Patterns of taxonomic, phylogenetic diversity during a long-term succession of forest on the Loess Plateau, China: insights into assembly process.
Quantifying the drivers underlying the distribution of biodiversity during succession is a critical issue in ecology and conservation, and also can provide insights into the mechanisms of community assembly. Ninety plots were established in the Loess Plateau region of northern Shaanxi in China. The taxonomic and phylogenetic (alpha and beta) diversity were quantified within six succession stages. Null models were used to test whether phylogenetic distance observed differed from random expectations. Taxonomic beta diversity did not show a regular pattern, while phylogenetic beta diversity decreased throughout succession. The shrub stage occurred as a transition from phylogenetic overdispersion to clustering either for NRI (Net Relatedness Index) or betaNRI. The betaNTI (Nearest Taxon Index) values for early stages were on average phylogenetically random, but for the betaNRI analyses, these stages were phylogenetically overdispersed. Assembly of woody plants differed from that of herbaceous plants during late community succession. We suggest that deterministic and stochastic processes respectively play a role in different aspects of community phylogenetic structure for early succession stage, and that community composition of late succession stage is governed by a deterministic process. In conclusion, the long-lasting evolutionary imprints on the present-day composition of communities arrayed along the succession gradient.
Key Laboratory of Resource Biology and Biotechnology in Western China, Northwest University, Taibai north Rd.229, Xi'an City, Shaanxi Province, China.
Yongfu
Y
Chai
Key Laboratory of Resource Biology and Biotechnology in Western China, Northwest University, Taibai north Rd.229, Xi'an City, Shaanxi Province, China.
Ming
M
Yue
Key Laboratory of Resource Biology and Biotechnology in Western China, Northwest University, Taibai north Rd.229, Xi'an City, Shaanxi Province, China.
Xiao
X
Liu
Key Laboratory of Resource Biology and Biotechnology in Western China, Northwest University, Taibai north Rd.229, Xi'an City, Shaanxi Province, China.
Yaoxin
Y
Guo
Key Laboratory of Resource Biology and Biotechnology in Western China, Northwest University, Taibai north Rd.229, Xi'an City, Shaanxi Province, China.
Mao
M
Wang
Key Laboratory of Resource Biology and Biotechnology in Western China, Northwest University, Taibai north Rd.229, Xi'an City, Shaanxi Province, China.
Jinshi
J
Xu
Key Laboratory of Resource Biology and Biotechnology in Western China, Northwest University, Taibai north Rd.229, Xi'an City, Shaanxi Province, China.
Chenguang
C
Zhang
Key Laboratory of Resource Biology and Biotechnology in Western China, Northwest University, Taibai north Rd.229, Xi'an City, Shaanxi Province, China.
Yu
Y
Chen
Key Laboratory of Resource Biology and Biotechnology in Western China, Northwest University, Taibai north Rd.229, Xi'an City, Shaanxi Province, China.
Lixia
L
Zhang
Plant Ecology Department, University of Tuebingen, Auf der Morgenstelle 3, 72076 Tuebingen, Germany.
Ruichang
R
Zhang
D019306:Artemisia / Q000502:physiology; D044822:Biodiversity; D002681:China; D003247:Conservation of Natural Resources; D065928:Forests; D010802:Phylogeny; D006109:Poaceae / Q000502:physiology; D029963:Quercus / Q000502:physiology*