Fractal characteristics of distribution pattern of plant species in secondary Cupressus funebris forest in the Three Gorges region

Abstract

Abstract: Based on the fractal geometrical theories in nonlinear science, the fractal characteristics of distribution patterns of some major plant species in the secondary Cupressus funebris forest in the Three Gorges region were studied at middle and small scales. The box dimensions of distribution patterns of some important species were calculated. For example, the dimensions of Cupressus funebris, Ficus tikoua, and Cyperus spp. were 1.588, 1.617 and 1.627, respectively. The results tallied with those coming from classic analysis, which showed that fractal dimension is a valuable measure in this research. Further analysis of the dimensions could also illustrate the influence of human activities on species distribution patterns.

Key words: Secondary Cupressus funebris forest, Pattern, Fractal, Box dimension, mixed crop-livestock system, nitrogen flow characteristic, nitrogen use efficiency, North China Plain, farm level

Deng Hongbing, Zhou Yongbin, Wang Qingli, Pan Wenbin. Fractal characteristics of distribution pattern of plant species in secondary Cupressus funebris forest in the Three Gorges region[J]. Chinese Journal of Applied Ecology, 1999, 10(5): 518-520.

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Fractal characteristics of distribution pattern of plant species in secondary Cupressus funebris forest in the Three Gorges region

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