From forest floor to tree top: Partitioning of biomass and carbon stock in multiple strata of forest vegetation in Western Himalaya

IntroductionUnderstanding the pattern of species diversity and underlying ecological determinants driving a forest ecosystem is fundamental to conservation biology and forest management. Boreal forests play an irreplaceable role in providing ecosystem services and maintaining the carbon cycle globally, yet research attention remains disproportionately limited and lacking throughout time.MethodsBased on field measurement data from a large (25 ha) fully-mapped coniferous forest plot, the present study quantified patterns of species diversity and their determinants in Kanas of Xinjiang, northwest China. We applied linear regression analysis to test the effects of biotic and soil factors on alpha-diversity and local contribution of beta diversity (LCBD), and then we adopted path analysis to test the determinants that affected the species diversity index.Results and discussionOur results revealed that alpha-diversity indices did not vary greatly across different subplots, and richness value (between 2 and 6) was low in Kanas. Noteworthy is the discerned negative association between the average diameter at breast height (DBH) and species richness, suggesting that areas with smaller DBH values tend to harbor greater species richness. For beta-diversity, a higher value was observed in the substory layer (0.221) compared to both the canopy layer (0.161) and the understory layer (0.158). We also found that the species abundance distance matrix of biological and soil environmental factors were significantly correlated with species geographic distance matrices. More importantly, our results showed that average DBH and soil pH would affect the alpha diversity indices, and average DBH, soil Ph, average height and soil total Phosphorous would affect the beta diversity indices. Soil pH also indirectly affected the LCBDunder, LCBDsub, and LCBDcan (p ≤ 0.001), upon mediation of alpha diversity indices. Overall, our results provide crucial revelations about species diversity patterns in boreal forests, and insights that can support the protection of forest biodiversity in China.

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Patterns and drivers of tree species diversity in a coniferous forest of northwest China

Wang,

Zhao,

Zhang

et al. 2024

“…The patterns and scales of tree distribution influence forest structure and dynamics through complex interactions involving crown architecture differences between species (Haq et al, 2023), soil properties (Waheed et al, 2022), water availability constraints on tree height (Klein et al, 2015), disturbance effects (Zhang et al, 2022), and the integration of dynamics Yang et al 10.3389/ffgc.2024.1354240 Frontiers in Forests and Global Change 02 frontiersin.org across various spatial scales within forest ecosystems (Mitchell et al, 2023). Changing spatial patterns can strengthen or weaken interactions within and among tree populations, and between them and their environment (Kuehne et al, 2018).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Competition and density dependence in arid mountain forest stands: revealing the complex process from spatial patterns

Yang,

Yu,

Wang

et al. 2024

Understanding the spatial patterns and interaction of trees is crucial for exploring forest dynamics. However, limited research has explored the spatial pattern and interactions between adult trees and their offspring population in arid mountain forest ecosystems. We investigated the spatial distribution and interaction of recruitment, survival, and mortality at different size classes in the Populus davidiana forest in the Luoshan Mountains (Ningxia, China), to gain insights into its stand dynamics. (1) This demonstrated the characteristic shift from an aggregated to random distribution as seedlings grew and developed into adult trees. (2) The adult trees exhibited strong positive and weak negative spatial associations with seedlings and saplings, respectively, with an increasing spatial scale, yet both stages underwent stark transitions from negative (1–15 m scales) to positive (> 20 m scale) associations. (3) Generally, the closer the individual trees were to each other, the greater the negative impact of neighboring trees on the size of an individual tree. (4) Additionally, adult trees strongly increased the risk of seedling mortality across the spatial scale of 0–50 m. (5) Live seedlings were less than the dead ones around dead seedlings. There was a stronger aggregation of dead seedlings than live seedlings. Moreover, the density-dependent mortality in our study rejected the random mortality hypothesis. In summary, these results suggest that spatial separation occurs between dead and live seedlings of P. davidiana. Under adult trees, negative dependence plays an important role in the arid mountain forest recruitment. Our findings will contribute to the restoration and conservation of arid mountain forests and provide theoretical support for forest management.

“…In terms of ecological benefits, forests play a vital role in climate regulation at both local and global levels, contributing to the mitigation of weather phenomena, regulating the hydrological cycle, and safeguarding watersheds. Forest ecosystems hold significant ecological importance due to the diversity of functional groups within them (Haq et al, 2023a), as well as for their capacity to sequester carbon (Haq et al, 2023b). They serve as habitats for a remarkable diversity of species and constitute reservoirs of genetically important information, with many of these species yet to be discovered (Pearce, 2001).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Invasive behaviour of oak lace bug in forest ecosystems: a comparative analysis between thermophilous and mesophilous oak forests

Bălăcenoiu,

Nețoiu,

Toma

et al. 2024

Forest ecosystems provide invaluable ecological, economic, and social benefits, making them essential for global well-being. However, these ecosystems face various threats, including biological invasions by alien species. Among these, the oak lace bug (OLB), an invasive North American insect, has rapidly spread in Europe, impacting oak forests and raising concerns about its adaptation to new environments. OLB feeds on the undersides of oak leaves, extracting sap and causing chlorotic discoloration. Severe infestations lead to premature defoliation, increased susceptibility to diseases or pests and can also result in a substantial reduction in photosynthesis activity. This study aims to analyse OLB’s invasive behaviour in Romanian forest ecosystems, with a specific focus on the differences between thermophilous and mesophilous oak forests. The analysis covers 6 years of data and reveals critical insights. In the initial 4 years, OLB predominantly inhabited the extracarpathian regions of Romania, with concentrated presence in the southern, western, and northwestern areas. Forest ecosystems mainly affected between 2017 and 2020 were characterized by thermophilous oak forests in southern and western regions. However, in the last 2 years (2021–2022), OLB presence increased, particularly in lowland ecosystems, albeit with reduced damage intensity. The analysis also unveiled an adaptation and expansion of OLB in mesophilous forest ecosystems. Climatic factors, specifically temperature and precipitation, significantly influenced OLB’s behaviour, points with severe attacks exhibiting specific climatic conditions. In summary, this study provides crucial insights into OLB’s behaviour, emphasizing the role of climatic and environmental factors in its invasive tendencies.