神农架山地河岸带中珍稀植物群落特征

以领春木(Euptelea pleiospermum)、连香树(Cercidiphyllum japonicum)为优势种的珍稀植物群落是神农架山地中海拔地段河岸带中的典型群落类型.在神农架地区4大水系(沿渡河、香溪河、南河和堵河)的河岸带中共调查了48个样地,采用植物群落学方法,分析了该区山地河岸带中珍稀植物群落特征.结果表明:(1)群落中植物种类丰富,科属组成比较分散.共记录到维管束植物749种,隶属144科412属,其中每科仅记录到1个属的有72个科,每属仅记录到1个种的有256个属.(2)在科水平上,热带、亚热带成分与温带成分所占比例几乎相同,在属水平上温带成分占主导.东亚分布成分、中国特有成分所占比例较高,共记录了6个东亚特有科、50个东亚特有属,2个中国特有科、27个中国特有属.(3)中小型草质单叶的落叶阔叶高位芽和地面芽植物是决定该珍稀植物群落外貌的主要成分.(4)群落垂直结构复杂,成层现象明显.第一乔木亚层树冠层分布不连续,第一、第二乔木亚层和灌木层从高到低郁闭度逐渐增大,草本层盖度各样地差别较大,层间植物丰富.该山地河岸带中丰富的珍稀、特有和/或孑遗植物表现出该群落的古老、孑遗性.虽然该区多数珍稀植物为温带性质,但该珍稀植物群落整体上在种类组成、区系分布、生活型谱、叶片性质等方面表现出亚热带亚高山垂直带谱上常绿落叶阔叶混交林的过渡性特征.自上而下逐渐密集的群落垂直结构为幼苗稍耐荫、成年趋于喜光的珍稀植物的不同发育阶段提供了利于其生长的光环境.特殊的地理位置、独特的地形地貌和良好的水热条件使亚热带山地河岸带成为珍稀植物(尤其是孑遗植物)就地保护中一个关键而特殊的区域.     

A dendroclimatic investigation of radial growth–climate relationships for the riparian species <Emphasis Type="Italic">Cercidiphyllum japonicum</Emphasis> in the Shennongjia area,central China

Cercidiphyllum japonicum is a rare endemic species of East Asia flora and a common component in riparian forests. Dendrochronological techniques were employed to trace radial growth of C. japonicum in the Shennongjia area of central China and examine its relationships with local climate. Effects of precipitation on width of C. japonicum annual rings were negligible except for some temporary negative impacts in prior winter. The variables most strongly controlling radial growth were temperatures in the previous December and during the current summer. Relationships for most pairs of ring-width and monthly/seasonal climate variables were temporally unstable but occasionally significant. Radial growth–climate relationships for C. japonicum were likely shaped by riparian site characteristics, root habits, and regional climatic regimes.     

Polymorphic microsatellite DNA markers for a relictual angiosperm Cercidiphyllum japonicum Sieb. et Zucc. and their utility for Cercidiphyllum magnificum

The genus Cercidiphyllum is considered to be a primitive, relictual angiosperm, with two extant species occurring in limited areas of East Asia. We developed seven microsatellite markers for Cercidiphyllum japonicum, of which, five showed a clear, strong single band for each allele. The average number of alleles and observed heterozygosity were 26.2 and 0.82, respectively. Three pairs of polymerase chain reaction primers successfully amplified the DNA of the other species, Cercidiphyllum magnificum.     

Coexistence of three canopy tree species in a riparian forest in the Chichibu Mountains, central Japan

Three canopy tree species (Fraxinus platypoda, Pterocarya rhoifolia, andCercidiphyllum japonicum) coexist in riparian forests in the Chichibu Mountains of central Japan. We compared the forest structure and the reproductive characteristics of these species.F. platypoda was the dominant canopy species. It produced many saplings and grew in abandoned channels and floodplains, and was able to invade both large and small disturbance sites.P. rhoifolia was a subdominant species that occurred on the deposits of large-scale landslides and grew in patches containing even-aged trees.C. japonicum was the other subdominant species that produced few saplings and invaded large disturbance sites together withP. rhoifolia. Establishment sites ofC. japonicum were restricted to fine mineral soils and fallen logs. We found tradeoffs in reproductive characteristics (seed size, seed number, irregular seed production, and sprouting) among the three canopy species.F. platypoda andP. rhoifolia had large seeds and produced fruits irregularly.C. japonicum produced many small seeds every year and sprouted prolifically around the main stem. The causes of the coexistence mechanism of the three riparian canopy tree species may be both niche- and chance-determined to varying degrees. In riparian areas, the three canopy species were well-adapted to disturbances throughout their life-history.     

Factors influencing seedling emergence and survival in<Emphasis Type="Italic">Cercidiphyllum japonicum</Emphasis>

Cercidiphyllum japonicum Sieb. etZucc. is found in riparian forests in Japan, but the seedlings rarely regenerate more than coexisting tree species. We investigatedC. japonicum emergence and seedling survival in a nursery for 21 months. Bare soil, soil-with-litter, and gravel treatments and 3.0%, 10.9%, 22.7%, 60.1%, and 100% relative photosynthetic photon flux density (RPPFD) light conditions were tested. Seedling emergence depended on soil type and light conditions. Owing toC. japonicum’s small seed size, germinated seedlings could not penetrate the litter layer and became desiccated in gravel, but most seedlings emerged and survived in bare soil. These surviving seedlings needed quite bright light to germinate but not extreme light conditions. Initial mortality was high, but most of the seedlings that survived the first three months survived for the duration of the study, even under quite dark 10% RPPFD conditions. Current-year seedlings grew poorly under bright light conditions and rarely survived under the brightest light condition, when survival was probably negatively affected by desiccation. After one year, seedlings were able to use the higher light conditions more efficiently for growth. Such seedlings probably have a high chance of survival. Under low light conditions, both current- and second-year seedlings grew poorly. However, even small seedlings are likely to survive under low light conditions in a nursery, because the seedbed is level and nursery seedlings do not face all of the threats that are present in an actual forest.     

天山盘羊夏季采食地和卧息地生境选择

2010年7-8月采用样线调查法及直接观察法对天山中部古仁郭楞高山区的盘羊天山亚种采食地和卧息地生境进行了研究。共调查5条沟系的12条样线,测量天山盘羊147个采食地和136个卧息地样方,分析了13类生态因子对天山盘羊采食地和卧息地选择的影响。研究结果表明,天山盘羊夏季采食地与卧息地在坡位、坡向、地貌类型、海拔高度、距最近家畜距离、距道路距离和距居民点距离差异极显著（P < 0.01）,植被高度差异显著（P < 0.05）,而其它生态因子差异性不显著（P > 0.05）;相对卧息地的选择而言,夏季盘羊采食地的选择更偏爱海拔较低,植被高度低,距离道路、居民点和最近家畜距离近的半阴半阳坡,山体中下位的高山草甸缓坡生境。逐步判别分析表明,距道路距离、距居民点距离、植被高度、距家畜距离4个生态因子可以用于判别夏季天山盘羊采食地与卧息地生境,正确区分率达到90.6%。     

连栽杉木林林下植被生物量动态格局

用空间一致时间连续的定位研究方法,在湖南会同杉木林生态系统国家野外科学观测研究站试验基地的第2集水区,对连栽杉木林林下植被生物量进行了12 a的监测,研究了林下植被种类的变化、生物量动态特征、生物量的组成与分布变化格局。结果表明:连栽杉木林在14a生长发育过程中,林下植物种类呈现波动性的减少趋势,其中木本植物物种数下降率为40.0%,草本植物物种数下降率为47.1%。林下植被生物量由杉木林3年生29.48 t/hm²下降至14年生的2.53 t/hm²,其中木本植物生物量由7.07 t/hm²,下降至1.25 t/hm²,下降了82.3%;草本植物由22.41 t/hm²,下降至1.28 t/hm²,下降了94.3%。在此期间,木本与草本植物生物量的高低均出现波动现象。3年生杉木林下木本植物以乔木树种生物量6068.97 kg/hm²最高,占总生物量85.88%,藤本植物生物量736.97 kg/hm²为次,占10.44%,灌木植物生物量259.87 kg/hm²最低,仅占3.68%。14年生杉木林下木本植物以灌木植物生物量881.87 kg/hm²为首,占总生物量70.73%,藤本植物生物量247.07 kg/hm²为次,占19.82%,乔木树种生物量117.87 kg/hm²最少,只占9.45%。3年生杉木林下草本植物以蕨类植物生物量8391.44 kg/hm²最高,占总生物量的37.44%,过路黄生物量36.77 kg/hm²最低,仅占0.16%。杉木14年生时,以芒生物量573.00 kg/hm²最大,占总生物量44.78%,金毛耳草生物量2.93 kg/hm²最小,仅占0.23%。研究结果,可为研究杉木林养分循环、碳平衡、维护和提高林地地力及可持续经营管理提供科学依据。     

Regeneration dynamics in arid subtropical thicket,South Africa

In arid environments nurse-plants modify localised habitats and create regeneration opportunities for seedlings vulnerable to hostile conditions created by biotic and abiotic factors. Facilitation is thus recognised as an important process structuring plant communities in harsh environments. Here we use spatial patterns of species association and recruitment to infer species replacement patterns in arid subtropical thicket of South Africa. Although our study site was floristically impoverished, all major plant functional groups that characterise subtropical thicket were present. Portulacaria afra clumps comprised approximately 50% of the study site by area. The mean and median clump size was 16.5 and 6.9 m², respectively, indicating the prevalence of small individuals in the population. Approximately 90% of tree seedlings were recorded under P. afra clumps and 93% of P. afra seedlings were recorded under woody shrubs. P. afra seedlings were recorded more frequently than expected beneath Rhigozum obovatum compared with other woody shrub species. No clear recruitment patterns were recorded for R. obovatum. Lycium cinereum, a woody shrub, and the stem-succulent Psilocaulon absimile were distributed more frequently on nutrient rich patches than expected and both these species are replaced by grass as the nutrient rich patch ages. Mature trees were generally recorded growing to the south of the assumed founding P. afra stem indicating that tree establishment was more frequent on the shaded side of P. afra clumps. However, most trees grew towards the sunny north and east-facing aspects. Plant species replacement patterns are facilitated by nurse-plant effects in arid subtropical thicket. These recruitment patterns together with our inferred species replacement on nutrient rich patches result in a predictable sequence of species replacement that is cyclic in nature.     

Limited genetic impacts of habitat fragmentation in an “old rare” relict tree, Euptelea pleiospermum (Eupteleaceae)

Euptelea pleiospermum is an ??old rare?? tree species distributed along the high-elevation streamsides in Burma, China, and India. Deforestation and construction of roads for timber transport have highly fragmented the natural habitats of this species in the Shennongjia Forestry District. In this study, we used this fragmentation to test the hypothesis that ??old rare?? tree species are insusceptible to the genetic consequences of habitat fragmentation. Using eight microsatellite loci, we estimated allelic richness (A _R), observed heterozygosity (H _O), expected heterozygosity (H _E), Wright??s inbreeding coefficient (F _IS), and genetic differentiation (F _ST and D _EST) between pre- and post-fragmentation cohorts. We found no significant differences in either genetic diversity or genetic differentiation between the two cohorts. The limited genetic effects of fragmentation may result from too few fragmented generations, because the time between the start of fragmentation (year 1970) and our study (year 2008) was less than one generation of this tree species. It should be mentioned that clonal reproduction by sprouting, a common phenomenon in many ??old rare?? tree species, can help E. pleiospermum buffer the genetic impacts of fragmentation by delaying the time between generations. Therefore, we conclude that this ??old rare?? tree species show limited genetic impacts from recent habitat fragmentation. However, the elimination of rare alleles and increase of inbreeding coefficient in the post-fragmentation cohort are early warnings of deleterious genetic consequences of fragmentation. Our results provide valuable information to formulate conservation and restoration guidelines for E. pleiospermum.     

Ecology and biogeography of plant communities associated with the post Plio-Pleistocene relict Rhododendron ponticum subsp. baeticum in southern Spain

Aims Rhododendron ponticum L. is reputed to be a post Plio‐Pleistocene relict plant species with a disjunct distribution that comprises the Iberian Peninsula to the west and the Euxinian region plus some restricted Mediterranean areas to the east. We analysed the ecological range (of subsp. baeticum) in the western area (Aljibe Mountains, north of the Strait of Gibraltar) to understand the factors determining the present area limitation. Location Sierra del Aljibe, north of the Strait of Gibraltar (Iberian Peninsula). Methods We selected 20 riparian sites where R. ponticum is common, and compiled data on the ecological diversity of associated woody species and ferns. We established a 500‐m main transect in each site, along the stream or river course, in which we placed five 20‐m‐long plots at regular intervals. We recorded physiographic habitat features, woody plants and fern abundance, and the number of R. ponticum individuals. Results Rhododendron ponticum in southern Spain is restricted to riparian forests in acidic soils (pH 4.0–6.4), and is mainly found on the banks of inclined and enclosed streams. In our inventory we recorded 59 woody taxa and 12 ferns, with R. ponticum being the dominant species of the understorey (mean abundance 78.6%). The communities are characterized by a high incidence of the humid warm temperate element, both in number of species (18.8 ± 3.7 per site) and abundance; meanwhile, the presence of the modern Mediterranean element (mean number of species 3.4 ± 3.8 per site) appears to be favoured by disturbance. These ecological–historical groups of taxa also show distinct patterns of typological habit, frequency of endemism, infrageneric diversity and geographical range. Populations of R. ponticum are characterized by a very variable density of seedlings in many sites, and the virtual lack of juveniles. Main conclusions Riparian forests of the Aljibe Mountains constitute a refuge for R. ponticum where the species persists, but populations appear to be in decline. The narrow ecological range of R. ponticum in the area strongly contrasts with its wide amplitude in the eastern natural area, mainly the Euxinian region, where R. ponticum probably finds better conditions due to the environmental heterogeneity of the region, and the lack of a hot dry season.     

Shennongjia–Wushan Mountains—One cryptic glacial refugium introduced by the phylogeographical study of the Geometridae moth Ourapteryx szechuana Wehrli

The origin and evolution of biodiversity in the Shennongjia and Wushan Mountains, located in central China, are little known. In this study, we used Ourapteryx szechuana, which is widely distributed in China and northern Nepal, to explore whether these mountains acted as glacial refugia during climate oscillations of the Quaternary. In total, 192 samples of O. szechuana were collected throughout much of the distribution range. Phylogenetic analysis, molecular dating, demographic history reconstructions, and MAXENT were used to investigate the evolutionary history and differentiation mechanisms and predict the potential species distributions during four different periods. The phylogenetic tree and the star‐like median‐joining network strongly supported two reciprocally monophyletic and allopatric lineages. Lineage I was restricted to the Shennongjia and Wushan Mountains. The divergence time of O. szechuana from its sister species O. thibetaria was approximately 1.94 Ma. The differentiation processes of the two intraspecific lineages occurred at approximately 0.47 Ma. The demographic history reconstruction and the ecological niche model suggested that Lineage II experienced an expansion after the LGM (Last Glacial Maximum), whereas Lineage I did not experience any expansion. Our results suggested the Naynayxungla glaciation promoted the divergence of the two lineages by restricting them to different refugia. The valleys of the Shennongjia–Wushan Mountains may have kept stable and warm (thus ice‐free) environments during Quaternary glaciations, allowing this region to act as a glacial refugia. Our studies show that the Shennongjia and Wushan Mountains are likely to be important but little studied glacial refugia for the insect and thus worthy of more attention.

The Naynayxungla Glaciation promoted the divergence of the two lineages by restricting them to different refugia. The Shennongjia and Wushan Mountains are one important and easily neglected refugia for the insect groups and are worthy of more attention.     

Landscape Genetic Structure of a Streamside Tree Species Euptelea pleiospermum (Eupteleaceae): Contrasting Roles of River Valley and Mountain Ridge

We used landscape genetics and statistical models to test how landscape features influence connectivity or create barriers to dispersal for a mountain riparian tree species, Euptelea pleiospermum. Young leaves from 1078 individuals belonging to 36 populations at elevations of 900–2000 m along upper reaches of four rivers were genotyped using eight nuclear microsatellite markers. We found no evidence for the unidirectional dispersal hypothesis in E. pleiospermum within each river. The linear dispersal pattern along each river valley is mostly consistent with the “classical metapopulaton” model. Mountain ridges separating rivers were genetic barriers for this wind-pollinated tree species with anemochorous seeds, whereas river valleys provided important corridors for dispersal. Gene flow among populations along elevational gradients within each river prevails over gene flow among populations at similar elevations but from different rivers. This pattern of gene flow is likely to promote elevational range shifts of plant populations and to hinder local adaptation along elevational gradients. This study provides a paradigm to determine which of the two strategies (migration or adaptation) will be adopted by mountain riparian plants under climate warming.     

Perspectives on Screening Winter-Flood-Tolerant Woody Species in the Riparian Protection Forests of the Three Gorges Reservoir

The establishment of riparian protection forests in the Three Gorges Reservoir (TGR) is an ideal measure to cope with the eco-environmental problems of the water-level fluctuation zone (WLFZ). Thus, the information for screening winter-flood-tolerant woody plant species is useful for the recovery and re-establishment of the riparian protection forests in the TGR WLFZ. Therefore, we discussed the possibilities of constructing and popularizing riparian protection forests in the TGR WLFZ from several aspects, including the woody plant species distribution in the WLFZ, the survival rate analyses of suitable candidate woody species under controlled flooding conditions, the survival rate investigation of some woody plant species planted in the TGR WLFZ, and the physiological responses of some woody plant species during the recovery stage after winter floods. The results of woody species investigation showed that most woody plant species that existed as annual seedlings in the TGR WLFZ are not suitable candidates for the riparian protection forests. However, arbor species (e.g., Salix matsudana, Populus×canadensis, Morus alba, Pterocarya stenoptera, Taxodium ascendens, and Metasequoia glyptostroboides) and shrub species (e.g., Salix variegata, Distylium chinensis, Lycium chinense, Myricaria laxiflora, and Rosa multiflora) might be considered suitable candidates for the riparian protection forests in the TGR WLFZ by survival rate analyses under controlled winter flooding conditions, and survival rate investigations of woody plant species planted in the TGR WLFZ, respectively. Physiological analyses showed that P.×canadensis, M. alba, L. chinense, and S. variegata could develop specific self-repairing mechanisms to stimulate biomass accumulation and carbohydrate synthesis via the increases in chlorophyll pigments and photosynthesis during recovery after winter floods. Our results suggested these woody plant species could endure the winter flooding stress and recover well, and be used as candidate for the construction of riparian protection forests in the TGR WLFZ.     

Wildfire promotes dominance of invasive giant reed (Arundo donax) in riparian ecosystems

Widespread invasion of riparian ecosystems by the large bamboo-like grass Arundo donax L. has altered community structure and ecological function of streams in California. This study evaluated the influence of wildfire on A. donax invasion by investigating its relative rate of reestablishment versus native riparian species after wildfire burned 300 ha of riparian woodlands along the Santa Clara River in southern California in October 2003. Post-fire A. donax growth rates and productivity were compared to those of native woody riparian species in plots established before and after the fire. Arundo donax resprouted within days after the fire and exhibited higher growth rates and productivity compared to native riparian plants. Arundo donax grew 3–4 times faster than native woody riparian plants—up to a mean of 2.62 cm day⁻¹—and reached up to 2.3 m in height less than 3 months after the fire. One year post-fire, A. donax density was nearly 20 times higher and productivity was 14–24 times higher than for native woody species. Three mechanisms—fire-adapted phenology, high growth rate, and growth response to nutrient enrichment—appear to promote the preemption of native woody riparian species by A. donax after fire. This greater dominance of A. donax after wildfire increased the susceptibility of riparian woodlands along the Santa Clara River to subsequent fire, potentially creating an invasive plant-fire regime cycle. Moreover, A. donax infestations appear to have allowed the wildfire to cross the broad bed of the Santa Clara River from the north, allowing thousands of acres of shrubland to the south to burn.     

Intraspecific variation in seedling growth responses of a relict tree species Euptelea pleiospermum to precipitation manipulation along an elevation gradient

Improving the accuracy of predictions regarding how plants respond to climate change is crucial to protecting biodiversity. However, little is known about the effects of seed source and elevation on the response of mountain plant species to reductions in precipitation. Here, we collected seeds of a tree species (Euptelea pleiospermum) from three seed sources and carried out a two-growing-season reciprocal transplant experiment with precipitation manipulation at three sites along an elevation gradient in the Shennongjia Mountains, central China. Variations in whole-plant traits, leaf traits, and root traits were investigated. We found that most plant traits of E. pleiospermum seedlings were affected by reductions in precipitation, and responses varied among different elevations and seed sources. Whole-plant traits, root biomass, and leaf traits related to photosynthesis capacity decreased under reduced precipitation treatments at mid and high elevation sites. Thus, climate change induced drought will likely have a negative influence on seedling growth at mid and high elevation regions. In addition, a home-site advantage in whole-plant traits and root traits was observed. However, the responses of leaf traits in most cases were not affected by seed source because of higher phenotypic plasticity. Our results suggested that both local adaptation and phenotypic plasticity were important in seedling growth responses to reduced precipitation. We also highlight the importance of taking intraspecific variation into account when studying the response of plants to changes in climate.

     

神农架山体对濒危植物连香树遗传结构影响的研究

山体屏障能阻断植物连续的生境,干扰居群的基因交流,从而影响植物居群的遗传结构.本研究应用AFLP标记探讨神农架地区南北坡4条河岸带分布的连香树4个居群的遗传多样性水平,以及山体隔离对居群遗传结构和基因流的影响.结果显示连香树居群水平的Nei's基因多样性(h)和Shannon信息指数(/)分别为0.116和0.173,遗传多样性水平相对较高.在遗传结构方面,邻接树(NJ)和主坐标分析的结果清晰地将南北坡分开,从居群和个体上都分成两组.并且STRUCTURE的结果显示基因流在同坡向的居群间比不同坡向的居群间要大.这些表明神农架山体可能对连香树居群的基因交流产生了一定的限制作用.神农架南北坡居群间的分化程度较低(FST为0.075),推测与连香树自身有较强的种子散布和花粉传播能力有关.本研究结果表明,神农架山体及相关的生态因子可能对连香树居群的基因交流产生了限制作用.     

Landscape connectivity of Cercidiphyllum japonicum,an endangered species and its implications for conservation

Cercidiphyllum japonicum, a Tertiary relict, recolonized areas north of the Yangtze River after the last glacial; however, little is known about its specific colonization corridors. Together with distribution models, the least cost path (LCP) analysis has been used to reveal the landscape connectivity of species. In this study, we utilized the categorical LCP method, combining the species distribution with genetic data from cpDNA and nuclear markers, to identify the possible dispersal routes of C. japonicum after the LGM. Across time periods and genetic markers, the results revealed that the species generally spread from the western edge of the Sichuan Basin, while the highest degree of dispersal potential corresponds with the year 2080 and the cpDNA haplotype. Furthermore, shifts in the species' range and the indication of an area of low genetic divergence further support the existence of a dispersal corridor. Overall, we believe that a dispersal route from the western edge of the Sichuan Basin through the Qinling Mountains and further to the northeast could exist, and therefore, the results are an important supplement to the evolutionary history of C. japonicum. In the future, we believe species distribution models (SDM) and connectivity assessment in relation to climate change will provide increasingly useful information and new implications for prioritizing the conservation of the endangered species.     

Strong leaf morphological, anatomical, and physiological responses of a subtropical woody bamboo (Sinarundinaria nitida) to contrasting light environments

Dwarf bamboos are an important understory component of the lowland and montane forests in the subtropical regions of Asia and South America, yet little is known about their physiology and phenotypic plasticity in response to changing light environments. To understand how bamboo species adapt to different light intensities, we examined leaf morphological, anatomical, and physiological differentiation of Sinarundinaria nitida (Mitford) Nakai, a subtropical woody dwarf bamboo, growing in open and shaded natural habitats in the Ailao Mountains, SW China. Compared with leaves in open areas, leaves in shaded areas had higher values in leaf size, specific leaf area, leaf nitrogen, and chlorophyll concentrations per unit area but lower values in leaf thickness, vein density, stomatal density, leaf carbon concentration, and total soluble sugar concentration. However, stomatal size and leaf phosphorus concentration per unit mass remained relatively constant regardless of light regime. Leaves in the open habitat exhibited a higher light-saturated net photosynthetic rate, dark respiration rate, non-photochemical quenching, and electron transport rate than those in the shaded habitat. The results of this study revealed that the bamboo species exhibited a high plasticity of its leaf structural and functional traits in response to different irradiances. The combination of high plasticity in leaf morphological, anatomical, and physiological traits allows this bamboo species to grow in heterogeneous habitats.     

秦岭山地锐齿栎次生林幼苗更新特征

分析了秦岭山地锐齿栎次生林群落乔木及木本幼苗物种特征值、更新生态位宽度及不同影响因子下（包括林分密度、坡向、海拔等）乔木更新动态。结果表明,乔木层物种有25种,锐齿栎占有明显地优势,重要值为149.18%。其次为华山松(Pinus armandii)和千斤榆(Carpinus cordata)等;更新层共有木本植物41种,其中乔木种有28种,占所有木本植物总数量的68%,优势种有青蛙皮槭(Acer grosseri)、木姜子(Litsea pungens)等。林下有丰富的幼苗库,径级及龄级比较小。更新方式以实生为主;分析了10种更新优势乔木种群的生态位宽度,同种幼树种群生态位宽度均大于幼苗种群生态位宽度。幼苗种群生态位宽度从大到小依次为榛子(Corylus heterophylla)、锐齿栎、青蛙皮槭等。幼树种群生态位宽度从大到小依次为榛子、青蛙皮槭、锐齿栎等;林分密度对林下乔木幼苗和幼树数量影响不同。当林分密度（株?hm-2）从720增加到1460时,幼苗密度逐渐增大。随后随着林分密度的增加,又呈现出减少的趋势。而幼树密度随着林分密度增加一直呈现出减少的趋势。坡向对锐齿栎次生林林下乔木幼苗和幼树的影响各异,阳坡（南偏西3）均利于幼苗和幼树的更新。南偏西45林分内,幼苗密度急剧减少。随着坡向转为阴坡,幼苗密度又逐渐增加。而幼树密度逐渐减少。当海拔从1083 m增加到1547 m时,幼树密度逐渐增加。随后,随着海拔增加到1882 m,幼树密度则逐渐减小。而幼苗密度随着海拔的增高一直呈现减小的趋势。     

The role of the soil seed and seedling bank in the regeneration of diverse plant communities in the subtropical Ailao Mountains,Southwest China

We compared species composition and diversity of the soil seed and seedling banks in three secondary vegetation types (shrubland, Populus bonatii forest, Lithocarpus regrowth forest) and a primary old-growth forest in the subtropical Ailao Mountains of southwestern China to clarify the importance of seed and seedling banks for forest dynamics. The average species richness was the highest in soil samples from the shrubland (26.80 ± 1.98), and the lowest from the primary forest (9.93 ± 0.50). The density of germinable tree seeds increased from the secondary vegetation to the primary forest, and the density of shrub, forb, and graminoid seeds decreased significantly. The most abundant seedlings recorded in soil samples were light-demanding species in the shrubland and Populus bonatii forest. For ground flora, the number of shrub seedlings strongly decreased with the increase in stand age, and shade-tolerant tree seedlings tended to increase. The species similarity between the seed bank and the aboveground vegetation in all sites was low (Sørensen’s index = 0.11–0.33), however, the shrubland had higher similarity compared with the other three plant communities. In the primary forest, light-demanding woody species dominated in soil seed banks, while shade-tolerant species dominated in the overstory and the forest floor. In the primary forest, seedlings of dominant tree species were rare in the understory, and no seeds of the dominant species were found in the soil. Results indicated that the early stages of vegetation recovery should take into account the possibility of recovering soil seed bank processes. However, colonization and establishment of tree seedlings will be difficult once a primary forest is destroyed.