Composition and environmental interpretation of the communities of Sassafras tzumu, a protected species, at Zhejiang province in eastern China

Jiejie Sun; Jiahuan Guo; Aihua Shen; Xuan Xu; Huili Feng; Shuang Zhang; Weigao Yuan; Bo Jiang; Chuping Wu; Weifeng Wang

Global Ecology and Conservation (Dec 2020)

Composition and environmental interpretation of the communities of Sassafras tzumu, a protected species, at Zhejiang province in eastern China

Jiejie Sun,
Jiahuan Guo,
Aihua Shen,
Xuan Xu,
Huili Feng,
Shuang Zhang,
Weigao Yuan,
Bo Jiang,
Chuping Wu,
Weifeng Wang

Affiliations

Jiejie Sun: Co-Innovation Center for Sustainable Forestry in Southern China, College of Biology and the Environment, Nanjing Forestry University, Nanjing, Jiangsu, 210037, China
Jiahuan Guo: Co-Innovation Center for Sustainable Forestry in Southern China, College of Biology and the Environment, Nanjing Forestry University, Nanjing, Jiangsu, 210037, China
Aihua Shen: Zhejiang Forestry Technology Promotion Administration, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, 310020, China; Corresponding author.
Xuan Xu: Co-Innovation Center for Sustainable Forestry in Southern China, College of Biology and the Environment, Nanjing Forestry University, Nanjing, Jiangsu, 210037, China
Huili Feng: Co-Innovation Center for Sustainable Forestry in Southern China, College of Biology and the Environment, Nanjing Forestry University, Nanjing, Jiangsu, 210037, China
Shuang Zhang: Co-Innovation Center for Sustainable Forestry in Southern China, College of Biology and the Environment, Nanjing Forestry University, Nanjing, Jiangsu, 210037, China
Weigao Yuan: Zhejiang Academy of Forestry, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, 310023, China
Bo Jiang: Zhejiang Academy of Forestry, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, 310023, China
Chuping Wu: Zhejiang Academy of Forestry, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, 310023, China
Weifeng Wang: Co-Innovation Center for Sustainable Forestry in Southern China, College of Biology and the Environment, Nanjing Forestry University, Nanjing, Jiangsu, 210037, China; Corresponding author.

Journal volume & issue: Vol. 24
p. e01218

Abstract

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Studying the community composition and environmental characterization is an urgent need for species conservation and forest restoration. Sassafras tzumu (Hemsl.) Hemsl is a protected plant species in southern China. We aimed to assess the relationship between S. tzumu and environmental variables using data from the Noncommercial Forest Ecological Monitoring Plots (NCFEMPs) system in Zhejiang Province. Among the investigated NCFEMPs, we found 96 plots (20 × 20 m) containing S. tzumu species. The species composition and associated environmental data from 96 plots were analyzed using two-way indicator species analysis (TWINSPAN) and canonical correspondence analysis (CCA). The TWINSPAN results showed there were eight types of S. tzumu associations. Each association had its own composition and environmental characteristics. The CCA results showed that the elevation and slope aspect were the major variables that determined the spatial patterns of S. tzumu communities. Our results will be of great theoretical and practical significance for protected species management and conservation.

Published in Global Ecology and Conservation

ISSN: 2351-9894 (Online)
Publisher: Elsevier
Country of publisher: Netherlands
LCC subjects: Science: Biology (General): Ecology
Website: http://www.journals.elsevier.com/global-ecology-and-conservation/

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