Niches and Interspecific Associations of Dominant Populations in Three Changed Stages of Natural Secondary Forests on Loess Plateau, P.R. China

Abstract

Abstract Ecological niches remain central to explaining community structure, and niche-based studies have helped us to better understand species interactions, distributions, coexistence and associated mechanisms. Quercus wutaishansea populations on Loess Plateau are currently expanding their dominance in natural secondary forest types. In the present paper, we focused on the dynamic changes of niches and interspecific association among different changed stages. The overall interspecies association of the three communities exhibited positive association for Variance Ratio (VR) >1; the value of χ2 significance test further revealed that the overall association had reached the level of significant association. Among the total of 45 species pairs composed of 10 dominant species, in the Pinus tabulaeformis forest, the ratio of positive and negative associations was below 1, which 19 pairs showing positive association, 25 pairs showing negative association, and 1 pair showing no association; in contrast, in another forests, the ratios of positive and negative associations were above 1. The timing and consequences of these associations may illuminate how interaction mechanisms such as competition and alleopathy, structure changes. Then differences of species features in niches and associations should receive greater attention when planning forest management and developing restoration strategies.