Classification of Taiwan forest vegetation. Issue 4 (6th March 2013)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Li, Ching‐Feng; Chytrý, Milan; Zelený, David; Chen, Ming‐Yih; Chen, Tze‐Ying; Chiou, Chyi‐Rong; Hsia, Yue‐Joe; Liu, Ho‐Yih; Yang, Sheng‐Zehn; Yeh, Ching‐Long; Wang, Jenn‐Che; Yu, Chiou‐Feng; Lai, Yen‐Jen; Chao, Wei‐Chun; Hsieh, Chang‐Fu; Bruelheide, Helge
• Is Part Of: Applied vegetation science. Volume 16:Issue 4(2013:Oct.)
• Page Start: 698
• Page End: 719
• Publication Date: 2013-03-06
• Subjects: Plant ecology -- Periodicals; Plant communities -- Periodicals; Plant populations -- Periodicals; Nature -- Effect of human beings on -- Periodicals; 581.705
• DOI: 10.1111/avsc.12025
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1402-2001

Abstract

<abstract abstract-type="main" id="avsc12025-abs-0001"> <title>Abstract</title> <sec id="avsc12025-sec-0001" sec-type="section"> <title>Aim</title> <p>We identify the main forest vegetation types in Taiwan, provide their formal definitions and describe their species composition, habitat affinities and distribution.</p> </sec> <sec id="avsc12025-sec-0002" sec-type="section"> <title>Location</title> <p>Taiwan.</p> </sec> <sec id="avsc12025-sec-0003" sec-type="section"> <title>Methods</title> <p>A data set of 9822 vegetation plots with environmental characteristics recorded in the field or derived from digital maps in GIS was compiled from historical literature and an extensive field survey. Using expert knowledge, 6574 of these plots were used to build a classification into broad vegetation types. The units of the resulting classification were formally defined using a Cocktail determination key, which can be used for the automatic assignment of new vegetation plots to these vegetation types.</p> </sec> <sec id="avsc12025-sec-0004" sec-type="section"> <title>Results</title> <p>Twelve vegetation types of zonal forests and nine types of azonal forests were distinguished. Zonal types in the subtropical region, from high mountains to foothills, are <italic>Juniperus</italic> subalpine coniferous woodland, <italic>Abies–Tsuga</italic> upper‐montane coniferous forest, <italic>Chamaecyparis</italic> montane mixed cloud forest, <italic>Fagus</italic> montane deciduous broad‐leaved cloud forest, <italic>Quercus</italic> montane evergreen broad‐leaved cloud forest, <italic>Machilus–Castanopsis</italic> sub‐montane evergreen broad‐leaved forest, <italic>Phoebe</italic>–<italic>Machilus</italic> sub‐montane evergreen broad‐leaved forest and <italic>Ficus</italic>–<italic>Machilus</italic> semi‐evergreen foothill forest. Zonal types in the tropical region, from high mountains to foothills, are <italic>Pasania</italic>–<italic>Elaeocarpus</italic> montane evergreen broad‐leaved cloud forest, <italic>Drypetes</italic>–<italic>Helicia</italic> sub‐montane evergreen broad‐leaved forest, <italic>Dysoxylum–Machilus</italic> foothill evergreen broad‐leaved forest and <italic>Aglaia</italic>–<italic>Ficus</italic> foothill evergreen broad‐leaved forest. Azonal types are <italic>Illicium</italic>–<italic>Cyclobalanopsis</italic> tropical winter monsoon forest, <italic>Pyrenaria</italic>–<italic>Machilus</italic> subtropical winter monsoon forest, <italic>Diospyros</italic>–<italic>Champereia</italic> tropical rock‐outcrop forest, <italic>Zelkova–Quercus</italic> subtropical rock‐outcrop forest, <italic>Pinus</italic> successional woodland, <italic>Alnus</italic> successional woodland, <italic>Trema–Mallotus</italic> successional woodland, <italic>Scaevola–Hibiscus</italic> seashore woodland and <italic>Kandelia</italic> mangrove.</p> </sec> <sec id="avsc12025-sec-0005" sec-type="section"> <title>Conclusions</title> <p>The diversity of forest vegetation in Taiwan is strongly structured by the temperature and moisture gradient. Along the temperature gradient, five altitudinal zones can be recognized. Azonal forest types develop at sites affected by the winter monsoon, on steep slopes, rocky soils, in seashore saline habitats and in places disturbed by fire, landslides and human activities. Zonal vegetation contains a higher ratio of endemic and Pacific species and occurs in wetter habitats, whereas azonal vegetation contains co‐existing species from different regions and usually occurs in drier habitats.</p> </sec> </abstract>