Spatiotemporal dynamics of litterfall production and driving factors in the Fangcheng seasonal rainforest, Guangxi

doi:10.17520/biods.2025326

Abstract

Abstract:

Aims: Forest litterfall, serving as a vector for material cycling, energy flow, and nutrient balance within forest ecosystems, is a vital component of these systems. This study aims to investigate the seasonal dynamics of litterfall production and the drivers of its spatial distribution in the seasonal rainforest of Fangcheng, Guangxi.

Methods: Utilizing a 1-ha forest dynamics plot in Guangxi Fangcheng Golden Camellia National Nature Reserve, as the study site, 40 litterfall collectors were deployed. Through 6 years of continuous monitoring data, we analyzed the region’s litterfall composition, spatiotemporal distribution characteristics, and influencing factors.

Results: The results indicate that the average annual forest litterfall production over the six consecutive years (2019-2024) in Guangxi Fangcheng Golden Camellia National Nature Reserve was 7,506.38 ± 766.94 kg/ha, exhibiting significant interannual fluctuations. The proportion of each component was as follows: leaf (60.24%) > twig (19.34%) > debris (17.70%) > reproductive structures (2.72%). The monthly dynamics of total litterfall and each component showed similar patterns, all exhibiting a tri-modal distribution with peaks observed in April, August, and October. Within a 5 m neighborhood of the litterfall collectors, aspect, soil temperature, tree diversity, and sum of basal area were identified as the primary drivers of forest total litterfall production in this region. These factors exert a direct positive influence on the total litterfall production. In contrast, soil nutrients indirectly impact total litterfall production through their relationship with the sum of basal area.

Conclusion: Continuous 6-year monitoring results reveal that forest litterfall production in Guangxi Fangcheng Golden Camellia National Nature Reserve undergoes pronounced seasonal variation, and that biotic factors, abiotic factors, and soil factors collectively influence the spatial distribution of litterfall.

Key words: seasonal rainforest, litterfall production, litterfall dynamics, climatic factors, driving factors

Ya Gao, Qi Liu, Minfeng Liu, Ruixia Ma, Fuzhao Huang, Dongxing Li, Wusheng Xiang, Tao Ding, Bin Wang, Xiankun Li, Yili Guo. Spatiotemporal dynamics of litterfall production and driving factors in the Fangcheng seasonal rainforest, Guangxi[J]. Biodiv Sci, 2026, 34(1): 25326.

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URL: https://www.biodiversity-science.net/EN/10.17520/biods.2025326

https://www.biodiversity-science.net/EN/Y2026/V34/I1/25326

Figures/Tables 10

Fig. 1 Temporal variation in monthly average precipitation, temperature, and wind speed at Guangxi Fangcheng Golden Camellia National Nature Reserve from 2019 to 2024

Fig. 2 Distribution of litterfall collectors within 1-ha forest dynamics plot in Guangxi Fangcheng Golden Camellia National Nature Reserve

Table 1 Annual average production of each litterfall component in Guangxi Fangcheng Golden Camellia National Nature Reserve from 2019 to 2024 (mean ± SE)

组分 Components	凋落物量 Litterfall production (kg/ha)	比例 Proportion (%)
叶 Leaf	4,521.60 ± 413.30	60.24
枝 Twig	1,451.97 ± 245.09	19.34
繁殖组织 Reproductive structure	204.21 ± 32.80	2.72
杂物 Debris	1,328.60 ± 166.86	17.70
总计 Total	7,506.38 ± 766.94	100.00

Fig. 3 Monthly dynamics of the total and each component litterfall production in Guangxi Fangcheng Golden Camellia National Nature Reserve from 2019 to 2024

Fig. 4 Additive decomposition analysis of independent effects from ecological factors and spatial structure on total litterfall production in Guangxi Fangcheng Golden Camellia National Nature Reserve

Fig. 5 Variance partitioning analysis of total litterfall production in relation to ecological factors and spatial structure

Fig. 6 Relative importance of biotic and abiotic factors for the total litterfall production. BA, Sum of basal area; Soil_TC, Soil total carbon content; Soil_TCa, Soil total calcium content; Soil_temp, Soil temperature; ACH, Altitude above channel; TWI, Topographic wetness index; Convex, Convexity.

Fig. 7 Regression analysis of each factor and the total litterfall production. Shaded area represents 95% confidence intervals of the fitted line.

Fig. 8 Partial least square-structural equation model (PLS-SEM) of total litterfall production and its influencing factors. BA, Sum of basal area; Soil_TC, Soil total carbon content; Soil_TCa, Soil total calcium content; Soil_temp, Soil temperature. Arrows represent the hypothesized causal relationships between variables. The solid line indicates that the action path is significant, and the dashed line indicates that the action path is not significant. Red color indicates positive relationships. Blue color indicates negative relationships. The arrow width indicates the strength of the relationship. Values next to the arrows are the normalized pathway coefficients with the corresponding statistical significance. Values of R2 represent the percentage of variance explained by the model. The GOF value represents the goodness-of-fit of the model. * P < 0.05; ** P < 0.01; *** P < 0.001.

Table 2 Correlation analysis between total litterfall and its components and climatic factors. * P < 0.05; ** P < 0.01

组分 Components	凋落物总量 Total litterfall production	叶 Leaf	枝 Twig	杂物 Debris
月平均降水量 Monthly average precipitation	0.26^*	0.21	0.29^*	0.27^*
月平均温度 Monthly average temperature	0.30^*	0.36^**	0.14	0.29^*
月平均风速 Monthly average wind speed	0.05	-0.01	0.05	0.20

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