Vegetation regionalization scheme in Putuo Island, Zhejiang Province

Abstract

Vegetation is an important part of island ecosystem. Due to the distinction of island vegetation from mainland vegetation, the existing mainland vegetation regionalization cannot be entirely applied to the islands. Hence island vegetation regionalization is necessary to provide scientific basis for the development and management of forest resources, protection of biodiversity and sustainable development of forest. Taking Putuo Island in Zhejiang Province as an example, and drawing on the vegetation investigation of 123 communities, survey of topography and landforms, long-term meteorological observation of 5 types micro-environments, this research put forward three principles that island vegetation regionalization should follow:the relative uniformity of geographical differences, the unification of vegetation types and flora, and the combination of biotic and abiotic factors. A system with three levels of indexes was developed:the primary indexes were mountain trend and climate; the secondary indexes were altitude and vegetation types; and the tertiary indexes were micro-topography and communities. According to this regionalization scheme, Putuo Island vegetation could be divided into two main zones including Southeast warm and humid zone and Northwest winter cold and dry zone, five secondary zones including forests, shrubs, grasses and etc., and thirteen tertiary zones. The research also described the basis of island vegetation regionalization, including the characteristics of microclimate, topography and landforms, community structure, and species components of each zone. Finally, the paper put forward the conservation measures for each zone, including thinning, nurturing, breeding, and natural succession. Putuo Island vegetation regionalization scheme filled the gap of island vegetation regionalization research, and provided references and theoretical guidance for the vegetation regionalization of other islands.