PJB-2016-281
TOPOGRAPHIC CONTROLS ON THE DISTRIBUTION OF INDIGENOUS RHODODENDRONS IN THE SOUTHERN SLOPE OF THE NANLING MOUNTAINS, SOUTH CHINA
LU ZHANG*, DING MA, XIAO-LI JING AND ZHI-YAO SU
Abstract
Rhododendrons, one of the traditional flowering plants in China and overseas, are famous for their beautiful flowers. However, only a few indigenous Rhododendron plants are used for landscaping in China. To determine the ecological role of distribution of Rhododendrons, and analyse whether and how major topographic factors influence the distribution and growth of indigenous Rhododendrons, a total of one hundred and two plots (10 m × 10 m, 100 m2) were laid out in the southern slope of the Nanling Mountains, South China (700–1900 m a.s.l.). We found that the topography affecting the Rhododendron species, i.e., Rhododendron simiarum, R. cavaleriei, R. bachii, R. championae, R. kwangtungense R. fortune, R. chunii., and there are different patterns among species. The richness and abundance of the seven indigenous Rhododendrons depaned on topographical gradient, greater higher elevation, intermediate slope steepness, convex slopes and shady aspect. By contrast, sunny habitats and habitat at low positions in the slope had fewer rhododendron plants. Non–parametric Kruskal–Wallis test and canonical correspondence analysis showed that altitude, position in the slope, slope shape and slope aspect had significant effects on the total abundance of Rhododendrons (p
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