Decadal Changes in Population Structures of Rare Oak Species Quercus chungii
ABSTRACT Quercus chungii, a rare and endangered endemic tree species, is found exclusively in subtropical regions of China. Understanding the population structure and temporal dynamics of Q. chungii is pivotal for effective conservation and restoration of its populations and associated ecosystems. H...
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| Format: | Article |
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Wiley
2024-10-01
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| Series: | Ecology and Evolution |
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| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1002/ece3.70479 |
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| author | Xueer Zhong Wenbin Li Zhenji Li Yonghui Huang Xinfeng Chen Lihan Huang Ya Wang Yuxin Chen |
| author_facet | Xueer Zhong Wenbin Li Zhenji Li Yonghui Huang Xinfeng Chen Lihan Huang Ya Wang Yuxin Chen |
| author_sort | Xueer Zhong |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | ABSTRACT Quercus chungii, a rare and endangered endemic tree species, is found exclusively in subtropical regions of China. Understanding the population structure and temporal dynamics of Q. chungii is pivotal for effective conservation and restoration of its populations and associated ecosystems. However, large knowledge gaps remain about its population structure and temporal change and its key demographic rates across size classes. In this study, we investigated the population structures of Q. chungii in 2013 and 2023 in a nature reserve specifically established to better conserve this species and its associated ecosystems. We found that Q. chungii increased in its overall abundance and tree size in the past decade, suggesting active regeneration and a rapid growth rate for this species and the effectiveness of past conservation efforts. The age structure in 2023 showed a pyramid shape, with a sharp decline in the numbers of individuals from germinated seeds to seedlings and from seedlings to saplings. These led to the low numbers of seedlings and saplings and high age‐specific death probabilities at the early developmental stages. These results indicated potential risks of future population decline. These risks may have already manifested over the past decade, as a high mortality rate during the seedling‐to‐sapling transition could be one of the primary reasons contributing to the decreased proportion of saplings in 2023 compared to 2013. We propose that future studies may benefit from in‐depth studies on the regeneration processes of Q. chungii by considering seed predation and germination under changing climate. This study improves the prediction of population development of Q. chungii, thereby offering theoretical guidance essential for its conservation. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-e94ac9b04fe74f22915d2bdc561e53c4 |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 2045-7758 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2024-10-01 |
| publisher | Wiley |
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| series | Ecology and Evolution |
| spelling | doaj-art-e94ac9b04fe74f22915d2bdc561e53c42024-12-20T09:05:59ZengWileyEcology and Evolution2045-77582024-10-011410n/an/a10.1002/ece3.70479Decadal Changes in Population Structures of Rare Oak Species Quercus chungiiXueer Zhong0Wenbin Li1Zhenji Li2Yonghui Huang3Xinfeng Chen4Lihan Huang5Ya Wang6Yuxin Chen7Key Laboratory of the Ministry of Education for Coastal and Wetland Ecosystems College of the Environment & Ecology, Xiamen University Xiamen ChinaKey Laboratory of the Ministry of Education for Coastal and Wetland Ecosystems College of the Environment & Ecology, Xiamen University Xiamen ChinaKey Laboratory of the Ministry of Education for Coastal and Wetland Ecosystems College of the Environment & Ecology, Xiamen University Xiamen ChinaAdministrative Office of Fujian Xiongjiang Huangchulin National Nature Reserve Minqing ChinaKey Laboratory of the Ministry of Education for Coastal and Wetland Ecosystems College of the Environment & Ecology, Xiamen University Xiamen ChinaKey Laboratory of the Ministry of Education for Coastal and Wetland Ecosystems College of the Environment & Ecology, Xiamen University Xiamen ChinaKey Laboratory of the Ministry of Education for Coastal and Wetland Ecosystems College of the Environment & Ecology, Xiamen University Xiamen ChinaKey Laboratory of the Ministry of Education for Coastal and Wetland Ecosystems College of the Environment & Ecology, Xiamen University Xiamen ChinaABSTRACT Quercus chungii, a rare and endangered endemic tree species, is found exclusively in subtropical regions of China. Understanding the population structure and temporal dynamics of Q. chungii is pivotal for effective conservation and restoration of its populations and associated ecosystems. However, large knowledge gaps remain about its population structure and temporal change and its key demographic rates across size classes. In this study, we investigated the population structures of Q. chungii in 2013 and 2023 in a nature reserve specifically established to better conserve this species and its associated ecosystems. We found that Q. chungii increased in its overall abundance and tree size in the past decade, suggesting active regeneration and a rapid growth rate for this species and the effectiveness of past conservation efforts. The age structure in 2023 showed a pyramid shape, with a sharp decline in the numbers of individuals from germinated seeds to seedlings and from seedlings to saplings. These led to the low numbers of seedlings and saplings and high age‐specific death probabilities at the early developmental stages. These results indicated potential risks of future population decline. These risks may have already manifested over the past decade, as a high mortality rate during the seedling‐to‐sapling transition could be one of the primary reasons contributing to the decreased proportion of saplings in 2023 compared to 2013. We propose that future studies may benefit from in‐depth studies on the regeneration processes of Q. chungii by considering seed predation and germination under changing climate. This study improves the prediction of population development of Q. chungii, thereby offering theoretical guidance essential for its conservation.https://doi.org/10.1002/ece3.70479endemic speciesFagaceaelife tablepopulation dynamicssecondary foresttemporal change |
| spellingShingle | Xueer Zhong Wenbin Li Zhenji Li Yonghui Huang Xinfeng Chen Lihan Huang Ya Wang Yuxin Chen Decadal Changes in Population Structures of Rare Oak Species Quercus chungii Ecology and Evolution endemic species Fagaceae life table population dynamics secondary forest temporal change |
| title | Decadal Changes in Population Structures of Rare Oak Species Quercus chungii |
| title_full | Decadal Changes in Population Structures of Rare Oak Species Quercus chungii |
| title_fullStr | Decadal Changes in Population Structures of Rare Oak Species Quercus chungii |
| title_full_unstemmed | Decadal Changes in Population Structures of Rare Oak Species Quercus chungii |
| title_short | Decadal Changes in Population Structures of Rare Oak Species Quercus chungii |
| title_sort | decadal changes in population structures of rare oak species quercus chungii |
| topic | endemic species Fagaceae life table population dynamics secondary forest temporal change |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1002/ece3.70479 |
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