Altitudinal distribution patterns of Mexican cloud forests based upon preferential characteristic genera

Mexican cloud forest vegetation has been recorded in temperate humidconditions at rather different elevations ranging from 600 to 3000m. They are characterised by high biodiversity under continuousfoggy situations. Some authors state that many genera are quantitativelyimportant to depict cloud forest conditions. Detailed quantitative studiescomprising most of the localities of Mexican cloud forests to depict altidudinaldistribution ranges on basis of preferential genera have not been previouslyconducted. The aim of this study is (1) to recognise characteristic preferentialgenera of Mexican cloud forest conditions, and (2) to determine quantitativelythe current altitudinal distribution pattern of this vegetation type. From adatabase composed by 995 genera inhabiting in the Mexican cloud forests, sixgenera were chosen preliminary as preferential characteristics. These wereClethra, Magnolia, Meliosma, Styrax, Symplocos, andTernstroemia. These genera include 70 species that occur atover 70% of the current Mexican cloud forest fragments. The mean elevation ofthese genera records were 1853 m (±600 at 95% confidenceinterval). The results showed that Mexican cloud forests occur optimally between1250 and 2450 m. Additionally, Mexican cloud forest is the bestdistributed within some provinces of the Región Mesoamericana deMontaña, chiefly at Serranías Meridionales,Sierra Madre Oriental, and SerraníasTransístmicas. The results are discussed in light of theimportance of these regions as diversification centres.     

百花山植物群落物种多样性研究

基于百花山50个样方的调查资料，从不同类型群落的物种多样性及其与海拔的关系等方面对百花山植被进行了分析，并且用DCA排序和海拔高程排序对物种多样性在环境梯度上的分布格局进行了初步研究。结果表明：群落内不同生长型的物种丰富度指数在森林群落中大小顺序为草本层＞灌木层＞乔木层，灌丛群落主要表现为草本层﹥灌木层，只有荆条灌丛表现为灌木层＞草本层；Shannon-Wiener指数在山杨—华北落叶松群落中表现为灌木层＞草本层＞乔木层,其他森林群落为草本层＞灌木层＞乔木层，在灌丛群落中主要表现为草本层＞灌木层，只有荆条灌丛表现为灌木层＞草本层；均匀度指数在灌丛群落中表现为灌木层＞草本层，在辽东栎林和山杨—华北落叶松林中表现为灌木层＞乔木层＞草本层,而其他森林群落表现为乔木层＞灌木层＞草本层。物种多样性在DCA第一轴排序和海拔高程梯度上都表现出单峰曲线变化趋势，但拟和效果的显著程度不同：丰富度和均匀度指数在海拔高程上曲线的拟和效果优于DCA环境梯度排序效果；而多样性指数则相反。     

Livestock grazing and forest structure regulate the assembly of ecological clusters within plant networks in eastern Australia

Questions

How do changes in grazing intensity by different herbivores and differences in forest structure affect the assembly of ecological clusters within plant ecological networks in dryland plant communities?

Location

Eastern Australia across an area of 0.4 million km².

Methods

We used correlation network analysis and structural equation modelling to examine how changes in grazing intensity, by different herbivores, and differences in forest structure (tree canopy cover, basal area and density) and soil fertility influenced the assembly of ecological clusters of plant communities (i.e. relative abundance of ecological clusters formed by co‐occurring plant species within an ecological network) in three forested communities from eastern Australia.

Results

Livestock grazing and forest structure regulated the relative abundance of ecological clusters within plant networks, but their effects on these plant assemblies were highly dependent on the ecological cluster and forest community type, with no single winner or loser across forest types, conditions or grazing intensities. Thus, the relative abundance of some ecological clusters increased under grazing while others declined, a response that was maintained across different forest structures. The relative importance of grazing, forest structure and soil fertility varied across forest community type. The two eucalypt communities exhibited mixed effects of grazing and forest structure (Eucalyptus largiflorens ) or forest structure only (Eucalyptus camaldulensis ). In the third (Callitris glaucophylla ) community, grazing played a larger role in controlling the plant community assembly. Soil fertility (soil C and P) effects were of a similar magnitude to grazing and forest structure, but the effects differed among clusters.

Conclusions

Livestock grazing and forest structure regulated the relative abundance of ecological clusters within networks of plant communities in forests in eastern Australia. Our study uses a novel approach of ecological clusters to show that differences in grazing and forest structure will always disadvantage some plant ecological clusters. Furthermore, changes in one cluster will ultimately affect other clusters. Any changes in management therefore will have varied effects on different ecological plant clusters.

     

小陇山国家级自然保护区次生林分类、排序及演替

在野外调查基础上,采用TWINSPAN和DCA对小陇山林区次生林群落进行了数量分类和排序,从植物群系组成、植物群落与环境的生态关系方面,研究小陇山植被群落的分布格局,用以确定该区次生林演替,并给予合理的环境解释。结果表明:采用TWINSPAN数量分类方法,将植被划分为12个群落类型;DCA排序图明显反映出排序轴的生态意义,第一轴基本上突出反映了湿度变化,沿第一轴从左到右,湿度逐渐增大;第二轴主要表现了温度梯度,沿第二轴从下到上,温度逐渐降低;次生林的演替序列为山杨林→山杨+白桦林→锐齿栎混交林及锐齿栎纯林,其自然恢复演替以锐齿栎林为顶极群落。     

Detection of Climate-Sensitive Zones and Identification of Climate Change Indicators: A Case Study from the Bavarian Forest National Park

We determined the climate-sensitive zones along an altitudinal gradient in a low mountain range forest, the Bavarian Forest National Park in south-eastern Germany, and studied which vascular plant species are likely to respond to climate change. Plants were recorded on 273 plots along four straight transects. The composition of the plant species and their environmental correlates were detected using unconstrained correspondence analysis (DCA) with post-hoc correlation of axes against site variables. We tested the effect of site variables on species composition using maximally selected rank statistics, which allow the simultaneous identification of a threshold and assessment of its significance. Species turnover within the vascular plant community along the altitudinal gradient was assessed using the same method on the basis of the DCA sample scores. Using geostatistical models of local temperature and Bayesian methods with binomial errors that account for spatial structure, we tested the influence of temperature on selected single vascular plant species and assessed the suitability of the species as climate change indicators. Temperature was the most important factor explaining the variability in vascular plant community composition, which changed discretely along the altitudinal gradient, with a climate-sensitive zone found between 1,100 and 1,200 m a.s.l. The distribution of ten species with their lower or upper altitudinal limit in this zone was significantly driven by temperature. To track vegetation responses to climate change effectively, we suggest a three-level monitoring program, flexible with regard to the volume of required sampling effort.     

新疆博格达山地面生苔藓植被的数量分类与排序研究

 应用数量分类(TWINSPAN)和排序(DCA)方法,对新疆博格达山苔藓植被进行了多元分析。TWINSPAN结果表明,该地区苔藓植被可分为6个主要群落类型,即牛角藓-真藓(Cratoneuron-Bryum)群落、扭口藓-墙藓(Barbula-Tortula)群落、提灯藓-细罗藓(Mnium-Leskeella)群落、对叶藓-提灯藓(Distichium_Mnium)群落、墙藓-连轴藓(Tortula_Schistidium)群落、扭口藓-紫萼藓(Barbula_Grimmia)群落,它们分别分布于山地荒     

神农架川金丝猴栖息地森林群落的数量分类与排序

在神农架川金丝猴生境典型地段设立样方58块,根据样方资料对神农架川金丝猴栖息地的森林群落用组平均法分类和DCA排序.用组平均法将58块样地分为9个群系,依据《中国植被》的分类原则和系统将研究区植物群落划归为7个植被型.样地的DCA排序较好地揭示了该区森林群落的分布格局与环境梯度的关系;DCA第二轴明显地反映出森林群落的海拔梯度变化,沿DCA第二轴从右到左,海拔逐渐升高;第一轴表现了各植物群落或植物种所在环境的坡度、坡向,即水分和光照因素,沿第一轴从下到上,坡度渐缓、坡向渐向阳.其中海拔梯度是环境因子中对森林群落起决定性作用的因子.研究表明,巴山冷杉+糙皮桦-大齿槭+尾萼蔷薇-高原露珠草+星果草群系发育较好,高大树木占有较大的比例,是神农架川金丝猴最适宜栖息地.7个植被型物种丰富度指数在群落梯度上呈规律性波动.其中针叶林和针叶-阔叶混交林中,物种丰富度指数在群落梯度上的总体趋势表现为灌木层＞草木层＞乔木层;在常绿阔叶林和常绿-落叶阔叶混交林中,该趋势为灌木层＞乔木层＞草本层;在落叶阔叶林中,其丰富度指数的趋势为灌木层＞草本层和乔木层.不同植被类型川金丝猴食源植物种类在群落梯度上的变化趋势与物种丰富度指数相同,但地衣类植物作为川金丝猴冬季的重要食物只在针叶林和针叶-阔叶混交林中生长.本研究为制定栖息地保护计划,更好地保护神农架川金丝猴提供了科学理论依据.     

Zonal transition of evergreen,deciduous, and coniferous forests along the altitudinal gradient on a humid subtropical mountain,Mt. Emei,Sichuan, China

Altitudinal zonation of evergreen, deciduous and coniferous forests on Mt. Emei (3099 m asl, 29°34.5' N, 103°21.5' E), Sichuan, China was studied to understand the transition of vegetation zonation from tropical to temperate mountains in humid Asia. On the basis of quantitative data on floristic composition and community structure sampled at ten plots selected in different altitudes on the eastern slope of the mountain, forest zonation and the inter-relationships among different life-forms of trees in each zonal forest community were studied quantitatively. Three forest zones were identified physiognomically along the altitudinal gradient, viz. (i) the evergreen broad-leaved forest zone (660–1500 m asl), (ii) the mixed forest zone (1500–2500 m asl), and (iii) the coniferous forest zone (2500–3099 m asl). Great compositional changes were observed along elevation, and the zonal forest communities were characterized by their dominants and floristic composition. Maximum tree height decreased from 33 m at lower middle altitude (965 m asl) to 13 m near the summit (2945 m asl). There was no apparent deciduous forest zone along the altitudinal gradient, but true mixed forests of three life-forms (evergreen, deciduous, and coniferous) were formed around 2000–2500 m asl. Patches of deciduous forest were found in a lower part of the mixed forest zone, particularly on scree slopes, between 1450 m and 1900 m asl. These patches were dominated by the Tertiary relic deciduous trees, such as Davidia involucrata, Tetracentron sinense, and Cercidiphyllum japonicum var. sinense. High species diversity in the mixed forest zone resulted from the overlapping of different life-forms at middle altitudes, which is partly due to wider variety of temperature-altitude correlations. A comparison of the altitudinal zonation with the other east Asian mountain vegetation clarified that Mt. Emei is located exactly at the ecotone between tropical and temperate zonation types in eastern Asia.     

地形对亚热带山地景观尺度植被格局影响的梯度分析

用 7个指标反映三峡大老岭地区森林群落生境的地形特征 ,采用 DCCA排序方法定量分析不同地形因子对亚热带山地森林植被格局的影响及它们各自的生态意义 ;并分析它们的作用强度沿海拔的变化。结果表明 :1)DCCA排序的前 4个轴分别与海拔、坡位和坡度、坡向和坡面显著相关 ;山地森林植被存在多重尺度和方向的分异格局 ;2 )山地森林群落样方生境的热量、水分 (养分 )和光照条件可主要由海拔、坡位和坡度、坡向等地形特征分别反映 ;3)在垂直梯度上 :海拔的影响在海拔 6 0 0～ 80 0 m和 15 0 0～ 170 0 m最大 ;坡向影响的峰值在山顶带 ;坡度、坡位与坡形的影响在山地中部影响最大 ,其中坡度在海拔 6 0 0 m以下的影响也很显著 ;坡面的影响在山地中部最显著。     

贺兰山东坡典型植物群落多样性垂直分布特征与土壤因子的关系

深入探究山地生态系统植物群落多样性与关键土壤因子的关系及土壤因子在植物群落构建与多样性维持中的重要作用是区域生物多样性保护和生态系统服务功能综合提升的基础。本文采用冗余分析（Redundancy analysis,RDA）和相关分析揭示了贺兰山东坡典型植物群落多样性垂直分布格局与土壤因子的关系。结果表明：（1）贺兰山东坡植物群落多样性具有明显的垂直分布格局,针阔叶混交林植物物种组成最为丰富,中域效应明显;不同层次植物多样性随海拔升高变化趋势不一致且各自在不同海拔间差异显著（P<0.05）,植物多样性大体表现为草本层 > 灌木层 > 乔木层。（2）研究区土壤因子沿海拔梯度变化趋势不同,均存在显著差异（P<0.05）,其中土壤含水量（SM）、有机碳（SOC）和全氮（TN）含量空间变异性较大;高山灌丛草甸土壤养分含量最高,高海拔区土壤P限制高。（3）9个土壤因子解释了研究区总体植物多样性89.68%的生态信息,与植物多样性具有较强的相关性,影响不同层次植物多样性垂直分异的关键土壤因子略有不同。综上,土壤有机碳、pH、碳磷比、含水量是影响贺兰山东坡植物多样性空间分布的主要驱动因子。     

Soil bacterial communities of different natural forest types in Northeast China

Background and aims

The types of natural forests have long been suggested to shape below-ground microbial communities in forest ecosystem. However, detailed information on the impressionable bacterial groups and the potential mechanisms of these influences are still missing. The present study aims to deepen the current understanding on the soil microbial communities under four typical forest types in Northeast Asia, and to reveal the environmental factors driving the abundance, diversity and composition of soil bacterial communities.

Methods

Four forest types from Changbai Nature Reserve, representing mixed conifer-broadleaf forest and its natural secondary forest, evergreen coniferous forest, and deciduous coniferous forest were selected for this study. Namely, Broadleaf-Korean pine mixed forest (BLKP), secondary Poplar-Birch forest (PB), Spruce-Fir forest (SF), and Larch forest (LA), respectively. Soil bacterial community was analyzed using bar-coded pyrosequencing. Nonmetric multidimensional scaling (NMDS) was used to illustrate the clustering of different samples based on both Bray-Curtis distances and UniFrac distances. The relationship between environmental variables and the overall community structure was analyzed using the Mantel test.

Results

The two mixed conifer-broadleaf forests (BLKP and PB) displayed higher total soil nutrients (organic carbon, nitrogen, and phosphorus) and soil pH, but a lower C/N ratio as compared to the two coniferous forests (SF and LA). The mixed conifer-broadleaf forests had higher alpha-diversity and had distinct bacterial communities from the coniferous forests. Soil texture and pH were found as the principle factors for shaping soil bacterial diversity and community composition. The two mixed conifer-broadleaf forests were associated with higher proportion of Acidobacteria, Verrucomicrobia, Bacteroidetes, and Chloroflexi. While the SF and LA forests were dominated by Proteobacteria and Gemmatimonadetes.

Conclusions

Different natural forest type each selects for distinct microbial communities beneath them, with mixed conifer-broadleaf forests being associated with the low-activity bacterial groups, and the coniferous forests being dominated by the so-called high-activity members. The differentiation of soil bacterial communities in natural forests are presumably mediated by the differentiation in terms of soil properties, and could be partially explained by the copiotroph/oligotroph ecological classification model and non-random co-occurrence patterns.     

Abundance and habitat relationships of breeding birds in the Sky Islands and adjacent Sierra Madre Occidental of northwest Mexico

The Sierra Madre Occidental and neighboring Madrean Sky Islands span a large and biologically diverse region of northwest Mexico and portions of the southwestern United States. Little is known about the abundance and habitat use of breeding birds in this region of Mexico, but such information is important for guiding conservation and management. We assessed densities and habitat relationships of breeding birds across Sky Island mountain ranges in Mexico and adjacent portions of the Sierra Madre from 2009 to 2012. We estimated densities at multiple spatial scales, assessed variation in densities among all major montane vegetation communities, and identified and estimated the effects of important habitat attributes on local densities. Regional density estimates of 65% of 72 focal species varied significantly among eight montane vegetation communities that ranged from oak savannah and woodland at low elevations to pine and mixed‐conifer forest at high elevations. Greater proportions of species occurred at peak densities or were relatively restricted to mixed‐conifer forest and montane riparian vegetation likely because of higher levels of structural or floristic diversity in those communities, but those species were typically rare or uncommon in the Sky Islands. Fewer species had peak densities in oak and pine‐oak woodland, and species associated with those communities were often more abundant across the region. Habitat models often included the effects of broadleaf deciduous vegetation cover (30% of species), which, together with tree density and fire severity, had positive effects on densities and suggest ways for managers to augment and conserve populations. Such patterns combined with greater threats to high‐elevation conifer forest and riparian areas underscore their value for conservation. Significant populations of many breeding bird species, including some that are of concern or were not known to occur regionally or in mountain ranges we surveyed, highlight the importance of conservation efforts in this area of Mexico.     

四川省峨眉山森林植被垂直分布的初步研究

本文对四川省峨眉山森林植被的垂直分布特点进行了初步研究。文中,采用数量分类的方法,结合对群落生态外貌特点和区系组成的分析,以及群落所处海拔高度,划分出森林植被的垂直带如下：1．常绿阔叶林带 1900米以下;2．常绿、落叶阔叶混交林带 1500米至2000米;3．针阔混交林带 2000米至2500米;4．寒温性针叶林带 2500米至3099米。     

DCA Ordination,Quantitative Classification and Environmental Interpretation of Plant Communities in Dongling Mountain

Basing on the detrended corespendenee analysis (DCA) , twb-way indicative species analysis (TWINSPAN) and environmental interpretation mathematical models and warm temperate deciduous-broad leaf forest community samples collected from Dongling mountain in Beijing, primary vegetation types and ecological gradients, and their quantitative relations with environmental factors of the region were studied. The data from 26 climate stations in this region were used to get the multivarient regression for estimating the climate information of various warm temperate deciduous-broad leaf forest according to longitude, latitude and altitude of each sample plot. It is shown that the vegetation types of warm temperate deciduous-broad leaf forest and their distribution are mainly determined by the thermal and moisture ( include soil fertility) gradients. In moisture gradients, in mid-montane from drier to moisture there are Spiraea trilobata shrubland-Vitex negundo shrubland-Prunus sibirica shrubland -manmade Pinus tabulaeformis forest-Quercus liaotungensis forest -mixed deciduous-broad leaf forest- Betula dahurica forest; In subalpine from drier to moisture there are meadow-Caragana jubata shrubland-Betula costata forest. In thermal gradients, from warm to cold there are manmade Pinus tabulaeformis forest-Virex negundo shrubland–Quercus liaotungensis forest -Betula dahurica forest-mixed deciduous-broad leaf forest -Spiraea trilobata shrubland -Prunus siberica shrubland -manmade Larix princips forest-Betula platyphylla forest - B. costata forest-subalpine meadow -Caragana jubata shrubiand . Vegetation of Dongling mountain exists 4 polars anal 2 centers, 4 polars are subalpine Caragana jubata shrubland ( drier and cold habitat), mid-low montane Virex negundo shrubland (drier and warm habitat), subalpine B. costata forest (moisture and cold habitat) and mid-montane B. dahurica forest (moisture and warm). Two centers are Quercus liaotungensis forest and mixed deciduous-broad leaf forest (actuality) , and subalpine coniferous forest (the spruce and larch forest, is the potential center). The dominant and indicative plant species are Aconitum sinomontanurn (cold and moisture), Poa botryoides , Dendrantherna zavadskii, Aconiturn kusnezoffii and Carex rigescencs (cold and drier), Maianthemurn bi foliurn and Corylus rnandshurica (warm and moisture) Spiraea trilobata and Prunus siberica (warm and drier). And these species could be indication species for succession, its would indicate the state of pioneer communities. The Plant-geographic mathematical model of DCA axles (1 and 2) and environment factors (climate and soil) have been set up.     

Avian community structure along elevational gradients in the northeastern United States

Summary Breeding birds were censused along four elevational gradients in the Adirondack Mountains, New York, and the Green Mountains, Vermont. The bird communities of the four gradients were basically similar in species composition, richness and amplitude patterns. Three measures of species diversity decreased with increasing elevation. Low-elevation communities contained higher proportions of rare species and the relative abundances conformed to the broken-stick distribution. At higher elevations the communities showed greater dominance and the dominance-diversity curves approached geometric series. The species characteristic of high-elevation communities had the broadest altitudinal distributions.The upper and lower distributional limits of most species were independent of one another except at ecotones where marked changes in vegetation structure occurred. On each mountain, slightly more than half of the species limits coincided with ecotones. This is a significantly greater proportion than has been found in similar studies of tropical forest bird communities. In further contrast to tropical communities, we found no convincing cases of altitudinal competitive exclusion between species. Interspecific competition in the past seems to have been translated primarily into differences in habitat selection by temperate forest birds.Many of the differences between temperate forest breeding bird communities and tropical ones can be understood in terms of the migratory nature of most of the temperate species and the lower species richness in temperature forests.     

长白山地区森林生态系统树附生苔藓植物群落分布格局研究

 以苔藓植物盖度为指标,应用双向指示种分析(TWINSPAN)和除趋势对应分析(DCA)对长白山地区不同森林类型36个样地的树附生苔藓植物群落分布格局进行了研究。结果表明,长白山地区树附生苔藓植物的分布格局与森林植被类型相对应,可分成落叶松林、岳桦林、暗针叶林、暗针叶林与红松阔叶林间过渡林、红松阔叶林、白桦林6类树附生苔藓植物群落类型,文章分析了影响树附生苔藓植物群落生态分布的环境因素。     

Characteristic and representativeness of the vertical vegetation zonation along the altitudinal gradient in Shennongjia Natural Heritage北大核心CSCD

Aims Mountains contain broad environmental gradients, which are to be an outstanding universal value representing significant on-going ecological and biological processes in the evolution and development of zonal vegetation along the elevation gradients. Exploring the biological and ecological value of the vegetation zonation along the elevation gradients of Chinese mountain natural heritage site is important for biodiversity conservation and management. Methods Based on the community survey data of the six vegetation zonation along the elevational gradients in Shennongjia, the global land use dataset, and the literature data of the communities along the altitudinal gradients of other natural heritage sites and the nominated world natural heritage sites in Oriental Deciduous Forest Biogeographic Province by Udvardy, we explored the outstanding universal value of the zonal vegetation along the altitude gradients by the methods of spatial analysis. Important findings Shennongjia heritage site preserves the intact vegetation zonation of the typical Oriental Deciduous Forest Biogeographical Province in the Classification of the Biogeographical Provinces of the World by Udvardy, including evergreen broad-leaved forests (South Slope of the Heritage Site), evergreen deciduous broad-leaved mixed forests, deciduous broad-leaved forests, coniferous and broad-leaved mixed forests, coniferous forests and subalpine shrub and meadow along the elevation gradients. The altitudinal zonation of vegetation in the Shennongjia heritage site represented a variety of bio-ecological processes, such as the turnover of the dominant trees along the altitudinal gradients, and is an outstanding example of the ongoing ecological processes occurring in the development of intact subtropical mixed broadleaved evergreen and deciduous forest in the Northern Hemisphere. © 2018 Editorial Office of Chinese Journal of Plant Ecology. All Rights Reserved.     

亚热带峰丛洼地恢复演替植物群落的数量分类和排序——以广西马山弄拉峰丛洼地为例

采用双向指示种分析法(TWINSPAN)和除趋势对应分析(DCA)对弄拉峰丛洼地恢复演替植物群落进行数量分类和排序。TWINSPAN将20个样方分为10个组,根据植被分类的原则划分为10个群丛,论述了各群丛的群落学特征。20个样方的DCA排序结果反映了恢复演替群落与环境梯度的关系,表明影响群丛分布格局的主导生态因子为恢复时间、人为干扰及露石率。DCA排序将53个种分为4个种组,影响峰丛洼地恢复演替群落及其物种分布格局的主导生态因子为恢复时间、岩性和水分等。各物种在排序轴上的位置反映了种组成员的生态适应性及其在群落中的重要性和更新生态位。