Biodiv Sci ›› 2023, Vol. 31 ›› Issue (2): 22251.  DOI: 10.17520/biods.2022251

• Original Papers: Plant Diversity • Previous Articles     Next Articles

Spatial distribution pattern and mechanism of sapling regeneration in karst seasonal rainforest in southwestern Guangxi

Ruixia Ma1,2,3, Yili Guo2,3,*(), Dongxing Li2,3, Bin Wang2,3, Wusheng Xiang2,3, Fuzhao Huang2,3, Fang Lu2,3, Shujun Wen2,3, Jianxing Li2,3, Shuhua Lu2,3, Xiankun Li2,3   

  1. 1. College of Tourism and Landscape Architecture, Guilin University of Technology, Guilin, Guangxi 541006
    2. Guangxi Key Laboratory of Plant Conservation and Restoration Ecology in Karst Terrain, Guangxi Institute of Botany, Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region and Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guilin, Guangxi 541006
    3. Nonggang Karst Ecosystem Observation and Research Station of Guangxi, Chongzuo, Guangxi 532499
  • Received:2022-05-09 Accepted:2022-07-06 Online:2023-02-20 Published:2022-11-11
  • Contact: *Yili Guo, E-mail: yiliguo810414@163.com

Abstract:

Aims: Saplings are an important component of maintaining the species diversity of forest ecosystems. Their diversity is related to forest community structure and growth dynamics. Therefore, it is very important to study the spatial distribution pattern and potential mechanism of sapling regeneration for forest community dynamics. To strengthen the understanding of the dynamic changes of the northern tropical karst seasonal rainforest, we will study the spatial distribution pattern and mechanism of sapling regeneration in 15 ha northern tropical karst seasonal rainforest dynamics plot in Nonggang, southwestern Guangxi.

Methods: Based on the survey data from 2011 to 2016, the individual number, spatial pattern characteristics, and influencing factors of new saplings (DBH ≥ 1 cm) in five years were analyzed by spatial point pattern and redundancy analysis.

Results: A total of 101 species of new saplings were observed, accounting for 45.3% of the surveyed species in 2011, and the sapling density was 196.5 ind./ha. The newly increased saplings showed aggregated distribution at 0-7 m and 10-16 m scale, and random distribution above 16 m scale. Altitude is the main factor affecting the regeneration of saplings, followed by topographic wetness. Biological factors had a weak impact on sapling regeneration. The number of saplings was negatively correlated with increasing altitude, and positively correlated with topographic wetness. Moderate positive correlation between adult tree individuals and young tree regeneration was observed.

Conclusion: In this karst seasonal rainforest, sapling regeneration and spatial distribution pattern are synergistically affected by various influencing factors, which may be related to limited seed dispersal and habitat heterogeneity.

Key words: karst seasonal rainforest, redundancy analysis, spatial point pattern, sapling regeneration, influencing factors