The differential responses of woody and herbaceous climbers to selective logging and supporter structure in a temperate forest of Xiaolong Mountain, China

Abstract

Knowledge of the responses of climbing plants to disturbance is important in understanding the ecology of climber but still lacking a general agreement. The present study quantified the diversity and abundance of climbing plants and self-supporting woody plants in 15 selectively logged and 11 unlogged forest stands in Xiaolong Mountain of Qinling Mountains, and further compared the difference of lianas and vines in response to selective logging and the structure of self-supporting woody plants. A total of 315 liana individuals belonging to 14 species, 11 genera and 9 families and 232 vine individuals belonging to 13 species, 12 genera, and 9 families were identified in the investigated stands. There were significant differences in diversity and abundance of lianas between the logged and unlogged stands, whereas vines had no apparent differences. Twining was the most common climbing mechanism used both by lianas and vines. Liana diversity showed positive relationship with tree abundance, but vine diversity was positively related with shrub diversity. The results suggest that lianas and vines respond differently to forest abiotic and biotic environments.