Composition and spatio-temporal dynamics of litter fall in a northern tropical karst seasonal rainforest in Nonggang, Guangxi, southern China

doi:10.17520/biods.2016337

Abstract

Abstract:

Litter fall is a significant component of forest ecosystems and has important ecological functions in material cycling and nutrient balance of forest ecosystems. In this study, we studied litter fall production, composition, spatial and temporal dynamics in a 15-ha northern tropical karst seasonal rainforest dynamics plot in Nonggang National Nature Reserve, Guangxi. We set up 90 litter fall traps, and collected litter fall weekly since May 2012. All litter fall in each trap was dried, classified and weighed. We used litter fall data from January 2013 to December 2014. The total annual litter production in 2013 and 2014 was 4,858.0 kg/ha and 4,928.8 kg/ha, respectively. Litter fall of leaves accounted for 85% while other components made up a small amount. Fruit litter fall was significantly higher in 2013. There were two litter fall peaks in each year, one in spring (March and April) and the other occurring in autumn to early winter (between August and November). The peak of fruit litter fall peak occurred in August. There were no significant inter-annual fluctuations in other litter fall components. The prevailing ecological factors of litter fall production were significantly different between 2013 and 2014. Litter fall production was significantly influenced by aspect and mean DBH (diameter at breast height). Composition and spatio-temporal dynamics of litter fall reflected material cycles affected by multiple biotic and abiotic factors. Our results provide basic information to reveal the unique characteristics of material circulation and energy flows in the geological background and geomorphology of karst.

http://jtp.cnki.net/bilingual/detail/html/SWDY201703007

Key words: karst seasonal rainforest, litter fall, components, ecological factors, Nonggang 15 ha forest dynamics plot

Yili Guo, Dongxing Li, Bin Wang, Yunlin He, Wusheng Xiang, Yuliang Jiang, Xiankun Li. Composition and spatio-temporal dynamics of litter fall in a northern tropical karst seasonal rainforest in Nonggang, Guangxi, southern China[J]. Biodiv Sci, 2017, 25(3): 265-274.

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URL: https://www.biodiversity-science.net/EN/10.17520/biods.2016337

https://www.biodiversity-science.net/EN/Y2017/V25/I3/265

Figures/Tables 8

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组分 Components	凋落量Litter fall (kg/ha) (%)
组分 Components	2013	2014
花 Flower	64.6 (1.33)	34.8 (0.71)
果 Fruit	417.8 (8.60)	64.6 (1.31)
叶 Leaf	4,334.8 (89.23)	4,656.6 (94.48)
枝 Twig	17.8 (0.37)	63.4 (1.28)
杂物 Debris	23.0 (0.47)	109.4 (2.22)
合计 Total	4,858.0 (100.00)	4,928.8 (100.00)

组分 Components	凋落量Litter fall (kg/ha) (%)
组分 Components	2013	2014
花 Flower	64.6 (1.33)	34.8 (0.71)
果 Fruit	417.8 (8.60)	64.6 (1.31)
叶 Leaf	4,334.8 (89.23)	4,656.6 (94.48)
枝 Twig	17.8 (0.37)	63.4 (1.28)
杂物 Debris	23.0 (0.47)	109.4 (2.22)
合计 Total	4,858.0 (100.00)	4,928.8 (100.00)

物种 Species	凋落量 Litter fall (kg/ha) (%)
物种 Species	2013	2014
闭花木 Cleistanthus sumatranus	738.7 (15.21)	694.3 (14.09)
广西牡荆 Vitex kwangsiensis	471.6 (9.71)	542.5 (11.01)
苹婆 Sterculia monosperma	450.3 (9.27)	470.9 (9.55)
海南椴 Diplodiscus trichosperma	343.4 (7.07)	425.1 (8.62)
蚬木 Excentrodendron tonkinense	239.0 (4.92)	247.1 (5.01)
广西棋子豆 Archidendron guangxiensis	215.8 (4.44)	127.9 (2.60)
中国无忧花 Saraca dives	207.9 (4.28)	161.3 (3.27)
劲直刺桐 Erythrina stricta	180.0 (3.70)	106.6 (2.16)
鱼骨木 Canthium dicoccum	172.2 (3.54)	119.8 (2.43)
米扬噎 Streblus tonkinensis	112.4 (2.31)	113.5 (2.30)
羽叶白头树 Garuga pinnata	99.1 (2.04)	54.5 (1.11)
广西澄广花 Orophea anceps	92.8 (1.91)	94.8 (1.92)
金丝李 Garcinia paucinervis	80.4 (1.65)	69.1 (1.40)
南烛厚壳桂 Cryptocarya lyoniifolia	59.0 (1.21)	57.9 (1.17)
五瓣子楝树 Decaspermum parviflorum	55.6 (1.14)	-
黄梨木 Boniodendron minus	-	70.4 (1.43)
合计 Total	3,518.2 (72.40)	3,355.7 (68.07)

物种 Species	凋落量 Litter fall (kg/ha) (%)
物种 Species	2013	2014
闭花木 Cleistanthus sumatranus	738.7 (15.21)	694.3 (14.09)
广西牡荆 Vitex kwangsiensis	471.6 (9.71)	542.5 (11.01)
苹婆 Sterculia monosperma	450.3 (9.27)	470.9 (9.55)
海南椴 Diplodiscus trichosperma	343.4 (7.07)	425.1 (8.62)
蚬木 Excentrodendron tonkinense	239.0 (4.92)	247.1 (5.01)
广西棋子豆 Archidendron guangxiensis	215.8 (4.44)	127.9 (2.60)
中国无忧花 Saraca dives	207.9 (4.28)	161.3 (3.27)
劲直刺桐 Erythrina stricta	180.0 (3.70)	106.6 (2.16)
鱼骨木 Canthium dicoccum	172.2 (3.54)	119.8 (2.43)
米扬噎 Streblus tonkinensis	112.4 (2.31)	113.5 (2.30)
羽叶白头树 Garuga pinnata	99.1 (2.04)	54.5 (1.11)
广西澄广花 Orophea anceps	92.8 (1.91)	94.8 (1.92)
金丝李 Garcinia paucinervis	80.4 (1.65)	69.1 (1.40)
南烛厚壳桂 Cryptocarya lyoniifolia	59.0 (1.21)	57.9 (1.17)
五瓣子楝树 Decaspermum parviflorum	55.6 (1.14)	-
黄梨木 Boniodendron minus	-	70.4 (1.43)
合计 Total	3,518.2 (72.40)	3,355.7 (68.07)

月份 Month	果 Fruits		叶 Leaves		花 Flowers		枝 Twigs
月份 Month	2013	2014	2013	2014	2013	2014	2013	2014
1 月 January	0.7	0.4	193.9	494.8	0	0	0.1	0
2月 February	4.5	2.1	165.7	444.8	0	0.1	21	12.4
3月 March	7.1	3.8	565.6	632.8	3.8	1.5	1	1.6
4月 April	1.5	4.6	565	637.5	16	16.3	20	17.5
5月 May	11.6	0.5	338.3	344.5	1.9	14.1	5	8.5
6月 June	47.9	1.3	487.7	281.6	0.4	2.4	3	4.3
7月 July	71.4	7.5	106.5	239.5	0.1	0	9	11.1
8月 August	151	12.5	288.3	289.4	0	0	3	5.3
9月 September	84.4	9.6	435.1	341.7	0	0	0.5	0
10月 October	32.1	12.7	469.9	362.9	0	0	0	0
11月 November	4.5	7.4	402	224.2	0	0	0.9	2.6
12月 December	1.1	2.1	357.5	362.8	0.2	0.4	0	0