Effects of Understory Plant Species Diversity and Composition in Cunninghamia lanceolata Plantations with Different Thinning Intensity
Author(s): YOU Ye-ming, HUANG Xue-man, ZHU Hong-guang, LAN Jia-chuan, CAI Dao-xiong, WEN Yuan-guang, State Key Laboratory for Conservation and Utilization of Subtropical Agro-Bioresources, Forestry College of Guangxi University, Guangxi Colleges and Universities Key Laboratory of Forestry Science and Engineering, Forestry College of Guangxi University, Experiment Center of Tropical Forestry, Chinese Academy of Forestry
Pages: 593-599
Year: 2015 Issue: 6
Journal: Guangxi Sciences
Keyword: species diversity; Cunninghamia lanceolataplantation; thinning intensity; principal component analysis(PCA); south subtropics;
Abstract: 【Objective】Investigating the effects and key control factors of silvicultural measures on plant species diversity of understory in Cunninghamia lanceolata plantations was conducted in order to demonstrate the mechanisms of vegetation changes in understory of plantation.【Methods】This study focused on exploring the effects of plant species diversity and composition in Cunninghamia lanceolata plantationswith different thinning intensity(High:74%,Middle:50% and Low:34%).Also,the relationship between understory plant species composition and environmental factors,and its key controlling factors were determined by combining field investigations and laboratory analysis.【Results】The species richness and diversity of shrub layer were not changed significantly with different thinning intensity,but the composition of plant species in shrub layer changed significantly after thinning 8years,which appeared stronger especially in the moderate and high intensity thinning.In addition,thinning not only significantly changed plant species richness and Whittakerβdiversity,but also changed the species composition significantly in herbaceous layer,which appeared strongest in high intensity thinning;Redundancy analysis suggested that soil C/N and tree basal area were the most important factors determining shrub layer plant distribution,while soil organic carbon and tree basal area were the most important factors determining herb layer plant species composition.【Conclusion】High intensity thinning significantly changed the composition of species in shrub layer,and species diversity and composition in herb layer.These change may finally influence the ecological processes and tree growth in Cunninghamia lanceolataplantations.
Pages: 593-599
Year: 2015 Issue: 6
Journal: Guangxi Sciences
Keyword: species diversity; Cunninghamia lanceolataplantation; thinning intensity; principal component analysis(PCA); south subtropics;
Abstract: 【Objective】Investigating the effects and key control factors of silvicultural measures on plant species diversity of understory in Cunninghamia lanceolata plantations was conducted in order to demonstrate the mechanisms of vegetation changes in understory of plantation.【Methods】This study focused on exploring the effects of plant species diversity and composition in Cunninghamia lanceolata plantationswith different thinning intensity(High:74%,Middle:50% and Low:34%).Also,the relationship between understory plant species composition and environmental factors,and its key controlling factors were determined by combining field investigations and laboratory analysis.【Results】The species richness and diversity of shrub layer were not changed significantly with different thinning intensity,but the composition of plant species in shrub layer changed significantly after thinning 8years,which appeared stronger especially in the moderate and high intensity thinning.In addition,thinning not only significantly changed plant species richness and Whittakerβdiversity,but also changed the species composition significantly in herbaceous layer,which appeared strongest in high intensity thinning;Redundancy analysis suggested that soil C/N and tree basal area were the most important factors determining shrub layer plant distribution,while soil organic carbon and tree basal area were the most important factors determining herb layer plant species composition.【Conclusion】High intensity thinning significantly changed the composition of species in shrub layer,and species diversity and composition in herb layer.These change may finally influence the ecological processes and tree growth in Cunninghamia lanceolataplantations.
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