Multi-scale patterns of forest structure and species composition in relation to climate in northeast China
Multi-scale patterns of forest structure and species composition in relation to climate in northeast China
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DOI：
10.1111/j.1600-0587.2012.00086.x
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发表时间：
2012-12-01
期刊：
影响因子：
5.9
通讯作者：
Sanders, Nathan J.
中科院分区：
文献类型：
--
作者：
Fang, Jingyun;Wang, Xiangping;Sanders, Nathan J.
尽管许多研究都集中在塑造温带森林结构和动态的因素上，但人们对这些因素是否随空间尺度而变化知之甚少。在这项研究中，我们调查了中国东北地区森林的组成和结构格局在三个空间尺度（情节，当地组合和区域），并询问气候变量是否塑造这些模式。采用系统抽样方法，对10个自然保护区的141块样地进行了乔木层胸径和树高的测定，记录了灌木和草本层的多度、盖度和高度。我们发现，夏季温度占大部分的物种组成的变化，在森林类型内和之间。随着夏季气温的升高，胸径、树高和总断面积均显著增加，而树干密度则呈下降趋势。胸径频率分布对温度（尤其是冬季温度）有很强的依赖性，且随温度的升高而向左偏。综上所述，我们的研究结果表明，气候变暖可能会导致树木生长的增加和规模结构的变化，在中国东北温带森林。特别是大树的比例很可能会增加，而小树的比例则会减少。在一个温暖的世界中，森林结构的变化无疑会影响森林管理实践、生态系统动态和物种保护。
Though a number of studies have focused on the factors that shape the structure and dynamics of temperate forests, little is known about whether these factors vary with spatial scale. In this study we investigated compositional and structural patterns of forests across three spatial scales (plot, local assemblages and regions) in northeast China and asked whether climatic variables shape these patterns. Using a systematic sampling design, we measured diameter at breast height (DBH) and height of trees, and recorded the abundances, percent of cover and heights of shrubs and herbs in 141 plots from 10 nature reserves. We found that summer temperature accounted for most of the variation in species composition, both within and among forest types. DBH, tree height and total basal area all increased significantly with summer temperature while stem density decreased. The DBH frequency distribution depended strongly on temperature (especially winter temperature) and varied among spatial scales, and it tended to be more left-skewed as temperature increased. Taking together, our results suggest that a warming climate could lead to an increase in tree growth and the changes in size structure of temperate forests in northeast China. In particular, the proportion of large trees will in all likelihood increase while that of smaller trees will decrease. Shifts in forest structure in a warmed world will undoubtedly influence forest management practices, ecosystem dynamics, and species conservation.