Diversity and abundance of large old trees in Hainan Island: Spatial analysis and environmental correlations

• Published in: Biotropica 2024-11, Vol.56 (6), p.n/a
• Main Authors: Xie, Chunping, Yan, Jiahao, Liu, Dawei, Jim, C. Y.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Abundance; Age; Age composition; Age structure; Climate change; Community composition; Conservation; conservation strategy; distribution pattern; Distribution patterns; Dominant species; elevation factor; Environmental factors; Fagaceae; Ficus altissima; Geographical distribution; Height; Human influences; importance value; large old trees; Litchi chinensis; Moraceae; Sapindaceae; Social interactions; Spatial analysis; Species composition; Species diversity; Tamarindus indica; Trees; Urban agriculture; Urbanization
• ISSN: 0006-3606; 1744-7429
• DOI: 10.1111/btp.13391

Large old trees (LOTs) are invaluable natural treasures and cultural legacies, holding ecological, historical, social, and economic significance. However, climate change and human impacts threaten their existence. Understanding their species composition, age structure, biomass, and distribution patterns in relation to environmental factors is essential for effective conservation. In Hainan Island, South China, we analyzed 1081 LOTs from 74 species across 35 families, using a combination of field surveys and government data. The dominant families were Moraceae, Sapindaceae, and Fagaceae, with key species including Ficus altissima, Litchi chinensis, and Tamarindus indica. The age distribution followed a reverse J‐shape, indicating a prevalence of trees aged 300–399 years. In contrast, diameter at breast height (DBH) and height distributions were unimodal, favoring medium to large‐sized trees. Spatial analysis revealed uneven distribution patterns: the western zone exhibited the highest species diversity, the central zone moderate diversity, and the eastern zone low diversity, reflecting uneven urban and agricultural impacts. Most LOTs were concentrated at elevations of 0–50 m. Factors such as GDP, urbanization, and forest cover positively correlated with LOT abundance and diversity, with forest cover and average annual temperature particularly favoring these trees. The findings emphasize the intricate relationship between environmental factors and LOT distribution. They advocate for tailored conservation strategies that address the complex interplay of ecological, socioeconomic, and cultural influences on their preservation. in Chinese is available with online material. 摘要() 标题(Title):海南岛古树多样性格局与环境空间分析.古树是宝贵的自然和文化遗产，具有生态、历史、社会和经济意义；然而，气候变化和人类活动威胁着它们的生存。了解古树的物种组成、年龄结构、生物量和分布模式与环境因素的关系对于有效保护它们至关重要。在中国南端的海南岛，我们结合实地调查和政府数据，分析了35科74种1,081棵古树。海南岛古树的优势科是桑科、无患子科和壳斗科，主要物种包括榕树、荔枝和罗望子。研究区域的古树年龄分布结构呈倒J形，这表明 300–399 年的树木占主导地位，而胸径和高度分布呈单峰分布，则说明了中型到大型树木占多。空间分析揭示了古树分布的不均匀性:西部地区物种多样性最高，中部地区中等，东部地区的多样性较低，这反映了城市和农业对古树分布的影响。大多数古树集中在海拔0‐50米处。GDP(国内生产总值)、城市化和森林覆盖率等因素与古树的丰富度和多样性呈正相关，森林覆盖率和年平均气温特别有利于古树的分布。研究结果强调了环境因素与古树分布之间的复杂关系，我们呼吁制定有针对性的保护策略，以解决生态、社会经济和文化影响对古树保护的复杂作用. This study examines the distribution and environmental correlations of 1081 large old trees (LOTs) across 74 species in Hainan Island, South China. The findings reveal uneven spatial patterns, with species diversity varying across the island and influenced by factors such as GDP, urbanization, and forest cover. The