Evolutionary Pattern of Plant Diversity and Species Composition with Process of Primary Succession:A Case Study of The Glacier Retreat Area of Gongga Mountain
Study of plant diversity and species composition following glacier retreat will help for understanding the successional dynamics of plant communities and the assembly mechanism.In this study,we aimed to analyze succes-sional changes in plant communities following Hailuogou glacier retreat in Gongga Mount.Seven different succes-sional stages were identified(S1 to S7)along the gradient and α and β diversity of tree,shrub and herb communities were evaluated.The result showed that:(1)41 families,66 genera and 100 species of plants are recorded in the in-vestigation of primary succession sequence of Hailuogou Glacier Retreat Area,and monotypic(oligotypic)are the majority,which initially reflects the complexity and diversity of plant species composition;(2)The composition of dominant species of plants in each layer of the primary successional sequence varies markedly at different succes-sional stages,with significant turnover occurring;(3)with the succession,the α diversity indices(Margalef,Shannon-Weiner and Simpson index)of the tree and shrub layer showed a"unimodal"pattern,which increased at the begin-ning of succession and decreased slowly after reaching the peak;(4)The β diversity of tree,shrub and herb commu-nities differed significantly among the successional stages and species turnover played a major role in the change of species composition,among which the herb layer had the highest turnover degree(92.16%),while the shrub layer had the lowest turnover degree(58.01%);(5)Four distinct successional stages(pioneer community,broad-leaved deciduous forest,coniferous and broad-leaved mixed forest,and top coniferous forest)were identified in the case of the main forest layer(tree community).The results of the study can provide important references for the assembly mechanism of plant communities during primary succession.
primary successionbiodiversityspecies turnoverglacier retreat area
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