Chin J Plan Ecolo ›› 2015, Vol. 39 ›› Issue (7): 717-725.DOI: 10.17521/cjpe.2015.0068

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Composition and monthly dynamics of tree seedlings in a coniferous and broad-leaved mixed forest in Jiaohe, Jilin Province, China

YAO Jie1, YAN Yan1, ZHANG Chun-Yu1, PI Tian-Hui2, ZHAO Xiu-Hai1,*()   

  1. 1Key Laboratory for Forest Resources & Ecosystem Processes of Beijing, Beijing Forestry University, Beijing 100083, China
    2Jiaohe Forestry Administration of Experimental Area, Jiaohe, Jilin 132517, China
  • Online:2015-07-01 Published:2015-07-22
  • Contact: Xiu-Hai ZHAO
  • About author:

    # Co-first authors

Abstract: Aims The objective of this paper is to quantify the composition and dynamics of tree seedlings in the coniferous and broad-leaved mixed forest in north-eastern China. Methods We installed 224 sampling quadrats (1 m × 1 m) at the Jiaohe Experimental Forest in Jilin Province of northeastern China. All seedlings in the quadrats were tagged and measured by species. Based on three consecutive sampling from mid-June to mid-August in 2013, we studied the species composition and dynamics of tree seedlings by month. Multiple linear regression was used to quantify the relationship between seedlings and the neighboring trees with the diameter at breast height (DBH) of 1 cm. Important findings A total of 16 species were recorded. There was no significant difference in species composition between June and July, but a great variation in the seedling composition in August. From June to August 2013, 1214 out of 1722 individual seedlings survived. There were significant differences in the total number and the number of individual species in the quadrats. The death and recruitment pattern of newborn seedlings showed significant differences among species and by month. The mortality rate in June was 48.9%, which was significantly higher than that in August (28.3%). The mortality rate of perennial seedlings during the observation period was 7.34%, which was significantly less than the mortality rate of new seedlings (40.56%). We found that the recruitment rate of the dominant species in July was higher than that in August. The recruitment occurred mostly in June. Multiple linear regression was used to analyze the relationship between the seedling abundance of eight species and the number of conspecifics, as well as the sum of conspecific basal areas within 20 m distance from a station. Factors influencing seedling abundance differed among species. For Acer mono, Tilia amurensis and Abies holophylla, significant partial regression coefficients appeared positive (p = 0.006, 0.013, 0.037, respectively), indicating that the seedling abundance increased with basal area. Other species did not show this correlation.

Key words: coniferous and broad-leaved mixed forest, monthly dynamics, seedling regeneration, species composition