Effect of seed traits on spatial aggregation of trees in a subtropical evergreen broad-leaved forest

doi:10.17520/biods.2014007

Abstract

Abstract:

The spatial distribution of species provides basic information for the study of species coexistence. Seed traits such as size, weight and dispersal syndromes influence the spatial distribution of species through various species-specific seed dispersal. In this study, we collected data on seed size, seed mass and seed dispersal syndromes of 89 woody trees in the Gutianshan subtropical evergreen broad-leaved forest. The relationship between seed size, seed mass, seed dispersal syndromes, and conspecific aggregation intensity were examined. Results showed that most of the species (~90%) were significantly aggregated across scales up to 20 m. The strength of spatial aggregation decreased with increasing spatial scales. Rare species were more aggregated than common species. Species abundance was significantly correlated with aggregation intensity (at spatial scale of 15 m, R² = 0.32, P < 0.001) after removing the phylogenetic relationship among species using PIC (phylogenetically independent contrasts). Seed size was weakly associated with aggregation intensity (R²= 0.05, P < 0.05), but seed mass was strongly correlated (R²= 0.14, P < 0.05). Seed dispersal syndromes significantly influenced species aggregation intensity: ballistically dispersed species were more significantly aggregated than assisted-dispersed species (F_{1, 87} = 4.439, P = 0.038). Long-distances dispersal may lead to a reduction in aggregation intensity. In conclusion, species-specific seed traits and dispersal ability were ecologically significant factors impacting the spatial pattern of species distribution.

Key words: seed size, seed mass, dispersal syndromes, spatial distribution, phylogenetically independent contrasts, aggregation intensity, dispersal limitation

Bei Yao, Jianping Yu, Xiaojuan Liu, Xiangcheng Mi, Keping Ma. Effect of seed traits on spatial aggregation of trees in a subtropical evergreen broad-leaved forest[J]. Biodiv Sci, 2015, 23(2): 157-166.

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URL: https://www.biodiversity-science.net/EN/10.17520/biods.2014007

https://www.biodiversity-science.net/EN/Y2015/V23/I2/157

Figures/Tables 8

Table 1 Seed or fruit characteristics of species within each dispersal syndrome

扩散方式 Dispersal syndrome	果实类型 Fruit type	传播者 Disperser	物种数 No. of species	比例 %
喷射扩散 Ballistic dispersal	开裂蒴果 Explosive capsule	无 No	4	4.49
风力扩散 Wind dispersal	蒴果、荚果、翅果 Capsule, pod, and winged nut	风力 Wind	15	16.85
动物扩散 Animal dispersal
A1 (< 6 mm)	浆果、核果、蒴果 Berry, drupe, and capsule	动物 Animal	36	40.45
A2 (6-12 mm)	浆果、核果、蒴果 Berry, drupe, and capsule	动物 Animal	23	25.84
A3 (>12 mm)	浆果、核果、蒴果 Berry, drupe, and capsule	动物 Animal	11	12.40

Table 2 The proportion of tree species with significantly aggregated distribution pattern in 24-ha Gutianshan Forest Dynamics Plot at different scales

尺度 r (m)	聚集分布 Aggregated distribution	随机分布 Random distribution
(0, 5]	94%	6%
(5, 10]	95%	5%
(10, 15]	94%	6%
(15, 20]	92%	8%

Fig. 1 Spatial distribution maps of four species with different seed distribution modes in 24-ha Gutianshan Forest Dynamics Plot

Fig. 2 The aggregation intensity g(r) of Myrica rubra at different scales

Table 3 Phylogenetic signal analysis of seed traits and other parameters in 24-ha Gutianshan Forest Dynamics Plot

参数 Parameters	K	P
Log (seed size)	0.549	0.001
Log (seed mass)	0.657	0.001
Log (species abundance)	0.216	0.001
g(r = 5)	0.372	0.070
g(r = 10)	0.423	0.028
g(r = 15)	0.454	0.017
g(r = 20)	0.363	0.007
g(r = 25)	0.224	0.051
g(r = 30)	0.144	0.227

Fig. 3 The relationships between species abundance and aggregation intensity within ranges of 5 meters or 15 meters. The upper panels show relationships between species abundance and aggregation intensity in 5 meters, and the lower panels show relationships in 15 meters. The left panels show relationships between species abundance and aggregation intensity without considering phylogenetic relationship among species. The right panels show relationships between species abundance and aggregation intensity after accounting for the phylogenetic relationship among species.

Fig. 4 Seed size (a) and seed mass (b) are associated with aggregation intensity of 5 m scale.

Fig. 5 The variation of mean aggregation intensity of tree species among dispersal syndromes at 5 m scale (mean ± SD). The left panel (a) shows that aggregation intensity is not significantly different among five dispersal syndromes (F4, 84 = 1.497, P = 0.21), while the right panel (b) shows that aggregation intensity is significantly different between two dispersal syndromes (ballistically dispersed species vs assisted dispersal species) (F1, 87 = 4.439, P = 0.038). A1, Animal dispersal, < 6 mm; A2, Animal dispersal, 6-12 mm; A3, Animal dispersal, > 12 mm; B, Ballistic; W, Wind dispersal; A, Assisted-dispersal.

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