浑善达克沙地小叶锦鸡儿灌丛的空间异质性

豆科锦鸡儿属(C arag ana)植物因其可以生物固氮而在草原生态系统中具有特殊的地位。定量分析小叶锦鸡儿(C arag anam icrophy lla)灌丛在浑善达克沙地不同生境条件下的分布格局,有助于理解植被与土壤养分循环之间的关系和合理制定退化沙地的恢复对策。采用地统计学中的半方差分析和分形分析两种方法研究了浑善达克沙地小叶锦鸡儿灌丛的空间分布格局,分析了不同生境中小叶锦鸡儿灌丛的植被、土壤水分和养分间的相关性。结果表明:(1)小叶锦鸡儿灌丛在3种生境条件下(滩地、固定沙丘和半固定沙丘)的盖度、土壤有机质和全氮的空间分布符合球状模型,空间自相关显著;(2)土壤pH值在滩地和固定沙丘的空间分布符合球状模型且空间自相关显著,但在半固定沙丘空间自相关不显著;(3)土壤水分在3种生境中的空间分布都符合线性模型,空间自相关显著。(4)植被的变异尺度(变程)小于各个土壤要素的变异尺度。植被(小叶锦鸡儿灌丛)的分布和形成过程决定了土壤养分的分布和形成过程。当地的小叶锦鸡儿灌丛在养分“沃岛”现象的形成中起了重要作用,合理的利用和布局当地的小叶锦鸡儿灌丛的分布,可以更加有效地补充草地生态系统的养分,从而有利于加快生态系统的恢复进程。     

干旱半干旱区灌丛斑块与降水量响应关系的熵模型模拟

灌丛斑块分布格局是灌木在干旱缺水条件下对生存环境的自我调节和适应的具体表现。应用熵理论和Klausmier模型,解释了灌丛斑块水分聚集原理并模拟了不同年降水条件下灌丛斑块的最佳面积比值(即最佳灌丛盖度)。研究结果表明:灌丛斑块生物量与其土壤含水量呈反比例函数关系,当生态系统处于稳定状态时(即熵最大状况下),年降水量与灌丛斑块面积比值符合一定的线性关系。研究采用内蒙古草原地区的野外调查数据,获得模型所需参数,进而模拟了不同年降水量条件下灌丛斑块最佳面积比值,研究结果可为半干旱地区植被保护与恢复提供参考。     

草地灌丛化研究进展

在草地生态系统中, 灌木入侵不仅会改变草本植物的分布格局, 还对生态系统的结构和功能产生重要影响。灌丛化的成因、影响、时空动态一直是植被生态学研究的热点问题, 这些问题的探究将有助于理解灌木在天然草原中的作用和地位, 对干旱半干旱区植被的保护和恢复具有重要科学意义。综述了灌丛化的成因、入侵后对生态系统中植被与土壤的影响、草地灌丛化空间动态变化和草地灌丛化演替过程, 以期为将来草地灌丛化的研究提供一些有益途径。     

几种人工固沙林多种群多尺度格局及种间关联

以乌兰布和沙漠东北缘黄灌区绿洲边缘早期营造的人工固沙花棒林、沙拐枣林和梭梭林为主要研究对象,并以附近天然植被为对照,采用连续小样方组成的样带法调查,分析了已进入衰老期的3种人工固沙林的多种群多尺度格局特点及种间关联.结果表明：对照区的天然植被中, 74.29%以油蒿单种群格局出现,24.99%以白刺单种群格局出现;人工固沙林逐渐演替成为近天然植被.与对照区天然植被相比,人工固沙林格局强度较高,在防风固沙,促进天然固沙植物恢复、演替方面发挥了重要作用.但随着演替进程,人工种植灌木将衰退减少,天然植物种逐渐成为林分的优势种.在环境条件差异较小情况下,植被的格局尺度受斑块内优势植物种特征及其相互关系的影响较大.种间关联与斑块的大小、植物种组成及不同植物种对斑块的贡献率有关.     

小叶锦鸡儿(Caragana microphylla)灌丛对草本群落特征的影响

基于干旱、半干旱草原灌丛化现象的发展，探究灌木与草本之间的关系对深刻理解灌丛化对草原植物群落特征的影响机制具有重要意义。然而，很少有研究考虑草地类型和灌丛斑块大小对灌木和草本植物之间关系的影响。在内蒙古典型草原和荒漠草原的自由放牧草地上选择了18个小叶锦鸡儿灌丛化样地进行野外采样，并调查了不同大小灌丛和周围草地的植物群落特征。运用单因素方差分析(one-way ANOVA)和最小显著差异法(LSD)来检验不同大小灌丛斑块内外的植被群落特征(高度、密度、地上生物量、凋落物量)和植物多样性指数(Shannon-Wiener指数、Pielou指数、丰富度指数、群落Sprensen相似性系数)的差异性。结果表明：(1)与草地相比，两种草原类型的灌丛产生、捕获了更多的凋落物，灌丛的保育作用显著提高了斑块内草本植物的高度，但灌丛占用了生存空间和资源，从而降低了斑块内草本植物的密度和地上生物量。(2)灌丛对多年生草本植物的地上生物量有明显的抑制作用，但对两种草原类型的一、二年生草本植物没有显著影响(典型草原中的小灌丛除外)。(3)两种草原类型的灌丛对草本植物多样性的影响存在差异。典型草原灌丛内多样性...     

祁连山金露梅灌丛草甸群落结构及主要种群的点格局分析

金露梅灌丛草甸是青藏高原高寒草地生态系统的重要组分之一,采用Ripley的K(t)函数分析方法,对放牧和封育条件下主要种群的分布格局和种间关系及金露梅灌丛群落动态变化进行了研究.结果表明:(1)经过6年的围栏封育,金露梅灌丛草甸主要种群的空间分布格局表现出从均匀或随机分布向随机或聚集分布转变的趋势,聚集强度随围封尺度增大而增加,随放牧的干扰而降低,聚集分布有利于种群发挥功能群整体效应.(2)围栏内不同功能群之间主要呈显著正关联;围栏外的禾草与杂类草、莎草与杂类草之间均呈显著负关联,出现种间资源竞争,且随着尺度的增大负关联逐渐增强,不同物种的生态位差异明显.(3)围栏内外种群点格局分布都具有明显的尺度依赖性,植物间相互作用和外界放牧干扰是影响物种不同尺度下空间格局变化的主要原因,点格局的变化驱动了群落结构的变化.可见,长期夏季放牧抑制了高寒金露梅灌丛草甸禾草和莎草植物的分株和生长,促进了杂类草的生长,金露梅灌丛草甸呈现出退化的趋势,围栏封育有利于草地生态系统的恢复演替.     

重点脆弱生态区生态系统服务权衡与协同关系时空特征

目前,有关生态系统服务权衡与协同关系的研究多集中在局地尺度,在宏观尺度上的研究较少。重点脆弱生态区是我国改善生态环境的主要目标区域,在定量评估我国重点脆弱生态区1990—2015年土壤保持、植被净初级生产力(NPP)和产水服务的基础上,利用相关系数法并结合植被分布场数据对生态系统服务权衡与协同关系进行研究。结果表明:(1)26年间,重点脆弱生态区的土壤保持服务、NPP、产水服务呈现出南多北少的分布格局,且3种服务的年际变化较小,但均有上升的趋势;(2)重点脆弱生态区的3种生态系统服务之间是整体上协同,局部权衡的关系,并且协同关系呈减弱的趋势;(3)生态恢复区的生态系统服务的协同程度大于非生态恢复区,权衡关系减弱的动态变化趋势高于非生态恢复区。定量评估生态系统服务权衡与协同关系的时空特征,有利于研究生态系统服务之间相互关系在时间上的非线性和空间上的异质性,对重点脆弱生态区生态系统的可持续发展具有重要意义。     

“一带一路”地区生态系统服务关系的时空分异与区域响应

"一带一路"沿线多数发展中国家地处生态脆弱区,土地资源空间配置亟待优化。研究生态系统服务间的相互关系可以为土地利用决策提供定量化支持,但该关系在不同地域的表现形式有较大的差异性。基于InVEST模型,评估"一带一路"区域2000、2005、2010和2015年土壤保持、产水量、碳固定和生境质量4种生态系统服务时空变化,通过相关性分析和局部空间自相关分析等方法识别生态系统服务相互关系,以及其对不同地域特征变量的响应。就区域整体而言,土壤保持、产水量、碳固定和生境质量呈现中亚和西亚为一致低值区,而高值区分布不一致的空间格局;生态系统服务之间均呈显著协同关系,但冷热点格局的区域异质性显著。在生态区单元中,泰加林、温带草原和灌木的多种生态系统服务间为权衡关系;在国家单元中,生态系统服务间协同与权衡关系并存。产水量与碳固定间的协同关系对人口分布有良好的响应,而土壤保持与碳固定对人口分布的响应不明显。定量化评估生态系统服务及权衡关系,为区域土地资源优化配置提供依据,研究结果也为"一带一路"地区沿线国家间生态保护合作提供空间指引。     

内蒙古温带典型草原围封十年草灌景观格局动态

通过样方调查和差分GPS法,研究内蒙古典型草原围封10年后灌木和草本盖度、生物量动态以及植被时空分布格局的变化。结果显示:草本盖度和生物量以2010年为拐点先减少后增加,灌木盖度和生物量呈现增加的趋势,样地整体植被生产力显著恢复。2010年以后,样地景观格局发生变化,小叶锦鸡儿灌丛斑块表现出破碎化程度和蔓延度先增加后减少的趋势。研究认为:(1)2012年之前为干旱期,草本生产力下降,且灌、草之间的竞争关系加剧了这一过程。(2)2012年之后降水增加,草本生产力先于灌木迅速恢复;景观尺度上小叶锦鸡儿灌丛斑块破碎化程度达到最高,是小叶锦鸡儿克隆生长的扩张过程所致。(3)2012年之后为湿润时期,小叶锦鸡儿对草本的生长存在促进作用,使生态系统逐渐恢复和重建。     

草灌植被转变对草地生态系统及其水碳过程的影响研究进展

气候变暖和过度放牧的共同作用使全球草地出现明显的灌丛化现象,灌木去除是草地灌丛化控制的重要方式,识别这些草灌植被转变对生态系统、生态水文、土壤侵蚀和侵蚀碳流失的影响对草地可持续管理具有重要意义。综述了草地灌木入侵及其控制对植物群落和土壤功能(如土壤有机碳)的影响,以及这些草灌植被变化对生态水文、土壤侵蚀和土壤侵蚀碳流失等水碳耦合过程的影响机制。针对目前草地灌木入侵和去除对植物群落、植被格局、水土过程和功能影响研究的薄弱环节,对未来相关研究提出以下建议：(1)需深化草灌植被转变对碳、氮等生物地球化学循环的影响机制研究,(2)需重视核磁共振光谱、生物标志物、同位素等新技术和植被格局的指数与连通性等新方法在草灌植被转变的水、碳等生态效应研究中的应用,(3)需加强草灌植被格局和生态水文、土壤侵蚀与土壤侵蚀碳等水碳过程的多要素、多过程和多尺度的综合研究。本文旨在为灌丛化草地科学有效的生态恢复与多目标的土地利用管理提供理论支撑。     

Local and regional spatial distribution of an eruptive and a latent herbivore insect species

Abstract In this work, we investigated the spatial distribution of two sessile insect herbivores over the entire range of their host plant, Coccoloba cereifera, a sclerophyllous shrub endemic to Serra do Cipó, Brazil. The two insects have very distinct life histories and dispersal behaviours and we hypothesized that their classification into behavioural syndromes could be used to predict their spatial distribution patterns. Abgrallaspis cyanophylli (Homoptera) is an armoured scale insect that fits well into the eruptive syndrome. Stenapion aff. contrarium (Coleoptera) is a petiole borer with wide search capabilities, which fits into the latent syndrome. We expected that Abgrallaspis would follow the host plant aggregation pattern whereas Stenapion would be distributed more uniformly through the region and be less affected by host aggregation. We counted the number of attacked and non‐attacked ramets within two perpendicular belt transects as well as within a 20 m × 20 m quadrat placed over a dense shrub aggregation. Local quadrat covariance methods were used to estimate the spatial pattern of each insect. At fine scales, we found Stenapion evenly distributed over the host plant and Abgrallaspis with a significantly aggregated pattern. This finding is in accordance with our hypothesis. At larger scales, however, this pattern was lost and the results were largely variable. We conclude that the classification of insects into behavioural syndromes may be useful to predict distribution patterns at fine scales. At larger scales, however, history and chance events may be more important.     

Patterns of species richness in a limestone grassland under different treatments in relation to spatial scale

Abstract. In an experiment in a limestone grassland on the Baltic island of Öland, SE Sweden, nutrient and water supply, light intensity and grazing regime were altered in 10 combinations during four years in 10 plots of 0.25 m² with subplots of 0.01 m² and 0.0004 m². Only the combined application of fertilizer and shade led to a strong decrease in average species richness (S₁) at all scales. When comparing species numbers summed up over all 10 replicates of each treatment (S_n) at the three quadrat sizes, differences in effect of these treatments were much smaller, and were so already at the finest scale. α-diversity, measured as (S_n - S₁ was quite constant over different scales for most treatments, i.e. diversity did not increase with an increase in scale. The ‘richness ratio’S_n/S₁ decreased with increasing scale, indicating an increasing degree of homogeneity at larger scales. Treatments which only included fertilizer or shade, maintained high species richness; this high richness was also maintained in combination with grazing and could then be explained by the denser packing of vegetation. Patterns of species richness were correlated at the large scale, but not at the finer scales, indicating a high degree of spatial and temporal heterogeneity at the finer scales. With increasing quadrat size species persistence increased which explains the small effect of certain treatments. Clearly, a range of scales has to be sampled in this type of vegetation to be able to measure different patterns, which may occur under different experimental treatments. The finest scale in this study can become too small, when certain treatments result in a coarse-grained vegetation pattern. The quadrat size of 10 cm x 10 cm should be included in the range of scales. It combines accuracy in sampling with efficiency in time effort, a reasonably large number of species sampled, and a strong differentiation in the effects of the various treatments.     

Spatial analysis of a subalpine heath woodland

The horizontal spatial patterns of heath species have implications in dynamic community modelling, fire behaviour modelling and ecological interpretation. The distribution pattern of the dominant woody species in a subalpine heath woodland near Kiandra, New South Wales was analysed as spatial point processes. The species analysed were Bossiaea foliosa, Grevillea australis, Hakea lissosperma and Oxylobium ellipticum, and both large (>2m) and small (<2 m) snowgums (Eucalyptus pauciflora) They all exhibited significant aggregation at scales ranging from 1 to 15 m. Bivariate spatial analyses of these species revealed significant negative association between G. australis and H. lissosperma, between G. australis and O. ellipticum, and between O. ellipticum and H. lissosperma, B. foliosa was independently distributed with respect to other shrub species. There was some evidence for negative association between small snowgums and shrub species, though small snowgums were positively associated with large snowgums. The joint spatial distribution of the individuals of all shrub species was also aggregated. A Poisson cluster process was developed and tested to model the joint spatial pattern of the shrub stratum.     

Effects of spatial heterogeneity on butterfly species richness in Rocky Mountain National Park, CO, USA

We investigated butterfly responses to plot-level characteristics (plant species richness, vegetation height, and range in NDVI [normalized difference vegetation index]) and spatial heterogeneity in topography and landscape patterns (composition and configuration) at multiple spatial scales. Stratified random sampling was used to collect data on butterfly species richness from seventy-six 20 × 50 m plots. The plant species richness and average vegetation height data were collected from 76 modified-Whittaker plots overlaid on 76 butterfly plots. Spatial heterogeneity around sample plots was quantified by measuring topographic variables and landscape metrics at eight spatial extents (radii of 300, 600 to 2,400 m). The number of butterfly species recorded was strongly positively correlated with plant species richness, proportion of shrubland and mean patch size of shrubland. Patterns in butterfly species richness were negatively correlated with other variables including mean patch size, average vegetation height, elevation, and range in NDVI. The best predictive model selected using Akaike’s Information Criterion corrected for small sample size (AIC_c), explained 62% of the variation in butterfly species richness at the 2,100 m spatial extent. Average vegetation height and mean patch size were among the best predictors of butterfly species richness. The models that included plot-level information and topographic variables explained relatively less variation in butterfly species richness, and were improved significantly after including landscape metrics. Our results suggest that spatial heterogeneity greatly influences patterns in butterfly species richness, and that it should be explicitly considered in conservation and management actions.     

干旱区生态系统稳态转换及其预警信号——基于景观格局特征的识别方法

在日益加剧的气候变化和土地开垦、放牧等人类活动干扰下,具有多稳态特征的干旱区生态系统可能会经历从相对健康状态到退化状态的稳态转换,导致生态系统的功能下降。早期预警信号的识别是生态系统稳态转换研究的热点,也是管理实践中防止生态系统退化的关键环节。以往预警信号研究聚焦于通用信号如自相关性、方差等统计学指标,然而这些指标对于具有特定机制的干旱区生态系统可能并不适用。基于干旱区景观格局特征所发展起来的空间指标为生态系统稳态转换提供了独特的空间视角,对于理解干旱区生态系统退化过程和机理具有科学意义和实践价值。介绍了干旱区生态系统稳态转换现象及其转换机制;聚焦景观生态学的指标和方法,从空间视角总结基于干旱区景观格局特征的关键预警指标(植被覆盖度、植被斑块形态、植被斑块大小频率分布和水文连通性等),重点剖析这些关键指标的概念、量化方法、识别特征及其实践应用;最后针对指标的优势和局限性对未来的研究方向进行展望,包括发掘潜在景观指标,加强干旱区生态系统变化的多种驱动要素的相互作用机制研究,开展多时空尺度的实证研究,构建生态系统稳态转换预警信号的整体分析框架,以及加强指标阈值的量化研究等方面。     

乌鲁木齐地区典型灌木群落结构特征及其多样性研究

根据2013年对乌鲁木齐地区典型灌木群落野外50个样地调查的数据,结合双向指示种分析分类方法,从各群落基本特征、物种组成、区系特征、物种多样性等方面对乌鲁木齐地区典型灌木群落结构特征及其多样性进行了分析。结果表明:(1)被调查的50个样地灌木植被群落中共出现了169种植物(其中灌木植物36种,草本植物133种),隶属于118属,31科,其中以藜科、菊科、禾本科等干旱区的表征科居多。灌木物种的植物区系以地中海区、西亚至中亚分布和北温带分布为主。(2)采用TWINSPAN分类方法可将50个样方划分为10个灌木群落类型。乌鲁木齐地区典型灌木群落多样性指数偏低,黑果小檗+宽刺蔷薇+金丝桃叶绣线菊群落的多样性指数最大,群落之间水平差异显著;欧亚圆柏群落、宽刺蔷薇+矮锦鸡儿群落和铃铛刺+喀什菊群落次之;多枝柽柳群落和琵琶柴+喀什霸王群落最低。(3)属于灌丛植被类型的灌木群落,物种多样性指数为草本层灌木层;属于荒漠植被类型的灌木群落,物种多样性空间结构为灌木层草本层。     

不同尺度下土壤粒径分布特征及其影响因子——以黄土丘陵沟壑区为例

土地利用方式和环境因子是影响土壤粒径的重要因素,尺度不同其影响效应差异明显。研究不同尺度表层土壤粒径与土地利用、环境因子的关系对评价黄土丘陵沟壑区土壤物理性质具有积极意义。选择黄土丘陵沟壑区安塞集水区和沐浴小流域作为研究区,探讨两个尺度上表层土壤粒径含量、分布特征及其与土地利用类型和环境因子的关系。研究结果表明:(1)研究区域内表层土壤颗粒主要为砂粒和粉粒,在小流域和集水区尺度上,各粒径百分含量属于中等变异,D值为弱变异,但随着研究区由沐浴小流域变化到安塞集水区,粒径和D值的空间变异性均有所提高;(2)尺度不同,土地利用对土壤粒径的影响效应不同,在沐浴小流域不同土地利用类型的砂粒含量从高到低依次为荒草地农用地林地灌木林地园地,在集水区的变化顺序依次为荒草地灌木林地林地农用地园地,粉粒含量的次序均与砂粒相反,小流域土壤粒径分形维数D依次为灌木林地荒草地林地园地农用地,在安塞集水区为灌木林地荒草地农用地林地园地;(3)在沐浴小流域和安塞集水区,土壤颗粒分形维数与土壤砂粒、黏粒百分含量呈极显著正相关关系,与土壤粉粒百分含量呈极显著负相关关系,且砂质壤土D值高于壤土和粉壤土;(4)在沐浴小流域,植被盖度、相对海拔和坡位相对于土地利用类型、坡向和坡度对土壤粒径影响较大;而在安塞集水区植被盖度、土地利用类型和坡度对土壤粒径影响较大。     

长白落叶松人工林天然更新幼苗分布格局及其研究方法的比较

长白落叶松是东北东部地区主要造林树种之一．该文研究了55a生长白落叶松人工林天然更新幼苗的空间分布格局．测定了样地内（30m×18m）所有天然更新幼苗的坐标、地径和苗高．在幼苗坐标点图的基础上,进行了23个取样尺度（离散尺度）下的相邻格子法的空间格局分析：采用Poisson分布、负二项分布和正二项分布拟合幼苗的离散分布,方差均值比、Morisita指数和最近邻体法确定了空间分布格局,C-指数、Green指数和负二项参数K值度量了它们的聚集强度．利用更新幼苗的坐标点图,采用地统计学中自々半方差分析方法和空间点格局方法（采用Ripley二次分析法）研究了尺度连续变化条件下更新幼苗空间分布格局和聚集强度的变化并确定了其聚集规模,利用最近邻体法的计算方法分析了更新幼苗的自然定植特点．结果表明：1）更新幼苗所有离散尺度下（样方面积从1m^2到18m^2）均呈聚集分布．连续尺度下,在0—10．5m的半径区间内呈聚集分布,在10．5—12．3m的半径区间内呈随机分布．2）离散尺度下（样方面积从1m^2到18m^2）,聚集强度随尺度的增加而增加．连续尺度下,在0．10．5m的半径区间内,聚集强度随尺度的增加表现出先增加后降低的趋势,在半径（尺度）为4．2m处聚集强度最大．3）此次调查的样地范围内天然更新幼苗呈现聚集状态生长的平均最大聚集斑块（聚集规模）的半径为4．79m．4）天然更新幼苗之间的平均距离为0．30-0．42m,更新幼苗生长在与母树相距2．99—3．26m之外的空间．5）相邻格子法（传统的样方方法）和空间点格局分析法对格局的判别和格局强度的确定基本一致,但是空间点格局分析法能够反映出尺度连续变化条件下格局和格局强度的变化．它与最近邻体法和地统计学方法等以种群分布的坐标点图为数据源的     

青藏高原东缘林线杜鹃-岷江冷杉原始林的空间格局

为深入理解高山林线原始林中优势树种的空间结构特征和种间关系,以青藏高原东缘林线杜鹃-岷江冷杉原始林1 hm²样地调查数据为基础,采用成对相关函数g(r)函数,分析了优势种岷江冷杉(Abies faxoniana)和凝毛杜鹃(Rhododendron agglutinatum)各径级的空间分布格局和各径级间的空间关联性。结果表明:岷江冷杉和凝毛杜鹃径级分布连续,呈倒"J"型,均为进展种群。小尺度上,对于岷江冷杉活立木(小树+中树+大树)、小树、中树为显著聚集分布,大树为均匀分布,死树则为随机分布;凝毛杜鹃活立木(小树+中树+大树)、小树、中树、大树、死树均为显著聚集分布。小尺度上随径级增大岷江冷杉的分布格局从聚集分布趋于均匀分布。岷江冷杉大树与其小树的空间关联验证了Janzen-Connell假说中的距离制约效应。通过验证接受了随机死亡假说,发现种内的密度制约效应不明显。两个树种的枯立木对凝毛杜鹃小树均表现为排斥关系,而对岷江冷杉小树表现为相互独立的关系。两个优势种总体表现为相互独立,但种间不同径级间的空间关联性各异。     

Patterns of abundance of a narrow endemic species in a tropical and infertile montane habitat

We examined the entire spatial distribution of a narrow endemic shrub (Coccoloba cereifera, Polygonaceae) in Serra do Cipó, Brazil. We tested the hypothesis that a narrow endemic species would show a gradual decline in either size and density towards the edges of its distribution. The contribution of soil specificity and post-fire growth to C. cereifera abundance and distribution were also investigated. C. cereifera showed multimodal and highly aggregated distribution pattern at several scales, from 25 m² to 3000 m² (blocked quadrat variance analyses). This pattern seems to be strongly related to the predominance of clonal recruitment and to the close association of the species to sandfields, which have discrete distribution between gallery forests and rocky outcrops. Population density did not decline towards the edge of the species distribution. Plants near the distribution boundaries had slightly more leaves and more inflorescences per plant (p<0.005), but there was no significant change in the mean number of ramets per clone. The absence of large plants in some populations at the center of the species distribution may be related to the higher frequency of fire in this region, killing aerial plant parts. Nearly all aggregations had inverse-J shaped size-distribution, suggesting effective recruitment of ramets, most frequently via asexual reproduction. Similar patterns of plant abundance may be common in fire-prone habitats characterized by infertile, and well-drained soils since these areas generally have high numbers of endemic plants, with strong soil specificity. Possible mechanisms for the observed pattern are discussed considering current models concerning distribution of abundance of species.