Ecological Analysis Of Population Structures Of Pinus Henryi And Pinus Tabuliformis

Pinus henryi and Pinus tabuliformis are endemic pines in China, both of which have important ecological, economic and scientific research values. So far, the discussions are mainly focused on the classification of Pinus henryi and the geographical boundary of them. The aim of this study contains several aspects:Firstly, for exploring the classication of Pinus henryi in ecological features and the effect of climate change on the potential distributions of Pinus henryi and Pinus tabuliformis, we analyze the ecological differences of the two species’ distributions, and respectively simulate and predict the potential distributions in two different climate scenarios. Secondly, we analyze the differences of populations’ morphological characters in the distribution contact area (Tsinling and Daba mountains) to provide more theoretical basis for the geographic boundary. Finally, by analyzing the correlations of morphological diversity, genetic diversity and ecological factors, we expect to explore the ecocline trend and adaptability of each population to provide some initial references for future studies on the role of ecological factors in the process of shaping for the two species.The results of analyzing ecological differences based on species show that:the differences between Pinus henryi and Pinus tabuliformis are mainly show in temperature, moisture, agrotype or other aspects. Pinus henryi prefers to grow in warm, moist environment and partial acidic fertile soils. It owns special ecological characteristics.The simulated results show that:Pinus henryi and Pinus tabuliformis are in continuous geographical distribution at present, and the potential distributions both reduce in future climate conditions. In2100, the distribution of Pinus tabuliformis will obviously shift to northwest in China, and Pinus henryi will be in fragment distribution, so it will be extremely urgent to protect the two species’ germ plasm resources, especially for Pinus henryi. There are some elements having great impacts on the simulating effect, such as the simulation models, ecological factors and the sample size during simulation. Phenotypic data from35populations in the two species contract area show that:(1)The differences among populations caused by cone and seed morphological traits make a contribution to understand the geographic boundary of Pinus henryi and Pinus tabliformis in Tsinling and Daba mountains.The boundary is along the line from Dahe, Qingshui, Jianliang, Qianjiaping to Taoyuan, and there are Pinus tabuliformis at Hongping, Shuangyang and Hanshui in the border of Daba mountains and Wuling moutains.(2)The differences among populations based on needle anatomical traits are discontinuous and promiscuous.(3)There are substantial correlations between morphological traits and ecological environment and ecocline trends on a or some factors. It is powerful influences that temperature, moisture and edatope have on shaping cone and seed morphological traits.(4)The phenotypic variation distance among populations based on cone and seed morphological traits and needle anatomical traits and the genetic variation distance based on nuSSR are irrelevant to geographic distance, but with which based on cpSSR is significant positive correlation.