title: Effects of young poplar plantations on understory plant diversity in the Dongting Lake wetlands, China.
abstract: This study evaluated the effects of young poplar plantations on understory plant diversity in the Dongting Lake wetlands, China. Poplar plantations resulted in a higher species number and Shannon's diversity. Species compositions were different between areas with poplar and reed populations: a lower ratio of hygrophytes but a higher ratio of mesophytes, and a higher ratio of heliophytes but a lower ratio of neutrophilous or shade plants in poplar areas compared to reed areas. Poplar plantations supported a higher ratio of ligneous plants in the entire Dongting Lake area, but there was no difference in the monitored plots. Unlike reedy areas, poplar plantations had higher light availability but lower soil water content during the growing seasons. These data suggest that young poplar plantations generally increased species richness and plant diversity, but significantly changed species composition due to the reduced soil water and increased light availability.
authors.affiliation: 1] Key Laboratory of Agro-ecological Processes in Subtropical Region, The Chinese Academy of Sciences, Changsha 410125, China [2] Hunan Academy of Forestry, Changsha 410004, China [3] Dongting Lake Station for Wetland Ecosystem Research, Institute of Subtropical Agriculture, 410125 Changsha, China [4].
authors.forename: Youzhi
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Li
authors.affiliation: 1] Key Laboratory of Agro-ecological Processes in Subtropical Region, The Chinese Academy of Sciences, Changsha 410125, China [2] Dongting Lake Station for Wetland Ecosystem Research, Institute of Subtropical Agriculture, 410125 Changsha, China [3].
authors.forename: Xinsheng
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.affiliation: 1] Key Laboratory of Agro-ecological Processes in Subtropical Region, The Chinese Academy of Sciences, Changsha 410125, China [2] Dongting Lake Station for Wetland Ecosystem Research, Institute of Subtropical Agriculture, 410125 Changsha, China.
authors.forename: Yonghong
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Xie
authors.affiliation: 1] Key Laboratory of Agro-ecological Processes in Subtropical Region, The Chinese Academy of Sciences, Changsha 410125, China [2] Dongting Lake Station for Wetland Ecosystem Research, Institute of Subtropical Agriculture, 410125 Changsha, China.
authors.forename: Xu
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Li
authors.affiliation: 1] Key Laboratory of Agro-ecological Processes in Subtropical Region, The Chinese Academy of Sciences, Changsha 410125, China [2] Dongting Lake Station for Wetland Ecosystem Research, Institute of Subtropical Agriculture, 410125 Changsha, China.
authors.forename: Feng
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Li
authors.affiliation: 1] Key Laboratory of Agro-ecological Processes in Subtropical Region, The Chinese Academy of Sciences, Changsha 410125, China [2] Dongting Lake Station for Wetland Ecosystem Research, Institute of Subtropical Agriculture, 410125 Changsha, China.
authors.forename: Zhiyong
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Hou
mesh_terms: D000383:Agriculture; D044822:Biodiversity; D002681:China; D003247:Conservation of Natural Resources; D017753:Ecosystem; D060106:Lakes; D011157:Population Dynamics; D032107:Populus; D012987:Soil / Q000737:chemistry*; D014197:Trees / Q000145:classification*; D014867:Water; D053833:Wetlands
chemical_list: D012987:Soil; D014867:Water