Abstract
Functional diversity is significant to ecological processes of plant communities. We analyzed the variation of functional diversity of endangered species, Cercidiphyllum japonicum, communities along an elevational gradient in the Shennongjia Reserve, central China. Sixty plots of 10 × 20 m from 1,350 to 2,050 m were set up and species composition, traits and environmental variables were measured and recorded. These data were analyzed using five functional diversity indices, functional attribute diversity, modified functional attribute diversity, plot based functional diversity, community based functional diversity and Rao’s functional diversity indices (Rao’s index), Functional diversities of C. japonicum communities were rich and varied greatly. Functional diversity declined non-linearly with increasing elevation. Functional diversity was significantly correlated with species richness and heterogeneity. Elevation was a key environmental variable influencing functional diversity and species diversity. The five functional diversity indices were all effective for measuring functional diversity of communities. Functional diversity can be used as an indicator of conservation efficiency of endangered species such as C. japonicum.
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Project funding: The study was financially supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (Grant No: 31170494) and the Specialized Research Fund for the Doctoral Program of Higher Education (Grant No. 20120003110024).
The online version is available at http://www.springerlink.com
Corresponding editor: Zhu Hong
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Zhang, J., Zhang, B. & Qian, Z. Functional diversity of Cercidiphyllum japonicum, communities in the Shennongjia Reserve, central China. J. For. Res. 26, 171–177 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11676-014-0010-z
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11676-014-0010-z