How Forest Gap and Elevation Shaped Abies faxoniana Rehd. et Wils. Regeneration in a Subalpine Coniferous Forest, Southwestern China

Chen, Li; Li, Guohua; Liu, Dan

doi:10.3390/f9050271

Cited by 5 publications

(19 citation statements)

References 62 publications

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“…In our case, the above-and below-ground environmental factors and the α-diversity and β-diversity were closely associated with forest gap and elevation, either directly or indirectly; however, these variables did not affect forest gap and elevation. Next, we compared all hypothesized candidate models with significant pathways, and we searched for a model that displayed a better fit to the observed data using the smallest AIC (Akaike's information criterion) (Kubota et al, 2004;Chen et al, 2018). Finally, the direct effects, indirect effects, and total effects of forest gaps and elevation on the diversity of the subalpine coniferous forest were evaluated.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…One of the most likely explanations is that most species find it difficult to adapt to the extreme environment at high elevations. Thus, a low-intensity logging disturbance should be considered as a viable method used to maintain the abundance of canopy trees, which can protect the regeneration of tree seedlings and smaller plants from the harsh weather more than large canopy openings can (Chen et al, 2018).…”

Section: Forest Gap Effects On α-And β-Diversitymentioning

confidence: 99%

“…This study was conducted in a primeval coniferous forest in southwestern China. This coniferous forest is one of the most important natural forests in China and plays an irreplaceable role in the provision of regional ecological services in this area (Liu et al, 2016;Chen et al, 2018). Moreover, gap-based silvicultural research and applications play an important role in maintaining and promoting diversity in the closed understory (Vajari et al, 2012).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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How forest gaps shaped plant diversity along an elevational gradient in Wolong National Nature Reserve?

et al. 2019

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Understanding the underlying ecological processes that control plant diversity within (α-diversity) and among (β-diversity) forest gaps is important for managing natural forest ecosystems, and it is also a prerequisite for identifying the formation and maintenance mechanisms of forest plant communities. In this study, we focused on the interrelationships among habitat type (gap/non-gap plots), gap size, elevation and environmental factors, and we explored their effects on plant diversity (α-diversity and β-diversity). To do this, a total of 21 non-gap (i.e., closed canopy) plots (100 m 2 ) and 63 gap plots, including 21 with large gaps (200-410 m 2 ), 21 with medium gaps (100-200 m 2 ) and 21 with small gaps (38.5-100 m 2 ),were selected along an elevational gradient in a subalpine coniferous forest of southwestern China. Using structural equation models (SEMs), we analyzed how forest gaps affected plant diversity (α-diversity and β-diversity) along an elevational gradient. The results showed that (1) as elevation increased, unimodal patterns of α-diversity were found in different-sized gaps, and β-diversity showed a consistent sinusoidal function pattern in different-sized gaps. The gap size was positively related to α-diversity, but this effect disappeared above 3500 masl. Moreover, the patterns of α-diversity and β-diversity in non-gap plots were irregular along the elevational gradient. (2) SEMs demonstrated that many environmental factors, such as the annual mean air temperature (AMAT), ultraviolet-A radiation (365 nm, UV-A365), ultraviolet-B1 radiation (297 nm, UV-B297), moss thickness (MT), soil carbon/nitrogen ratio (C/N ratio), NH 4 -N and NO 3 -N, were significantly affected by elevation, which then affected α-diversity and β-diversity. The photosynthetic photon flux density (PPFD), UV-A365 and UV-B297 were significantly higher in plots with forest gaps than in the non-gap plots. Moreover, the PPFD and UV-A365 were positively and directly affected by gap size. Surprisingly, except for the NH 4 -N and the C/N ratios, the below-ground environmental factors showed little or no relationships with forest gaps. All of these effects contributed to plant diversity. Overall, the above-ground environmental factors were more sensitive to gap-forming disturbances than the below-ground environmental factors, which affected α-diversity and β-diversity. The predicted pathway in the SEMs of the elevational effects on α-diversity and 1082 Journal of Geographical Sciences β-diversity was relatively complicated compared with the effects of forest gaps. These results can provide valuable insights into the underlying mechanisms driving the diversity-habitat relationship in the subalpine coniferous forests of southwestern China.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Forest Gap Effects On α-And β-Diversitymentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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How forest gaps shaped plant diversity along an elevational gradient in Wolong National Nature Reserve?

et al. 2019

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“…The mean annual rainfall is between 861 mm and 1800 mm, with the highest precipitation month of August averaging 340 mm. The soil is brown coniferous forest soil and the pH is between 3.9 to 5.0 (Chen et al 2018). The majority of the snowfall occurs from October to February at high elevation.…”

Section: Study Sitementioning

confidence: 99%

“…The majority of the snowfall occurs from October to February at high elevation. More detailed information on the study area could be found in our earlier publications (Chen et al 2018, Chen et al 2019).…”

Section: Study Sitementioning

confidence: 99%

Effect of Gap Size And Elevation On The Regeneration And Coexistence of Three Tree Species In A Subalpine Coniferous Forest

Han

Chen

Wang

et al. 2021

Preprint

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Background: Gap size and environmental gradient have fundamental influence on the tree species coexistence and community assembly. We studied the regeneration and coexistence of three co-dominant tree species in three different gap size (large gap, 201-402 m2; medium gap, 101-200 m2; small gap, 38.8-100 m2) along an elevation gradient (between 3000m and 3500m) in an old-growth forest, on Mount Nadu in southwest China. Results: We found that the photosynthetic photon flux density (PPFD) was positively affected by gap size during the growing season. All three species had a higher regeneration density in large gaps, but the detailed response to treatments for each species depended on its stem size. Gap size had a significant positive effect on the regeneration density of Abies faxoniana small trees and Betula utilis saplings, but had no significant effect on Acer maximowiczii regeneration density. Saplings regeneration density is more sensitive to elevation compared to small trees regeneration density. Large gaps magnified the negative effects of elevation on regeneration density. Our findings indicated that Abies may maintain its regeneration advantage with low-intensity canopy disturbance, and large gap may provide excellent opportunities for broadleaf species (Betula and Acer) establishment and regeneration in this subalpine coniferous forest. Conclusion: Microhabitats heterogeneity controlled by characteristics of forest gaps along an elevation affected regeneration niche difference of tree species, which contributed to species coexistence and community assembly processes.

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Effect of Microenvironment on Species Distribution Patterns in the Regeneration Layer of Forest Gaps and Non-Gaps in a Subtropical Natural Forest, China

Wang

Jiang

et al. 2019

Forests

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The aim of this study was to explore the effect of gap environmental factors on the plant population regeneration pattern in the Castanopsis kawakamii natural forest. We used the detrended canonical correspondence analysis (DCCA) method to study coupling relationships between species distribution in the regeneration layer and environmental factors. The results showed that: (1) The main environmental factors that influenced species distribution in the forest gaps and non-gaps were different, and the highest explanation rate of environmental factors was the soil temperature below the surface 10 cm (ST10); (2) The relationships between species distribution in the regeneration layer of the forest gaps and non-gaps were mainly restricted by environmental factors, given the environmental factors complied with the ecological niche hypothesis; and (3) For the endangered C. kawakamii population, there were positive and negative relationships between the environmental factors and the various species in the forest gaps and non-gaps, whilst the effects of such relationships were varied. Some management operations, including the creation of artificial gaps and adequate fertilization in the non-gaps, could more effectively promote the growth and regeneration of the C. kawakamii population.

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How Forest Gap and Elevation Shaped Abies faxoniana Rehd. et Wils. Regeneration in a Subalpine Coniferous Forest, Southwestern China

Cited by 5 publications

References 62 publications

How forest gaps shaped plant diversity along an elevational gradient in Wolong National Nature Reserve?

How forest gaps shaped plant diversity along an elevational gradient in Wolong National Nature Reserve?

Effect of Gap Size And Elevation On The Regeneration And Coexistence of Three Tree Species In A Subalpine Coniferous Forest

Effect of Microenvironment on Species Distribution Patterns in the Regeneration Layer of Forest Gaps and Non-Gaps in a Subtropical Natural Forest, China

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