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Phytosociological Study of Quercus variabilis Forest in Warm-Temperate China

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Warm-Temperate Deciduous Forests around the Northern Hemisphere

Part of the book series: Geobotany Studies ((GEOBOT))

Abstract

Deciduous Quercus forest is a typical forest type in the warm-temperate zone of China (sensu sinico). Among different kinds of deciduous Quercus forest, Quercus variabilis forest is the important, major forest type in the southern part of this area. In order to clarify the phytosociological characteristics of Q. variabilis forest in warm-temperate China, this study surveyed 12 sites and recorded 54 relevés, using the Braun-Blanquet (1964) methodology (Fujiwara 1987, 1997); a syntaxonomical scheme for Q. variabilis forest was also made. The classification result showed that there were five communities, five associations grouped into three alliances, an order Quercetalia variabilis ord. nov. and the class Quercetea variabilis class. nov. This can be subdivided into: (1) a Lonicero standishii-Quercion variabilis all. nov., consisting of an Acer grosseri-Quercus variabilis comm. nov., a Junipero formosanae-Quercetum variabilis ass. nov., and a Vitici negundo heterophyllae-Quercetum variabilis ass. nov., on very poor soil over granite; (2) a Carpino turczaninowii-Quercion variabilis all. nov., composed of Rhododendron mariesii and Melica radula communities, and a Viburno mongolicae-Quercetum variabilis ass. nov., which can always be found at higher elevation on south-facing aspects; and (3) a Pistacio chinensis-Quercion variabilis all. nov., which includes a Pteroceltio tatarinowii-Quercetum variabilis ass. nov., an Alangio chinensis-Quercetum variabilis ass. nov., and Vitex negundo and Zelkova schneideriana communities, usually occurring on limestone at relatively low elevation. De-trended correspondence analysis (DCA) was performed to distinguish the spatial distribution characteristics of the different communities. The result showed that the communities classified are mostly related to elevation and climatic variables such as mean annual temperature, mean annual precipitation, and mean temperature of the warmest and coldest months. This indicates that, even within the same forest type, Quercus variabilis forest shows very different floristic composition and environmental characteristics across the warm-temperate zone of China.

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Acknowledgements

We wish to express our thanks to Prof. Ding S. Y. (Henan University), Associate Prof. Liu Z. C. (Nanyang Normal University), and Associate Prof. Guo X. S. (Northwest Agriculture and Forestry University) for helping us to do the vegetation survey in Henan and Shaanxi Provinces. We are grateful to Prof. E. O. Box (University of Georgia) for revising this manuscript. This survey grant was funded by Yamada Honey Bee Co. Ltd. for restoration of natural forest in China.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. College of Environment and Planning, Henan University, Kaifeng City, Henan, 475004, China

    Tang Qian

  2. Yokohama City University, Yokohama, 236-0027, Japan

    Kazue Fujiwara

  3. Institute of City and Environment, Jiangsu Normal University, Shanghai Road 29, Tongshan County, Xuzhou City, Jiangsu, 221116, China

    You Hai-Mei

Authors
  1. Tang Qian
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  2. Kazue Fujiwara
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  3. You Hai-Mei
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Correspondence to Kazue Fujiwara .

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Editors and Affiliations

  1. Geography Department, University of Georgia, Athens, Georgia, USA

    Elgene O. Box

  2. Yokohama City University, Yokohama, Japan

    Kazue Fujiwara

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Qian, T., Fujiwara, K., Hai-Mei, Y. (2015). Phytosociological Study of Quercus variabilis Forest in Warm-Temperate China. In: Box, E., Fujiwara, K. (eds) Warm-Temperate Deciduous Forests around the Northern Hemisphere. Geobotany Studies. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-01261-2_4

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