Community characteristics and population dynamics of Acer miaotaiense, an extremely small population species in Shennongjia, China

doi:10.17521/cjpe.2023.0091

Abstract

Abstract:

Aims Analyzing characteristics of the population and community is one of the most effective approaches to determining their endangered status. Listed as second-level endangered species, Acer miaotaiense was regarded as an extremely small population species. However, as details on the distribution and population characteristics of the species are lacking in Shennongjia area, the conservation of this species is severely constrained.

Methods This study investigated population and community characteristics of A. miaotaiense in Shennongjia area. We studied the population dynamics of the species by analyzing its age structure, static life table, and survival curve.

Important findings The results showed that: (1) there were 33 species of woody plants belonging to 15 families and 20 genera in the community, and the dominant species in the community were Juglans mandshurica, Carpinus cordata, Dipteronia sinensis and Corylus chinensis. (2) The relative importance value of A. miaotaiense was 2.23%, making it a non-dominant species in the community. (3) The distribution range of A. miaotaiense in Shennongjia was very narrow (about 1.7 hm²), and the population size was small (79 plants). (4) The proportion of young individuals of A. miaotaiense was relatively high (79.75%), indicating good regeneration. (5) The species survival curve belonged to the Deevey-II type, and the mortality rate of each age group of the population was similar. However, the mortality rate increased in the juvenile stage and peaked (62.5%) in the adult stage (12.5 cm ≤ diameter at breast height < 17.5 cm). (6) Fruiting individuals were rare, and a high percentage of seeds (58.15%) was non-viable, and resistance to external disturbance was low. In summary, the small population size, narrow distribution range, and low resistance to external disturbance are the likely factors contributing to the endangered status of A. miaotaiense in Shennongjia area. We believe that the population of A. miaotaiense in Shennongjia area is declining. Therefore, it is necessary to strengthen in situ conservation of the existing A. miaotaiense population, especially the young trees in the Shennongjia area. In the future, programs should be set up to monitor the population dynamics of the species and carry out seedling breeding for population restoration of the species.

Key words: Acer miaotaiense, species composition, population structure, plant species with extremely small population, diameter at breast height

WANG Yu-Ting, LIU Xu-Jing, TANG Chi-Fei, CHEN Wei-Yu, WANG Mei-Juan, XIANG Song-Zhu, LIU Mei, YANG Lin-Sen, FU Qiang, YAN Zhao-Gui, MENG Hong-Jie. Community characteristics and population dynamics of Acer miaotaiense, an extremely small population species in Shennongjia, China[J]. Chin J Plant Ecol, 2024, 48(1): 80-91.

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Figures/Tables 6

References 46

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物种 Species	多度 Abundance	胸高断面积 Basal area (m²·hm^-2)	相对优势度 Relative importance (%)	重要值 Importance value (%)
胡桃楸 Juglans mandshurica	16	10.38	32.92	16.65
千金榆 Carpinus cordata	21	2.61	8.26	9.87
金钱槭 Dipteronia sinensis	8	3.88	12.29	7.71
华榛 Corylus chinensis	7	2.79	8.86	6.75
建始槭 Acer henryi	9	2.40	7.62	5.59
栓翅卫矛 Euonymus phellomanus	15	0.22	0.69	5.31
庙台槭 Acer miaotaiense	14	0.70	2.23	5.23
五角槭 Acer pictum subsp. mono	10	0.79	2.50	4.87
漆 Toxicodendron vernicifluum	3	2.82	8.93	4.38
鸡爪槭 Acer palmatum	7	1.18	3.73	3.87
西南卫矛 Euonymus hamiltonianus	6	0.12	0.39	3.71
锐齿槲栎 Quercus aliena var. acutiserrata	4	1.17	3.72	2.85
苦糖果 Lonicera fragrantissima var. lancifolia	5	0.11	0.33	2.32
华中樱桃 Cerasus conradinae	3	0.43	1.37	2.25
细齿稠李 Prunus obtusata	4	0.23	0.73	2.24
圆叶鼠李 Rhamnus globosa	4	0.04	0.13	2.04
大果卫矛 Euonymus myrianthus	5	0.21	0.65	2.04
少脉椴 Tilia paucicostata	3	0.18	0.56	1.98
其他 Others	15	1.28	4.07	10.32
总计 Total	159	31.54	100.00	100.00

物种 Species	多度 Abundance	胸高断面积 Basal area (m²·hm^-2)	相对优势度 Relative importance (%)	重要值 Importance value (%)
胡桃楸 Juglans mandshurica	16	10.38	32.92	16.65
千金榆 Carpinus cordata	21	2.61	8.26	9.87
金钱槭 Dipteronia sinensis	8	3.88	12.29	7.71
华榛 Corylus chinensis	7	2.79	8.86	6.75
建始槭 Acer henryi	9	2.40	7.62	5.59
栓翅卫矛 Euonymus phellomanus	15	0.22	0.69	5.31
庙台槭 Acer miaotaiense	14	0.70	2.23	5.23
五角槭 Acer pictum subsp. mono	10	0.79	2.50	4.87
漆 Toxicodendron vernicifluum	3	2.82	8.93	4.38
鸡爪槭 Acer palmatum	7	1.18	3.73	3.87
西南卫矛 Euonymus hamiltonianus	6	0.12	0.39	3.71
锐齿槲栎 Quercus aliena var. acutiserrata	4	1.17	3.72	2.85
苦糖果 Lonicera fragrantissima var. lancifolia	5	0.11	0.33	2.32
华中樱桃 Cerasus conradinae	3	0.43	1.37	2.25
细齿稠李 Prunus obtusata	4	0.23	0.73	2.24
圆叶鼠李 Rhamnus globosa	4	0.04	0.13	2.04
大果卫矛 Euonymus myrianthus	5	0.21	0.65	2.04
少脉椴 Tilia paucicostata	3	0.18	0.56	1.98
其他 Others	15	1.28	4.07	10.32
总计 Total	159	31.54	100.00	100.00

龄级 Age class	存活数 No. of survival	V_x	V_pi	V′_pi
I	20	-23.08	0.277	0.035
II	26	34.62
III	17	52.94
IV	8	62.50
V	3	33.33
VI	2	50.00
VII	1	-50.00
VIII	2	100.00

龄级 Age class	存活数 No. of survival	V_x	V_pi	V′_pi
I	20	-23.08	0.277	0.035
II	26	34.62
III	17	52.94
IV	8	62.50
V	3	33.33
VI	2	50.00
VII	1	-50.00
VIII	2	100.00

龄级 Age class	A_x	a_x	l_x	ln l_x	d_x	q_x	L_x	T_x	e_x	S_x	K_x
I	20	24	1 000	6.908	125	0.125	937.500	2 833	2.833	0.875	0.134
II	26	21	875	6.774	125	0.143	812.500	1 896	2.167	0.857	0.154
III	17	18	750	6.620	375	0.500	562.500	1 083	1.444	0.500	0.693
IV	8	9	375	5.927	250	0.667	250.000	521	1.389	0.333	1.099
V	3	3	125	4.828	42	0.333	104.167	271	2.167	0.667	0.409
VI	2	2	83	4.419	0	0.000	83.333	167	2.000	1.000	0.000
VII	1	2	83	4.419	42	0.500	62.500	83	1.000	0.500	0.681
VIII	2	1	42	3.738	-	-	20.833	21	0.500	-	3.738