西双版纳热带山地雨林群落乔木树种多样性研究

根据块样地资料对西双版纳热带山地雨林树种多样性特征进行了分析.结果表明,在2 500m²的样地上,随着起测胸径递增,各样地乔木个体数和树种丰富度均表现为依次递减;低海拔带上(850～1000 m)的山地雨林(1、2号样地)的各指数值无一定变化规律,较高海拔带上(1200～2000 m)的山地雨林(3～6号样地)的Shannon-Wiener指数和Simpson指数均表现为依次递减,而Pielou均匀度指数则呈依次递增的趋势.较高海拔带上的山地雨林在较小乔木起测胸径(≥2 cm、≥5 cm、≥10 cm)的树种丰富度、多样性和均匀度指数均要明显大于低海拔带上的山地雨林,而两者在较大乔木起测胸径(≥20 cm、≥30 cm、≥50 cm)的各指数值无明显差异.随着取样面积的递增,各样地树种丰富度、多样性和均匀度指数在取样面积递增到2 000m²处均已趋于平缓.     

Gap-phase regeneration in a tropical montane forest: the effects of gap structure and bamboo species

To study the influence of gap structure and bamboo species on the regrowth of montane Atlantic forest, colonization by plants was characterized in 30 treefall gaps (30.3–500.5 m²). The study was conducted at Santa Virgínia (45°30 W, 23°17 S), a 4970-ha reserve of Atlantic montane forest in southeastern Brazil. Area covered by bamboos ranged from 0% to 100% of gap area. Average height of surrounding canopies ranged from 12 to 30 m. As gap are covered by bamboo and average height of surrounding canopies increased, both density and richness of pioneer woody species decreased. Density and richness of shade-tolerant species were negatively influenced by gap area. Low-light-demanding species of Miconia, Leandra and Rapanea accounted for the majority of both pioneer species and individuals sampled, whereas high-light demanding pioneers of Cecropia, Alchornea and Tibouchina were poorly represented. We suggest that in the Atlantic montane forest bamboo species compete for gaps, excluding other light-demanding pioneers. This results in an overall reduction of pioneer species richness in the Atlantic forest.     

Tree species richness complementarity, disturbance and fragmentation in a Mexican tropical montane cloud forest

Tropical montane cloud forest exhibits great heterogeneity in speciescomposition and structure over short geographic distances. In central Veracruz,Mexico, the conservation priority of seven cloud forest fragments was assessedby considering differences in woody plant species richness and complementarityof species among sites, forest structure, tree mortality, and timber andfirewood extraction as indicators of anthropogenic disturbance. Densities oftrees 5 cm dbh (360–1700 trees/ha) weredifferent among the sites, but basal area (35.3–89.3m²/ha) did not differ among fragments. The number of dead trees rangedfrom 10–30 to 170–200 trees/ha. The fragments'species composition was different but complementary. The Morisita–Hornindex indicated low similarity between fragments. A non-parametric estimator ofspecies richness indicated that more sampling effort would be necessary tocomplete the inventory (15 additional trees and two understory shrub species).Unfortunately, most of the fragments are threatened with deforestation. The numberof cut trees was similar among sites (0–15 cut trees/0.1 ha).Sites with immediate need for conservation were close to settlements, with highnumbers of cut trees and no legal protection. The selected sites represent thevariety of situations that exist in the region. Given the high complementarityobserved between fragments, a regional conservation approach will be required topreserve the last repositories of part of the tremendous biodiversity of theonce continuous forest in this region.     

Effects of topography on tropical lower montane forests under different geological conditions on Mount Kinabalu,Borneo

Species composition and forest structure change with topography.However, mechanisms for topographical vegetation changes are still not wellunderstood, because a topographical gradient is a complex environmentalgradientinclusive of many factors. The foot of Mt. Kinabalu is covered with three typesof geological substrates, i.e. Quaternary and Tertiary sedimentary rocks andultrabasic (serpentine) rock. Quaternary and Tertiary sedimentaryrocks are different in site age, but controlled in primary minerals. Tertiarysedimentary and ultrabasic rocks are contrasting in primary minerals, but arecomparable in age. This setting provides an opportunity to examine thevegetation differentiation along topographical gradients that are contrastinginmajor-nutrient supply due to the difference in site age and parent rock.We established a total of nine study plots by choosing three topographicalunits(ridge, middle- and lower-slope) on each substrate inthe tropical lower montane forest. Pool size and supply of soil N and Pdecreased upslope on each substrate, and the magnitude of the reduction fromslope to ridge decreased in the order of Quaternary sedimentary > Tertiarysedimentary > ultrabasic rock. Between-substrate difference in soilnutrient condition was greater on the lower-slopes than the ridges.Maximum tree size decreased and stem density increased upslope on eachsubstrate. Detrended correspondence analysis demonstrated that speciescomposition also changed along topographical gradients on all substrates.However, the magnitude of topographical changes in forest structure and speciescomposition varied with substrate and decreased from Quaternary sedimentary>Tertiary sedimentary > ultrabasic rock. The greatest between-substratedifference in vegetation occurred on the lower-slopes. Accordingly, ourresults suggest that the magnitude of vegetation changes due to topographybecomes smaller with decreasing pool size and supply of nutrients.     

Elemental concentrations in a tropical montane rain forest in Sri Lanka

As a preliminary to studies on biogeochemistry of a tropical montane rain forest at about 1800 m altitude in Sri Lanka, the concentrations of 17 chemical elements in different forest compartments, i.e. in leaves of six floristically dominant tree species, undergrowth, litter, and soil at 0–10 cm and 11–60 cm depth were determined. Foliar chemical differences between species were large. Mean leaf water content, mean leaf area per leaf, and specific leaf weight of each species were also determined. Calcium seems to be used in relatively large quantities by these plants. Phosphorus concentration in all compartments was consistently low. A few species investigated appeared to concentrate aluminium and silicon at high amounts. Concentration differences between compartments were significant only for certain elements. Location effect on the concentrations in soil was considerable for most of the elements studied. When studying plant-soil chemical interactions in these forests, species-level concentrations must be taken into account as the species-specific chemical differences are obscured when treated as canopy leaves.     

海南五指山热带山地雨林植物物种多样性研究

王指山热带山地雨林的物种种类十分丰富,在１ｈｍ＾２样地中共出现５４个科,１００个属的乔木树种１７７种,１３３７个个体。区系地理分析表明属的分布区类型以热带分布型成分占优,为８９．０％,充分体现了五指山山地雨林的热带性质。多样性指数分析结果为：样地１Ｍａｒｇａｌｅｆ指数１７．８２２,Ｓｈａｎｎｏｎ－Ｗｉｅｎｅｒ指数５．６２１,均匀度０．８２３,Ｓｉｍｐｓｏｎ指数０．０５０,均匀度６．７７５,表明五指     

海南岛热带山地雨林种类组成的局域分布与垂直分布

对海南岛四大山地雨林区常见植物种类的局域及垂直分布进行了研究,结果表明,海南岛热带山地雨林的种类组成,除了在各林区有一定数量相同的种外,各林区之间种类成分也存在着显著的差异,由于各林区生态因子的差异,使得生态幅度不同的物种在垂直方向上的分布也产生明显的差异,生态幅度较小的物种仅局限于某一地段,生态幅度较广,适应性较强的种类则有较广泛的分布。     

Water relations of indigenous versus exotic tree species,growing at the same site in a tropical montane forest in southern Ethiopia

The objective of the study was to compare the water relations of two indigenous [Podocarpus falcatus (Thunb.) Endl., Croton macrostachys Hochst. ex. Del.] and two exotic tree species (Eucalyptus globulus Labille., Cupressus lusitanica Miller) growing in the same location in the montane Munessa State Forest, southern Ethiopia. Stem flow was measured with Granier type thermal dissipation probes. Sap flux, normalized per unit sapwood area, and the total sapwood areas of the particular trees were used to estimate daily transpiration. Maximum daily transpiration values (60 kg water) were recorded for Croton when at full foliage. After shedding most of its leaves in the dry season transpiration was reduced to 8 kg per day. Eucalyptus had the next highest transpiration (55 kg), in this case at the peak of the dry season. It transpired 4–5 times more than Podocarpus and Cupressus trees of similar size. Maximum stem flux density was tree-size dependent only in Croton. Diurnal patterns of stem flux indicated that Croton, Eucalyptus and Podocarpus, in contrast to Cupressus, responded more directly to light than to atmospheric water pressure deficit. At high VPD (>1.0 kPa) stem flux reached a plateau in Croton and Podocarpus indicating stomatal limitation. Per unit leaf area Croton had the highest and Podocarpus and Cupressus the lowest daily transpiration rates. In summary, the pioneer tree Croton had the lowest and Podocarpus the highest water use efficiency. The contribution of the study to the understanding of the role of each tree species in the hydrology of the natural forest and the plantations is discussed.     

Mapping tree species diversity of a tropical montane forest by unsupervised clustering of airborne imaging spectroscopy data

With the ongoing global biodiversity loss, approaches to measuring and monitoring biodiversity are necessary for effective conservation planning, especially in tropical forests. Remote sensing has much potential for biodiversity mapping, and high spatial resolution imaging spectroscopy (IS) allows for direct prediction of tree species diversity based on spectral reflectance. The objective of this study was to test an approach for mapping tree species alpha diversity that takes advantage of an unsupervised object-based clustering. Tree species diversity of a tropical montane forest in the Taita Hills, Kenya, was mapped based on spectral variation of high spatial resolution IS data.Airborne IS data and species data from 31 field plots were collected in the study area. Species diversity measures were obtained from the IS data by clustering spectrally similar image segments representing tree crowns. In order to do this, the image was segmented to objects that represented tree crowns. Three measures of species diversity were calculated based on the field data and on the clustering results, and the relationships were statistically analyzed.According to the results, the approach succeeded well in revealing tree species diversity patterns. Especially, tree species richness was well predicted (RMSE = 3 species; r² = 0.50) directly based on the clustering results. The optimal number of clusters was found to be close to the estimated number of tree species in the forest. Minimum tree size was an important determinant of the relationships, because only part of the trees are visible to the airborne sensor in the multi-layered closed canopy forest.In general, the object-based approach proved to be a viable alternative to a pixel-based clustering. The approach takes advantage of the capability of IS to detect spectral differences among tree crowns, but without the need for spectral training data, which is expensive to collect. With further development, the approach could be applied also for estimating beta diversity.     

Effects of environmental heterogeneity on species diversity and composition of terrestrial bryophyte assemblages in tropical montane forests of southern Ecuador

Background: Most studies on tropical bryophytes deal with epiphytic species. This is the first ecological study of tropical forests that focuses specifically on terrestrial bryophytes.

Aim: To investigate the differences between slope and ridge environments in upper montane forests of southern Ecuador in terms of species diversity (richness, abundance), species composition and life forms of terrestrial bryophytes.

Methods: We used Non-metric Multidimensional Scaling (NMDS) to group bryophyte relevés by study location, habitat type and exposure class. Species indicator values were calculated and compared for different habitats.

Results: In total, 140 species were recorded, the majority being liverworts. NMDS analyses and Mantel correlations clearly separated between slope and ridge relevés, and between sunny and shaded microhabitats on ridges. Bryophyte life forms also showed different distribution patterns in slope and in ridge habitats. Mosses were more prominent in sunny than in shaded microhabitats.

Conclusions: Environmental differentiation between ridges and slopes, and small-scale variation in microclimatic conditions caused by differences in exposure, were stronger predictors of species richness and composition than geographical distance between study sites.     

海南岛霸王岭热带山地雨林木质藤本垂直结构特征

木质藤本植物是热带森林结构和功能的重要组分,但对于其垂直分布的研究较少。通过对海南岛霸王岭热带山地雨林坡地8条样带内胸径≥0.5cm的攀援木质藤本进行调查,比较分析了其多度、物种丰富度、径级结构、攀援方式组成、物种组成的垂直结构特征。结果表明:(1)随着高度级增加,木质藤本多度和物种丰富度都呈现出一种先增加后降低的单峰型曲线变化规律。(2)随着高度级增加,木质藤本个体趋于分布在更大径级。在森林底层(05m)和林冠层(≥15m)分别以0.51cm和≥2cm径级的木质藤本占优。(3)不同高度级间,不同攀援方式木质藤本个体比例存在显著差异。主茎缠绕类木质藤本在各高度级都占优势,卷须类木质藤本个体比例随高度增加显著降低,根攀类木质藤本呈现相反趋势。(4)随着高度级增加,木质藤本物种优势度明显发生变化。总体来看,木质藤本呈现出一种复杂、有序的垂直结构,这可能决定其对森林动态的影响。     

海南尖峰岭热带山地雨林物种多样性空间分布格局的尺度效应

物种多样性的空间分布格局和维持机制是群落生态学的基本问题。为了探讨海南尖峰岭地区物种多样性空间分布格局的尺度效应, 以海南尖峰岭热带山地雨林60 hm²样地为研究对象, 分析了物种丰富度、物种多度、Shannon-Wiener指数、Simpson指数以及Pielou均匀度指数随6个空间取样尺度(5 m × 5 m、10 m × 10 m、20 m × 20 m、40 m × 40 m、100 m ×100 m、200 m × 200 m)的变化。结果表明: 相比Simpson指数和Pielou均匀度指数, 物种丰富度、多度以及Shannon-Wiener指数具有更为明显的空间尺度效应; 物种丰富度的方差随取样尺度增加呈现单峰分布特征, 并且在20 m × 20 m尺度上达到最大值, 而物种多度的方差随取样尺度的增加而增大; 物种丰富度和多度的正相关性随着取样尺度的增加逐渐减小甚至消失, 这可能与随取样尺度增加生境异质性增加有关; 取样尺度对3个物种多样性指数空间分布的影响可能与研究区域内稀有种的组成有关。     

Tree invasion in managed tropical forests facilitates endemic species

Aim To determine whether different abundances of introduced species of Cinchona (Rubiaceae) affect species composition and facilitate species richness in managed tropical forests, to test whether any facilitative effects on understorey species depend on forest type, and to investigate whether facilitative effects can be attributed to the ‘substitutive facilitation model’. Location Makawao Forest Reserve on Maui, Hawai’i, USA. Methods Cinchona species (Cinchona pubescens and Cinchona calisaya) were mapped within various forest types. In three forest types (ageing Eucalyptus and Pinus plantations, and near‐natural Acacia koa forests), we analysed environmental parameters (e.g. canopy cover, litter cover, pH value and soil depth) and the species composition of Cinchona‐invaded and non‐invaded plots; data were compared based on Cinchona cover and forest types. Habitat modelling for several endemic species and tree ferns was carried out to test whether Cinchona cover is an important variable for the probability of occurrence of these endemics. Results Cinchona species have naturalized mainly in Eucalyptus and Pinus plantations and Acacia koa forests and here add an additional shrub layer. In contrast to other studies, we revealed facilitative effects of Cinchona on native species within all forest types. Species richness is about 20% higher in invaded plots than in non‐invaded plots, and these show a nearly 50% higher proportion of endemic species, including tree ferns. The proportion of endemics even increases with increasing Cinchona cover. For several endemics, Cinchona is found to be an important variable for the probability of occurrence, and the removal of Cinchona cover as an explanatory variable lowers the model fit. In addition to Cinchona, variables delineating vegetation structure and light availability have a strong effect on the model fit. Main conclusions In the structurally simplified Hawaiian forests studied, Cinchona facilitated endemic species in accordance with the ‘substitutive facilitation model’. This contrasts with the results of an earlier study in the naturally treeless Galápagos highlands, which revealed a sharp decrease in the abundance of endemics under Cinchona canopy. These results illustrate that, through the same structural change (addition of a vegetation layer), an invasive species may exert divergent effects across different ecosystem types. The facilitation of endemic understorey species by invasive tree species in managed forests leads to a dilemma in conservation but also to new perspectives for ecosystem restoration.     

Diversity of dung and carrion beetles in a disturbed Mexican tropical montane cloud forest and on shade coffee plantations

This paper analyzes the diversity of dung and carrion beetles (Scarabaeinae and Silphidae) in four human-induced habitats of a disturbed tropical montane cloud forest: polyspecific shade coffee plantations, monospecific shade coffee plantations, tropical montane cloud forest fragments, and clear cuts. The four habitats had similar richness, species composition, and assemblage structure of dung and carrion beetles. Differences were found in abundance and biomass levels for the four dominant species in the landscape. Dung beetles were more abundant than carrion beetles, but the biomass was higher for the latter. Carrion beetles were seasonal, while dung beetles were clearly not. When forest fragments and shade coffee plantations were compared to other similar habitats in the region, the same general pattern was observed. However, forests with high disturbance and monospecific shade coffee plantations had lower species richness than forests with low and medium disturbance and polyspecific shade coffee plantations. Thus shade coffee plantations maintain connectivity between patches of cloud forest in a landscape that is strongly affected by human activities. Protecting landscape diversity appears to ensure high species richness.     

Diversity of dry forest epiphytes along a gradient of human disturbance in the tropical Andes

Question: Disturbance effects on dry forest epiphytes are poorly known. How are epiphytic assemblages affected by different degrees of human disturbance, and what are the driving forces? Location: An inter‐Andean dry forest landscape at 2300 m elevation in northern Ecuador. Methods: We sampled epiphytic bryophytes and vascular plants on 100 trees of Acacia macracantha in five habitats: closed‐canopy mixed and pure acacia forest (old secondary), forest edge, young semi‐closed secondary woodland, and isolated trees in grassland. Results: Total species richness in forest edge habitats and on isolated trees was significantly lower than in closed forest types. Species density of vascular epiphytes (species per tree) did not differ significantly between habitat types. Species density of bryophytes, in contrast, was significantly lower in edge habitat and on isolated trees than in closed forest. Forest edge showed greater impoverishment than semi‐closed woodland and similar floristic affinity to isolated trees and to closed forest types. Assemblages were significantly nested; habitat types with major disturbance held only subsets of the closed forest assemblages, indicating a gradual reduction in niche availability. Distance to forest had no effect on species density of epiphytes on isolated trees, but species density was closely correlated with crown closure, a measure of canopy integrity. Main conclusions: Microclimatic changes but not dispersal constraints were key determinants of epiphyte assemblages following disturbance. Epiphytic cryptogams are sensitive indicators of microclimate and human disturbance in montane dry forests. The substantial impoverishment of edge habitat underlines the need for fragmentation studies on epiphytes elsewhere in the Tropics.     

西双版纳热带季节雨林的树种组成和群落结构动态

研究了西双版纳热带季节雨林1 hm2(hectare)动态监测样地1993年与2007年之间树种组成和群落结构的变化。对样地中胸径≥5 cm的乔木进行了每木调查。目前其树种组成的热带分布科、属所占比例分别为91%和94%,具有较高比例的热带植物区系性质。在1993年与2007年两次调查之间,树种数量由145种增至179种,仅有1到2个个体的稀有树种所占比例从54%降为51.1%。从森林的垂直结构来看,A、B、C三层的个体死亡率分别为12.8%、12.9%和19.0%,各层树木的增长率分别为-8.5%、-1.4%和44.8%。与此相对应,C层小径级的树木所占比例有较大提高。虽然小径级的树木在种类和数量上比例增大,但个体数量和种类组成相对稳定的A、B层优势树种变化不大,维持了群落结构的稳定性。14 a间,群落中新增加的具有先锋性质的树种不超过5个。1993年时,A、B两层尚有先锋树种存在,2007年已经从A、B两层中退出。因此,从14 a间树种组成和群落结构的变化来看,虽然具有树木的死亡和增补,但其物种成分和群落结构的总体格局没有明显的变化,处于动态平衡过程中。     

Multiple species of ectomycorrhizal fungi are frequently detected on individual oak root tips in a tropical cloud forest

The ecological importance of ectomycorrhizal (EM) fungi in tropical ecosystems is increasingly recognized, but few studies have used molecular methods to examine EM fungal communities in tropical forests. The diversity and composition of the EM community on Quercus crassifolia in a tropical montane cloud forest in southern Mexico were characterized using DNA sequencing of single root tips. Individual root tips commonly harbored multiple fungal species that resulted in mixed polymerase chain reaction (PCR) products. By cloning and performing gel extractions on mixed PCR samples, we identified two or more EM fungi on 26% of the root tips. When non-EM fungi were considered, this figure increased to 31% of root tips. A total of 44 EM taxa and nine non-EM taxa were detected on roots from 21 soil cores (104 root tips). Taxa in the families Russulaceae, Cortinariaceae, Inocybaceae, and Thelephoraceae were frequent. This is the first study to characterize the belowground EM community in a tropical montane cloud forest. Electronic supplementary material  The online version of this article (doi:) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.