Regeneration dynamics of subalpine fir (Abies fargesii) forest across the altitudinal range in the Shennongjia Mountains, central China

Abstract

Aims Age structure and regeneration dynamics have been used to infer population response to environmental events and reconstruct for est development history. The aim of this study was to characterize and examine the differences of the age structure and regeneration dynamics of subalpine fir (Abies fargesii) forest across the altitudinal range in the north and south aspects in the Shennongjia Mountains, central China. Methods Ten plots (20 × 20 m) at eac h altitudinal zone (i.e. the low elevation, the middle elevation and the high elevation) were established in both the north and south aspects of the Shennongjia Mountains, central China. Dendroecological techniques were applied to obtain information about ages of the trees in the plots. The population age structure was analyzed to investigate the regeneration dynamics across the altitudinal range.