Elevation-Dependent Variations in Interspecific and Intraspecific Relationships of Quercus variabilis natural secondary Forests

doi:10.1093/jpe/rtaf037

J Plant Ecol ›› Advance articles DOI:10.1093/jpe/rtaf037

Elevation-Dependent Variations in Interspecific and Intraspecific Relationships of Quercus variabilis natural secondary Forests

Yanyan Zhang^a, Ershan Zhang^a, Jihui Xia^a, Mengli Zhou^a, Shanshan Jin^a, Dongfeng Yan^a,*

^aCollege of Forestry, Henan Agricultural University, Nongye Road, Zhengzhou, 450002, China.

ORCID
Yanyan Zhang, ID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-4537-499X
^*Correspondence author:
College of Forestry, Henan Agricultural University, Nongye Road, Zhengzhou, 450002, China.
Email ydflx@henau.edu.cn

Online:2025-04-03 Published:2025-04-03
Supported by:
This study was supported by Science and Technology Projects Research in Henan Province (Key Carbon Sink Management Technologies for the Young and Middle-aged Oak Forests Based on Close to Nature Management) (222102110418), School-enterprise joint research and development project ‘Screening and evaluation of high carbon-fixing tree species in Henan landscaping’, and Major Science and Technology Special Projects Research in Henan Province (Sub-project of Key Technologies for Cultivating High-efficiency and Stable Plantation in the Yellow River Basin Construction Technology of Stable Plant Community in Funiu Mountain Ecological Barrier Zone) (201300111400-2).

Abstract

Abstract: Elevation changes may affect intraspecific relationships or interspecific relationships among species. However, previous studies on Quercus variabilis have rarely investigated how its population interactions vary with elevation and how the factors affect them. Here, we examined the species relationships in Q. variabilis natural secondary forests by examining the three different elevation ranges (lower, medium, and higher elevation areas) by using the niche and the Hegyi competition method. As elevation increased, Q. variabilis strengthened its dominant position, and the overall association between populations shifted from positive to negative, as evidenced by a significant decrease in the positive-to-negative correlation ratio from 0.45 (85/191), 0.41 (80/196) to 0.32 (29/91), indicating that the interspecific relationship gradually transitioned from facilitation to competition. The ratios of intraspecific competition index to interspecific competition index were 3.09, 8.92 and 6.82, respectively, indicating that Q. variabilis forests had greater intraspecific competition compared to interspecific competition, especially in the medium elevation area. The intraspecific and interspecific competition in the lower and medium elevation areas showed a decreasing trend with the increase of diameter class, while the competition among individuals in higher elevation area became more stable. The SEM showed that soil properties were indirectly negatively correlated with the species’ competition through a significant negative effect on forest density, while community characteristics only had a significant negative effect on intraspecific competition. Our results demonstrated that elevation factors had decreased the intraspecific and interspecific relationships within Q. variabilis forests, which may provide insights for the effective conservation of Q. variabilis natural forests.

Key words: Quercus variabilis, Elevation, Intraspecific association, Interspecific and intraspecific competition, Temperate secondary forests

Yanyan Zhang, Ershan Zhang, Jihui Xia, Mengli Zhou, Shanshan Jin, Dongfeng Yan. Elevation-Dependent Variations in Interspecific and Intraspecific Relationships of Quercus variabilis natural secondary Forests[J]. J Plant Ecol, DOI: 10.1093/jpe/rtaf037.

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Elevation-Dependent Variations in Interspecific and Intraspecific Relationships of Quercus variabilis natural secondary Forests

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