Journal of Food, Agriculture and Environment

Relationships between woody plants and environmental factors in karst mixed evergreen-deciduous broadleaf forest, southwest China

Author(s):

Wanxia Peng ^{1, 2}, Tongqing Song ^{1, 2*}, Fuping Zeng ^{1, 2}, Kelin Wang ^{1, 2}, Hu Du ^{1, 2}, Shiyang Lu ^{1, 2}

Recieved Date: 2011-11-18, Accepted Date: 2012-01-03

Abstract:

Soil properties and topographical factors influence the patterns of plant biodiversity, in turn; vegetation affects soil properties at different scales. Knowledge of these relationships is helpful for understanding ecosystem processes and for taking effective measures for ecological restoration in an area. In this study, woody plants with diameter at breast height (DBH)≥1 cm, soils, and topography were investigated in a dynamic plot with an area of 200 m × 100 m in a karst mixed evergreen-deciduous broadleaf forest in Mulun National Nature Reserve, southwest China. We tried to find out the characteristics of the karst forest ecosystem and the relationships among vegetation, soil and topography. Multivariate statistical analysis techniques, such as principal component analysis (PCA), cluster analysis (CA) and canonical correlation analysis (CCA)) were employed in the study. The results clearly demonstrated that the forest was distinct with high heterogeneity, fertile soil, high species diversity and sound community structure. Soil nutrients are the most dominant factor influencing the forest ecosystem, followed by woody vegetation and topography. The forest could be divided into four types, and the optimal type of which has high community diversity, sound community structure and high fertility level mainly exists on the upper slope position with high percentage of covered rock and steep slope gradients. High correlation existed among vegetation, soil and topography. Therefore, in the karst mixed evergreen-deciduous broadleaf forest in southwest China, soil organic matter, total phosphorus and total potassium had a close relationship with woody plant diversity. Elevation and slope direction had the greatest effects on woody plant characteristics. Slope position and direction had a positive relationship with available potassium and soil organic matter. The results from the study provide important information for ecological process and developing effective management practices at forest different stages. 

Keywords:

Relationships, woody plant, soil properties, topography, karst region, southwest China

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Journal: Journal of Food, Agriculture and Environment
Year: 2012
Volume: 10
Issue: 1
Category: Environment
Pages: 890-896

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