Distribution, community structures and species diversity of larch forests in North China

doi:10.17521/cjpe.2018.0244

Abstract

Abstract:

Aims Larch forests are important for timber harvesting and water-soil conservation in North China. To explore the distribution, community structure and species diversity of larch forests is important for the vegetation conservation and sustainable utilization in North China.
Methods We collected species composition and local environment for 215 forest plots dominated by three common larch species, namely, Larix principis-rupprechtii, L. kaempferi and L. chinensis, in North China during 2000-2017. Among these types, L. kaempferi forests are planted, while L. chinensis forests are almost natural, and most of L. principis-rupprechtii forests are natural. Based these data, we used the canonical correspondence analysis (CCA) to explore the relationship between species composition and environment. We also explored the pattern of community structure and species diversity of these three forests in relation to environmental factors.
Important findings Mean annual air temperature (MAT) was the most important factor for the distribution of these larch forests. The proportion of natural forest decreased, while that of planted forest increased, with MAT. Diameter at breast height (DBH) and height distribution of three larch forests were right-skewed, indicating that all of these larch forests are at relatively stable successional stage. Species richness differ remarkably among different larch forests, which was highest in the L. chinensis forests (39.3 ± 17.9), followed by the L. kaempferi forests (37.4 ± 22.4), and lowest in the L. principis-rupprechtii forests (planted forests 27.2 ± 17.7, natural forests 27.5 ± 13.8). Species richness, the maximum DBH and the maximum height decreased with latitudes and longitudes. Species richness, the maximum DBH and the maximum height increased with annual precipitation. However, species richness showed no significant trend, and the maximum height increased, while the maximum DBH decreased, with MAT. The patterns of species richness along geographical and climatic gradients were consistent between the planted, the natural and the overall (including both planted and natural) larch forests. However, the patterns of community structure differed remarkably among planted, natural and overall larch forests. The maximum height of planted forests increased, while that of natural forests decreased, with latitude and longitude. The maximum DBH and height of natural forests decreased, while those of planted forests increased, with MAT and annual precipitation, respectively.

Key words: larch forest, Larix principis-rupprechtii, Larix kaempferi, Larix chinensis, community structure, species composition, species diversity

FANG Wen-Jing, CAI Qiong, ZHU Jiang-Ling, JI Cheng-Jun, YUE Ming, GUO Wei-Hua, ZHANG Feng, GAO Xian-Ming, TANG Zhi-Yao, FANG Jing-Yun. Distribution, community structures and species diversity of larch forests in North China[J]. Chin J Plant Ecol, 2019, 43(9): 742-752.

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Figures/Tables 9

References 47

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落叶松林类型 Larch forest type	起源类型 Origination	样方数量 No. of plots	主要调查地点 Main sites
华北落叶松林 Larix principis-rupprechtii forest	人工林 Planted forest	66	山东: 泰山等 Shandong: Mt. Taishan etc.
华北落叶松林 Larix principis-rupprechtii forest	天然林 Natural forest	84	河北: 雾灵山、小五台山等 Hebei: Mt. Wuling, Mt. Xiaowutai etc.
			内蒙古: 大青山 Nei Mongol: Mt. Daqing
			山西: 太行山、中条山等 Shanxi: Mt. Taihang, Mt. Zhongtiao etc.
			宁夏: 六盘山 Ningxia: Mt. Liupan
日本落叶松林 L. kaempferi forest	人工林 Planted forest	36	山东: 崂山、昆嵛山等 Shandong: Mt. Laoshan, Mt. Kunyu etc.
			河南: 玉皇山、龙峪湾林场 Henan: Mt. Yuhuang, Longyuwan Forest Farm
太白红杉林 L. chinensis forest	天然林 Natural forest	29	陕西: 太白山、朱雀森林公园等 Shaanxi: Mt. Taibai, Zhuque Forest Park etc.
总计 Total		215

落叶松林类型 Larch forest type	起源类型 Origination	样方数量 No. of plots	主要调查地点 Main sites
华北落叶松林 Larix principis-rupprechtii forest	人工林 Planted forest	66	山东: 泰山等 Shandong: Mt. Taishan etc.
华北落叶松林 Larix principis-rupprechtii forest	天然林 Natural forest	84	河北: 雾灵山、小五台山等 Hebei: Mt. Wuling, Mt. Xiaowutai etc.
			内蒙古: 大青山 Nei Mongol: Mt. Daqing
			山西: 太行山、中条山等 Shanxi: Mt. Taihang, Mt. Zhongtiao etc.
			宁夏: 六盘山 Ningxia: Mt. Liupan
日本落叶松林 L. kaempferi forest	人工林 Planted forest	36	山东: 崂山、昆嵛山等 Shandong: Mt. Laoshan, Mt. Kunyu etc.
			河南: 玉皇山、龙峪湾林场 Henan: Mt. Yuhuang, Longyuwan Forest Farm
太白红杉林 L. chinensis forest	天然林 Natural forest	29	陕西: 太白山、朱雀森林公园等 Shaanxi: Mt. Taibai, Zhuque Forest Park etc.
总计 Total		215

地理因素 Geographical factor	CCA 1	CCA 2	R²	p
经度 Longitude	0.89	-0.46	0.44	<0.01
纬度 Latitude	0.84	-0.55	0.42	<0.01
海拔 Altitude	-0.96	0.27	0.13	<0.01
气候及地形因素 Climatic and topographical factors	CCA 1	CCA 2	R²	p
年降水量 MAP	0.19	-0.98	0.08	<0.01
年平均气温 MAT	0.99	-0.11	0.53	<0.01
坡度 Slope	-0.65	0.76	0.15	<0.01
坡向 Aspect	-0.75	0.66	0.03	0.1

地理因素 Geographical factor	CCA 1	CCA 2	R²	p
经度 Longitude	0.89	-0.46	0.44	<0.01
纬度 Latitude	0.84	-0.55	0.42	<0.01
海拔 Altitude	-0.96	0.27	0.13	<0.01
气候及地形因素 Climatic and topographical factors	CCA 1	CCA 2	R²	p
年降水量 MAP	0.19	-0.98	0.08	<0.01
年平均气温 MAT	0.99	-0.11	0.53	<0.01
坡度 Slope	-0.65	0.76	0.15	<0.01
坡向 Aspect	-0.75	0.66	0.03	0.1

落叶松林类型 Forest type	乔木层 Tree layer	灌木层 Shrub layer	草本层 Herb layer	总体 Total
华北落叶松(人工林) LPF (PF)	2.5 ± 2.1^b (1-9)	4.7 ± 4.1^c (0-18)	20.4 ± 15.8^b (0-55)	27.2 ± 17.7^b (0-63)
华北落叶松(天然林) LPF (NF)	3.1 ± 2.1^b (1-11)	5.8 ± 5.0^bc (0-29)	11.4 ± 19.1^b (0-50)	27.5 ± 13.8^b (1-65)
日本落叶松林(人工林) LKF (PF)	5.1 ± 2.9^a (1-11)	13.8 ± 9.1^a (4-38)	20.4 ± 15.1^b (4-56)	37.4 ± 22.4^ab (14-81)
太白红杉林(天然林) LCF (NF)	2.2 ± 1.5^b (1-6)	7.7 ± 3.6^ab (0-22)	29.6 ± 15.8^a (12-73)	39.3 ± 17.9^a (17-98)
所有天然林 All natural forest	2.9 ± 2.0^a (1-11)	6.2 ± 4.7^a (0-29)	21.8 ± 13.4^a (0-73)	30.5 ± 15.8^a (1-98)
所有人工林 All planted forest	3.5 ± 2.7^a (1-11)	7.9 ± 7.6^a (0-38)	20.4 ± 15.5^a (0-56)	30.8 ± 20^a (1-81)