Species composition and community characteristics of a 25 ha forest dynamics plot in deciduous broad-leaved forest, Qinling Mountains, north-central China

doi:10.17520/biods.2018326

Abstract

Abstract:

The deciduous broad-leaved forests in the warm temperate-subtropical transition zone of the Qinling Mountains are well preserved. The forests lie in the transition zone from warm temperate to subtropical forests and have a relatively complex community structure. Few studies have been conducted to investigate community structure based on a large-sized plot in this transitional region. This study analyzed species composition and community characteristics within a 25 ha plot, serving as the baseline information for monitoring long-term forest dynamics and diversity in the future. Based on the field protocol of the Center for Tropical Forest Science (CTFS) and the Chinese Forest Biodiversity Monitoring Network (CForBio), a 25 ha deciduous broad-leaved forest plot was established in the temperate-subtropical transition zone. All free standing trees with diameter at breast height (DBH) ≥ 1 cm were tagged, measured and identified to species. A total of 47,739 woody individuals with DBH ≥ 1 cm belonging to 119 species, 66 genera and 36 families were identified. The families and genera of temperate floristic elements accounted for 41.18% and 60.00%, respectively and were the dominant flora in this plot. Fifty-one rare species accounted for 42.86% of the total individuals. Deciduous trees species were dominant accounting for 89.07% of the total species. The 20 species with importance values ≥ 1 contributed 70.35% and 57.41% to the total number of individuals and the total basal area, respectively. The three most abundant species were Quercus aliena var. acutiserrata in the canopy layer, Sorbus alnifolia in the sub-tree layer, and Quercus spinosa in the shrub layer. The mean DBH of all individuals in the plot was 8.61 cm, and the overall structure of DBH size class of all individuals generally shows an inverse “J” type which indicated successful regeneration. All the dominant species exhibited large-scale aggregated spatial distribution closely related to habitat preferences except for Populus purdomii.

Key words: deciduous broad-leaved forest, Qinling Mountains, temperate-subtropical transition zone, species composition, community structure

Xie Fenglin,Zhou Quan,Shi Hang,Shu Xiao,Zhang Kerong,Li Tao,Feng Shuiyuan,Zhang Quanfa,Dang Haishan. Species composition and community characteristics of a 25 ha forest dynamics plot in deciduous broad-leaved forest, Qinling Mountains, north-central China[J]. Biodiv Sci, 2019, 27(4): 439-448.

Figures/Tables 5

References 33

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样地 Plot	面积 Area (ha)	位置 Locality	平均海拔 Average altitude (m)	科的温带/ 热带成分 Temperate/tropical floristic elements of family	属的温带/ 热带成分 Temperate/tropical floristic elements of genus	物种数 No. of species	个体数 No. of individuals	稀有种数量 No. of rare species (%)	落叶树种数量 No. of deciduous tree species (%)	来源 Reference
秦岭 Qinling	25	107.84° E, 33.68° N	1,773.49	41.18%/38.24%	60%/24.62%	119	47,739	51 (42.86)	106 (89.07)	本研究 This study
长白山 Changbaishan	25	128.08° E, 42.38° N	801.5	-	-	52	38,902	18 (34.6)	-	Hao et al, 2008
东灵山 Donglingshan	20	115.43° E, 39.96° N	1,395	44.44%/22.22%	93.75%/3.13%	58	52,136	11 (18.97)	58 (100)	Liu et al, 2011
宝天曼 Baotianman	25	111.94° E, 33.49° N	1,301	-	-	> 98	63,600	-	-	-
古田山 Gutianshan	24	118.12° E, 29.25° N	580.6	26.53%/48.98%	42.31%/50.96%	159	140,700	59 (37.1)	68 (42.8)	Zhu et al, 2008
鼎湖山 Dinghushan	20	121.32° E, 23.10° N	230-247	-	6.72%/89.92%	210	71,617	110 (52.38)	-	Ye et al, 2008
哀牢山 Ailaoshan	20	101.03° E, 24.53° N	2,550	-	38.10%/46.00%	104	44,168	49 (47.1)	23 (22.8)	Wen et al, 2018

样地 Plot	面积 Area (ha)	位置 Locality	平均海拔 Average altitude (m)	科的温带/ 热带成分 Temperate/tropical floristic elements of family	属的温带/ 热带成分 Temperate/tropical floristic elements of genus	物种数 No. of species	个体数 No. of individuals	稀有种数量 No. of rare species (%)	落叶树种数量 No. of deciduous tree species (%)	来源 Reference
秦岭 Qinling	25	107.84° E, 33.68° N	1,773.49	41.18%/38.24%	60%/24.62%	119	47,739	51 (42.86)	106 (89.07)	本研究 This study
长白山 Changbaishan	25	128.08° E, 42.38° N	801.5	-	-	52	38,902	18 (34.6)	-	Hao et al, 2008
东灵山 Donglingshan	20	115.43° E, 39.96° N	1,395	44.44%/22.22%	93.75%/3.13%	58	52,136	11 (18.97)	58 (100)	Liu et al, 2011
宝天曼 Baotianman	25	111.94° E, 33.49° N	1,301	-	-	> 98	63,600	-	-	-
古田山 Gutianshan	24	118.12° E, 29.25° N	580.6	26.53%/48.98%	42.31%/50.96%	159	140,700	59 (37.1)	68 (42.8)	Zhu et al, 2008
鼎湖山 Dinghushan	20	121.32° E, 23.10° N	230-247	-	6.72%/89.92%	210	71,617	110 (52.38)	-	Ye et al, 2008
哀牢山 Ailaoshan	20	101.03° E, 24.53° N	2,550	-	38.10%/46.00%	104	44,168	49 (47.1)	23 (22.8)	Wen et al, 2018