J Plant Ecol ›› 2020, Vol. 13 ›› Issue (6): 738-743 .DOI: 10.1093/jpe/rtaa066

• Research Articles • Previous Articles     Next Articles

Multi-stemming strategies of Quercus glauca in an evergreen broad-leaved forest: when and where

Mide Rao1 , Duo Ye1,2, * , Jianhua Chen1 , Jian Ni1 , Xiangcheng Mi3 , Mingjian Yu4 , Keping Ma3, and Johannes H.C. Cornelissen2   

  1. 1 College of Chemistry and Life Sciences, Zhejiang Normal University, Jinhua 321004, China, 2 Department of Ecological Science, Faculty of Science, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, De Boelelaan 1085, 1081 HV Amsterdam, The Netherlands, 3 State Key Laboratory of Vegetation and Environmental Change, Institute of Botany, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100093, China, 4 College of Life Sciences, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310058, China

    *Corresponding author. E-mail: yeduo@zjnu.edu.cn
  • Received:2019-12-21 Revised:2020-08-23 Accepted:2020-10-02 Online:2020-10-10 Published:2020-12-01

Abstract:

Aims

Multi-stemming supports plants’ resilience to disturbances and then contributes to soil stabilization and forest function, especially in mountain habitats. Many questions remain about (1) the ontogenetic phase at which multiple stems can occur; (2) how habitat drivers affect multi-stemming and (3) whether ontogenetic phase and habitat drivers interact. We asked these questions for Quercus glauca (ring-cupped oak), the dominant species and sprouter across large warm-temperate areas of Asia; its multi-stemmed trees reflect individual survival, population regeneration, and forest ecosystem stability.

Methods

In a 5-ha permanent plot of subtropical evergreen broad-leaved forest in eastern China, we examined the temporal patterns and spatial distribution of multi–stemmed trees of Q. glauca within 99 quadrats of 20 m × 20 m.

Important Findings

There were three temporal modes for multi-stemming among the Q. glauca trees and most of them appeared to produce multiple stems from an early stage. Environmental disturbances related to slope convexity appear to be the main drivers of multi-stemming of Q. glauca. Moreover, the closer to the ridge, the earlier the multi-stemming occurs. Thus, also for other woody species in other forests and climate zones, ontogeny and environmental drivers promoting disturbance (not only geomorphology, but also extreme weather events, soil drought, fire), as well as soil fertility, need to be considered in combination to better understand multi-stemming and its consequences for community structure.

Key words: life history strategy, multi-stemmed trees, ontogenetic phase, persistence, Quercus glauca, topography

摘要:
多茎干萌生策略可赋予树木抗干扰能力。在山地生境中,树木的多茎干萌生有助于维持土壤稳定性以及森林生态系统功能的稳定性。 但对于多茎干萌生在何时(个体发育阶段偏好)、何地(生境偏好)发生,以及个体发育阶段和生境因子是否存在关联尚不了解。本文基于钱江 源国家公园古田山5 ha亚热带常绿阔叶林监测样地,研究了99个20 m × 20 m样方内常见树种青冈(Quercus glauca)萌生的发生时间与空间分 布规律。研究结果表明,青冈种群内存在3种萌生模式,大部分个体在生活史早期阶段即幼苗或者幼树阶段出现多茎干萌生。与凹凸度有关 的环境干扰可能是青冈多茎干萌生的主要驱动因素。此外,距离海拔较高的山脊越近,青冈多茎干萌生发生的越早。这一发现,强调了考虑 个体发育的重要性。因此,在研究其他森林或气候带中树种多茎干萌生策略的环境驱动因素时,要结合考虑个体发育,以期更好的理解多茎 干萌生策略及其对群落结构与功能的影响

关键词: 生活史策略, 多茎干, 个体发育阶段, 持久性, 青冈, 地形