Spatial Distribution and Ecological Determinants of Coexisting Hybrid Oak Species: A Study in Yushan’s Mixed Forest
Ecological niche partitioning is crucial in reducing interspecific competition, fostering species coexistence, and preserving biodiversity. Our research, conducted in a hybrid mixed oak forest in Yushan, Jiangsu, China, focuses on <i>Quercus acutissima</i>, <i>Q. variabilis</i&g...
| Main Authors: | , , , |
|---|---|
| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
MDPI AG
2024-03-01
|
| Series: | Plants |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2223-7747/13/7/1000 |
| _version_ | 1797212114932203520 |
|---|---|
| author | Xuan Li Yongfu Li Yousry A. El-Kassaby Yanming Fang |
| author_facet | Xuan Li Yongfu Li Yousry A. El-Kassaby Yanming Fang |
| author_sort | Xuan Li |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Ecological niche partitioning is crucial in reducing interspecific competition, fostering species coexistence, and preserving biodiversity. Our research, conducted in a hybrid mixed oak forest in Yushan, Jiangsu, China, focuses on <i>Quercus acutissima</i>, <i>Q. variabilis</i>, <i>Q. fabri</i>, and <i>Q. serrata</i> var. <i>brevipetiolata</i>. Using Point Pattern Analysis, we investigated the spatial relationships and ecological trait autocorrelation, including total carbon (TC), nitrogen (TN), phosphorus (TP), potassium (TK), and breast height diameter (DBH). Our findings show aggregated distribution patterns within the oak populations. The Inhomogeneous Poisson Point model highlights the impact of environmental heterogeneity on <i>Q. variabilis</i>, leading to distinct distribution patterns, while other species showed wider dispersion. This study reveals aggregated interspecific interactions, with a notable dispersal pattern between <i>Q. acutissima</i> and <i>Q. variabilis</i>. We observed significant variability in nutrient elements, indicating distinct nutrient dynamics and uptake processes. The variations in total carbon (TC), nitrogen (TN), phosphorus (TP), and potassium (TK) suggest distinct nutrient dynamics, with TK showing the highest variability. Despite variations in TC, TK, and TP, the species did not form distinct classes, suggesting overlapping nutritional strategies and environmental adaptations. Furthermore, spatial autocorrelation analysis indicates strong positive correlations for DBH, TC, and TP, whereas TK and TN correlations are non-significant. The results suggest habitat filtering as a key driver in intraspecific relationships, with a finer spatial scale of ecological niche division through TC and TP, which is crucial for maintaining coexistence among these oak species. |
| first_indexed | 2024-04-24T10:37:15Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-d92f36c79d3b448ab460e2079415e6ef |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2223-7747 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-04-24T10:37:15Z |
| publishDate | 2024-03-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Plants |
| spelling | doaj.art-d92f36c79d3b448ab460e2079415e6ef2024-04-12T13:24:50ZengMDPI AGPlants2223-77472024-03-01137100010.3390/plants13071000Spatial Distribution and Ecological Determinants of Coexisting Hybrid Oak Species: A Study in Yushan’s Mixed ForestXuan Li0Yongfu Li1Yousry A. El-Kassaby2Yanming Fang3Co-Innovation Center for Sustainable Forestry in Southern China, Key Laboratory of State Forestry and Grassland Administration on Subtropical Forest Biodiversity Conservation, College of Life Science, Nanjing Forestry University, 159 Longpan Road, Nanjing 210037, ChinaJiangsu Key Laboratory for the Research and Utilization of Plant Resources, Institute of Botany, Jiangsu Province and Chinese Academy of Sciences, Nanjing 210014, ChinaDepartment of Forest and Conservation Sciences, Faculty of Forestry, The University of British Columbia, 2424 Main Mall, Vancouver, BC V6T 1Z4, CanadaCo-Innovation Center for Sustainable Forestry in Southern China, Key Laboratory of State Forestry and Grassland Administration on Subtropical Forest Biodiversity Conservation, College of Life Science, Nanjing Forestry University, 159 Longpan Road, Nanjing 210037, ChinaEcological niche partitioning is crucial in reducing interspecific competition, fostering species coexistence, and preserving biodiversity. Our research, conducted in a hybrid mixed oak forest in Yushan, Jiangsu, China, focuses on <i>Quercus acutissima</i>, <i>Q. variabilis</i>, <i>Q. fabri</i>, and <i>Q. serrata</i> var. <i>brevipetiolata</i>. Using Point Pattern Analysis, we investigated the spatial relationships and ecological trait autocorrelation, including total carbon (TC), nitrogen (TN), phosphorus (TP), potassium (TK), and breast height diameter (DBH). Our findings show aggregated distribution patterns within the oak populations. The Inhomogeneous Poisson Point model highlights the impact of environmental heterogeneity on <i>Q. variabilis</i>, leading to distinct distribution patterns, while other species showed wider dispersion. This study reveals aggregated interspecific interactions, with a notable dispersal pattern between <i>Q. acutissima</i> and <i>Q. variabilis</i>. We observed significant variability in nutrient elements, indicating distinct nutrient dynamics and uptake processes. The variations in total carbon (TC), nitrogen (TN), phosphorus (TP), and potassium (TK) suggest distinct nutrient dynamics, with TK showing the highest variability. Despite variations in TC, TK, and TP, the species did not form distinct classes, suggesting overlapping nutritional strategies and environmental adaptations. Furthermore, spatial autocorrelation analysis indicates strong positive correlations for DBH, TC, and TP, whereas TK and TN correlations are non-significant. The results suggest habitat filtering as a key driver in intraspecific relationships, with a finer spatial scale of ecological niche division through TC and TP, which is crucial for maintaining coexistence among these oak species.https://www.mdpi.com/2223-7747/13/7/1000<i>Quercus</i>oakspatial coexistenceecological traitsnutritional elements |
| spellingShingle | Xuan Li Yongfu Li Yousry A. El-Kassaby Yanming Fang Spatial Distribution and Ecological Determinants of Coexisting Hybrid Oak Species: A Study in Yushan’s Mixed Forest Plants <i>Quercus</i> oak spatial coexistence ecological traits nutritional elements |
| title | Spatial Distribution and Ecological Determinants of Coexisting Hybrid Oak Species: A Study in Yushan’s Mixed Forest |
| title_full | Spatial Distribution and Ecological Determinants of Coexisting Hybrid Oak Species: A Study in Yushan’s Mixed Forest |
| title_fullStr | Spatial Distribution and Ecological Determinants of Coexisting Hybrid Oak Species: A Study in Yushan’s Mixed Forest |
| title_full_unstemmed | Spatial Distribution and Ecological Determinants of Coexisting Hybrid Oak Species: A Study in Yushan’s Mixed Forest |
| title_short | Spatial Distribution and Ecological Determinants of Coexisting Hybrid Oak Species: A Study in Yushan’s Mixed Forest |
| title_sort | spatial distribution and ecological determinants of coexisting hybrid oak species a study in yushan s mixed forest |
| topic | <i>Quercus</i> oak spatial coexistence ecological traits nutritional elements |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2223-7747/13/7/1000 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT xuanli spatialdistributionandecologicaldeterminantsofcoexistinghybridoakspeciesastudyinyushansmixedforest AT yongfuli spatialdistributionandecologicaldeterminantsofcoexistinghybridoakspeciesastudyinyushansmixedforest AT yousryaelkassaby spatialdistributionandecologicaldeterminantsofcoexistinghybridoakspeciesastudyinyushansmixedforest AT yanmingfang spatialdistributionandecologicaldeterminantsofcoexistinghybridoakspeciesastudyinyushansmixedforest |