J Plant Ecol ›› 2025, Vol. 18 ›› Issue (2): rtaf018.DOI: 10.1093/jpe/rtaf018

• Research Articles •    

Latitudinal gradient patterns and driving factors of woody plant fruit types based on multiple forest dynamic monitoring plots

Wenjun Liu, Yizhen Shao, Shengqian Guo, Fengqin Liu, Xiangyu Tian, Yun Chen* and Zhiliang Yuan*   

  1. College of Life Science, Henan Agricultural University, Zhengzhou 450000, China

    *Corresponding authors. E-mail: cyecology@163.com(Y.C.); yzlsci@163.com (Z.Y.)
    These authors contributed equally to this work.
  • Received:2024-08-28 Accepted:2025-01-26 Online:2025-02-18 Published:2025-04-01
  • Supported by:
    This work was supported by the Henan Province University Young Backbone Teachers Training Program (Grant No. 2024GGJS026); the Key Scientifc Research Project Plan of Colleges and Universities in Henan Province (24A180013); the Key Project of Science and Technology Research of Henan Province, China (242102110233) and the Graduate Education Reform Project of Henan Province (No. 2023SJGLX203Y).

木本植物果实类型的纬度梯度格局及其驱动因子:基于多个森林动态监测样地的分析

Abstract: Fruit type influences seed dispersal mode and its effectiveness, reflecting plant adaptability to their environments. However, the large-scale patterns of fruit type distribution in forest communities and differences in the drivers of various fruit types remain unclear. We present a large-scale biogeographic model of woody plant fruit types along a latitudinal gradient through the data analysis of 30 forest dynamic plots. Results showed the following: (1) Fleshy and dry fruits exhibited distinct distribution patterns in large-scale space. The distribution of fleshy fruits was greater in tropical and subtropical zones, while dry fruits were more common in temperate zones. (2) Climatic factors primarily drove the geographical distribution of the fruit types of woody plants. Climatic and spatial factors exerted greater effects on the species richness of dry fruits compared with that of fleshy fruits. These results demonstrated the difference in the latitudinal gradient patterns of fleshy and dry fruits and identified the major abiotic environmental factors that drove their large-scale distribution, demonstrating the biogeography of the fruit types of woody plants.

Key words: biogeography, woody plants, feshy fruits, dry fruits, latitude, climatic factors

摘要:
果实类型是影响种子传播方式和有效性的关键功能性状,反映了植物对环境的适应性。然而,森林群落中果实类型分布的大尺度格局以及不同果实类型驱动因子的差异仍不清楚。本研究基于30个森林动态监测样地的数据,构建了木本植物果实类型沿纬度梯度的生物地理模型。结果表明:(1)肉果和干果表现出显著的纬度分布差异,肉果在热带和亚热带地区更为丰富,而干果在温带地区占主导地位;(2)气候因子是木本植物果实类型地理分布的主要驱动因子,气候和空间因子对干果物种丰富度的影响强于肉果。上述结果揭示了肉果和干果在纬度梯度格局的分布差异,并确定了其在大尺度空间分布的主要非生物驱动因子,为木本植物果实类型的生物地理学提供了新见解。

关键词: 生物地理学, 木本植物, 肉果, 干果, 纬度, 气候因子