title: Species presence frequency and diversity in different patch types along an altitudinal gradient: Larix chinensis Beissn in Qinling Mountains (China).
abstract: Forest communities are mosaic systems composed of patches classified into four different developmental patch types: gap patch (G), building patch (B), mature patch (M) and degenerate patch (D). To study the mechanisms maintaining diversity in subalpine coniferous forests, species presence frequency and diversity in the four distinct patch types (G, B, M and D) of Larix chinensis conifer forests at three altitudinal gradients in the Qinling Mountains were analyzed. Our results were as follows: (1) Different species (or functional groups) had distinct presence frequencies in the four different patch types along the altitudinal gradient; (2) Some species or functional groups (species groups sharing similar traits and responses to the environment) only occurred in some specific patches. For seed dispersal, species using wind mainly occurred in G and D, while species using small animals mainly occurred in B and M; (3) Species composition of adjacent patch types was more similar than non-adjacent patch types, based on the lower β diversity index of the former; (4) The maximum numbers of species and two diversity indices (D' and H') were found in the middle altitudes. Various gap-forming processes and dispersal limitation may be the two major mechanisms determining species diversity in Larix chinensis coniferous forests at the patch scale.
authors.affiliation: College of Life Sciences, Anqing Normal University , Anqing, Anhui , China.
authors.forename: Minyi
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Huang
authors.affiliation: College of Life Sciences, Anqing Normal University, Anqing, Anhui, China; College of Life Sciences, Shaanxi Normal University, Xi'an, Shaanxi, China.
authors.forename: Renyan
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Duan
authors.affiliation: School of Biological and Food Engineering, Suzhou University , Suzhou, Anhui , China.
authors.forename: Shixiong
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.affiliation: College of Life Sciences, Anqing Normal University , Anqing, Anhui , China.
authors.forename: Zhigao
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.affiliation: College of Life Sciences, Shaanxi Normal University , Xi'an, Shaanxi , China.
authors.forename: Weiyi
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Fan
keywords: Coexistence; Dispersal limitation; Gap-forming processes; Patch type; Species diversity