Demographic performance of a pioneer tree species during ecological restoration in the soil erosion area of southeastern China

Zhao, Wenhao; Tian, Li; Cui, Yujie; Huang, Jinlu; Fu, Hejing; Yang, Xianyu; Li, Shouzhong

doi:10.1016/j.gecco.2021.e01936

Cited by 6 publications

(6 citation statements)

References 43 publications

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“…For pioneer species growing in a rapidly developing vegetation, realization of a high growth rate might be of prime importance (Carlyle & Fraser, 2006 ). A stable and productive environment in this stage may promote quick and continuous growth of P. massoniana trees, especially their height growth (Grime, 1977 ; Pierce et al., 2013 ; Zhao et al., 2021 ). In so doing, they can gain a competitive advantage in a gradually denser and darker forest (Zhao et al., 2021 ).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…A stable and productive environment in this stage may promote quick and continuous growth of P. massoniana trees, especially their height growth (Grime, 1977 ; Pierce et al., 2013 ; Zhao et al., 2021 ). In so doing, they can gain a competitive advantage in a gradually denser and darker forest (Zhao et al., 2021 ). However, the pressure of maintaining the functioning of such a large organism and reproductive activities in adulthood also makes them adopt relatively intermediate resource‐use strategies (Albert et al., 2010 ; Grime, 1977 ; Thomas, 2011 ).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Intraspecific transitioning of ecological strategies in Pinus massoniana trees across restoration stages

Lu,

Wang,

Liu

et al. 2024

Ecology and Evolution

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Intraspecific variation in plant functional traits and ecological strategies is typically overlooked in most studies despite its pivotal role at the local scales and along short environmental gradients. While CSR theory has been used to classify ecological strategies (competitive C; stress‐tolerant, S; ruderal, R) in different plant species, its ability to explain intraspecific variation in ecological strategies remains uncertain. Here, we sought to investigate intraspecific variation in ecological strategies for Pinus massoniana, a pioneer conifer tree for ecological restoration in Changting County, southeast China. By measuring key leaf traits and canopy height of 252 individuals at different ontogenetic stages from three plots spanning distinctive stages along early ecological restoration and calculating their C, S, and R scores, we constructed an intraspecific CSR system. All individual strategies shifted across three restoration stages, with adults from higher S component to higher C component while juveniles from higher S component to higher R component. Our results suggest that while strategies of all P. massoniana individuals start with tolerance to environmental stress, as restoration proceeds, adult transition towards completion for light, whereas juveniles shift to an acquisitive resource use. The study reveals an intraspecific pattern of strategy variation during forest restoration, contributing to our understanding of how plants adapt to diverse environments.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Intraspecific transitioning of ecological strategies in Pinus massoniana trees across restoration stages

Lu,

Wang,

Liu

et al. 2024

Ecology and Evolution

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“…SBD is one of the most important soil physical properties, and vegetation restoration reduced SBD and increased soil porosity, thereby leading to high soil hydraulic conductivity and water retention (Qiu et al, 2022). Reasonable soil physical properties are a prerequisite for sustainable development and adjustment of pioneer species within an area that has limited soil resources in early vegetation restoration stages (Dalling, 2008; Zhao et al, 2021). However, for functional communities with higher successional stages (i.e., G5, G6, and G7), shrubby functional species (PFT3 ~ PFT4) exhibited absolute dominance, followed by tree functional species (PFT1 ~ PFT2), we found species composition of these communities to be closely related to SOC.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…UN Decade of Restoration aims to mobilize efforts worldwide in restoring degraded ecosystems (forests, wetlands, agricultural lands) to address climate change, biodiversity protection, and sustainable development (Aronson et al, 2020; Joern et al, 2021). Forest ecosystems as part of United Nations Sustainable Development Goal 15 (Life on Land) (Jourdan et al, 2021; Zhao et al, 2021) has gradually shifted from increased forest area to improved biodiversity in recent years (Blicharska et al, 2019; Zhang, Fu, et al, 2021). In other words, forest ecosystem requirements have shifted from quantity to quality.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Functional vegetation community responses to soil and topographic factors in the Loess Plateau of China

Zhang

Zha

et al. 2023

Land Degrad Dev

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Given the developmental program outlined in United Nations Sustainable Development Goal 15 (Life on Land) and the to effectively address the challenge of biodiversity decline while mitigating the adverse effects of climate change, particularly drought, on terrestrial forest ecosystems, a fundamental reorientation of global forest restoration paradigms is warranted. It is imperative to move beyond a narrow emphasis on expanding forest area and instead prioritize the enhancement of biodiversity and functional attributes within these ecosystems. However, the differential response mechanisms of forest ecosystem functional communities and main plant functional types (PFTs) to environmental factors, especially soil and topography, remains unclear, especially at plant level. Here, we divided the functional communities of 93 sites in the study area into seven groups through Two‐way indicator species analysis (TWINSPAN), and studied the different functional communities, namely dynamic succession, species richness, and PFT compositional differences. We also analyzed the various PFTs and functional community response mechanisms to soil and topographic factors using canonical correspondence analysis (CCA). The main results were as follows: (1) With the successional stages of PFTs, vegetation diversity across multiple functional communities inceased, tree and shrub proportions and importance increased, while herbs decreased. (2) From the arid and barren areas (i.e., G2), to the humid and fertile areas (i.e., G6 and G7), various compositional PFT differences, and their responses to soil and topographic factors, were found, namely, xerophytic, annual and biennial species gradually changed to mesophytic, hygrophytic, and perennial species (richness increased 6.94 ~ 27.33%, important value (IV) increased 8.73 ~ 29.45%) for shrubs and herbs. (3) Functional communities in various successional stages display distinct sensitivities to soil and topographic factors, as evidenced by a notable increase in the richness and IV of deciduous broad‐leaved tree species, rendering their communities more responsive to SOC and AS, whereas evergreen coniferous trees (e.g., Pinus tabuliformis Carr.) were sensitive to altitude (AL) and exhibited a tendency to transition from plantations to natural secondary forests predominantly at higher altitudes (above 1200 m). Our findings suggest that site conditions influence scenarios, and that different PFT responses and adjustments to soil and topography factors affect whole functional community dynamic succession processes, which can profoundly impact forest ecosystem function predictions based on PFT changes in the Loess Plateau of China.

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“…In this study, Pinus massoniana was the predominant tree species. As an evergreen tree, Pinus massoniana has strong adaptability and is often used in restoration projects in areas with a constant landscape in all four seasons ( Zhao et al, 2021 ). Vegetation restoration projects using Lindera glauca and Pinus massoniana as dominat plants are more effective in improving soil water retention, organic matter content, and microbial community structure ( Dou et al, 2013 ; Yu et al, 2022 ).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Effects of habitat factors on the plant diversity on naturally-restored wind farm slopes

Wang¹,

Yu²,

Xiao³

et al. 2023

PeerJ

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This study investigated naturally-restored plant communities on wind farm slopes and analyzed the effects of various habitat factors on the plant diversity. The findings provide a technical support for the ecological restoration of mountainous slopes.Twenty-one slopes on five wind farms were selected and the characteristics of the habitat, including slope position, slope aspect, slope gradient, altitude, years since restoration, and plant communities, were recorded. The species richness of the plant communities and the vegetation diversity indexes of these wind farms were measured and calculated, including the Shannon-Wiener diversity index (H′), Pielou’s species evenness index (J), and Margalef’s richness index (R). The key factors influencing plant diversity were identified using a stepwise regression analysis. A total of 36 families, 54 genera, and 57 species of plants were identified in this study with the Gramineae, Compositae, Rosaceae, Liliaceae, and Juglandaceae families the mostly predominant. Cynodon dactylon, Rubus lambertianus Ser., and Lindera glauca were the dominant species of herbs, shrubs, and trees, respectively. The highest number of species were found on lower slopes, slopes with semi-sunny aspects, slopes with gradients 30–50°, elevation below 500 m, and on slopes with at least five years since restoration. The plant diversity H′ and R tended to be higher on lower slopes than on upper slopes, and higher on slopes with semi-shady aspects than on slopes with semi-sunny aspects (P < 0.05). Vegetation diversity increased with the years since restoration. Slope position and slope aspect were identified as the primary influencing factors, and the H′ and R indexes were major indicators of changes in plant diversity on mountainous slopes.

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Demographic performance of a pioneer tree species during ecological restoration in the soil erosion area of southeastern China

Cited by 6 publications

References 43 publications

Intraspecific transitioning of ecological strategies in Pinus massoniana trees across restoration stages

Intraspecific transitioning of ecological strategies in Pinus massoniana trees across restoration stages

Functional vegetation community responses to soil and topographic factors in the Loess Plateau of China

Effects of habitat factors on the plant diversity on naturally-restored wind farm slopes

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