【Objective】 Pinus massoniana is the main coniferous tree species in subtropical China and P. hwangshanensis is the main constructive species in subtropical mid-montane region of the eastern China. Both species coexist at horizontal level but exhibit distinct vertical distributions. The objective of this study is to investigate the distribution patterns of P. massoniana and P. hwangshanensis forests and provide a theoretical basis for the scientific management and conservation of these forest resources. 【Method】 The study was focused on eight typical distribution areas in the eastern subtropical region of China. Non-metric multidimensional scaling analysis (NMDS) and multivariate regression trees (MRT) were employed to explore the differences in community structure and the main influencing factors between the two pine forests. Additionally, a linear mixed-effects model was used to quantify the response of species diversity indices to abiotic factors. Based on the principles for compiling the Vegegraphy of China, a preliminary quantitative classification of P. massoniana and P. hwangshanensis forests was performed. 【Result】 Significant differences were observed in the community structures of P. massoniana and P. hwangshanensis forests, with elevation identified as the primary influencing factor. Mean annual temperature had a significant effect on species richness within both communities, while mean annual precipitation had the most pronounced impact on overall species richness. Elevation exerted a significant influence on the evenness of the two communities. The preliminary vegetation classification resulted in the identification of six associations for P. massoniana forest and five associations for P. hwangshanensis forest. 【Conclusion】 Altitude variations shape the differences in community structure between P. massoniana and P. hwangshanensis forests and directly or indirectly influence species diversity in these communities. The vegetation classification highlights the diversification of vegetation types in the two pine forests and provides a reference for future classification efforts.
【Objective】 Plant height is a fundamental component of plant ecological strategies. This study aims to elucidate the phylogenetic conservatism of maximum plant height in Chinese angiosperms, investigate its variation across taxonomic groups and geographic regions, and explore its associations with environmental factors. 【Method】 Using data on the maximum plant height and geographic distribution of 20 295 Chinese angiosperm species, this study assessed the phylogenetic conservatism of maximum plant height among different growth forms, taxonomic groups, and vegetation zones. The study analyzed the correlation between the phylogenetic signal (Pagel’s λ) and factors such as latitude, temperature, and precipitation. 【Result】 The maximum plant height of Chinese angiosperms exhibited a strong phylogenetic conservatism (Pagel’s λ = 0.893). Among them, herbaceous plants showed slightly lower phylogenetic conservatism compared to woody plants, while six orders including Fabales exhibited phylogenetic signals higher than 0.9. The phylogenetic signals of all plants and woody plants displayed a unimodal relationship with latitude and temperature but showed a negative correlation with precipitation. The latitudinal pattern of phylogenetic signals in herbaceous plants was less pronounced, instead showing a multi-peak relationship with temperature and precipitation. 【Conclusion】 The maximum plant height of Chinese angiosperms demonstrated a clear geographic pattern in terms of phylogenetic conservatism, but the trend varied among different growth forms. Overall, the phylogenetic conservatism of maximum plant height of angiosperms and woody plants was stronger in middle latitudes compared to both high and low latitudes.
【Objective】 The process of community establishment in Chinese fir (Cunninghamia lanceolata) artificial forest, as one of the most significant ecosystems and sources of timber in China’s subtropical regions, is crucial for understanding the coexistence of species and the maintenance of biodiversity in plantation forests. The objective of this study is to investigate the process of community assembly and underlying mechanisms of Chinese fir artificial forests in Chinese subtropical, and provide a theoretical basis for enhancing the stability of local biodiversity in the management of Chinese fir artificial forests. 【Method】 Data from 143 pure Chinese fir artificial forests with a wide age range (3-100 years old) in subtropical China were collected through literature search and field sampling surveys. The changes in community phylogenetic structure with forest age and breast height diameter were examined to explore the variations in environmental filtration, competitive exclusion, and stochastic processes during stand development. 【Result】 Overall, as the forest age increased, the net relatedness index (NRI) and net taxon index (NTI) of plant communities in Chinese fir artificial forests initially decreased and then leveled off. The phylogenetic structure transitioned from aggregation to stochastic processes and eventually tended to diverge. The changes in NRI were more significant than those in NTI. In the early stage of young stands, NRI and NTI were both higher than 0, indicating aggregation in the phylogenetic structure. Before stand maturity, NRI was lower than 0, and NTI was higher than 0, showing divergence at the community level and aggregation at the end of the evolutionary tree. After stand maturity, both NRI and NTI were lower than 0, indicating a divergent phylogenetic structure. The trend of phylogenetic structure with diameter at breast height (DBH) was consistent with stand age. 【Conclusion】 The community assembly of Chinese fir artificial forests is primarily driven by environmental filtration, followed by a period of stochastic processes, and ultimately dominated by inter-biotic interactions as the forest stand grows and develops. Implementing appropriate forest management measures for different stand ages is beneficial for the coexistence of local species and the maintenance of plant diversity in Chinese fir artificial forests.
【Objective】Taking the Castanopsis spp. and Schima superba forests in subtropical typical evergreen broad-leaved forests in east China as the research subjects, the effects of environmental factors on aboveground biomass of the tree layer were studied.【Method】The aboveground biomass of the community was calculated based on the allometric growth equation of various plant species, and the Pearson correlation test was used to analyze the relationship between aboveground biomass and environmental factors in different types of evergreen broad-leaved forests. The mechanism of action between environmental factors and aboveground biomass was constructed by the partial least squares structural equation model (PLS-SEM), which was employed to analyze the relationship between multiple sets of variables.【Result】(1) The aboveground biomass of subtropical typical evergreen broad-leaved forests in east China showed a extremely significant increasing trend with forest age. (2) The aboveground biomass of Castanopsis and S. superba natural forests positively correlated with soil pH in the study area, and for the S. superba natural forest, air temperature and total solar radiation intensity factors significantly affected the aboveground biomass. (3) In the structural equation model constructed using environmental factors and the aboveground biomass of Castanopsis natural forests, the direct effect coefficient of climate factors on aboveground biomass was significantly greater than that of soil factors.【Conclusion】The total solar radiation intensity, soil pH, and soil bulk density significantly affected the aboveground biomass of subtropical typical evergreen broad-leaved forests in east China. Among them, in the Castanopsis natural forest, aboveground biomass positively correlated with air the soil pH factor. In the S. superba natural forest, aboveground biomass negatively correlated with air temperature factor and total solar radiation intensity factor and positively correlated with soil pH factor.
【Objective】We aim to reveal the activity rhythms and clustering patterns of the Reeve’s muntjac (Muntiacus reevesi) population under anthropogenic disturbance in Lüconghu Provincial Wetland Park of Zhejiang Province, to provide a basis for the scientific conservation and management of ungulates.【Method】We used infrared camera trapping to monitor the population of M. reevesi from February 2021 to January 2022. The daily activity rhythm and group patterns were analyzed based on the data from 1 896 independent valid photos.【Result】 The daily activity rhythms of M. reevesi varied across seasons. The minimum area of the overlap of daily activity rhythm curves (DARCs) was observed between winter and spring (Δ = 0.79, P<0.01), with higher intensity and significantly earlier activity peaks detected in the dusk of winter. The daily activity rhythms of M. reevesi also differed along altitudinal gradients. The minimum area of the overlap of DARCs was found between 700-900 m and 1 100-1 300 m (Δ = 0.76, P <0.01), with only one peak of activity detected in the dusk at 700-900 m. Seven group patterns were identified. The solitary individual pattern had the highest proportion (92.95%), followed by the adult female with fawn group (3.47%) and one female and one male group (2.37%). The remaining four group patterns (two female, two male, one male with fawn, two female with fawn) only accounted for 1.21% of the valid detections in this study.【Conclusion】The M. reevesi in Lüconghu Provincial Wetland Park of Zhejiang Province, is a diurnal animal mainly active in the morning and dusk and is mainly solitary. Its daily activity rhythm showed significant differences in different seasons and altitude gradients, which may be mainly influenced by factors such as temperature, food resources, vegetation type, and human disturbance.
