Leaf traits and their interrelationship of 23 plant species in southeast of Keerqin Sandy Lands, China

Six leaf traits, i.e., fresh mass (FM), dry mass (DM), leaf dry matter content (DMC), area (AR), specific leaf area (SLA) and thickness (TH) from 23 plant species in the southeastern Keerqin Sandy Lands, China were measured. The results show that leaf traits of herbs were more diversified than those of shrubs and trees and average SLA tended towards a decreasing trend from herbs to shrubs to trees. On the contrary, DMC and DM show an upward trend from herbs to shrubs to trees. No apparent difference was found in TH. Except forDMand TH, there were significant variations in SLA and DMC among three different growth forms. Moreover, a significant correlation was found between SLA and DMC. It is concluded that SLA and DMC could be used to predict species position along a resource use gradient. __________ Translated from Chinese Journal of Ecology, 2006, 25: 921–925 [译自: 生态学杂志]     

Leaf traits and their interrelationship of 23 plant species in southeast of Keerqin Sandy Lands,China

Six leaf traits,i.e.,fresh mass (FM),dry mass (DM),leaf dry matter content (DMC),area (AR),specific leaf area (SLA) and thickness (TH) from 23 plant species in the southeastern Keerqin Sandy Lands,China were measured.The results show that leaf traits of herbs were more diversified than those of shrubs and trees and aver-age SLA tended towards a decreasing trend from herbs to shrubs to trees.On the contrary,DMC and DM show an upward trend from herbs to shrubs to trees.No apparent difference was found in TH.Except for DM and TH,there were significant variations in SLA and DMC among three different growth forms.Moreover,a significant correla-tion was found between SLA and DMC.It is concluded that SLA and DMC could be used to predict species posi-tion along a resource use gradient.     

科尔沁沙地退耕杨树人工林生态系统C、N、P储量和分配格局

土地利用/覆被变化是影响陆地生态系统C、N、P循环过程的重要因素之一.退耕还林作为一种重要的土地利用/覆被变化,受到国内外研究人员的广泛关注.以科尔沁沙地农田、5年生杨树人工林和10年生杨树人工林为研究对象,开展了退耕还林对生态系统C、N、P储量和空间格局影响的研究.结果发现:(1)与农田相比,退耕5年杨树人工林生态系统总的C、N、P储量下降,然而10年生杨树人工林生态系统总的C、N、P储量升高,其中植物生物量的C、N、P储量占生态系统总储量比例随着退耕还林年龄的增加逐渐增大;(2)与5年生杨树人工林相比,退耕还林10年的杨树人工林树叶、树枝、树干、树根和凋落物的C、N、P储量均显著增加(P<0.05),不同元素(C、N、P)储量在退耕5和10年的杨树人工林各器官空间分配格局不同;(3)与农田相比较,退耕还林5年杨树人工林土壤C、N、P储量在不同土层(0～10 cm、10～20 cm、20～40 cm 和40～60 cm)均表现出下降趋势,而10年生杨树人工林土壤C、N、P储量在不同土层表现出增加趋势,不同生态系统类型(农田、5年杨树人工林和10年杨树人工林)土壤C、N、P储量在各土层分配格局不同.上述结果充分表明,在我国科尔沁沙地将农田退耕为杨树人工林能够显著改变生态系统C、N、P储量和空间分配格局.     

科尔沁沙地刺榆局域成林机制

刺榆(Hemiptelea davidii)林是科尔沁沙地独特的森林类型,以往尚无文献记载.通过对林缘和林下种子散布及幼苗分布特征的样线断面取样、果实形态及脱落特性的调查,分析了刺榆林地更新与扩展的生物学和生态学机理.结果表明,刺榆林的种子多数沉降在林下和林缘附近,林缘3 m以外显著减少.在郁闭度较大的林分内,刺榆种群主要以根蘖苗补充更新.实生苗不受地形的限制,林地主要是以实生苗扩展空间.提出果实形态及脱落特性是刺榆在科尔沁沙地局域能形成优势种林,而在其他地理分布区仅为伴生种的生物学根源.     

冻融交替对科尔沁沙地不同土地利用方式土壤呼吸的影响

在中高纬度和高海拔地区,冻融作用影响土壤的理化性质和微生物性状,进而影响土壤呼吸过程。研究冻融作用下土壤呼吸的变化,对准确估算全球碳循环具有重要意义。以科尔沁沙地沙质草地、樟子松疏林草地和农田为研究对象,通过冻融实验比较不同土地利用方式和冻融循环对土壤呼吸的影响。结果表明:土地利用方式对土壤呼吸有显著影响,在未发生冻融作用时沙质草地土壤呼吸速率显著大于樟子松疏林草地和农田(P0.05),3种土地利用方式的土壤呼吸平均速率分别为0.339、0.258和0.234μmolCO2.m-2.s-1;不同冻融循环对沙质草地和樟子松疏林草地土壤呼吸影响显著(P0.05)。其中,一次冻融循环条件下沙质草地、樟子松疏林草地和农田土壤呼吸平均速率分别为0.276、0.243和0.233μmolCO2.m-2.s-1,多次冻融循环条件下分别为0.314、0.274和0.259μmolCO2.m-2.s-1;沙质草地、樟子松疏林草地和农田的Q10值分别为116.0、26.2和16.4,表明冬季低温条件下土地利用方式强烈影响土壤呼吸对温度的敏感性。     

Phenology responses of temperate butterflies to latitude depend on ecological traits

Global change influences species’ seasonal occurrence, or phenology. In cold‐adapted insects, the activity is expected to start earlier with a warming climate, but contradictory evidence exists, and the reactions may be linked to species‐specific traits. Using data from the GBIF database, we selected 105 single‐brooded Holarctic butterflies inhabiting broad latitudinal ranges. We regressed patterns of an adult flight against latitudes of the records, controlling for altitude and year effects. Species with delayed flight periods towards the high latitudes, or stable flight periods across latitudes, prevailed over those that advanced their flight towards the high latitudes. The responses corresponded with the species’ seasonality (flight of early season species was delayed and flight of summer species was advanced at high latitudes) and oceanic vs. continental climatic niches (delays in oceanic, stability in continental species). Future restructuring of butterfly seasonal patterns in high latitudes will reflect climatic niches, and hence the evolutionary history of participating species.     

Methane uptake rates in Japanese forest soils depend on the oxidation ability of topsoil, with a new estimate for global methane uptake in temperate forest

To clarify the reason for the higher CH₄ uptake rate in Japanese forest soils, twenty-seven sites were established for CH₄ flux measurement. The first order rate constant for CH₄ uptake was also determined using soil core incubation at 14 sites. The CH₄ uptake rate had a seasonal fluctuation, high in summer and low in winter, and the rate correlated with soil temperature at 17 sites. The annual CH₄ uptake rates ranged from 2.7 to 24.8 kg CH₄ ha⁻¹ y⁻¹ (the average of these rates was 9.7 or 10.9 kg CH₄ ha⁻¹ y⁻¹, depending on method of calculation), which is somewhat higher than the uptake rates reported in previous literature. The averaged CH₄ uptake rate correlated closely with the CH₄ oxidation rate of the topsoil (0–5 cm) in the study sites. The CH₄ oxidation constant of the topsoil was explained by a multiple regression model using total pore volume of the soil, nitrate content, and C/N ratio (p < 0.05, R ² = 0.684). This result and comparison with literature data suggest that the high CH₄ uptake rate in Japanese forest soils depends on the high porosity probably due to volcanic ash parent materials. According to our review of the literature, the CH₄ uptake rate in temperate forests in Europe is significantly different from that in Asia and North America. A new global CH₄ uptake rate in temperate forests was estimated to be 5.4 Tg y⁻¹ (1 SE is 1.1 Tg y⁻¹) on a continental basis.     

东北温带森林20种乔木树种叶片干旱容忍性特征

全球范围内干旱频率和强度的增加严重影响树木生长,甚至导致森林大面积死亡。压力-容积(PV)曲线能够反映树木对干旱的容忍能力,但在局域尺度上尚未确定哪个PV曲线参数具有最优指示性。通过测定东北温带森林20种主要树种(包括16种被子植物和4种裸子植物)的PV曲线性状,包括质壁分离时的相对含水量(RWC_tlp)、失膨点叶水势(TLP)、饱和含水时的叶渗透势(π₀)、细胞弹性模量(ε)、叶水容(C_leaf)及叶结构性状(比叶面积和叶密度),研究局域尺度上叶片耐旱性的最佳指示性状,并分析叶片PV性状与结构性状间的相关性。结果表明: 被子植物的RWC_tlp 显著大于裸子植物,但其C_leaf 显著小于裸子植物,这表明用RWC_tlp和C_leaf可以指示东北温带森林不同功能型树种间耐旱性的大小。在被子植物中,TLP和π₀与叶密度呈显著负相关,且均与比叶面积呈显著正相关;而ε与比叶面积呈显著负相关。然而,裸子植物PV曲线性状与叶结构性状之间呈现与被子植物完全相反的趋势。裸子植物与被子植物树种之间PV曲线性状与叶结构性状关系的差异,可能归因于二者采取不同的干旱响应和适应策略。     

科尔沁沙地家榆林的种子散布及幼苗更新

家榆是典型的风播植物,在科尔沁沙地可以形成单一优势种林地.通过对林缘和孤立树不同方向从树基部向外的有序取样与林下和林窗的随机取样调查,分析了家榆林下和林窗不同生境的种子沉降和幼苗分布特征、林缘和孤立树种子散布方向的差异性与规律性.结果表明,家榆种子密度在林下生境阴坡和阳坡明显大于丘顶和丘底,在林窗生境丘顶明显大于丘底.家榆向周围不同方向种子散布的距离和累积数量均有较大差异,其中林缘和孤立树均以当地多逆风频率的西南方向最近,累积数量也最少;孤立树以多顺风频率的东北方向最远,累积数量也最多.林缘和孤立树共6个方向断面从树基部向外单位面积种子数量频度均适合于韦伯分布和对数-正态分布(X2(a)＜0.500)密度函数,具有相同的种子散布格局.家榆幼苗密度在林下阴坡明显大于阳坡,林下和林窗均为丘顶明显大于丘底.林缘19 m内家榆幼苗呈连续分布.在科尔沁沙地,如果不加限制或人为扰动,家榆林不仅可以很好地进行自然更新,而且可以在适宜的沙地生境逐渐扩大其分布空间.     

Multi-scale analysis on species diversity within a 40-ha old-growth temperate forest

In order to better explore the maintenance mechanisms of biodiversity,data collected from a 40-ha undisturbed Pinus forest were applied to the Individual SpecieseArea Relationship model (ISAR) to determine distribution patterns for species richness.The ecological processes influencing species abundance distribution patterns were assessed by applying the same data set to five models:a LogNormal Model (LNM),a Broken Stick Model (BSM),a Zipf Model (ZM),a Niche Preemption Model (NPM),and a Neutral Model (NM).Each of the five models was used at six different sampling scales (10 m×10 m,20 m×20 m,40 m×40 m,60 m×60 m,80 m×80 m,and 100 m×100 m).Model outputs showed that:(1) Accumulators and neutral species strongly influenced species diversity,but the relative importance of the two types of species varied across spatial scales.(2) Distribution patterns of species abundance were best explained by the NPM at small scales (10 me20 m),whereas the NM was the best fit model at large spatial scales.(3) Species richness and abundance distribution patterns appeared to be driven by similar ecological processes.At small scales,the niche theory could be applied to describe species richness and abundance,while at larger scales the neutral theory was more applicable.     

东灵山暖温带落叶阔叶次生林动态监测样地:物种组成与群落结构

群落结构状态是植被演替进程中的重要体现之一,同时也是下一步演替过程发生的基础.暖温带落叶阔叶次生林是中国暖温带森林植被的主要类型.为了更好地研究其演替动态、生物多样性维持机制,我们参照巴拿马Barro Colorado Island(BCI)50 ha热带雨林样地的技术规范,于2009年11月至2010年9月在北京门头沟区小龙门森林公园的暖温带落叶阔叶次生林内建立了一块20 ha的固定样地(简称DLS),对样地内胸径≥1 cm的所有木本植物进行了鉴定、调查及定位,分析了群落的组成和结构.结果表明,样地内木本植物有58种,隶属于18科33属.独立个体的总数为52,136,包括独立个体分枝的总数为103,284,全部为落叶树种.群落的区系类型以北温带成分居多,同时混有一些亚热带和热带成分,属典型的温带森林类型.群落优势种明显,个体数最多的前5个种的个体数占到总个体数的61%,前20个种占到92%,而其余38个种只占8%.群落成层现象明显,垂直结构由主林层(19个种)、次林层(18个种)和灌木层(21个种)组成.样地所有木本植物个体总径级分布呈倒"J"型,群落更新良好.主林层树种的径级结构近似于双峰或正态分布,而次林层和灌木层树种则表现出倒"J"型或"L"型.几个主要树种的空间分布表现出不同的分布格局,随着径级增大,聚集程度降低.空间分布格局显示主要优势种自身个体在其径级大小的空间分分布上互补,不同径级的个体占据了样地内不同的空间位置.     

温带森林阔叶植物幼苗叶经济谱及其与防御性状的关系

植物叶片功能性状之间的权衡关系一直是生态学研究的热点问题。其中叶经济谱相关性状的研究较多, 但叶片防御性状方面的研究, 尤其是幼苗阶段的研究较少。该研究以黑龙江凉水国家级自然保护区典型阔叶红松(Pinus koraiensis)林和谷地云冷杉林内共有的8种阔叶乔木和11种阔叶灌木物种的幼苗叶片为研究对象, 通过测定5个叶经济谱性状和4个叶片防御性状, 分析了叶性状在不同生活型、林型间的差异以及性状之间的协调关系。结果表明: 所有叶片性状在乔木和灌木幼苗之间不存在显著差异, 谷地云冷杉林中的幼苗的叶总酚含量和单宁含量显著高于阔叶红松林中的幼苗, 其原因为谷地云冷杉林林下光照强度弱于阔叶红松林, 且空气和土壤湿度较高, 该环境更有利于自然天敌的聚集, 可能有更强的天敌破坏效应, 而这种更强的生物相互作用反过来驱动幼苗提高其防御能力; 幼苗叶绿素含量与比叶面积呈极显著正相关关系, 与叶氮含量、叶磷含量呈显著正相关关系; 幼苗叶氮含量与叶磷含量呈显著正相关关系; 幼苗叶防御性状之间呈显著正相关关系; 幼苗叶绿素含量与叶总酚含量、单宁含量和类黄酮含量呈显著负相关关系, 叶氮含量与叶总酚含量、单宁含量呈显著负相关关系, 与类黄酮含量呈极显著负相关关系; 说明幼苗叶经济谱性状与防御性状之间存在权衡关系, 即对叶片碳代谢性状的更多投资意味着对叶防御性状更少的投资; 乔、灌木幼苗具有相似的资源利用策略。     

温带落叶阔叶林冠层CO2浓度的时空变异

为了研究温带落叶阔叶林CO₂浓度(摩尔分数, [CO₂])的时空变化特征, 利用帽儿山通量塔8层[CO₂]廓线系统分析了[CO₂]的时间动态及垂直梯度, 并结合森林小气候的同步测定数据探讨了影响[CO₂]时空变化的因子。结果表明: 帽儿山温带落叶阔叶林的[CO₂]及其垂直梯度具有明显的日变化和季节变化。在日尺度上, [CO₂]呈“单峰”曲线, 在夜间或日出前后出现最大值, 日出后迅速降低, 在午后达到最低值, 日落时分又开始迅速升高。在季节尺度上, 生长季的[CO₂]日变幅明显大于非生长季, 且冬季(1、2和12月)白天呈“V”型, 其他季节白天呈“U”型, 这与白天对流边界层的持续时间随季节的变化趋势一致。在垂直方向上, [CO₂]及其日变幅随高度增加而降低, 并且在生长季夜间湍流交换较弱时其垂直梯度最显著; 植被冠层的光合作用改变了生长旺季白天的[CO₂]垂直格局, 使冠层高度的[CO₂]最低; 休眠季节该垂直梯度大大减弱。近地层日均[CO₂]与土壤温度的趋势相似, 呈单峰曲线; 而林冠上[CO₂]在5月初和10月各出现一次峰值, 最低值出现在8月初, 与植被光合作用紧密相关。日尺度上[CO₂]及其垂直梯度主要受控于大气边界层和生态系统碳代谢过程; 年尺度上近地层[CO₂]主要受控于土壤呼吸, 而林冠上的[CO₂]则受生态系统光合作用和呼吸作用的共同控制。     

帽儿山温带落叶阔叶林净生态系统碳交换的日变化及光响应特征

光合有效辐射(PAR)是影响白天净生态系统碳交换(NEE)变化的主要环境因子,但坡面地形水平测量的PAR与超声风速仪倾斜校正后的NEE坐标系统并不匹配。本研究以平均坡度9°、坡向296°的帽儿山温带落叶阔叶林为例,研究2016年生长季(5—9月)NEE的日变化规律及其驱动因子,评估水平和坡面平行辐射表测量PAR在光响应参数估计以及其他驱动因子对NEE解释方面的差异。结果表明: 生长季各月NEE日变化均呈上、下午不对称的单峰曲线,NEE日出约2.5 h后变为负值(净碳吸收),在12:00左右达到峰值,日落前2 h再次接近零。日吸收峰7月最大,5月最小。从整个生长季来看,坡面平行与水平测量PAR的时滞和差异导致通过水平辐射表测得的PAR值拟合得到的光合量子效率(α)和白天呼吸速率(R_d)分别增大13.3%和11.5%,最大光合效率(A_max)降低7.7%;上午与下午的NEE光响应曲线不对称,下午的R_d和A_max均大于上午。光响应参数还受天气条件影响,多云A_max大于晴天,但α和R_d大多小于晴天。但逐月来看,水平测量辐射的A_max和R_d普遍低于倾斜测量辐射的值,尤其是多云下午的A_max。辐射表安装方式还影响空气温度(T_a)与饱和水汽压差(VPD)对NEE的解释,除9月T_a外,基于坡面平行辐射表的全天NEE残差与T_a和VPD的相关性(r为0.082～0.219和0.162～0.282)高于基于水平辐射表的NEE残差(r为0.013～0.197和0.098～0.224)。本研究表明,倾斜地形水平测量PAR可对NEE的环境解释带来明显误差,这对山地植被辐射测量方法以及陆地生态系统碳通量的科学解释具有重要意义。     

Structure, floristic composition, and conservation potentials of a remnant gallery forest at 'Mare du Dragon', Senegal

Woody plants in the last existing fragment of closed gallery forest in Delta du Saloum National Park, Senegal, were investigated by use of a 0.6 ha transect covering the main part of the gallery forest. There were 24 species and 369 individuals > 5 cm dbh with a basal area of 12.6 m², 1062 individuals ≥ 1 cm dbh in 31 species, and 1730 individuals < 1 cm dbh in 29 species. Constrained clustering revealed six floristically distinct sections along the transect, and these sections coincided with structural differences. The vegetation in the study area is marked by degradation caused by frequent and intense fires coming from the surrounding savanna and by declining precipitation. However, the gallery forest is unique to the area and of crucial importance for conserving biodiversity. It can in the future be important as a resource-base for restoration of the gallery forest system by means of natural regeneration.     

长白山温带森林不同演替阶段群落功能性状的空间变化

群落构建机制研究是生态学研究的热点。长白山自然保护区拥有完整的原始阔叶红松林生态系统, 近年来随着物种多样性丧失愈发严重, 对该地区开展群落构建机制研究显得尤为重要。该研究以长白山不同演替阶段的3块5.2 hm ²固定监测样地(次生杨桦林、次生针阔混交林、原始椴树红松林)为研究对象, 通过采集样地内主要树种的6个关键功能性状(叶面积、比叶面积、叶片厚度、叶氮含量、叶磷含量、最大树高), 分析不同空间尺度下(5 m × 5 m, 10 m × 10 m, 20 m × 20 m, 30 m × 30 m, 40 m × 40 m, 50 m × 50 m和60 m × 60 m)及不同演替阶段群落性状空间值的变化, 结合零模型的模拟结果对长白山温带森林演替过程中的群落构建机制进行讨论。结果表明: 种库大小对于研究结果具有重要影响。在较大的种库下, 环境过滤作用影响显著。而在样地水平进行研究时, 演替早期和中期, 群落性状空间值与零模型模拟值无显著差异, 在演替的晚期, 群落性状空间值显著高于零模型模拟值。结合多个群落功能多样性指数分析发现, 环境过滤和竞争作用共同决定该地区顶级群落的物种组成。在演替早期大量物种迁入, 群落内物种间存在强烈的资源竞争, 而随着演替进行, 部分物种逐渐被竞争排除出群落, 群落中的物种呈现明显的生态位分化, 竞争作用是维持物种共存的主要机制。     

Effects of early recruits on temperate sessile marine community composition depend on other species recruiting at the time

In many environments recruitment of dispersive propagules (e.g. seeds, spores and larvae) can vary from situations when particular taxa recruit in relative isolation to times when they recruit simultaneously with other, functionally quite different taxa. Differences in the identity and density of recruiting taxa can have important consequences on community structure, but it is still not clear how the effects of individual taxa on communities are modified when they recruit together with other species. Using an experimental approach we compared early development of a temperate marine sessile community after the recruitment of mixtures of botryllid ascidians and barnacles to that when barnacles or botryllid ascidians recruited alone. Communities exposed to recruitment of botryllid ascidians in isolation differed from those that received barnacles, a mixture of botryllids and barnacles or no recruitment in 2-week-old communities. These early differences were driven by higher abundances of the species that were present as initial recruits in experimental treatments. After 2 months communities also differed between barnacle and mixed recruitment treatments but not mixed and botryllid or botryllid and barnacle treatments. These differences were not directly due to differences in the abundances of our manipulated taxa but occurred because of two abundant arborescent bryozoans, Bugula dentata, which occupied more space in communities that initially received mixed recruitment than in those that received barnacle or no recruitment, and Zoobotryon verticillatum, which occupied more space in communities that initially received only barnacle recruitment than those that initially received botryllid or mixed recruitment. These effects did not persist, and communities did not differ after 6 months. These results suggest that, more generally, species may influence community dynamics differently when they recruit alongside other species than when they recruit in relative isolation.     

Seasonal use of remnant forest fragments by understorey forest birds in the Uluguru Mountains,Tanzania: a conservation priority

Forest fragmentation can lead to extinctions of some species at local levels and is eroding bird diversity at an increasing rate. While there is information on the distribution of forest bird species in most of the Eastern Arc Mountain forests, some forests, particularly the smaller fragments, have not been adequately surveyed. Using mist netting we surveyed avifauna in some of the poorly known forests (12.5–25 ha) located 320–1 300 m above sea level in the Uluguru Mountains in order to address their conservation importance. Proportions of seasonal altitudinal migrants were significantly higher in these lower-altitude forests during the cold season than the hot season. The results suggest that these forests support bird species of conservation concern, most of which are forest dependent and some of which make seasonal movements between high-altitude montane forests and lowland/ foothill forests. These forests are important cold-season habitat of altitudinal migrants and further fragmentation should be halted as a matter of regional and global priority.     

Seed dispersal and seedling recruitment of trees at different successional stages in a temperate forest in northeastern China

Aims Spatial distribution of adult trees in a forest community is determined by patterns of both seed dispersal and seedling recruitment. The objectives of our study were to understand the processes of seed dispersal and seedling recruitment of dominant tree species in a temperate forest of northeastern China and to identify the factors constraining seed dispersal and seedling establishment at different stages of forest succession.Methods During three summer and autumn sessions between 2006 and 2008, altogether 113080 seeds from 22 different tree species were collected in three large field plots representing different forest types in the Changbai Mountain region of northeastern China. The spatial distribution of seed abundance was analyzed using a Syrjala test. Regeneration success of nine major tree species was assessed using variables defining 'limitations' in 'seeds' and 'seedling establishment'.Important findings We found that seed production fluctuated between years and varied greatly with forest types. Four tree species, Acer spp., Fraxinus mandshurica, Tilia amurensis and Betula spp., had the greatest seed production and the widest range of seed dispersal, whereas Quercus mongolica showed the most sustained seed production pattern. The spatial patterns of seed abundance differed significantly among forest types and years. The tree species investigated in this study differed in the degree of seed limitation, as well as in limitation of seedling establishment. There were both negative and positive correlations between seed density and seedling density, depending on site and parental tree density. Seeds of 16 tree species were found in the Populus davidiana–Betula platyphylla forest (PBF) plot, 11 in the conifer and broad-leaved mixed forest (CBF) plot but only 8 in the broad-leaved-Korean pine mixed forest (BKF) plot. The number of seed-contributing species was not only greater in the secondary forests (CBF and PBF plots) than in the primary forest (BKF plot) but was also more variable during the 3 years of assessment. Results from the correlations between seed density and seedling occurrence and that between parental tree density or seed weight and dispersal limitation confirm our intuitive expectations, i.e. heavy seeds had greater dispersal limitation but higher establishment success than light seeds.     

Regeneration pattern analysis of Quercus liaotungensis in a temperate forest using two-dimensional wavelet analysis

This paper introduces the two-dimensional (2D) wavelet analysis as a general interrogative technique for the detection of spatial structure in lattice data. The 2D wavelet analysis detects components of hierarchical structure and displays the locational information of the components. Patches and gaps of different spatial scales in graphical presentation of wavelet coefficients can be linked to the local ecological processes that determine patterns at stand or landscape scales. Derived from the 2D wavelet transform function, the calculation of wavelet variance can reduce the four-dimensional data of wavelet coefficients to a two-dimensional wavelet variance function and quantify the contribution of the given scale to the overall pattern. We illustrate the use of the 2D wavelet analysis by analyzing two simulated patterns and identifying the regeneration pattern of the Quercus liaotungensis in a warm temperate forest in north China. Our results indicate that the recruitment of Q. liaotungensis occurs in an overlapping area between the patch of adult and canopy gap at scales of 45 m×45 m–70 m×70 m and 20 m×20 m–30 m×30 m. The regeneration pattern of Q. liaotungensis can be mainly ascribed to a trade-off between two ecological processes: recruitment around parent trees and the physiological light requirements of seedlings and saplings. Our results provide a general portrayal of the regeneration pattern for the dispersal-limited and shade-intolerant Quercus species. We find that the two-dimensional wavelet analysis efficiently characterizes the scale-specific pattern of Q. liaotungensis at different life-history stages.