Seedlings regenerative dynamics of dominant trees in a secondary forest in montane region of eastern Liaoning Province, China

doi:10.13287/j.1001-9332.201910.005

Abstract

Abstract: To reveal the seedlings dynamics of dominant trees and their response to canopy changes (as indicated by changes in leaf area index), we analyzed the seedlings dynamics of dominant trees and canopy structure during forest regeneration based on three-year (2014 to 2016) censuses and hemispherical photography in a 4 hm² forest dynamics monitoring plot. The results showed that canopy LAI first decreased and then increased during the survey period, with significant interannual difference. The seedlings of 12 dominant tree species showed notable response to the change of canopy structure, with the response varying among different tree species. The relative abundance or frequency of seedlings for neutral tree species generally increased with the decreases of canopy LAI. The relative abundance or frequency of seedlings of light-demanding tree species generally decreased with the increases of canopy LAI. In multi-response permutation procedures by analyzing the numeric composition and distribution of dominant tree seedlings, there was significant difference among the three censuses. Such interannual difference gradually decreased from 2014 to 2016. Significant change occurred in the indicator species of dominant tree seedlings, reflecting their responses to the changes of canopy structure.

CAI Jun-qi, WANG Pin, LIU Da-peng, BAI Xue-jiao, ZHANG Shu-yuan, ZONG Guo, LIU Jia. Seedlings regenerative dynamics of dominant trees in a secondary forest in montane region of eastern Liaoning Province, China[J]. Chinese Journal of Applied Ecology, 2019, 30(10): 3356-3366.

References

[1] Li D-Z (李德志), Zang R-G (臧润国). The research advances on the structure and function of forest canopy, as well as their temporal and spatial changes. World Forestry Research (世界林业研究), 2004, 17(3): 12-16 (in Chinese)
[2] Qiu J-L (邱建丽), Li Y-D (李意德), Chen D-X (陈德祥), et al. The research progress and the significance of canopy structure in forest ecology. Guangdong Forestry Science and Technology (广东林业科技), 2008, 24(1): 75-82 (in Chinese)
[3] Kang B (康冰), Liu S-R (刘世荣), Wang D-X (王得祥), et al. Regeneration characteristics of woody plant seedlings in typical secondary forests in Qinling Mountains. Chinese Journal of Applied Ecology (应用生态学报), 2011, 22(12): 3123-3130 (in Chinese)
[4] Zou J (邹杰), Yan G-J (阎广建). Optical methods for in situ measuring leaf area index of forest canopy: A review. Chinese Journal of Applied Ecology (应用生态学报), 2010, 21(11): 2971-2979 (in Chinese)
[5] Zhou X-G (周晓果), Wen Y-G (温远光), Zhu H-G (朱宏光), et al. Canopy vertical structure and understory plant regeneration of an evergreen broadleaved forest in Damingshan, Guangxi, China. Chinese Journal of Applied Ecology (应用生态学报), 2017, 28(2): 367-374 (in Chinese)
[6] Ou Y-D (区余端), Su Z-Y (苏志尧), Xie D-D (解丹丹), et al. Dynamics of dominant tree seedlings in montane evergreen broadleaved forest following a snow disaster in North Guangdong. Acta Ecologica Sinica (生态学报), 2011, 31(10): 2708-2715 (in Chinese)
[7] Han Y-Z (韩有志), Wang Z-Q (王政权). Spatial hete-rogeneity and forest regeneration. Chinese Journal of Applied Ecology (应用生态学报), 2002, 13(5): 615-619 (in Chinese)
[8] Peng S-J (彭闪江), Huang Z-L (黄忠良), Peng S-L (彭少麟), et al. Factors influencing mortality of seed and seedling in plant nature regeneration process. Guihaia (广西植物), 2004, 24(2): 113-121 (in Chinese)
[9] Chen S-B (陈圣宾), Song A-Q (宋爱琴), Li Z-J (李振基). Research advance in response of forest seedling regeneration to light environmental heterogeneity. Chinese Journal of Applied Ecology (应用生态学报), 2005, 16(2): 365-370 (in Chinese)
[10] Hu L-L (胡理乐), Mao Z-H (毛志宏), Zhu J-J (朱教君), et al. Classification and ordination of secondary forests in montane zone of eastern Liaoning Province. Acta Ecologica Sinica (生态学报), 2005, 25(11): 2848-2854 (in Chinese)
[11] Chen G-R (陈国荣). Current situation and sustainable management of natural secondary forest in Liaodong mountain area. Journal of Liaoning Forestry Science and Technology (辽宁林业科技), 2016(2): 58-60 (in Chinese)
[12] Kong X-W (孔祥文), Hu W-L (胡万良), Zhang B (张冰), et al. Quantative classification of structural types of present secondary natural forests in eastern Liaoning. Journal of Liaoning Forestry Science and Technology (辽宁林业科技), 2002(3): 14-16 (in Chinese)
[13] Wang Y (王岩), Xu X-Y (徐小勇). Analysis of severe drought disaster evaluation and drought relief benefits in Liaoning Province in 2014. Heilongjiang Hydraulic Science and Technology (黑龙江水利科技), 2017, 45(2): 157-161 (in Chinese)
[14] Upadhyaya H, Panda SK, Dutta BK. Variation of physio-logical and antioxidative responses in tea cultivars subjected to elevated water stress followed by rehydration recovery. Acta Physiologiae Plantarum, 2008, 30: 457-468
[15] Ma XL, Xin ZY, Wang ZQ, et al. Identification and comparative analysis of differentially expressed miRNAs in leaves of two wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) genotypes during dehydration stress. BMC Plant Biology, 2015, 15: 413-421
[16] Ge X-G (葛晓改), Zhou B-Z (周本智), Wang G (王刚), et al. The influence of forest gap on seedling regeneration of Schima superba after heavy snowstorm. Forest Research (林业科学研究), 2014, 27(4): 529-535 (in Chinese)
[17] Li X-F (李秀芬), Zhu J-J (朱教君), Wang Q-L (王庆礼), et al. Snow/wind damage in natural secondary forests in Liaodong mountainous regions of Liaoning Province. Chinese Journal of Applied Ecology (应用生态学报), 2004, 15(6): 941-946 (in Chinese)
[18] Condit R. Research in large, long-term tropical forest plots. Trends in Ecology and Evolution, 1995, 10: 18-22
[19] Bai X-J (白雪娇), Deng L-P (邓莉萍), Li L-L (李露露), et al. Distribution patterns of woody plants in a secondary forest in the montane region of eastern Liao-ning Province, China. Acta Ecologica Sinica (生态学报), 2015, 35(1): 98-105 (in Chinese)
[20] Suriguga (苏日古嘎), Zhang J-T (张金屯), Cheng J-J (程佳佳), et al. Population structure and distribution pattern of dominant species in Tilia mandshurica forest in Dongling Mountain of Beijing. Chinese Journal of Ecology (生态学杂志), 2009, 28(7): 1253-1258 (in Chinese)
[21] Zhang Y-X (张育新), Ma K-M (马克明), Qi J (祁建), et al. Size structure and spatial pattern of Quercus liaotungensis population along elevation gradient in Dongling Mountain, Beijing. Acta Ecologica Sinica (生态学报), 2009, 29(6): 2789-2796 (in Chinese)
[22] McGeoch MA, van Rensburg BJ, Botes A. The verification and application of bioindicators: A case study of dung beetles in a savanna ecosystem. Journal of Applied Ecology, 2002, 39: 661-672
[23] Dufrêne M, Legendre P. Species assemblages and indicator species: The need for a flexible asymmetrical approach. Ecological Monographs, 1997, 67: 345-366
[24] Grubb PJ, Bellingham PJ, Khyama TS, et al. Distur-bance regimes, gap-demanding trees and seed mass related to tree height in warm temperate rain forests worldwide. Biological Reviews, 2013, 88: 701-744
[25] Lusk CH. Leaf area and growth of juvenile temperate evergreens in low light: Species of contrasting shade tolerance change rank during ontogeny. Functional Ecology, 2004, 18: 820-828
[26] Lusk CH, Warton DI. Global meta-analysis shows that relationships of leaf mass per area with species shade tolerance depend on leaf habit and ontogeny. New Phytologist, 2007, 176: 764-774
[27] Szwagrzyk J, Szewczyk J, Bodziarczyk J. Dynamics of seedling banks in beech forest: Results of a 10-year study on germination, growth and survival. Forest Ecology and Management, 2001, 141: 237-250
[28] Wang C-H (王传华), Li J-Q (李俊清), Chen F-Q (陈芳清). Factors affecting seedling regeneration of Liquidambar formosana in the L. formosana forests in hilly regions of Southeast Hubei, China. Chinese Journal of Plant Ecology (植物生态学报), 2011, 35(2): 187-194 (in Chinese)
[29] Ou Z (区智), Zou X (邹旭), Zhou C-M (周长梅), et al. Effect of PEG-6000 simulation drought stress on physiological characteristics of Alstonia scholaris seedlings. Southwest China Journal of Agricultural Sciences (西南农业学报), 2018, 31(6): 1180-1184 (in Chinese)
[30] Qiao Q (乔琦), Qin X-S (秦新生), Xing F-W (邢福武), et al. Death causes and conservation strategies of the annual regenerated seedlings of a rare plant, Bretschneidera sinensis. Acta Ecologica Sinica (生态学报), 2011, 31(16): 4709-4716 (in Chinese)
[31] Janzen DH. Herbivores and the number of tree species in tropical forests. The American Naturalist, 1970, 104: 501-528
[32] Connell JH. On the role of natural enemies in preventing competitive exclusion in some marine animals and in rain forest trees. Dynamics of Populations, 1971, 298: 298-312
[33] Irland LC. Ice storms and forest impacts. Science of the Total Environment, 2000, 262: 231-242
[34] McCarthy J. Gap dynamics of forest trees: A review with particular attention to boreal forests. Environmental Reviews, 2001, 9: 1-59
[35] Han Y-Z (韩有志), Wang Z-Q (王政权), Gu J-C (谷加存). The effects of spatial heterogeneity of understory light availability on regeneration of Manchurian ash. Chinese Journal of Plant Ecology (植物生态学报), 2004, 28(4): 468-475 (in Chinese)