Short-term effects of management intensity on the spatial structure and biodiversity of Camptotheca acuminata-Liquidambar formosana mixed plantations
Abstract
Aim of study: We aimed to 1) analyze the initial responses of stand spatial structure and understory biodiversity in Camptotheca acuminata Decne and Liquidambar formosana Hance mixed plantations to crop tree release (CTR) under varying thinning intensities, and 2) further explore the structural mechanisms driving biodiversity changes, intended to provide a theoretical basis for formulating effective CTR strategies to adjust spatial structure and modify biodiversity in the plantation.
Area of study: Beishan Forest Farm, Tongshan County, Hubei Province, China.
Material and methods: Twenty-five permanent plots were subjected to five thinning treatments: CK (control), WT (low-intensity), MT (moderate-intensity), HT (high-intensity), and ST (very high-intensity). Six spatial structure indices —uniform angle index (W), size ratio (U), mingling (M), openness (O), competition index (CI), and stand layer index (S)— were evaluated before, immediately after, and three years following CTR. Herbaceous and shrub layer biodiversity changes were also analyzed using redundancy analysis (RDA) and path analysis to identify key structural drivers.
Main results: Three years following CTR, W increased from 0.462 to 0.472, M from 0.593 to 0.640, and S from 0.429 to 0.569, while CI decreased from 0.689 to 0.589 but slightly increased by the end of the third year. Structural score rankings shifted over time. WT and HT improved herb layer diversity, while WT also enhanced the shrub layer’s Shannon-Wiener index. Mingling promoted herb diversity, while competition intensity negatively affected it.
Research highlights: M and CI were key determinants of understory biodiversity. WT and HT treatments effectively improved diversity, offering practical guidance for sustainable mixed plantation management.
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References
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