The relationship between fractal point pattern modeling and statistical methods of pa- rameter estimation in point-process modeling is reviewed. Statistical estimation of the cluster fractal dimension by using Ripley...The relationship between fractal point pattern modeling and statistical methods of pa- rameter estimation in point-process modeling is reviewed. Statistical estimation of the cluster fractal dimension by using Ripley＇s K-function has advantages in comparison with the more commonly used methods of box-counting and cluster fractal dimension estimation because it corrects for edge effects, not only for rectangular study areas but also for study areas with curved boundaries determined by re- gional geology. Application of box-counting to estimate the fractal dimension of point patterns has the disadvantage that, in general, it is subject to relatively strong ＂roll-off＂ effects for smaller boxes. Point patterns used for example in this paper are mainly for gold deposits in the Abitibi volcanic belt on the Canadian Shield. Additionally, it is proposed that, worldwide, the local point patterns of podiform Cr, volcanogenic massive sulphide and porphyry copper deposits, which are spatially distributed within irregularly shaped favorable tracts, satisfy the fractal clustering model with similar fractal dimensions. The problem of deposit size （metal tonnage） is also considered. Several examples are provided of cases in which the Pareto distribution provides good results for the largest deposits in metal size-frequency distribution modeling.展开更多
In this study, we investigated the natural growth of Haloxylon ammodendron forest in Moso Bay, southwest of Gurbantunggut Desert. Random sample analysis was used to analyze the spatial point pattern performance of Hal...In this study, we investigated the natural growth of Haloxylon ammodendron forest in Moso Bay, southwest of Gurbantunggut Desert. Random sample analysis was used to analyze the spatial point pattern performance of Haloxylon ammodendron population. ArcGIS software was used to summarize and analyze the spatial point pattern response of Haloxylon ammodendron population. The results showed that: 1) There were significant differences in the performance of point pattern analysis among different random quadrants. The paired t-test for variance mean ratio showed that the P values were 0.048, 0.004 and 0.301 respectively, indicating that the influence of quadrat shape on the performance of point pattern analysis was significant under the condition of the same optimal quadrat area. 2) The comparative analysis of square shapes shows that circular square is the best, square and regular hexagonal square are the second, and there is no significant difference between square and regular hexagonal square. 3) The number of samples plays a decisive role in spatial point pattern analysis. Insufficient sample size will lead to unstable results. With the increase of the number of samples to more than 120, the V value and P value curves will eventually stabilize. That is, stable spatial point pattern analysis results are closely related to the increase of the number of samples in random sample square analysis.展开更多
Several plant micro-reserves were established to preserve the vegetation in local mountain areas during the construction of the Yanqing competition zone of the 2022 Beijing Winter Olympics.The spatial patterns of the ...Several plant micro-reserves were established to preserve the vegetation in local mountain areas during the construction of the Yanqing competition zone of the 2022 Beijing Winter Olympics.The spatial patterns of the main species in one of the micro-reserves and the factors affecting these patterns were characterized in this study.The distribution of arbor species was found to be mostly aggregated,especially at fine scales(<5 m).Minor species were found to be more aggregated than the major species in each forest layer.The spatial patterns were found to be affected by habitat heterogeneity,intraspecific relationships,interspecific competition,and seed dispersal limitation.Habitat heterogeneity was found to affect large-scale spatial patterns,and its effects were observed throughout population development.Interspecific competition is another factor affecting the distribution of the species,and its effects were stronger during the later stages of population development.Habitat heterogeneity was found to affect competition among species and is key for species coexistence.Both these processes are affected by the seed dispersal limitation,and intraspecific relationships are a legacy of seed dispersal.The point patterns can be used as a tool for the initial assessment of the status of communities within micro-reserves.The consideration of these relationships in the development,management,and formulation of policies for micro-reserves in mountainous areas will facilitate the achievement of conservation goals.The careful consideration of habitat conditions when selecting sites for micro-reserves establishment can promote species conservation.展开更多
China is one of the countries with the longest history in the world.The protection and development of historical and cultural resources is an issue worthy of attention in the fields of economic geography and urban-rur...China is one of the countries with the longest history in the world.The protection and development of historical and cultural resources is an issue worthy of attention in the fields of economic geography and urban-rural planning at the present stage.This study takes the Zhongyuan Urban Agglomeration,which is rich in historical and cultural heritage,as a specific case,analyzes the characteristics of the spatial-temporal distribution pattern of its historical and cultural resources.The results show that the distribution structure of historical and cultural element resources within the Zhongyuan Urban Agglomeration presents significant regional agglomeration and combination characteristics.In response to the analysis results,the study formulates an optimization strategy for the regional development pattern supported by the protection and development of historical and cultural resources,and initially proposes a matching spatial development pattern plan and policy recommendations for coordinated development.展开更多
Research on the spatial patterns of tree populations is critical for understanding the structure and dynamic processes of forests.However,little is known about how the underlying drivers shape these patterns and speci...Research on the spatial patterns of tree populations is critical for understanding the structure and dynamic processes of forests.However,little is known about how the underlying drivers shape these patterns and species interactions in forest systems.In this study,spatial point pattern analysis investigated the combined eff ects of intraspecifi c interactions and environmental heterogeneity on the spatial structure and internal maintenance mechanisms of Picea crassifolia in the Qilian Mountain National Nature Reserve,China.Data were obtained from a 10.2-ha dynamic monitoring plot(DMP)and sixteen 0.04-ha elevation gradient plots(EGPs).Under complete spatial randomness,both mature trees and saplings in the DMP demonstratedlarge-scale aggregation with negative correlations.In EGPs,saplings were clustered in small mesoscales,mature trees were randomly distributed,and the interactions of saplingstrees at all elevations were not correlated.By eliminating the interference of environmental heterogeneity through the inhomogeneous Poisson process,saplings in the DMP and EGPs were clustered in small scales and trees randomly distributed.Intraspecifi c associations were negatively correlated,in the DMP and at low elevations,and no correlations in high elevations of EGPs.In the vertical scale,saplings showed a small-scale aggregation pattern with increase in elevation,and the aggregation degree fi rst decreased and then increased.The interactions of saplings-trees and saplings–saplings showed inhibitions at small scales,with the degree of inhibition gradually decreasing.Spatial patterns and associations of adults–adults did not change signifi-cantly.The results revealed that intraspecifi c interactions and environmental heterogeneity regulated the spatial patterns of P.crassifolia at small and large scales,respectively.Environmental heterogeneity might be the most decisive factor aff ecting the spatial patterns of saplings,while trees were more aff ected by intraspecifi c interactions.Moreover,competition between trees in this area could be more common than facilitation for the growth and development of individuals.展开更多
For exploring the aftershock occurrence process of the 2008 Wenchuan strong earthquake, the spatio-temporal point pattern analysis method is employed to study the sequences of aflershocks with magnitude M≥4.0, M≥4.5...For exploring the aftershock occurrence process of the 2008 Wenchuan strong earthquake, the spatio-temporal point pattern analysis method is employed to study the sequences of aflershocks with magnitude M≥4.0, M≥4.5, and M≥5.0. It is found that these data exhibit the spatio-temporal clustering on a certain distance scale and on a certain time scale. In particular, the space-time interaction obviously strengthens when the distance is less than 60 km and the time is less than 260 h for the first two aftershock sequences; however, it becomes strong when the distance scale is less than 80 km and the time scale is less than 150 h for the last aftershock sequence. The completely spatial randomness analysis on the data regardless of time component shows that the spatial clustering of the aftershocks gradually strengthens on the condition that the distance is less than 60 km. The results are valuable for exploring the occurrence rules of the Wenchuan strong earthquake and for predicting the aftershocks.展开更多
The divergent gap characteristics and spatial patterns of canopy gaps created by natural or artificial disturbances can exert a dominant influence on forest structure and composition.However,little research has been c...The divergent gap characteristics and spatial patterns of canopy gaps created by natural or artificial disturbances can exert a dominant influence on forest structure and composition.However,little research has been conducted on the effects of ice storm damage on canopy gaps in subtropical mature forests of South China.In this study,one semi-natural site was dominated by a broad-leaf forest and two managed sites were representative of plantations with coniferous forests.Based on airborne laser scanning data and field evidence across sites,statistical analyses were used to examine gap characteristics following ice storms of moderate severity.Generalized Ripley’s K-function analysis was applied to test gap spatial patterns at a range of scales,and spatial point pattern analysis was used to quantitate the relative importance of specific influences on patterns of gap occurrence.The results revealed that the average gap size was 75.7 m^2 and that 12.2 gaps occurred per hectare.Most gaps were single-tree fall events.In addition to more gaps,the mean gap size was smaller and the shape was more complex in the semi-natural site than in two managed sites.Large differences in gap characteristics were observed among snapped,uprooted,snag,and artificial gap damage types.Gaps generally showed a clustered distribution at large scales(e.g.70 m),whereas spatial patterns varied with gap damage types at different sites.The occurrence of gaps was strongly related to slope and topographic position at the semi-natural site,whereas slope,stem density,and human accessibility(proximity to pathways)were the most important factors affecting gap occurrence at the managed sites.We suggest that gap-based silvicultural treatments and natural disturbances regimes conjoin,highlighting interactions with other factors such as microsite conditions,non-tree vegetation and more.展开更多
Most of the Point Pattern Matching (PPM) algorithm performs poorly when the noise of the point's position and outliers exist. This paper presents a novel and robust PPM algorithm which combined Point Pair Topologi...Most of the Point Pattern Matching (PPM) algorithm performs poorly when the noise of the point's position and outliers exist. This paper presents a novel and robust PPM algorithm which combined Point Pair Topological Characteristics (PPTC) and Spectral Matching (SM) together to solve the afore mentioned issues. In which PPTC, a new shape descriptor, is firstly proposed. A new comparability measurement based on PPTC is defined as the matching probability. Finally, the correct matching results are achieved by the spectral matching method. The synthetic data experiments show its robustness by comparing with the other state-of-art algorithms and the real world data experiments show its effectiveness.展开更多
Molecular dynamics simulations are performed to study the nanoindentation models of monolayer suspended graphene and graphyne. Fullerenes are selected as indenters. Our results show that Young＇s modulus of monolayer-...Molecular dynamics simulations are performed to study the nanoindentation models of monolayer suspended graphene and graphyne. Fullerenes are selected as indenters. Our results show that Young＇s modulus of monolayer-thick graphyne is almost half of that of graphene, which is estimated to be 0.50 TPa. The mechanical properties of graphene and graphyne are different in the presence of strain. A pre-tension has an important effect on the mechanical properties of a membrane. Both the pre-tension and Young＇s modulus plots demonstrate index behavior. The toughness of graphyne is stronger than that of graphene due to Young＇s modulus magnitude. Young＇s moduli of graphene and graphyne are almost independent of the size ratio of indenter to membrane.展开更多
Ongoing encroachment is driving recent alpine shrubline dynamics globally,but the role of shrub-shrub interactions in shaping shrublines and their relationships with stem density changes remain poorly understood.Here,...Ongoing encroachment is driving recent alpine shrubline dynamics globally,but the role of shrub-shrub interactions in shaping shrublines and their relationships with stem density changes remain poorly understood.Here,the size and age of shrubs from 26 Salix shrubline populations along a 900-km latitudinal gradient(30°-38°N)were measured and mapped across the eastern Tibetan Plateau.Point pattern analyses were used to quantify the spatial distribution patterns of juveniles and adults,and to assess spatial associations between them.Mean intensity of univariate and bivariate spatial patterns was related to biotic and abiotic variables.Bivariate mark correlation functions with a quantitative mark(shrub height,basal stem diameter,crown width)were also employed to investigate the spatial relationships between shrub traits of juveniles and adults.Structural equation models were used to explore the relationships among conspecific interactions,patterns,shrub traits and recruitment dynamics under climate change.Most shrublines showed clustered patterns,suggesting the existence of conspecific facilitation.Clustered patterns of juveniles and conspecific interactions(potentially facilitation)tended to intensify with increasing soil moisture stress.Summer warming before 2010 triggered positive effects on population interactions and spatial patterns via increased shrub recruitment.However,summer warming after2010 triggered negative effects on interactions through reduced shrub recruitment.Therefore,shrub recruitment shifts under rapid climate change could impact spatial patterns,alter conspecific interactions and modify the direction and degree of shrublines responses to climate.These changes would have profound implications for the stability of alpine woody ecosystems.展开更多
Drone technology opens the door to major changes and opportunities in our society.But this technology,like many others,needs to be administered and regulated to prevent potential harm to the public.Therefore,national ...Drone technology opens the door to major changes and opportunities in our society.But this technology,like many others,needs to be administered and regulated to prevent potential harm to the public.Therefore,national and local governments around the world established regulations for operating drones,which bans drone use from specific locations or limits their operation to qualified drone pilots only.This study reviews the types of restrictions on drone use that are specified in federal drone regulations for the US,the UK,and France,and in state regulations for the US.The study also maps restricted areas and assesses compliance with these regulations by analyzing the spatial contribution patterns to three crowd-sourced drone portals,namely SkyPixel,Flickr,and DroneSpot,relative to restricted areas.The analysis is performed both at the national level and at the state/regional level within each of the three countries,where statistical tests are conducted to compare compliance rates between the three drone portals.This study provides new insight into drone users’awareness of and compliance with drone regulations.This can help governments to tailor information campaigns for increased awareness of drone regulations among drone users and to determine where increased control and enforcement of drone regulations is necessary.展开更多
Decline in wildlife populations is manifest globally, regionally and locally. A wildlife decline of 68% has been reported in Kenya’s rangelands with Baringo County experiencing more than 85% wildlife loss in the last...Decline in wildlife populations is manifest globally, regionally and locally. A wildlife decline of 68% has been reported in Kenya’s rangelands with Baringo County experiencing more than 85% wildlife loss in the last four decades. Greater Kudu (Tragelaphus strepsiceros) is endemic to Lake Bogoria landscape in Baringo County and constitutes a major tourist attraction for the region necessitating use of its photo on the County’s logo and thus a flagship species. Tourism plays a central role in Baringo County’s economy and is a major source of potential growth and employment creation. The study was carried out to assess spatio-temporal change of dispersal areas of Greater Kudu (GK) in Lake Bogoria landscape in the last four years for enhanced adaptive management and improved livelihoods. GK population distribution primary data collected in December 2022 and secondary data acquired from Lake Bogoria National Game Reserve (LBNGR) for 2019 and 2020 were digitized using in a Geographic Information System (GIS). Measures of dispersion and point pattern analysis (PPA) were used to analyze dispersal of GK population using GIS. Spatio-temporal change of GK dispersal in LBNR was evident thus the null hypothesis was rejected. It is recommended that anthropogenic activities contributing to GK’s habitat degradation be curbed by providing alternative livelihood sources and promoting community adoption of sustainable technologies for improved livelihoods.展开更多
Conspecific negative density dependence(CNDD)is a potentially important mechanism in maintaining species diversity.While previous evidence showed habitat heterogeneity and species’dispersal modes affect the strength ...Conspecific negative density dependence(CNDD)is a potentially important mechanism in maintaining species diversity.While previous evidence showed habitat heterogeneity and species’dispersal modes affect the strength of CNDD at early life stages of trees(e.g.,seedlings),it remains unclear how they affect the strength of CNDD at later life stages.We examined the degree of spatial aggregation between saplings and trees for species dispersed by wind and gravity in four topographic habitats within a 25-ha temperate forest dynamic plot in the Qinling Mountains of central China.We used the replicated spatial point pattern(RSPP)analysis and bivariate paircorrelation function(PCF)to detect the spatial distribution of saplings around trees at two scales,15 and 50 m,respectively.Although the signal was not apparent across the whole study region(or 25-ha),it is distinct on isolated areas with specific characteristics,suggesting that these characteristics could be important factors in CNDD.Further,we found that the gravity-dispersed tree species experienced CNDD across habitats,while for wind-dispersed species CNDD was found in gully,terrace and low-ridge habitats.Our study suggests that neglecting the habitat heterogeneity and dispersal mode can distort the signal of CNDD and community assembly in temperate forests.展开更多
Ecological interactions of species and thus their spatial pat- terns may differ between homogeneous and heterogeneous forests. To account for this, techniques of point pattern analysis were implemented on mapped locat...Ecological interactions of species and thus their spatial pat- terns may differ between homogeneous and heterogeneous forests. To account for this, techniques of point pattern analysis were implemented on mapped locations of tree individuals from two 1-ha tropicalforest plots in Vietnam. We analyzed the effect of environmental heterogeneity on tree distributions; spatial distribution patterns of dominant species; inter-specific associations; and conspecific associations between life stages. Our analyses showed that： environmental conditions were homo- geneous at plot 1 but heterogeneous at plot 2; in both plots, all six domi- nant species were aggregated at various scales up to 30 m, and tree spe- cies were aggregated at larger scales in the homogeneous site than in the heterogeneous site; attraction between pairs of species was remarkably higher at the homogeneous site while negative associations were more frequent in the heterogeneous site; some species, H. kurzii, T. ilicifolia （homogeneous plot） and D. sylvatica, S. wightianum （heterogeneous plot） showed a lack of early life-stage individuals near conspecific adults. Moreover, additional clustering of young individuals was independent from conspecific adults, except D. sylvatica in both sites. These findings are consistent with the Janzen-ConneU hypothesis. Overall, habitat het- erogeneity influences spatial patterns and inter-specific associations of the tree species and evidences of self-thinning are shown in most species.展开更多
Grazing significantly affects the distribution,growth,and productivity of shrubs.In this study,we evalu-ated the effects of grazing disturbance on the spatial distri-bution patterns and interspecific relationships of ...Grazing significantly affects the distribution,growth,and productivity of shrubs.In this study,we evalu-ated the effects of grazing disturbance on the spatial distri-bution patterns and interspecific relationships of two desert shrubs,Ammopiptanthus mongolicus and Sarcozygium xan-thoxylon.Three types of grazing conditions were considered,including enclosed area(EA),seasonal rotational grazing area(SRGA),and grazing area(GA)(100 m×100 m),in the West Ordos Nature Reserve of Inner Mongolia,China.The results showed that A.mongolicus and S.xanthoxylon populations were uniformly distributed at a small scale,and the distribution in EA and SRGA became gradually ran-dom.In GA,A.mongolicus population showed aggregated distribution but S.xanthoxylon population showed random distribution at a small scale. Moreover, both A. mongolicus and S. xanthoxylon populations at the 5-7 m scale showed random distribution. At the small and intermediate scales, the two species showed positive interspecific relationships of GA. However, no interspecific relationship was noted between the two species in EA and SRGA. A significant positive relationship (P < 0.01) was noted between the two species at 2-9 m and a negative relationship (P < 0.01) at 13-17 m scales in GA. Positive relationship (P < 0.01) was noted between the two species at 6-13 m scales and a sig-nificant negative relationship (P < 0.01) at 14-24 m scales in SRGA. The two species of desert shrubs showed posi-tive interspecific relationships at the small scale, and they showed negative relationships as the interspecific compe-tition intensified in the presence of grazing disturbance. When the grazing intensity exceeds a certain threshold, the interspecific relationships become weak. Therefore, moder-ate grazing would facilitate interspecific competition and species succession, whereas excessive grazing would disrupt natural competition causing desertification ultimately.展开更多
A new spectral matching algorithm is proposed by us- ing nonsubsampled contourlet transform and scale-invariant fea- ture transform. The nonsubsampled contourlet transform is used to decompose an image into a low freq...A new spectral matching algorithm is proposed by us- ing nonsubsampled contourlet transform and scale-invariant fea- ture transform. The nonsubsampled contourlet transform is used to decompose an image into a low frequency image and several high frequency images, and the scale-invariant feature transform is employed to extract feature points from the low frequency im- age. A proximity matrix is constructed for the feature points of two related images. By singular value decomposition of the proximity matrix, a matching matrix （or matching result） reflecting the match- ing degree among feature points is obtained. Experimental results indicate that the proposed algorithm can reduce time complexity and possess a higher accuracy.展开更多
Landslides influence the capacity for safe and sustainable development of mountainous environments.This study explores the spatial distribution of and the interactions between landslides that are mapped using global p...Landslides influence the capacity for safe and sustainable development of mountainous environments.This study explores the spatial distribution of and the interactions between landslides that are mapped using global positioning system(GPS) and extensive field surveys in Mazandaran Province,Iran.Point-pattern assessment is undertaken using several univariate summary statistical functions,including pair correlation,spherical-contact distribution,nearest-neighbor analysis,and O-ring analysis,as well as bivariate summary statistics,and a markcorrelation function.The maximum entropy method was applied to prioritize the factors controlling the incidence of landslides and the landslides susceptibility map.The validation processes were considered for separated 30%data applying the ROC curves,fourfold plot,and Cohen’s kappa index.The results show that pair correlation and O-ring analyses satisfactorily predicted landslides at scales from 1 to 150 m.At smaller scales,from 150 to 400 m,landslides were randomly distributed.The nearest-neighbor distribution function show that the highest distance to the nearest landslide occurred in the 355 m.The spherical-contact distribution revealed that the patterns were random up to a spatial scale of 80 m.The bivariate correlation functions revealed that landslides were positively linked to several linear features(including faults,roads,and rivers) at all spatial scales.The mark-correlation function showed that aggregated fields of landslides were positively correlated with measures of land use,lithology,drainage density,plan curvature,and aspect,when the numbers of landslides in the groups were greater than the overall average aggregation.The results of analysis of factor importance have showed that elevation(topography map scale:1:25,000),distance to roads,and distance to rivers are the most important factors in the occurrence of landslides.The susceptibility model of landslides indicates an excellent accuracy,i.e.,the AUC value of landslides was 0.860.The susceptibility map of landslides analyzed has shown that 35% of the area is low susceptible to landslides.展开更多
Understanding population structure provides basic ecological data related to species and ecosystems.Our objective was to understand the mechanisms involved in the maintenance of Quercus aquifolioides populations.Using...Understanding population structure provides basic ecological data related to species and ecosystems.Our objective was to understand the mechanisms involved in the maintenance of Quercus aquifolioides populations.Using a 1 ha permanent sample plot data for Q.aquifolioides on Sejila Mountain,Tibet Autonomous Region(Tibet),China,we analyzed the population structure of Q.aquifolioides by combining data for diameter class,static life table and survival curve.Simultaneously,the spatial distribution of Q.aquifolioides was studied using Ripley’s L Function in point pattern analysis.The results showed:(1) Individuals in Q.aquifolioides populations were mainly aggregated in the youngest age classes,that accounted for94.3% of the individuals; the older age classes had much smaller populations.Although the youngest age classes(ClassesⅠ and Ⅱ) had fewer individuals than Class Ⅲ,the total number of individuals in classes Ⅰ and Ⅱ was also greater than in classes Ⅳ to Ⅸ.In terms of tree height,fewsaplings,more medium-sized saplings and few large-sized trees were found.The diameter class structure of Q.aquifolioides populations formed an atypical ‘pyramid’type; the population was expanding,but growth was limited,tending toward a stable population.(2) Mortality of Q.aquifolioides increased continuously with age; life expectancy decreased over time,and the survivorship curve was close to a Deevey I curve.(3) The spatial distribution pattern of Q.aquifolioides varied widely across different developmental stages.Saplings and medium-sized tree showed aggregated distributions at the scales of 0–33 m and 0–29 m,respectively.The aggregation intensities of saplings and medium-sized trees at small scales were significantly stronger than that of large-sized trees.However,large-sized trees showed a random distribution at most scales.(4) No correlation was observed among saplings,medium-and large-sized trees at small scales,while a significant and negative association was observed as the scale increased.Strong competition was found among saplings,medium-and large-sized trees,while no significant association was observed between medium-and largesized trees at all scales.Biotic interactions and local ecological characteristics influenced the spatial distribution pattern of Q.aquifolioides populations most strongly.展开更多
Background： One of the most important drivers of forest biodiversity is conspecific negative density dependence（CNDD）, a reduction in performance when conspecific densities are high. While the majority of CNDD rese...Background： One of the most important drivers of forest biodiversity is conspecific negative density dependence（CNDD）, a reduction in performance when conspecific densities are high. While the majority of CNDD research has focused on tropical forests, evidence is mounting that CNDD may also play an important role in temperate forests.To further explore the potential reach of this phenomenon, we investigated CNDD in American beech（Fagus grandifolia）in a mature mid-Atlantic forest.Methods： We used bivariate point pattern analyses to examine spatial relationships between large beech trees and conspecific saplings, and we also contrasted these patterns with comparable patterns for heterospecifics. In addition, to address the possibility of dispersal limitation and the associated effects on spatial patterns, we analyzed seedling density as a function of adult conspecific abundance.Results： We found that beech saplings were more repel ed from large conspecifics than large heterospecifics, despite the fact that beech seedling density was positively correlated with beech basal area. However, saplings of other canopy tree species were also repel ed from adult beech trees, suggesting a general suppressive effect. Nonetheless, the discrepancy between beech seedling and sapling densities beneath adult conspecifics suggests that beech seedling survival rates were reduced in vicinity of conspecific adults.Conclusions： Regardless of the extent to which beech inhibits heterospecific trees, a negative effect on conspecific recruits may be critical for biodiversity maintenance. Without this conspecific suppression, a dense layer of shade-tolerant beech saplings could form beneath adult beech trees. If this were to occur, beech would have a substantial head-start fol owing canopy disturbance, and this late-successional species could potential y dominate a stand in perpetuity,through repeated disturbance cycles.展开更多
Abies georgei var.smithii is an important plant species in Southeast Tibet,China.It has high ecological value in terms of biodiversity protection,as well as soil and water conservation.We analyzed the spatial pattern ...Abies georgei var.smithii is an important plant species in Southeast Tibet,China.It has high ecological value in terms of biodiversity protection,as well as soil and water conservation.We analyzed the spatial pattern and associations of A.georgei var.smithii populations at different growth stages by using Ripley's L function for point pattern analysis.The diameter structure was a nearly reverse 'J' shape.The amount of saplings and medium-sized trees accounts for a large part of the entire population,suggesting a high regeneration rate and an expanding population.In the transition from saplings to medium trees or to large trees,saplings show a significant aggregation distribution at small scales,while medium trees and large trees show a random distribution.There are significant inverse associations between saplings and medium trees and large trees at small scales,while there are no obvious associations between medium trees and large trees.The natural regeneration was affected by interspecific competition,and it was also affected by intraspecific competition.The joint effects of biological characteristics and environmental factors contribute to the spatial distribution pattern and associations of this A.georgei var.sm ithii population.展开更多
基金supported by Geological Survey of Canada and China University of Geosciences (Wuhan)
文摘The relationship between fractal point pattern modeling and statistical methods of pa- rameter estimation in point-process modeling is reviewed. Statistical estimation of the cluster fractal dimension by using Ripley＇s K-function has advantages in comparison with the more commonly used methods of box-counting and cluster fractal dimension estimation because it corrects for edge effects, not only for rectangular study areas but also for study areas with curved boundaries determined by re- gional geology. Application of box-counting to estimate the fractal dimension of point patterns has the disadvantage that, in general, it is subject to relatively strong ＂roll-off＂ effects for smaller boxes. Point patterns used for example in this paper are mainly for gold deposits in the Abitibi volcanic belt on the Canadian Shield. Additionally, it is proposed that, worldwide, the local point patterns of podiform Cr, volcanogenic massive sulphide and porphyry copper deposits, which are spatially distributed within irregularly shaped favorable tracts, satisfy the fractal clustering model with similar fractal dimensions. The problem of deposit size （metal tonnage） is also considered. Several examples are provided of cases in which the Pareto distribution provides good results for the largest deposits in metal size-frequency distribution modeling.
文摘In this study, we investigated the natural growth of Haloxylon ammodendron forest in Moso Bay, southwest of Gurbantunggut Desert. Random sample analysis was used to analyze the spatial point pattern performance of Haloxylon ammodendron population. ArcGIS software was used to summarize and analyze the spatial point pattern response of Haloxylon ammodendron population. The results showed that: 1) There were significant differences in the performance of point pattern analysis among different random quadrants. The paired t-test for variance mean ratio showed that the P values were 0.048, 0.004 and 0.301 respectively, indicating that the influence of quadrat shape on the performance of point pattern analysis was significant under the condition of the same optimal quadrat area. 2) The comparative analysis of square shapes shows that circular square is the best, square and regular hexagonal square are the second, and there is no significant difference between square and regular hexagonal square. 3) The number of samples plays a decisive role in spatial point pattern analysis. Insufficient sample size will lead to unstable results. With the increase of the number of samples to more than 120, the V value and P value curves will eventually stabilize. That is, stable spatial point pattern analysis results are closely related to the increase of the number of samples in random sample square analysis.
基金supported by the Program of Beijing Municipal Science and Technology Project:Monitoring and Evaluation of Ecological Protection Works of Competition Zone in Beijing Mountainous Area of 2022 Olympics Winter Games(Z181100005318004)。
文摘Several plant micro-reserves were established to preserve the vegetation in local mountain areas during the construction of the Yanqing competition zone of the 2022 Beijing Winter Olympics.The spatial patterns of the main species in one of the micro-reserves and the factors affecting these patterns were characterized in this study.The distribution of arbor species was found to be mostly aggregated,especially at fine scales(<5 m).Minor species were found to be more aggregated than the major species in each forest layer.The spatial patterns were found to be affected by habitat heterogeneity,intraspecific relationships,interspecific competition,and seed dispersal limitation.Habitat heterogeneity was found to affect large-scale spatial patterns,and its effects were observed throughout population development.Interspecific competition is another factor affecting the distribution of the species,and its effects were stronger during the later stages of population development.Habitat heterogeneity was found to affect competition among species and is key for species coexistence.Both these processes are affected by the seed dispersal limitation,and intraspecific relationships are a legacy of seed dispersal.The point patterns can be used as a tool for the initial assessment of the status of communities within micro-reserves.The consideration of these relationships in the development,management,and formulation of policies for micro-reserves in mountainous areas will facilitate the achievement of conservation goals.The careful consideration of habitat conditions when selecting sites for micro-reserves establishment can promote species conservation.
基金Major Program of National Fund of Philosophy and Social Science of China(24&ZD148).
文摘China is one of the countries with the longest history in the world.The protection and development of historical and cultural resources is an issue worthy of attention in the fields of economic geography and urban-rural planning at the present stage.This study takes the Zhongyuan Urban Agglomeration,which is rich in historical and cultural heritage,as a specific case,analyzes the characteristics of the spatial-temporal distribution pattern of its historical and cultural resources.The results show that the distribution structure of historical and cultural element resources within the Zhongyuan Urban Agglomeration presents significant regional agglomeration and combination characteristics.In response to the analysis results,the study formulates an optimization strategy for the regional development pattern supported by the protection and development of historical and cultural resources,and initially proposes a matching spatial development pattern plan and policy recommendations for coordinated development.
基金supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China(No.32060247)the Central Guidance on Local Science and Technology Development Fund of Gansu Province(No.22ZY2QG001).
文摘Research on the spatial patterns of tree populations is critical for understanding the structure and dynamic processes of forests.However,little is known about how the underlying drivers shape these patterns and species interactions in forest systems.In this study,spatial point pattern analysis investigated the combined eff ects of intraspecifi c interactions and environmental heterogeneity on the spatial structure and internal maintenance mechanisms of Picea crassifolia in the Qilian Mountain National Nature Reserve,China.Data were obtained from a 10.2-ha dynamic monitoring plot(DMP)and sixteen 0.04-ha elevation gradient plots(EGPs).Under complete spatial randomness,both mature trees and saplings in the DMP demonstratedlarge-scale aggregation with negative correlations.In EGPs,saplings were clustered in small mesoscales,mature trees were randomly distributed,and the interactions of saplingstrees at all elevations were not correlated.By eliminating the interference of environmental heterogeneity through the inhomogeneous Poisson process,saplings in the DMP and EGPs were clustered in small scales and trees randomly distributed.Intraspecifi c associations were negatively correlated,in the DMP and at low elevations,and no correlations in high elevations of EGPs.In the vertical scale,saplings showed a small-scale aggregation pattern with increase in elevation,and the aggregation degree fi rst decreased and then increased.The interactions of saplings-trees and saplings–saplings showed inhibitions at small scales,with the degree of inhibition gradually decreasing.Spatial patterns and associations of adults–adults did not change signifi-cantly.The results revealed that intraspecifi c interactions and environmental heterogeneity regulated the spatial patterns of P.crassifolia at small and large scales,respectively.Environmental heterogeneity might be the most decisive factor aff ecting the spatial patterns of saplings,while trees were more aff ected by intraspecifi c interactions.Moreover,competition between trees in this area could be more common than facilitation for the growth and development of individuals.
基金supported by the Key Project of Chinese National Programs for Fun-damental Research and Development (973 program) (2008CB425704)
文摘For exploring the aftershock occurrence process of the 2008 Wenchuan strong earthquake, the spatio-temporal point pattern analysis method is employed to study the sequences of aflershocks with magnitude M≥4.0, M≥4.5, and M≥5.0. It is found that these data exhibit the spatio-temporal clustering on a certain distance scale and on a certain time scale. In particular, the space-time interaction obviously strengthens when the distance is less than 60 km and the time is less than 260 h for the first two aftershock sequences; however, it becomes strong when the distance scale is less than 80 km and the time scale is less than 150 h for the last aftershock sequence. The completely spatial randomness analysis on the data regardless of time component shows that the spatial clustering of the aftershocks gradually strengthens on the condition that the distance is less than 60 km. The results are valuable for exploring the occurrence rules of the Wenchuan strong earthquake and for predicting the aftershocks.
基金funded by the Science&Technology Innovation Platform and Talents Plan of Hunan Province in China(Grants No.2017TP1022)the Natural Science Foundation of Hunan Province in China(Grant No.2020JJ4938)。
文摘The divergent gap characteristics and spatial patterns of canopy gaps created by natural or artificial disturbances can exert a dominant influence on forest structure and composition.However,little research has been conducted on the effects of ice storm damage on canopy gaps in subtropical mature forests of South China.In this study,one semi-natural site was dominated by a broad-leaf forest and two managed sites were representative of plantations with coniferous forests.Based on airborne laser scanning data and field evidence across sites,statistical analyses were used to examine gap characteristics following ice storms of moderate severity.Generalized Ripley’s K-function analysis was applied to test gap spatial patterns at a range of scales,and spatial point pattern analysis was used to quantitate the relative importance of specific influences on patterns of gap occurrence.The results revealed that the average gap size was 75.7 m^2 and that 12.2 gaps occurred per hectare.Most gaps were single-tree fall events.In addition to more gaps,the mean gap size was smaller and the shape was more complex in the semi-natural site than in two managed sites.Large differences in gap characteristics were observed among snapped,uprooted,snag,and artificial gap damage types.Gaps generally showed a clustered distribution at large scales(e.g.70 m),whereas spatial patterns varied with gap damage types at different sites.The occurrence of gaps was strongly related to slope and topographic position at the semi-natural site,whereas slope,stem density,and human accessibility(proximity to pathways)were the most important factors affecting gap occurrence at the managed sites.We suggest that gap-based silvicultural treatments and natural disturbances regimes conjoin,highlighting interactions with other factors such as microsite conditions,non-tree vegetation and more.
文摘Most of the Point Pattern Matching (PPM) algorithm performs poorly when the noise of the point's position and outliers exist. This paper presents a novel and robust PPM algorithm which combined Point Pair Topological Characteristics (PPTC) and Spectral Matching (SM) together to solve the afore mentioned issues. In which PPTC, a new shape descriptor, is firstly proposed. A new comparability measurement based on PPTC is defined as the matching probability. Finally, the correct matching results are achieved by the spectral matching method. The synthetic data experiments show its robustness by comparing with the other state-of-art algorithms and the real world data experiments show its effectiveness.
基金Supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China under Grant No 11274262the Natural Science Foundation of Hunan Province under Grand No 14JJ2046the Program for Changjiang Scholars and Innovative Research Team in Universities under Grant No IRT13093
文摘Molecular dynamics simulations are performed to study the nanoindentation models of monolayer suspended graphene and graphyne. Fullerenes are selected as indenters. Our results show that Young＇s modulus of monolayer-thick graphyne is almost half of that of graphene, which is estimated to be 0.50 TPa. The mechanical properties of graphene and graphyne are different in the presence of strain. A pre-tension has an important effect on the mechanical properties of a membrane. Both the pre-tension and Young＇s modulus plots demonstrate index behavior. The toughness of graphyne is stronger than that of graphene due to Young＇s modulus magnitude. Young＇s moduli of graphene and graphyne are almost independent of the size ratio of indenter to membrane.
基金the National Natural Science Foundation of China(42271054)the Second Tibetan Plateau Scientific Expedition and Research Program(2019QZKK0301)。
文摘Ongoing encroachment is driving recent alpine shrubline dynamics globally,but the role of shrub-shrub interactions in shaping shrublines and their relationships with stem density changes remain poorly understood.Here,the size and age of shrubs from 26 Salix shrubline populations along a 900-km latitudinal gradient(30°-38°N)were measured and mapped across the eastern Tibetan Plateau.Point pattern analyses were used to quantify the spatial distribution patterns of juveniles and adults,and to assess spatial associations between them.Mean intensity of univariate and bivariate spatial patterns was related to biotic and abiotic variables.Bivariate mark correlation functions with a quantitative mark(shrub height,basal stem diameter,crown width)were also employed to investigate the spatial relationships between shrub traits of juveniles and adults.Structural equation models were used to explore the relationships among conspecific interactions,patterns,shrub traits and recruitment dynamics under climate change.Most shrublines showed clustered patterns,suggesting the existence of conspecific facilitation.Clustered patterns of juveniles and conspecific interactions(potentially facilitation)tended to intensify with increasing soil moisture stress.Summer warming before 2010 triggered positive effects on population interactions and spatial patterns via increased shrub recruitment.However,summer warming after2010 triggered negative effects on interactions through reduced shrub recruitment.Therefore,shrub recruitment shifts under rapid climate change could impact spatial patterns,alter conspecific interactions and modify the direction and degree of shrublines responses to climate.These changes would have profound implications for the stability of alpine woody ecosystems.
文摘Drone technology opens the door to major changes and opportunities in our society.But this technology,like many others,needs to be administered and regulated to prevent potential harm to the public.Therefore,national and local governments around the world established regulations for operating drones,which bans drone use from specific locations or limits their operation to qualified drone pilots only.This study reviews the types of restrictions on drone use that are specified in federal drone regulations for the US,the UK,and France,and in state regulations for the US.The study also maps restricted areas and assesses compliance with these regulations by analyzing the spatial contribution patterns to three crowd-sourced drone portals,namely SkyPixel,Flickr,and DroneSpot,relative to restricted areas.The analysis is performed both at the national level and at the state/regional level within each of the three countries,where statistical tests are conducted to compare compliance rates between the three drone portals.This study provides new insight into drone users’awareness of and compliance with drone regulations.This can help governments to tailor information campaigns for increased awareness of drone regulations among drone users and to determine where increased control and enforcement of drone regulations is necessary.
文摘Decline in wildlife populations is manifest globally, regionally and locally. A wildlife decline of 68% has been reported in Kenya’s rangelands with Baringo County experiencing more than 85% wildlife loss in the last four decades. Greater Kudu (Tragelaphus strepsiceros) is endemic to Lake Bogoria landscape in Baringo County and constitutes a major tourist attraction for the region necessitating use of its photo on the County’s logo and thus a flagship species. Tourism plays a central role in Baringo County’s economy and is a major source of potential growth and employment creation. The study was carried out to assess spatio-temporal change of dispersal areas of Greater Kudu (GK) in Lake Bogoria landscape in the last four years for enhanced adaptive management and improved livelihoods. GK population distribution primary data collected in December 2022 and secondary data acquired from Lake Bogoria National Game Reserve (LBNGR) for 2019 and 2020 were digitized using in a Geographic Information System (GIS). Measures of dispersion and point pattern analysis (PPA) were used to analyze dispersal of GK population using GIS. Spatio-temporal change of GK dispersal in LBNR was evident thus the null hypothesis was rejected. It is recommended that anthropogenic activities contributing to GK’s habitat degradation be curbed by providing alternative livelihood sources and promoting community adoption of sustainable technologies for improved livelihoods.
基金Shihong Jia was financially supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China(Grant No.32001120)the Fundamental Research Funds for the Central Universities(Grant No.31020200QD026)+1 种基金Qiulong Yin was supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China(Grant No.32001171)Ying Luo was supported by the Innovation Capability Support Program of Shaanxi(Grant No.2022KRM090).
文摘Conspecific negative density dependence(CNDD)is a potentially important mechanism in maintaining species diversity.While previous evidence showed habitat heterogeneity and species’dispersal modes affect the strength of CNDD at early life stages of trees(e.g.,seedlings),it remains unclear how they affect the strength of CNDD at later life stages.We examined the degree of spatial aggregation between saplings and trees for species dispersed by wind and gravity in four topographic habitats within a 25-ha temperate forest dynamic plot in the Qinling Mountains of central China.We used the replicated spatial point pattern(RSPP)analysis and bivariate paircorrelation function(PCF)to detect the spatial distribution of saplings around trees at two scales,15 and 50 m,respectively.Although the signal was not apparent across the whole study region(or 25-ha),it is distinct on isolated areas with specific characteristics,suggesting that these characteristics could be important factors in CNDD.Further,we found that the gravity-dispersed tree species experienced CNDD across habitats,while for wind-dispersed species CNDD was found in gully,terrace and low-ridge habitats.Our study suggests that neglecting the habitat heterogeneity and dispersal mode can distort the signal of CNDD and community assembly in temperate forests.
基金supported with funds from the Ministry of Education and Training of Vietnam
文摘Ecological interactions of species and thus their spatial pat- terns may differ between homogeneous and heterogeneous forests. To account for this, techniques of point pattern analysis were implemented on mapped locations of tree individuals from two 1-ha tropicalforest plots in Vietnam. We analyzed the effect of environmental heterogeneity on tree distributions; spatial distribution patterns of dominant species; inter-specific associations; and conspecific associations between life stages. Our analyses showed that： environmental conditions were homo- geneous at plot 1 but heterogeneous at plot 2; in both plots, all six domi- nant species were aggregated at various scales up to 30 m, and tree spe- cies were aggregated at larger scales in the homogeneous site than in the heterogeneous site; attraction between pairs of species was remarkably higher at the homogeneous site while negative associations were more frequent in the heterogeneous site; some species, H. kurzii, T. ilicifolia （homogeneous plot） and D. sylvatica, S. wightianum （heterogeneous plot） showed a lack of early life-stage individuals near conspecific adults. Moreover, additional clustering of young individuals was independent from conspecific adults, except D. sylvatica in both sites. These findings are consistent with the Janzen-ConneU hypothesis. Overall, habitat het- erogeneity influences spatial patterns and inter-specific associations of the tree species and evidences of self-thinning are shown in most species.
基金The work was supported by the Basic Scientific Research Foundation Special Project of the China Institute of Water Resources and Hydropower Research(nos.MK2020J08 and MK2016J03)National Natural Science Foundation of China:Action Mechanism Research on Ecological Spatial Configuration of Desert Shrub To The Formation and Development of Fertile Island(41967009).
文摘Grazing significantly affects the distribution,growth,and productivity of shrubs.In this study,we evalu-ated the effects of grazing disturbance on the spatial distri-bution patterns and interspecific relationships of two desert shrubs,Ammopiptanthus mongolicus and Sarcozygium xan-thoxylon.Three types of grazing conditions were considered,including enclosed area(EA),seasonal rotational grazing area(SRGA),and grazing area(GA)(100 m×100 m),in the West Ordos Nature Reserve of Inner Mongolia,China.The results showed that A.mongolicus and S.xanthoxylon populations were uniformly distributed at a small scale,and the distribution in EA and SRGA became gradually ran-dom.In GA,A.mongolicus population showed aggregated distribution but S.xanthoxylon population showed random distribution at a small scale. Moreover, both A. mongolicus and S. xanthoxylon populations at the 5-7 m scale showed random distribution. At the small and intermediate scales, the two species showed positive interspecific relationships of GA. However, no interspecific relationship was noted between the two species in EA and SRGA. A significant positive relationship (P < 0.01) was noted between the two species at 2-9 m and a negative relationship (P < 0.01) at 13-17 m scales in GA. Positive relationship (P < 0.01) was noted between the two species at 6-13 m scales and a sig-nificant negative relationship (P < 0.01) at 14-24 m scales in SRGA. The two species of desert shrubs showed posi-tive interspecific relationships at the small scale, and they showed negative relationships as the interspecific compe-tition intensified in the presence of grazing disturbance. When the grazing intensity exceeds a certain threshold, the interspecific relationships become weak. Therefore, moder-ate grazing would facilitate interspecific competition and species succession, whereas excessive grazing would disrupt natural competition causing desertification ultimately.
基金supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (6117212711071002)+1 种基金the Specialized Research Fund for the Doctoral Program of Higher Education (20113401110006)the Innovative Research Team of 211 Project in Anhui University (KJTD007A)
文摘A new spectral matching algorithm is proposed by us- ing nonsubsampled contourlet transform and scale-invariant fea- ture transform. The nonsubsampled contourlet transform is used to decompose an image into a low frequency image and several high frequency images, and the scale-invariant feature transform is employed to extract feature points from the low frequency im- age. A proximity matrix is constructed for the feature points of two related images. By singular value decomposition of the proximity matrix, a matching matrix （or matching result） reflecting the match- ing degree among feature points is obtained. Experimental results indicate that the proposed algorithm can reduce time complexity and possess a higher accuracy.
基金We would like to thank from Shiraz University for supporting us on this studyThe study was supported by College of Agriculture,Shiraz University(Grant No.96GRD1M271143).
文摘Landslides influence the capacity for safe and sustainable development of mountainous environments.This study explores the spatial distribution of and the interactions between landslides that are mapped using global positioning system(GPS) and extensive field surveys in Mazandaran Province,Iran.Point-pattern assessment is undertaken using several univariate summary statistical functions,including pair correlation,spherical-contact distribution,nearest-neighbor analysis,and O-ring analysis,as well as bivariate summary statistics,and a markcorrelation function.The maximum entropy method was applied to prioritize the factors controlling the incidence of landslides and the landslides susceptibility map.The validation processes were considered for separated 30%data applying the ROC curves,fourfold plot,and Cohen’s kappa index.The results show that pair correlation and O-ring analyses satisfactorily predicted landslides at scales from 1 to 150 m.At smaller scales,from 150 to 400 m,landslides were randomly distributed.The nearest-neighbor distribution function show that the highest distance to the nearest landslide occurred in the 355 m.The spherical-contact distribution revealed that the patterns were random up to a spatial scale of 80 m.The bivariate correlation functions revealed that landslides were positively linked to several linear features(including faults,roads,and rivers) at all spatial scales.The mark-correlation function showed that aggregated fields of landslides were positively correlated with measures of land use,lithology,drainage density,plan curvature,and aspect,when the numbers of landslides in the groups were greater than the overall average aggregation.The results of analysis of factor importance have showed that elevation(topography map scale:1:25,000),distance to roads,and distance to rivers are the most important factors in the occurrence of landslides.The susceptibility model of landslides indicates an excellent accuracy,i.e.,the AUC value of landslides was 0.860.The susceptibility map of landslides analyzed has shown that 35% of the area is low susceptible to landslides.
基金financially supported by the National Key Technology Support Program(Grant No.2013BAC04B01)the National Natural Science Foundation of China(Grant No.31460200)
文摘Understanding population structure provides basic ecological data related to species and ecosystems.Our objective was to understand the mechanisms involved in the maintenance of Quercus aquifolioides populations.Using a 1 ha permanent sample plot data for Q.aquifolioides on Sejila Mountain,Tibet Autonomous Region(Tibet),China,we analyzed the population structure of Q.aquifolioides by combining data for diameter class,static life table and survival curve.Simultaneously,the spatial distribution of Q.aquifolioides was studied using Ripley’s L Function in point pattern analysis.The results showed:(1) Individuals in Q.aquifolioides populations were mainly aggregated in the youngest age classes,that accounted for94.3% of the individuals; the older age classes had much smaller populations.Although the youngest age classes(ClassesⅠ and Ⅱ) had fewer individuals than Class Ⅲ,the total number of individuals in classes Ⅰ and Ⅱ was also greater than in classes Ⅳ to Ⅸ.In terms of tree height,fewsaplings,more medium-sized saplings and few large-sized trees were found.The diameter class structure of Q.aquifolioides populations formed an atypical ‘pyramid’type; the population was expanding,but growth was limited,tending toward a stable population.(2) Mortality of Q.aquifolioides increased continuously with age; life expectancy decreased over time,and the survivorship curve was close to a Deevey I curve.(3) The spatial distribution pattern of Q.aquifolioides varied widely across different developmental stages.Saplings and medium-sized tree showed aggregated distributions at the scales of 0–33 m and 0–29 m,respectively.The aggregation intensities of saplings and medium-sized trees at small scales were significantly stronger than that of large-sized trees.However,large-sized trees showed a random distribution at most scales.(4) No correlation was observed among saplings,medium-and large-sized trees at small scales,while a significant and negative association was observed as the scale increased.Strong competition was found among saplings,medium-and large-sized trees,while no significant association was observed between medium-and largesized trees at all scales.Biotic interactions and local ecological characteristics influenced the spatial distribution pattern of Q.aquifolioides populations most strongly.
基金funded by the Klein-Maloney Felowshipthe Schapiro Undergraduate Research Felowshipthe Chenery Research Grant
文摘Background： One of the most important drivers of forest biodiversity is conspecific negative density dependence（CNDD）, a reduction in performance when conspecific densities are high. While the majority of CNDD research has focused on tropical forests, evidence is mounting that CNDD may also play an important role in temperate forests.To further explore the potential reach of this phenomenon, we investigated CNDD in American beech（Fagus grandifolia）in a mature mid-Atlantic forest.Methods： We used bivariate point pattern analyses to examine spatial relationships between large beech trees and conspecific saplings, and we also contrasted these patterns with comparable patterns for heterospecifics. In addition, to address the possibility of dispersal limitation and the associated effects on spatial patterns, we analyzed seedling density as a function of adult conspecific abundance.Results： We found that beech saplings were more repel ed from large conspecifics than large heterospecifics, despite the fact that beech seedling density was positively correlated with beech basal area. However, saplings of other canopy tree species were also repel ed from adult beech trees, suggesting a general suppressive effect. Nonetheless, the discrepancy between beech seedling and sapling densities beneath adult conspecifics suggests that beech seedling survival rates were reduced in vicinity of conspecific adults.Conclusions： Regardless of the extent to which beech inhibits heterospecific trees, a negative effect on conspecific recruits may be critical for biodiversity maintenance. Without this conspecific suppression, a dense layer of shade-tolerant beech saplings could form beneath adult beech trees. If this were to occur, beech would have a substantial head-start fol owing canopy disturbance, and this late-successional species could potential y dominate a stand in perpetuity,through repeated disturbance cycles.
基金funded by the National Key Technology Support Program (2013BAC04B01)
文摘Abies georgei var.smithii is an important plant species in Southeast Tibet,China.It has high ecological value in terms of biodiversity protection,as well as soil and water conservation.We analyzed the spatial pattern and associations of A.georgei var.smithii populations at different growth stages by using Ripley's L function for point pattern analysis.The diameter structure was a nearly reverse 'J' shape.The amount of saplings and medium-sized trees accounts for a large part of the entire population,suggesting a high regeneration rate and an expanding population.In the transition from saplings to medium trees or to large trees,saplings show a significant aggregation distribution at small scales,while medium trees and large trees show a random distribution.There are significant inverse associations between saplings and medium trees and large trees at small scales,while there are no obvious associations between medium trees and large trees.The natural regeneration was affected by interspecific competition,and it was also affected by intraspecific competition.The joint effects of biological characteristics and environmental factors contribute to the spatial distribution pattern and associations of this A.georgei var.sm ithii population.
