Aims: In the face of the extinction crisis primarily driven by human activities, understanding the dynamics of forest succession under varying disturbance regimes is more vital than ever. This study seeks to examine the influences of disturbances on the successional dynamics of species diversity in mid-subtropical forests, aiming to provide scientific insights for biodiversity conservation and ecological restoration efforts.
Methods: We selected four typical forests within the Qianjiangyuan Park Area of the candidate of Qianjiangyuan- Baishanzu National Park: evergreen broad-leaved old-growth forests (PR), once-disturbed secondary forests (MD), twice-disturbed secondary forests (SD), and Chinese fir (Cunninghamia lanceolata) plantation forests (PL). A total of 12 1-ha forest dynamics plots (three plots for each forest type) were established in 2009 and recensused every five years. In each census, all free-standing stems ≥ 1 cm in DBH (diameter at breast height) were measured, mapped, and identified to species. With those data, we measured species diversity using four indices: species richness, Shannon-Wiener diversity index, Simpson diversity index, and Pielou’s evenness index, collectively to explore the trajectories and rates of successions of biodiversity under different disturbance regimes.
Results: Our longitudinal data revealed that species richness, Shannon-Wiener diversity index, and Simpson diversity index in PR, MD, and PL increased over succession, while they decreased in SD. Pielou’s evenness index showed divergent dynamics: it initially increased and then decreased in PR and MD, whereas it consistently increased in SD and PL. Noticeably, when Chinese fir was excluded, Pielou’s evenness index in PL decreased over time. The succession rate of various species diversity indices generally showed a declining trend over time, but the rate of species richness and Pielou’s evenness index was mostly not significant. Affected by snow and ice disasters, the successional trajectory of PR deviated from its stable state. The succession rate of species richness in the early recovery stage of the impaired PR was significantly higher than in other forests and decreased significantly over time, while the succession rate of Pielou’s evenness index was low and showed no significant change over time. The succession rate of Pielou’s evenness index in PL was significantly higher than in other forests and decreased significantly over time, while the succession rate of species richness was low and showed no significant difference from MD and SD.
Conclusion: We underscore the differentiated effects of disturbances on the succession of species diversity in subtropical forests. PR demonstrated a high capacity for self-recovery after disturbances, while SD exhibited a decline in species richness, emphasizing the critical role of disturbances in shaping community succession. Our results inform conservation strategies by suggesting that restoration efforts should be tailored to the disturbance history and succession stage of each forest type. For highly disturbed areas like PL, active restoration measures such as tree thinning are necessary to enhance biodiversity recovery, whereas PR might benefit from minimal intervention due to their inherent capacity for self-recovery. This research contributes to global efforts to halt biodiversity loss and promote sustainable forest management by providing evidence-based insights into the complex relationships between disturbance, succession, and species diversity.