Dynamics of the Picea schrenkiana community in the west Tianshan Mountains of Xinjiang and their influencing factors

doi:10.17520/biods.2025275

Abstract

Abstract:

Aims: Studying the dynamics of temperate coniferous forests is crucial for understanding their formation and maintenance. This study aims to: (1) investigate the long-term trends (over 16 years) in individual abundance, mortality rate, recruitment rate, and aboveground biomass within Picea schrenkiana communities; and (2) assess how local-scale abiotic factors (soil available nitrogen, pH, and topographic position) and biotic factors (local species richness and competition from dominant species) influence these community dynamics.

Methods: We selected a 6-ha temperate natural coniferous forest dynamics plot (FDP) in the west Tianshan National Nature Reserve, Xinjiang, as the research site. We conducted thorough surveys of woody plants with a diameter at breast height (DBH) ≥ 1 cm in 2008, 2014, 2019, and 2024, respectively. We analyzed and compared the changes in community composition, structure, and dynamics over these years.

Results: (1) Over the 16-year period, the abundance of woody plant individuals in the FDP decreased. Specifically, the total number of Picea schrenkiana individuals declined from 1,310 to 1,123, a reduction of 14.27%, with the most significant decrease occurring between 2014 and 2019. (2) Across the three time intervals (2008-2014, 2014-2019, 2019-2024), the mortality rates of woody plants were 0.06%, 2.88%, and 1.99%, respectively, showing an initial increase followed by a decrease. The recruitment rates were 0.60%, 0.60%, and 0.10%, respectively, remaining stable initially before a sharp decline. The turnover rates were 0.62%, 3.39%, and 2.08%, respectively, remaining stable initially, then sharply increasing, and finally decreasing. The loss and growth of aboveground biomass in the community were highest during the 2014-2019 period, while the net change in aboveground biomass was greatest during the 2008-2014 period. (3) The recruitment rate, mortality rate, and turnover rate of the community were all positively correlated with species richness. Soil available nitrogen content had a significant negative effect on the net change in aboveground biomass, whereas soil pH had a significant positive effect.

Conclusion: This study demonstrates that the Tianshan Picea schrenkiana community in the west Tianshan Mountains of Xinjiang is undergoing significant structural and functional changes and is at risk of decline due to high mortality and low recruitment rates. This research provides an important scientific basis for the ecological restoration and biodiversity conservation strategies of Tianshan Picea schrenkiana forests.

Key words: temperate coniferous forests, Picea schrenkiana, community structure, mortality rate, recruitment rate

Jihong Huang, Erfan Akberjan, Ruiming Cheng, Wendong Wang, Yue Xu, Jie Yao, Yi Ding. Dynamics of the Picea schrenkiana community in the west Tianshan Mountains of Xinjiang and their influencing factors[J]. Biodiv Sci, 2025, 33(11): 25275.

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URL: https://www.biodiversity-science.net/EN/10.17520/biods.2025275

https://www.biodiversity-science.net/EN/Y2025/V33/I11/25275

Figures/Tables 10

Fig. 1 Location (A), contour map (B), and photographs of a typical Picea schrenkiana forest (C) in the 6-ha forest dynamics plot in the west Tianshan Mountains, Xinjiang

Table 1 Basic information of topographic and soil factors of the 6-ha forest dynamics plot in the west Tianshan Mountains, Xinjiang

变量 Variables	平均值 ± 标准差 Mean ± SD
地形因子 Topographic factor
凹凸度 Convexity (Convex)	-0.11 ± 2.21
坡度 Slope	21.56° ± 7.79°
坡向 Aspect	189.77° ± 50.18°
土壤因子 Soil factor
pH	6.19 ± 0.37
土壤有机质含量 Soil organic matter content (g/kg)	173.39 ± 64.08
有效氮含量 Available nitrogen content (mg/kg)	191.47 ± 122.10
全氮含量 Total nitrogen content (g/kg)	8.67 ± 2.66
有效磷含量 Available phosphorus content (mg/kg)	37.56 ± 21.35
全磷含量 Total phosphorus content (g/kg)	0.21 ± 0.04

Table 2 Changes in the number of living trees across different years (2008-2024) in the Picea schrenkiana community in the west Tianshan Mountains, Xinjiang

物种 Species	2008	2014	2019	2024
雪岭云杉 Picea schrenkiana	1,310 (91.54%)	1,341 (90.73%)	1,210 (91.74%)	1,123 (93.58%)
天山桦 Betula tianschanica	91 (6.36%)	92 (6.22%)	62 (4.70%)	50 (4.17%)
天山花楸 Sorbus tianschanica	11 (0.77%)	11 (0.74 %)	7 (0.53%)	3 (0.25%)
新疆忍冬 Lonicera tatarica	10 (0.70%)	13 (0.88%)	17 (1.29%)	10 (0.83%)
山楂 Crataegus pinnatifida	3 (0.21%)	3 (0.20%)	3 (0.23%)	3 (0.25%)
黄花柳 Salix caprea	3 (0.21%)	3 (0.20%)	4 (0.30%)	4 (0.33%)
伊犁小檗 Berberis iliensis	2 (0.14%)	14 (0.95%)	16 (1.21%)	7 (0.58%)
新疆野苹果 Malus sieversii	1 (0.07%)	1 (0.07%)	0 (0.00%)	0 (0.00%)
合计 Total	1,431 (100.00%)	1,478 (100.00%)	1,319 (100.00%)	1,200 (100.00%)

Fig. 2 Interannual variation (2008-2024) in DBH-classes distribution of living stems in the Picea schrenkiana community in the west Tianshan Mountains, Xinjiang. The bar shows the number of individuals corresponding to different DBH-classes across survey years. The line represents the fitted curves of individual numbers varying with DBH-classes in different survey years.

Fig. 3 Interannual (2008-2024) mortality distribution across DBH-classes in the Picea schrenkiana community in the west Tianshan Mountains, Xinjiang. The bar displays the number of dead individuals across different DBH-classes in various time periods. The line graph represents the fitted curve of dead individual numbers varying by DBH-classes over different time periods.

Fig. 4 Interannual (2008-2024) change rates of tree individual number (A) and aboveground biomass (AGB) (B) in the Picea schrenkiana community in the west Tianshan Mountains, Xinjiang

Fig. 5 Proportional contributions of biological, soil, and topographic factors to the recruitment rate (A), mortality rate (B), and turnover rate (C) in the Picea schrenkiana community in the west Tianshan Mountains, Xinjiang

Fig. 6 Factors influencing recruitment rate (A), mortality rate (B), and turnover rate (C) in the Picea schrenkiana community in the west Tianshan Mountains, Xinjiang. Convex, Convexity; SOM, Soil organic matter content; AN, Available nitrogen content; TN, Total nitrogen content; AP, Available phosphorus content; TP, Total phosphorus content. * P < 0.05; ** P < 0.01.

Fig. 7 The proportional contributions of biological, soil, and topographic factors to the aboveground biomass (AGB) recruitment (A), loss (B), growth (C), and net change (D) in the Picea schrenkiana community in the west Tianshan Mountains, Xinjiang

Fig. 8 Factors influencing to the aboveground biomass (AGB) recruitment (A), loss (B), growth (C), and net change (D) in the Picea schrenkiana community in the west Tianshan Mountains, Xinjiang. Convex, Convexity; SOM, Soil organic matter content; AN, Available nitrogen content; TN, Total nitrogen content; AP, Available phosphorus content; TP, Total phosphorus content. * P < 0.05; ** P < 0.01; *** P < 0.001.

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