Welcome to visit Scientia Silvae Sinicae,Today is

Scientia Silvae Sinicae ›› 2021, Vol. 57 ›› Issue (1): 191-199.doi: 10.11707/j.1001-7488.20210120

• Scientific notes • Previous Articles     Next Articles

Niche Characteristics of Dominant Plants of Coniferous(Tsuga chinensis var. tchekiangensis) and Broad-Leaf Mixed Forest in Jiangxi Wuyishan, China

Jiahao Zhao1,2,Yuqian Ye1,2,Bin Chen1,2,Zaixiang Yuan1,2,Jiangnan Liu3,Tao Yang3,Rongbin Yuan3,Qingwei Guan1,2,*   

  1. 1. Co-Innovation Center for the Sustainable Forestry in Southern China, Nanjing Forestry University Nanjing 210037
    2. College of Biology and the Environment, Nanjing Forestry University Nanjing 210037
    3. Administrative Bureau of Jiangxi Wuyishan National Nature Reserve Yanshan 334500
  • Received:2019-07-26 Online:2021-01-25 Published:2021-03-10
  • Contact: Qingwei Guan

Abstract:

Objective: Wuyishan National Natural Reserve in Jiangxi has a large local distribution area of Tsuga chinensis var. tchekiangensis population. Niche characteristics of dominant plants therein coniferous(T. chinensis var. tchekiangensis) and mixed broad-leaf forest were investigated, which was not only beneficial to reveal the utilization potential of the dominant plants to their surrounding resources and the competition between different plants for similar resources, but also provided a scientific basis for protection of ancient T. chinensis var. tchekiangensis and maintenance of the stability of virgin forest ecosystem. Method: Based on investigation data of woody plants in permanent plot at 1 800 m altitude in Jiangxi Wuyishan National Natural Reserve, to inquire into the position of T. chinensis var. tchekiangensis in the mixed forest, niche breadth of main plants and niche overlap between plants in arbor layer, regeneration layer, shrub layer and herb layer were calculated by corresponding calculation methods to compare. Result: The species with the largest niche breadth in arbor layer were T. chinensis var. tchekiangensis and Cyclobalanopsis glauca, while C. glauca was the species with the highest niche overlap to T. chinensis var. tchekiangensis, indicating the most intensive competitive relationship between them. The resources utilization potential of Symplocos phyllocalyx and Stewartia gemmata were weak in arbor layer with the least niche breadth. In regeneration layer, Illicium minwanense and C. multinervis with wide distribution had strong resource utilization potential, and niche breadth of them were the largest. While the niche breadth of T. chinensis var. tchekiangensis was small, itrepresented a poor degree of dominance in the regeneration layer. Rhododendron fortunei and Rhus punjabensis var. sinica had the highest niche overlap between T. chinensis var. tchekiangensis, resulting in the disadvantage of T. chinensis var. tchekiangensis saplings in regeneration layer. The niche breadth of 7 saplings, such as Styrax hemsleyanus, C. multinervis, R. punjabensis var. sinica, S. phyllocalyx, R. fortunei, C. glauca, and T. chinensis var. tchekiangensis were apparently lower than that of trees in the arbor layer. The species with the largest niche breadth in the shrub layer and the herb layer were Fargesia spathacea and Oplismenus undulatifolius. As a result of a massive quantity and a wide distribution in plot, F. spathacea had a negative effect on the survival of regeneration layer species. Conclusion: T. chinensis var. tchekiangensis was the constructive species in virgin mixed forest, only C. glauca had certain competitiveness with that in the arbor layer. The regeneration of T. chinensis var. tchekiangensis saplings was poor, C. glauca with high dominance may replace T. chinensis var. tchekiangensis. To maintain virgin forest stability and improve the management and protection measures of T. chinensis var. tchekiangensis, the regeneration conditions of T. chinensis var. tchekiangensiscanbe optimized by using artificial disturbance measures such as selective cutting.

Key words: Jiangxi Wuyishan, Tsuga chinensis var. tchekiangensis, coniferous and broadleaf mixed forest, niche characteristics, Cyclobalanopsis glauca

CLC Number: