Non-dominant trees significantly enhance species richness of epiphytic lichens in subtropical forests of southwest China |
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Institution: | 1. CAS Key Laboratory of Tropical Forest Ecology, Xishuangbanna Tropical Botanical Garden, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Kunming, Yunnan, 650223, China;2. University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100049, China;3. National Forest Ecosystem Research Station at Ailaoshan, Jingdong, Yunnan, 676209, China;4. Dali Vocational and Technical College of Agriculture and Forestry, Dali, Yunnan, 671003, China;5. Anhui Province Key Laboratory of Embryo Development and Reproductive Regulation, Anhui Province Key Laboratory of Environmental Hormone and Reproduction, Fuyang Normal University, Fuyang, Anhui, 236037, China |
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Abstract: | Host species has an important influence on the distribution of epiphytic lichens in forests. However, the importance of non-dominant trees in shaping lichen communities has been poorly studied owing to the relative rarity of individuals. The importance of dominant and non-dominant trees for distribution of epiphytic lichens was determined in eight subtropical forests in southwestern China. Dominant trees supported more abundant total and exclusive lichen species only in secondary forests. The occurrence of non-dominant trees promoted lichen diversity within forest types and influenced lichen communities on both tree groups. The effects of total tree species on lichen distribution largely resulted from the presence of non-dominant trees. Dominant and non-dominant trees supported distinct lichen assemblages within forest types, and ordination analyses showed a clear separation. Our study, therefore, reinforces the importance of non-dominant trees for conserving epiphytic lichens, and highlights that lichen assemblages are shaped by both dominant and non-dominant trees. |
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Keywords: | Diversity conservation Dominant tree species Epiphyte Lichen Rare tree species Species assemblages Species number |
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