JOURNAL OF NANJING FORESTRY UNIVERSITY ›› 2021, Vol. 45 ›› Issue (1): 29-35.doi: 10.12302/j.issn.1000-2006.202005017

Special Issue: 青钱柳培育与选优专题

Previous Articles     Next Articles

Comparisons of community characteristics among three natural forests of Cyclocarya paliurus in the subtropical region of China

ZHOU Yongsheng1(), XU Ziheng1, YUAN Fayin2,3, SHANG Xulan1,2, SUN Caoweng1,2, FANG Shengzuo1,2,*()   

  1. 1. College of Forestry, Nanjing Forestry University, Nanjing 210037,China
    2. Co-Innovation Center for the Sustainable Forestry in Southern China, Nanjing 210037,China
    3. College of Biology and the Environment, Nanjing Forestry University, Nanjing 210037,China
  • Received:2020-05-13 Accepted:2020-06-30 Online:2021-01-30 Published:2021-02-01
  • Contact: FANG Shengzuo E-mail:1093673074@qq.com;fangsz@njfu.edu.cn

Abstract:

【Objective】 In order to explore the main factors that affect the regeneration of natural Cyclocarya paliurus forests and a provide a scientific strategy and theoretical basis for the protection and sustainable utilization of natural resources, the diversity of plants, species composition and structure of different geographical distributions of C. paliurus communities were investigated. 【Method】 A typical sample-plot survey method was used to investigate species composition, species diversity characteristics, flora characteristics, and community similarity in different geographically distributed communities of C. paliurus. Their population structure and regeneration status were evaluated using a diameter grade approach, instead of age. 【Result】 There were 70 species belonging to 50 genera and 32 families in the Muchuan community of Sichuan Province (M community), 96 species belonging to 79 genera and 50 families in the Jinzhongshan community of Guangxi Province (J community), and 126 species belonging to 100 genera and 59 families in the Hefeng community of Hubei Province (H community), respectively. However, the floristic characteristics were not significantly different among three communities investigated, all of which showed obvious subtropical and temperate elements. The dynamic trends of species diversity and species richness were similar among the three communities, all of which showed the order of tree indexes was tree layers > shrub layers > herb layers. The species diversity and richness of three communities were generally represented as H community > J community > M community. The structures of communities were moderately dissimilar, where the similarity among three communities was M and J > M and H > J and H. 【Conclusion】 Overall, the species composition of the communities in different geographical locations was obviously different, and the similarity level was low, but its structural characteristics were similar. The tree layer species were dominant in all communities, which led to stand closure and reduced understory light, and eventually affected the regeneration of C. paliurus populations. There were more plant species in the shrub layers, and their distribution was more uniform, but the herb layers (mainly ferns) took up less space. From the viewpoint of the natural generation, properly opening forest gaps would be helpful to promote the growth and uniform distribution of C. paliurus seedlings in the forest in order to complete the natural regeneration of the population, and develop a stable community.

Key words: Cyclocarya paliurus, community structure, population regeneration, species diversity, diameter structure

CLC Number: