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Chinese Journal of Applied Ecology ›› 2018, Vol. 29 ›› Issue (2): 343-351.doi: 10.13287/j.1001-9332.201802.037

• Special Features for the Changbai Mountains Forum • Previous Articles     Next Articles

Species, functional, structural diversity of typical plant communities and their responses to environmental factors in Miao Archipelago, China.

ZHENG Li-ting1,2,3, SU Tian1,2,3, LIU Xiang-yu1,2,3, YIN Fang1,2,3, GUO Chao1,2,3, TUO Bin1,2,3, YAN En-rong1,2,3*   

  1. 1School of Ecological and Environmental Sciences, East China Normal University, Shanghai 200241, China;
    2Putuo Forest Ecosystem Research and Observation Station, Zhoushan 316100, Zhejiang, China;
    3Tiantong National Forest Ecosystem Observation and Research Station, Ningbo 315114, Zhejiang, China
  • Received:2017-09-01 Online:2018-02-18 Published:2018-02-18
  • Contact: E-mail: eryan@des.ecnu.edu.cn
  • Supported by:

    This work was supported by the National Natural Science Foundations of China (31670438, 31770467) and the Special Found for National Oceanic Administration in the Public Interest (201505009).

Abstract: Island vegetation plays an important role in biodiversity research across the world. The study of plant diversity in island is helpful for understanding the mechanism of plant diversity maintenance under land-sea interaction. Here, four typical plant communities (Quercus acutissima community, Robinia pseudoacacia community, Pinus thunbergii community and Vitex negundo community) in Miao Archipelago were selected to examine the species, functional and structural diversities and their responses to environmental factors at the community scale by using species diversity indices, functional diversity indices, as well as structural diversity indices. The results showed that the species richness and Rao index of P. thunbergii community was higher than that of Q. acutissima community and R. pseudoacacia community, but the structural diversity was lower. The species diversity and structural diversity of V. Negundo shrub were lower than that of forest community, but the functional diversity was higher than some forest communities. The relationship between the diversity of typical plant communities in island area illustrated a significant positive correlation between species richness with Rao index and tree height diversity, however the correlation with functional evenness was significantly negative. The structural diversity and functional evenness were determined by slope with negative and positive relationships, respectively. Functional heterogeneity, functional divergence and species diversity were affected largely by soil physical and chemical properties, displaying the positive relationship with soil bulk density and soil total carbon content, and a negative relationship with soil water content. In conclusion, diversity pattern of plant community in Miao Archipelago reflected not only the characteristics in mainland vegetation but also the special nature of the sea island.