Variations of plant life form diversity along northeast China transect and its direct gradient analysis

Article type: Research Article

Authors: Wang, Ren-zhong | Gao, Qiong | Tang, Hai-ping

Affiliations: Laboratory of Quantitative Vegetation Ecology, Institute ofBotany, the Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100093, China. E-mail: wangrenzh@sohu.com | Institute of Resources Science,Beijing Normal University, 100875, China

Abstract: Plant life form diversity and its direct gradientanalysis on a larger scale climate change gradient were tested,based on the data from Northeast China transect platform. Theresults showed that the species numbers, life form richness andlife form diversity were relative higher at the eastern forests andthe ecotone between typical vegetation, while those on the meadowgrasslands and typical steppes were lower. Although plant lifeforms can reflect the climate variations, life form diversity is not consistent with the major global gradient along the NECT.

Keywords: northeast China transect, plant life form diversity, ecotone, gradient analysis

Journal: Journal of Environmental Sciences, vol. 14, no. 4, pp. 547-551, 2002