Extreme Winter Storms Have Variable Effects on the Population Dynamics of Canopy Dominant Species in an Old-Growth Subtropical Forest

Abstract

Extreme climatic events are predicted to increase in frequency and magnitude as global climate change continues. Extreme climatic events have profound impacts on community structure and dynamics, but their effects on the dominant species within a community remains unclear. To explore this issue, we analyzed changes in population dynamics and dead individuals’ spatial pattern for several dominant species (Castanopsis eyrei, Schima superba, Pinus massoniana, and Daphniphyllum oldhamii) among different habitats in a subtropical forest before and after a significant winter storm that occurred in February 2008. Using the Gutianshan 24-ha forest plot as a representative sample, we found that the plot-level DBH of P. massoniana and C. eyrei significantly increased after the winter storm, while the plot-level basal area of P. massoniana and S. superba decreased significantly. In addition, P. massoniana was most affected by the storm (mortality: 9.08%; population change rate: −8.93%), followed by C. eyrei (mortality: 6.93%; population change rate: −4.91%). Small-diameter individuals experienced higher mortality rates, but the diameter structure of the dominant species at the population level remained basically stable. The number of individuals, the density of the dominant population, the number of mortalities, and the mortality rate of the dominant species differed among habitats. The spatial point patterns of the dead individuals at each life stage were mainly aggregated in distribution, and the degree of aggregation tended to decrease with increasing scale. In conclusion, the population dynamics of dominant species were significantly altered following the winter storm, but the extent of the changes varied with species. Our study suggests that analyzing the dominant species of a community contributes to a better understanding of the biological response of forest ecosystems in the face of extreme climatic events.