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Patterns of tree species richness in Southwest China

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Abstract

As a region known for its high species richness, southwest China plays an important role in preserving global biodiversity and ensuring ecological security in the Yangtze, Mekong, and Salween river basins. However, relatively few studies focus on the response of tree species richness to climate change in this part of China. This study determined the main tree species in southwest China using the Vegetation Map of China and the Flora of China. From simulations of 1970 to 2000 and three forecasts of future benign, moderate, and extreme climate warming anticipated during 2061 to 2080, this study used a maximum entropy model (MaxEnt) to simulate main tree species richness in southwest China. Regions with a peak species richness at intermediate elevations were typically dominated by complex mountainous terrain, such as in the Hengduan Mountains. Likewise, regions with the smallest richness were low-elevation areas, including the Sichuan Basin, and the high-elevation Sichuan-Tibet region. Annual precipitation, minimum temperature of the coldest month, temperature seasonality, and elevation were the most critical factors in estimating tree species richness in southwest China. During future 2061 to 2080 climate scenarios, tree species tended to migrate towards higher elevations as mean temperatures increased. For climate change scenarios RCP2.6–2070 (benign) and RCP4.5–2070 (moderate), the main tree species richness in the study area changed little. During the RCP8.5–2070 extreme scenario, tree species richness decreased. This study provides useful guidance to plan and implement measures to conserve biodiversity.

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Acknowledgments

The authors thank Dr. Yuanjie Xu from Yunnan Academy of Biodiversity for helpful suggestions.

Funding

This work was supported by the National Natural Science Foundation [31700467], Agricultural joint general project of Yunnan Province [2018FG001–065], and Doctoral Research Launch Fund project of Southwest Forestry University [112003].

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. College of Forestry, Southwest Forestry University, 300 Bailongsi, Qingyun, Kunming, 650224, China

    Shuangfei Lu, Siyi Zhou, Xiaojie Yin, Chao Zhang, Rongliang Li, Jiahui Chen, Dongxu Ma, Yi Wang & Zhexiu Yu

  2. College of Forestry, Nanjing Forestry University, 159 Longpan, Nanjing, 210037, China

    Yuheng Chen

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  1. Shuangfei Lu
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  2. Siyi Zhou
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  3. Xiaojie Yin
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  4. Chao Zhang
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  5. Rongliang Li
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  6. Jiahui Chen
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  7. Dongxu Ma
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  8. Yi Wang
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  9. Zhexiu Yu
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  10. Yuheng Chen
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Contributions

Shuangfei Lu participated in the design of the study, carried out data analysis, and wrote original draft. Xiaojie Yin conceived of the study, participated in the design, and provided project financial support. Siyi Zhou and Chao Zhang reviewed, rewrote, and edited this manuscript. Rongliang Li, Jiahui Chen, Dongxu Ma, Yi Wang, and Yuheng Chen carried out investigation and data curation. Zhexiu Yu was responsible for the operation of the software. All authors read and approved the final manuscript.

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Correspondence to Xiaojie Yin.

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Lu, S., Zhou, S., Yin, X. et al. Patterns of tree species richness in Southwest China. Environ Monit Assess 193, 97 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10661-021-08872-y

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