Tree Species Distributions are Predictable with Topography in Xishuangbanna
Aug 05, 2014 Email"> PrintText Size
Many studies have found evidence of habitat associations of plant species along topographical axes. To identify and understand the underlying processes behind the observed changes in species composition along topographical gradients, a functional approach is advantageous as this provides a direct link between species traits and observed habitat characteristics.
Dr. LIU Jiajia of Xishuangbanna Tropical Botanical Garden (XTBG) and his teachers took a functional approach by assessing changes in plant functional traits along topographical gradients in a 20-ha permanent seasonal rainforest dynamics plot managed by XTBG, SW China (101°34′26–47″E, 21°36′42–58″N). They analyzed the composition and diversity of plant functional traits in the 20-ha plot. They focused on four traits (maximum height, seed mass, leaf area and wood density) that provide information concerning plant life-history strategy, especially the ‘slow’ versus ‘fast’ growth and productivity trade-off. They measured and compiled data of the four functional traits of 334 tree species in 500 subplots (20 × 20 m).
They found that functional trait structure and diversity were significantly correlated with topography, indicating that tree species composition was, at least partly, shaped by habitat filtering at the community scale. Species and functional diversity showed similar correlation values with the environmental gradient. Sites in valleys and on lower slopes, which were characterized by higher resource availability, had higher functional evenness and divergence than sites higher along topographical gradients.
Their study showed that topography was a good predictor of plant species turnover, with the plant trait composition and diversity providing a functional understanding of the processes that shape this topographic species gradient.
The study entitled “Topography related habitat associations of tree species traits, composition and diversity in a Chinese tropical forest” has been published in Forest Ecology and Management.
Many studies have found evidence of habitat associations of plant species along topographical axes. To identify and understand the underlying processes behind the observed changes in species composition along topographical gradients, a functional approach is advantageous as this provides a direct link between species traits and observed habitat characteristics.
Dr. LIU Jiajia of Xishuangbanna Tropical Botanical Garden (XTBG) and his teachers took a functional approach by assessing changes in plant functional traits along topographical gradients in a 20-ha permanent seasonal rainforest dynamics plot managed by XTBG, SW China (101°34′26–47″E, 21°36′42–58″N). They analyzed the composition and diversity of plant functional traits in the 20-ha plot. They focused on four traits (maximum height, seed mass, leaf area and wood density) that provide information concerning plant life-history strategy, especially the ‘slow’ versus ‘fast’ growth and productivity trade-off. They measured and compiled data of the four functional traits of 334 tree species in 500 subplots (20 × 20 m).
They found that functional trait structure and diversity were significantly correlated with topography, indicating that tree species composition was, at least partly, shaped by habitat filtering at the community scale. Species and functional diversity showed similar correlation values with the environmental gradient. Sites in valleys and on lower slopes, which were characterized by higher resource availability, had higher functional evenness and divergence than sites higher along topographical gradients.
Their study showed that topography was a good predictor of plant species turnover, with the plant trait composition and diversity providing a functional understanding of the processes that shape this topographic species gradient.
The study entitled “Topography related habitat associations of tree species traits, composition and diversity in a Chinese tropical forest” has been published in Forest Ecology and Management.
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