Evergreen broad-leaved forest in Eastern China: Its ecology and conservation and the importance of resprouting in forest restoration

Biogeographical and ecological research on the evergreen broad-leaved forests (EBLF) of the Far East, which have been reduced to remnant fragments over the historical period has, until now, been very limited. To inform forest conservation and management, this paper describes research into major plant community types and underlying environmental gradients of degraded EBLF in Eastern China and examines the importance of resprouting as a key mechanism in secondary succession following forest clearance. Species composition was described from 199 10 m × 10 m plots and analysed using two-way indicator species analysis and canonical correspondence analysis ordination. Some 22 degraded and mature forest community types were identified, while CCA indicated that a primary vegetation gradient was related to distance of sample plot from mature forest, which was closely linked to altitude and slope. The secondary gradient corresponded to successional stage and disturbance. The roles of resprouting and reseeding characteristics in forest regeneration were researched firstly by 10 m × 10 m plots from selected TWINSPAN groups and secondly by 20 m × 20 m plots in representative areas of forest at 1, 20, 43 and 60 years and in an area of mature forest. The importance of resprouting in the regeneration of many EBLF tree and shrub species is demonstrated, a process linked to ideas of the persistence niche. Existing remnant forests should be conserved but forest restoration is also essential and will benefit from understanding of the importance of tree/shrub resprouting, as well as seedling recruitment in forest regeneration. Further work is required on seedbanks, germination success and both inter- and intra-specific competition within Chinese EBLF to assist with successful forest conservation and management.