喀斯特常绿落叶阔叶混交林粗木质残体的空间分布格局

粗木质残体(coarse woody debris,CWD)是森林生态系统中重要的结构性和功能性组成要素,是维护系统完整性和稳定性的关键。对CWD空间格局的研究将有助于深入探索种群格局的形成和森林生态系统的维持机制。采用g(r)函数对茂兰喀斯特常绿落叶阔叶混交林1.28 hm~2固定样地内不同径级、不同腐烂等级、不同存在形式的CWD的空间分布格局及空间关联性进行了研究。结果表明:1)在40 m的空间尺度内,CWD总体在0—12 m尺度上表现为集群分布,随着尺度的增加格局强度降低,趋于随机分布,剔除生境异质性后,格局尺度降低至7 m。2)CWD径级格局表现为:小径级中径级大径级。拔根倒和干中折断在整个研究尺度上为随机分布,其他不同径级、不同腐烂等级、不同存在形式的CWD均在小规模尺度(2—8 m)表现为集群分布,随着尺度的增加聚集强度急剧变小,趋于随机分布或均匀分布。3)除了干中折断与树段之间、大径级与小径级之间的CWD在空间上相互独立,其他不同径级、不同腐烂等级或不同存在形式的CWD之间均在小规模尺度(2—8 m)上表现为显著的正相关,随着尺度的增加空间关联性降低。喀斯特常绿落叶阔叶混交林CWD的分布格局可能是在小尺度内由密度制约、在大尺度内由生境过滤和个体自然衰老等生态学过程所形成,大径级对临近的小径级、先死亡对后死亡、站杆对倒下的个体具有一定的正向影响作用,在一定程度上揭示了该林型天然更新的作用和机制。     

胜山阔叶红松林粗木质残体空间分布格局

为探究胜山阔叶红松(Pinus koraiensis)林粗木质残体(Coarse woody debris, CWD)的形成过程及机制,采用点格局分析法对10.4 hm²大型样地内不同分类的CWD 的空间格局、空间关联性进行了研究。结果表明:(1) 总CWD 在0-7 m尺度聚集分布,7-50 m尺度随机分布。(2) 腐烂等级5级CWD 、倒木、伐根在所有尺度随机分布;其他CWD 随尺度增大由聚集分布转为随机分布,但格局尺度不同(在2-10 m之间)。(3) 大、中径级与小径级CWD 在0-4 m、0-6 m尺度正相关;高腐烂等级与低腐烂等级CWD 在0-5 m尺度以内正相关;枯立木与倒木在0-4 m尺度正相关;落叶松(Larix gmelinii)CWD与小径级、腐烂等级2级的红皮云杉(Picea koraiensis)CWD 在0-3 m尺度正相关,与中径级、腐烂等级1、2级在13-16 m尺度负相关。胜山阔叶红松林CWD 的形成是由树种特性、小尺度的个体竞争、大尺度的自然衰老、外界干扰、生境异质性等共同决定的;大、中径级对小径级CWD、先形成对后形成CWD、枯立木对倒木具有一定的正向影响,落叶松对红皮云杉CWD 在小尺度有正向影响,而在稍大尺度有负面影响;在一定程度上揭示了该林型CWD 的形成过程和机制。     

长白山蒙古栎次生林群落结构特征及优势树种空间分布格局

群落结构特征研究是揭示植物群落维持机制和演替动态的基础,是合理安排森林经营活动的基本前提.以吉林省汪清林业局2块1 hm²的蒙古栎阔叶混交林固定样地为对象,研究了长白山蒙古栎次生林的群落结构特征,并采用点格局O-ring统计法对群落内优势树种的空间分布格局进行分析.结果表明: 两块样地都是以蒙古栎为优势树种的群落类型,都具有明显的层次结构,主要伴生树种存在差异,样地Ⅰ以大青杨、白桦、红松为主,样地Ⅱ以红松、紫椴和色木槭为主.且样地Ⅰ的树种数量、Shannon多样性指数高于样地Ⅱ.两块样地中所有个体的径级分布呈倒“J”型,蒙古栎径级结构呈近似正态型,红松呈倒J型,其他主要伴生树种径级结构存在一定差异.两块样地0～50 m尺度上蒙古栎呈现小尺度聚集、中大尺度随机分布的格局,红松呈先聚集、后随机的分布格局,但样地Ⅰ内红松聚集的尺度和强度均大于样地Ⅱ.样地Ⅰ白桦和大青杨均在0～17 m尺度上呈聚集分布、且聚集强度显著高于其他树种,而在18～50 m尺度分别呈现随机分布和均匀-随机分布.样地Ⅱ中紫椴基本呈现随机分布,色木槭在中大尺度上呈随机或均匀分布,聚集分布集中在小尺度.两块样地处于演替早期阶段的不同发育阶段,相比样地Ⅰ,样地Ⅱ的演替阶段更高、群落相对更加稳定.     

太岳山油松天然林林木的空间格局

油松(Pinus tabulaeformis)耐低温、干旱和贫瘠,是我国北方温性针叶林中分布最广的森林群落,也是我国北方广大地区最主要的造林树种之一。太岳林区在山西省素称"油松之乡",麻池背的油松天然林从封禁以来,在其生长过程中未受到干扰破坏,形成了独特的油松天然林生态系统顶级群落。2007年7月,在太岳林区灵空山林场的麻池背,设置了一块面积为4hm2的油松天然林样地,逐一测量并记录了样地内所有胸径大于1cm乔木树种的胸径(DBH),树高,冠幅(南北,东西)和枝下高,并对其挂牌标记,鉴定种名,确定坐标位置。用扩散系数C,平均拥挤度m*和聚块性指数m*/m及Morisita指数Iδ对样地内林木的空间格局进行了判断,主要研究了油松林木空间格局随取样尺度、林木径级变化的动态以及油松上层木,下层木和枯立木的空间格局,另外还分析了主要伴生树种辽东栎(Quercus liaotungensis)以及其他所有阔叶树种的空间格局。研究结果表明:样地内胸径大于1cm的乔木树种共35种,3561株,油松2583株,占总个体数的72.50%,其中活立木2482株,枯立木101株;辽东栎319株,占总个体数的9.07%,为油松的主要伴生树种;其余各树种的个体数占总个体数的比例均不到4%。林分中构成中上层林的树种是油松,树高10m以上的乔木树种中,油松以外的其他树种只占了3.99%;10m以下的乔木树种和灌木组成了下层林木。油松的径级分布呈峰型,中径级个体多,主要集中在28—36cm,小径级与大径级则相对较少。在5m×5m,10m×10m,20m×20m三个尺度下,油松林木均为集群格局,且尺度变化对聚集程度影响不明显;同时对不同径级油松林木分布格局研究显示,除最大径级(d44cm)外,其余各径级基本都为集群格局,而最大径级为随机格局,表明随着生长发育,油松林木空间格局由集群格局逐渐向随机格局转变;油松上层木、下层木和枯立木均为集群格局;主要伴生树种辽东栎以及其他所有阔叶树种皆为集群格局。     

后河自然保护区珍稀植物群落主要树种6年动态变化

用每木定位监测方法分析了后河自然保护区常绿落叶阔叶混交林1 hm2固定样地主要乔木树种6年的（2001～2007年）动态变化。样地主要分布有14种普通树种和5种珍稀树种。对这19个树种胸径≥5 cm的林木动态进行分析。2001年,样地有998株主要树种,到2007年,其中100株死亡,样地中新增81株更新幼树。19个主要树种基盖度从19.56 m2/hm2增加到20.14 m2/hm2,群落的径级结构没有明显变化,中等径级个体死亡率最高,且死亡植株在小尺度上聚集分布,较大尺度上随机分布,更新幼树几乎在所有尺度聚集分布,活树和死树在所有尺度空间正关联,活树和更新幼树在大部分尺度负关联。稀有濒危植物能长期稳定地在群落中存在,表明干扰、种内和种间竞争共同影响着群落的发展,群落处于动态平衡状态。     

西藏色季拉山急尖长苞冷杉原始林粗木质残体空间格局分析

粗木质残体（Coarse woody debris,CWD）的空间格局反映了森林群落的死亡格局和干扰格局,在一定程度上体现了群落内林木的死亡过程。采用相邻网格法对色季拉山急尖长苞冷杉（Abies georgei var.smithii）原始林1 hm²固定样地内CWD进行调查,从CWD类型、腐烂等级、径级3个方面对CWD空间分布格局进行分析。结果表明：样地内CWD总密度为582株/hm²,倒木占55.33%,是CWD的主要输入形式。CWD密度在腐烂等级上的分布可用多项式拟合（R²=0.9973）,在径级上的分布可用指数衰减模型拟合（R²=0.9746）,且在不同类型、腐烂等级及径级上的分布差异较大。在50 m尺度内,CWD整体表现为小尺度的集群分布和中、大尺度的随机分布。在3种CWD分类中,仅有大枯枝、Ⅰ级腐烂、径级ⅠCWD在小尺度或中尺度表现为较强的集群分布,其余则均以随机分布为主,只是在个别尺度达到或接近集群分布。不同类型CWD间整体关联不显著,只有枯立木与大枯枝在0-21 m尺度内达到显著负关联。CWD空间分布格局是急尖长苞冷杉原始林的重要结构特征,在很大程度上决定着林下植物群落及林型自然更新格局。     

长白山温带森林不同演替阶段群落结构特征

原始阔叶红松林是长白山西部地区的地带性顶级植被类型, 经采伐干扰或火烧破坏后形成大面积次生林。参照CTFS (Centre for Tropical Forest Science)样地建设技术规范, 于2005~2007年, 在长白山地区典型次生杨桦林、次生针阔混交林和椴树红松林内各建立了5.2 hm²固定监测样地。调查并鉴定了样地内胸径大于1 cm的木本植物, 初步分析了森林监测样地的群落组成和种群结构, 并应用双相关函数g(r)分析了样地内5个优势树种的空间分布。结果表明: 次生杨桦林样地共监测木本植物32种, 20 949株活个体, 隶属于13科21属。次生针阔混交林样地共监测木本植物31个种, 14 725株活个体, 隶属于12科20属。椴树红松林样地共监测木本植物20个种, 12 062株活个体, 隶属于11科13属。次生杨桦林、次生针阔混交林及椴树红松林中胸径大于1 cm的木本植物胸高断面积之和分别为24.74、32.07和56.64 m²·hm^-2。紫椴(Tilia amurensis)是长白山针阔混交林带的重要组成树种, 其重要值、胸高断面积在3个森林监测样地内均居于前列。白桦(Betula platyphylla)、山杨(Populus daviana)重要值和胸高断面积在次生杨桦林内均处于优势地位, 而在椴树红松林内优势地位为红松(Pinus koraiensis)等顶级树种所取代。次生杨桦林和次生针阔混交林中, 红松、色木槭(Acer mono)、臭松(Abies nephrolepis)、鱼鳞松(Picea jezoensis)和紫椴的径级结构均呈倒J型分布; 而椴树红松林内, 红松和紫椴的径级结构则呈单峰分布, 色木槭、臭松和鱼鳞松呈倒J型分布。g(r)分析表明长白山森林监测样地内5个优势树种的空间格局以聚集分布为主, 聚集强度在同种个体周围(r≤4 m)达到最大, 随着距离增加, 聚集强度逐渐减小。次生林中树种空间格局的环境解释量较高, 而椴树红松林中环境因子对树种空间分布的解释能力较差。     

小兴安岭阔叶红松林物种组成及主要种群的空间分布格局

研究了黑龙江省凉水国家自然保护区阔叶红松林的物种组成和径级结构,并应用点格局分析方法对其主要种群的空间分布格局及空间关联性进行了研究.结果表明: 该保护区内阔叶红松林中胸径≥1 cm的乔木共有16种,种群密度差异性很大,针叶树种红松和冷杉处于明显的优势地位;种群的径级结构近似倒“J”形,林分更新良好;主要种群的分布格局多呈聚集分布,只有红松在19～21 m和44 m尺度上以及青楷槭在接近所研究的最大尺度上时才呈现出随机分布.其中,红松在所研究尺度上一直都接近于随机分布,聚集强度也最小,冷杉、紫椴和青楷槭的分布格局都呈现出随机分布的趋势;除红松和冷杉在2～3 m的小尺度上,以及冷杉和青楷槭在37～81 m尺度上呈显著正相关外,其余种群的空间关联性均不显著.所有树种的总体联结关系均表现为不显著的正关联.
     

张广才岭温带次生针阔混交林物种组成和群落结构特征

为了研究温带次生针阔混交林的树种组成和群落结构特征,于2010年在吉林省蛟河林业实验区管理局建立了面积为21.84 hm2(420 m×520 m)的固定样地。从物种组成、种-面积曲线、植物区系特征、径级分布结构和空间分布格局等方面分析了该地区针阔混交林物种组成和群落结构特征。研究结果表明该样地共有DBH≥1.0 cm的木本植物活立木个体25,908株,隶属于18科27属45种,植株密度为1186株/hm2。植物区系以北温带分布属为主体,共有37属,占总数的82.22%,属长白山植物区系。样地内稀有种18种,偶见种14种。通过对该样地物种多样性计算得出,该样地Margalef多样性指数R、ShannonWienner指数H'、Simpson多样性指数D和物种均匀度Pielou指数Jsw分别为4.31、2.48、0.89和0.65。样地中所有个体的径级分布(以2cm等级排列)呈偏倒"J"形,整体更新良好,表现出群落稳定与生长状况良好的趋势。群落中重要值3的9个物种的径级结构表现出一定的差异:胡桃楸、水曲柳呈近似正态分布,表现为中径木个体数量多,而小径木和大径木个体数量少的特点;春榆、大果榆、色木槭、白牛槭、裂叶榆等物种呈倒"J"型或偏倒"J"型,更新良好;而红松由于受到了严重的人为干扰,天然更新不良,径级结构呈现不规律型。通过g(r)双变量函数分析9个优势树种空间分布格局可知,9个优势树种均表现出聚集分布,聚集强度随着尺度的增大而降低。在r20 m的小尺度上物种聚集强度随尺度增大急剧降低,当尺度超过20 m后聚集强度趋于稳定。     

浙江省典型天然次生林主要树种空间分布格局及其关联性

松阔混交林和常绿阔叶林是亚热带地区天然次生林代表性的森林类型,通过研究主要树种分布变动趋势,可以有效地指导森林经营措施。在该地区4个1hm~2典型样地,在0—30m尺度范围内综合分析了主要树种的空间分布格局及种间关联性,并对同一树种分发育阶段在不同森林群落中的种群空间分布格局进行了比较,以探讨亚热带地区天然次生林群落空间格局形成和种群维持机制。样地1和2为松阔混交林,其中样地1的马尾松密度较低,样地3和4为常绿阔叶林。研究结果表明:(1)以完全随机模型为零假设时,样地1的主要种群在小尺度(10 m)呈聚集分布,随尺度增加呈随机分布;样地2—4的主要种群在所有尺度呈聚集分布,随尺度增加聚集强度逐渐减弱;以异质泊松模型为零假设时,4个样地的主要种群在大部分尺度呈随机分布;(2)青冈和苦槠的小树(5.0 cm≤DBH10.0 cm)在4样地的所有尺度以聚集分布为主,大树(DBH≥10.0 cm)在松阔混交林样地呈随机分布趋势,但在常绿阔叶林样地青冈在0—20 m尺度、苦槠在所有尺度呈聚集分布;(3)松阔混交林中建群种马尾松和其他树种的种间关联性,在样地1的小尺度为负相关,随尺度增加为不相关,在样地2的所有尺度为负相关;常绿阔叶林中建群种青冈和其他树种的种间关联性在在样地3的小尺度为负相关,随尺度增加为不相关,在样地4的所有尺度为负相关;所有伴生树种的种间关联性以负相关为主。结果说明,种群空间分布格局及其关联性随群落结构和空间尺度的不同而出现变化,在松阔混交林和常绿阔叶林群落格局形成中除了扩散限制和生境异质性以外,密度制约机制在松阔混交林中发挥了重要作用,而在常绿阔叶林中其作用随着树木生活史阶段的提高而减弱。     

芦芽山亚高山草甸优势种群和群落的二维格局分析

种群和群落的二维空间格局研究能够更好地揭示群落的空间和结构特征,但在分析方法上有较大的困难。用垂直相交的两条样带在两个方向上同时取样的二维取样法,获得数据,用一维格局分析方法分别分析,可以得到各个种不同格局规模斑块的长、宽及面积,实现二维格局研究。用DCA排序和格局分析方法相结合,可以完成群落的二维格局分析。在山西芦芽山亚高山草甸应用的结果表明这样的垂直样带二维取样及分析方法较好地反映了种群和群落的空间特性,是非常有效的,并且该方法简单易做,具有较大的可操作性。所研究的草甸主要优势种格局斑块的形状比较规则,面积也较大。次要种斑块多为不规则形,面积也较小。群落格局与主要优势种的格局关系密切。     

喀斯特原生天坑植物群落空间格局特征——以云南沾益天坑为例

以云南沾益大毛寺原生天坑为例,获取坑内植物群落林木个体相对位置信息,进行角尺度、混交度、林层指数等林木空间结构参数与坑底植物群落空间格局分析,并运用点格局分析方法进行单个种群的空间分布特征以及不同种群间的空间关联性分析.结果表明: 大毛寺原生天坑坑底植物群落在空间分布上呈现随机分布,林木物种呈中度混交,林木垂直分层虽较简单,但结构稳定,具有发育成熟的顶极森林群落的空间分布特征;坑底植物群落的种群主要呈聚集分布,种群间呈负关联,且处于同一垂直层次上种群间空间负相关性更强,垂直层次相差越大,空间竞争性越小,而随着空间范围的增大,空间负关联越弱;坑内生态系统具有较高的稳定性,是难得的物种自然栖息地和生态避难所,独特生境中形成的稳定植物群落结构在喀斯特地区生态恢复研究中具有重要的借鉴意义和导向作用.     

Two-dimensional pattern analysis on dominant species and community in subalpine meadow of Luya Mountain,Shanxi Province,China

The spatial pattern analysis of population and community is important to understand community structure and has become one key topic in modern plant ecology.There are many techniques for analyzing one-dimensional pattern in ecological literature.Two-dimensional pattern analysis is better than one-dimensional analysis in the study on community spatial characteristics and structure.However,it is hard to analyze these two-dimensional patterns due to poor effective methodology.The two-dimensional sampling using two transects that meet at right angles was applied to get quadrat data in this work.And then the data from the two transects were analyzed separately by one-dimensional pattern analysis method,two-term local quadrat variance.The length,width,and area of patches at different scales of pattern for populations were obtained from the analysis.For community pattern,detrended correspondence analysis (DCA)was employed to summarize the species information firstly,and then the first DCA axis scores were analyzed to check its pattern.The application of this method to the pattern analysis on dominant populations and community for subalpine meadow (Comm.Polygonum viviparum+Carex rigescens+Kobresia bellardii)in the Luya mountains showed that it could release the characteristics of spatial pattern clearly and was a very effective technique.The method is easy to use and saves time with obvious advantages,compared with the twodimensional pattern analysis methods presented in the literatures.In the study meadow,the patterns of the main dominant species,Polygonum viviparum,Carex rigescens,and Kobresia bellardii,were apparent and comparatively regular in shape with large areas of patches at the same scale compared with other species such as Festuca sp.and Thalictrum petaloideum.There were two or three scales of patterns for each plant population studied.This was related to population features,the interaction with environmental factors,and their dominant position in the community.The two scales of patterns for the meadow community were clear.The pattern of community was closely correlated with that of the main dominant species.The patches of dominant species were inter-distributed and overlapped,and formed the community pattern together.This is beneficial for utilization of resources,and keeping the community stable.     

鄂尔多斯高原覆沙坡地植物群落格局

 地貌对植物群落的空间格局具有重要的影响,覆沙坡地是鄂尔多斯高原常见的地貌类型,定量分析覆沙坡地植物群落的分布格局,有助于理解植被与环境之间的关系和制定恢复土地退化的有力措施。本文研究了鄂尔多斯高原覆沙坡地的植物群落格局,结果表明,在坡地的中上部分布着以本氏针茅（Stipa bungeana）、冷蒿（Artemisia frigida）、北丝石竹（Gypsophila davurica）等物种为主的典型草原群落,而在坡地的中下部则分布着以油蒿（Artemisia ordosica）为主的沙生植物群落。DCA     

山西太岳山兴唐寺红柄白鹃梅群落优势种的空间格局分析

使用点格局分析和分形分析(计盒维数、信息维数、关联维数)方法, 对山西太岳山兴唐寺红柄白鹃梅(Exochorda giraldii)群落进行了空间格局分析。结果表明: 1)红柄白鹃梅群落优势种在较小的尺度上呈现聚集分布的特点, 其中, 杠柳(Periploca sepium)和绣线菊(Spiraea salicifolia)在所有尺度上呈现聚集分布, 红柄白鹃梅和连翘(Forsythia suspensa)随着尺度的增加, 呈现聚集分布—随机分布—均匀分布的规律; 2)红柄白鹃梅群落优势种在不同尺度上表现出聚集分布的特点; 3)红柄白鹃梅群落优势种占据空间能力的大小为: 红柄白鹃梅>连翘>绣线菊>杠柳; 4)红柄白鹃梅群落优势种格局强度的尺度变化程度为: 杠柳>绣线菊>红柄白鹃梅>连翘; 5)红柄白鹃梅群落优势种个体空间相关程度为: 杠柳>红柄白鹃梅>连翘>绣线菊。点格局分析与分形分析结果一致, 揭示了暖温带落叶阔叶林遭到破坏后形成的次生灌丛的空间分布格局。     

Complex effects of scale on the relationships of landscape pattern versus avian species richness and community structure in a woodland savanna mosaic

Landscape pattern metrics are widely used for predicting habitat and species diversity. However, the relationship between landscape pattern and species diversity is typically measured at a single spatial scale, even though both landscape pattern, and species occurrence and community composition are scale‐dependent. While the effects of scale on landscape pattern are well documented, the effects of scale on the relationships between spatial pattern and species richness and composition are not well known. Here, our main goal was to quantify the effects of cartographic scale (spatial resolution and extent) on the relationships between spatial pattern and avian richness and community structure in a mosaic of grassland, woodland, and savanna in central Wisconsin. Our secondary goal was to evaluate the effectiveness of a newly developed tool for spatial pattern analysis, multiscale contextual spatial pattern analysis (MCSPA), compared to existing landscape metrics. Landscape metrics and avian species richness had quadratic, exponential, or logarithmic relationships, and these patterns were generally consistent across two spatial resolutions and six spatial extents. However, the magnitude of the relationships was affected by both resolution and extent. At the finer resolution (10‐m), edge density was consistently the best predictor of species richness, followed by an MCSPA metric that measures the standard deviation of woody cover across extents. At the coarser resolution (30‐m), NDVI was the best predictor of species richness by far, regardless of spatial extent. Another MCSPA metric that denotes the average woody cover across extents, together with percent of woody cover, were always the best predictors of variation in avian community structure. Spatial resolution and extent had varying effects on the relationships between spatial pattern and avian community structure. We therefore conclude that cartographic scale not only affects measures of landscape pattern per se, but also the relationships among spatial pattern, species richness, and community structure, often in complex ways, which reduces the efficacy of landscape metrics for predicting the richness and diversity of organisms.     

黄土丘陵沟壑区不同坡向撂荒草地植物群落种群空间格局

本研究以黄土丘陵沟壑区4种不同坡向的草地植物群落为研究对象,探讨其物种组成和多样性特征,并运用幂乘方法则分析了群落的空间异质性和种群空间格局.结果表明: 铁杆蒿在不同坡向均有分布,为群落优势种;其他物种在不同坡向群落中的地位及对群落空间格局的贡献不同.不同坡向植物群落的空间分布格局均为集群分布,且聚集程度大小为阳坡＞半阳坡＞半阴坡＞阴坡.群落空间异质性指数与Simpson多样性指数呈显著正相关,与Margalef丰富度指数、Shannon多样性指数和Pielou均匀度指数呈显著负相关.优势种铁杆蒿、亚优势种达乌里胡枝子和长芒草,以及少数伴生种如猪毛蒿、臭草的相对空间异质性指数大于群落整体空间异质性指数,使群落趋于集群分布;多数伴生种如芦苇、苦荬菜、白羊草的相对空间异质性指数与群落整体空间异质性指数相近,它们与群落自身分布状态一致;刺儿菜、米口袋、茭蒿等偶见种的相对空间异质性指数小于群落整体空间异质性指数,降低了群落的聚集程度.综上,群落的聚集程度主要由优势种、亚优势种和偶见种共同决定,其中优势种、亚优势种和部分伴生种促使群落呈聚集分布,偶见种则降低了群落的集群分布.     

Two-dimensional pattern analysis on dominant species and community in subalpine meadow of Luya Mountain, Shanxi Province, China

The spatial pattern analysis of population and community is important to understand community structure and has become one key topic in modern plant ecology. There are many techniques for analyzing one-dimensional pattern in ecological literature. Two-dimensional pattern analysis is better than one-dimensional analysis in the study on community spatial characteristics and structure. However, it is hard to analyze these two-dimensional patterns due to poor effective methodology. The two-dimensional sampling using two transects that meet at right angles was applied to get quadrat data in this work. And then the data from the two transects were analyzed separately by one-dimensional pattern analysis method, two-term local quadrat variance. The length, width, and area of patches at different scales of pattern for populations were obtained from the analysis. For community pattern, detrended correspondence analysis (DCA) was employed to summarize the species information firstly, and then the first DCA axis scores were analyzed to check its pattern. The application of this method to the pattern analysis on dominant populations and community for subalpine meadow (Comm. Polygonum viviparum + Carex rigescens + Kobresia bellardii) in the Luya mountains showed that it could release the characteristics of spatial pattern clearly and was a very effective technique. The method is easy to use and saves time with obvious advantages, compared with the two-dimensional pattern analysis methods presented in the literatures. In the study meadow, the patterns of the main dominant species, Polygonum viviparum, Carex rigescens, and Kobresia bellardii, were apparent and comparatively regular in shape with large areas of patches at the same scale compared with other species such as Festuca sp. and Thalictrum petaloideum. There were two or three scales of patterns for each plant population studied. This was related to population features, the interaction with environmental factors, and their dominant position in the community. The two scales of patterns for the meadow community were clear. The pattern of community was closely correlated with that of the main dominant species. The patches of dominant species were inter-distributed and overlapped, and formed the community pattern together. This is beneficial for utilization of resources, and keeping the community stable. __________ Translated from Acta Ecologica Sinica, 2005, 25(6): 1264–1268 [译自: 生态学报]     

A new digital method of data collection for spatial point pattern analysis in grassland communities

A major objective of plant ecology research is to determine the underlying processes responsible for the observed spatial distribution patterns of plant species. Plants can be approximated as points in space for this purpose, and thus, spatial point pattern analysis has become increasingly popular in ecological research. The basic piece of data for point pattern analysis is a point location of an ecological object in some study region. Therefore, point pattern analysis can only be performed if data can be collected. However, due to the lack of a convenient sampling method, a few previous studies have used point pattern analysis to examine the spatial patterns of grassland species. This is unfortunate because being able to explore point patterns in grassland systems has widespread implications for population dynamics, community‐level patterns, and ecological processes. In this study, we developed a new method to measure individual coordinates of species in grassland communities. This method records plant growing positions via digital picture samples that have been sub‐blocked within a geographical information system (GIS). Here, we tested out the new method by measuring the individual coordinates of Stipa grandis in grazed and ungrazed S. grandis communities in a temperate steppe ecosystem in China. Furthermore, we analyzed the pattern of S. grandis by using the pair correlation function g(r) with both a homogeneous Poisson process and a heterogeneous Poisson process. Our results showed that individuals of S. grandis were overdispersed according to the homogeneous Poisson process at 0–0.16 m in the ungrazed community, while they were clustered at 0.19 m according to the homogeneous and heterogeneous Poisson processes in the grazed community. These results suggest that competitive interactions dominated the ungrazed community, while facilitative interactions dominated the grazed community. In sum, we successfully executed a new sampling method, using digital photography and a geographical information system, to collect experimental data on the spatial point patterns for the populations in this grassland community.     

Dynamic process,spatial pattern and species coexistence in plants

The significance of dynamic processes of individual genets/ramets for the spatial pattern of plant species and community structure is discussed. It is suggested that under a different mode of competition (symmetric vs. asymmetric), spatial distribution of individuals, initial size distribution at the establishment stage and boundary conditions as recruitment influence differently the species coexistence pattern. It is therefore important to consider the mode of competition for the study of community structure. To know the mode and degree of intra- and interspecific competition, the dynamic processes of individual genets/ramets must be studied by following the growth, mortality and recruitment of each genet/ramet of each component species in a plant community. The models and methods of plant population ecology are therefore useful also for plant community ecology.