Remote sensing of subtropical tree diversity:The underappreciated roles of the practical definition of forest canopy and phenological variation

Tree species diversity is vital for maintaining ecosystem functions,yet our ability to map the distribution of tree diversity is limited due to difficulties in traditional field-based approaches.Recent developments in spaceborne remote sensing provide unprecedented opportunities to map and monitor tree diversity more efficiently.Here we built partial least squares regression models using the multispectral surface reflectance acquired by Sentinel-2 satellites and the inventory data from 74 subtropical forest plots to predict canopy tree diversity in a national natural reserve in eastern China.In particular,we evaluated the underappreciated roles of the practical definition of forest canopy and phenological variation in predicting tree diversity by testing three different definitions of canopy trees and comparing models built using satellite imagery of different seasons.Our best models explained 42%–63%variations in observed diversities in cross-validation tests,with higher explanation power for diversity indices that are more sensitive to abundant species.The models built using imageries from early spring and late autumn showed consistently better fits than those built using data from other seasons,highlighting the significant role of transitional phenology in remotely sensing plant diversity.Our results suggested that the cumulative diameter(60%–80%)of the biggest trees is a better way to define the canopy layer than using the subjective fixeddiameter-threshold(5–12 cm)or the cumulative basal area(90%–95%)of the biggest trees.Remarkably,these approaches resulted in contrasting diversity maps that call attention to canopy structure in remote sensing of tree diversity.This study demonstrates the potential of mapping and monitoring tree diversity using the Sentinal-2 data in species-rich forests.

浙江天目山国家级自然保护区苔藓植物多样性

苔藓植物因个体普遍细小,更易在野外观察及采集中被忽略,故很难获得一个客观、详尽的地区名录,导致对其多样性的研究和保护受到极大限制。本文以浙江天目山国家级自然保护区为例,采用区系生境调查法和样方法相结合的采样策略,沿海拔梯度对不同生境类型内苔藓植物多样性进行了系统调查,并结合多次历史普查资料整理出该保护区的苔藓植物名录。本研究共获得苔藓植物56科143属394种,包括苔类植物16科30属103种,藓类植物40科113属291种,其中有5种为濒危物种。与该保护区历史数据相比,本研究苔藓植物新增科4个、属31个、种182个,包括浙江省新记录科1个、属8个、种33个。区系生境调查法和样方法分别贡献了总物种数的81%和72%,但当调查范围只限定在树附生生境时,采用样方法所获得的总物种数及新增物种数均大于区系生境调查法。虽然代表更大采样努力程度的8个样方/树的调查获得的物种数显著高于2个样方/树的调查结果,但只针对树干0.3 m和1.5 m的2个样方/树的采样结果贡献了75%的物种数。鉴于本研究采集方法获得的较高苔藓植物物种丰富度及新增物种数以及物种组成在时间梯度上的巨大差异,建议在自然保护地开展类似的调查和研究,以期及时更新各个保护地的苔藓植物名录,为其保护研究提供最新的详实数据。

亚热带森林植物群落沿海拔梯度的分类与系统发育研究

生物多样性沿海拔梯度的分布格局已受到广泛关注。然而,生物多样性格局沿海拔梯度的变异及其潜在机制尚不清楚。整合生物多样性的多维度信息为理解群落构建机制提供了新思路。本研究在我国东部亚热带森林沿海拔270-1470 m的梯度上设置了17个木本植物固定样地,分析了沿海拔梯度植物群落构建的生态和进化驱动力。基于样地内物种出现(0-1数据)和多度信息,计算群落内被子植物的物种和系统发育alpha和beta多样性、系统发育结构等,并量化多样性指标与微气候和地形之间的关系。研究发现,不论多度加权与否,物种alpha多样性均沿海拔升高而增加,物种和系统发育的相似性随海拔距离的增加而呈衰减趋势。然而,多度加权与否会形成不同的系统发育alpha多样性格局。对于系统发育结构而言,沿海拔增加并无明显趋势。地形和微气候是多样性格局和系统发育结构的主要驱动力。与未考虑物种多度的多样性指标相比,多度加权的指标与坡度和胸高断面积相关性更高。这些结果表明,由局域物种多度介导的确定性过程对沿海拔梯度的植物群落构建具有一定影响。