Elevation-Dependent Natural Regeneration of <i>Abies georgei</i> var. <i>smithii</i> Forest in Southeastern Tibet
The comprehensive impacts of biotic and abiotic factors on the natural regeneration of <i>Abies georgei</i> var. <i>smithii</i> (<i>Abies</i>) forests in Tibet are not thoroughly understood. To address this gap, our study focused on the regeneration densities of &...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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MDPI AG
2024-01-01
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| Series: | Forests |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/1999-4907/15/1/142 |
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| author | Ruihong Wang Ronggui Hu Yupeng Wu Muhammad Shaaban Tao Zhang Gang Pan Jie Lu Yanbin Jiang |
| author_facet | Ruihong Wang Ronggui Hu Yupeng Wu Muhammad Shaaban Tao Zhang Gang Pan Jie Lu Yanbin Jiang |
| author_sort | Ruihong Wang |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | The comprehensive impacts of biotic and abiotic factors on the natural regeneration of <i>Abies georgei</i> var. <i>smithii</i> (<i>Abies</i>) forests in Tibet are not thoroughly understood. To address this gap, our study focused on the regeneration densities of <i>Abies</i> seedlings, saplings, and small trees across 21 plots (each 20 m × 20 m) along an elevation gradient from 3730 m to 4330 m in the Sygera Mountains of Southeastern Tibet. We meticulously measured a suite of 11 variables that describe stand structures and ecological conditions. Through analyses using Spearman’s correlation analysis, hierarchical partitioning, and multiple linear regression, we identified key ecological drivers for successful <i>Abies</i> regeneration. Our results highlighted a peak in the abundance of seedlings, saplings, and small trees at an elevation of 3930 m. As the elevation rose from 3730 m to 4330 m, we observed an initial increase followed by a decrease in canopy cover (canopy), mother tree density (MotherT), 1000-seed weight (SeedW), litter thickness (LitterT), moss cover (MossC), moss thickness (MossT), soil moisture (SM), and soil bulk density, while mean annual temperature and soil depth to permafrost consistently decreased. The critical ecological drivers for <i>Abies</i> natural regeneration were identified as follows: MossT was pivotal for seedling density; canopy and MossC were influential for sapling density, and MotherT was the main factor affecting the density of small trees. This study suggests that a high density of mother trees and a thick and highly covered layer of moss are conducive to the natural regeneration of <i>Abies</i> in the Sygera Mountains. Understanding the current status of regeneration is vital for informing conservation and management strategies for <i>Abies</i> forests in Tibet. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-08T10:56:25Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-996cb474b2804076ac86bb5b43206553 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1999-4907 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-08T10:56:25Z |
| publishDate | 2024-01-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Forests |
| spelling | doaj.art-996cb474b2804076ac86bb5b432065532024-01-26T16:33:41ZengMDPI AGForests1999-49072024-01-0115114210.3390/f15010142Elevation-Dependent Natural Regeneration of <i>Abies georgei</i> var. <i>smithii</i> Forest in Southeastern TibetRuihong Wang0Ronggui Hu1Yupeng Wu2Muhammad Shaaban3Tao Zhang4Gang Pan5Jie Lu6Yanbin Jiang7College of Resources and Environment, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan 430070, ChinaCollege of Resources and Environment, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan 430070, ChinaCollege of Resources and Environment, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan 430070, ChinaCollege of Agriculture, Henan University of Science and Technology, Luoyang 471000, ChinaCollege of Agronomy, Shenyang Agricultural University, Shenyang 110866, ChinaKey Laboratory of Forest Ecology in Tibet Plateau, Tibet Agricultural and Animal Husbandry University, Ministry of Education, Nyingchi 860000, ChinaInstitute of Tibet Plateau Ecology, Tibet Agricultural and Animal Husbandry University, Nyingchi 860000, ChinaCollege of Resources and Environment, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan 430070, ChinaThe comprehensive impacts of biotic and abiotic factors on the natural regeneration of <i>Abies georgei</i> var. <i>smithii</i> (<i>Abies</i>) forests in Tibet are not thoroughly understood. To address this gap, our study focused on the regeneration densities of <i>Abies</i> seedlings, saplings, and small trees across 21 plots (each 20 m × 20 m) along an elevation gradient from 3730 m to 4330 m in the Sygera Mountains of Southeastern Tibet. We meticulously measured a suite of 11 variables that describe stand structures and ecological conditions. Through analyses using Spearman’s correlation analysis, hierarchical partitioning, and multiple linear regression, we identified key ecological drivers for successful <i>Abies</i> regeneration. Our results highlighted a peak in the abundance of seedlings, saplings, and small trees at an elevation of 3930 m. As the elevation rose from 3730 m to 4330 m, we observed an initial increase followed by a decrease in canopy cover (canopy), mother tree density (MotherT), 1000-seed weight (SeedW), litter thickness (LitterT), moss cover (MossC), moss thickness (MossT), soil moisture (SM), and soil bulk density, while mean annual temperature and soil depth to permafrost consistently decreased. The critical ecological drivers for <i>Abies</i> natural regeneration were identified as follows: MossT was pivotal for seedling density; canopy and MossC were influential for sapling density, and MotherT was the main factor affecting the density of small trees. This study suggests that a high density of mother trees and a thick and highly covered layer of moss are conducive to the natural regeneration of <i>Abies</i> in the Sygera Mountains. Understanding the current status of regeneration is vital for informing conservation and management strategies for <i>Abies</i> forests in Tibet.https://www.mdpi.com/1999-4907/15/1/142ecological factorelevationforest standnatural regenerationmossTibet |
| spellingShingle | Ruihong Wang Ronggui Hu Yupeng Wu Muhammad Shaaban Tao Zhang Gang Pan Jie Lu Yanbin Jiang Elevation-Dependent Natural Regeneration of <i>Abies georgei</i> var. <i>smithii</i> Forest in Southeastern Tibet Forests ecological factor elevation forest stand natural regeneration moss Tibet |
| title | Elevation-Dependent Natural Regeneration of <i>Abies georgei</i> var. <i>smithii</i> Forest in Southeastern Tibet |
| title_full | Elevation-Dependent Natural Regeneration of <i>Abies georgei</i> var. <i>smithii</i> Forest in Southeastern Tibet |
| title_fullStr | Elevation-Dependent Natural Regeneration of <i>Abies georgei</i> var. <i>smithii</i> Forest in Southeastern Tibet |
| title_full_unstemmed | Elevation-Dependent Natural Regeneration of <i>Abies georgei</i> var. <i>smithii</i> Forest in Southeastern Tibet |
| title_short | Elevation-Dependent Natural Regeneration of <i>Abies georgei</i> var. <i>smithii</i> Forest in Southeastern Tibet |
| title_sort | elevation dependent natural regeneration of i abies georgei i var i smithii i forest in southeastern tibet |
| topic | ecological factor elevation forest stand natural regeneration moss Tibet |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/1999-4907/15/1/142 |
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