Biodiv Sci ›› 2013, Vol. 21 ›› Issue (6): 709-714.  DOI: 10.3724/SP.J.1003.2013.06020

• Orginal Article • Previous Articles     Next Articles

Effects of different disturbance measures on spatial distribution patterns of understory plants in Phyllostachys edulis forests

Yanrong Fan1, Shuanglin Chen1,*(), Hua Lin2, Qingping Yang1, Yicong Hong2, Ziwu Guo1   

  1. 1 Research Institute of Subtropical Forestry, Chinese Academy of Forestry, Fuyang, Zhejiang 311400
    2 Forestry Bureau of Shaxian County, Shaxian, Fujian 365500
  • Received:2013-01-24 Accepted:2013-08-28 Online:2013-11-20 Published:2013-12-02
  • Contact: Chen Shuanglin

Abstract:

Anthropogenic disturbance measures have effects on biological relationships, resource patterns and ecological processes of ecosystems, causing changes of species spatial distribution pattern. To reveal the effects of different disturbance measures on species composition and the distribution patterns of dominant species, we selected three Phyllostachys edulis forests that had been subject to different types of disturbance, i.e. without weeding for many years (Forestno), hilltop weeding (Foresthilltop), and herbicide weeding (Forestherbicide), and analyzed spatial distribution patterns of the understory plant species. A total of 74 species belonging to 58 genera and 47 families were recorded across forest types. The forestherbicide type contained the most abundant species, while in the forestno type importance values ??and coverage of dominant arbor and shrub species were highest, whereas importance values ??and coverage of dominant herb species were lowest. Cunninghamia lanceolata, the common dominant arbor species in all three types of forest, tended to show a clumped pattern in both the forestno and the forestherbicide types (though not significantly so), but was randomly distributed in the foresthilltop type. Rubus reflexus, the common dominant shrub species, clumped strongly in both the forestno and the foresthilltop types, but not significantly so in the forestherbicide type. Melastoma dodecandrum and Dicranopteris dichotoma, the common dominant herb species, were strongly clumped in all three forest types. The proportion of dominant species showing a uniform distribution was highest in the forestno type. We suggest that anthropogenic hilltop weeding measure can be used for understory vegetation interference and the sustainable management of bamboo.

Key words: Phyllostachys edulis, understory plants, anthropogenic disturbance, weeding, species composition, distribution pattern