Pattern and drivers of speciesgenetic diversity correlation in natural forest tree communities across a biodiversity hotspot

Aims Exploring species-genetic diversity correlation (SGDC) is essential for understanding spatial patterns of diversity and the underlying mechanisms. Until now, latitudinal patterns of species diversity (SD) and genetic diversity (GD) were rarely studied simultaneously. As the freezing-tolerance hypothesis predicts a decrease of SD from low to high latitudes and the central-marginal hypothesis predicts a unimodal pattern of GD along latitude, we hypothesized that SD and GD are uncorrelated. We also tested how climatic and edaphic factors affect the correlation between the two levels of biodiversity.     

竹叶眼子菜种群遗传多样性与群落物种多样性关系的研究

以洪湖中的沉水植物群落及其优势种竹叶眼子菜(Potamogeton wrightii Morong)为研究对象,利用AFLP分子标记结合野外调查的方法,分析保护区(干扰较小)与非保护区(干扰较大,敞水区)中沉水植物群落的物种多样性与竹叶眼子菜遗传多样性之间的相关性。结果显示:洪湖沉水植物群落物种丰富度(S)和物种多样性辛普森指数(D)在保护区和非保护区均未发现显著性差异;竹叶眼子菜的重要值(IV)在保护区(5.2%~23.2%)较非保护区(8.5%~73.3%)稳定。竹叶眼子菜的遗传多样性在两个区未发现显著差异,其遗传多样性与群落物种多样性这两个指标在保护区、非保护区及全湖水平均不相关,说明沉水植物群落的物种多样性和竹叶眼子菜的遗传多样性对不同环境干扰的响应有所差异。     

Species and genetic diversity are not congruent in fragmented dry grasslands

Biological diversity comprises both species diversity (SD) and genetic diversity (GD), and it has been postulated that both levels of diversity depend on similar mechanisms. Species‐genetic diversity correlations (SGDC) are therefore supposed to be generally positive. However, in contrast to theory, empirical data are contradictory. Furthermore, there is a pronounced lack of multispecies studies including also the ecological factors potentially driving species and genetic diversity. We analyzed the relationship between the species diversity of dry grasslands and the genetic diversity of several dry grassland plant species, therefore, in the context of habitat fragmentation and habitat conditions. Our study revealed a lack of correlation between species and genetic diversity. We demonstrated previously that SD mainly depends on habitat conditions (vegetation height and cover of litter), whereas GD is significantly affected by habitat fragmentation (distance to the nearest dry grassland in 1830 and connectivity in 2013). This seems to be the main reason why SD and GD are not congruent in fragmented grasslands. Our results support, hence, the observation that positive SGDCs can mainly be found in natural, island‐like study systems in equilibrium and at similar levels of heterogeneity. In fragmented dry grassland ecosystems, which differ in heterogeneity, this state of equilibrium may not have been reached mitigating the positive relationship between SD and GD. From our study, it can be concluded that in fragmented dry grasslands, the protection of SD does not necessarily ensure the conservation of GD.     

Variation in habitat connectivity generates positive correlations between species and genetic diversity in a metacommunity

An increasing number of studies are simultaneously investigating species diversity (SD) and genetic diversity (GD) in the same systems, looking for ‘species– genetic diversity correlations’ (SGDCs). From negative to positive SGDCs have been reported, but studies have generally not quantified the processes underlying these correlations. They were also mostly conducted at large biogeographical scales or in recently degraded habitats. Such correlations have not been looked for in natural networks of connected habitat fragments (metacommunities), and the underlying processes remain elusive in most systems. We investigated these issues by studying freshwater snails in a pond network in Guadeloupe (Lesser Antilles). We recorded SD and habitat characteristics in 232 ponds and assessed GD in 75 populations of two species. Strongly significant and positive SGDCs were detected in both species. Based on a decomposition of SGDC as a function of variance–covariance of habitat characteristics, we showed that connectivity (opportunity of water flow between a site and the nearest watershed during the rainy season) has the strongest contribution on SGDCs. More connective sites received both more alleles and more species through immigration resulting in both higher GD and higher SD. Other habitat characteristics did not contribute, or contributed negatively, to SGDCs. This is true of the desiccation frequency of ponds during the dry season, presumably because species markedly differ in their ability to tolerate desiccation. Our study shows that variation in environmental characteristics of habitat patches can promote SGDCs at metacommunity scale when the studied species respond homogeneously to these environmental characteristics.     

The effects of disturbance on forest structure and diversity at different altitudes in Garhwal Himalaya

The effects of disturbance on forest structure and diversity along an altitudinal gradient in the temperate, sub-tropical, and tropical regions of Garhwal Himalaya were assessed. Each region was further categorized into undisturbed (UD), mildly disturbed (MD), and highly disturbed (HD) sites on the basis of magnitude of disturbance in these forests. On UD sites of temperate, sub-tropical and tropical regions, Quercus leucotrichophora, Anogeissus latifolia and Holoptelea integrifolia were the dominant tree species respectively. The highest values of tree density (1028 ind*hm-2) and total basal cover at breast height (31.70 m2 *hm-2) were recorded for UD site of temperate region, whereas maximum species diversity (3.128) and equitability (14.09) values were observed for HD site of tropical region. The structure and composition of the forests were greatly affected by the degree of disturbance.     

云南橡胶林和天然次生林枯落物层蚂蚁物种多样性、群落结构差异及指示种

橡胶树Hevea brasiliensis是云南省重要的经济林木, 但对其生态服务功能尚存在争议。本研究以天然次生林为对照, 使用Winkler法对橡胶林枯落物层蚂蚁进行初步研究, 探讨橡胶林枯落物层蚂蚁的生态状况。于2012年10月和2013年4月采用Winkler袋法调查了云南省绿春县大黑山乡橡胶林和牛孔乡天然次生林枯落物层蚂蚁群落的物种多样性、 群落结构差异及指示种。结果表明： 橡胶林枯落物层蚂蚁多度（转换后）、 物种丰富度S和ACE值显著低于无干扰的天然次生林（P<0.05）; 蚂蚁多度（转换后）显著低于有干扰的天然次生林（P<0.05）, 而物种丰富度S和ACE值差异不显著。橡胶林枯落物层蚂蚁群落结构与两种天然次生林都不相似（F=3.93, df=12, P<0.01）。橡胶林中流浪种大头蚁属Pheidole的蚂蚁种类与天然次生林相比, 物种丰富度增加了100%。天然次生林枯落物层中蚂蚁指示种有3种, 分别为刘氏隆头蚁Strumigenys lewisi、 黄足厚结猛蚁Pachycondyla luteipes和女娲角腹蚁Recurvidris nuwa, 而橡胶林枯落物层中指示种仅为菱结大头蚁Pheidole nodus。枯落物层蚂蚁物种多样性与枯落物厚度呈显著正相关, 而枯落物盖度仅与蚂蚁多度（转换后）有相关性。结果说明, 橡胶林经过长期的经营管理, 生态环境趋于稳定, 对枯落物层蚂蚁群落具有一定的保护作用, 但与天然次生林相比, 蚂蚁多度（转换后）及群落结构仍显示出明显的不同。     

Seasonal variation in diversity and abundance of understorey birds in Bunduki Forest Reserve,Tanzania: evaluating the conservation value of a plantation forest

Plantation forests generally support lower bird diversity than natural forests. However, in some instances the plantations have been found to provide suitable habitat for a number of bird species. In the Eastern Arc Mountains, there is limited knowledge how understorey birds, some of which make seasonal altitudinal movements, use plantations. Using mist netting we assessed seasonal use of the plantation forest by the understorey bird community in Bunduki Forest Reserve in the Uluguru Mountains. Species diversity and capture rates were significantly higher during the cold season than during the hot season possibly due to seasonal altitudinal migration by some species. The use of plantations by those species that make seasonal altitudinal movements shows that plantation forests can enhance indigenous biodiversity by enabling connectivity between two or more natural forest patches. Our findings suggest that in a situation where there is no natural forest, an exotic plantation with suitable indigenous understorey cover can help in protection of birds, including endemic and near-endemic species.     

The influence of altitude and topography on genetic structure in the long-toed salamander (Ambystoma macrodactulym)

A primary goal of molecular ecology is to understand the influence of abiotic factors on the spatial distribution of genetic variation. Features including altitudinal clines, topography and landscape characteristics affect the proportion of suitable habitat, influence dispersal patterns, and ultimately structure genetic differentiation among populations. We studied the effects of altitude and topography on genetic variation of long-toed salamanders (Ambystoma macrodactylum), a geographically widespread amphibian species throughout northwestern North America. We focused on 10 low altitude sites (< 1200 m) and 11 high-altitude sites in northwestern Montana and determined multilocus genotypes for 549 individuals using seven microsatellite loci. We tested four hypotheses: (1) gene flow is limited between high- and low-altitude sites; and, (2) gene flow is limited among high-altitude sites due to harsh habitat and extreme topographical relief between sites; (3) low-altitude sites exhibit higher among-site gene flow due to frequent flooding events and low altitudinal relief; and (4) there is a negative correlation between altitude and genetic variation. Overall F(ST) values were moderate (0.08611; P < 0.001). Pairwise F(ST) estimates between high and low populations and a population graphing method supported the hypothesis that low-altitude and high-altitude sites, taken together, are genetically differentiated from each other. Also as predicted, gene flow is more prominent among low-altitude sites than high-altitude sites; low-altitude sites had a significantly lower F(ST) (0.03995; P < 0.001) than high altitude sites (F(ST) = 0.10271; P < 0.001). Use of Bayesian analysis of population structure (BAPS) resulted in delineation of 10 genetic groups, two among low-altitude populations and eight among high-altitude populations. In addition, within high altitude populations, basin-level genetic structuring was apparent. A nonequilibrium algorithm for detecting current migration rates supported these population distinctions. Finally, we also found a significant negative correlation between genetic diversity and altitude. These results are consistent with the hypothesis that topography and altitudinal gradients shape the spatial distribution of genetic variation in a species with a broad geographical range and diverse life history. Our study sheds light on which key factors limit dispersal and ultimately species' distributions.     

Genetic diversity and differentiation of core vs. peripheral populations of eastern white cedar, Thuja occidentalis (Cupressaceae)

? Premise of the study: Geographically peripheral (marginal) populations are expected to have lower genetic diversity and higher genetic differentiation than geographically core (central) populations as a result of supposedly lower effective population size (N(e)) and higher genetic drift, founder effect, fragmentation, and isolation in peripheral than in core populations. Here we address this issue for a long-lived plant species, eastern white cedar (Thuja occidentalis). ? Methods: Genetic diversity and population structure of 13 natural populations of eastern white cedar from its Canadian eastern peripheral and core natural ranges in New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, and Prince Edward Island were studied using six nuclear microsatellite DNA markers. ? Key results: The core populations of eastern white cedar had significantly higher allelic diversity (mean A = 8.83, A(r) = 8.13, A(e) = 4.03) and N(e) (428) than the peripheral populations (A = 6.64, A(r) = 6.15, A(e) = 3.12, N(e) = 198). However, expected heterozygosity was similar in the core (H(e) = 0.64) and peripheral (H(e) = 0.60) populations. Genetic differentiation was significantly higher among the peripheral (F(ST) = 0.089) than among the core (F(ST) = 0.032) populations. No genetic differentiation (F(ST)/Φ(RT) = 0.000) was detected between core and peripheral regions. ? Conclusions: Peripheral populations have significantly lower N(e) and genetic diversity in terms of allelic diversity (richness) and significantly higher genetic differentiation than the core populations of eastern white cedar in its Canadian eastern range. However, core and peripheral populations have similar levels of expected heterozygosity. Implications for conservation of eastern white cedar genetic resources are discussed.     

Macroecological patterns of species and genetic diversity in vascular plants of the Mediterranean basin

Aim We address the question of whether broad scale biogeographical structure of species diversity (SD) matches that of genetic diversity (GD) of vascular plants. Location The Mediterranean basin. Methods We normalized vascular plant species richness (SD) estimates per country using the Med‐Checklist taxonomic database. We used a linear regression analysis to correlate normalized country estimates with country longitudinal position. We also compiled published and geo‐referenced within‐population GD data for tree species, which had populations in the Mediterranean. We normalized GD estimates for each population across species. Again, we used a linear regression analysis to correlate GD with population longitudinal position. We then compared the populations’ geographical and bioclimatic trends for GD with Last Glacial Maximum (LGM) palaeo‐climate data and the species current ecological requirements. Results The eastern Mediterranean and the coast of former Yugoslavia had higher SD than other regions. There was no overall spatial structure of SD in the Mediterranean, whereas there was an east–west trend of decreasing GD. This trend for GD tended to covary with an east–west warm/wet–cold/dry trend detected during the LGM. Low elevation xerothermic pine species displayed significantly less GD than higher elevation mesothermic or mountain pine species. Main conclusions We suggest that LGM climate may have significantly shaped the current longitudinal and altitudinal patterns of GD we observed in woody taxa across the Mediterranean, although it did not affect comparable SD patterns. In particular, colder LGM summer temperatures in the western Mediterranean may have reduced population sizes significantly more than in the eastern Mediterranean. As plant species richness and GD did not covary, SD and GD may not be used as surrogates of one another in the Mediterranean basin. As they contain comparatively less GD, conservation priorities in the Mediterranean should focus on hot spots of endemism and Western Mediterranean populations and species.     

Lessons from the macroinvertebrates: species‐genetic diversity correlations highlight important dissimilar relationships

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Patterns of plant beta‐diversity along elevational and latitudinal gradients in mountain forests of China

Biodiversity patterns and their underlying mechanisms have long been focal topics of study for ecologists and biogeographers. However, compared with spatial variation in species richness (α‐ and γ‐diversity), β‐diversity, or the dissimilarity of species composition between two or more sites has until recently received limited attention. In this study, we explored the large‐scale patterns of altitudinal turnover (β‐diversity) of plants in montane forests of China, based on systematic inventories of 1153 plots from 46 mountains distributed over ?30 degrees of latitude (21.9–51.7°N) and ?4100 m of altitude (160–4250 m). The β‐diversity of trees and shrubs declined significantly with increasing latitude. Along the altitudinal gradient, β‐diversity of both trees and shrubs showed non‐significant trends in most mountains. Differences in climate explained ?30.0% of the variation in tree β‐diversity (27.7, 36.5, and 26.2% for the Jaccard's, β_j, Sorenson's, β_s, and Simpson's dissimilarity, β_sim, respectively), with mean annual temperature being most important, and ≤ 10.0% of that in shrub β‐diversity (10.0, 8.2, and 7.0% for β_j, β_s, and β_sim, respectively), with annual actual evapotranspiration and annual precipitation as the main predictors. However, climatic controls of β‐diversity varied dramatically in different biogeograpical regions. The β‐diversity of trees exhibited stronger, whereas that of shrubs showed weaker, climatic patterns in temperate and arid than subtropical regions. These results suggest that mechanisms causing patterns of β‐diversity may differ between latitudinal and altitudinal gradients, and among biogeographical regions; as a result, caution should be exercised in drawing close parallels between patterns and causes of β‐diversity along latitudinal and altitudinal gradients and among regions.     

Species Diversity and Altitudinal Gradient Patterns of Evergreen Broad leaved Forest in MeihuashanNational Natural Reserve,Fujian Province

In China, evergreen broad leaved forests (EBLFs) is one of the most important vegetation types which was widly distributed in subtropical area, and it plays a very important role in the global biological diversity and natural environment conservation also. In order to reveal species diversity and altitudinal gradient patterns of evergreen broad leaved forest in Meihuashan National Natural Reserve, Fujian Province. Five altitude transects were set up at a vertical interval of 200m between 375m and 1300m above sea level in the EBLFs distribution areas, and twenty four quadrats(14400m2) had been surveyed. Species richness(S), species richness index (dGl), Simpson index (D), Shannon Wiener index (H′), Pielou evenness index (J) had been used for analysis of species diversity and altitudinal gradient pattern of EBLFs. The average value of S, dGl, H′,J and D were 64.42, 10.75, 5.75, 3.50, 0.58 respectively. The difference of community species diversity index(S, dGl, D, H′, and J) was extremely significant between transects, and the altitudinal gradient patterns of species diversity presented the unimodal variable trend, with a peak in the mid altitude(700m-900m). The species richness and Shannon Wiener index of different layer were ranked as shrub layer (include young tree and the plants between layers)>arbor layer>herb layer. The species richness of tree and shrub layer, and Shannon Wiener index of tree layer were significantly different between at transects, and trends of altitude gradient was similar to community. The Shannon Wiener index of shrub layer and herb layer, and the species richness of herb layer did not change significantly along elevation gradient. Therefore, plant species diversity distribution pattern presented a unimodal variable trend along an elevation gradient, and supported “mid domain model” in EBLFs of Meihuashan National Nature Reserve.     

Large‐scale fungal diversity assessment in the Andean Yungas forests reveals strong community turnover among forest types along an altitudinal gradient

The Yungas, a system of tropical and subtropical montane forests on the eastern slopes of the Andes, are extremely diverse and severely threatened by anthropogenic pressure and climate change. Previous mycological works focused on macrofungi (e.g. agarics, polypores) and mycorrhizae in Alnus acuminata forests, while fungal diversity in other parts of the Yungas has remained mostly unexplored. We carried out Ion Torrent sequencing of ITS2 rDNA from soil samples taken at 24 sites along the entire latitudinal extent of the Yungas in Argentina. The sampled sites represent the three altitudinal forest types: the piedmont (400–700 m a.s.l.), montane (700–1500 m a.s.l.) and montane cloud (1500–3000 m a.s.l.) forests. The deep sequence data presented here (i.e. 4 108 126 quality‐filtered sequences) indicate that fungal community composition correlates most strongly with elevation, with many fungi showing preference for a certain altitudinal forest type. For example, ectomycorrhizal and root endophytic fungi were most diverse in the montane cloud forests, particularly at sites dominated by Alnus acuminata, while the diversity values of various saprobic groups were highest at lower elevations. Despite the strong altitudinal community turnover, fungal diversity was comparable across the different zonal forest types. Besides elevation, soil pH, N, P, and organic matter contents correlated with fungal community structure as well, although most of these variables were co‐correlated with elevation. Our data provide an unprecedented insight into the high diversity and spatial distribution of fungi in the Yungas forests.     

Patterns of genetic diversity and migration in increasingly fragmented and declining orang-utan (Pongo pygmaeus) populations from Sabah, Malaysia

We investigated the genetic structure within and among Bornean orang-utans (Pongo pygmaeus) in forest fragments of the Lower Kinabatangan flood plain in Sabah, Malaysia. DNA was extracted from hair and faecal samples for 200 wild individuals collected during boat surveys on the Kinabatangan River. Fourteen microsatellite loci were used to characterize patterns of genetic diversity. We found that genetic diversity was high in the set of samples (mean H(E) = 0.74) and that genetic differentiation was significant between the samples (average F(ST) = 0.04, P < 0.001) with F(ST) values ranging from low (0.01) to moderately large (0.12) values. Pairwise F(ST) values were significantly higher across the Kinabatangan River than between samples from the same river side, thereby confirming the role of the river as a natural barrier to gene flow. The correlation between genetic and geographical distance was tested by means of a series of Mantel tests based on different measures of geographical distance. We used a Bayesian method to estimate immigration rates. The results indicate that migration is unlikely across the river but cannot be completely ruled out because of the limited F(ST) values. Assignment tests confirm the overall picture that gene flow is limited across the river. We found that migration between samples from the same side of the river had a high probability indicating that orang-utans used to move relatively freely between neighbouring areas. This strongly suggests that there is a need to maintain migration between isolated forest fragments. This could be done by restoring forest corridors alongside the river banks and between patches.     

Genetic variation of loci potentially under selection confounds species–genetic diversity correlations in a fragmented habitat

Positive species–genetic diversity correlations (SGDCs) are often thought to result from the parallel influence of neutral processes on genetic and species diversity. Yet, confounding effects of non‐neutral mechanisms have not been explored. Here, we investigate the impact of non‐neutral genetic diversity on SGDCs in high Andean wetlands. We compare correlations between plant species diversity and genetic diversity (GD) calculated with and without loci potentially under selection (outlier loci). The study system includes 2188 specimens from five species (three common aquatic macroinvertebrate and two dominant plant species) that were genotyped for 396 amplified fragment length polymorphism loci. We also appraise the importance of neutral processes on SGDCs by investigating the influence of habitat fragmentation features. Significant positive SGDCs were detected for all five species (mean SGDC = 0.52 ± 0.05). While only a few outlier loci were detected in each species, they resulted in significant decreases in GD and in SGDCs. This supports the hypothesis that neutral processes drive species–genetic diversity relationships in high Andean wetlands. Unexpectedly, the effects on genetic diversity GD of the habitat fragmentation characteristics in this study increased with the presence of outlier loci in two species. Overall, our results reveal pitfalls in using habitat features to infer processes driving SGDCs and show that a few loci potentially under selection are enough to cause a significant downward bias in SGDC. Investigating confounding effects of outlier loci thus represents a useful approach to evidence the contribution of neutral processes on species–genetic diversity relationships.     

Genetic diversity and the genetic structure of natural populations of Chamaecyparis obtusa: implications for management and conservation

We investigated 25 natural populations of Chamaecyparis obtusa using 51 cleaved amplified polymorphic sequence (CAPS) markers, which were developed using information on sequence-tagged sites (STS) in Cryptomeria japonica. Most CAPS markers have codominant expression patterns, and are suitable for population studies because of their robustness and convenience. We estimated various genetic diversity parameters, including average heterozygosity (H(e)) and allelic richness and found that the more peripheral populations tended to have lower genetic diversity than central populations, in agreement with a previous theoretical study. The overall genetic differentiation between populations was low, but statistically significant (G(ST)=0.039), and similar to the level reported in a previous allozyme study. We attempted to detect non-neutral loci associated with local adaptation to clarify the relationship between the fixation index (F(ST)) and H(e) values for each locus and found seven candidates non-neutral loci. Phylogenetic tree analysis of the populations and Bayesian clustering analysis revealed a pattern of gradually increasing isolation of populations with increasing geographical distance. Three populations had a high degree of linkage disequilibrium, which we attribute to severe bottlenecks due to human disturbance or competition with other species during their migration from refugia after the most recent glaciation. We concluded that the small populations in western Japan and in Kanto district are more important, from a conservation perspective, than the populations in central Japan, due to their genetic divergence, relatively small sizes and restricted areas.     

Floristic diversity of Mexican seasonally dry tropical forests

Studies of the variation in tropical plant species diversity and itsrelationship with environmental factors are largely based on research intropical moist/wet forests. Seasonally dry tropical forests (SDTFs), incontrast, have been poorly investigated. In this paper we present data from 20Mexican SDTF sites sampled to describe the magnitude of floristic diversity inthese forests and to address the following questions: (i) to what extent isspecies diversity related to rainfall? (ii) Are there other climatic variablesthat explain variation in species diversity in SDTFs? (iii) How does speciesidentity vary spatially (species turnover) within the country? We found thatspecies diversity was consistently greater (a ca. twofold difference) than wouldbe expected according to the sites' precipitation. Rainfall did notsignificantly explain the variation in species diversity. Likewise, the numberof dry and wet months per year was unrelated to species diversity. In contrast,a simple measure of potential evapotranspiration (Thornthwaite's index)significantly explained the variation in species diversity. In addition to thegreat diversity of species per site (local diversity), species turnover wasconsiderable: of a total of 917 sampled species, 72% were present only in asingle site and the average similarity (Sorensen's index) among sites wasonly 9%. These aspects of floristic diversity and the high deforestation ratesof these forests in Mexico indicate that conservation efforts should be directedto tropical forests growing in locations of low and seasonal rainfall.     

Effects of different traveling disturbances on the species diversity in Pinus taiwanensis communities

The effects of different traveling disturbances on the different layers of the Pinus taiwanensis community in Tianzhu Mountain National Forest Park were studied using the diversity indices of species richness index (S), Simpson index (D), Shannon-Wiener index (H) and Pielou evenness index (J). The results showed that the diversity indices of the arbor layer in low disturbance were the highest. Whereas, the diversity indices of the other layers in intermediate disturbance were the highest. The values of S, D, H, and J in low disturbance were 38, 3.0976, 0.9326, and 0.7515. The values of the indices in intermediate disturbance were 44, 3.2519, 0.9421, and 0.8594, higher than those in low disturbed forest, especially in the shrub and herb layers. In the highly disturbed forest, the diversity indices were 34, 3.0095, 0.9289, and 0.7834, lower than those in the intermediately disturbed forest. By comparing the stability of differently disturbed forests with the community dominance index (C), it was clear that the C of the intermediately disturbed forests was the lowest among the three differently disturbed forests. It is proposed that the intermediately disturbed forests can improve the species diversity, but maybe decrease the community stability.     

Effects of different traveling disturbances on the species diversity in Pinus taiwanensis communities

The effects of different traveling disturbances on the different layers of the Pinus taiwanensis community in Tianzhu Mountain National Forest Park were studied using the diversity indices of species richness index (S), Simpson index (D), Shannon-Wiener index (H) and Pielou evenness index (J). The results showed that the diversity indices of the arbor layer in low disturbance were the highest. Whereas, the diversity indices of the other layers in intermediate disturbance were the highest. The values of S, D, H, and J in low disturbance were 38, 3.0976, 0.9326, and 0.7515. The values of the indices in intermediate disturbance were 44, 3.2519, 0.9421, and 0.8594, higher than those in low disturbed forest, especially in the shrub and herb layers. In the highly disturbed forest, the diversity indices were 34, 3.0095, 0.9289, and 0.7834, lower than those in the intermediately disturbed forest. By comparing the stability of differently disturbed forests with the community dominance index (C), it was clear that the C of the intermediately disturbed forests was the lowest among the three differently disturbed forests. It is proposed that the intermediately disturbed forests can improve the species diversity, but maybe decrease the community stability.