林下密集蕨类层生态学研究进展

林下密集蕨类层在森林尤其是受干扰森林中广泛存在，对森林更新具有强烈的过滤效应，能够改变林下层的多样性，影响群落的结构、功能和动态，林下密集蕨类层的生态学研究，对揭示森林群落物种分布格局和群落构建机制具有重要意义。结合国内外最新研究，论述了林下密集蕨类层的特征，从机制上解释了林下密集蕨类层形成的主要原因；分类阐述了林下密集蕨类层通过资源竞争、化学互感、动物取食策略和机械干扰等途径影响森林更新的过程；探讨了林下密集蕨类层对森林演替动态的潜在影响。最后，简要指出了目前林下密集蕨类层研究中存在的一些不足。

Research Progress on the Ecology of Dense Fern Understory

Dense fern understory (DFU) is widespread in forests, especially in disturbed forests, which has a strong filtering effect on tree species regeneration and can change the diversity of understory and affect the structure, function and dynamics of forest community. Thus, ecological studies on DFU are vital to reveal the distribution patterns of species and the community assembly rules. Combined with the latest studies at worldwide, the characteristics of DFU was summarized, and the main reason for the formation of DFU was explained by mechanism. The pathways of DFU effect on the forest regeneration through resource competition, allelopathy animal feeding strategies and mechanical interference were described. The potential influence of DFU on the forest succession was also discussed. Finally, several shortcomings of current studies of DFU were identified.