Altitudinal distribution of evergreen broad-leaved trees and their leaf-size pattern on a humid subtropical mountain,Mt. Emei,Sichuan, China

Altitudinal distribution of evergreen broad-leaved trees and changes in their leaf sizes were studied on a humid subtropical mountain, Mt. Emei (3099 m a.s.l., 29°34.5 N, 103°21.5 E), Sichuan, China. Among the total woody flora of ca. 540 species, evergreen broad-leaved trees account for 88 species in 39 genera and 23 families, corresponding to the northern limit of subtropical evergreen broad-leaved trees. The number of evergreen broad-leaved tree species greatly decreased from the low-altitudinal, evergreen broad-leaved forest zone (600–1500 m) to the mid-altitudinal, mixed forest zone (1500–2500 m), and to the high-altitudinal, coniferous forest zone (2500–3099 m). The overall trend of reduced leaf size toward upper zones was analyzed and documented in detail. The 88 species were assigned to three leaf-size classes: notophylls (48%), microphylls (36%), and mesophylls (16%). The leaf size was relatively small and the specific leaf weight (SLW, mg cm^–2) was much larger in high altitude as compared to low altitude. No overall correlation was found between leaf size and SLW, but leaf size decreased as SLW increased toward high altitude for certain species having relatively wide altitudinal ranges. Moreover, leaf size varied with forest stratification: canopy trees were predominantly notophyllous species, while subcanopy and understorey trees were mainly microphyllous species. The tendency is compatible with the trend found in other mountains of East Asia.     

Tertiary relic deciduous forests on a humid subtropical mountain, Mt. Emei, Sichuan, China

The floristic characteristics, age structure and survival modes of Tertiary-relic deciduous forests were analyzed at 1600 m on Mt. Emei (3099 m), Sichuan, China. Three plots were selected to represent typical topographies: Plot 1 at 1620 m on a scree slope, Plot 2 at 1640 m on a slope with moderately rocky soils, and Plot 3 at 1616 m on a gentle slope with less rocky soils. At Plot 1, on the scree slope, the forest was rich in species and dominated by Tertiary remnants and other deciduous trees (Davidia involucrata, Styrax hemsleyana, Cercidiphyllum japonicum var.sinense, Pterocarya hupehensis, Prunus brachypoda, Prunus padus, Tetracentron sinense andStaphylea holocarpa). The relic deciduous tree taxaDavidia, Cercidiphyllum, Tetracentron andEuptelea occupied the unstable concave slopes, where evergreen broad-leaved trees (Castanopsis platycantha andMachilus pingii) were rarely able to survive. On the relatively stable convex slopes of this plot, evergreen trees with small diameter mainly appeared in the subcanopy and shrub layers.Davidia involucrata was the dominant species in this forest. On the slope with moderately rocky soils (Plot 2), the forest was co-dominated by relicDavidia and other deciduous (Styrax andPterocarya), and evergreen trees (Castanopsis andMachilus). On the gentle slope with less rocky soils (Plot 3),Davidia trees were found only in the subcanopy and shrub layers, and the forest was dominated byMachilus, Castanopsis, Styrax andPrunus trees. Regeneration ofDavidia occurs mainly on the scree slope where landslides are most common. The age structure of theDavidia stands indicates that this species is able to survive on the unstable scree habitat due to its strong sprouting ability. The Tertiary-relic deciduous forest on the scree slope is seen to be a topographic climax forest.     

Coexistence mechanisms of evergreen,deciduous and coniferous trees in a mid-montane mixed forest on Mt. Emei,Sichuan, China

Structure and regeneration of a mid-montane (2200 m a.s.l.)mixed forest codominated by evergreen (Lithocarpuscleistocarpus), deciduous (Acer flabellatum)andconiferous (Tsuga chinensis, Abies fabri, andTaxus chinensis) trees were analyzed in a 40m× 60 m plot on Mt. Emei, Sichuan, China. Plant communitystructure and composition varied depending on topographic micro-habitat withinthe plot. Four topographic communities (topo-communities) were distinguishedwith dominant species corresponding to topography: (1)Abies – valley bank, (2) Acer– lower steep slope, (3) Lithocarpus – uppergentle slope, and (4) Tsuga – ridge. The coexistencemechanisms of the evergreen, deciduous, and coniferous trees were determined byidentifying the regeneration process characteristic of each dominant species,asrepresented by their seedling dispersion patterns and seedling establishmentalong the topographic gradients. The saplings and seedlings of the dominantswere distributed differently according to the topography:Lithocarpus under the canopy of parent trees and in gapsofthe upper gentle slope and ridge, Acer mainly in bothwell-lit and shady sites on the lower steep slope and on fallen logs,Abies on the valley bank but only in well-lit sites,Tsuga on the ridge, Taxus mostly onrock and well-lit sites on the slopes. Distribution of surviving saplings andseedlings was also related to the species of nearby canopy trees. We suggestthat Lithocarpus, Tsuga and Acer tendto be self-replacing in their own topographic habitats, andAbies survives as a fugitive by occupying occasionalsuitable gaps. The variation in soil conditions, particularly nutrients, withtopography affected seedling establishment and the growth of trees. Thesuccessional change of quantitative species composition, as predicted by theMarkovian model, shows the mixed forest to be in a sustained climax stage.     

Forest vegetation as related to climate and soil conditions at varying altitudes on a humid subtropical mountain, Mount Emei, Sichuan, China

Altitudinal variations in temperature and soils were analysed on a humid subtropical mountain, Mt Emei (3,099 m a.s.l., 29°34.5N, 103°21.5E), in Sichuan, China, to see how the vegetation varies with the environmental factors. As a principal finding, the coldest mean monthly temperature –1°C, rather than the warmth index of 85°C·months, emerged as the primary factor that delimited the evergreen broadleaved forest. With regard to soils, properties such as organic C, total N, available P, exchangeable K tended to increase with altitude. The highest values in organic C (26.6%), total N (1.34%) and available P (45.39 ppm) were recorded in surface soils of the mixed forest (2,210 m a.s.l.) including all three tree life forms, i.e. evergreen/deciduous broadleaved and coniferous trees. The high pH and contents of exchangeable Ca and Mg in the surface soils derived from the parent material, limestone and dolomite, between 900 and 1,200 m, where several Tertiary tree species existed. The C/N ratios of surface soils in the coniferous forests (2,500–3,099 m) were higher than those of the evergreen broadleaved forests (600–1,500 m) and the mixed forests (1,500–2,500 m).     

Changes in tree community composition and structure of Atlantic rain forest on a slope of the Serra do Mar range,southeastern Brazil,from near sea level to 1000 m of altitude

Variations of tree species composition and community structure and their relationship with environmental variables are described for five sites of the Atlantic rain forest in Picinguaba, southeastern Brazil, distributed along an elevation gradient sampled by plots located at the altitudes of 2, 100, 300, 600 and 1000 m a.s.l. Sampled trees with DBH ≥ 5 cm were identified to species level and their diameter and height were measured. Environmental variables obtained for each plot included 11 topsoil variables and altitude. The residuals of all linear models were tested for spatial structure and multivariate analyses were performed to seek for relationships between the overall species’ abundances and selected environmental variables. Although both forest physiognomy and species’ abundances did change with altitude, this was clearly sharp only from the coastal plain (2 m) to 100 m, and from 600 m to the summit (1000 m). The three mid-slope sites (100, 300 and 600 m) were rather undifferentiated, though they were richer in species and had taller canopy trees. The altitude and the edaphic variables silt, clay, pH and total exchangeable bases (TEB) presented significant correlations with the variations in species’ abundances, while only pH and TEB were significantly correlated with species richness. The present study demonstrates for the first time that the composition and structure of Atlantic Forest can change accompanying the soil and altitude variations over short distances.     

Analysis of the vertical distribution of epiphytic lichens on Pinus nigra (Mount Olympos,Greece) along an altitudinal gradient

Epiphytic lichen vegetation was studied in 10 sites along an altitude gradient from 750 to 1510 m on NW-facing slopes of Mount Olympos, Greece to assess the main spatial heterogeneity of microhabitats affecting communities and species composition. Community structure along the gradient was studied by using multivariate techniques. The critical factor for spatial heterogeneity seems to be the height at which the lichen community develops on the tree trunks. Changes in the community structure of the epiphytic lichen vegetation were also detected along the altitudinal gradient and the altitude of 1200 m is considered to be an ecotone. A comparative study of epiphytic lichen communities on Mt. Olympos and in the Thessaloniki area revealed species indicators of air pollution.     

Plant diversity patterns and their relationships with soil and climatic factors along an altitudinal gradient in the middle Tianshan Mountain area, Xinjiang, China

Patterns of plant diversity along the altitudinal gradient of Tianshan in central Xinjiang, China were examined. Plant and environment characteristics were surveyed from higher, south of Bogeda peak, to lower, north of Guerbantonggute desert. There were a total of 341 vascular plant, 295 herbage, 41 shrub, and seven tree species in the sampled plots. The plant richness of vegetation types generally showed a unimodal pattern along altitude, with a bimodal change of plant species number at 100-m intervals of altitudinal samples. The two belts of higher plant richness were in transient areas between vegetation types, the first in areas from dry grass to forest, and the second from forest to sub-alpine grass and bush. The beta diversity varied with altitudinal changes, with herbaceous species accounting for most species, and thus had similar species turnover patterns to total species. Matching the change of richness of plant species to environmental factors along altitude and correlating these by redundancy analysis revealed that the environmental factors controlling species richness and its pattern were the combined effects of temperature, precipitation, soil water, and nutrition. Water was more important at low altitude, and temperature at high altitude, and soil chemical and physical characters at middle altitudes. This study provides insights into plant diversity conservation of Bogeda Natural Reserve Areas in Tianshan Mountain. Nomenclatures: the scientific name for plants follows Flora of China (Compiling Committee of Flora of China).     

Structure and dynamics of the subalpine coniferous forest on Changbai mountain,China

The composition and structure of the subalpine coniferous forest communities on Changbai mountain, China, were studied. Two mixed-conifer forest types, indicated by different combinations of Picea jezoensis var. komarovii, Picea koraiensis, Abies nephrolepis, Pinus koraiensis, and one type dominated by Larix olgensis and Abies nephrolepis were sampled. The number of woody species become less towards the higher elevation, while the herb layer was richer in the upper part due to the lower crown density. The Larix-dominated stand was established in a large gap presented as a building phase, and its composition and structure were simpler than the other two types. The dynamics of the forest zone, which had a mosaic structure consisting of Picea- and Larix-dominated patches, is characterized by patches transforming from one to another. This mosaic structure, with patch interchanging, is defined as the climax of the forest zone. Larix played an important role in sustaining the coniferous forest communities as a gap revegetator and a conditioner for the regeneration of Picea and Abies. Windfall was considered to be a frequent disturbance factor which caused the vegetation to become more heterogeneous and offered opportunities for Larix to establish.     

Predator defense along a permanence gradient: roles of case structure, behavior, and developmental phenology in caddisflies

Species replacements along freshwater permanence gradients are well documented, but underlying mechanisms are poorly understood for most taxa. In subalpine wetlands in Colorado, the relative abundance of caddisfly larvae shifts from temporary to permanent basins. Predators on caddisflies also shift along this gradient; salamanders (Ambystoma tigrinum nebulosum) in permanent ponds are replaced by predaceous diving beetles (Dytiscus dauricus) in temporary habitats. We conducted laboratory and field experiments to determine the effectiveness of caddisfly cases in reducing vulnerability to these predators. We found that larvae of a temporary-habitat caddisfly (Asynarchus nigriculus) were the most vulnerable to salamanders. Two relatively invulnerable species (Limnephilus externus, L. picturatus) exhibited behaviors that reduced the likelihood of detection and attack, whereas the least vulnerable species (Agrypnia deflata) was frequently detected and attacked, but rarely captured because cases provided an effective refuge. Vulnerability to beetle predation was also affected by cases. The stout cases of L. externus larvae frequently deterred beetle larvae, whereas the tubular cases of the other species were relatively ineffective. Two of these vulnerable species (A. nigriculus and L. picturatus) often co-occur with beetles; thus, case construction alone is insufficient to explain patterns of caddisfly coexistence along the permanence gradient. One explanation for the coexistence of these two species with beetles is that they develop rapidly during early summer and pupate before beetle larvae become abundant. One species (L. picturatus) pupates by burying into soft substrates that serve as a refuge. The other (A. nigriculus) builds stone pupal cases, which in field experiments, more than doubles survival compared to organic pupal cases. The combined results of these experiments suggest that caddisfly distributions along permanence gradients depend on a suite of primary and secondary predator defenses that include larval and pupal case structure, predator-specific escape behaviors, and the phenology of larval development.     

塔河源荒漠河岸林群落物种组成、结构与植物区系特征

为了更好地了解荒漠河岸林植被动态与生物多样性维持机制,于塔里木河干流源头荒漠河岸林内建立6个1 hm 2样地,对群落物种组成、数量特征和空间格局等进行综合分析。结果表明,塔河源荒漠河岸林群落结构简单、物种多样性低,共有物种12科15属16种,杨柳科重要值最大(28. 97%),是群落优势建群科。取样面积在0. 04 hm 2时,包括了87. 5%的物种;样地内稀有种和偶见种均占所有物种的12. 5%。植物区系贫乏,单种科、属多,温带成分占绝对优势,古地中海成分也占有重要地位,具典型温带区系性质。样地内 DBH ≥ 1 cm 的活木本个体有2497株,灰胡杨多度占92. 95%,胸高断面积和重要值最大,在群落中占绝对优势地位。群落内科、属、种的数量随植株高度级的增加而减少,垂直结构层次分明,由乔木层、灌木层和草本层构成。样地内所有树种平均胸径15. 57 cm,径级与高度级结构均呈偏正态分布,缺乏高度≤ 2 m的个体,群落更新不良。优势种灰胡杨、胡杨径级结构均呈单峰型,其中胡杨幼树出现断层,灰胡杨幼苗向幼树发展过程中死亡率极高(92. 56%),均为衰退型种群。两个优势种空间格局呈聚集分布,不同生境下随径级增大空间分布格局变化不同;且两个优势种在空间上相互排斥而占据不同生境,暗示着种间竞争与生境异质性是影响荒漠河岸林物种空间分布格局和物种共存的重要因素。     

川西北高寒草甸蚁丘植物群落演替：种类组成与物种多样性

蚂蚁通过构建蚁丘,提高了群落生境异质性,影响群落物种组成,甚至生态系统结构和功能。我们在川西北典型高寒草甸调查了平地（非蚁丘,即距离蚁丘4～5m的草地）和不同大小广布弓背蚁（Cam-ponotus herculeanus）蚁丘（小蚁丘、中蚁丘和大蚁丘3种,平均面积大小分别为309．45cm^2、948．45cm^2、2124．90cm^2）上的植物种类组成、物种多样性,以及每个物种的高度,盖度和多度,在此基础上分析了蚁丘植物群落演替进程中的优势种变迁及其机制。调查发现,与平地相比,天气晴朗条件下蚁丘的土壤温度在白天较高,而在夜晚较低,日变化的波动性较大;蚁丘中心的相对湿度低于边缘,更低于平地。群落结构分析表明,不同大小蚁丘之间植物物种丰富度和多样性差异不显著,但是优势种变化明显。随蚁丘增大,钩状嵩草（Kobresia uncinoides）的群落地位（重要值）逐渐上升,小、中、大蚁丘上的次优种分别为拉拉藤（Galium aparine）、羊茅（Festuca ovina）、垂穗披碱草（Elymus nutans）。蚁丘上禾草类优势度显著高于平地,而杂草类优势度则显著低于平地。平地上菊科（Compositae）和毛莨科（Ranunculaceae）植物占优势,蚁丘上莎草科（Cyperaceae）和禾本科（Gramineae）植物占优势。文中还讨论了蚁丘植物群落演替的可能机制,以及蚁丘对整个草甸群落组成和动态的潜在意义。     

Morphological variations of the Solidago virgaurea L. complex along an elevational gradient on Mt Norikura,central Japan

Morphological variations in vegetative and reproductive organs in the Solidago virgaurea complex were examined for eight elevations between 1600 and 2400 m a.s.l. in Japan. The rosette diameter and stem height were lower at higher elevations. The stem diameter at any stem height was greater at higher elevations, suggesting that the S. virgaurea complex increases mechanical stiffness against strong wind at high elevations. The number of flower heads at any stem height was less at high elevations (2000–2400 m a.s.l.) than at low elevations (1600–1900 m a.s.l.). Leaf nitrogen concentration did not change along the elevational gradient. Leaf mass per area (LMA) tended to decrease with increasing elevation, except for 2400 m a.s.l. The decrease of LMA would contribute to maintaining a positive carbon balance at high elevations. The number of involucral rays of flower heads was mostly four at low elevations (1600–1900 m a.s.l.) and three at high elevations (2000–2400 m a.s.l.). The number of involucral scales and diameter of flower heads were greater at high elevations (2000–2400 m a.s.l.) than at low elevations (1600–1900 m a.s.l.). Therefore, the S . virgaurea complex is suggested to adapt to high elevations that have cool temperature, a short growing season and strong wind conditions by changing its vegetative and reproductive traits.     

Flowering phenology and reproduction of the Solidago virgaurea L. complex along an elevational gradient on Mt Norikura,central Japan

This study examined the flowering phenology and reproductive traits of the Solidago virgaurea complex at four elevations in the subalpine zone in Japan using a bagging experiment. Flowering started earlier at higher elevations. Syrphid flies mainly visited flowers of the S. virgaurea complex, and the number of visits was considerably lower at the lowest elevation than at the three other elevations. Although the number of seeds per individual did not differ among the four elevations, total achene weight per individual was lower at the lowest elevation than at the three other elevations. The weight of an achene and seed germination rate of the control were much greater at higher elevations than at the lowest elevation. The weight of an achene and germination rate for the control were as low as the bagging treatment at the lowest elevation with infrequent flower visitors, which indicates that the S. virgaurea complex is a facultative outcrosser. The S. virgaurea complex is thought to produce seeds during a short growing season at high elevations by starting to flower earlier, and the large seed size is advantageous for seedling establishment at high elevations. Therefore, elevational changes in flowering phenology and reproductive traits are thought to be an adaptation to the short growing season at high elevations.