Patterns of plant diversity within and among three tropical cloud forest communities in Hainan Island

Abstract

Aims We explored α and β species diversity, functional diversity and phylogenetic diversity distribution patterns in three tropical cloud forests along environmental gradients in air temperature and precipitation. Methods We sampled plots in three tropical cloud forests which are located in the west (Bawangling, 21 plots, BWL), the southwest (Jianfengling, 12 plots, JFL), and the central of Hainan Island (Limushan, 15 plots, LMS). We collected species data and functional trait data including plant height, specific leaf area, chlorophyll content, leaf thickness and wood density. We assessed the differences within-and among-community species diversity, functional diversity and phylogenetic diversity in these three tropical cloud forests using the Kruskal-Wallis test. Important findings The tropical cloud forests in JFL had the highest species abundance and richness whereas the lowest in LMS. However, the Bray-Curtis and Jaccard dissimilarity coefficients showed the opposite distribution patterns (i.e. the highest in LMS whereas the lowest in BWL). Distinct distribution patterns in species diversity across the three tropical cloud forests may be explained by the air temperature and relative humidity. The functional evenness (FEve) within communities was the highest while functional richness (FRic), Rao's quadratic

Genetic delimitation of Oreocharis species from Hainan Island

“…Jianfeng and Mt. Limu (Wang et al 2016) which fragmented and restricted the island-like habitat of Oreocharis taxa. Alpine plant radiations have accelerated speciation with trait diversification (Sanderson 1998;Colin and Ruth 2006;Hughes and Atchison 2015) and, in general, these radiations are geared to be recent and rapid (Linder 2008).…”