Population Structures and Dynamics of Rhododendron Communities with Different Stages of Succession in Northwest Guizhou, China

作者：Yaoyao Zhang, Jianli Wang, Xiaojing Wang, Ling‐Jun Wang, Yuefeng Wang, Junpeng Wei, Zijing Niu, Linye Jian, Baocheng Jin, Chao Chen, Xuechun Zhao · 发表于：Plants · 年份：2024 · DOI：10.3390/plants13070946 · 被引用次数：12 · 研究领域：Ecology and Vegetation Dynamics Studies、Rangeland and Wildlife Management、Fire effects on ecosystems

To explore the population structures and dynamics of Rhododendron shrub communities at different stages of succession in northwest Guizhou, China, this study examined the populations of Rhododendron annae and Rhododendron irroratum shrub with two different stages. A space-for-time substitution was employed to establish the diameter class/height structures, static life tables, and survival/mortality rate/disappearance rate curves of both Rhododendron populations with different orders of succession. Their structural and quantitative dynamics were analyzed, and their development trends were predicted. The results showed that, quantitatively, the populations of R. annae and R. irroratum in the two Rhododendron communities with different orders of succession were dominated by age classes one, two, and three as well as height classes i, ii, and iii. The number of Rhododendron plants at the three age classes and the three height classes accounted for 97.61–100% of the total. The quantitative dynamic indices of R. annae and R. irroratum were both greater than 0, with and without considering external interference. In terms of age class and height structures, both Rhododendron populations were expanding populations, presenting “inverted-J-shaped” and irregular pyramid patterns. There was a sufficient number of young individuals, but few or no old individuals. Both survival curves of the populations of R. annae and R. irroratum in the two Rhododendron communities with different orders o...