The influence of neighborhood competition on the morphological traits of urban individual tree landscape in Beijing

IF 6.7 2区环境科学与生态学 Q1 ENVIRONMENTAL STUDIES

Urban Forestry & Urban Greening Pub Date : 2025-08-14 DOI:10.1016/j.ufug.2025.129006

Jiheng Li , Zuoyou Hu , Hongxu Wei , Chengyang Xu , Guangpeng Sun , Xuan Guo , Xinna Zhang , Bingqian Ma

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引用次数: 0

Abstract

Neighborhood competition plays a crucial role in the development of phenotypic traits and adaptive strategies within ecological systems. However, the specific mechanisms by which neighborhood competition influences the relationship between urban tree morphological traits and landscape quality remain poorly understood. This study focuses on urban green spaces in Beijing, aiming to elucidate the effects of neighborhood competition on both the morphological traits of individual trees and overall landscape quality. Additionally, it explores the interaction between neighborhood competition and landscape quality in shaping tree morphological traits. A field survey was conducted within the Sixth Ring Road of Beijing, establishing 180 landscape plots. Nine visual morphological traits of trees were assessed, and four morphological indices were constructed through factor analysis: the space occupancy index, canopy uniformity index, canopy expansion index, and trunk-crown inclination index. Moreover, through the implementation of questionnaire-based surveys, the Visual Aesthetic Quality (VAQ) was quantitatively analyzed to elucidate the relationship between individual tree morphology and landscape quality. The results reveal that neighborhood competition significantly influences tree morphological traits. As competition grades increases, the space occupancy index, canopy uniformity index, and canopy expansion index decrease significantly, whereas the trunk-crown inclination index shows a marked upward trend. Additionally, the response of tree morphology to neighborhood competition is more sensitive in medium and small diameter trees. The study also finds that the impact of neighborhood competition on tree morphological traits varies significantly across different levels of landscape quality. Furthermore, based on the analysis using Kriging interpolation, it was observed that there is a north-south gradient in both the Competition Index (CI) and VAQ. By investigating the relationships among these three factors, this research provides scientific insights for optimizing urban green space species composition and enhancing landscape ecological functions.

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邻域竞争对北京城市单株乔木景观形态特征的影响

邻域竞争在生态系统内表型性状和适应策略的发展中起着至关重要的作用。然而，邻里竞争影响城市树木形态特征与景观质量之间关系的具体机制尚不清楚。本研究以北京城市绿地为研究对象，旨在探讨邻里竞争对单个树木形态特征和整体景观质量的影响。此外，它探讨了邻里竞争和景观质量在塑造树木形态特征中的相互作用。在北京六环内进行了实地调查，建立了180个景观地块。通过因子分析，构建了空间占用指数、冠层均匀度指数、冠层扩张指数和干冠倾斜度指数4个形态学指标。此外，通过实施问卷调查，定量分析视觉审美质量（VAQ），以阐明单个树木形态与景观质量之间的关系。结果表明，邻域竞争对树木形态性状有显著影响。随着竞争等级的增加，空间占用指数、冠层均匀度指数和冠层扩张指数均显著下降，而干冠倾向性指数呈明显上升趋势。此外，树木形态对邻域竞争的响应在中、小直径树木中更为敏感。研究还发现，邻域竞争对树木形态性状的影响在不同景观质量水平上存在显著差异。此外，基于Kriging插值分析，竞争指数（CI）和VAQ均存在南北梯度。通过研究三者之间的关系，为优化城市绿地物种组成、增强景观生态功能提供科学依据。

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来源期刊

Urban Forestry & Urban Greening FORESTRY-

CiteScore

11.70

自引率

12.50%

发文量

289

审稿时长

70 days

期刊介绍： Urban Forestry and Urban Greening is a refereed, international journal aimed at presenting high-quality research with urban and peri-urban woody and non-woody vegetation and its use, planning, design, establishment and management as its main topics. Urban Forestry and Urban Greening concentrates on all tree-dominated (as joint together in the urban forest) as well as other green resources in and around urban areas, such as woodlands, public and private urban parks and gardens, urban nature areas, street tree and square plantations, botanical gardens and cemeteries. The journal welcomes basic and applied research papers, as well as review papers and short communications. Contributions should focus on one or more of the following aspects: -Form and functions of urban forests and other vegetation, including aspects of urban ecology. -Policy-making, planning and design related to urban forests and other vegetation. -Selection and establishment of tree resources and other vegetation for urban environments. -Management of urban forests and other vegetation. Original contributions of a high academic standard are invited from a wide range of disciplines and fields, including forestry, biology, horticulture, arboriculture, landscape ecology, pathology, soil science, hydrology, landscape architecture, landscape planning, urban planning and design, economics, sociology, environmental psychology, public health, and education.