar size, competition was more symmetrical, which resulted in decreased tree size variation at these inter-tree distances (3–4 m). This effect was seen most clearly in the dominant trees, there being a clear autocorrelation pattern in tree size up to inter-tree distances of ～4 m. At the quadrate scale (25 × 25 m) the analysis revealed high local variation in structural characteristics such as tree height diversity (THD), tree species diversity (H) and autocorrelation of tree height. The analysis suggests that naturally developed P. sylvestris forests exhibit complex small-scale patterns of structural heterogeneity and spatial autocorrelation in tree size. These patterns may be important for stand-scale habitat diversity and can have aggregated effects on ecosystem dynamics at larger spatial scales though their influence on the spread of disturbance and regeneration after disturbance.     

Spatial patterns and competition of tree species in a Douglas-fir chronosequence on Vancouver Island

While the successional dynamics and large-scale structure of Douglas-fir forest in the Pacific Northwest region is well studied, the fine-scale spatial characteristics at the stand level are still poorly understood. Here we investigated the fine-scale spatial structure of forest on Vancouver Island, in order to understand how the three dominant species, Douglas-fir, western hemlock, and western redcedar, coexist and partition space along a chronosequence comprised of immature, mature, and old-growth stands. We quantified the changes in spatial distribution and association of the species along the chronosequence using the scale-dependent point pattern analyses pair-correlation function g(r) and Ripley's L-function. Evidence on intra- and inter-specific competition was also inferred from correlations between nearest-neighbor distances and tree size. Our results show that 1) the aggregation of Douglas-fir in old-growth was primarily caused by variation in local site characteristics, 2) only surviving hemlock were more regular than their pre-mortality patterns, a result consistent with strong intra-specific competition, 3) inter-specific competition declined rapidly with stand age due to spatial resource partitioning, and (4) tree death was spatially randomly distributed among larger overstory trees. The study highlights the importance of spatial heterogeneity for the long-term coexistence of shade-intolerant pioneer Douglas-fir and shade-tolerant western hemlock and western redcedar.     

江西九连山亚热带常绿阔叶林优势种空间分布格局

于江西九连山国家自然保护区设置4 hm2亚热带常绿阔叶林固定监测样地,用样方法对亚热带常绿阔叶林进行调查分析。应用点格局方法分析生境异质性是否影响树木分布并分析优势种红钩栲(Castanopsis lamontii)、米槠(Castanopsis carlesii)、罗浮柿(Diospyros morrisiana)和细枝柃(Eurya loquaiana)分布格局,对比存在生境异质性和排除生境异质性两种情况下优势树种不同生长阶段(幼树、小树、成年树)的空间分布格局以及不同生长阶段之间的空间关联性,探讨生境异质性之外的其它种群分布影响因子。结果表明:1)生境异质性效应显著影响九连山树木分布,4个优势树种在大尺度上存在明显的生境偏好;2)用完全随机零模型不排除生境异质性时,4个优势种总体及其不同生长阶段在0—30 m所有尺度上主要呈现聚集分布;3)用异质性随机零模型排除生境异质性后,4个优势种及其不同生长阶段的聚集程度显著下降,只在小尺度上(0—5 m)呈现聚集分布;4)4个优势种的幼树与小树均表现显著的正相关。红钩栲的成年树与幼树及成年树与小树总体表现不相关。米槠的成年树与幼树总体以无相关为主;成年树与小树之间总体呈正相关。小乔木罗浮柿的成年树与幼树之间在小尺度上(0—5 m)表现负相关或无相关,在较大尺度范围上总体表现正相关关系;小树与成年树在研究尺度上表现出正相关。灌木细枝柃的成年树与幼树,成年树与小树及小树与幼树之间在研究尺度范围内均呈现正相关关系;5)研究发现九连山优势乔木物种通过密度制约和Janzen-Connell效应释放空间,为其他物种共存提供条件,而优势灌木物种细枝柃没有表现出这两个效应。     

天山云杉天然林不同林层的空间格局和空间关联性

天山云杉(Picea Schrenkiana)林是天山林区的重要针叶林。研究调查了分别代表天山云杉增长型种群和成熟型种群的两块标准地,应用Ripley's K系数法研究了天山云杉更新层、低林层、中林层和高林层的空间格局和不同林层的空间关联性,并应用Moran's I系数法研究了不同林层的林木高度的空间自相关性。结果表明:所有林层的天山云杉活立木都是显著聚集的,只是发生聚集格局的强度和聚集尺度不同。更新层天山云杉具有最大的聚集强度,从更新层到低林层,聚集强度急速降低。两块标准地中天山桦(Betula tianschanica Rupr.)、天山柳(Salix tianschanica Rgl.)和天山云杉活立木的空间关联性的表现不同。研究结果表明:增长型种群中天山桦、天山柳在所有尺度上都抑制天山云杉的生长;而成熟型种群中天山桦、天山柳在1-10 m尺度内对天山云杉种群的生长没有影响,10-40 m表现出正相关,40 m以上没有表现出明显的关联性;同时天山桦、天山柳基本上在所有尺度都抑制天山云杉的更新。在更新层和低林层间表现出正相关;而更新层和枯死木之间的空间关联性为正相关。     

贵州赤水常绿阔叶林不同层次树木空间分布格局和竞争的关系

在贵州赤水桫椤国家级自然保护区的亚热带常绿阔叶林中设置0.96 hm~2的固定样地进行调查,将2299株乔木按树高分级(林木下层、中层、上层),进行空间定位并记录胸径和冠幅等个体指标。采用基于个体间距离的对数相关函数(Paircorrelation functions,PCF)和基于个体胸径、冠幅的标记点格局分析(Marked correlation functions,MCF)空间统计方法检测不同高度层内和层间的空间分布格局和潜在的竞争,结果表明:(1)样地内上层树种呈现随机分布,中下层树种在0—6 m的小尺度内呈聚集分布,在层间关系上表现为0—1 m尺度下显著的正相关关系。(2)在群落内上层个体中没有检测到显著的层内竞争,也未发现其与中、下层树种存在层间竞争关系。(3)群落中、下层树种的层内和层间竞争对两者间空间分布格局和个体大小均产生了一定影响,其相邻个体的胸径和冠幅呈现显著负相关关系。这说明在贵州赤水地区常绿阔叶林中群落中不同层次个体处于不同演替阶段,群落内层内和层间竞争对个体较大的林木上层物种的影响已经非常微弱,而主要发生在中、下层树种内,导致了个体较小的中下层更新树种在层间和层内都出现了小尺度下聚集分布格局,这解释了研究地内不同高度级别树种间竞争关系与共存策略,也验证了标记点格局分析方法在检测植物群落竞争中的敏感性。     

Beetle diversity in a matrix of old-growth boreal forest: influence of habitat heterogeneity at multiple scales

The relative contribution of compositional and structural heterogeneity on biodiversity is currently ambiguous because field studies generally integrate these two sources of habitat heterogeneity into a single index. We established the relationship between species richness of ground-dwelling and flying beetles and compositional and structural attributes of forest heterogeneity. The relationship was evaluated at two spatial scales: the scale of forest stand, corresponding to an 11.3  m radius, and the scale of landscape, corresponding to either a 400 or 800  m radius. Seventy stands were sampled in the matrix of old-growth boreal forest of the North Shore region of Québec, Canada, during the summers of 2004 and 2005. A total of 133 ground-dwelling beetle species (range: 4–42 species per site) were captured in the pitfall traps and 251 flying species (range 16–58 species per site) in flight-interception traps. We found that the most relevant type of heterogeneity to explain variations in species richness and the significance of landscape scale information varied between groups of beetles. Compositional heterogeneity (i.e. the number of species of forest trees and shrubs) at the stand scale best predicted species richness in ground-dwelling beetles. On the other hand, it was the combined influence of structural and compositional habitat heterogeneity at stand and landscape scales that best explained richness patterns in flying beetles. Our study outlines the significance of considering multiple types and spatial scales of habitat heterogeneity when describing patterns of species richness.     

Changes in spatial pattern of trees and snags during structural development in Picea mariana boreal forests

Questions : How do gap abundance and the spatial pattern of trees and snags change throughout stand development in Picea mariana forests? Does spatial pattern differ among site types and structural components of a forest? Location : Boreal forests dominated by Picea mariana, northern Quebec and Ontario, Canada. Methods : Data on the abundance, characteristics and spatial location of trees, snags and gaps were collected along 200 m transects at 91 sites along a chronosequence. Spatial analyses included 3TLQV, NLV and autocorrelation analysis. Non‐parametric analyses were used to analyse trends with time and differences among structural components and site types. Results : Gaps became more abundant, numerous and more evenly distributed with time. At distances of 1–4 m, tree cover, sapling density and snag density became more heterogeneous with time. Tree cover appeared to be more uniform for the 10–33 m interval, although this was not significant. Patch size and variance at 1 m were greater for overstorey than for understorey tree cover. Snags were less spatially variable than trees at 1 m, but more so at intermediate distances (4–8 m). Few significant differences were found among site types. Conclusions : During stand development in P. mariana forest, gaps formed by tree mortality are filled in slowly due to poor regeneration and growth, leading to greater gap abundance and clumping of trees and snags at fine scales. At broader scales, patchy regeneration is followed by homogenization of forest stands as trees become smaller with low productivity due to paludification.     

Structural heterogeneity and tree spatial patterns in an old-growth deciduous lowland forest in Cantabria, northern Spain

Old-growth deciduous forests in western Europe, for the most part, consist of small tracts that often may be atypical due to human disturbance, poor soil productivity or inaccessibility. In addition, very little information on tree age distributions, structural heterogeneity and tree spatial patterns appears to be available for west-European forests. Characterization of the structural features of tree populations in these old-growth stands can provide the basis to design conservation plans and also inform on how present forests might look in the absence of human interference. Four old-growth stands in a deciduous forest in the Cantabrian lowlands, northern Spain, were surveyed to determine forest structure and spatial patterns. Live and dead trees were identified, measured and mapped, and live trees were cored for age estimation. Structural heterogeneity was analyzed by means of the spatial autocorrelation of tree diameter, height and age, and the uni- and bivariate spatial patterns of trees were analyzed. The dominant species, Fagus sylvatica and Quercus robur, showed reverse-J shaped size distributions but discontinuous age distributions, with maximum ages of 255–270 yr. Tree ages suggested that the forest was largely modified by past changes in forest-use, especially by temporal variation in grazing intensity. Spatial autocorrelation revealed that former parkland stands were heterogeneous with respect to tree height only, while high forest stands were composed of patches of even-aged and even-sized trees. Young trees were clumped at varying distances and establishment occurred preferentially in canopy gaps, except for Ilex aquifolium that mainly occurred beneath mature Quercus trees. Surviving trees became less intensely clumped in the dominant species, and more strongly clumped in understorey ones, which may have been due to the effects of intraspecific competition and of canopy trees on tree survival, respectively. The spatial associations between species varied within the forest, probably as a consequence of specific establishment preferences and competitive interactions.     

林分光照空间异质性对水曲柳更新的影响

 光照是森林更新动态中极为关键的环境因子。本研究在东北天然次生林中选择样地,应用地统计学理论结合实验生态学方法,定量分析林分光照空间异质性特征,同时进行林下播种水曲柳（Fraxinus mandshurica）的更新实验,探测更新格局特征。通过空间关联性分析,研究探讨是否林分光照的空间变异对水曲柳更新有重要影响作用。研究结果表明： 1）生长季林分平均光照仅为全光照的4.2%～4.6%,在空间分布上呈现非常明显的异质性特征,空间自相关变异（62.5%～78.2%）主要体现在10.9～12.4 m的尺度上。2）林分光照不同的空间样点上,水曲柳更新幼苗发生数量和秋季幼苗存活数量均存在显著差异,光照相对强的微生境中,更新苗发生数量较多且存活率高,而在光照较弱的微生境中则更新较差,更新具有十分明显的空间格局。3）更新格局与林分光照空间异质性特征紧密关联。在光照空间异质性程度较高、空间变异较复杂的条件下,更新相应呈现出较复杂的空间格局,自相关的变异表现在较小尺度范围（2.12～6.97 m）。在光照空间异质性程度较低、空间变异复杂性较小的条件下,更新格局的复杂程度明显变小,空间自相关变异（>83%）表现在较大的尺度上（30 m）,对更新格局起主要的影响作用,随机变异的影响很小（<17%）。这些研究结果说明,林分光照环境在水曲柳更新中的作用十分关键,林分光照的空间异质性对更新格局起决定性作用。     

Density dependence is prevalent in a heterogeneous subtropical forest

Although negative conspecific density dependence among neighbours is widely studied, the general prevalence of the effects is still poorly understood due to a lack of studies from zonal forests other than the tropics. In addition, the detection of density dependence may be confounded by the influence of habitat heterogeneity. Here we examined the spatial distributions of 47 common tree species (diameter at breast height≥1  cm) using the pair-correlation function g(r) in a fully mapped 24-ha subtropical forest in China. We first investigated whether habitat heterogeneity influenced tree distributions, and then examined the conspecific tree patterns and density dependence after removing the effects of habitat heterogeneity. We found that the forest plot exhibited strong large-scale heterogeneity in the distribution of both large adult trees of different growth forms and individual species. After the habitat heterogeneity was accounted for, 39 of the 47 species (83.0%) were found to exhibit density dependence predominantly at close distances among neighbors. Our findings highlight density dependence as a prevalent mechanism for regulating the population spatial structure of most tree species in the species-rich subtropical forest studied here. Furthermore, the occurrence of density dependence is closely associated with species abundance and the strength of conspecific aggregation at local scales. Abundant species with high strength of conspecific aggregation tend to show density dependence.     

Distribution patterns of tree species in an evergreen broadleaved forest in eastern China

Ecological assembly rules in evergreen broad-leaved forest are far from clear understanding. Spatial dispersion of individuals in a species is central in ecological theory. We analyzed the spatial patterns as well as associations between adult and juvenile of each tree species in a 5-ha subtropical evergreen broad-leaved forest plot in eastern China. Out of the 74 species occurring with more than 10 individuals, 88.4% of these species are aggregated. Most of them are aggregated from small to large scales. Spatial distributions of some species corre-spond with topography. Many bad dispersed species in the Baishanzu exhibit a highly aggregated distribution at small scales. These suggest that environmental heterogeneity and/or dispersal limitation may be the most important mechanisms that control the distribution patterns of these species. Our observations of the aggregations of abundant species basically support the hypothesis that dispersal limitation decreases as the number of reproductive trees increases. The rest species are randomly distributed, with less than 10 individuals. For most common species, spatial aggregation is weaker in larger diameter classes, and the distance between adults is larger than that between juveniles and adults, suggesting that density-dependence works on loosing aggregation and excluding conspecific juveniles away from adult trees. However, the density-dependent effect is not strong enough to eliminate all seedlings near adult trees and to result in a regular distribution of trees; thus the density dependence is usually masked by the refuge effect.     

Distribution patterns of tree species in an evergreen broadleaved forest in eastern China

Ecological assembly rules in evergreen broad-leaved forest are far from clear understanding. Spatial dispersion of individuals in a species is central in ecological theory. We analyzed the spatial patterns as well as associations between adult and juvenile of each tree species in a 5-ha subtropical evergreen broad-leaved forest plot in eastern China. Out of the 74 species occurring with more than 10 individuals, 88.4% of these species are aggregated. Most of them are aggregated from small to large scales. Spatial distributions of some species correspond with topography. Many bad dispersed species in the Baishanzu exhibit a highly aggregated distribution at small scales. These suggest that environmental heterogeneity and/or dispersal limitation may be the most important mechanisms that control the distribution patterns of these species. Our observations of the aggregations of abundant species basically support the hypothesis that dispersal limitation decreases as the number of reproductive trees increases. The rest species are randomly distributed, with less than 10 individuals. For most common species, spatial aggregation is weaker in larger diameter classes, and the distance between adults is larger than that between juveniles and adults, suggesting that density-dependence works on loosing aggregation and excluding conspecific juveniles away from adult trees. However, the density-dependent effect is not strong enough to eliminate all seedlings near adult trees and to result in a regular distribution of trees; thus the density dependence is usually masked by the refuge effect.     

Distribution patterns of tree species in a Malaysian tropical rain forest

Abstract. Spatial patterns of tree species were studied in a 50-ha tropical rain forest plot in the Pasoh forest, Malaysia. This forest is characterized by a high diversity and very high number of rare species. Out of the 745 species occurring with > five individuals, 80.4 % had an aggregated distribution, 19.5% were randomly distributed and one species had a regular distribution. The spatial patterns of rare vs. common species, juvenile vs. adult trees, and coarse vs. fine scales were compared. Rare species are generally less aggregated than common ones and most of the randomly distributed species are rare. Spatial patterns shift from high clumping to looser intensity or random distribution when moving from juveniles to adults for the same species. No adult tree species display a regular pattern, however. Regular distributions were rarely found; this is probably due to intraspecific competition at a local scale. There is a negative correlation between per capita death rate and population density. This study suggests that the Pasoh forest and its high diversity are subjected to multiple controlling factors, e.g., topography, spacing effect, density-dependent processes and species rarity. The importance of any factor changes across spatial and temporal scales.     

Spatial pattern and process in forest stands within the Virginia piedmont

Abstract. Question: Underlying ecological processes have often been inferred from the analysis of spatial patterns in ecosystems. Using an individual‐based model, we evaluate whether basic assumptions of species’life‐history, drought‐susceptibility, and shade tolerance generate dynamics that replicate patterns between and within forest stands. Location: Virginia piedmont, USA. Method: Model verification examines the transition in forest composition and stand structure between mesic, intermediate and xeric sites. At each site, tree location, diameter, and status were recorded in square plots ranging from 0.25 to 1.0 ha. Model validation examines the simulated spatial pattern of individual trees at scales of 1–25 m within each forest site using a univariate Ripley's K function. Results: 7512 live and dead trees were surveyed across all sites. All sites exhibit a consistent, significant shift in pattern for live trees by size, progressing from a clumped understorey (trees ± 0.1 m in diameter) to a uniform overstorey (trees > 0.25 m). Simulation results reflect not only the general shift in pattern of trees at appropriate scales within sites, but also the general transition in species composition and stand structure between sites. Conclusions: This shift has been observed in other forest ecosystems and interpreted as a result of competition; however, this hypothesis has seldom been evaluated using simulation models. These results support the hypothesis that forest pattern in the Virginia piedmont results from competition involving species’life‐history attributes driven by soil moisture availability between sites and light availability within sites.     

Within‐stand spatial structure and relation of boreal canopy and understorey vegetation

Question: How do spatial patterns and associations of canopy and understorey vegetation vary with spatial scale along a gradient of canopy composition in boreal mixed‐wood forests, from younger Aspen stands dominated by Populus tremuloides and P. balsamifera to older Mixed and Conifer stands dominated by Picea glauca? Do canopy evergreen conifers and broad‐leaved deciduous trees differ in their spatial relationships with understorey vegetation? Location: EMEND experimental site, Alberta, Canada. Methods: Canopy and understorey vegetation were sampled in 28 transects of 100 contiguous 0.5 m × 0.5 m quadrats in three forest stand types. Vegetation spatial patterns and relationships were analysed using wavelets. Results: Boreal mixed‐wood canopy and understorey vegetation are patchily distributed at a range of small spatial scales. The scale of canopy and understorey spatial patterns generally increased with increasing conifer presence in the canopy. Associations between canopy and understorey were highly variable among stand types, transects and spatial scales. Understorey vascular plant cover was generally positively associated with canopy deciduous tree cover and negatively associated with canopy conifer tree cover at spatial scales from 5–15 m. Understorey non‐vascular plant cover and community composition were more variable in their relationships with canopy cover, showing both positive and negative associations at a range of spatial scales. Conclusions: The spatial structure and relation of boreal mixed‐wood canopy and understorey vegetation varied with spatial scale. Differences in understorey spatial structure among stand types were consistent with a nucleation model of patch dynamics during succession in boreal mixed‐wood forests.     

Spatiotemporal changes of beetle communities across a tree diversity gradient

Aim Plant and arthropod diversity are often related, but data on the role of mature tree diversity on canopy insect communities are fragmentary. We compare species richness of canopy beetles across a tree diversity gradient ranging from mono‐dominant beech to mixed stands within a deciduous forest, and analyse community composition changes across space and time. Location Germany’s largest exclusively deciduous forest, the Hainich National Park (Thuringia). Methods We used flight interception traps to assess the beetle fauna of various tree species, and applied additive partitioning to examine spatiotemporal patterns of diversity. Results Species richness of beetle communities increased across the tree diversity gradient from 99 to 181 species per forest stand. Intra‐ and interspecific spatial turnover among trees contributed more than temporal turnover among months to the total γ‐beetle diversity of the sampled stands. However, due to parallel increases in the number of habitat generalists and the number of species in each feeding guild (herbivores, predators and fungivores), no proportional changes in community composition could be observed. If only beech trees were analysed across the gradient, patterns were similar but temporal (monthly) species turnover was higher compared to spatial turnover among trees and not related to tree diversity. Main conclusions The changes in species richness and community composition across the gradient can be explained by habitat heterogeneity, which increased with the mix of tree species. We conclude that understanding temporal and spatial species turnover is the key to understanding biodiversity patterns. Mono‐dominant beech stands are insufficient to conserve fully the regional species richness of the remaining semi‐natural deciduous forest habitats in Central Europe, and analysing beech alone would have resulted in the misleading conclusion that temporal (monthly) turnover contributes more to beetle diversity than spatial turnover among different tree species or tree individuals.     

大兴安岭次生林空间分布格局及其尺度效应

研究大兴安岭落叶松林、白桦林和落叶松+白桦混交林3种次生林中,不同树种(落叶松、白桦和其他)和不同大小级(Ⅰ～Ⅴ级)树木的空间分布格局及其尺度效应。结果表明:3个林型中,仅落叶松林的更新数量达到良好状态,其余2种林型均为更新不良;各林型中,更新层幼苗、幼树的数量组成均与乔木层存在显著差异,且各林型中树木的直径(落叶松林和落叶松+白桦混交林除外)和树高分布也不够合理,3个林型均属于不稳定群落。各林型内林木空间分布整体以聚集分布为主,但方差/均值比率、负二项指数、Green指数、平均拥挤度和Morisita指数5个判别指数随尺度的变化显著不同,并以线性递增(40%)、幂函数递增(22%)和负二次多项式(20%)趋势为主。Ⅰ～Ⅲ级的更新层林木在不同尺度上以聚集分布为主,而乔木层(Ⅳ～Ⅴ级)在多种分布格局间波动,其对尺度的响应同样以线性递增(44%)、幂函数递增(15%)和负二次多项式(12%)为主。同一林型和取样尺度下,林木空间聚集程度整体随着林木大小级的增加呈线性下降趋势。各林型中,非优势树种的种群格局规模往往大于优势树种,而更新层林木空间格局规模大于乔木层。     

海南岛热带天然针叶林主要树种的空间格局及关联性

天然针叶林在热带地区虽较为少见, 但其对维持热带地区的生物多样性和生境异质性具有特殊意义。在我国热带天然针叶林集中分布面积最大的海南霸王岭林区, 作者选择伴生阔叶树种优势度不同的两种典型南亚松(Pinus latteri)天然林(简称纯林和混交林), 采用点格局法分析了其林冠层、亚林层和林下层主要树种的空间分布格局及其关联性。结果表明: (1)纯林中林冠层的南亚松主要为聚集分布, 混交林中在较小尺度上为聚集分布, 在较大尺度上为随机分布。(2)纯林中亚林层树种在较小尺度上为聚集分布, 在较大尺度上为随机分布, 在混交林中主要为聚集分布。(3)纯林中林下层树种主要呈现为随机分布, 而在混交林中主要为聚集分布。(4)随着尺度的增加, 林冠层与其他两个层次的树种, 在纯林中表现出从空间无关联到正关联的变化趋势, 而在混交林中则表现出从空间无关联到负关联的变化趋势。(5)亚林层与林下层树种在各个尺度上都表现为空间正关联。由此可见, 热带天然针叶林中优势种南亚松对伴生阔叶树种的分布格局具有重要影响。