苔藓植物是森林生态系统中生物多样性的重要组成部分，对森林的演替过程与功能起着重要的作用。由于苔藓植物具有单层细胞的特征，对微气候和微生境的依赖很强，因此苔藓植物对更新策略引起的微环境和微生境变化很敏感，常常被用作评估更新策略导致环境变化的指示植物。
自然更新形成阔叶林和人工营造针叶林是世界各地对采伐地更新采用的最常见的两种方式。自然更新和造林导致了不同的树种组成，可能会影响林下植物的多样性。一些研究认为自然更新策略是保护苔藓植物多样性的有效途径，人工造林会造成一些敏感苔藓物种消失。也有研究表明在一定程度上而言，人工造林也是保护地表苔藓植物多样性的一种有效途径。中国作为世界上人工林面积大国之一，为了保护国家的生态安全较多的采用人工更新策略，一直不断的在造林，人工林面积不断增大，其中针叶林面积已经占据人工林面积的71%。因此了解不同更新策略对地表苔藓植物多样性的影响效应对于完善林业实践措施、促进现代林业可持续发展与生物多样性的保护具有重要的作用。
中科院成都生物研究所恢复生态学学科组包维楷团队闫晓丽博士等选择川西亚高山地区皆伐迹地上相同立地条件、相同林龄的云杉人工林和自然更新的桦木林样地各13块，采用传统群落学调查方法，开展了林下地表苔藓植物多样性调查。其结果表明：自然更新林比人工林具有较低的样地密度、乔木盖度和高度，较高的草本高度、灌木盖度和地表苔藓多样性指数。自然更新林比人工林具有较多的地表苔藓物种丰富度（205 vs 157），倾向于分布在自然林下的物种数量要远大于倾向于分布在人工林下的物种(116 vs 48)。种组分析表明次生林下具有较多的侧蒴藓类物种和三种生长性物种（扇型、平铺型、草状）的丰富度。与更新策略相关的林分结构的差异是影响地表苔藓物种组成和多样性变化的重要因素。综合分析表明，人工更新策略与自然更新策略对林下地表苔藓物种组成与多样性产生了不同的影响，自然更新策略较人工更新策略能更有效地恢复林下地表苔藓物种组成与多样性。
该研究成果发表于Annals of Forest Science， 该研究得到国家自然科学基金的资助（生物谷Bioon.com）。
生物谷推荐的英文摘要
Annals of Forest Science DOI：10.1007/s13595-013-0323-7
Regeneration strategies influence ground bryophyte composition and diversity after forest clearcutting
Xiao Li Yan， Wei Kai Bao， Xue Yong Pang， Ning Xuan Zhang， Jiquan Chen
Context
Natural regeneration with broadleaved species and reforestation with coniferous trees are two widely practiced forest regeneration strategies after timber harvesting. They lead to different tree species composition and may cause different understory biodiversity， but the effects on ground bryophyte composition and diversity are not well-known.
Aims
We tested whether natural regeneration with broadleaved species and reforestation with spruce induced different diversities of the ground bryophyte populations 20–40 years after old-growth spruce forest clearcutting in the subalpine regions of southwestern China.
Methods
Differences between natural stands and plantations were compared through the analysis of 13 paired stands， with 78 plots， 390 shrub/herb quadrats， and a total of 1，560 bryophyte quadrats.
Results
Naturally regenerated forests were characterized by lower density and cover and lower tree height but higher herbaceous plant height， shrub cover， and bryophyte diversity. They also harbored many more ground bryophytes. The species richness of pleurocarpous mosses and fans， mats， and turfs were significantly higher in naturally regenerated forests. Frequency difference analysis demonstrated that more bryophyte species preferred ground habitats in naturally regenerated forests than in plantations (116 vs. 48 species). The canonical correspondence analysis indicated that stand structure attributes were more important determinants of ground bryophyte diversity and abundance.
Conclusion
Natural regeneration and reforestation resulted in large differences in ground bryophyte populations. A larger diversity was observed in the former case， and natural regeneration practices can be an effective measure for the protection of ground bryophyte diversity after clearcutting.
