RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN SPECIES RICHNESS OF PLANT FUNCTIONAL GROUPS AND LANDSCAPE PATTERNS IN A TROPICAL FOREST OF HAINAN ISLAND, CHINA

Abstract

Zhang ZD & Zang RG. 2011. Relationship between species richness of plant functional groups and
landscape patterns in a tropical forest of Hainan Island, China. The number of species and functional
group (FG) classification were obtained from 135 grid sample plots (58 225 individuals) in a tropical forest
landscape of Hainan Island, China in order to study the effects of landscape patterns of habitat types on
species richness of woody plant FGs. Correlation between species richness and landscape pattern metrics were
analysed by principal component and multiple linear regression analyses. The predominant determinants
of species richness in different FGs were percentage of landscape, edge density (ED), total edge contrast
index (TECI) and area-weighted mean shape index. The climax species were more sensitive to landscape
fragmentation than the pioneer species in terms of species richness change. The species richness in the
climax species increased markedly with increasing diversity and complexity of patches. In contrast, as ED
and TECI increased, pioneer species slightly increased, but climax species and the total number of species
decreased. This study further confirmed the prime role of landscape metrics in predicting the distribution
of species richness in different FGs.