The ecological significance of the herbaceous layer in temperate forest ecosystems
The ecological significance of the herbaceous layer in temperate forest ecosystems
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DOI：
10.1641/b571007
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发表时间：
2007-11-01
期刊：
影响因子：
10.1
通讯作者：
Gilliam, Frank S.
中科院分区：
文献类型：
--
作者：
Gilliam, Frank S.
尽管人们日益认识到草本层在维持森林的结构和功能方面发挥着特殊作用，但这一层仍然是森林生态系统中一个未得到充分重视的方面。在这篇文章中，我回顾并综合了有关草本层的结构、组成和动态的信息，以强调其作为森林生态系统不可分割的组成部分的作用。在所有森林层中，草本层的物种多样性最高，因此森林生物多样性在很大程度上是草本层群落的功能。草本层内的竞争性相互作用可以决定植物占领较高层的最初成功，包括占主导地位的上层树种的再生。此外，草本层和上层植被可以通过对类似环境梯度的平行响应而联系起来。这些地层之间的关系在空间和时间上都是变化的。由于草本层对广泛的空间和时间尺度上的干扰反应敏感，因此其动态可以提供有关森林场地特征的重要信息，包括过去土地利用实践的模式。因此，草本层具有掩盖其矮小身材的重要性。
Despite a growing awareness that the herbaceous layer serves a special role in maintaining the structure and function of forests, this stratum remains an underappreciated aspect of forest ecosystems. in this article I review and synthesize information concerning the herb layer's structure, composition, and dynamics to emphasize its role as an integral component of forest ecosystems. Because species diversity is highest in the herb layer among all forest strata, forest biodiversity is largely a function of the herb-layer community. Competitive interactions within the herb layer can determine the initial success of plants occupying higher strata, including the regeneration of dominant overstory tree species. Furthermore, the herb layer and the overstory can become linked through parallel responses to similar environmental gradients. These relationships between strata vary both spatially and temporally. Because the herb layer responds sensitively to disturbance across broad spatial and temporal scales, its dynamics can provide important information regarding the site characteristics of forests, including patterns of past land-use practices. Thus, the herb layer has a significance that belies its diminutive stature.