秦岭火地塘林区华山松人工林与天然次生林群落特征比较

采用样地调查法对秦岭火地塘林区处于中龄阶段的华山松人工林与天然次生林群落特征进行比较研究.结果表明:(1)华山松天然次生林群落有维管束植物38科64属82种,人工林群落有维管束植物30科55属71种,两个群落共有种为53种,相似系数为0.55.(2) 华山松人工林群落灌木层和草本层的Maglef指数、Simpson指数、Shanon-Wiener指数和Pielou均匀度指数与天然次生林群落无显著差异,但人工林乔木层的4个多样性指数显著低于次生林.人工林的4个多样性指数表现为灌木层＞草本层＞乔木层的规律,天然次生林表现出灌木层＞乔木层＞草本层的规律.(3)在生活型谱上,人工林与次生林的高位芽、地上芽、地面芽、地下芽和一年生草本的差异均不显著,但是天然次生林的中小高位芽植物比例显著高于人工林,矮高位芽植物相反.(4)在垂直结构上,天然次生林乔木层的树种组成和灌木层的天然更新幼苗量较人工林丰富,两个群落乔木层华山松种群的平均高度以及乔灌草三层的盖度无显著差异.(5)在水平结构上,人工林华山松种群的空间分布格局为均匀分布,胸径一致,为纯林;天然次生林华山松种群空间分布格局为聚集分布,与华椴和锐齿栎等树种水平镶嵌,形成异龄混交林.(6)天然次生林群落的自然构成系数为3.20,顶极树种比例为34.7%,人工林群落的自然构成系数为1.49,顶极树种比例为22.7%,两个群落差异极显著,且天然次生林群落处于先锋群落的中后期阶段,人工林群落尚处于先锋群落的初期阶段.研究表明,经过40年的恢复,两个群落整体上已具有一定程度的相似性,物种组成已比较接近,灌木层和草本层已无显著差异,两者主要差异在乔木层和演替状态上,天然次生林乔木层树种丰富,群落演替速度较人工林快.     

天目山常绿落叶阔叶林群落垂直结构与群落整体物种多样性的关系

以浙江省天目山1 hm²常绿落叶阔叶混交林样地调查数据为基础,运用K-means聚类方法将DBH≥1 cm的个体根据树高划分为不同林层,研究比较了各个林层的物种多样性特点;利用通径分析方法和决策系数定量计算各个林层物种多样性对群落整体物种多样性的直接作用和间接作用,天目山常绿落叶阔叶林垂直结构对群落物种多样性构成的影响。结果表明：（1）天目山常绿落叶阔叶林群落层次结构丰富,树高由1.4-36.5 m依次可分为灌木层、亚冠层、林冠下层、林冠中层和林冠上层。（2）天目山常绿落叶阔叶林群落从灌木层依次往向上,物种丰富度、多度、特有种数量、Shannon-Weiner指数和Simpson指数均呈下降趋势。（3）灌木层对群落物种多样性的贡献最大且远高于其他四个林层,其中灌木层对群落整体物种多样性Shannon-Wiener指数、Pielou指数以及Simpson指数的决策系数分别为0.850、0.651、0.755。（4）林冠下层、林冠中层和林冠上层密度的大小对灌木层的物种数目有明显的影响,林冠层密度越大,灌木层群落的物种数目越少,复杂程度越低;偶见种和稀有种对群落物种多样性的维持具有特殊作用。综上,研究认为森林群落的垂直结构在维持森林群落整体物种多样性中具有关键作用,而灌木层在群落整体物种多样性构成中具有决定作用,森林群落中稀有种、偶见种多少在群落物种多样性构成中具有特殊作用。     

川西亚高山森林不同恢复途径物种组成和群落结构动态变化

川西亚高山森林作为西南林区主体,是长江上游的生态屏障,该区域植被恢复方式主要为人工恢复和自然恢复,比较不同恢复方式下森林的物种组成和群落结构动态变化,对于川西亚高山森林恢复与重建有重要的意义,可以为制定合理的森林管理策略提供科学依据。基于茂县山地生态系统定位研究站不同恢复模式形成的的华山松人工林、油松人工林和自然恢复的次生林野外调查数据,分析了2005-2020年乔、灌、草三个层次的群落结构特征和多样性。结果表明:(1)不同恢复途径下,乔木层物种数都呈现增加趋势,华山松人工林、油松人工林、自然恢复的次生林乔木层物种数分别增加了11种、7种、8种;(2)华山松人工林中华山松重要值从48.06%降低到31.1%,乡土阔叶树种四川蜡瓣花进入乔木层,2020年重要值增大至21.62%,油松人工林中油松重要值逐渐降低,从43.59%降至29.76%;自然恢复的次生林中,乡土树种锐齿槲栎逐渐成为第一优势种,2020年重要值增至19.9%。(3) 华山松人工林、油松人工林和自然恢复的次生林中,温带区系成分分别占总属数的71.43%,80.77%和84%,温带区系特征明显。(4)华山松人工林和油松人工林乔木层径级结构均为偏正态分布;而自然恢复的次生林径级分布呈倒"J"形,以小径级个体为主。(5)不同林型的乔木层高度在15年间呈现增加的趋势,具体表现为油松人工林>华山松人工林>自然恢复的次生林。(6)乔木层Shannon-wiener指数和 Simpson指数均表现为自然恢复的次生林显著大于两个人工林,丰富度指数和均匀度指数表现为油松人工林最大;灌木层4个多样性指数均表现为油松人工林最大;草本层的丰富度指数、Shannon-wiener 指数和 Simpson 指数均表现为油松人工林较大,均匀度指数没有显著差异。结论:人工林恢复速度大于自然恢复的次生林,但自然恢复的次生林更新能力更强,且更有利于多样性的保存。两个人工林逐渐由常绿针叶林演替为以常绿针叶树为主的针阔混交林,自然恢复的次生林演替为以常绿阔叶树为主的针阔混交林。     

人为干扰对川西碧峰峡山矾次生林群落结构和物种多样性的影响

为探讨人为干扰对川西碧峰峡山矾(Symplocos sumuntia)次生林群落结构和物种多样性的影响,对其群落结构、物种组成和物种多样性特征进行了研究。结果表明,在总面积为7200 m~2的12块样地中共记录到维管束植物151种,隶属于58科98属,以樟科(Lauraceae)、山矾科(Symplocaceae)、蔷薇科(Rosaceae)等为主。单因素方差分析表明,不同强度人为干扰对山矾次生林群落径级、高度级结构影响的差异不显著(P0.05),群落乔木层径级为单峰型结构,高度级结构分布呈倒“J”型,群落天然更新能力强。受不同人为强度干扰的山矾次生林群落各层次物种组成和优势种数量不同,乔木层优势种数量差异显著,且轻度干扰中度干扰重度干扰;灌木层和草本层中,中度干扰的优势种数量最多,轻度干扰次之,重度干扰的最少。总体上看,人为干扰对山矾次生林群落乔木层、草本层物种多样性水平具有负面影响,群落Shannon-Wiener多样性指数(H)、Simpson优势度指数(H′)、物种丰富度指数(S)和均匀度指数(J_(sw))随人为干扰强度的增加而降低,物种多样性水平呈下降趋势;中度干扰下灌木层的物种多样性有增加的趋势。总体上物种多样性指数表现出灌木层乔木层草本层的规律。     

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.     

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。     

鼎湖山南亚热带常绿阔叶林群落垂直结构及其物种多样性特征

群落结构在森林生态系统中具有重要作用, 其构建机制一直是森林生态学的研究核心。群落结构不仅包括水平方向上的物种分布格局, 还包括垂直方向上的物种分层结构。本文基于鼎湖山南亚热带常绿阔叶林塔吊样地, 利用林冠塔吊和测高杆精准测量样地内每个个体(胸径大于1 cm)的树高, 并划分群落的垂直层次, 研究了每层的群落多样性特征(α多样性)和林层间的群落多样性变化特征(β多样性)。结果表明: (1)样地群落垂直层次由下至上分为5层: 灌木层、亚冠层、林冠下层、林冠中层和林冠上层。(2)随林层向上, 物种丰富度、多度和Shannon-Wiener指数均下降, Pielou均匀度指数在林冠下层最大。(3)利用POD法计算并分解β多样性, 发现随林层向上, β多样性在灌木层与其他各层间呈递增趋势, 在相邻林层间呈单峰型, 不同林层间的物种组成差异主要由丰富度差异造成。 但在林冠下层与林冠中层间丰富度差异较小, 物种替换组分增大, 可能与林冠下层所处特殊位置有关。(4)各林层内微环境从灌木层向上, 趋于高温、强光照和低空气相对湿度, 但林冠下层平均日光强最低。综上, 鼎湖山南亚热带常绿阔叶林林冠下层可能存在强烈的环境筛选作用, 且光照可能是影响群落垂直结构形成的限制因子。     

浙江天童山区灌丛群落的物种多样性及其与演替的关系

根据浙江天童山区灌丛群落的样地调查数据,采用Shannon－Wiener多样性指数、Simpson指数和群落均匀度指数研究了灌丛群落的物种多样性,并与当地的常绿阔叶林进行了比较。结果表明：这3种指标能够有效地表征亚热带灌丛群落的组成结构特征。天童灌丛群落灌木层的物种多样性指数 SW 高于常绿阔叶林中乔木层,而低于常绿阔叶林中灌木层。灌丛群落灌木层的生态优势度 SN 低于常绿阔叶林中乔木层,但高于常绿阔叶林中灌木层。灌丛群落灌木层的群落均匀度 PW 比常绿阔叶林中乔木层的和灌水层的都低。此外,文中还就本区灌丛群落物种多样性的特点,讨论了加速其进展演替的恢复措施。     

浙江古田山次生与老龄常绿阔叶林群落特征的比较

常绿阔叶林为东亚亚热带地区的地带性植被, 对该地区的生物多样性维持和社会发展具有重要的意义。由于长期人类活动的影响, 目前我国分布的常绿阔叶林绝大部分为次生常绿阔叶林。探究次生与老龄常绿阔叶林群落特征的差异, 有利于了解人类干扰对亚热带常绿阔叶林的影响, 为其保护和恢复提供依据。本研究在古田山老龄与次生常绿阔叶林内共设置了29个0.04 ha样地, 比较两者在优势种组成、物种和功能多样性以及生物量等方面的差异。结果表明: (1)次生林与老龄林优势种组成相似, 二者均以甜槠(Castanopsis eyrei)、木荷(Schima superba)等典型常绿阔叶林优势种为主, 但这些树种在次生和老龄常绿阔叶林中的优势度次序不同。(2)整体而言, 次生林的Shannon-Wiener指数和功能离散度高于老龄林; 次生林与老龄林的物种Bray-Curtis指数和功能Sørensen指数均无显著差别。(3)就垂直层次而言, 次生林与老龄林在Shannon-Wiener指数和Bray-Curtis指数的差异主要体现在乔木层和灌木层。(4)就群落结构而言, 次生林的植株密度高于老龄林, 但群落水平和个体水平的生物量均显著小于老龄林。上述结果表明, 人类干扰改变了古田山常绿阔叶林群落的多个重要特征, 不同群落特征的恢复过程并不同步。因此, 对常绿阔叶林生物多样性和生态系统功能的保护和恢复需要从多个角度着手。     

黄土高原马栏林区主要森林群落物种多样性研究

应用丰富度指数(S)、多样性指数(H1)、优势度指数(D)和均匀度指数(Js)对子午岭马栏林区的主要森林群落物种多样性进行了研究。结果表明:41个样地共记录草本151种,灌木111种,乔木33种。马栏林区森林植物群落其总体多样性是混交林>纯林>人工林;不同森林群落各层的物种多样性基本都表现为灌木层>草本层>乔木层;物种多样性乔木层以油松(Pinus tabulaeformis) 辽东栎(Quercus liaotungensis)混交林和落叶阔叶混交林较高,灌木层以油松 白桦(Betula platyphylla)混交林、白桦林和天然油松林多样性较高;草本层则是人工刺槐 (Robinia pseudoacacia)林、白桦林和山杨(Populus davidiana)林多样性较高。人工刺槐林和人工油松林在乔木层和灌木层多样性指数都较低。物种均匀度乔木层是落叶阔叶混交林最高,人工油松林和人工刺槐林最低;灌木层各群落的均匀度较为接近;草本层则表现为人工刺槐林均匀度最高,混交林最低。β多样性分析显示人工刺槐林与其它森林群落相异性较大,而辽东栎林、天然油松林和油松 白桦混交林均与油松 辽东栎混交林的相异性较小。研究表明多树种营造混交林可以增加群落的多样性,建造具有较高物种多样性的群落应种植混交林取代单一物种的人工纯林,在选择树种时应优先考虑乡土树种。     

Cryptogamic epiphytes in primary and recovering upper montane oak forests of Costa Rica – species richness,community composition and ecology

Species richness, community composition and ecology of cryptogamic epiphytes (bryophytes, macrolichens) were studied in upper montane primary, early secondary and late secondary oak forests of the Cordillera de Talamanca, Costa Rica. Canopy trees of Quercus copeyensis were sampled with the aim of getting insight in patterns and processes of epiphyte succession and recovery of diversity in secondary forest following forest clearing. Species richness of cryptogamic epiphytes in secondary and primary forests were nearly the same, showing that primary forests are not necessarily more diverse than secondary forests. High species richness of secondary forests was presumed due to the closed canopy, resulting in permanently high atmospheric humidity in these forests. Similarity in species composition of secondary and primary forests increases with forest age, but after 40 years of succession one third (46 species) of primary forest species had not re-established in the secondary forest. Community composition in primary and secondary forests differed markedly and indicates that a long time is needed for the re-establishment of microhabitats and re-invasion of species and communities adapted to differentiated niches. Genera and species exclusive to primary forests are relevant as indicator taxa and conservation targets. Forty percent (68 species) of all species recorded are restricted to secondary forests, indicating the important contribution of secondary forest diversity to total species richness of the oak forests of Costa Rica.     

海南岛热带低地雨林刀耕火种弃耕地自然恢复过程中的群落构建

研究群落构建机制是群落生态学的一个重要目标, 群落动态过程中的构建规律对于了解群落演替机理有重要的作用。该文以海南岛刀耕火种干扰后自然恢复的10 hm ²热带低地雨林为研究对象, 通过比较不同恢复阶段的次生林(15年、30年和60年)和老龄林在幼苗、幼树和成年树群落的物种组成, 揭示次生演替过程中的群落构建规律。研究结果表明, 老龄林中不同径级群落的物种多样性及不同径级间的物种相似度显著高于各恢复阶段的次生林, 但优势种在群落中的比例低于各恢复阶段的次生林。随着自然恢复过程的进行, 次生林群落物种组成与老龄林的相似性也逐渐增大, 支持演替平衡理论。所有恢复阶段样地中幼苗的个体、物种丰富度和基于多度涵盖估计量(ACE)都低于幼树和成年树群落, 幼苗层物种组成与幼树、成年树也有较大差异, 说明新增到幼苗群落可能是一个难于预测的过程。研究结果说明了确定过程和随机过程共同决定了次生演替的群落构建。     

多样化松林中昆虫群落多样性特征

马尾松和湿地松是我国南方的2种主要松树。通过对6种不同林分结构下的马尾松林和湿地松林内昆虫群落调查与多样性指数分析,表明2种松树内的昆虫种类和数量无显著差异,混交林中的昆虫群落的种类和数量比纯林多,尤其以捕食天敌类群的种类和数量更为明显。整个昆虫群落和植食类群多样性指数以湿地松林内较大,而天敌(捕食类群和寄生类群)多样性指数则以马尾松林较高。从不同林分结构下昆虫多样性的比较来看,混交林内昆虫群落多样性指数波动较小,明显地高于纯林。但不同林分结构下昆虫多样性随水平分布和垂直分层格局而变化,松树北面和东面各样地之间的昆虫群落多样性指数差异显著,而南、西面之间差异较小;树冠层各样地之间的差异达极显著水平,而枯枝落叶层和树干层之间差异不显著。由此,还进一步讨论了混交林中昆虫群落稳定性问题。     

云南橡胶林和天然次生林枯落物层蚂蚁物种多样性、群落结构差异及指示种

橡胶树Hevea brasiliensis是云南省重要的经济林木, 但对其生态服务功能尚存在争议。本研究以天然次生林为对照, 使用Winkler法对橡胶林枯落物层蚂蚁进行初步研究, 探讨橡胶林枯落物层蚂蚁的生态状况。于2012年10月和2013年4月采用Winkler袋法调查了云南省绿春县大黑山乡橡胶林和牛孔乡天然次生林枯落物层蚂蚁群落的物种多样性、 群落结构差异及指示种。结果表明： 橡胶林枯落物层蚂蚁多度（转换后）、 物种丰富度S和ACE值显著低于无干扰的天然次生林（P<0.05）; 蚂蚁多度（转换后）显著低于有干扰的天然次生林（P<0.05）, 而物种丰富度S和ACE值差异不显著。橡胶林枯落物层蚂蚁群落结构与两种天然次生林都不相似（F=3.93, df=12, P<0.01）。橡胶林中流浪种大头蚁属Pheidole的蚂蚁种类与天然次生林相比, 物种丰富度增加了100%。天然次生林枯落物层中蚂蚁指示种有3种, 分别为刘氏隆头蚁Strumigenys lewisi、 黄足厚结猛蚁Pachycondyla luteipes和女娲角腹蚁Recurvidris nuwa, 而橡胶林枯落物层中指示种仅为菱结大头蚁Pheidole nodus。枯落物层蚂蚁物种多样性与枯落物厚度呈显著正相关, 而枯落物盖度仅与蚂蚁多度（转换后）有相关性。结果说明, 橡胶林经过长期的经营管理, 生态环境趋于稳定, 对枯落物层蚂蚁群落具有一定的保护作用, 但与天然次生林相比, 蚂蚁多度（转换后）及群落结构仍显示出明显的不同。     

Direct and indirect effects of environmental factors,spatial constraints,and functional traits on shaping the plant diversity of montane forests

Understanding the relative importance of the factors driving the patterns of biodiversity is a key research topic in community ecology and biogeography. However, the main drivers of plant species diversity in montane forests are still not clear. In addition, most existing studies make no distinction between direct and indirect effects of environmental factors and spatial constraints on plant biodiversity. Using data from 107 montane forest plots in Sichuan Giant Panda habitat, China, we quantified the direct and indirect effects of abiotic environmental factors, spatial constraints, and plant functional traits on plant community diversity. Our results showed significant correlations between abiotic environmental factors and trees (r = .10, p value = .001), shrubs (r = .19, p value = .001), or overall plant diversity (r = .18, p value = .001) in montane forests. Spatial constraints also showed significant correlations with trees and shrubs. However, no significant correlations were found between functional traits and plant community diversity. Moreover, the diversity (richness and abundance) of shrubs, trees, and plant communities was directly affected by precipitation, latitude, and altitude. Mean annual temperature (MAT) had no direct effect on the richness of tree and plant communities. Further, MAT and precipitation indirectly affected plant communities via the tree canopy. The results revealed a stronger direct effect on montane plant diversity than indirect effect, suggesting that single‐species models may be adequate for forecasting the impacts of climate factors in these communities. The shifting of tree canopy coverage might be a potential indicator for trends of plant diversity under climate change.     

Does plant diversity increase top–down control of herbivorous insects in tropical forest?

Higher trophic level interactions are key mediators of ecosystem functioning in tropical forests. A rich body of theory has been developed to predict the effects of plant diversity on communities at higher trophic levels and the mechanisms underlying such effects. The 'enemies hypothesis’ states that predators exert more effective top–down control of herbivorous insects with increasing plant diversity. Support for this hypothesis has been found in temperate forests and agroecosystems, but remains understudied in tropical forests. We compared incidence of attacks of different natural enemies using artificial caterpillars in a tropical forest landscape and investigated the role of plant community structure (i.e. species richness, composition and density), and the role of forest fragmentation (i.e. patch size, edge distance and canopy openness) on predation intensity. Plant community effects were tested with respect to three vegetation strata: trees, saplings and herbs. Observed predation was substantially due to ants. Predation rates increased with plant species richness for trees and herbs. Density of saplings, herb cover and herb species composition were important factors for predation. No significant patterns were found for fragmentation parameters, suggesting that forest fragmentation has not altered predation intensity. We conclude that in tropical forests, top–down control of herbivorous insects in the understory vegetation is affected by a combination of plant diversity, plant species composition and structural features of the plant community.     

浙江省生态公益林植被恢复过程中物种组成及多样性的变化

在浙江省生态公益林区域的现状植被中分析了6种主要群落类型的物种组成和多样性的变化格局,包括演替系列中的2种灌丛、松优势林、2种混交林和常绿阔叶林。结果表明含松较多的灌丛和松优势林常分布在环境退化较严重(土层瘠薄)的生境中,其中灌木层主要由阳性的映山红、木、白栎等组成,常绿阔叶林优势种木荷、青冈、苦槠、甜槠等在其中偶见,因此推断其自然恢复为常绿林的速度慢;含常绿阔叶树较多的灌丛及含松较少的混交林分布在土层较厚处,木荷、青冈、苦槠、甜槠等的频度和重要值都较大,较容易自然恢复为常绿阔叶林。各种群落中物种多样性指数——Gleason、Shannon-Wiener、Simpson指数基本上以常绿阔叶林为最高,其次是含松较少的混交林,含松较多的灌丛和松优势林各种多样性指数最低。本研究显示我国中亚热带东部森林植被恢复途径有3条:(1)灌草丛→针叶林(松)→针(松)阔混交林→常绿阔叶林;(2)灌草丛→针(松)阔混交林→常绿阔叶林;(3)灌草丛→常绿阔叶林。这意味着本区域的常绿阔叶林恢复可以不必经历松林阶段,在生境条件较好的地方通过人工干预、补种常绿阔叶树可以加速常绿阔叶林恢复。     

Diversity Patterns in the Flora of the Campo-Ma’an Rain Forest, Cameroon: Do Tree Species Tell it All?

This study describes diversity patterns in the flora of the Campo-Ma’an rain forest, in south Cameroon. In this area, the structure and composition of the forests change progressively from the coastal forest on sandy shorelines through the lowland evergreen forest rich in Caesalpinioideae with Calpocalyx heitzii and Sacoglottis gabonensis, to the submontane forest at higher elevations and the mixed evergreen and semi-deciduous forest in the drier Ma’an area. We tested whether there is a correlation between tree species diversity and diversity of other growth forms such as shrubs, herbs, and lianas in order to understand if, in the context of African tropical rain forest, tree species diversity mirrors the diversity of other life forms or strata. Are forests that are rich in tree species also rich in other life forms? To answer this question, we analysed the family and species level floristic richness and diversity of the various growth forms and forest strata within 145 plots recorded in 6 main vegetation types. A comparison of the diversity within forest layers and within growth forms was done using General Linear Models. The results showed that tree species accounted for 46% of the total number of vascular plant species with DBH ≥1 cm, shrubs/small trees 39%, climbers 14% and herbs less than 1%. Only 22% of the diversity of shrubs and lianas could be explained by the diversity of large and medium sized trees, and less than 1% of herb diversity was explained by tree diversity. The shrub layer was by far the most species rich, with both a higher number of species per plot, and a higher Shannon diversity index, than the tree and the herb layer. More than 82% of tree species, 90% of shrubs, 78% of lianas and 70% of herbaceous species were recorded in the shrub layer. Moreover, shrubs contributed for 38% of the 114 strict and narrow endemic plant species recorded in the area, herbs 29%, trees only 20% and climbers 11%. These results indicate that the diversity of trees might not always reflect the overall diversity of the forest in the Campo-Ma’an area, and therefore it may not be a good indicator for the diversity of shrubs and herbaceous species. Furthermore, this suggests that biodiversity surveys based solely on large and medium sized tree species (DBH ≥0cm) are not an adequate method for the assessment of plant diversity because other growth form such as shrubs, climbers and herbs are under-represented. Therefore, inventory design based on small plots of 0.1 ha, in which all vascular plants with DBH ≥1 cm are recorded, is a more appropriate sampling method for biodiversity assessments than surveys based solely on large and medium sized tree species.     

The contribution of cacao agroforests to the conservation of lower canopy ant and beetle diversity in Indonesia

The ongoing destruction of tropical rainforests has increased the interest in the potential value of tropical agroforests for the conservation of biodiversity. Traditional, shaded agroforests may support high levels of biodiversity, for some groups even approaching that of undisturbed tropical forests. However, it is unclear to what extent forest fauna is represented in this diversity and how management affects forest fauna in agroforests. We studied lower canopy ant and beetle fauna in cacao agroforests and forests in Central Sulawesi, Indonesia, a region dominated by cacao agroforestry. We compared ant and beetle species richness and composition in forests and cacao agroforests and studied the impact of two aspects of management intensification (the decrease in shade tree diversity and in shade canopy cover) on ant and beetle diversity. The agroforests had three types of shade that represented a decrease in tree diversity (high, intermediate and low diversity). Species richness of ants and beetles in the canopies of the cacao trees was similar to that found in lower canopy forest trees. However, the composition of ant and beetle communities differed greatly between the agroforest and forest sites. Forest beetles suffered profoundly from the conversion to agroforests: only 12.5% of the beetle species recorded in the forest sites were also found in the agroforests and those species made up only 5% of all beetles collected from cacao. In contrast, forest ants were well represented in agroforests, with 75% of all species encountered in the forest sites also occurring on cacao. The reduction of shade tree diversity had no negative effect on ants and beetles on cacao trees. Beetle abundances and non-forest ant species richness even increased with decreasing shade tree diversity. Thinning of the shade canopy was related to a decrease in richness of forest ant species on cacao trees but not of beetles. The contrasting responses of ants and beetles to shade tree management emphasize that conservation plans that focus on one taxonomic group may not work for others. Overall ant and beetle diversity can remain high in shaded agroforests but the conservation of forest ants and beetles in particular depends primarily on the protection of natural forests, which for forest ants can be complemented by the conservation of adjacent shaded cacao agroforests.     

Ecological impacts of desert plantation forests on biodiversity

This investigation involves the comparison of the diversity of understorey vegetation of four desert planted forests with the adjacent desert areas. Spatial and temporal variations in species composition and structure were compared, and alpha and beta diversities were compared for the field data collected from sampled sites. The diversity of native desert species decreased from 66% in desert areas to 44% of the total recorded plants inside the forests. Meanwhile, the percentage of agricultural weed species increased in forests to >twofold more than that recorded in desert areas. Plant communities in forest stands shared <50% of their species with adjacent vegetation in desert stands. The percentage of variation in species composition was >340% in some forests compared with the desert areas. Alpha diversity and β‐diversity were significantly higher in forest stands than in the desert. Spatial and temporal variations in species diversity were correlated with type of tree canopy and irrigation system. Planted forests had significant negative effects on the diversity of native desert shrubs and trees. Using flood irrigation and more spacing between trees might help in conserving the floristic diversity of desert shrubs and trees at the forest floor.