Abstract
The Qinling Mountains is not only the geographical boundary between North and South China, but also the boundary between subtropical and warm temperate zones. It plays an important role in the geo-ecological pattern of China. However, there is controversy about the specific location of this geographical boundary in academic community due to the complexity, transition and heterogeneity of the transitional zone, as well as the differences in the delimitation indicators and research purposes. To further reveal the characteristics of the North-South transitional zone and clarify the specific location of the geo-ecological boundary between North and South China, combined with SRTM topographic data, temperature and precipitation data, Pinus massoniana forest and Pinus tabulaeformis forest, which represent subtropical coniferous forest in South China and temperate coniferous forest in North China respectively, were chosen to analyze their spatial distributions in the Qinling-Daba Mountains and the climatic conditions at their boundary with the climatic indexes of annual precipitation, the coldest month (January) average temperature, the warmest month (July) average temperature and the annual average temperature. The results show that: (1) Pinus massoniana and Pinus tabulaeformis forests and the climate indicators of their boundary can be used as one of the vegetation-climate indexes for the delimitation of subtropical and warm temperate zones. The boundary between the subtropical coniferous forest (Pinus massoniana forest) and temperate coniferous forest (Pinus tabulaeformis forest) is located along the south slope of Funiu Mountain to the north edge of Hanzhong Basin (the south slope of Qinling Mountains) at an altitude of 1000–1200 m, where the climatic indictors are stable: the annual precipitation is about 750–1000 mm, the annual average temperature is about 12–14°C, the coldest monthly average temperature is 0–4°C, and the warmest monthly average temperature is about 22–26°C. (2) It can be more scientifically to delimitate the boundary of subtropical and warm temperate zones in China by comprehensively considering the vegetation-climate indicators. Additionally, the boundary between subtropical and warm temperate zones in Qinling-Daba Mountains should be a transitional zone consisting of the boundaries of coniferous forests, broad-leaved forests and shrubs between subtropical and warm temperate zones. The results provide a scientific basis for the selection of delimitation index of subtropical and warm temperate zones.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Caplat P, Edelaar P, Dudaniec R Y et al., 2016. Looking beyond the mountain, dispersal barriers in a changing world. Frontiers in Ecology and the Environment, 14: 261–268.
Chen Xianji, 1982. A new approach to the climate division of China. Acta Meteorologica Sinica, 40(1): 35–48. (in Chinese)
Chinese Vegetation Map Editorial Committee (CVMEC), 1980 Vegetation and Vegetation Regionalization Map in China. Beijing: Science Press. (in Chinese)
Chinese Vegetation Map Editorial Committee, CAS (CVMEC), 2001 Vegetation Atlas of China (1:1,000,000). Beijing: Science Press. (in Chinese)
Committee of Natural Regionalization in CAS (CNRCAS), 1960 Regionalization of Chinese Vegetation (First Draft). Beijing: Science Press.
Department of Geography, Shaanxi Normal University (DGSNU), 1989. Geomorphological Map Description of Qinling-Daba Mountains in China. Xi’an: Shaanxi People’s Publishing House. (in Chinese)
Fang Jingyun, 1991. Eco-climatological analysis of the forest zones in China. Acta Ecologica Sinica, 11(4): 377–387. (in Chinese)
Fang Jingyun, 2001. Re-discussion about the forest vegetation zonation in Eastern China. Acta Botanica Sinica, 43(5): 522–533. (in Chinese)
Fu Zhijun, Guo Junli, 1992 The characters of community on the vegetation of the Taibai Mountain in the Qinling. Journal of Baoji Normal University, (1): 18–25. (in Chinese)
Hijmans R J, Cameron S E, Parra J L et al., 2005. Very high resolution interpolated climate surfaces for global land areas. International Journal of Climatology, 25(15): 1965–1978.
Hou Xueyu, 1963 Discussion on controversial issues in previous vegetation zoning projects in China (II). Acta Phytoecologica et Geobotanica Sinica, 1(1/2): 1–30. (in Chinese)
Hou Xueyu, 1964. Discussion about the principals, foundations and systematic units of Chinese vegetation regionalization. Acta Phytoecologica et Geobotanica Sinica, 2(2): 153–179. (in Chinese)
Kang Muyi, Zhu Yuan, 2007. Discussion and analysis on the geo-ecological boundary in Qinling Range. Acta Ecologica Sinica, 27(7): 2774–2784. (in Chinese)
Lei Mingde, 1999 Vegetation of Shaanxi. Beijing: Science Press. (in Chinese)
Liu Huaxun, 1981. The vertical zonation of mountain vegetation in China. Acta Geographica Sinica, 36(3): 267–279. (in Chinese)
Liu Shene, 1934 Botanical geography in north and west of China. Contributions from the Institute of Botany, National Academy of Peiping, 2(9): 423–464. (in Chinese)
Mao Hanying, 1958. Agricultural boundary survey of Qinling Mountain and Huaihe River areas. (in Chinese)
Ni Shaoxiang, Ding Dengshan, 1992 Scenic View of China’s Famous Mountains. Nanjing: Jiangsu Education Press, 167–176. (in Chinese)
Wang Jinglan, Liu Quanru, Meng Shiyong et al., 2010. Division of the geo-ecological boundary in Qinling Mountain Range based on the composition and geographical elements of its Pteridophyta flora. Geographical Research, 29(9): 1629–1638. (in Chinese)
Wurster C M, Bird M I, 2014 Barriers and bridges, early human dispersals in equatorial SE Asia. Geological Society London Special Publications. doi: https://doi.org/10.1144/SP411.2.
Ying Junsheng, Chen Mengling, 2011 Plant Geography of China. Shanghai: Shanghai Science and Technology Press. (in Chinese)
Ying Junsheng, Li Yunfeng, Guo Qinfeng et al., 1990. Observations on the flora and vegetation of Taibai Shan, Qinling Mountain Range. Acta Phytotaxonomica Sinica, 28(4): 261–293. (in Chinese)
Zhang Xuezhong, Zhang Zhiying, 1979. A preliminary discussion on the northern boundary of subtropical zone in China based on the distribution of broad-leaf woody evergreens on the Qinling Mountain. Acta Geographica Sinica, 34(4): 342–352. (in Chinese)
Zhang Zhenwan, Cui Youwen, 1963 Draft of vegetation regionalization in Qinling Region. Acta Phytoecologica et Geobotanica Sinica, 1(1/2): 161–162. (in Chinese)
Zheng Dawei, Sun Zhongfu, 2010. Discussion on scientificalness problem of accumulated temperature and its unit. Chinese Journal of Agrometeorology, 31(2): 165–169. (in Chinese)
Zheng Du, Yang Qinye, Wu Shaohong et al., 2008 Study on the Eco-geographical Region System of China. Beijing: The Commercial Press. (in Chinese)
Zheng Jingyun, Yin Yunhe, Li Bingyuan, 2010. A new scheme for climate regionalization in China. Acta Geographica Sinica, 65(1): 3–12. (in Chinese)
Zhu Kezhen, 1958. Subtropics of China. Chinese Science Bulletin, 17: 524–528. (in Chinese)
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Additional information
Foundation: National Natural Science Foundation of China, No.41871350; Scientific and Technological Basic Resources Survey Project, No.2017FY100900
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Yao, Y., Hu, Y., Kou, Z. et al. Spatial patterns of Pinus tabulaeformis and Pinus massoniana forests in Qinling-Daba Mountains and the boundary of subtropical and warm temperate zones. J. Geogr. Sci. 30, 1523–1533 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11442-020-1797-5
Received:
Accepted:
Published:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11442-020-1797-5