Interspecific interactions and correlations provide vital insights into species relationships and the overall stability of plant communities, which are essential for understanding the dynamics of vegetation restoration and biodiversity conservation. This study examined the interspecific associations and correlations within the evergreen broadleaved forest of Bidoup-Nui Ba National Park in southern Vietnam. The investigation was based on a comprehensive survey of all trees with a diameter at breast height (DBH) greater than 2.5 cm within a 4-ha study plot. A variety of analytical methods, including variance ratio (VR), chi-square test, association coefficient (AC), Ochiai Index, Pearson and Spearman correlation coefficients, and principal component analysis (PCA), were employed to assess the relationships among twelve dominant tree species. The results revealed the following key findings: (1) the community exhibited predominantly positive associations, suggesting a stable successional phase; (2) the ratio of positive to negative correlations exceeded 1, with a significantly higher number of positive correlations, reflecting stronger interspecific associations; (3) Spearman’s rank correlation test demonstrated greater sensitivity compared to other correlation methods; and (4) the classification of ecological species groups aligned with the correlation results, emphasizing the substantial influence of ecological traits and resource utilization strategies on interspecific relationships. These findings highlight the critical role of interspecific interactions in maintaining community stability and provide valuable insights for advancing ecosystem restoration and biodiversity conservation strategies.
Purchase
Buy instant access (PDF download and unlimited online access):
Institutional Login
Log in with Open Athens, Shibboleth, or your institutional credentials
Personal login
Log in with your brill.com account
Abella, S.R., Shelburne, V.B. 2004. Ecological species groups of South Carolina’s Jocassee Gorges, southern Appalachian Mountains. Journal of the Torrey Botanical Society. vol. 131, no. 3:220–231.
Arbainsyah, de Iongh H.H., Kustiawan, W., De Snoo, G.R. 2014. Structure, composition and diversity of plant communities in FSC-certified, selectively logged forests of different ages compared to primary rain forest. Biodiversity and Conservation. vol. 23:2445–2472.
Armas, C., Pugnaire, F.I. 2005. Plant interactions govern population dynamics in a semi-arid plant community. Journal of Ecology. vol. 93, no. 5:978–989.
Bauhus, J., Forrester, D.I., Gardiner, B., Jactel, H., Vallejo, R., Pretzsch, H. 2017. Ecological Stability of Mixed-Species Forests Berlin, Heidelberg: Springer.
Cardenas, R.E., Valencia, R., Kraft, N.J., Argoti, A., Dangles, O. 2014. Plant traits predict inter-and intraspecific variation in susceptibility to herbivory in a hyperdiverse Neotropical rain forest tree community. Journal of Ecology. vol. 102, no. 4:939–952.
Chai, Z.Z., Sun, C.L., Wang, D.X., Liu, W.Z. 2016. Interspecific associations of dominant tree populations in a virgin old-growth oak forest in the Qinling Mountains, China. Botanical Studies. vol. 57:1–13.
Chen, X.H., Ye, B.J., Pan, B.Z., Lin, B.H., Luo, M.X., Xiao, L.F., Liu, B., He, Z.M., Zheng, S.Q. 2020. Interspecific Association Analysis of Dominant Tree Species of Rare and Endangered Plant in Keteleeria fortunei var. cyclolepis Community. Journal of Tropical and Subtropical Botany. vol. 31, no. 1:21–30.
Du, D.L., Liu, Y.C., Li, R. 1995. Studies on the Interspecific Association of Dominant Species in a Subtropical Catanopsis fargesii Forest of Jinyun Mountain, China. Chinese Journal of Plant Ecology. vol. 19, no. 2:149–157.
Getzin, S., Wiegand, T., Hubbell, S.P. 2014. Stochastically driven adult – recruit associations of tree species on Barro Colorado Island. Proceedings of the Royal Society B: Biological Sciences. vol. 281, no. 1790:20140922.
Gu, L., Gong, Z.W., Li, W.Z. 2017. Niches and interspecific associations of dominant populations in three changed stages of natural secondary forests on Loess Plateau, PR China. Scientific Reports. vol. 7, no. 1:6604.
Guo, Y.A., Su, Z.Y., Chen, B.G. 2007. Interspecific Association of Main Tree Populations of the Montane Elfin Forest in Shimentai Nature Reserve, Guangdong Province. Journal of South China Agricultural University. vol. 28, no. 1:77–81.
Hodgson, J.G. 1986. Commonness and rarity in plants with special reference to the Sheffield flora Part I: The identity, distribution and habitat characteristics of the common and rare species. Biological Conservation. vol. 36, no. 3:199–252.
Huang, S.N., Li, Y.D., Luo, T.S., Wang, B.S. 2000. Dynamics of Associations Between Tree Species During 10 Years of Succession in a Secondary-growth Tropical Montane Rainforest at Jianfengling on Hainan Island, China. Chinese Journal of Plant Ecology. vol. 24, no. 5:569–574.
Huong, P.V., Cuong, L.V. 2022. The ecological interaction between endangered, precious and rare woody species in rich forest community of Tanphu protection forest, Vietnam. Biodiversitas. vol. 23, no. 12:6119–6127.
Huong, T.T.T., Hoi, N.D., Van Hung, T., Cuong, D.H. 2021. Floristic composition of tree diversity in mixed broad-needle leaf forest communities in bidoup-nuiba National Park, Lamdong province, Vietnam. Indian Journal of Ecology. vol. 48, no. 3:702–708.
Jiao, L., Zhang, F. 2011. Ecological Species Groups of Wetland Vegetation on Lianbotan in Fen River, Shanxi. Scientia Silvae Sinicae. vol. 47, no. 4:7–12.
Jin, S.-S., Zhang, Y.-Y., Zhou, M.-L., Dong, X.-M., Chang, C.-H., Wang, T., Yan, D.-F. 2022. Interspecific association and community stability of tree species in natural secondary forests at different altitude gradients in the southern Taihang Mountains. Forests. vol. 13, no. 3:373.
Kikvidze, Z. 1993. Plant species associations in alpine-subnival vegetation patches in the Central Caucasus. Journal of Vegetation Science. vol. 4, no. 3:297–302.
Kuznetsov, A., Kuznetsova, S. 2011. Biodiversity and Ecological Characteristics of Bidoup-Nui Ba National Park Hanoi, Vietnam: Vietnam Academy of Science and Technology Publishing House.
Li, Y., Xu, H., Chen, D., Luo, T., Mo, J., Luo, W., Chen, H., Jiang, Z. 2007. Discussing on the Ecological Species Groups and Functional Groups Division Basedon the Interspecific Association: A Case Study on the Arbor Layer Data in Tropical Lowland Rain Forest of Jianfenling, Hainan Island, China. Scientia Silvae Sinicae. vol. 43, no. 4:9–16.
Li, Y., Xu, H., Chen, D., Luo, T., Mo, J., Luo, W., Chen, H., Jiang, Z. 2008. Division of ecological species groups and functional groups based on interspecific association – a case study of the tree layer in the tropical lowland rainforest of Jianfenling in Hainan Island, China. Frontiers of Forestry in China. vol. 3:407–415.
Liu, R.H., Jiang, Y., Chang, B., Li, J.F., Rong, C.Y., Liang, S.C., Yang, R.A., Liu, X.T., Zeng, H.F., Su, X.L., et al. 2018. Interspecific associations and correlations among the main woody plants in a Pterocarya stenoptera community in a riparian zone of Lijiang River, Guilin, Southwest China. Acta Ecologica Sinica. vol. 38, no. 19:6881–6893.
Liu, Z.W., Bai, Y.F., Jiang, C.Q., Wang, S.L., Meng, J.H. 2019. Species association of the dominant tree species in an old-growth forest and their implications for silvicultural practices in western Hunan Province, China. Austrian Journal of Forest Science. vol. 136, no. 3:219–248.
Liu, Z.W., Zhu, Y., Wang, J.J., Ma, W., Meng, J.H. 2019. Species association of the dominant tree species in an old-growth forest and implications for enrichment planting for the restoration of natural degraded forest in subtropical China. Forests. vol. 10, no. 11:957.
Ludwig, J.A., Reynolds, J.F. 1988. Statistical ecology: a primer in methods and computing New York, USA: John Wiley & Sons.
Meyfroidt, P., Lambin, E.F. 2008. Forest transition in Vietnam and its environmental impacts. Global Change Biology. vol. 14, no. 6:1319–1336.
Nan, Q.R., Zhang, Q., Li, X.H., Zheng, D.N., Li, Z.H., Zhao, L.Y. 2023. Niche and interspecific association of the dominant species during the invasion of Alternanthera philoxeroides in the Yangtze River Basin, China. Agriculture. vol. 13, no. 3:621.
Nguyen, T.V., Wilting, A., Niedballa, J., Nguyen, A., Rawson, B.M., Nguyen, A.Q.H., Cao, T.T., Wearn, O.R., Dao, A.C., Tilker, A. 2022. Getting the big picture: Landscape-scale occupancy patterns of two Annamite endemics among multiple protected areas. Conservation Science and Practice. vol. 4, no. 3:e620.
Nguyen, V.Q., Pham, V.D., Bui, T.D., Nguyen, H.H. 2023. Niche and Interspecific Association of Dominant Tree Species in an Evergreen Broadleaved Forest in Southern Vietnam. Moscow University Biological Sciences Bulletin. vol. 78, no. 2:89–99.
Nguyen, V.Q., Pham, V.D., Vu, M., Nguyen, V.L., Nguyen, T.V., Nguyen, H.H. 2024. Neighborhood competition and spatial patterns of tree species in an evergreen broadleaved forest of Bidoup-Nui Ba National Park, southern Vietnam. Israel Journal of Ecology and Evolution. vol. 1, no. aop:1–13.
Quy, N.V., Dien, P.V., Long, N.T., Mai, T.H., Cuong, L.V., Trang, P.T., Hop, N.V., Tuan, N.T., Khamphet, P., Hai, N.H. 2024. Ecological species groups and interspecific associations of dominant woody species in a seasonal tropical forest of Laos. Annals of Forest Research. vol. 67, no. 2:167–184.
Roughgarden, J., Diamond, J. 1986. The role of species interactions in community ecology New York: Harper & Row Publishers Inc.
Ruan, P.Z., Wang, B., Zhong, Y.Q., Luo, T., Liu, C.Y., Lu, M.X., Tao, W.L., Lu, F., Li, D.X., Li, X.K. 2024. Interspecific association and community stability analysis of dominant trees and shrubs in the companion community of Camellia flavida Hung T. Chang. Plant Science Journal. vol. 42, no. 2:170–183.
Schluter, D. 1984. A variance test for detecting species associations, with some example applications. Ecology. vol. 65, no. 3:998–1005.
Schober, P., Boer, C., Schwarte, L.A. 2018. Correlation coefficients: appropriate use and interpretation. Anesthesia & Analgesia. vol. 126, no. 5:1763–1768.
Sterling, E.J., Hurley, M.M. 2008. Vietnam: a natural history London, England: Yale University Press.
Su, S.J., Liu, J.F., He, Z.S., Zheng, S.Q., Hong, W., Xu, D.W. 2015. Ecological species groups and interspecific association of dominant tree species in Daiyun Mountain National Nature Reserve. Journal of Mountain Science. vol. 12:637–646.
Tian, Q., Zhang, X., Xu, X., Yi, H., He, J., He, L., Sun, W. 2022. Knowledge about plant coexistence during vegetation succession for forest management on the loess plateau, China. Forests. vol. 13, no. 9:1456.
Tokeshi, M. 2009. Species coexistence: ecological and evolutionary perspectives New York City, United States: John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
Xu, M.H., Liu, M., Zhai, D.T., Liu, T. 2016. A review of contents and methods used to analyze various aspects of plant interspecific associations. Acta Ecologica Sinica. vol. 36, no. 24:8224–8233.
Yang, M., Yuan, D.M., Yan, L.B., Yu, L.F., An, M.T., He, Q.Q., Mu, J. 2024. Interspecific Relationships and Community Stability of Alsophila spinulosa Phyllostachys edulis Clusters. Journal of Tropical and Subtropical Botany. vol. 32, no. 3:349–356.
Yarranton, G.A. 1966. A plotless method of sampling vegetation. The Journal of Ecology. vol. 54, no. 1:229–237.
Yu, Y., Luo, Y.H., Liu, Z.Y., Meng, J., Huang, Y.J. 2020. Analysis of Inter-species Association and Inter-species Correlation of Dominant Trees in Evergreen and Deciduous Broad-leaved Mixed Forest in Mt.Cenwanglaoshan. Guangxi Sciences. vol. 27, no. 2:145–153.
Yuan, S., Wang, X. 2023. Niche and Interspecific Association of Dominant Tree Species in Spruce – Fir Mixed Forests in Northeast China. Forests. vol. 14, no. 8:1513.
Zar, J.H. 1972. Significance testing of the Spearman rank correlation coefficient. Journal of the American Statistical Association. vol. 67, no. 339:578–580.
Zhang, Q.M., Chen, B.G., Zhou, G.Y. 2006. Interspecific Association of the Dominant Species in Two Typical Communities in Dinghushan, South China. Journal of South China Agricultural University. vol. 27, no. 1:79–83.
Zhou, X.Y., Wang, B.S., Li, M.G., Zan, Q.J. 2000. An Analysis of Interspecific Associations in Secondary Succession Forest Communities in Heishiding Natural Reserve, Guangdong Province. Chinese Journal of Plant Ecology. vol. 24, no. 3:332–339.
| All Time | Past 365 days | Past 30 Days | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Abstract Views | 311 | 311 | 22 |
| Full Text Views | 19 | 19 | 0 |
| PDF Views & Downloads | 43 | 43 | 3 |
Interspecific interactions and correlations provide vital insights into species relationships and the overall stability of plant communities, which are essential for understanding the dynamics of vegetation restoration and biodiversity conservation. This study examined the interspecific associations and correlations within the evergreen broadleaved forest of Bidoup-Nui Ba National Park in southern Vietnam. The investigation was based on a comprehensive survey of all trees with a diameter at breast height (DBH) greater than 2.5 cm within a 4-ha study plot. A variety of analytical methods, including variance ratio (VR), chi-square test, association coefficient (AC), Ochiai Index, Pearson and Spearman correlation coefficients, and principal component analysis (PCA), were employed to assess the relationships among twelve dominant tree species. The results revealed the following key findings: (1) the community exhibited predominantly positive associations, suggesting a stable successional phase; (2) the ratio of positive to negative correlations exceeded 1, with a significantly higher number of positive correlations, reflecting stronger interspecific associations; (3) Spearman’s rank correlation test demonstrated greater sensitivity compared to other correlation methods; and (4) the classification of ecological species groups aligned with the correlation results, emphasizing the substantial influence of ecological traits and resource utilization strategies on interspecific relationships. These findings highlight the critical role of interspecific interactions in maintaining community stability and provide valuable insights for advancing ecosystem restoration and biodiversity conservation strategies.
| All Time | Past 365 days | Past 30 Days | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Abstract Views | 311 | 311 | 22 |
| Full Text Views | 19 | 19 | 0 |
| PDF Views & Downloads | 43 | 43 | 3 |