Differences in plant species diversity between conifer (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Pinus tabulaeformis</Emphasis>) plantations and natural forests in middle of the Loess plateau |
| |
Authors: | Renyan Duan Chao Wang Xiao-an Wang Zhihong Zhu Hua Guo |
| |
Institution: | (1) Yamanashi Forest Research Institute, Masuho Yamanashi, 400-0502, Japan;(2) Graduate School of Agricultural and Life Sciences, University of Tokyo, Bunkyo Tokyo, 113-8657, Japan;(3) National Institute for Land and Infrastructure Management, Tsukuba Ibaraki, 306-0804, Japan |
| |
Abstract: | We compared differences in plant species diversity between conifer (Pinus tabulaeformis) plantations and natural secondary forests in the middle of the Loess plateau. The goal of the study was to examine the differences
in the effect of stand development on species diversity and in species responses to changes between forest types and between
forest layers. To clarify the effects of differences in forest management, we emphasized the functional types of plant species
occurring in each forest type. The result as follow: (1) The H′ and S of tree layer were significantly lower in natural conifer forest than old conifer and secondary forest, but were not different
compared with mid aged conifer forest. The H′ and S of shrub layer were significantly lower in mid aged conifer forest compared with other forest types. The H′ of herb layer showed no significant differences in the four forest types. The evenness index (J′) of tree layer of mid aged conifer forest was lower than other forest communities and its J′ of shrub layer was highest although its richness of shrub layer was lower than in the other forest types. (2) The analysis
of β diversity index also indicated large differences between conifer plantations and natural forests. Although the tree layer
species were similar in old plantation and natural conifer forests, they differed greatly between the natural conifer and
secondary forests. The natural conifer and secondary forest species composition in shrub layer differed significantly from
those in plantation and secondary plots. Tree species were significantly less common in plantations than in abandoned coppice
forests. Species composition in the herb layer of different forest types was similar. (3) The management of P. tabulaeformis plantations alters plant species composition considerably; the number of sub tall-tree species is increased in old aged conifer
forest, especially species dispersed by animals. Plantation management appears to affect ecological processes through seed
dispersal. From the perspective of management, the change in the structure and composition of the canopy in plantations could
affect the behavior of dispersers and regeneration. |
| |
Keywords: | |
本文献已被 SpringerLink 等数据库收录! |
|