PARENT SESSION
Poster Session 2: Forest Ecology
Monday, August 8, 5:00 PM - 6:30 PM, Exhibit Hall 220 A-E, Level 2, Palais des congrès de Montréal

Spatial pattern of individuals in different age-classes of Larix principis-rupprechtii in Luya Mountain Reserve, North China.

Zhang, Jin-tun^*,1, Meng, Dongping², ¹ Beijing Normal University, Beijing, China² Shanxi University, Taiyuan, China

ABSTRACT- Luya Mountain Reserve is located at N38°36'-39°02', E111°46'-112°54' in Shanxi province, China. Larix principis-rupprechtii forest is an important vegetation type and is widely distributed in the Luya Mountain Reserve. It plays significant roles in water conservation, eco-tourism, and biodiversity in the area. Much research has been conducted on the larch forest community; however, few studies have concentrated on the distribution pattern. Spatial pattern analysis of individuals in different age-classes of larch was performed using point pattern analysis, which can analyze patterns under all scales along a gradient. It is based on spatially mapped points of individual distribution. The results show: the densities of five age-classes varied in the order: age-class 3> age-class 4>age-class 5>age-class 2>age-class 1. Although age-classes 1 and 2 have fewer individuals than the other three age-classes, the population is stable at present. However, it will be necessary to implement measures for improving long-term population regeneration. The individuals of all age-classes display a clumped distribution in space, but their distribution pattern varied with the change of scale. This is mainly dependent on biological features of the larch and forest environments, but it also indicates that scale is an important factor in controlling the spatial distribution patterns of individuals. Clumped distribution becomes more significant with increasing age. The relationships between individuals in different age-classes are almost all significantly correlated with each other. These associations become more significant within older age-classes. This suggests that individuals of different age classes are inter-distributed, by which the population can acquire benefits in resource utilization. It also suggests that the inner-relation of larch population in Luya reserve is rational, which can increase the population's ability of anti-disturbance and competition, and increase the stability of the forest community. The technique of point pattern analysis is an effective and easily used method in species pattern studies.

Key words: Population pattern, Larix forest, point pattern analysis, age-class