Wang Jing, Hou Xiang, Zhang Bo, Han Ning, Feng Tuo, An Xiaolei, Chen Xiaoning, Zhao Jidong, Chang Gang
Shaanxi Institute of Zoology, Xi'an 710032, China.
College of Biology Pharmacy and Food Engineering, Shangluo University, Shangluo 726000, China.
Biology (Basel). 2022 Mar 30;11(4):533. doi: 10.3390/biology11040533.
Seed rain, as the beginning of species dispersal, is a key process for forest structure and regeneration. In this study, the seed rain of four Fagaceae sympatric plant species (, , and ) in the Qinling Mountains were monitored for ten consecutive years, and the responses of seed rain dynamics of the four species to major climatic factors (temperature and precipitation) were analyzed. We found there were significant differences in the seed rain dynamics between of and the other three species of in the initial period and end period and the duration of the whole seed rain process among the 10 years. This could indicate to some extent that there was no concentrated flowering and fruiting among different plants of different genera, and they could well avoid fierce competition for similar resources and coexist in the same region. This may also be a reproductive strategy for plants. Seed rain dynamics of different plant species had different sensitivities to climate factors (temperature and precipitation), which indicated that mainly because of their different responses to climate factors, they could well avoid fierce competition for similar climate resources. In addition, the differences in seed rain dropping dynamics could reduce consumption in large numbers by seed predators, thereby promoting their own dispersal and regeneration. All of the above contribute to their better coexistence in the same domain.
种子雨作为物种扩散的开端，是森林结构和更新的关键过程。在本研究中，对秦岭地区四种壳斗科同域分布植物物种（、、和）的种子雨进行了连续十年的监测，并分析了这四种物种种子雨动态对主要气候因子（温度和降水）的响应。我们发现，在初始阶段和末期以及十年间整个种子雨过程的持续时间方面，的种子雨动态与其他三种的种子雨动态存在显著差异。这在一定程度上表明，不同属的不同植物之间不存在集中开花和结果的情况，它们能够很好地避免对相似资源的激烈竞争，并在同一区域共存。这也可能是植物的一种繁殖策略。不同植物物种的种子雨动态对气候因子（温度和降水）具有不同的敏感性，这表明主要由于它们对气候因子的不同响应，它们能够很好地避免对相似气候资源的激烈竞争。此外，种子雨降落动态的差异可以减少种子捕食者的大量消耗，从而促进它们自身的扩散和更新。以上所有因素都有助于它们在同一区域更好地共存。
