[Multidimensional biodiversity of subalpine forest communities on the eastern edge of the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau, China].

Abstract

We analyzed multidimensional biodiversity (including species diversity, functional diversity, and phylogenetic diversity) of needle-broadleaf mixed forests of Abies fargesii var. faxoniana-Betula spp. and needleleaf forests of A. fargesii var. faxoniana in the subalpine regions of eastern edge of Qinghai-Tibet Plateau. We measured leaf functional traits including leaf area, leaf thickness, leaf dry matter content, and specific leaf area. The results showed that leaf thickness (0.28 mm) and leaf dry matter content (319.86 mg·g^-1) in the needle-broadleaf mixed forests were significantly lower than in the needleleaf forest (0.39 mm and 371.33 mg·g^-1, respectively), while specific leaf area (192.74 cm²·g^-1) was significantly higher (100.91 cm²·g^-1). Leaf area showed no significant difference between the two forest communities (27.88 and 26.63 cm², respectively). The phylogenetic signals of all leaf functional traits were significant, except for leaf thickness. The phylogenetic structure of the needle-broadleaf mixed forests and needleleaf forest communities tended toward divergence. Shannon diversity index, Simpson diversity index, species richness, functional richness, functional dispersion, Rao's quadratic entropy, and phylogenetic diversity in the needle-broadleaf mixed forests were all significantly higher than in the needleleaf forest, and these indices were significantly positively correlated. Competitive exclusion played a major role in the assembly of subalpine forest communities, and species diversity, functional diversity, and phylogenetic diversity exhibited synchrony.