长白山温带森林植物功能性状与群落构建机制

Plant functional traits have been increasingly used to infer forest community assembly mechanisms. However, current studies mainly used easily measured leaf traits, which only reflected one or few functional strategies. Also, most studies focused on the mean values of plant functional traits, and neglected the importance of intra-specific variance. Based on permanent forest dynamics plots established in the broad-leaved Korean pine mixed forests at different successional stages in Changbai Mountain, Northeast China, we will collect samples of woody species at different life stages to obtain physiological, morphological and element content traits data in different organs, such as root, stem, leaf and fruit. Synthesizing plot census and environmental data, we will analyze the intra-specific and inter-specific variation in functional traits in different organs, and examine the roles of biotic and abiotic factors on such intra-specific and inter-specific variation. Next, we will test the effects of intra-specific and inter-specific trait variation on community alpha and beta diversity, and growth and mortality dynamics of woody species in the two temperate forest communities. The main focus of this study is to explain the underlying drivers of intra-specific and inter-specific functional variation and elucidate the roles of functional traits in shaping forest community assembly processes at different successional stages. The results of this study will provide scientific support for management and conservation of biological resources in temperate forests.

基于植物功能性状的森林群落构建机制研究近年来备受关注，然而大多数研究选择相对容易测量的叶片性状等，但这些性状只能反映植物的同一种或少数几种功能策略。此外，多数研究基于性状的均值，而忽视了性状的种内变异。本项目拟以在长白山温带天然阔叶红松林不同演替阶段建立的大型固定监测样地为平台，通过对演替前期和后期各样地内主要木本植物的不同生活史阶段进行采样，获取根、茎、叶和果实等不同器官的生理、形态和元素含量等功能性状，结合各样地内多次木本植物调查数据及土壤和地形等环境数据，分析木本植物不同器官功能性状的种内、种间变异，明确造成这些变异的生物和非生物因子，阐明不同功能性状的种内、种间变异与群落生物多样性格局和群落生长、死亡动态的关系，揭示森林群落构建机制及其在不同演替阶段的变化规律，为该区温带天然林生物资源的管理和保护提供科学依据。

植物功能性状被广泛用于探究森林群落构建机制。然而，不同类型的功能性状及其变异如何影响森林群落生物多样性格局及动态，仍然不清楚。本项目以在长白山温带阔叶红松林不同演替阶段建立的大型固定监测样地为平台，获取了物种水平和个体水平的生理、形态和元素含量等功能性状，结合多次木本植物调查数据及土壤和地形等环境数据，分析了木本植物不同功能性状的种内、种间变异，以及不同功能性状的种内、种间变异与群落生物多样性格局和群落生长动态的关系。主要结果如下：1）植物功能性状存在明显的种内种间变异，但其变异程度受性状指标和植物菌根类型的影响；2）随机性过程是影响不同演替阶段alpha多样性的主要生态过程，而确定性过程则是影响beta多样性的主导生态过程。考虑不同性状的种内变异能够提高确定性过程对演替前期多样性格局的影响程度；3）个体水平的功能性状，尤其是生理性状能够更准确地预测树木生长动态，而且可以调节生境因素和气候条件对树木生长的影响。本项目阐明了植物功能性状变异对温带森林群落多样性维持的重要作用，揭示了温带森林群落构建机制及其在不同演替阶段的差异，为该区森林生物资源的保护和管理提供了科学依据。