文献类型：期刊文献

英文题名：Ecological uniqueness of species assemblages and their determinants in forest communities

作者：Yao, Jie[1,2] Huang, Jihong[1,2] Ding, Yi[1,2] Xu, Yue[1,2] Xu, Han[3] Zang, Runguo[1,2]

第一作者：Yao, Jie

通信作者：Zang, RG[1]

机构：[1]Chinese Acad Forestry, Res Inst Forest Ecol Environm & Protect, Key Lab Forest Ecol & Environm, State Forestry & Grassland Adm, Beijing 100091, Peoples R China;[2]Nanjing Forestry Univ, Coinnovat Ctr Sustainable Forestry Southern China, Nanjing, Peoples R China;[3]Chinese Acad Forestry, Res Inst Trop Forestry, Guangzhou, Peoples R China

年份：2021

卷号：27

期号：3

起止页码：454-462

外文期刊名：DIVERSITY AND DISTRIBUTIONS

收录：;Scopus(收录号：2-s2.0-85097447205);WOS:【SCI-EXPANDED(收录号:WOS:000596868400001)】；

基金：Fundamental Research Funds for the Central Non-Profit Research Institution of CAF, Grant/Award Number: CAFYBB2019ZA002; National Natural Science Foundation of China, Grant/Award Number: 41771059 and 31670628

语种：英文

外文关键词：beta diversity; biodiversity conservation; ecological uniqueness of species assemblages; local environmental conditions; species richness

摘要：Aim Beta diversity can be partitioned into the contributions of individual sampling units to overall beta diversity, which are comparative indicators of the ecological uniqueness of species assemblages in the sampling units. Yet, what determines ecological uniqueness has rarely been examined. Here, we investigated the determinants of ecological uniqueness in species assemblages in forest communities. Location China. Methods We used tree census data, combined with spatially explicit environmental variables collected from forest dynamics plots across tropical, subtropical and temperate forests in China. We computed beta diversity as the total variation of the community data, and a site-based approach was used to determine whether ecological uniqueness is related to local environmental conditions and/or community characteristics. Results Ecological uniqueness was explained by both local environment and community characteristics, but their relative importance varied across the four forest types. We provide direct evidence that the relationship between ecological uniqueness and species richness (EUSRR) is related to the percentage of rare species in the community. Local environmental factors affecting ecological uniqueness and beta diversity were inconsistent, indicating that focusing simultaneously on beta diversity and ecological uniqueness with regard to local environmental conditions is likely to be the appropriate approach to study forest community assembly. Main conclusions Although the EUSRR was negative in some cases, indicating high species richness, this does not necessarily imply high ecological uniqueness. Thus, for biological conservation, species-rich sites and unique low-richness sites should be valued more. The higher degree of ecological uniqueness indicates unique species compositions, which provides insight into finding such quadrats and taking measures for protection, restoration or management. We propose that focusing simultaneously on the beta diversity, species richness and ecological uniqueness of individual quadrats is likely to be a valuable approach for biodiversity conservation programmes.