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Abstract Background Forests are essential for maintaining species diversity, stabilizing local and global climate, and providing ecosystem services. Exploring the impact of paleogeographic events and climate change on the genetic structure and distribution dynamics of forest keystone species could help predict responses to future climate change. In this study, we combined an ensemble species distribution model (eSDM) and multilocus phylogeography to investigate the spatial genetic patterns and distribution change of Quercus glauca Thunb, a keystone of East Asian subtropical evergreen broad-leaved forest. Results A total of 781 samples were collected from 77 populations, largely covering the natural distribution of Q. glauca. The eSDM showed that the suitable habitat experienced a significant expansion after the last glacial maximum (LGM) but will recede in the future under a general climate warming scenario. The distribution centroid will migrate toward the northeast as the climate warms. Using nuclear SSR data, two distinct lineages split between east and west were detected. Within-group genetic differentiation was higher in the West than in the East. Based on the identified 58 haplotypes, no clear phylogeographic structure was found. Populations in the Nanling Mountains, Wuyi Mountains, and the southwest region were found to have high genetic diversity. Conclusions A significant negative correlation between habitat stability and heterozygosity might be explained by the mixing of different lineages in the expansion region after LGM and/or hybridization between Q. glauca and closely related species. The Nanling Mountains may be important for organisms as a dispersal corridor in the west-east direction and as a refugium during the glacial period. This study provided new insights into spatial genetic patterns and distribution dynamics of Q. glauca.

Arguments about the origin and evolution of the evergreen broad-leaved forests in East Asia exist generally, and are even contradictory in some cases. The origin and evolution of the flora of East Asia, especially in the evolutionary process, the formation time of the Asian monsoon, the implications of phylogenetic and biogeographic studies on some important taxa, and the implications of palaeobotanical evidence are debatable. Most research from different disciplines suggests that the monsoon in the Miocene was key to the diversification of East Asian flora and its evergreen broad-leaved forests. The common view is that the evergreen broad-leaved forests of East Asia are closely related to the monsoon's intensity and developments, which were caused by the uplift of Himalaya–Tibet during or after the mid-Miocene. Analysis of the floristic elements show that the present subtropical evergreen broad-leaved forests in East Asia could have an early or ancient tropical origin and a tropical Asian affinity, but that their species are dominated by endemic Chinese or East Asian ones, many of which have tropical Asian affinity or are tropical sister species. The time of Himalayan uplift and the intensity of the monsoon climate are believed to be key to the formation of the evergreen broad-leaved forests in East Asia. Combined with existing paleobotanical findings, the uplift of the Himalayas and the formation of the monsoon climate, as well as floristic elements of the subtropical evergreen broad-leaved forests, we believe that they evolved from an Asian tropical rainforest after the mid-Miocene in the southeastern region of East Asia, while the ancient subtropical evergreen broad-leaved forests in the southwestern region continuously evolved into the present subtropical ones. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Beta‐diversity, or the spatio‐temporal variation in community composition, can be partitioned into turnover and nestedness components in a multidimensional framework. Forest structure, including comprehensive characteristics of vertical and horizontal complexity, strongly affects species composition and its spatial variation. However, the effects of forest structure on beta‐diversity patterns in multidimensional and multiple‐scale contexts are poorly understood. Here, we assessed beta‐diversity at local (a 20‐ha forest dynamics plot) and regional (a plot network composed of 19 1‐ha plots) scales in a Chinese subtropical evergreen broad‐leaved forest. We then evaluated the relative importance of forest structure, topography, and spatial structure on beta‐diversity and its turnover and nestedness components in taxonomic, functional, and phylogenetic dimensions at local and regional scales. We derived forest structural parameters from both unmanned aerial vehicle light detection and ranging (UAV LiDAR) data and plot inventory data. Turnover component dominated total beta‐diversity for all dimensions at the two scales. With the exception of some components (taxonomic and functional turnover at the local scale; functional nestedness at the regional scale), environmental factors (i.e., topography and forest structure) contributed more than pure spatial variation. Explanations of forest structure for beta‐diversity and its component patterns at the local scale were higher than those at the regional scale. The joint effects of spatial structure and forest structure influenced component patterns in all dimensions (except for functional turnover) to some extent at the local scale, while pure forest structure influenced taxonomic and phylogenetic nestedness patterns to some extent at the regional scale. Our results highlight the importance and scale dependence of forest structure in shaping multidimensional beta‐diversity and its component patterns. Clearly, further studies need to link forest structure directly to ecological processes (e.g., asymmetric light competition and disturbance dynamics) and explore its roles in biodiversity maintenance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Arguments about the origin and evolution of the evergreen broad-leaved forests in East Asia exist generally, and are even contradictory in some cases. The origin and evolution of the flora of East Asia, especially in the evolutionary process, the formation time of the Asian monsoon, the implications of phylogenetic and biogeographic studies on some important taxa, and the implications of palaeobotanical evidence are debatable. Most research from different disciplines suggests that the monsoon in the Miocene was key to the diversification of East Asian flora and its evergreen broad-leaved forests. The common view is that the evergreen broad-leaved forests of East Asia are closely related to the monsoon’s intensity and developments, which were caused by the uplift of Himalaya–Tibet during or after the mid-Miocene. Analysis of the floristic elements show that the present subtropical evergreen broad-leaved forests in East Asia could have an early or ancient tropical origin and a tropical Asian affinity, but that their species are dominated by endemic Chinese or East Asian ones, many of which have tropical Asian affinity or are tropical sister species. The time of Himalayan uplift and the intensity of the monsoon climate are believed to be key to the formation of the evergreen broad-leaved forests in East Asia. Combined with existing paleobotanical findings, the uplift of the Himalayas and the formation of the monsoon climate, as well as floristic elements of the subtropical evergreen broad-leaved forests, we believe that they evolved from an Asian tropical rainforest after the mid-Miocene in the southeastern region of East Asia, while the ancient subtropical evergreen broad-leaved forests in the southwestern region continuously evolved into the present subtropical ones.

Simple Summary: Landscape context plays an important role in bird species occurrences and abundance. For local biodiversity conservation and restoration, we examined the effects of landscape context on bird communities at different altitude gradients. The result showed: that (1) species richness and abundance at <300 m altitude were highest among the four altitude gradients, and they showed more significant differences than those at other altitude gradients; (2) the species richness of birds was associated with altitude, season and landscape context, as the season is more significance than other explanatory variables; (3) at the landscape level, habitat configuration is more important. The average canopy height and contagion index positively correlated with the species richness and abundance of birds at all four altitude gradients. In particular, the average canopy height is significant at 300–599 m and 600–899 m altitude gradients. The study results can provide a theoretical basis and guidance for future national park conservation and management and ecological restoration in the subtropical evergreen broad-leaved forest regions. Landscape context can reflect the habitat structure and play an important role in bird species occurrences and abundance. For local biodiversity conservation and restoration, we examined the effects of landscape context on bird communities at different altitude gradients. Our study was conducted in four altitude gradients (<300 m, 300–599 m, 600–899 m, 900–1200 m) of subtropical evergreen broad-leaved forest in Wuyishan National Park, China. The bird survey was carried out in 115 transects in spring, summer, autumn and winter. We examined the effects of altitude, season and landscape context. The result showed that (1) species richness and abundance at <300 m altitude were highest among the four altitude gradients, and they showed more significant differences than those at other altitude gradients; (2) the species richness of birds was associated with altitude, season and landscape context, as the season is more significant than other explanatory variables; (3) at the landscape level, habitat configuration is more important. The average canopy height and contagion index positively correlated with the species richness and abundance of birds at all four altitude gradients. In particular, the average canopy height is significant at 300–599 m and 600–899 m altitude gradients. The study results can provide a theoretical basis and guidance for future national park conservation and management and ecological restoration in the subtropical evergreen broad-leaved forest regions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

By studying the dynamic change characteristics of litter production, composition, nutrient content, and return amount of different components in different extreme weather interference years of Ailao Mountain evergreen broad-leaved forest, the paper provides theoretical support for the post-disaster nutrient cycle, ecological recovery, and sustainable development of the subtropical mid-mountain humid evergreen broad-leaved forest. Square litter collectors were randomly set up to collect litter. After drying to a constant mass, we calculated the seasonal and annual litter volume and the contents of organic carbon (C), total nitrogen (N), total phosphorus (P), total potassium (k), total sulfur (S), total calcium (Ca), and total magnesium (Mg). Finally, the nutrient return amount is comprehensively calculated according to the litter amount and element content. We tracked dynamic changes in litter quantity, nutrient composition, and nutrient components across different years. The results showed that the amount of litter from 2005 to 2015 was 7704–8818 kg·hm−2, and the order of magnitude was: 2005 (normal year) > 2015 (extreme snow and ice weather interference) > 2010 (extreme drought weather interference); the composition mainly included branches, leaves, fruit (flowers), and other components (bark, moss, lichen, etc.), of which the proportion of leaves was the largest, accounting for 41.70%–61.52%; The monthly changes and total amounts in different years exhibited single or double peak changes, and the monthly litter components in different years showed significant seasonality. In this study, the nutrient content of litter was higher than that of litter branches each year. The total amount of litter and the nutrient concentration of each component are C, Ca, N, K, Mg, S, and P, from large to small. The order of nutrient return in different years was the same as that of litter, and the returns of nutrients in litter leaves were greater than that of litter branches. The ratio of nutrient returns of litter and litter branches from 2005 to 2010 was 2.03, 1.23, and 3.69, respectively. The research shows that the litter decreased correspondingly under the extreme weather disturbance, and the impact of the extreme dry weather disturbance was greater than that of the extreme ice and snow weather disturbance. However, the evergreen broad-leaved forest in the study area recovers well after being disturbed. The annual litter amount and nutrient return amount is similar to that of evergreen broad-leaved forests in the same latitude and normal years in other subtropical regions. The decomposition rate and seasonal dynamics of litter nutrients are not greatly affected by extreme weather. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Extreme climatic events are predicted to increase in frequency and magnitude as global climate change continues. Extreme climatic events have profound impacts on community structure and dynamics, but their effects on the dominant species within a community remains unclear. To explore this issue, we analyzed changes in population dynamics and dead individuals' spatial pattern for several dominant species (Castanopsis eyrei, Schima superba, Pinus massoniana, and Daphniphyllum oldhamii) among different habitats in a subtropical forest before and after a significant winter storm that occurred in February 2008. Using the Gutianshan 24-ha forest plot as a representative sample, we found that the plot-level DBH of P. massoniana and C. eyrei significantly increased after the winter storm, while the plot-level basal area of P. massoniana and S. superba decreased significantly. In addition, P. massoniana was most affected by the storm (mortality: 9.08%; population change rate: −8.93%), followed by C. eyrei (mortality: 6.93%; population change rate: −4.91%). Small-diameter individuals experienced higher mortality rates, but the diameter structure of the dominant species at the population level remained basically stable. The number of individuals, the density of the dominant population, the number of mortalities, and the mortality rate of the dominant species differed among habitats. The spatial point patterns of the dead individuals at each life stage were mainly aggregated in distribution, and the degree of aggregation tended to decrease with increasing scale. In conclusion, the population dynamics of dominant species were significantly altered following the winter storm, but the extent of the changes varied with species. Our study suggests that analyzing the dominant species of a community contributes to a better understanding of the biological response of forest ecosystems in the face of extreme climatic events. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Neutral‐theory‐based stochastic and niche‐theory‐based determinative processes are commonly used to explain the mechanisms of natural community assembly. However, considerable uncertainty remains regarding the relative importance of different ecological processes in shaping forest communities. Functional traits and phylogeny provide important information about plant environmental adaptation strategies and evolutionary history and promise a better mechanistic and predictive understanding of community assembly. Based on nine leaf functional traits and phylogenetic data of 18 dominant species in a Lithocarpus glaber–Cyclobalanopsis glauca evergreen broad‐leaved forest, we analyzed the variation in traits, explored the influence of phylogeny and environment on leaf traits, and distinguished the relative effects of spatial and environmental variables on functional traits and phylogenetic compositions. The results showed the following: (i) Leaf traits had moderate intraspecific variation, and significant interspecific variation existed especially among life forms. (ii) Significant phylogenetic signals were detected only in leaf thickness and leaf area. The correlations among traits both supported "the leaf economics spectrum" at the species and community levels, and the relationships significantly increased or only a little change after removing the phylogenetic influence, which showed a lack of consistency between the leaf functional trait patterns and phylogenetic patterns. We infer the coexistent species tended to adopt "realism" to adapt to their habitats. (iii) Soil total potassium and phosphorus content, altitude, aspect, and convexity were the most critical environmental factors affecting functional traits and phylogenetic composition. Total environmental and spatial variables explained 63.38% of the variation in functional trait composition and 47.96% of the variation in phylogenetic structures. Meanwhile, the contribution of pure spatial factors was significantly higher than that of the pure environment. Stochastic processes played dominant roles in driving community functional trait assembly, but determinative processes such as environmental filtering had a stronger effect on shaping community phylogenetic structure at a fine scale. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Elevation is important for determining the nutrient biogeochemical cycle in forest ecosystems. Changes in the ecological stoichiometry of nutrients along an elevation gradient can be used to predict how an element cycle responds in the midst of global climate change. We investigated changes in concentrations of and relationships between nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P), potassium (K), calcium (Ca), and magnesium (Mg) in the leaves and roots of the dominant tree species, Castanopsis fargesii, along an elevation gradient (from 500 to 1,000 m above mean sea level) in a subtropical natural forest in China. We analyzed correlations between C. fargesii’s above-ground biomass and stoichiometry with environmental factors. We also analyzed the soil and plant stoichiometry of this C. fargesii population. Our results showed that leaf N decreased while leaf K and Ca increased at higher elevations. Meanwhile, leaf P showed no relationship with elevation. The leaf N:P indicated that C. fargesii was limited by N. Elevation gradients contributed 46.40% of the total variance of ecological stoichiometry when assessing environmental factors. Our research may provide a theoretical basis for the biogeochemical cycle along with better forest management and fertilization for this C. fargesii population.

Copyright of Chinese Journal of Applied Ecology / Yingyong Shengtai Xuebao is the property of Chinese Journal of Applied Ecology and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Forest disturbance and recovery are critical ecosystem processes, but the temporal patterns of disturbance have not been studied in subtropical China. Using a tree-ring analysis approach, we studied post-logging above-ground (ABG) biomass recovery dynamics over a 26-year period in four plots with different degrees of logging disturbance. Before logging, the ABG biomass ranged from 291 to 309 t ha−1. Soon after logging, the plots in primary forest, secondary forest, mixed forest and single-species forest had lost 33, 91, 90 and 100% of their initial ABG biomass, respectively. Twenty-six years after logging, the plots had regained 147, 62, 80 and 92% of their original ABG biomass, respectively. Over the 26 years following logging, the mean CAI (Current annual increment) were 10.1, 5.5, 6.4 and 10.8 t ha−1 a−1 and the average MAI (Mean annual increment) 8.7, 2.5, 5.6 and 7.8 t ha−1 a−1 for the four forest types, respectively. The results indicate that subtropical forests subjected to moderate logging or disturbances do not require intensive management and single-species plantings can rapidly restore the above-ground biomass to levels prior to heavy logging. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Natural regeneration by strip-clearcut has rarely been used for restocking of evergreen broad-leaved forests in the East Asia. To contribute to a better understanding of the likely reasons for either the successful recovery of these forests or failure, the early response of stand structure and tree species diversity to strip-clearcut were studied in Okinawa Island, southwest Japan. The 4,000 m study area was divided into 10 adjacent sections of equal area with a 10 m × 10 m sampling plot in the center, of which five sections were strip-clearcut while the remaining five sections uncut. Eight-year secondary succession following strip-clearcut showed that the density of woody stems, tree species diversity increased significantly not only in the regenerating stands but also in the residual stands compared to the primary stands. The primary dominant target species, Castanopsis sieboldii, continued to dominate both the regenerating and residual stands although colonizing species invaded abundantly in the stands, occupying approximately one-third of total tree species in each treatment. The community similarity analyses showed that the species composition were similar between the primary stands and the regenerating stands or residual stands reflected the high similarity amongst the primary stands and the regenerating stands or the residual stands. The similar stand structure, high tree species diversity and greater community similarity after strip-clearcut provided no evidence of forest degeneration, suggesting that the regenerating stand might gradually develop into stand similar to that prior to strip-clearcut. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We investigated spatial distribution of lianas, and examined relationships between distribution and topography in a secondary forest on the northern part of the main island of Okinawa, south-west Japan. All lianas with a stem diameter exceeding 2 cm at a point 1.3 m from the root were inventoried, and stem diameter and root position were measured within a small watershed (16.0625 ha). Geographical information systems (GIS) were used to divide the watershed into 257 cells in total, each cell being 25 m × 25 m. Three topographic parameters were measured in each cell: slope angle, slope aspect and relief. In total, 930 stems from 20 species of lianas were recorded. Distribution of all liana stems and 14 of 15 species analysed were biased toward concave sites. Abundance of total lianas was higher in concave sites than in convex sites. Our results suggest that distribution and abundance of lianas are strongly affected by topography, and that lianas tend to be distributed in sites with more water and nutrients, which are formed by relief in the Okinawa forest. Factors affecting stem density differed among species. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

Copyright of Annals of Forest Science (EDP Sciences) is the property of EDP Sciences and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Abstract: Understanding the seed rain and seed loss dynamics in the natural condition has important significance for revealing the natural regeneration mechanisms. We conducted a 3-year field observation on seed rain, seed loss and natural regeneration of Castanopsis fargesii Franch., a dominant tree species in evergreen broad-leaved forests in Dujiangyan, southwestern China. The results showed that: (1) there were marked differences in (mature) seed production between mast (733,700 seeds in 2001) and regular (51,200 and 195,600 seeds in 2002 and 2003, respectively) years for C. fargesii. (2) Most seeds were dispersed in leaf litter, humus and 0–2cm depth soil in seed bank. (3) Frequency distributions of both DBH and height indicated that C. fargesii had a relatively stable population. (4) Seed rain, seed ground density, seed loss, and leaf fall were highly dynamic and certain quantity of seeds were preserved on the ground for a prolonged time due to predator satiation in both the mast and regular years so that the continuous presence of seed bank and seedling recruitments in situ became possible. Both longer time observations and manipulative experiments should be carried out to better understand the roles of seed dispersal and regeneration process in the ecosystem performance. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

We examined the spatial distribution of saplings in relation to topography and stand structure in a subtropical evergreen broad-leaved forest in the northern part of Okinawa Island, Japan. The distributions of most species were influenced mainly by topography but also by canopy openness. Species were arranged along a topographical gradient from concave areas with low canopy openness to convex areas with high canopy openness. Canopy species were arranged along a gradient from unstable fertile areas to stable infertile areas. Species occurring mostly in convex areas had a narrower distribution range than those in concave sites. Thus, habitat heterogeneity provided by topography and stand structure appears to be important factors for maintaining high species diversity in the understory of this subtropical evergreen broad-leaved forest. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We studied secondary succession in two subtropical evergreen broad-leaved forests near Shanghai, China that had been harvested 2–60 years earlier. Shrubs were thinned in one of the forests to about 60% of their original density for the first 20 years after harvesting. The other was not disturbed after harvesting. Five stands were sampled in each forest. Species composition and richness varied little during succession. Biomass, soil organic matter, total soil nitrogen, and soil water all increased with time. Soil organic matter and total nitrogen were significantly less in thinned forest than in undisturbed forests, but soil moisture did not vary with shrub thinning. Total tree density did not change over time, suggesting that species replacements were not driven by self-thinning. The eventual replacement of shrubs by trees occurred because shrub density decreased whereas tree density remained constant and tree mass increased. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]