How does the water use efficiency of keystone species act on the stand spatial structure and species diversity in a water-scarce karst forest?

IF 7 2区环境科学与生态学 Q1 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES

Ecological Indicators Pub Date : 2025-04-09 DOI:10.1016/j.ecolind.2025.113444

Yingqun Chen , Xuerong Shao , Shuo Wang , Yi Jiang , Lipeng Zang , Guangqi Zhang , Qingfu Liu , Danmei Chen , Fangjun Ding , Mingzhen Sui

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Abstract

Understanding the mechanism of species coexistence remains a prominent topic in ecology, particularly those unique ecosystems. Karst forests, shaped by distinctive geological and hydrological conditions, are characterized by fragile structures and hyper-diverse species assemblages due to water scarcity and habitat heterogeneity. The effects of limited water resources on forest structure and species diversity were investigated across 20 plots in the Maolan Natural Reserve. Water use efficiency (WUE) was quantified using isotopic approaches for keystone species. Significant differences in WUE were observed between evergreen and deciduous keystone species. Topographic factors predominantly influenced the WUE of evergreen species, while soil nutrients were the primary drivers for deciduous species. Additionally, topography impacted species diversity through modifications in the WUE of evergreen species and niche overlap, whereas soil nutrients primarily influenced the stand spatial structure. The results highlight the pivotal role of evergreen species in maintaining the structural stability of evergreen-deciduous mixed forests under resource constraints.

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缺水型喀斯特森林关键物种水分利用效率对林分空间结构和物种多样性的影响？

了解物种共存的机制一直是生态学的一个重要课题，特别是那些独特的生态系统。喀斯特森林受独特的地质和水文条件影响，由于缺水和生境异质性，喀斯特森林具有脆弱的结构和高度多样化的物种组合。研究了有限水资源对毛兰自然保护区20个样地森林结构和物种多样性的影响。利用同位素方法对关键物种的水分利用效率进行了量化。常绿和落叶关键种间水分利用效率差异显著。地形因子主要影响常绿树种水分利用效率，土壤养分是落叶树种水分利用效率的主要驱动因子。此外，地形通过改变常绿树种水分利用效率和生态位重叠影响物种多样性，而土壤养分主要影响林分空间结构。研究结果表明，在资源约束下，常绿物种在维持常绿-落叶混交林结构稳定中起着关键作用。

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来源期刊

Ecological Indicators 环境科学-环境科学

CiteScore

11.80

自引率

8.70%

发文量

1163

审稿时长

78 days

期刊介绍： The ultimate aim of Ecological Indicators is to integrate the monitoring and assessment of ecological and environmental indicators with management practices. The journal provides a forum for the discussion of the applied scientific development and review of traditional indicator approaches as well as for theoretical, modelling and quantitative applications such as index development. Research into the following areas will be published. • All aspects of ecological and environmental indicators and indices. • New indicators, and new approaches and methods for indicator development, testing and use. • Development and modelling of indices, e.g. application of indicator suites across multiple scales and resources. • Analysis and research of resource, system- and scale-specific indicators. • Methods for integration of social and other valuation metrics for the production of scientifically rigorous and politically-relevant assessments using indicator-based monitoring and assessment programs. • How research indicators can be transformed into direct application for management purposes. • Broader assessment objectives and methods, e.g. biodiversity, biological integrity, and sustainability, through the use of indicators. • Resource-specific indicators such as landscape, agroecosystems, forests, wetlands, etc.