Stochastic process drives the dissimilarity in biodiversity patterns between coniferous forest and evergreen deciduous broad-leaved mixed forest in karst area.

is an endangered evergreen conifer tree species, and its conservation has been considered one of the most critical issues. However, relative protection is limited by the lack of understanding of its community structure and underlying assembly processes. To study how the species diversity and assembly processes of coniferous forest (CF) differed with regional climax community, this study established a series forest dynamic plots both in CF and evergreen deciduous broadleaved mixed forest (EDBM).

Variations in species diversity patterns and community assembly rules among vegetation types in the karst landscape.

The various vegetation types in the karst landscape have been considered the results of heterogeneous habitats. However, the lack of a comprehensive understanding of regional biodiversity patterns and the underlying ecological processes limits further research on ecological management. This study established forest dynamic plots (FDPs) of the dominant vegetation types (shrubland, SL; mixed tree and shrub forest, MTSF; coniferous forest, CF; coniferous broadleaf mixed forest, CBMF; and broadleaf forest, BF) in the karst landscape and quantified the species diversity patterns and potential ecological processes.