Spatial Pattern and Ecological Process Difference Analyses of the Boundary Habitats of a Treeline Patch: A Case Study from the Li Mountain, North China

Meiyu Jia, Jintun Zhang (), Zhenhui Song and Sehrish Sadia
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Meiyu Jia: School of Water Resources and Environmental Engineering, East China University of Technology, Nanchang 330013, China
Jintun Zhang: Key Laboratory of Biodiversity Sciences and Ecological Engineering, Ministry of Education, College of Life Sciences, Beijing Normal University, Beijing 100875, China
Zhenhui Song: School of Metallurgy and Environment, Central South University, Changsha 410083, China
Sehrish Sadia: Department of Biological Sciences, University of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, Lahore 54000, Pakistan

Land, 2022, vol. 11, issue 11, 1-18

Abstract: Treeline patches are among Earth’s most sensitive and are important model ecosystems for assessing climate change trends. To explore ecological factors that limit the species’ survival in treelines, the treeline patch of Li Mountain National Nature Reserve was selected as the research site. Pinus armandii ( P. armandii ), Betula albo-sinensis ( B. albo-sinensis ), and Betula utilis ( B. utilis ) were selected as research species based on their dominance. Two 50 m × 50 m plots were established separately from the upper and lower limits of the highest treeline patch for point pattern analysis. Five 10 m × 10 m quadrats per plot were sampled to investigate the flora and environmental factors. The results showed that: (1) Slope and community composition at tree layer in quadrates had significant differences between upper and lower limits. Pinus armandii had a greater population size at the upper limit. Seedling recruitment restricted population development for B. albo-sinensis at the lower limit and B. utilis at the upper limit and less regeneration of B. albo-sinensis at the upper limit. (2) More aggregation scales occurred at the upper limit, and P. armandii had more aggregation scales than the other two species at 0–25 m. The heterogeneity caused by density distribution affected P. armandii pattern at the upper limit, and heterogeneity of seed dispersal could explain species patterns in both limits. Distinctness of size difference may have an influence on inter-specific species correlations.

Keywords: Betula albo-sinensis; Betula utilis; null model; Pinus armandii; spatial pattern; treeline patch (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: Q15 Q2 Q24 Q28 Q5 R14 R52 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2022
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