Stand structure, woody species richness and composition of subtropical karst forests in Maolan, South-West China
2012
Zhang, Z. H. | Hu, G. | Zhu, J. D. | Ni, J.
Natural karst forests have long been degraded due to human disturbances in mountainous regions of south-west China. We analysed the woody species diversity, floristic composition and stand structure of subtropical karst forests in Maolan, Guizhou Province of south- western China. A census of all woody species with diameter at breast height ≥1 cm in two 1-ha plots was made. A total of 8138 individuals belonging to 278 species, 167 genera and 69 families were recorded in the two plots. The most ecologically significant families as determined by stem density were Lauraceae, Fagaceae andJuglandaceae. The tree speciesPlatycarya longipes(Juglandaceae) was the most dominant species in Dongge plotandCastanopsis carlesiivar.spinulosa(Fagaceae), in Gengzheng plot. Total basal area was 42.22 m2in the twoplots, ranging from 18.60 to 23.62 m2per plot. Forest structure was characterised by a large number of saplings.Compared with subtropical non-karst forests in China and karst forests in the tropics, the Maolan karst foresthad higher species diversity with different tree species compositions. This study improved our understandingof the species diversity, community structure and functions of karst forests in subtropical Asia.
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