Abstract
Growing public awareness of the importance of protecting biodiversity requires the development of forest practices that increase the complexity of stand structure. Understanding the ecological processes of different forest vegetation provide insights into community coexistence mechanisms. In this paper, the spatial patterns of three different communities, evergreen broadleaf forest, deciduous broadleaf forest, and mixed needleleaf and broadleaf forest at Mt. Huangshan, China, were quantified with four structural parameters, the mingling index, the uniform angle index, the diameter dominance index and the crowdedness index. All trees with a diameter at breast height of more than 5 cm were measured. Our analyses highlighted that most trees in the three communities were extremely dense and slightly clumped, with a moderate size differentiation and high mixed structure. In mixed needleleaf and broadleaf forest, the distribution pattern of tree species was better than the other two forests. Overall, spatial patterns in mixed needleleaf and broadleaf forest exhibited a strong stability-effect, that is, the stand had a suitable environment for the stable survival of the forest. With the increasing of elevation, the degree of the mingling index and the crowdedness index increased, however, there was no influence on the uniform angle index and the diameter dominance index. Further, at the same elevation, four structural parameters of shady slope were larger than that of sunny slope. Then we found the relationship between stand spatial structure and environment factors had important influence on forest structure. Our work contributes to the knowledge of population structure, and further provide theoretical basis for the sustainable development of forest resources and protecting biodiversity of Huangshan Mountain. In future studies, it is necessary to explore the limiting factors of community spatial distribution by combining species diversity and functional traits.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Aguirre O, Hui GY, von Gadow K, et al. (2003) An analysis of spatial forest structure using neighbourhood-based variables. Forest Ecol Manag 183(1–3): 137–145 https://doi.org/10.1016/S0378-1127(03)00102-6
Ben-Said M (2021) Spatial point-pattern analysis as a powerful tool in identifying pattern-process relationships in plant ecology: an updated review. Ecological Processes 10: 56. https://doi.org/10.1186/s13717-021-00314-4
Blanchet FG, Legendre P, Borcard D (2008) Forward selection of explanatory variables. Ecology 89: 2623–2632. https://doi.org/10.1890/07-0986.1
Brokeroff EG, Barbaro L, Castagneyrol B, et al. (2017) Forest biodiversity, ecosystem functioning and the provision of ecosystem services. Biodivers Conserv 26: 3005–3035. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10531-017-1453-2
Chai ZZ, Sun CL, Wang DX, et al. (2017) Spatial structure and dynamics of predominant populations in a virgin old-growth oak forest in the Qinling Mountains, China. SCAND J FOREST RES 32: 19–29. https://doi.org/10.1080/02827581.2016.1183703
Chai Z, Wang D (2016) A comparison of species composition and community assemblage of secondary forests between the birch and pine-oak belts in the mid-altitude zone of the Qinling Mountains, China. Peer J 4: 1–23. https://doi.org/10.7717/peerj.1900
Chen TT, Xu H, Yang Q, et al. (2018) Spatial distribution characteristics of an evergreen broad-leaved forest in the Wuyi Mountains, Fujian Province, southeastern China. Acta Ecologica Sinica 38:1–9. (In Chinese)
Corral-Rivas JJ, Wehenkel C, Castellanos-Bocaz HA, et al. (2010) A permutation test of spatial randomness: application to nearest neighbour indices in forest stands. J Forest Res 15: 218–225. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10310-010-0181-1
Davies O, Pommerening A (2008) The contribution of structural indices to the modelling of Sitka spruce (Picea sitchensis) and birch (Betula spp.) crowns. Forest Ecol Manag 256(1–2): 68–77. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.foreco.2008.03.052
Dong LB, Pete Bettinger, Liu ZG (2022) Optimizing neighborhood-based stand spatial structure: four cases of boreal forests. Forest Ecol Manag 506: 119965. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.foreco.2021.119965
Eastaugh C, Kangur A, Korjus H, et al. (2013) Scaling issues and constraints in modelling of forest ecosystems: a review with special focus on user needs. Balt For 19(2): 316–330. https://doi.org/10.3959/1536-1098-69.1.3
Fang GJ, Tang MP, Zhang XL (2008) The mingling index with evergreen broadleaf forests on Mount Tianmu. Journal of Zhejiang A&F University 25(2):216–220. (In Chinese)
Franklin JF, Spies T, Pelt RV, et al. (2002) Disturbances and structural development of natural forest ecosystems with silvicultural implications, using Douglas-fir forests as an example. Forest Ecol Manag 155(1): 399–423. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0378-1127(01)00575-8
Friedrich PG (2006) Spatial diversity of dry savanna woodlands. Biodivers Conserv 15: 1143–1157. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10531-004-3105-6
Gadow Kv, Zhang C, Wehenkel C, et al. (2012) Forest structure and diversity. In: Pukkala, T., von Gadow, K. (eds) Continuous Cover Forestry. Managing Forest Ecosystems 23: 29–84. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-007-2202-6_2
Gamfeldt L, Snäll T, Bagchi R, et al. (2013) Higher levels of multiple ecosystem services are found in forests with more tree species. Nat Commun 4: 1340. https://doi.org/10.1038/NCOMMS2328
Gao WQ, Lei XD, Liang MW, et al. (2022) Biodiversity increased both productivity and its spatial stability in temperate forests in northeastern China. Sci Total Environ 780: 818. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2021.151850
Getzin S, Dean C, He F, et al. (2006) Spatial patterns and competition of tree species in a Douglas-fir chronosequence on Vancouver Island. Ecography 29(5): 671–682. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.2006.0906-7590.04675.x
Ghalandarayeshi S, Nord-Larsen T, Johannsen VK (2017) Spatial patterns of tree species in SuserupSkov-a semi-natural forest in Denmark. Forest Ecol Manag 406: 391–401. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.foreco.2017.10.020
Gong J, Lu L, Jin XL, et al. (2009) Impacts of tourist disturbance on plant communities and soil properties in Huangshan Mountain scenic area. Acta Ecologica Sinica 29(5): 2239–2251. (In Chinese)
Guillemot J, Delpierre N, Vallet P, et al. (2014) Assessing the effects of management on forest growth across France: insights from a new functional-structural model. Ann Bot 114(4): 779–793. https://doi.org/10.1093/aob/mcu059
Hai NH, Wiegand K, Getzin S, et al. (2014) Spatial distributions of tropical tree species in northern Vietnam under environmentally variable site conditions. J Forest Res 25(2): 257–268. https://doi.org/CNKI:SUN:LYYJ.0.2014-02-004
He FL, Legendre P, LaFrankie JV (2009) Distribution patterns of tree species in a Malaysian tropical rain forest. J Veg Sci 8: 105–114. https://doi.org/10.2307/3237248
He ZB, Fang S, Chen LF, et al. (2018) Spatial patterns in natural Piceacrassi folia forests of northwestern China, as basis for close-to-nature forestry. J Mt Sci. 15: 1909–1919. https://doi.org/CNKI:SUN:SDKB.0.2018-09-005
Homeier J, Breckle SW, Günter S, et al. (2010) Tree diversity, forest structure and productivity along altitudinal and topographical gradients in a species-rich Ecuadorian Montane Rain Forest. BIOTROPICA 42(2): 140–148. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1744-7429.2009.00547.x
Hui GY, Zhang G, Zhao Z, et al. (2019a) Methods of forest structure research: a review. Current Forestry Reports 5(3):142–154. https://doi.org/10.1007/s40725-019-00090-7
Hui GY, Hu YB, Liu RH (2019b) Methods of analyzing stand spatial dominance in forest observational studies. Journal of Temperate Forestry Research 2: 1–6, 12. (In Chinese)
John R, Dalling JW, Harms KE, et al. (2007) Soil nutrients influence spatial distributions of tropical tree species. Proc Nat Acad Sci USA 104(3): 864–869. https://doi.org/10.1073/pnas.0604666104
Li Y F, Ye S H, Hui G Y, et al. (2014) Spatial structure of timber harvested according to structure-based forest management. Forest Ecol Manag 322: 106–116. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.foreco.2014.02.042
Li Y, Hui G, Wang H, et al. (2017) Selection priority for harvested trees according to stand structural indices. Forest 10(3): 561–566. https://doi.org/10.3832/ifor2115-010
Liu Y, Li CX, Meng YD, et al. (2021) Stand structure characteristics of secondary mixed forests in Great Xing’s mountains based on CAPV. J Central South Univ For & Tech 41: 96–110. (In Chinese)
Long J, Tang M (2021) Relationship between spatial structure and terrain factors of evergreen broad-leaved forest in Mount Tianmu. J Zhejiang A&F Univ 38(1): 47–57. (In Chinese) https://doi.org/10.11833/j.issn.2095-0756.20200267
Loreau M, De MC, Duffy E (2013) Biodiversity and ecosystem stability: a synthesis of underlying mechanisms. Ecol Lett 16(S1): 106–115. https://doi.org/10.1111/ele.12073
Maes WH, Fontaine M, Ge KR, et al. (2011) A quantitative indicator framework for stand level evaluation and monitoring of environmentally sustainable forest management. Ecol Indic 11(2):468–479. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ecolind.2010.07.001
Martíneza I, Wieganda T, Taboadab FG, et al. (2010) Spatial associations among tree species in a temperate forest community in North-western Spain. Forest Ecol Manag 260: 456–465. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.foreco.2010.04.039
Nicotra AB, Chazdon RL, IRIARTE SVB (1999) Spatial heterogeneity of light and woody seedling regeneration in tropical wet forests. Ecology 80(6): 1908–1926. https://doi.org/10.1890/0012-9658(1999)080[1908:SHOLAW]2.0.CO;2
Pldveer E, Korjus H, Kiviste A, et al. (2020) Assessment of spatial stand structure of hemiboreal conifer dominated forests according to different levels of naturalness. Ecol Indic 110: 105944. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ecolind.2019.105944
Shao FL, Yu XX, Zheng JK, et al. (2012) Relationships between dominant arbor species distribution and environmental factors of shelter forests in the Beijing mountain area. Acta Ecologica Sinica 32(19): 6092–6099. (In Chinese)
Van Do T, Sato T, Saito S, et al. (2015) Effects of microtopographies on stand structure and tree species diversity in an old growth evergreen broad-leaved forest, southwestern Japan. Global EcolConserv 4: 185–196. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.gecco.2015.06.010
Wan P, Zhang G, Wang H, et al. (2019) Impacts of different forest management methods on the stand spatial structure of a natural Quercus aliena var. acuteserrata forest in Xiaolongshan, China. Ecol Inform 50: 86–94. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ecoinf.2019.01.007
Wang D, Tang S, Chiu C (2006) Impact four years after thinning on the growth and stand structure of Taiwania plan-tation in the Liukuei experimental forest. Taiwan Journal Forest Science 21: 339–351. 10.264469-200609-21-3-339-351-a
Wimberly MC, Spies TA (2001) Influences of environment and disturbance on forest patterns in coastal Oregon watersheds. Ecology 82(5): 1443–1459. https://doi.org/10.1890/0012-9658(2001)082[1443:ioeado]2.0.co;2
Yang M, Cai TJ, Ju CY, et al. (2019a) Evaluating spatial structure of a mixed broad-leaved/Korean pine forest based on neighborhood relationships in Mudanfeng national nature reserve, China. J Forest Res 30: 1375–1381. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11676-019-00899-9
Yang H, Miao N, Shao-Caib L I, et al. (2019b) Relationship between stand characteristics and soil properties of two typical forest plantations in the mountainous area of western Sichuan, China. J Mt Sci 16: 1816–1832. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11629-018-5265-y
Yi XG, Ding H, Fang YM, et al. (2018) Species diversity of forests communities at different altitudes based on fixed plot in Huangshan Mountains. J Nanjing For Univ (Natl Sci Ed) 42: 149–155. (In Chinese)
Zamora WD (2006) Belowground ecological interactions in mixed-species forest plantations. Forest Ecol Manag 233: 231–239. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.foreco.2006.05.014
Zenner E, Hibbs D (2000) A new method for modeling the heterogeneity of forest structure. Forest Ecol Manag 129: 75–87. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0378-1127(99)00140-1
Zhang LJ, Sun CZ, Lai GH (2018a) Analysis and evaluation of stand spatial structure of Platyladus orientalis ecological forest in Jiulongshan of Beijing. Forest Res 31: 75–82. https://doi.org/10.13275/j.cnki.lykxyj.2018.04.011
Zhang T, Dong X, Guan H (2018b) Effect of thinning on the spatial structure of a Larixg melinii Rupr. secondary forest in the Greater Khingan Mountains. Forests 9: 720–737. https://doi.org/10.3390/f9110720
Zhao CM, Chen WL, Tian ZQ, et al. (2005) Altitudinal pattern of plant species diversity in Shennongjia Mountains, central China. J Integr Plant Biol 47(12): 1431–1449. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1744-7909.2005.00164.x
Zhang G F. (2003) Analysis of the floristic elements of seed plants in Huangshan Mountain. Journal of Wuhan Botanical Research 21(5): 390–394. (In Chinese)
Zhao L, Xiang W, Li J, et al. (2015). Effects of topographic and soil factors on woody species assembly in a Chinese subtropical evergreen broadleaved forest. Forests 6: 650–669. https://doi.org/10.3390/f6030650
Zhou ML, Zhang Q, Kang XG, et al. (2016) Study on the stability of forest communities based on the spatial structure index. Plant Sci J 34(5): 724–733. (In Chinese)
Acknowledgments
We thank all authors, the Editor and three anonymous reviewers who provided valuable comments for this paper. This research was supported by The Special Foundation for National Science and Technology Basic Resources Investigation of China (2019FY202300) and the Biodiversity Investigation, Observation and Assessment Program of Ministry of Ecology and Environment of China (2110404).
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Electronic Supplementary Material
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Lv, T., Zhao, R., Wang, Nj. et al. Spatial distributions of intra-community tree species under topographically variable conditions. J. Mt. Sci. 20, 391–402 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11629-022-7642-9
Received:
Revised:
Accepted:
Published:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11629-022-7642-9