Different environmental factors drive tree species diversity along elevation gradients in three climatic zones in Yunnan,southern China

Elevational patterns of tree diversity are well studied worldwide.However,few studies have examined how seedlings respond to elevational gradients and whether their responses vary across climatic zones.In this study,we established three elevational transects in tropical,subtropical and subalpine mountain forests in Yunnan Province,southern China,to examine the responses of tree species and their seedlings to elevational gradients.Within each transect,we calculated species diversity indices and composition of both adult trees and seedlings at different elevations.For both adult trees and seedlings,we found that species diversity decreased with increasing elevation in both tropical and subalpine transects.Species composition showed significant elevational separation within all three transects.Many species had specific elevational preferences,but abundant tree species that occurred at specific elevations tended to have very limited recruitment in the understory.Our results highlight that the major factors that determine elevational distributions of tree species vary across climatic zones.Specifically,we found that the contribution of air temperature to tree species composition increased from tropical to subalpine transects,whereas the contribution of soil moisture decreased across these transects.

Community ecology and spatial distribution of trees in a tropical wet evergreen forest in Kaptai national park in Chittagong Hill Tracts, Bangladesh

We investigated the floristic composition, woody species diversity and spatial distribution of trees in a tropical wet evergreen forest in Kaptai national park in Chittagong Hill Tracks, Bangladesh. We recorded 25 families, 37 genera, 40 species and 1771 woody individuals in a 0.09 ha plot. Euphorbiaceae and Moraceae were the most species- rich families, and Castanopsis, Ficus and Terminaliawere the most species-rich genera. Bursera serrata Wall. ex Colebr. was the dominant species in terms of highest importance value （13%）. Trema orientalis （L.） B1 was typically a light demanding species as it appeared in the top can- opy with only one individual having the seventh highest IV, but had no regeneration. The expected maximum number of species （Smax） was 140, indicating that many species may invade the forest as the Sm~ is greater than the recorded total number of species. The nature of the disappear- ance and appearance of species in the present forest reflects instability of floristic composition. The values of Shannon＇s index H＇ and Pielou＇s index J＇ （evenness） were 3.36 bit and 0.63, respectively. These values show moderately high species diversity as compared to other subtropical forests in the tropics. In addition, a sample area of 200 m2 in this forest would be sufficient for measuring the diversity indices H＂ and ,/＇, whereas the trend of J＇may indicate the rate of equality of individuals among the different species decreased with increasing area. The distribu- tion pattern for the total stand was completely random. However, the dominant species showed aggregate distribution for small areas, but random distribution for large areas. The spatial association between species showed that the strongest positive interspecific association occurred between Streblus asper Lour. and Castanea indica Roxh. （09 = 0.51）. As a whole, most species were weakly associated with each other, of which 58% species associations were completely negative. The result of cluster analysis showed that species pairs were spatially independent at all or most small clusters; stands of species from all clusters are mosa- ics of complete habitat and pioneer habitat. All patches in this forest community have similar habitat and regeneration niches, which could be a phenomenon for a young growth forest. Thus, the existence of habitat and regeneration niches may be an important factor in the maintenance of diversity in this forest.

Does variable stand structure associated with multi-cohort forests support diversity of ground beetle (Coleoptera, Carabidae) communities in the central Nearctic boreal forest？

Multi-cohort management （MCM） that retains a range of stand structures （age and size class） has been proposed to emulate natural disturbance and improve management in the Nearctic boreal forest. Although MCM forests contain both single- and multi-aged stands of mixed tree sizes, little is known about how variable stand structure affects associated fauna and biodiversity. Here, we examine the relationship between ground beetle （Coleoptera, Carabidae） communities and stand characteristics across a range of forest structure （=cohort classes）. Given that MCM classes are defined by the distribution of their tree-stem diameters, we ask whether parameters associated with these distributions （Weibull） could explain observed variation in carabid communities, and if so, how this compares to traditional habitat variables such as stand age, foliage complexity or volume of downed woody debris. We sampled carabids using weekly pitfall collections and compared these with structural habitat variables across a range of cohort classes （stand structure and age since disturbance） in 18 sites of upland mixed boreal forests from central Canada. Results showed that richness and diversity of carabid communities were similar among cohort classes. Weibull parameters from the diameter distribution of all stems were the strongest predictors of variation in carabid communities among sites, but vertical foliage complexity, understory thickness, and percentage of deciduous composition were also significant. The abundance of several carabid forest specialists was strongly correlated with tree canopy height, the presence of large trees, and high vertical foliage complexity. Our results demonstrate that variable forest structure, as expected under MCM, may be useful in retaining the natural range of ground beetle species across the central Nearctic boreal forest.

Distributional patterns of anemophilous tree pollen indicating the pathways of Indian monsoon through QinghaieTibetan Plateau

The distribution pattern of vegetation on QinghaieTibetan Plateau is fundamentally influenced by the plateau climate, which is mainly controlled by Indian monsoon during summer. The long distance transportation of pollen（mostly anemophilous taxa） produced by trees on the plateau has been recorded by modern pollen samples in previous studies, and hypothesized to be a good indicator of monsoon dynamics.Here we use 270 surface pollen samples from QinghaieTibetan Plateau to test the distribution patterns of the anemophilous tree pollen. Meanwhile factors related to Indian monsoon affecting pollen transportation are simulated and analyzed. Results show that depositional patterns of anemophilous tree pollen, especially Abies, Pinus, Quercus and Betula are completely controlled by the pathways of Indian monsoon. This is reflected by climatic indicators of the atmospheric pressure pattern over JuneeJ ulye August, by the precipitation pattern over JuneeJulyeAugust and by the topographic feature of the plateau. The spatial interpolation of thin plate spline results also display two depositional centers（ca. 30°N, 95°E and 30°N, 105°E）of the anemophilous tree pollen. In contrast to previous conclusion that pollen distributional pattern is determined by mean annual precipitation, we argue that Indian monsoon is the essential controller because of the synchronization between timing of monsoon wind and timing of plants flowering. Our finding strongly suggests that distributional pattern of anemophilous tree pollen on the plateau is a good proxy of Indian monsoon.

Evaluation of GOFP over four forest plots using RAMI and UAV measurements

Comparison and validation of canopy reflectance(CR)models are two important steps to ensure their reliability.Pure forest plantations are an ideal type of forest for validating CR models because of their simple background and the low variance in the crown structures which are usually assumed to be identical in most CR models.A Geometric Optical Model for Forest Plantations(GOFP)was compared using dataset in two radiation transfer model intercomparison exercise(RAMI)stands and validated using in situ dataset of detailed optical and structural data of two forest plantations in the Saihanba Forestry Center,China.The results show that(1)the tree distributions in stands described by the hypergeometric model in GOFP show good consistencies with the dataset in the two RAMI stands and measurements from the two Saihanba forest stands;and(2)the CRs simulated with GOFP are also compared well in the two RAMI stands and validated with measurements collected with unmanned aerial vehicles in the two Saihanba stands.GOFP shows a better consistency with the CR measurements than those from CR models for natual forestsbecause the tree distribution in forest plantations is described more reasonably in GOFP.