Chin J Plant Ecol ›› 2019, Vol. 43 ›› Issue (9): 817-824.DOI: 10.17521/cjpe.2018.0186

• Research Articles • Previous Articles     Next Articles

Spatial distribution patterns and correlation of Tamarix chinensis population in coastal wetlands of Shandong, China

WU Pan,PENG Xi-Qiang,YANG Shu-Ren,GAO Ya-Nan,BAI Feng-Hua,YI Shi-Jie,DU Ning(),GUO Wei-Hua()   

  1. Institute of Ecology and Biodiversity, School of Life Sciences, Shandong University, Qingdao, Shandong 266237, China
  • Received:2018-07-31 Accepted:2019-01-13 Online:2019-09-20 Published:2020-01-03
  • Contact: DU Ning,GUO Wei-Hua
  • Supported by:
    Supported by the National Basic Work of Science and Technology of China(2011FY110300);and the National Natural Science Foundation of China(31470402);and the National Natural Science Foundation of China(31770361)

Abstract:

Aims Tamarix chinensis is a pioneering shrub species in temperate coastal saline wetlands, which plays an important role in plant community succession and preventing seawater intrusion in coastal wetlands. This study, which is focused on Tamarix chinensis population distribution characteristics and the correlations between Tamarix chinensis population distribution with individual diameters, can reveal the characteristics of population development and provide reference for species conservation and management of protected areas. This study may also provide basic information for scientific research on the succession and ecological management of coastal wetland vegetation ecosystems.
Methods In the core area of Changyi National Marine Ecological Special Protection Zone, two sample tapes with a spacing of about 800 m are arranged along the parallel coastline. Each sample tape has three plots of 50 m × 50 m. A total of six sample plots are set up for each wood survey. The spatial distribution map of Tamarix chinensis population is drawn by Origin. The obtained data is divided into three different diameter grades according to their base diameter: diameter grade I (base diameter ≤ 4 cm) and diameter grade II (4 < base diameter ≤ 8 cm), diameter grade III (base diameter > 8 cm). The distribution pattern of Tamarix chinensis population and the relationship between different diameter grades are analyzed by the point pattern analysis method and Programita software.
Important findings (1) A total of 374 individuals of Tamarix chinensis are investigated in six plots, including 14 in plot 1, 20 in plot 2, 36 in plot 3, 45 in plot 4, 221 in plot 5, and 38 in plot 6. (2) There is a large difference in population density of Tamarix chinensis between different plots, which indicates that Tamarix chinensis is not evenly distributed on the regional scale. (3) Tamarix chinensis populations show a clustered distribution on small scale (less than 5 m) while they appear as random distribution on large scale (greater than 15 m). The population of Tamarix chinensis exhibits a trend of transition from clustered distribution to random distribution with the increase of spatial scale. (4) The spatial association of Tamarix chinensis between any two diameter grades is positive on small scale and there is no significant spatial association between them on large scale. However, negative spatial association on diameter grade II and diameter grade III is detected at the scale of 15 m probably due to space competition.

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Key words: Tamarix chinensis population, distribution pattern, spatial scale, diameter structure, spatial association