Spatial Distribution and Species Association of Dominant Tree Species in Huangguan Plot of Qinling Mountains, China
The spatial distribution pattern and population structure of trees are shaped by multiple processes, such as species characteristics, environmental factors, and intraspecific and interspecific interactions. Studying the spatial distribution patterns of species, species associations, and their relati...
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MDPI AG
2022-05-01
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| Series: | Forests |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/1999-4907/13/6/866 |
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| author | Chunmei He Shihong Jia Ying Luo Zhanqing Hao Qiulong Yin |
| author_facet | Chunmei He Shihong Jia Ying Luo Zhanqing Hao Qiulong Yin |
| author_sort | Chunmei He |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | The spatial distribution pattern and population structure of trees are shaped by multiple processes, such as species characteristics, environmental factors, and intraspecific and interspecific interactions. Studying the spatial distribution patterns of species, species associations, and their relationships with environmental factors is conducive to uncovering the mechanisms of biodiversity maintenance and exploring the underlying ecological processes of community stability and succession. This study was conducted in a 25-ha Qinling Huangguan forest (warm-temperate, deciduous, broad-leaved) dynamic monitoring plot. We used univariate and bivariate <i>g</i>(<i>r</i>) functions of the point pattern analysis method to evaluate the spatial distribution patterns of dominant tree species within the community, and the intra- and interspecific associations among different life-history stages. Complete spatial randomness and heterogeneous Poisson were used to reveal the potential process of community construction. We also used Berman’s test to determine the effect of three topographic variables on the distribution of dominant species. The results indicated that all dominant species in this community showed small-scale aggregation distribution. When we excluded the influence of environmental heterogeneity, the degree of aggregation distribution of each dominant species tended to decrease, and the trees mainly showed random or uniform distribution. This showed that environmental heterogeneity significantly affects the spatial distribution of tree species. Dominant species mainly showed positive associations with one another among different life-history stages, while negative associations prevailed among different tree species. Furthermore, we found that the associations between species were characterized by interspecific competition. Berman’s test results under the assumption of complete spatial randomness showed that the distribution of each dominant species was mainly affected by slope and convexity. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-09T23:47:47Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-77cdf27631834e40ad0bc6ab9bac8cc0 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1999-4907 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-09T23:47:47Z |
| publishDate | 2022-05-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Forests |
| spelling | doaj.art-77cdf27631834e40ad0bc6ab9bac8cc02023-11-23T16:40:27ZengMDPI AGForests1999-49072022-05-0113686610.3390/f13060866Spatial Distribution and Species Association of Dominant Tree Species in Huangguan Plot of Qinling Mountains, ChinaChunmei He0Shihong Jia1Ying Luo2Zhanqing Hao3Qiulong Yin4School of Ecology and Environment, Northwestern Polytechnical University, Xi’an 710129, ChinaSchool of Ecology and Environment, Northwestern Polytechnical University, Xi’an 710129, ChinaSchool of Ecology and Environment, Northwestern Polytechnical University, Xi’an 710129, ChinaSchool of Ecology and Environment, Northwestern Polytechnical University, Xi’an 710129, ChinaSchool of Ecology and Environment, Northwestern Polytechnical University, Xi’an 710129, ChinaThe spatial distribution pattern and population structure of trees are shaped by multiple processes, such as species characteristics, environmental factors, and intraspecific and interspecific interactions. Studying the spatial distribution patterns of species, species associations, and their relationships with environmental factors is conducive to uncovering the mechanisms of biodiversity maintenance and exploring the underlying ecological processes of community stability and succession. This study was conducted in a 25-ha Qinling Huangguan forest (warm-temperate, deciduous, broad-leaved) dynamic monitoring plot. We used univariate and bivariate <i>g</i>(<i>r</i>) functions of the point pattern analysis method to evaluate the spatial distribution patterns of dominant tree species within the community, and the intra- and interspecific associations among different life-history stages. Complete spatial randomness and heterogeneous Poisson were used to reveal the potential process of community construction. We also used Berman’s test to determine the effect of three topographic variables on the distribution of dominant species. The results indicated that all dominant species in this community showed small-scale aggregation distribution. When we excluded the influence of environmental heterogeneity, the degree of aggregation distribution of each dominant species tended to decrease, and the trees mainly showed random or uniform distribution. This showed that environmental heterogeneity significantly affects the spatial distribution of tree species. Dominant species mainly showed positive associations with one another among different life-history stages, while negative associations prevailed among different tree species. Furthermore, we found that the associations between species were characterized by interspecific competition. Berman’s test results under the assumption of complete spatial randomness showed that the distribution of each dominant species was mainly affected by slope and convexity.https://www.mdpi.com/1999-4907/13/6/866transition zonespatial distributionspecies associationenvironmental heterogeneityQinling Huangguan |
| spellingShingle | Chunmei He Shihong Jia Ying Luo Zhanqing Hao Qiulong Yin Spatial Distribution and Species Association of Dominant Tree Species in Huangguan Plot of Qinling Mountains, China Forests transition zone spatial distribution species association environmental heterogeneity Qinling Huangguan |
| title | Spatial Distribution and Species Association of Dominant Tree Species in Huangguan Plot of Qinling Mountains, China |
| title_full | Spatial Distribution and Species Association of Dominant Tree Species in Huangguan Plot of Qinling Mountains, China |
| title_fullStr | Spatial Distribution and Species Association of Dominant Tree Species in Huangguan Plot of Qinling Mountains, China |
| title_full_unstemmed | Spatial Distribution and Species Association of Dominant Tree Species in Huangguan Plot of Qinling Mountains, China |
| title_short | Spatial Distribution and Species Association of Dominant Tree Species in Huangguan Plot of Qinling Mountains, China |
| title_sort | spatial distribution and species association of dominant tree species in huangguan plot of qinling mountains china |
| topic | transition zone spatial distribution species association environmental heterogeneity Qinling Huangguan |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/1999-4907/13/6/866 |
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