北京东灵山暖温带落叶阔叶林枯立木与活立木空间分布格局

东灵山暖温带落叶阔叶次生林,是保存较完整的落叶阔叶次生林,其物种组成、群落结构是次生林演替过程的重要体现,也是下一步演替发生的基础。为了更好地研究其演替动态、生物多样性维持机制,以东灵山20hm~2样地为固定监测平台,分析了暖温带落叶阔叶次生林的活立木、枯立木物种组成、径级结构、空间格局。结果表明:(1)样地中DBH≥1 cm的活立木共有103702株,植株密度为5185.1株/hm~2;枯立木共有4543株,植株密度为204.9/hm~2二者均包括了分枝和萌枝的个体数。样地内DBH≥1 cm的活立木共有58种,分属于33属18科,DBH≥1 cm的枯立木共有33种,分属于23属15科。(2)活立木与枯立木整体分布随径级增大,均表现出先增大后减小的趋势,小径级个体多度在分布中优势显著。(3)活立木空间分布随径级增大,聚集强度减小,10 cm≤DBH20 cm、DBH≥40 cm此趋势明显,而20 cm≤DBH40 cm在0—50 m的尺度范围内,规则、随机、聚集分布均出现。枯立木的空间格局,DBH5 cm,DBH≥40 cm,尺度接近30 m时,随机分布;5 cm≤DBH40 cm,0—50m尺度范围内,聚集分布。空间分布格局显示了径级大小在空间分布上互补,不同径级的个体占据了样地内不同的生态位。(4)不同径级活立木与枯立木关联性分析表明,小径级小尺度,关联显著,大径级大尺度空间关联性逐渐减弱。枯立木的产生,是活立木受密度制约调控、演替地位及演替阶段、生境异质性等因素调控的结果,影响机制有待进一步研究。     

八大公山常绿落叶阔叶混交林枯立木物种组成、大小级与分布格局

枯立木是森林生态系统的重要组成部分,对其数量特征(如物种组成和大小级)与分布格局的研究是认识这个特殊类群的起点。本文以湖南八大公山25 ha森林动态监测样地常绿落叶阔叶混交林为研究对象,以该样地第一次木本植物(DBH≥1 cm)调查数据为基础,分析了枯立木的物种组成、径级结构、分布格局以及生境关联。结果表明,样地内共有枯立木(DBH≥1 cm,高度≥130 cm,完全死亡)8,947株。其中,1 cm≤DBH5 cm枯立木4,258株(47.59%),5 cm≤DBH10 cm枯立木2,132株(23.84%),10 cm≤DBH30 cm枯立木2,377株(26.57%),DBH≥30 cm枯立木180株(2%);平均DBH为8.0 cm,最大DBH为83.5 cm。从分布格局来看,0–50 m的尺度上,样地内枯立木主要呈现聚集分布,但在接近40 m的尺度上,逐渐变为随机分布。利用多元回归树(multivariate regression tree,MRT)将样地生境分为3类,运用Torus转换比较某类生境中枯立木密度与物种零分布模型中的期望密度,结果显示枯立木在山谷中分布较少,山脊较多,而在山坡生境则呈现随机分布。鉴定到种的枯立木有724株(8.1%),隶属于26科84种;其中,杜鹃花科、壳斗科和樟科枯立木最多。在物种水平上,多脉青冈(Cyclobalanopsis multinervis)、长蕊杜鹃(Rhododendron stamineum)和黄丹木姜子(Litsea elongata)枯立木最多;而优势树种亮叶水青冈(Fagus lucida)的枯立木并不多见。     

关帝山云杉次生林活立木和枯立木的数量特征与分布格局

本研究以山西关帝山庞泉沟自然保护区4 hm²云杉次生林样地2010年和2015年两次调查数据为基础,从物种组成、径级结构、空间格局,以及不同径级活立木与枯立木的空间关联性、枯立木不同径级间的相互关联性4个方面,分析5年间活立木与枯立木的数量特征、分布格局及相互关联性。结果表明: 样地内2010年胸径(DBH)≥1 cm的活立木共有25811株,隶属于11科22属30种,所有个体径级分布呈倒“L”型,个体数量随着径级增大呈断层式减少; 2010—2015年5年间形成枯立木共2145株,涉及5科10属12种,以5～10 cm径级分布为主。在0～50 m尺度上,活立木与枯立木在空间分布上具有一定相似性,表明枯立木的空间格局在一定程度上受活立木空间格局限制。各径级活立木与枯立木空间关联分析表明,随着样地内树木个体径级的增大,对空间资源竞争的加剧可能是导致枯立木产生的主要原因。随着枯立木径级的增大,活立木与枯立木的空间关联性不同程度的减弱,表明环境可能成为大径级枯立木形成的关键因素。从枯立木内部看,5 cm≤DBH<20 cm枯立木与DBH<5 cm枯立木、10 cm≤DBH<20 cm枯立木与5 cm≤DBH<10 cm枯立木、DBH≥20 cm枯立木与5 cm≤DBH<20 cm枯立木整体上都表现为显著正相关,说明枯立木会对后续活立木枯死产生影响。     

云冷杉天然次生林死木分布格局及空间关联性

为揭示天然次生林群落演替规律,以吉林省汪清林业局金沟岭林场的云冷杉天然次生林为对象,采用相邻网格法调查样地(100 m×100 m)内每株林木(DBH≥1 cm)的基本特征及坐标位置,研究死木的分布格局及空间关联性。结果表明: 死木的径级分布呈左偏单峰山状分布,其中枯倒木呈多峰山状分布;各树种的死木株数与该树种的总株数没有必然联系;树种死木株数与树种混交度之间存在显著负指数关系;死木主要在0～8 m尺度上呈聚集分布,随着尺度的增大,逐渐转变为随机分布或均匀分布,以随机分布为主;中(10 cm≤DBH＜20 cm)、小径级(1 cm≤DBH＜10 cm)死木在8 m以下的小尺度上的聚集分布是造成死木总体在小尺度上呈聚集分布的主要原因。不同径级死木与不同径级活立木的空间关联性差异较大,死木与幼树(1 cm≤DBH＜5 cm)的关系较为明显,尤其是大径级死木与幼树在2～25 m尺度上呈显著正关联性;死木与小树(5 cm≤DBH＜15 cm)没有明显的关联性;中、小径级死木与中树(15 cm≤DBH＜25 cm)在0～3 m尺度上呈正关联性,与大树(DBH≥25 cm)分别在9、11～14 m以及15、42～45 m尺度上呈负关联性。树种在生物学特性、径级分布和空间布局上的差异影响着死木的株数和径级分布;混交程度低的树种可能出现较多的死木;死木空间分布格局随林木径级和研究尺度的大小产生变化;死木与活立木的空间关联性在不同径级和不同尺度上呈现出明显差异。     

阔叶红松林大径级个体对树木空间分布的影响

对森林空间结构的研究一直是生态学重要研究内容之一,林分中大径级个体直接影响周围林分的空间格局,当大径级个体成为倒木或枯立木时会造成较大林隙,这也将导致周围空间格局发生变化。利用小兴安岭凉水自然保护区内10.4 hm2样地的调查数据,统计了样地内乔木树种组成,分析计算样地内树木个体间的分布规律,探究大径级个体对周围邻木空间分布的影响。研究结果表明:样地中共有乔木24种,共计7412株(去除分株),隶属于11科18属,林分中大径级个体周围存在由小径级树木聚集生长形成的环形结构,该环形结构随着邻木径级的变化而变化,2级邻木(5.0≤DBH10.0 cm)主要在距离大径级个体3—7m范围内形成环形结构,3级邻木(10.0≤DBH30.0 cm)主要在距离大径级个体3—6 m范围内形成环形结构,而1级邻木(1.0≤DBH5.0 cm)与4级邻木(30.0≤DBH50.0 cm)并未形成环形结构,经分析环形结构的产生与林分内个体间的竞争存在密切关系,并且该结构与林隙斑块动态理论间存在内在联系,该结构是森林动态变化的一种表现形式,会伴随林木的生长产生或消失。另外研究表明大径级个体胸径的变化对邻木的环形结构分布范围也有一定影响,当大径级个体胸径增加时邻木的聚集范围有收缩的趋势。本次实验采用单次获取的林木数据,对于环形结构随时间的变化情况还有待进一步探究。     

秦岭优势乔木锐齿槲栎的空间分布格局及种内关联

为探究锐齿槲栎种群的空间分布特征及关联性,本研究以秦岭皇冠暖温性落叶阔叶林25 hm²森林样地内优势树种锐齿槲栎为对象,采用成对相关函数g(r)对其空间格局及其种内关联性进行了研究。结果表明: 锐齿槲栎径级结构呈“双峰”型,幼树(1 cm≤胸径DBH＜5 cm)个体数较多,种群呈增长型结构,更新良好;中树(15 cm≤DBH＜25 cm)比大树(25 cm≤DBH＜35 cm)、老树(DBH≥35 cm)的个体数略多,但远少于幼树和小树(5 cm≤DBH＜15 cm)。锐齿槲栎空间分布具有明显的海拔依赖性,主要分布在中高海拔地区。完全空间随机零模型分析表明,各径级个体在＜60 m的大尺度范围聚集分布。使用异质泊松模型剔除生境异质性分析表明,各径级的个体转变为大尺度的随机分布,表明树种的分布明显受到生境变化的影响。在＜40 m的小尺度范围内,径级差距小的个体间的空间关联性为正关联,径级差距大的个体间的空间关联性转变为负关联和无关联;在＞40 m的大尺度范围内,大径级个体间的空间关联性为正关联,而幼树和其他径级个体间的空间关联性为负关联或无关联。锐齿槲栎自身生物学特性和环境异质性是种群空间格局形成的重要原因。     

长白山阔叶红松林树木短期死亡动态

树木死亡是森林群落动态的重要过程,是多种因素共同作用的结果.本文基于长白山阔叶红松林25 ha样地2004年和2009年两次调查数据,从物种组成、数量特征、径级结构和空间分布等方面分析了5年间样地中死亡树木的特征.结果表明:5年间样地DBH≥1 cm的独立个体树种数由52变为51,3个树种因权有的1个个体死亡而消失,新增2个树种;独立个体数从36,908变为34,926,死亡个体数为4,030,死亡个体数占2004年个体总数的10.9%,新增个体数为2,048,独立个体数净减少1,982;死亡量大的树种其新增量也较大,灌木树种的死亡量和新增量均多于乔木树种;有5个树种的平均胸径减小,44个树种平均胸径增加;从死亡个体的径级结构来看,小径级个体死亡较多,大径级个体死亡少,5 cm以下的死亡个体占总死亡量的81.5%,不同林层的优势树种死亡个体的径级分布与2004年该树种的径级分布基本相同;不同树种死亡个体的空间分布具有较大差异,不同林层的优势树种死亡个体空间格局主要以聚集分布为主,小径级死亡个体在小尺度呈聚集分布,在其他尺度呈随机分布,中径级和大径级死亡个体在各尺度上都呈不同程度的随机分布.     

黄龙山天然次生林辽东栎种群空间格局

种群的空间分布格局是研究种群特征、种间相互作用以及种群与环境关系的重要手段。为更好地了解黄龙山天然次生林内辽东栎(Quercus wutaishanica)的种群特征,在该林区中油松(Pinus tabulaeformis)-辽东栎-白桦(Betula platyphylla)天然次生混交林和辽东栎天然次生纯林内分别选取并设立1块1 hm2的样地。根据样地调查规范对两块样地中的乔木进行空间定位并进行每木调查。研究参照静态生命表,采用径阶替代年龄的方法,将辽东栎种群不同生长阶段的分段问题转换为根据胸径(DBH)的大小划分生长阶段。研究中将辽东栎划分为4个不同生长阶段:幼龄阶段A,3 cm≤DBH10 cm;中龄阶段B,10 cm≤DBH20 cm;近熟龄阶段C,20 cm≤DBH30 cm;成过熟龄阶段D,DBH≥30 cm。利用O-ring统计分析方法的手段,分析2块样地中辽东栎的种群空间分布格局。本次研究分别采用单变量、双变量分析方法分析各生长阶段的空间格局、不同生长阶段间相互关联性。结果表明:(1)辽东栎种群在两块样地内的径级结构均符合倒"J"型,从径级分布角度说明两块样地的天然更新状况都良好;(2)辽东栎的空间分布格局与尺度有密切关系,两块样地在大、中尺度水平上基本表现为随机分布,但是在较小尺度上均表现为聚集分布,在样地Ⅰ中0—6 m尺度上尤为突出;(3)同一样地内各生长阶段的空间分布格局不同,幼龄个体在小尺度均表现为聚集分布,在样地Ⅱ中0—11 m尺度上尤为突出;(4)样地中不同生长阶段间相互关联性也不尽相同,样地Ⅰ中各生长阶段间关联性均不明显;样地Ⅱ中,幼龄的个体与中龄的个体间在小尺度上表现出显著的正相关性,而与近熟个体和成、过熟个体在小尺度上表现为明显的负相关性。在2—5 m尺度上,中龄个体与成过熟个体也表现出一定的负相关性。辽东栎种群是黄龙山天然次生林重要的建群种之一,研究其不同生长阶段个体的空间分布规律有助于掌握黄龙山区辽东栎生长现状;研究不同生长阶段的空间关联性有利于深入了解其群落的发展趋势,并为对种群聚集性较大的区域开展结构化森林经营提供重要依据。     

小兴安岭阔叶红松林大径级个体对同种邻木分布的影响

利用小兴安岭凉水自然保护区内10.4 hm²样地的调查数据,统计并分析样地内乔木树种的组成与分布,借助混交度计算方法探究大径级个体周围同种邻木分布情况,并分析其产生的原因及大径级个体在其中发挥的作用,研究结果表明：（1）大径级个体（DBH ≥ 50.0 cm）与其周围5-6 m范围内的邻木的混交程度最低,易形成围绕大径级个体（以下简称中央木）的同种邻木环形结构,该环形结构在一定程度上推动着未来的森林演替与更新;（2）距离中央木15 m范围内的中小径级个体（1级木（1.0 cm ≤ DBH < 5.0 cm）、2级木（5.0 cm ≤ DBH < 10.0 cm）、3级木（10.0 cm ≤ DBH < 30.0 cm））与中央木均保持较高的混交程度,而4级木（30.0 cm ≤ DBH < 50.0 cm）、5级木（DBH ≥ 50.0 cm）与中央木的混交程度明显下降,以5级木最低,这种现象的产生与密度制约及物种共存机制存在密切关系。通过研究不同物种及不同生长阶段（不同径级）的林木分布,揭示了凉水地区阔叶红松林中大径级个体周围邻木分布格局特征及其成因,论证了大径级个体在控制周围林分结构、维持物种多样性及推动森林演替中的重要作用,为阔叶红松林的经营及管理提供了数据支撑。     

关帝山寒温性云杉次生林样地树种组成、结构和空间分布

云杉次生林是关帝山的优势森林植被类型,也是华北亚高山地区寒温性常绿针叶林的代表类型.为更好地了解其物种组成、群落结构等基本特征及其潜在的生态学过程和机制,于2010年在关帝山庞泉沟国家自然保护区建立了4 hm²的云杉次生林固定监测样地(GDS样地).本文以第一次本底调查数据为基础,分析了样地树种组成、结构和空间分布.结果表明: 样地共有木本植物30种,隶属于11科22属.包括分枝的总个体数为26218(其中独立个体数为10266).植物区系组成属北温带成分;不同树种个体数、平均胸径和胸高断面积差异较大,导致群落成层分明,各层优势种明显.乔木层第一亚层树种径级结构呈双峰偏正态分布,乔木层第二亚层树种径级呈近似正态分布,灌木层树种径级呈“L”型分布.乔木优势树种青杄和华北落叶松的空间分布无论在个体数量还是聚集程度上均随径级变化而呈现不同的格局特征.相同径级的两树种,胸径(DBH)≥30 cm的华北落叶松在样地居多且聚集分布于样地中部,而DBH≥30 cm的青杄则相对较少,没有表现出空间聚集性.DBH≤10 cm的华北落叶松个体很少且散生于样地,而DBH≤10 cm的青杄大量聚集于样地中部.DBH≤10 cm的青杄在样地偏西北区域也有大量分布,而DBH≤10 cm的红桦主要分布于样地偏东南区域.灰栒子、土庄绣线菊和四川忍冬等灌木树种也表现出一定的异质性空间分布特征.树种分布格局受生境条件影响,同时与自身发育规律、更新特征及生态习性等相关.     

广西弄岗五桠果叶木姜子群落木质藤本空间格局及其与树种间的关系

木质藤本是生物多样性的重要组成,木质藤本通过影响支持木进而影响群落的结构和功能,但在生物多样性丰富的北热带喀斯特森林中,木质藤本与支持木的关系鲜为人知。以喀斯特季节性雨林的五桠果叶木姜子（Litsea dilleniifolia）群落为研究对象,对木质藤本的密度、分布格局及其与主要树种的关系进行调查研究,分析木质藤本对树木的影响。结果显示：（1）五桠果叶木姜子群落内木质藤本平均密度为0.0913株/m²,木质藤本在0-20m空间尺度整体表现为聚集分布,且随着尺度增大,聚集强度逐渐减弱;不同径级木质藤本在不同尺度上的分布格局不同。（2）木质藤本对不同径级、不同种类、不同聚集强度的支持木选择表现以下体征：随着支持木径级增加,木质藤本攀附的比例和每木藤本数有增加趋势,且木质藤本胸径与支持木胸径呈极显著正相关;附藤率较高的支持木有紫葳科（Bignoniaceae）种类和东京桐（Deutzianthus tonkinensis）,单木附藤数量多的是南方紫金牛（Ardisia thyrsiflora）;物种的聚集强度与附藤率、附藤数量呈负相关。（3）木质藤本的密度与支持木死亡率关系不显著,而物种的附藤率与死亡率呈极显著负相关。以上结果表明,木质藤本密度在原生性喀斯特季节性雨林中并不高,且木质藤本对支持木具有选择性,但其对五桠果叶木姜子群落的死亡率并未产生显著影响。该研究可为喀斯特原生性季节性雨林的物种共存、极小植物种群保育提供理论依据,也可为石漠化区域的植被修复提供科学参考。     

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.     

弄岗北热带喀斯特季节性雨林15 ha监测样地的树种组成与空间分布

北热带喀斯特季节性雨林(northern tropical karst seasonal rain forest)是在我国热带北缘喀斯特地区分布的典型森林植被类型之一。由于富钙偏碱的地球化学背景及多样性的生境类型, 同时受季风气候影响, 该森林呈现群落结构多样、树种组成丰富、特有成分突出等特点。基于大型固定监测样地对该森林树种组成与空间分布进行的研究, 是探明该区域生物多样性形成与维持机制的基础。我们于2011年底建立了广西弄岗北热带喀斯特季节性雨林15 ha监测样地, 依照CTFS (Center for Tropical Forest Science)全球森林生物多样性监测规范, 定位并调查了样地内每一棵胸径≥1 cm的木本植物。结果表明: (1)样地内有监测树种223种, 隶属于56科157属; 独立个体总数为68,010株(含分枝为95,471株), 平均胸径为4.84 cm; (2)树种科、属的区系均以热带成分为主, 大戟科、马鞭草科、梧桐科等为优势科; (3)个体数最多的11个树种的个体数之和占到总个体数的51.64%, 前58个树种的占90.19%; 稀有种有75种, 占总树种数的33.63%; (4)群落结构稳定且更新良好, 主要优势种的径级结构均呈倒“J”形, 无明显断层; (5)树种分布在空间上表现出明显差异, 黄梨木(Boniodendron minus)等强耐旱型树种分布于山顶周围; 蚬木(Excentrodendron tonkinense)等树种分布于山坡中部; 对叶榕(Ficus hispida)等喜湿耐荫型树种分布于山谷周围; (6)胸径>20 cm的个体较多分布在山坡中下部, 极少分布在山顶周围; 胸径10–20 cm的个体较均匀分布于整个样地; 分枝和萌枝较多分布在山顶周围; (7)种–面积散点图在2–7 ha的取样面积下分化形成两条曲线, 表明了树种数量组成在空间上具有强烈异质性。研究初步认为: 强烈生境异质性及独特地质背景可能是影响该喀斯特森林物种组成及空间分布的重要因素。     

喀斯特季节性雨林木本植物胸高断面积分布格局及其对地形因子的响应

森林生态系统地上生物量的分布格局是物种分布格局的重要内容。局域尺度内因地形差异引起的生境异质性是地上生物量分布格局形成的环境基础。本文以弄岗北热带喀斯特季节性雨林15 ha动态监测样地2011年第一次普查数据中每木个体为研究对象, 尝试以每20 m × 20 m样方内所有个体及不同径级类群的胸高断面积之和为木本植物地上生物量的衡量指标, 利用广义可加模型对喀斯特季节性雨林中胸高断面积之和的空间分布格局进行研究, 定量分析了其对7个地形因子的响应。结果表明, 洼地、山坡和山脊3种生境类型中, 所有个体的胸高断面积之和山坡最高、山脊最低, 且山脊与山坡、洼地的差异均显著; 广义可加模型结果显示, 不同地形因子对胸高断面积之和的解释偏差差异明显, 其中海拔、坡向、凹凸度、岩石裸露率对胸高断面积之和的解释偏差依次降低, 而干旱度指数、坡度和地形湿润指数解释偏差相对较小。喀斯特季节性雨林木本植物胸高断面积之和空间分布的异质性及其与地形因子之间的关系, 反映了胸高断面积之和在地形因子对土壤、水分和光照等条件重分配影响下的多重响应机制及生长策略。     

喀斯特常绿落叶阔叶林死亡个体空间分布格局及生境关联

树木死亡在森林动态中发挥着重要作用, 环境因子是影响树木死亡的重要因素。为了阐明喀斯特常绿落叶阔叶林死亡个体空间分布格局及其与环境的相关性, 本研究以木论25 ha森林动态监测样地的两次木本植物调查数据为基础, 分析了死亡个体的物种组成、径级结构、分布格局及其与生境的关联。结果表明, 样地内共有死亡个体17,306株, 隶属57科130属194种; 其中, 死亡率排名前三的科和属分别为八角枫科、蔷薇科、大风子科以及山麻杆属(Alchornea)、火棘属(Pyracantha)、八角枫属(Alangium); 在物种水平上, 山麻杆(Alchornea trewioides)、毛桐(Mallotus barbatus)、野桐(Mallotus japonicus)等死亡率较高。样地内死亡个体的平均胸径为3.83 cm, 最大47.11 cm; 径级分布呈倒“J”型。从分布格局来看, 样地内大部分死亡个体在0-50 m的尺度上呈聚集分布, 部分大径级树木死亡个体趋向于随机分布。生境关联分析发现, 个体死亡率与山顶、陡坡、缓坡、洼地呈正关联的物种数分别为41种、13种、41种和38种, 呈负关联的物种数分别为38种、67种、33种和10种, 与各生境无关联的物种数分别为4种、3种、9种和35种; 多度排名前20的物种其个体死亡率均与4种生境类型呈现出正关联或者负关联; 不同径级个体死亡率都与山顶生境呈正关联, 与缓坡生境呈负关联, 其中5 cm ≤ DBH < 10 cm和10 cm ≤ DBH < 15 cm个体死亡率均与洼地生境呈正关联; DBH ≥ 15 cm个体死亡率与陡坡生境呈正关联, 与洼地生境呈负关联。在喀斯特亚热带常绿落叶阔叶林中, 死亡个体空间分布格局总体表现为聚集分布, 树木死亡受生境作用的影响较大。     

High Density of Tree-Cavities and Snags in Tropical Dry Forest of Western Mexico Raises Questions for a Latitudinal Gradient

It has been suggested that a latitudinal gradient exists of a low density of snags and high density of naturally-formed tree-cavities in tropical vs. temperate forests, though few cavities may have characteristics suitable for nesting by birds. We determined snag and cavity density, characteristics, and suitability for birds in a tropical dry forest biome of western Mexico, and evaluated whether our data fits the trend of snag and cavity density typically found in tropical moist and wet forests. We established five 0.25-ha transects to survey and measure tree-cavities and snags in each of three vegetation types of deciduous, semi-deciduous, and mono-dominant Piranhea mexicana forest, comprising a total of 3.75 ha. We found a high density of 77 cavities/ha, with 37 cavities suitable for birds/ha, where density, and characteristics of cavities varied significantly among vegetation types. Lowest abundance of cavities occurred in deciduous forest, and these were in smaller trees, at a lower height, and with a narrower entrance diameter. Only 8.6% of cavities were excavated by woodpeckers, and only 11% of cavities were occupied, mainly by arthropods, though 52% of all cavities were unsuitable for birds. We also found a high density of 56 snags/ha, with greatest density in deciduous forest (70 snags/ha), though these were of significantly smaller diameter, and snags of larger diameter were more likely to contain cavities. The Chamela-Cuixmala tropical dry forest had the highest density of snags recorded for any tropical or temperate forest, and while snag density was significantly correlated with mean snag dbh, neither latitude nor mean dbh predicted snag density in ten forest sites. The high spatial aggregation of snag and cavity resources in tropical dry forest may limit their availability, particularly for large-bodied cavity adopters, and highlights the importance of habitat heterogeneity in providing resources for primary and secondary cavity-nesters.     

Diversity of climbing seed plants and their reproductive habit in a karst seasonal rain forest in Nonggang,Guangxi, China

Aims Diversity of climbing seed plants and their reproductive habits and characteristics are central for the understanding of community structure and dynamics of forests and hence are important for forest protection. However, little is known about the climbing seed plants in northern tropical karst seasonal rain forests. Here, using the data of the species diversity and reproductive habits of climbing seed plants in Nonggang, Guangxi, China, we aim to 1) explore the species diversity and distribution of climbing seed plants in northern tropical karst seasonal rain forests, 2) study the flowering and fruiting phenology and 3) the associations of reproductive characteristics to the environment. Methods Species composition, preferred habitat, flowering time, fruiting time and fruit types of climbing seed plants were surveyed. The seasonality of flowering and fruiting were analyzed by concentration ratio and circular distribution. Climbing seed plants were divided into three groups according to their growth forms and places in spatial forest structure: bush ropes, herbaceous vines and lianas. Monthly flowering ratios, fruiting ratios, fruit types and their ratios in different groups were determined. These relationships of flowering ratio, fruiting ratio, fruit type and its ratio to meteorological factors were investigated using Pearson correlation analysis. Important findings There were a total of 333 species of climbing seed plants in Nonggang karst seasonal rain forest, belonging to 145 genera and 56 families. Bush ropes, herbaceous vines and lianas contained 119, 88 and 126 species, respectively. At species level, herbaceous vines were more abundance in valleys, while bush ropes and lianas were more abundance on slopes. Flowering and fruiting of climbing seed plants occurred seasonally, with flowering peaking in April to September, while fruiting peaking in July to December. The seasonality of flowering and fruiting in bush ropes was weaker than in herbaceous vines and lianas. Flowering ratio was significantly positively correlated with rainfall and air temperature, which suggest that flowering peaks in monsoon season. Peak time for fruiting was about three months later than the peak time of flowering, around the end of monsoon season. The ratio of samara species to all fruiting species in lianas was significantly positively correlated with wind speed, but negatively correlated with rainfall and air temperature. It showed that samara in lianas tended to occur in dry season with high wind speed. In conclusion, species diversity and the seasonal features of reproduction of climbing seed plants in Nonggang karst seasonal rain forest were closely related to the spatial and temporal variations of habitat resources.     

Species–area relationships and biodiversity loss in fragmented landscapes

To estimate species loss from habitat destruction, ecologists typically use species–area relationships, but this approach neglects the spatial pattern of habitat fragmentation. Here, we provide new, easily applied, analytical methods that place upper and lower bounds on immediate species loss at any spatial scale and for any spatial pattern of habitat loss. Our formulas are expressed in terms of what we name the ‘Preston function’, which describes triphasic species–area relationships for contiguous regions. We apply our method to case studies of deforestation and tropical tree species loss at three different scales: a 50 ha forest plot in Panama, the tropical city‐state of Singapore and the Brazilian Amazon. Our results show that immediate species loss is somewhat insensitive to fragmentation pattern at small scales but highly sensitive at larger scales: predicted species loss in the Amazon varies by a factor of 16 across different spatial structures of habitat loss.     

Aggregated spatial distributions of species in a subtropical karst forest,southwestern China

Aims Spatial distribution patterns of species reflect not only the ecological processes but also the habitat features that are related to species distribution. In karst topography, species distribution patterns provide more specific information about their environments. The objectives of this study are as follows: (i) to analyse and explain the spatial distribution patterns of conspecific trees in an old-growth subtropical karst forest; (ii) to investigate pattern changes at different spatial scales; (iii) to test the spatial pattern similarity (or dissimilarity) between trees at different abundances, diameter at breast height classes, canopy layers and different functional groups (shade tolerance and seed dispersal mode); (iv) to examine whether habitat heterogeneity has an important effect on the species spatial distribution.Methods The spatial distributions of woody species with ≥20 individuals in a 1-ha subtropical karst forest plot at Maolan in southwestern China were quantified using the relative neighbourhood density Ω based on the average density of conspecific species in a circular neighbourhood around each species.Important findings Aggregated distribution is the dominant pattern in the karst forest, but the ratio of aggregated species in total species number decreases with an increase in spatial scale. Less abundant species are more aggregated than most abundant species. Aggregation is weaker in larger diameter classes, which is consistent with the prediction of self-thinning. Seed dispersal mode influences spatial patterns, with species dispersed by animals being less aggregated than those dispersed by wind and gravity. Other species functional traits (e.g. shade tolerance) also influence the species spatial distributions. Moreover, differences among species habitat associations, e.g. with rocky outcrops, play a significant role in species spatial distributions. These results indicate that habitat heterogeneity, seed dispersal limitation and self-thinning primarily contribute to the species spatial distributions in this subtropical karst forest.     

Influence of snag characteristics on saproxylic beetle assemblages in a south Swedish beech forest

Effects of snag characteristics on saproxylic beetles were studied in an area of managed beech forest in southern Sweden. A snag survey was combined with a beetle survey using 30 small window traps directly attached to beech snags. The total number of species was lower in the snags which were most decayed than in the three younger decay classes, while the number of red-listed species remained the same regardless of the stage of decay. The number of fresh wood species declined and the number of rot hole species increased with increasing snag decay. The diversity of fungicolous and decayed wood species peaked at the intermediate stage of decay in the snags. CCA ordination confirmed that the stage of decay in the snags was most important for species composition, followed by sun exposure. There were no general differences in species density and composition between managed and unmanaged stands. Our study suggests that most species are able to find suitable habitat within a radius of a few kilometres and that the total amount of habitat in an unfragmented forest area is more important for species diversity than the spatial distribution of this habitat. Our data also shows that species diversity increases with habitat diversity. Snags formed from giant beech trees seem to be particularly important for rare species living in rot holes. We conclude that for a high species diversity there is a requirement for snags in different stages of decay, size and degree of sun exposure.