广西猫儿山植物群落物种组成、群落结构及树种多样性的垂直分布格局

沿海拔梯度设置16个样地,对广西猫儿山植物群落物种多样性的垂直分布格局进行了初步研究。结果表明：(1)16个样地中共调查到乔木44科79属184种,其中常绿阔叶树121种、落叶阔叶树61种、针叶树2种;(2)随着海拔的上升,整个乔木层以及不同生活型的最大树高均呈显著下降趋势,而乔木树种的最大胸径、胸高断面积之和以及立木密度都呈现出先增大后减小的趋势;(3)物种丰富度在海拔1350m以下变化不明显,但1350m以上随着海拔的升高明显下降。在研究的海拔范围内,物种丰富度呈非常显著的单峰分布格局,最大的丰富度出现在中海拔群落中;(4)α多样性沿海拔梯度的变化趋势与物种丰富度相似,但没有后者显著。Shannon-Wiener指数(H’)和海拔之间有明显的负相关性,均匀度Pielou指数(E)在取样范围内并没有随着海拔梯度的变化表现出明显的规律;(5)1350m以下的相邻群落之间的Jaccard指数(CJ)大于1350m以上相邻群落之间的Jaccard指数,最小值出现在中海拔的植被过渡带。Cody指数也有类似的趋势,原因在于物种丰富度的变化;(6)在本研究的海拔范围内,海拔比坡度和坡向对群落的结构特征、物种丰富度以及α多样性的影响更大。而在局部尺度上,人为干扰以及小地形而导致的生境异质性对群落的物种多样性和结构特征有着重要的影响。     

厦门城市公园景观格局与植物群落结构的相关性

选取平均斑块面积、斑块密度、景观多样性等景观格局指数和林地面积比例、树种多样性、乡土树种比例等植物群落结构指数分别对厦门城市公园景观格局与植物群落结构进行量化分析,并统计群落结构指数与景观格局指数之间的Pearson相关性系数,以探讨厦门城市公园景观格局与其植物群落结构之间的关系及相互适宜性。结果表明:建设年代较早的人工公园(中山公园和南湖公园)树种丰富,搭配均匀,注重乡土种和外来种的合理配置;建设年代较晚的人工公园(白鹭洲和湖里公园)树种结构简单,乡土树种比例低。半自然公园中自然林地保持较好,树种多样,乡土树种比例高。与人工公园相比,半自然公园(忠仑、狐尾山和仙岳公园)平均斑块面积大,斑块类型较少,景观破碎化程度和景观多样性都较低。相关性分析表明,平均斑块面积与林地面积比、乡土树种比呈正相关,景观多样性指数与林地面积比呈负相关,说明厦门城市公园景观格局与植物群落结构之间具有一定的空间相关性。     

老秃顶子石河冰缘地貌森林群落物种多样性及其影响因素

基于对24个样地的调查数据,采用物种丰富度指数、Shannon-Wiener指数以及Jaccard相似性指数,对辽东山地老秃顶子石河冰缘地貌森林群落物种多样性及其影响因子进行了研究。结果显示:(1)石河冰缘地貌森林群落中落叶阔叶林、针阔混交林和暗针叶林的物种丰富度指数平均值分别为41±10、34±5和31±7。森林群落物种丰富度变异系数均为中等变异性。(2)石河冰缘地貌森林群落中落叶阔叶林、针阔混交林和暗针叶林的Shannon-Wiener指数平均值分别为1.67±0.32、1.50±0.18和1.29±0.25。(3)石河冰缘地貌森林群落间Jaccard相似性指数为0.037~0.530,且集中在极不相似和中等不相似区间。(4)相关性分析结果显示,石河冰缘地貌海拔高度与森林群落乔木层物种丰富度指数、Shannon-Wiener指数呈极显著负相关(P0.01),与灌木层物种丰富度指数呈显著负相关(P0.05);土壤电导率和含盐量均与森林群落物种多样性指数呈显著正相关(P0.05);土壤pH值与灌木层物种丰富度指数、Shannon-Wiener指数呈极显著正相关(P0.01);土壤CaO含量分别与乔木层和灌木层的物种丰富度指数、乔木层Shannon-Wiener指数呈显著正相关(P0.05)。这表明海拔高度、土壤电导率、盐含量、pH值和CaO含量是影响石河冰缘地貌森林群落物种多样性变化的重要因素。     

外来树种华北落叶松引种对秦岭森林群落的影响

采用样地调查法对比研究了秦岭火地塘林区外来树种华北落叶松人工林与乡土树种华山松人工林及华山松天然次生林群落特征差异.结果表明:华北落叶松人工林群落与华山松天然次生林群落的相似性系数仅为0.11,华山松天然次生林与华山松人工林的物种数量均明显高于华北落叶松人工林(P＜0.01);华山松天然次生林和华山松人工林乔、灌、草层的Margalef指数、Simpson指数、Shannon-Wiener指数和Pielou均匀度指数均显著高于华北落叶松人工林( P＜0.001),而前两者之间灌木层和草本层的4个多样性指数的差异不显著(P＞0.05);华北落叶松人工林的自然构成系数最低(0.3),华山松天然次生林的自然构成系数最高(5.2),华山松人工林的自然构成系数为3.5,三者存在极显著差异(P＜0.001).说明外来树种华北落叶松引种造成秦岭森林群落物种丰富度、植物多样性和林分自然化程度降低,自然次生演替或乡土树种人工林较外来树种人工林更有利于林下植被的恢复.     

林窗对格氏栲天然林更新层物种多样性和稳定性的影响

采用物种多样性指数和改进的M.Godron稳定性法研究林窗干扰对格氏栲(Castanopsis kawakamii)自然保护区天然林更新层物种多样性和稳定性的影响.结果表明:林窗干扰改善了微环境,表现在林窗和林下乔灌层树种重要值和多样性存在差异.林窗乔木层中丰富度指数R、优势度指数D、Shannon-Wiener指数H、均优多指数Z均高于林下,均匀度指数Js和群落优势度指数C低于林下;灌木层中R、D、H、Js、Z指数均高于林下,群落优势度指数C低于林下,林窗物种多样性更为丰富,生态优势种不明显,群落向复杂化和均匀化方向发展.林窗与林下乔木层Jaccard相似性系数Cj、Sorenson相似性系数CS、Bray-Curtis指数CN相对较低,Morista-Horn指数CmH较高,林窗对树种更新具有促进作用;灌木层相似性系数Cj、Cs、CN、CmH均较高,物种组成基本一致.根据M.Godron稳定性原理拟合出稳定性模型,林窗和林下乔木层分别为对数模型与二次函数模型,林窗和林下灌木层最佳拟合模型均为对数模型.林窗乔木层植物处于稳定状态,林下乔木层植物不稳定;林窗和林下灌木层植物均处于稳定状态.林窗和林下乔木层树种中以桂北木姜子(Litsea subcoriacea)重要值最高,说明其在森林更新中占有重要地位,可能对格氏栲种群更新产生较大影响.林下乔木层中格氏栲重要值较低,格氏栲更新存在困难,而林窗干扰促进了格氏栲的向上生长和重要值的提升,可有效实现格氏栲种群的更新和恢复.     

不同干扰强度下江西武夷山河岸带阔叶林群落的结构与数量特征

为揭示中亚热带典型河岸带阔叶林群落的结构特征、数量特征和干扰强度的耦合关系,根据干扰强度的不同,在江西武夷山保护区内选取3条主要水系进行阔叶林群落调查,共统计到河岸带维管束植物93科174属304种,分别占保护区维管束植物总数的41.5%、18.0%、11.9%。物种组成以壳斗科（6属22种）、山茶科（7属22种）、樟科（6属16种）、蔷薇科（8属16种）为主。不同干扰强度下的河岸带植被群落相似性Jaccard系数均在0.2-0.3之间,各群落优势种完全不同,且存在特有分布的物种,但群落乔木层优势种优势度（重要值）差异不显著（P〉0.05）。不同干扰强度下,物种数量、群落Jaccard系数、丰富度指数、多样性指数、均匀度指数总体上为：轻微干扰〉中等干扰〉无干扰;而乔木的平均高度和平均胸径却为：无干扰〉中等干扰〉轻微干扰。研究结果表明,江西武夷山河岸带阔叶林以常绿阔叶树种为主,但不同干扰梯度下群落的结构和数量特征差异性较大。     

小秦岭森林群落数量分类、排序及多样性垂直格局

采用分层取样的方法,沿小秦岭林区海拔梯度设立56块20 m×20 m样地,用多元回归树(MRT)方法对小秦岭森林群落进行分类,采用除趋势对应分析(DCA)进行排序,用广义可加模型(GAM)研究不同生活型物种多样性沿海拔梯度分布格局。结果表明:(1)56个样地进行MRT分类,经交叉验证并依据植物群落分类和命名原则,本区植物群落可分为5类;(2)样方DCA排序明确地揭示各群落类型生境分布范围,较好地反映小秦岭自然保护区森林群落与环境因子的关系;(3)不同生活型物种多样性指数随海拔梯度变化发生一定的波动,且呈现不同的多样性格局:丰富度指数中,乔木层呈显著的单峰分布格局,灌木层在中海拔段呈明显下降趋势,草本层随着海拔的升高总体呈下降趋势;Shannon-Wiener多样性指数中,不同生活型物种随海拔变化趋势与物种丰富度变化趋势大体相同;不同生活型物种的均匀度指数随海拔变化趋势较平缓。     

地形因子对FAST周边喀斯特植物多样性及空间分布的影响

为探究地形因子对500米口径球面射电望远镜(Five-hundred-meter Aperture Spherical radio Telescope, FAST)周边植物物种多样性及空间分布的影响，该文选取FAST周边喀斯特峰丛洼地3种典型植物群落(乔木层、灌木层、藤本层)作为研究对象，采用方差分析及典范对应分析(CCA)研究不同地形因子(海拔、坡度、坡向、坡位)梯度下植物群落物种多样性及空间分布特征。结果表明：(1)FAST周边植物群落α多样性指数呈现灌木层>乔木层>藤本层的趋势，乔木层、藤本层植物α多样性指数随海拔升高而增加(P<0.05),地形因子对灌木层植物α多样性无显著性影响。(2)FAST周边植物群落物种的空间分布受海拔的影响最大，其次为坡度(P<0.05)。(3)FAST周边3种植物群落的Jaccard相似性指数随海拔的升高呈现增加的趋势，沿坡度的增加呈现先升高后降低的趋势。综上所述，物种对生境的选择具有差异性，海拔和坡度是影响FAST周边喀斯特峰丛洼地植物群落空间分布的关键因子。     

昆嵛山老杨坟阳坡与阴坡半天然植被植物群落生态学特性的初步研究

本文对昆嵛山老杨坟阳坡与阴坡半天然植被植物群落的上层（乔木层）和下层（灌木层）的物种优势度、多样性指数、群落的均匀度、相似性指数以及群落的最小面积进行了分析。昆嵛山老杨坟半天然植物群落上层的最小面积应为３００ｍ２,下层应为２２５ｍ２。阳坡与阴坡植物群落的上层和下层优势种的分布格局存在一定差异;乔木层的物种多样性指数,阴坡大于阳坡,灌木层阳坡大于阴坡,但二者的差异水平不显著;两群落乔木层的均匀度指数存在显著差异。阳坡与阴坡植物群落乔木层的相似性指数低于灌木层,并且以相对盖度和相对优势度（相对重要值）为基础统计所得到的群落相似性指数更好地反映了群落间乔木层在结构和功能上的差异。     

长三角新建居住区景观绿化植物组成的相似性

自然植被受城市化影响出现了不同程度的均质化,受人为影响更大的人工植物是否存在同样的问题值得关注.本研究以长三角10城市的45个居住区的景观绿化为对象,运用Jaccard指数,从居住区、城市、省份3个尺度水平上探讨了物种组成的相似性.结果表明:随着尺度水平增加,物种相似性显著增加,在城市和省份水平上Jaccard指数达0.45和0.50;随着城市间距离的增加,物种相似性逐渐减小;因数量少,乡土物种并未有效地降低城市间相似性,反而增加了省份间的相似性.表明目前长三角的居住区景观绿化物种单一,乡土物种尤为突出,呈现均质化倾向.     

辽西北部主要绿化树种对粉尘污染的生理响应研究

为探究乡土和外来树种对城市不同污染环境的适应性,选取阜新市工业区、道路、矿区和公园绿地共有的10种树种作为研究对象,采用洗脱法测定了各树种单位叶面积滞尘量,并测定了叶片滞尘前后生理指标的变化,探讨不同种树叶片滞尘效应,以及叶片滞尘后对植物生理活动的影响。结果表明：(1)在4个功能区的不同树种单位叶面积滞尘量均不同,其中新疆杨单位叶面积滞尘量都较高、均值为1.45 g/m²,银杏单位叶面积滞尘量都较低、均值仅有0.92 g/m²。(2)叶片滞尘之后生理指标分析显示,叶片SPAD值呈显著下降趋势,渗透调节物质(脯氨酸、可溶性蛋白、可溶性糖)含量和细胞膜透性(MDA、Rec)均呈上升趋势,而抗氧化酶活性(SOD和POD)呈下降趋势但下降率不明显。(3)银杏和五角枫滞尘量与各生理指标之间有显著相关关系,更适合从生理方面检测城市粉尘污染环境指示物。(4)4个功能区不同树种滞尘能力与抗尘能力聚类分析显示,新疆杨、紫丁香、山皂荚和臭椿的滞尘能力和抗尘能力均较强;阜新市外来树种新疆杨、紫叶李、臭椿等的滞尘和抗尘能力均与乡土树种相当。研究认为,在长期粉尘污染胁迫下,各绿化树种可能通过提高渗透调节物质含量和抗氧化酶的活性等来缓解粉尘污染的伤害,外来树种与乡土树种同样在各污染环境中表现出较强的适应能力;在不造成生物入侵危害的前提下应该积极引进能够有效滞尘和治沙防风的外来树种。     

北京市典型公园外来入侵植物分布格局

近年来城市发展迅速,生境破碎化加剧,生物入侵的风险大大增加。外来入侵植物已入侵城市绿地生态系统,部分已成为城市公园生境中的优势种,占据本地植物生存空间、威胁本地植物生物多样性。为研究北京市公园外来入侵植物分布格局,以北京市4个不同功能区(核心区、拓展区、近郊区和远郊区)为研究区域进行外来入侵植物调查,基于19个典型公园的255个样方调查数据,对比不同功能区公园外来入侵植物组成和分布格局。调查共记录外来入侵植物40种,隶属于12科29属,其中菊科为优势科、一年生草本居多,牛膝菊(Galinsoga parviflora)和小蓬草(Erigeron canadensis)的频次和生态位宽度较大,分布较广泛,大狼杷草(Bidens frondose)和凹头苋(Amaranthus blitum)的优势度最大,资源竞争能力较强。外来入侵植物在拓展区公园的丰富度最高,核心区最低,对四个功能区的对比分析结果表明:(1)拓展区公园的外来入侵植物Shannon-Wiener多样性指数、丰富度和Pielou均匀度指数均显著高于核心区和远郊区,外来入侵植物Simpson指数则呈现出远郊区显著高于拓展区和近郊区的特征(P<0.05),本地植物则正好相反;(2)拓展区公园的外来入侵植物入侵强度系数(Invasion intensity index,III)最高,且显著高于核心区(P=0.008),其他功能区之间无显著差异;(3)核心区公园与其他三个区群落组成不同,其余三个功能区均较为相似。研究表明北京市公园外来入侵植物的丰富度除核心区以外整体上与城市化梯度呈正相关,核心区公园植物群落抵御外来入侵植物的能力较弱,拓展区公园植物群落中外来入侵植物丰富度高、分布均匀并处于优势地位,需及时治理。     

Plant species composition in relation to green cover configuration and function of urban parks in Beijing, China

Parks, as one specific type of urban open space, play important roles in the conservation of urban biodiversity and provision of recreational services for local residents. As there is a lack of specific insight into park plant species composition in relation to park features, 24 sample parks within the inner city of Beijing, the capital of China, were studied by stratified random plot sampling of their tree, shrub, and herbaceous communities, respectively, in order to investigate how human activities have influenced park green cover configuration and floristic characteristics. The quantitative correlation of species richness and the park green cover indices (patch size, shape, etc.) were studied. The importance value index for plant species (trees, shrubs, and herbaceous species) of each park was calculated. The two-way indicator species analysis approach (TWINSPAN) was applied to classify the 24 parks into different groups based on their species assemblages. Two-hundred and eighty-eight species were recorded within the 24 study parks, belonging to 184 genera and 72 families dominated by Gramineae, Compositae, and Leguminosae. Among all the recorded species, 41% are exotic. The species occurrence, abundance and diversity vary significantly among different parks. Besides the positive correlation (R=0.505, P<0.05) between herbaceous species abundance and the park green cover size, no other significant relations were found between the species abundance and other indices of park green cover configuration. Remarkably, the TWINSPAN classification resulted in a good discrimination between park functional types and the variation in their species assemblage. For the parks of similar age (development history) or landscape design, their species assemblages show more similarity. The methodology adopted and results can be employed to improve baseline information on urban plant ecology and support the setting of priorities for future park management and vegetation protection.     

Influence of settlement time, human population, park shape and age, visitation and roads on the number of alien plant species in protected areas in the USA

Abstract. I examined a data set of 77 protected areas in the USA (including national and state parks) to determine which of the following variables most strongly influence alien plant species richness: park area, climate (temperature and precipitation), native species richness, visitation rate, local human population size, total road length, park shape and duration of European settlement. Many of these predictor variables are intercorrelated, so I used multiple regression to help separate their effects. In support of previous studies, native species richness was the best single predictor of alien species richness, probably because it was a good estimator of both park area and habitat diversity available for establishment of alien species. Other significant predictors of alien species richness were years of occupation of the area by European settlers and the human population size of adjacent counties. Climate, visitation rate, road length and park shape did not influence alien species richness. The proportion of alien species (alien richness/native richness) is inversely related to park area, in agreement with a previous study. By identifying which variables are most important in determining alien species richness, such findings suggest ways to reduce alien species establishment.     

外来树种日本落叶松和日本花柏对鄂西北森林群落的影响

【目的】研究大面积栽植外来树种日本落叶松和日本花柏对鄂西北森林群落物种多样性的影响,为评价外来树种的入侵风险提供依据。【方法】采用样地调查法对比研究外来树种日本落叶松和日本花柏人工林与当地森林群落特征差异。【结果】日本落叶松人工林样地林下植物种类丰富,样地平均物种数与当地天然林样地物种数相比无显著差异;林下灌木层和草本层多样性指数较高,草本层多样性指数与当地天然林相比无显著差异;林下未发现日本落叶松的更新苗。日本花柏人工林样地平均物种数显著少于当地其他人工林样地;乔木层、灌木层和草本层的4个多样性指数值均小于当地其他人工林样地;在3个样地中出现日本花柏更新苗,更新苗数量达479株·hm~(-2)。【结论】引种栽培日本落叶松不会导致当地森林群落的物种多样性降低,不会引起生物入侵风险;但引种栽培日本花柏会明显降低当地森林群落的物种多样性,对当地森林生态系统的稳定构成一定威胁。     

不同类型人类活动干扰对河岸带外来植物群落的影响——以北京永定河为例

强烈的人类活动对自然生境的扰动促进了外来植物侵入河岸带,但不同类型的人类活动干扰对外来植物的影响有所不同。按照不同人类活动干扰类型设置了山峡段、平原段和城市段,通过比较河段间河岸带外来植物群落特征的差异,探讨不同人类活动干扰类型对河岸带外来植物群落的影响。结果表明:(1)永定河河岸带共有维管束植物27科72属101种,外来植物13科28属29种。外来种比例高达28.7%,其中82.4%的国外外来种来自美洲和亚洲。(2)不同河段间的外来植物群落的物种构成和优势度呈现出显著性差异。外来种比例由山峡段的20.9%,上升至平原段和城市段的30.2%和25.5%;而优势度由12.1%,分别上升至13.4%和17.5%。(3)不同河段间的外来植物群落生活型结构有显著性差异。多年生草本植物在山峡段比例最高,达到66.7%,在平原段和城市段较低,分别为46.2%和30.8%;而一年生草本植物在城市段比例最高,达到69.2%,在平原段和山峡段较低,分别为53.8%和33.3%。(4)平原段属于农业干扰类型,其河岸带外来植物主要以农业类杂草为主,如禾本科的假稻(Leersia japonica)和菊科的钻叶紫菀(Aster subulatu);城市段是城市干扰类型,外来植物中入侵种比例和优势度较高,典型入侵种为反枝苋(Amaranthus retroflexus)和牛筋草(Eleusine indica)等。北京永定河不同河段河岸带外来植物的种类构成特点,反映了河岸带外来植物受快速城市化、农业活动等不同人类活动干扰的影响呈逐渐扩大的趋势。     

Tree species composition and diversity in Miombo woodlands between co‐managed and government‐managed regimes,Malawi

Comparative information on the composition and diversity in tree species associations in Miombo woodland is limited. This study assessed how tree species associations across forest reserves of Miombo woodland in Malawi varied in composition and diversity concerning site factors and resource use disturbances under co‐management versus government management. Eighty nested circular plots, randomly selected in ArcGIS, were sampled to record stem diameter at breast height (DBH) of tree species: 0.04 ha for stems 5–29.9 cm DBH and 0.16 ha for stems ≥30 cm DBH. The recorded 109 tree species grouped into communities and 14 sub‐communities, using stem counts by species in TWINSPAN analysis. Sub‐divisions to level 5 showed eigenvalues ≥0.3, symbolising the stability of sub‐divisions. North/South sub‐divisions related to site factors; historical/current resource use influenced differences at levels 3–5. Species importance differed, indicating few important species in each sub‐community. Brachystegia and Julbernardia species showed importance across sub‐communities while Uapaca sansibarica in government management. Disturbances stimulated high species diversity. Recommendations include the need for a policy review towards group‐felling mature stands to stimulate regeneration and selective thinning of suppressed stems in stand development stages to maintain species diversity, productive recovery, diverse resource use value, and monitoring of harvesting impacts.     

An alien in an archipelago: Spathodea campanulata and the geographic variability of its moth (Lepidoptera) communities in the New Guinea and Bismarck Islands

Aim This analysis of moth (Lepidoptera) communities colonizing an alien tree invading secondary rain forest vegetation in Melanesia examines the predictability of insect herbivorous communities across distances of tens to thousands of km and the effect of dispersal barriers on community composition in the tropics. Location Six secondary rain forest sites were studied within four equidistant yet distinct geographic areas of the New Guinea mainland and the Bismarck Archipelago, including two watershed areas (Madang and Sepik) on mainland New Guinea and the adjacent large island of New Britain and small island of Unea. Methods The analysis is based on feeding records obtained by quantitative sampling and rearing of caterpillars from the alien host Spathodea campanulata (Bignoniaceae). It examines the variation in Lepidoptera community composition at six study sites distributed on three adjacent islands ranging in size from 30 to 865,000 km². Results Spathodea campanulata was colonized by 54 folivorous species of Lepidoptera. Most of them were generalists, feeding on > 1 native plant family. However, the three most abundant species representing 83% of all individuals (Acherontia lachesis, Hyblaea puera complex and Psilogramma menephron) were relatively host specific, feeding predominantly on a single native family that is not the Bignoniaceae. Most of the 23 species analysed in detail had a wide geographic distribution, including 13 species spanning the entire 1000‐km study transect. While the Lepidoptera in two New Guinea areas 280 km apart were similar to each other, there was a discontinuity in species composition between New Guinea and the smaller islands. However, no negative effect of small islands on species richness was detected. Main conclusions Spathodea campanulata was rapidly colonized by folivorous Lepidoptera communities with species richness and dominance structure indistinguishable from the assemblages feeding on native hosts, despite its phylogenetic isolation from the native vegetation. Although most species were generalists, the highest population densities were reached by relatively specialized species, similar to the communities on native hosts. The species turnover across distances from 10 to 1000 km was relatively low as most of the species had wide geographic ranges.     

Structure of ant assemblages on street trees in urban Busan,Korea

Street trees planted in urban areas are one of the smallest urban green habitats; however, their role as a valuable refuge for local biota is poorly understood. The aim of this study was to investigate urban street trees as habitat for ants. We found ants on 195 (92%) of 211 street trees studied. Seventeen ant species were collected from five tree species. The two most common ant species were Tetramorium tsushimae (on 112 trees) and Lasius japonicus (on 93 trees). The number of ant species found per tree ranged from 0 to 5, with a mean of 1.55 ± 0.92. The species composition differed significantly among tree species. Nine ant species (Camponotus vitiosus, Lasius alienus, L. japonicus, Nylanderia flavipes, Crematogaster matsumurai, Crematogaster vagula, Monomorium intrudens, T. tsushimae, and Brachyponera chinensis) nested on the trees, mostly in the root zone. Nests were found on 150 trees but were relatively rare on trees with diameter at breast height of less than 40 cm.     

Evenness of soil organic carbon chemical components changes with tree species richness,composition and functional diversity across forests in China

Higher tree species richness generally increases the storage of soil organic carbon (SOC). However, less attention is paid to the influence of varied tree species composition on SOC storage. Recently, the perspectives for the stronger persistence of SOC caused by the higher molecular diversity of organic compounds were proposed. Therefore, the influences of tree species richness and composition on the molecular diversity of SOC need to be explored. In this study, an index of the evenness of diverse SOC chemical components was proposed to represent the potential resistance of SOC to decomposition under disturbances. Six natural forest types were selected encompassing a diversity gradient, ranging from cold temperate to tropical forests. We examined the correlations of tree species richness, composition, and functional diversity, with the evenness of SOC chemical components at a molecular level by ¹³C nuclear magnetic resonance. Across the range, tree species richness correlated to the evenness of SOC chemical components through tree species composition. The negative correlation of evenness of SOC chemical components with tree species composition, and the positive correlation of evenness of SOC chemical components with tree functional diversity were found. These indicate the larger difference in tree species composition and the lower community functional diversity resulted in the higher heterogeneity of SOC chemical components among the communities. The positive correlation of the evenness of SOC chemical components with the important value of indicator tree species, further revealed the specific tree species contributing to the higher evenness of SOC chemical components in each forest type. Soil fungal and bacterial α-diversity had effect on the evenness of SOC chemical components. These findings suggest that the indicator tree species conservation might be preferrable to simply increasing tree species richness, for enhancing the potential resistance of SOC to decomposition.