Effects of topography on the diversity and distribution pattern of ground plants in karst montane forests in Southwest Guangxi, China

Covariance analysis, curve-fitting, and canonical correspondence analysis (CCA) were used to explore the effects of topographic factors on the plant diversity and distribution patterns of ground flora with different growth forms in the karst mountains of Southwest Guangxi, China. A total of 152 grou...

Full description

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Published inYing yong sheng tai xue bao Vol. 25; no. 10; p. 2803
Main Authors Yuan, Tie-Xiang, Zhang, He-Ping, Ou, Zhi-Yang, Tan, Yi-Bo
Format Journal Article
LanguageChinese
Published China 01.10.2014
Subjects
Altitude
Biodiversity
China
Forests
Plants - classification
Soil
Trees
Online AccessGet more information

Cover

More Information
Summary:Covariance analysis, curve-fitting, and canonical correspondence analysis (CCA) were used to explore the effects of topographic factors on the plant diversity and distribution patterns of ground flora with different growth forms in the karst mountains of Southwest Guangxi, China. A total of 152 ground plants were recorded. Among them, 37 species were ferns, 44 species herbs, 9 species lianas, and 62 species shrubs. Covariance analysis revealed that altitude significantly correlated with the individual number and richness of ground plants, and slope aspect had a significant effect on richness. Statistical analyses showed a highly significant nonlinear correlation between the individual number or richness of ground plants and altitude. Results of CCA revealed that slope aspect had a significant effect on the distribution pattern of ferns, and slope had a significant effect on the distribution patterns of herbs, lianas and shrubs. Ferns were more sensitive than herbs, lianas and shrubs to changes in heat and soi
ISSN:1001-9332