Phylogenetic structure and phylogenetic diversity of angiosperm assemblages in forests along an elevational gradient in Changbaishan,China

Aims Understanding what drives the variation in species composition and diversity among local communities can provide insights into the mechanisms of community assembly. Because ecological traits are often thought to be phylogenetically conserved, there should be patterns in phylogenetic structure and phylogenetic diversity in local communities along ecological gradients. We investigate potential patterns in angiosperm assemblages along an elevational gradient with a steep ecological gradient in Changbaishan, China.Methods We used 13 angiosperm assemblages in forest plots (32×32 m) distributed along an elevational gradient from 720 to 1900 m above sea level. We used Faith's phylogenetic diversity metric to quantify the phylogenetic alpha diversity of each forest plot, used the net relatedness index to quantify the degree of phylogenetic relatedness among angiosperm species within each forest plot and used a phylogenetic dissimilarity index to quantify phylogenetic beta diversity among forest plots. We related the measures of phylogenetic structure and phylogenetic diversity to environmental (climatic and edaphic) factors.Important findings Our study showed that angiosperm assemblages tended to be more phylogenetically clustered at higher elevations in Changbaishan. This finding is consistent with the prediction of the phylogenetic niche conservatism hypothesis, which highlights the role of niche constraints in governing the phylogenetic structure of assemblages. Our study also showed that woody assemblages differ from herbaceous assemblages in several major aspects. First, phylogenetic clustering dominated in woody assemblages, whereas phylogenetic overdispersion dominated in herbaceous assemblages; second, patterns in phylogenetic relatedness along the elevational and temperature gradients of Changbaishan were stronger for woody assemblages than for herbaceous assemblages; third, environmental variables explained much more variations in phylogenetic relatedness, phylogenetic alpha diversity and phylogenetic beta diversity for woody assemblages than for herbaceous assemblages.     

山西关帝山森林群落物种、谱系和功能多样性海拔格局

探索和揭示生物多样性的空间格局和维持机制是生态学和生物地理学研究的热点内容, 但综合物种、系统进化和功能属性等方面的多样性海拔格局研究很少。该文以关帝山森林群落为研究对象, 综合物种、谱系和功能α和β多样性指数, 旨在初步探讨关帝山森林群落多样性海拔格局及其维持机制。研究结果表明: 随着海拔的升高(1 409-2 150 m), 关帝山森林群落物种丰富度指数(S)、谱系多样性指数(PD)和功能丰富度指数(FRic)整体上表现出上升的趋势, 特别是海拔1 800 m以上区域。随着海拔的升高, 总β多样性(β_total)和更替(β_repl)上升趋势明显, 而丰富度差异(β_rich)则逐渐下降。不同生活型植物的物种、谱系和功能多样性海拔格局差异较大。随着海拔的升高, 草本植物S和物种多样性指数(H′)上升趋势高于木本植物。影响草本植物S分布的主要因素是地形因子, 而影响木本植物S分布的主要因素是历史过程。随着海拔的升高, 木本植物β_total上升趋势要比草本植物明显。随着海拔的升高, 木本植物β_repl和β_rich分别表现出单峰格局和“U”形格局, 而草本植物β_repl和β_rich则分别表现出单调递增和单调递减的格局。随着环境差异和地理距离的增加, 群落间物种、谱系和功能β多样性显著增加。环境差异(环境过滤)对木本植物的β多样性具有相对较强的作用; 而环境差异(环境过滤)和地理距离(扩散限制)共同作用于草本植物的β多样性。     

Altitudinal biodiversity patterns of seed plants along Gongga Mountain in the southeastern Qinghai–Tibetan Plateau

The mechanisms underlying elevation patterns in species and phylogenetic diversity remain a central issue in ecology and are vital for effective biodiversity conservation in the mountains. Gongga Mountain, located in the southeastern Qinghai–Tibetan Plateau, represents one of the longest elevational gradients (ca. 6,500 m, from ca. 1,000 to 7,556 m) in the world for studying species diversity patterns. However, the elevational gradient and conservation of plant species diversity and phylogenetic diversity in this mountain remain poorly studied. Here, we compiled the elevational distributions of 2,667 native seed plant species occurring in Gongga Mountain, and estimated the species diversity, phylogenetic diversity, species density, and phylogenetic relatedness across ten elevation belts and five vegetation zones. The results indicated that species diversity and phylogenetic diversity of all seed plants showed a hump‐shaped pattern, peaking at 1,800–2,200 m. Species diversity was significantly correlated with phylogenetic diversity and species density. The floras in temperate coniferous broad‐leaved mixed forests, subalpine coniferous forests, and alpine shrublands and meadows were significantly phylogenetically clustered, whereas the floras in evergreen broad‐leaved forests had phylogenetically random structure. Both climate and human pressure had strong correlation with species diversity, phylogenetic diversity, and phylogenetic structure of seed plants. Our results suggest that the evergreen broad‐leaved forests and coniferous broad‐leaved mixed forests at low to mid elevations deserve more conservation efforts. This study improves our understanding on the elevational gradients of species and phylogenetic diversity and their determinants and provides support for improvement of seed plant conservation in Gongga Mountain.     

沿海拔梯度变化的哀牢山亚热带森林群落系统发育结构

为揭示森林群落系统发育结构在海拔梯度上的变化及其驱动因素, 本研究以云南哀牢山西坡的亚热带森林群落为研究对象, 以APG III系统为基础框架, 结合DNA条形码序列信息解决末端分类单元亲缘关系的方法, 构建了哀牢山森林群落系统发育进化树, 采用净亲缘指数(net relatedness index, NRI)和最近亲缘指数(nearest taxon index, NTI), 探讨了不同植被类型的森林群落系统发育结构和沿海拔梯度的变化规律。结果表明, 从整体的海拔变化趋势上来看, 哀牢山森林群落系统发育结构随海拔上升由系统发育聚集(phylogenetic clustering)走向发散(phylogenetic overdispersion)或聚集程度降低。在低海拔地区, 群落表现为系统发育聚集, 表明生态位理论中的生境过滤作用在群落构建和生物多样性的维持中起着主导作用; 在中海拔地区, 出现了聚集与发散两种群落系统发育结构并存的现象, 推测可能是生境过滤和竞争排斥两种生态过程共同作用的结果; 在高海拔地区, 群落的系统发育结构因选择的指数不同而出现相反的结果, NRI表现出系统发育聚集, 而NTI却表现为随机或发散, 考虑到高海拔地区的环境胁迫可能促使植物发生趋同进化, 推测其群落构建的生态学过程需要更为综合的研究。本研究揭示群落系统发育结构沿海拔梯度确实存在显著的变化, 证明在生态群落的构建过程中非随机过程起到促进乃至关键作用。     

华北区域环境梯度上阔叶林构建模式及分布成因

森林群落的构建即多样性维持机制是当今生态学研究的热点问题。然而, 当前群落构建和群落多样性的研究多在间接梯度上进行, 而在水、热等影响物种在区域内定植的关键且直接的环境梯度上研究群落构建和多样性模式则鲜有报道。结合环境因子, 基于物种组成和谱系方法探讨不同群落的分布成因, 有助于解释群落构建过程中的关键问题。该研究基于华北森林群落调查数据和环境数据, 涉及7个省市区的29个以壳斗科、桦木科为优势种的群落, 探讨了直接环境梯度上的群落构建和多样性模式, 同时用典范对应分析研究了不同群落分布的环境解释。结果发现, 相似的群落具有相似的生境偏好, 相似的生境条件会形成物种组成相同或相似的群落。环境热量主导了本区域的谱系关系, 在年平均气温较低的地区, 群落构建主要表现为生境过滤的模式。此外, 随着年降水量的增加, 生境过滤作用逐渐增加。在温度梯度上, 谱系多样性表现为钟形模式, 而降水量的增加能导致谱系多样性的增加。     

Exploring the community assembly of subalpine meadow communities based on functional traits and community phylogeny

Aims The community assembly has been a prominent issue in community ecology. This work was intended to explore the mechanisms of the species coexistence and biodiversity in communities. Our objective was to explore the mechanisms of community assembly in subalpine meadow plant communities along slope gradients in Gannan Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture, Gansu Province, Northwest China.Methods We selected five slope-oriented plots to construct a super-tree representing the species pool. We surveyed the leaf functional traits and soil environmental factors in different slopes. Then we tested the phylogenetic signal of leaf dry matter content (LDMC), specific leaf area (SLA), leaf nitrogen content (LNC) and leaf phosphorus content (LPC).Important findings The changes of slope aspect had significant influence on soil water content (SWC) and soil nutrient content. Most of the plants leaf functional traits had significant difference along different slope aspects. The LDMC was higher in south and southwest slope than north slope, while SLA, LNC and LPC were relatively high in north and northwest slope. The LPC showed feeble phylogenetic signal, while LDMC, SLA, LNC did not have a significant phylogenetic signal. With changes in the slope aspect from south to north, community phylogenetic structure shifted from over-dispersion to clustered dispersion. In south and southwest slope, habitat filtering was the driving force for community assembly. Interspecific competition was the main driving factor for community assembly in north and northwest slope aspects. But in west slope, two indices showed contrary consequence. This means the process of community assembly in west slope was more complicated and its phylogenetic index may be the result of several mechanisms working together.     

太白山森林样地系统发育多样性格局及其影响因素

太白山森林样地系统发育多样性格局及其影响因素 系统发育多样性指数常被用作区分植物群落构建过程中生态和演化过程的相对作用。系统发育多样性格局的推断方法(如系统树的构建和不同的系统发育多样性指数)、演化历史(如生活型)以及环境梯度都可能影响系统发育多样性格局的估计值,进而可能影响我们对植物群落构建过程的认知。因此,有必要区分这些因素如何作用于系统发育多样性格局的估计值,但其相对重要性及其交互作用仍不清楚。本研究利用位于太白山北坡沿海拔分布的20个森林样地(整体高差2800 m左右)的野外调查数据,包括274种木本植物和581种草本植物。对于上述样地内所有植物,我们构建了当前广泛采用的合成树和分子树以比较系统树的构建,特别是合成树末端的多歧分支结构,及其对系统发育多样性格局估计值的可能影响。同时,我们计算了每个样地的3种不同的系统发育多样性指数,包括Faith’s PD, 平均成对距离(MPD)和平均最近类群距离(MNTD),并分别对木本和草本植物进行计算。多模型比较分析系统发育多样性格局的估计值与系统树重建方法、多样性指数、生活型、海拔及其交互作用的最简约关系。研究结果表明,基于合成树和分子树所得到的系统发育多样性格局之间没有显著差异。海拔和多样性指数与生活型在解释系统发育多样性格局方面存在强烈的交互作用,并且能够解释44%以上的变异。系统发育多样性格局的估计值总体随海拔升高而降低,但草本植物相比木本植物变化更平缓。对于木本植物,3种系统发育多样性指数表现出一致的海拔分布格局(即系统发育聚集),而草本植物的平均成对距离指数则表现为随机的海拔分布格局。因此,分析沿环境梯度的系统发育多样性格局需要考虑系统发育格局的推断方法和演化历史的影响,以帮助我们更好地理解植物群落的构建过程。     

Distribution and species diversity patterns of Vitex negundo var. heterophylla shrublands in North China

生境差异是影响植物群落及其物种多样性分布格局的重要因素。该研究基于370个荆条(Vitex negundo var. heterophylla)灌丛的野外调查样方, 结合多元回归树(MRT)、显著性分析、Pearson相关分析等技术手段, 分析了华北地区荆条灌丛及其物种多样性的空间分布格局。结果表明: 荆条灌丛的经纬度均跨越10°以上, 可分为高、中、低纬度分布区; 分布海拔则从117 m至1 248 m跨越了1 000 m以上, 也可分为高、中、低海拔分布区。所有分布区中荆条灌丛草本层的Shannon-Wiener指数、Simpson指数和均匀度指数均高于灌木层。灌木层物种多样性随着纬度的降低而降低, 随着海拔的升高而降低; 草本层相反, 物种多样性随着纬度降低而升高, 随着海拔升高而升高。灌木层和草本层的物种丰富度(Shannon-Wiener指数)与水、热、地形等环境因子显著相关, 其中灌木层物种多样性随着气温、坡位升高而显著减少, 随着降水的增加而显著增加;草本层则相反。     

Turnover of plant lineages shapes herbivore phylogenetic beta diversity along ecological gradients

Understanding drivers of biodiversity patterns is of prime importance in this era of severe environmental crisis. More diverse plant communities have been postulated to represent a larger functional trait‐space, more likely to sustain a diverse assembly of herbivore species. Here, we expand this hypothesis to integrate environmental, functional and phylogenetic variation of plant communities as factors explaining the diversity of lepidopteran assemblages along elevation gradients in the Swiss Western Alps. According to expectations, we found that the association between butterflies and their host plants is highly phylogenetically structured. Multiple regression analyses showed the combined effect of climate, functional traits and phylogenetic diversity in structuring butterfly communities. Furthermore, we provide the first evidence that plant phylogenetic beta diversity is the major driver explaining butterfly phylogenetic beta diversity. Along ecological gradients, the bottom up control of herbivore diversity is thus driven by phylogenetically structured turnover of plant traits as well as environmental variables.     

Elevational filtering and the evolution of planthoppers (Hemiptera,Fulgoromorpha) in Papua New Guinea

Along elevational gradients, phylogenetic relatedness patterns constitute a considerable source of information and may shed light on ecological processes that structure communities. This study focuses on community phylogenetic structure of planthoppers, specifically the species-rich and abundant Fulgoromorpha families (Hemiptera, Auchenorrhyncha), Cixiidae and Derbidae + Achilidae, along an elevational gradient on Mount Wilhelm (Papua New Guinea). In order to assess the factors driving planthoppers community composition, we recorded abundance data for planthoppers species at each elevation and we generated a molecular phylogeny of the local species, using Bayesian inference. We analyzed 168 individuals representing 59 local morphospecies. Using a fully resolved and well-supported phylogeny, we then investigated the phylogenetic structure of the communities by performing a Spatial Analysis of Community Diversity. We show that Cixiidae are phylogenetically clustered along the elevational gradient, whereas Derbidae + Achilidae harbor a random structure, suggesting that local adaptation to elevation shapes community structure of Cixiidae, but not that of Derbidae + Achilidae. Our findings highlight the importance of phylogenies in the study of tropical elevational gradients.     

Multi-scale phylogenetic structure in coastal dune plant communities across the globe

Aims Studies integrating phylogenetic history and large-scale community assembly are few, and many questions remain unanswered. Here, we use a global coastal dune plant data set to uncover the important factors in community assembly across scales from the local filtering processes to the global long-term diversification and dispersal dynamics. Coastal dune plant communities occur worldwide under a wide range of climatic and geologic conditions as well as in all biogeographic regions. However, global patterns in the phylogenetic composition of coastal dune plant communities have not previously been studied.Methods The data set comprised vegetation data from 18463 plots in New Zealand, South Africa, South America, North America and Europe. The phylogenetic tree comprised 2241 plant species from 149 families. We calculated phylogenetic clustering (Net Relatedness Index, NRI, and Nearest Taxon Index, NTI) of regional dune floras to estimate the amount of in situ diversification relative to the global dune species pool and evaluated the relative importance of land and climate barriers for these diversification patterns by geographic analyses of phylogenetic similarity. We then tested whether dune plant communities exhibit similar patterns of phylogenetic structure within regions. Finally, we calculated NRI for local communities relative to the regional species pool and tested for an association with functional traits (plant height and seed mass) thought to vary along sea–inland gradients.Important findings Regional species pools were phylogenetically clustered relative to the global pool, indicating regional diversification. NTI showed stronger clustering than NRI pointing to the importance of especially recent diversifications within regions. The species pools grouped phylogenetically into two clusters on either side of the tropics suggesting greater dispersal rates within hemispheres than between hemispheres. Local NRI plot values confirmed that most communities were also phylogenetically clustered within regions. NRI values decreased with increasing plant height and seed mass, indicating greater phylogenetic clustering in communities with short maximum height and good dispersers prone to wind and tidal disturbance as well as salt spray, consistent with environmental filtering along sea–inland gradients. Height and seed mass both showed significant phylogenetic signal, and NRI tended to correlate negatively with both at the plot level. Low NRI plots tended to represent coastal scrub and forest, whereas high NRI plots tended to represent herb-dominated vegetation. We conclude that regional diversification processes play a role in dune plant community assembly, with convergence in local phylogenetic community structure and local variation in community structure probably reflecting consistent coastal-inland gradients. Our study contributes to a better understanding of the globally distributed dynamic coastal ecosystems and the structuring factors working on dune plant communities across spatial scales and regions.     

Climatic correlates of phylogenetic relatedness of woody angiosperms in forest communities along a tropical elevational gradient in South America

Aims This study assesses the relationship between phylogenetic relatedness of angiosperm tree species and climatic variables in local forests distributed along a tropical elevational gradient in South America. In particular, this paper addresses two questions: Is phylogenetic relatedness of plant species in communities related to temperature variables more strongly than to water variables for tropical elevational gradients? Is phylogenetic relatedness of plant species in communities driven by extreme climatic conditions (e.g. minimum temperature (MT) and water deficit) more strongly than by climatic seasonal variability (e.g. temperature seasonality and precipitation seasonality)?Methods I used a set of 34 angiosperm woody plant assemblages along an elevational gradient in the Andes within less than 5 degrees of the equator. Phylogenetic relatedness was quantified as net relatedness index (NRI) and nearest taxon index (NTI) and was related to major climatic variables. Correlation analysis and structure equation modeling approach were used to assess the relationships between phylogenetic relatedness and climatic variables.Important findings Phylogenetic relatedness of angiosperm woody species in the local forest communities is more strongly associated with temperature-related variables than with water-related variables, is positively correlated with mean annual temperature (MAT) and MT, and is related with extreme cold temperature more strongly than with seasonal temperature variability. NTI was related with elevation, MAT and MT more strongly than was NRI. Niche convergence, rather than niche conservatism, has played a primary role in driving community assembly in local forests along the tropical elevational gradient examined. Negative correlations of phylogenetic relatedness with elevation and higher correlations of phylogenetic relatedness with elevation and temperature for NTI than for NRI indicate that evolution of cold tolerance at high elevations in tropical regions primarily occurred at recent (terminal) phylogenetic nodes widely distributed among major clades.     

Effects of exotic-native species relationship on naturalization and invasion of exotic plant species

达尔文归化难题描述了外来种-本地种亲缘关系促进(预适应假说)或阻止(达尔文归化假说)外来种成功入侵的悖论。目前, 在中国仍缺少针对达尔文归化难题的研究。为系统研究外来种-本地种亲缘关系对中国外来植物入侵的影响, 该文利用线性混合效应模型从省级、市级和群落3个空间尺度以及归化、扩散和入侵3个阶段探究了外来种-本地种谱系距离和外来植物表现的关系。结果表明: 在省级和市级(区域)尺度上, 与本地种亲缘关系较近的外来植物更有可能在当地归化和扩散, 符合预适应假说的预期; 而在群落(局域)尺度上, 外来种-本地种亲缘距离与外来种是否在群落中成功定居及其入侵程度无关。该研究结果表明与本地区系亲缘较近的外来种和本地种的竞争并不强烈, 却能较好地适应本地气候环境而具有更强的归化和入侵潜力。因此, 在今后的外来植物管理和治理中需要尤其重视与本地区系亲缘关系较近的外来植物。     

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.     

入侵植物加拿大一枝黄花根际解钾菌多样性及解钾活性

入侵植物加拿大一枝黄花(Solidago canadensis)具有较强的钾(K)富集能力, 这可能和其对土壤微生物群落的改变有关。根际解钾菌能够将植物难以利用的矿物态钾转化为植物可以利用的可溶性钾, 而加拿大一枝黄花如何影响根际解钾菌多样性和解钾活性尚未明了。该研究以浙江省杭州湾湿地围垦区内自然生长的加拿大一枝黄花和其伴生本地植物白茅(Imperata cylindrica)为研究对象, 比较了加拿大一枝黄花和白茅体内及土壤中的钾含量水平, 钾供给水平对生物量积累的影响, 以及根际解钾菌的数量、多样性和解钾活性的差异。结果表明, 加拿大一枝黄花茎、叶中的钾含量均显著高于白茅, 分别是白茅的1.59和7.33倍; 加拿大一枝黄花和白茅的土壤全钾含量差异不显著, 速效钾含量在0-10 cm土层中差异显著、在10-20 cm土层中差异不显著。随着钾供应水平提高, 加拿大一枝黄花和白茅的生物量均显著增加。利用解钾培养基计数培养后发现, 加拿大一枝黄花根际解钾菌的数量是白茅的3.51倍。分离培养后将出现解钾圈的菌株进行鉴定, 利用解钾液体培养实验测定其解钾量, 发现从加拿大一枝黄花根际土中分离得到的15个解钾菌株中, 有9个具有高效解钾能力, 其处理液中K ⁺含量较空白对照高出85.11%-192.54%, 其中菌株H2-20解钾能力最强, 解钾量为10.657 mg·L ^-1。加拿大一枝黄花根际解钾菌解钾作用显著高于白茅。经16S rDNA鉴定发现, 加拿大一枝黄花15个根际解钾菌株分属11个属, 其中有6个属已经被报道证实具有明显解钾能力。这些结果表明加拿大一枝黄花根际解钾菌数量较为丰富, 且大多具有较高解钾活性, 可能对其钾富集具有重要贡献。     

Community characteristics and spatial distribution of dominant tree species in a deciduous broad-leaved forest of Muzhaling,Henan, China

Aims The objective of this paper is to quantify the species composition and spatial distribution pattern in a deciduous broad-leaved forest in temperate to subtropical ecological transition zone.
Methods In this study, a 3-hm² forest was selected in the temperate to subtropical ecological transition zone to analyze the community species composition, structure of diameter at breast height, community classification and spatial distribution pattern of dominant tree species.
Important findings Our results showed that in the plot there were 85 species, 52 genera and 31 families, mainly composed of Betulaceae, Celastraceae, Caprifoliaceae, Salicaceae and Aceraceae. Quercus aliena var. acuteserrata and Pinus armandii are dominant species of the community tree layer. The rare species and occasional species accounted for 20.0% and 28.24% of total species respectively. Size distribution of all species showed an invert J-shape, which indicates that the community is in a stable and normal growth status. Using multiple regression trees, the community in this plot can be divided into four categories: 1) Quercus aliena var. acuteserrata + Pinus armandii + Litsea tsinlingensis + Cerasus clarofolia + Lindera obtusiloba; 2) Quercus aliena var. acuteserrata + Salix chaenomeloides + Sorbus hupehensis; 3) Quercus aliena var. acuteserrata + Ailanthus altissima + Cerasus clarofolia + Litsea tsinlingensis; 4) Quercus aliena var. acuteserrata + Fraxinus chinensis + Litsea tsinlingensis + Philadelphus incanus. Under the completely random distribution model, the main species in the plot display clustered distributions, with the different species occurring in different habitat types, showing obvious terrain habitat preferences. However, under the heterogeneous Poisson distribution model, these species at different scales are distributed randomly or regularly. This study helps to understand the plant community species composition of the Muzhaling World Geopark, community structure and community distribution. The results show that the terrain habitat heterogeneity is an important factor influencing the spatial distribution of the species. The present work improves the understanding of plant community in Muzhaling World Geopark, and provides technical reference for biodiversity conservation and forest management of this area.     

戴云山物种多样性与系统发育多样性海拔梯度分布格局及驱动因子

生物多样性的海拔分布格局是生态学研究的热点。海拔作为综合性因子驱动着植物群落的物种、系统发育与功能多样性的空间分布。以戴云山南坡900-1600 m森林植物群落为研究对象,探讨物种多样性、系统发育指数与环境驱动因子的相互关系以及环境因子在群落构建与多样性维持中的重要意义。结果表明：（1）森林植物群落的系统发育多样性与物种多样性沿海拔均呈现中间高度膨胀格局。（2）物种多样性Margalef指数、Shannon-Wiener指数与系统发育多样性指数呈显著正相关,表明物种多样性越高,系统发育多样性也越高。Shannon-Wiener指数与物种多样性指数（Margalef、Pielou、Simpson指数）、系统发育多样性及系统发育结构都存在显著相关性,一定程度上Shannon-Wiener指数可以代替其他指数。Pielou指数、Simpson指数、Shannon-Wiener指数与系统发育结构NRI （Net relatedness index）指数、NTI （Net nearest taxa index）指数存在显著正相关,表明群落优势度、均匀度与系统发育结构相关性较强。（3）土壤全磷含量是影响系统发育多样性和物种多样性的主要驱动因子,土壤含水量是影响Shannon-Wiener、Pielou、Simpson指数的最显著因子,海拔是影响群落系统发育结构的主要因素。海拔是影响系统发育结构变化的主要环境因子,而土壤因子是影响物种多样性与系统发育多样性的主要因素,进一步验证了物种多样性与系统发育多样性的高度相关,结果旨在揭示物种群落空间分布规律。     

Phylogenetic diversity,trait diversity and niches: species assembly of ferns along a tropical elevational gradient

Aim To analyse the structure of pteridophyte assemblages, based on phylogenetic relatedness and trait properties, along an elevational gradient. Ecological theory predicts that co‐occurring species may be: randomly selected from a regional pool; ecologically sorted so that they are functionally different hence resulting in reduced competition (overdispersion); or functionally similar as an adaptation to specific ecological conditions (clustering). Location Braulio Carrillo National Park and Cerro de la Muerte, Costa Rica, Central America. Methods We used an empirical dataset of the quantitative pattern of species occurrences and individual numbers of ferns within 156 plots along a tropical elevational gradient to test whether directed ecological sorting might cause deviations in patterns of trait and phylogenetic diversity. Mean pairwise distances of species based on phylogenetic and trait properties were compared with two different sets of null assemblages, one maintaining species frequency distributions (constrained) and one not (unconstrained). Results Applying different null models resulted in varying degrees of overdispersion and clustering, but overall patterns of deviation from random expectations remained the same. Contrary to theoretical predictions, phylogenetic and trait diversity were relatively independent from one another. Phylogenetic diversity showed no patterns along the elevational gradient, whereas trait diversity showed significant trends for epiphytes. Main conclusions Under stressful environmental conditions (drought at low elevations and frost at high elevations), epiphytic fern assemblages tended to be clustered with respect to trait characteristics, which suggests environmental filtering. Conversely, under less extreme environmental conditions (middle of the transect), the sorting was biased towards high differentiation (overdispersion), presumably because of interspecific competition and trait shifts among closely related species (character displacement).     

Impacts of nitrogen addition on foliar nitrogen and phosphorus stoichiometry in a subtropical evergreen broad-leaved forest in Mount Wuyi

Aims Our purpose was to explore the effects of nitrogen addition on foliar nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P) and N:P stoichiometry and to assess their differences among different species and functional groups.
Methods N addition experiment has been conducted in a subtropical evergreen broad-leaved forest in Mount Wuyi, Fujian Province since 2011. Foliar concentrations of nitrogen and phosphorus were measured and foliar stoichiometry was estimated in tree, shrub, herb, fern and moss species following the N addition treatments from 2013 to 2015.
Important findings Generally, foliar N increased for almost all species and herbaceous plants are much more sensitive than trees and shrubs under N addition. Foliar N of Castanopsis carlesii, Amomum villosum, Woodwardia japonica increased significantly under N addition. Foliar P for most species was sensitive to the N addition. Foliar P of herbaceous plants increased significantly but foliar P of Leucobryum chlorophyllosum decreased significantly. The results showed the subtropical evergreen forest in Mount Wuyi was mainly limited by P and mean foliar N:P ratios enhanced from 18.67 to 19.72 under N addition, indicating that the strength of P limitation was enhanced by N addition. N:P ratios of the dominant arboreal species in the communities tended to be stable, while N:P ratios of herbaceous plants and shrubs increased. The changes in N:P ratios were mainly determined by P dynamics instead of N dynamics under N addition, and our results confirmed that increasing N availability can affect P cycling.     

Phylogenetic alpha and beta diversity in tropical tree assemblages along regional-scale environmental gradients in northwest South America

Aims Environmental gradients are drivers of species diversity; however, we know relatively little about the evolutionary processes underlying these relationships. A potentially powerful approach to studying diversity gradients is to quantify the phylogenetic structure within and between assemblages arrayed along broad spatial and environmental gradients. Here, we evaluate the phylogenetic structure of plant assemblages along an environmental gradient with the expectation that the habitat specialization of entire lineages is an important evolutionary pattern influencing the structure of tree communities along environmental gradients.Methods We evaluated the effect of several environmental variables on the phylogenetic structure of plant assemblages in 145 plots distributed in northwestern South America that cover a broad environmental gradient. The phylogenetic alpha diversity was quantified for each plot and the phylogenetic beta diversity between each pair of plots was also quantified. Both the alpha and beta diversity measures were then related to spatial and environmental gradients in the study system.Important findings We found that gradients in temperature and potential evapotranspiration have a strong relationship with the phylogenetic alpha diversity in our study system, with phylogenetic overdispersion in low temperatures and phylogenetic clustering at higher temperatures. Further, the phylogenetic beta diversity between two plots increases with an increasing difference in temperature, whereas annual precipitation was not a significant predictor of community phylogenetic turnover. We also found that the phylogenetic structure of the plots in our study system was related to the degree of seasonal flooding and seasonality in precipitation. In particular, more stressful environments such as dry forests and flooded forests showed phylogenetic clustering. Finally, in contrast with previous studies, we find that phylogenetic beta diversity was not strongly related to the spatial distance separating two forest plots, which may be the result of the importance of the three independent mountain ranges in our study system, which generate a high degree of environmental variation over very short distances. In conclusion, we found that environmental gradients are important drivers of both phylogenetic alpha and phylogenetic beta diversities in these forests over spatial distance.