Vegetation zonation across elevational gradients considering lithological influence: A case study from the Qinling Mountains heartland, China

This study focuses on a forest farm located in the hinterland of the Qinling Mountains, China, as the research site. Through the investigation and sampling within quadrat at different elevations in different lithology of the forest farm, the quantity, height, diameter at breast height(DBH) and coverage of arbors and shrubs within quadrat and the bedrock structure development degree, slope body unit were statistically analyzed. Soil and weathered parent rock samples were collected sequentially along soil depth profile within quadrat. After indoor experimental tests, the growth characteristics of vegetation, as well as the variation laws of physical and chemical properties and nutrients of soil along soil depth profile at different elevations in different lithology were analyzed, to explore the correlations of the overlying vegetation and soil long-term regulated by the bedrock along elevation in different lithology of Qinling Mountains.

本研究以中国秦岭腹地的某林场作为研究站点。通过对该林场不同岩性、不同海拔梯度下的样方（quadrat）开展野外调查与采样，对样方内乔、灌木的数量、高度、胸径（DBH）、覆盖度，以及基岩结构发育程度、坡体单元等指标进行统计分析。沿样方内的土壤深度剖面依次采集土壤与风化母岩样品，经室内实验测试后，分析植被生长特征，以及不同岩性、不同海拔梯度下土壤理化性质与养分沿土壤深度剖面的变化规律，以此探究秦岭不同岩性区域内，沿海拔梯度受基岩长期调控的地表植被与土壤间的相关关系。