Characteristics of geographic distribution of four critically endangered species of Abies in subtropical China and its relationship with climate

doi:10.3724/SP.J.1258.2012.01154

Abstract

Abstract:

Aims Our objectives were to analyze the geographic distribution characteristics of four critically endangered species of Abies in China’s subtropical regions, clarify their relationship with climatic conditions and determine the climatic factors that restrict the geographic distributions.
Methods Geographic distribution information was collected from field survey and literature materials. Climate information was collected from China’s meteorological stations and used to build a climate database of the distribution area. Commonly used climatic indexes and research methods were applied to analyze the relationship between geographic distribution and climate. Restrictive climatic factors were determined based on factor analysis.
Important findings Abies beshanzuensis, A. fanjingshanensis, A. yuanbaoshanensis and A. beshanzuensis var. ziyuanensis are scattered in the subtropical region of China. The horizontal range of distribution is narrow: 25°25′-27°55′ N, 108°42′-119°12′ E. The populations are distributed vertically in the upper part of mountains, with altitude ranging from 1363 to 2390 m. The uppermost altitude rises with decreasing longitude. Temperature of the entire distribution area is low, with mean annual temperature 7.4-11.2 °C. Precipitation is abundant, with a mean annual precipitation of 1265-1946 mm, of which 75% falls in the growing season. Humidity is high, and annual relative humidity reaches 77%-86%. The ranges of climatic indexes are narrow, indicating specific requirements for water and heat. The coldness index of the distribution area is low, limiting vertical diffusion towards low altitude. Therefore, the populations are confined in the upper part of mountains. The distribution areas of different species share similar climatic conditions. The temperature is relatively lower in the distribution area of A. fanjingshanensis. The humidity is slightly higher in the distribution area of A. yuanbaoshanensis. Three climatic factors have a significant impact on geographic distribution. The ranking is low temperature factor > extreme low temperature factor > humidity factor. Considering global warming, suitable habitats of these four critically endangered species will continue to decrease until extinction of the species, so we urgently need to carry out immediate ex-situ conservation.

Key words: Abies beshanzuensis, Abies beshanzuensis var. ziyuanensis, Abies fanjingshanensis, Abies yuanbaoshanensis, climate index, ex-situ conservation, geographic distribution

LI Xiao-Xiao, TAO Cui, WANG Qing-Chun, CUI Guo-Fa. Characteristics of geographic distribution of four critically endangered species of Abies in subtropical China and its relationship with climate[J]. Chin J Plant Ecol, 2012, 36(11): 1154-1164.

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Figures/Tables 5

References 48

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物种 Species	分布地点 Distribution place	海拔 Altitude (m)	经度 Longitude (E)	纬度 Latitude (N)
百山祖冷杉 A. beshanzuensis	浙江省庆元县 Qingyuan County, Zhejiang Province	1 700	119°12′	27°45′
梵净山冷杉 A. fanjingshanensis	贵州松桃县、铜仁市、江口县三县交界 Border area of Songtao County, Tongren County and Jiangkou County, Guizhou Province	2 050-2 390	108°42′	27°55′
元宝山冷杉 A. yuanbaoshanensis	广西融水县 Rongshui County, Guangxi Province	1 700-2 050	109°10′	25°25′
资源冷杉 A. beshanzuensis var. ziyuanensis	广西资源县 Ziyuan County, Guangxi Province	1 766-1 824	110°33′	26°15′
	湖南城步县 Chengbu County, Hunan Province	1 850	110°32′	26°17′
	湖南新宁县 Xinning County, Hunan Province	1 730-1 850	111°01′	26°22′
	湖南炎陵县 Yanling County, Hunan Province	1 363-1 580	114°02′	26°25′
	湖南双牌县 Shuangpai County, Hunan Province	1 800	110°36′	26°
	湖南道县 Dao County, Hunan Province	1 800-1 900	111°18′	25°30′
	江西井冈山市 Jinggangshan City, Jiangxi Province	1 600	114°	26°30′
	江西遂川县 Suichuan County, Jiangxi Province	1 850	114°	26°12′

物种 Species	分布地点 Distribution place	海拔 Altitude (m)	经度 Longitude (E)	纬度 Latitude (N)
百山祖冷杉 A. beshanzuensis	浙江省庆元县 Qingyuan County, Zhejiang Province	1 700	119°12′	27°45′
梵净山冷杉 A. fanjingshanensis	贵州松桃县、铜仁市、江口县三县交界 Border area of Songtao County, Tongren County and Jiangkou County, Guizhou Province	2 050-2 390	108°42′	27°55′
元宝山冷杉 A. yuanbaoshanensis	广西融水县 Rongshui County, Guangxi Province	1 700-2 050	109°10′	25°25′
资源冷杉 A. beshanzuensis var. ziyuanensis	广西资源县 Ziyuan County, Guangxi Province	1 766-1 824	110°33′	26°15′
	湖南城步县 Chengbu County, Hunan Province	1 850	110°32′	26°17′
	湖南新宁县 Xinning County, Hunan Province	1 730-1 850	111°01′	26°22′
	湖南炎陵县 Yanling County, Hunan Province	1 363-1 580	114°02′	26°25′
	湖南双牌县 Shuangpai County, Hunan Province	1 800	110°36′	26°
	湖南道县 Dao County, Hunan Province	1 800-1 900	111°18′	25°30′
	江西井冈山市 Jinggangshan City, Jiangxi Province	1 600	114°	26°30′
	江西遂川县 Suichuan County, Jiangxi Province	1 850	114°	26°12′

	经度 Longitude	纬度 Latitude	海拔上限 Altitude maximum	海拔下限 Altitude minimum
经度 Longitude	1
纬度 Latitude	0.382^NS	1
海拔上限 Altitude maximum	-0.653^*	0.209^NS	1
海拔下限 Altitude minimum	-0.466^NS	0.230^NS	0.780^**	1

	经度 Longitude	纬度 Latitude	海拔上限 Altitude maximum	海拔下限 Altitude minimum
经度 Longitude	1
纬度 Latitude	0.382^NS	1
海拔上限 Altitude maximum	-0.653^*	0.209^NS	1
海拔下限 Altitude minimum	-0.466^NS	0.230^NS	0.780^**	1

气候指标 Climatic index	平均值 Mean	标准偏差 SD	最小值 Min	最大值 Max	最适范围 Optimum range	海拔上限 Altitude maximum		海拔下限 Altitude minimum
气候指标 Climatic index	平均值 Mean	标准偏差 SD	最小值 Min	最大值 Max	最适范围 Optimum range	平均值 Mean	标准偏差SD	平均值 Mean	标准偏差 SD
MAT (℃)	9.9	1.1	7.4	11.2	8.7-11.1	9.6	1.2	10.1	1.0
MTC (℃)	-1.4	1.2	-4.1	-0.2	-2.8-0	-1.7	1.3	-1.2	1.2
MTW (℃)	20.0	1.0	18.2	21.5	18.9-21.2	19.8	1.2	20.3	0.9
TMIN (℃)	-14.5	2.3	-18.8	-9.8	-17.3-11.8	-14.8	2.5	-14.3	2.3
TMAX (℃)	31.2	1.4	29.7	34.6	29.5-32.8	30.9	1.4	31.4	1.4
ART (℃)	21.4	1.0	19.3	22.8	20.3-22.6	21.4	1.0	21.4	1.0
AT_≥10℃(℃)	3 256.5	259.0	2 646.6	3 638.5	2 951.6-3 561.4	3 182.1	340.5	3 334.3	232.2
P (mm)	1 560.8	214.3	1 265.4	1 945.7	-	1 560.8	214.3	1 560.8	214.3
GP (mm)	1 167.2	205.3	982.7	1 583.5	-	1 167.2	205.3	1 167.2	205.3
RH (%)	80	3	77	86	-	80	3	80	3
WI (℃·month)	75.0	7.6	57.8	85.8	66.0-84.0	73.0	8.7	77.1	7.6
CI (℃·month)	-16.4	5.1	-28.6	-10.4	-22.4-10.4	-17.5	6.0	-15.5	4.7
HI (mm·(℃·month))	20.9	2.3	18.4	25.9	-	21.5	2.9	20.3	1.9
IM	111.88	24.99	87.66	156.88	-	113.67	25.81	109.08	24.50
APE (mm)	742.9	33.2	667.4	789.8	-	734.7	37.2	750.9	33.7
BT (℃)	10.1	0.9	8.1	11.2	9.1-11.1	9.8	1.0	10.3	0.9
PER	0.38	0.03	0.31	0.42	-	0.37	0.04	0.39	0.03
S	170.51	14.70	145.10	198.46	-	172.46	15.03	168.61	14.23