Abstract
Cercidiphyllum japonicum is a tertiary relict species that was once widespread across the Northern Hemisphere but is now a rare and endangered plant in China, valued for its ornamental, medicinal, and scientific importance. Understanding the structure and dynamics of its wild populations is essential for forecasting their future and informing conservation strategies. This study, conducted in the Houhe National Nature Reserve, Hubei Province, analyzed a population of 62 individuals across 23 sampling plots. Based on detailed field measurements of diameter at breast height (DBH), a static life table was compiled and population dynamics were projected using age class dynamics indices and time series analysis. Results showed the population inhabits sandy, organic-rich, weakly acidic yellow-brown soils. The age structure approximated an irregular, spindle-shaped pyramid, characterized by a complete absence of germinated seedlings and a reliance on sprouting for regeneration. The population dynamic indices (Vpi > V′pi > 0) indicated a marginally growing but stable population that is highly sensitive to environmental and anthropogenic disturbances. The survival curve conformed to the Deevey-III type, indicating high mortality in early life stages. Time-series forecasting suggested that the current abundance of middle-aged individuals could maintain the population in the short term. We conclude that recruitment failure, intense environmental filtering, and historical logging are the primary drivers of its endangered status. Conservation efforts must therefore prioritize artificial regeneration to supplement seedlings, active management of existing sprouts, and the establishment of a long-term monitoring program for this vulnerable population.
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Claims 10
Claim · model-written summary
The Cercidiphyllum japonicum population inhabits sandy, organic-rich, weakly acidic yellow-brown soils.
- Taxon
- Cercidiphyllum japonicum
Cercidiphyllum japonicume0 - Outcome
- soilse1
- Qualifier
- sandy, organic-rich, weakly acidic yellow-browne1
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e0“Cercidiphyllum japonicum is a tertiary relict species”
e1“Results showed the population inhabits sandy, organic-rich, weakly acidic yellow-brown soils”
Claim · model-written summary
The age structure of the population approximates an irregular, spindle-shaped pyramid.
- Taxon
- Cercidiphyllum japonicumCercidiphyllum japonicume0
- Outcome
- age structuree2
- Qualifier
- irregular, spindle-shaped pyramide2
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e0“Cercidiphyllum japonicum is a tertiary relict species”
e2“The age structure approximated an irregular, spindle-shaped pyramid”
Claim · model-written summary
The population shows a complete absence of germinated seedlings.
- Taxon
- Cercidiphyllum japonicumCercidiphyllum japonicume0
- Outcome
- germinated seedlingse3
- Qualifier
- complete absencee3
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e0“Cercidiphyllum japonicum is a tertiary relict species”
e3“characterized by a complete absence of germinated seedlings and a reliance on sprouting for regeneration”
Claim · model-written summary
The population relies on sprouting for regeneration.
- Taxon
- Cercidiphyllum japonicumCercidiphyllum japonicume0
- Outcome
- regeneratione3
- Qualifier
- reliance on sproutinge3
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e0“Cercidiphyllum japonicum is a tertiary relict species”
e3“characterized by a complete absence of germinated seedlings and a reliance on sprouting for regeneration”
Claim · model-written summary
Population dynamic indices indicate a marginally growing but stable population.
- Taxon
- Cercidiphyllum japonicumCercidiphyllum japonicume0
- Outcome
- population dynamic indicese4
- Value
- Vpi > V′pi > 0e4
- Qualifier
- marginally growing but stablee4
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e0“Cercidiphyllum japonicum is a tertiary relict species”
e4“The population dynamic indices (Vpi > V′pi > 0) indicated a marginally growing but stable population”
Claim · model-written summary
The survival curve of the population conforms to the Deevey-III type.
- Taxon
- Cercidiphyllum japonicumCercidiphyllum japonicume0
- Outcome
- survival curvee6
- Qualifier
- Deevey-III typee6
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e0“Cercidiphyllum japonicum is a tertiary relict species”
e6“The survival curve conformed to the Deevey-III type, indicating high mortality in early life stages”
Claim · model-written summary
High mortality occurs in early life stages of the population.
- Taxon
- Cercidiphyllum japonicumCercidiphyllum japonicume0
- Organ / stage
- early life stagese6
- Outcome
- mortalitye6
- Qualifier
- highe6
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e0“Cercidiphyllum japonicum is a tertiary relict species”
e6“The survival curve conformed to the Deevey-III type, indicating high mortality in early life stages”
Claim · model-written summary
Time-series forecasting suggests that the current abundance of middle-aged individuals could maintain the population in the short term.
- Taxon
- Cercidiphyllum japonicumCercidiphyllum japonicume0
- Outcome
- maintain the populatione7
- Qualifier
- current abundance of middle-aged individualse7
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e0“Cercidiphyllum japonicum is a tertiary relict species”
e7“Time-series forecasting suggested that the current abundance of middle-aged individuals could maintain the population in the short term”
Claim · model-written summary
Recruitment failure, intense environmental filtering and historical logging are the primary drivers of the endangered status of Cercidiphyllum japonicum.
- Taxon
- Cercidiphyllum japonicumCercidiphyllum japonicume0
- Outcome
- endangered statuse7
- Qualifier
- recruitment failure, intense environmental filtering, and historical logginge7
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e0“Cercidiphyllum japonicum is a tertiary relict species”
e7“We conclude that recruitment failure, intense environmental filtering, and historical logging are the primary drivers of its endangered status”
Claim · model-written summary
Conservation of this population should prioritize artificial regeneration to supplement seedlings, active management of existing sprouts and long-term monitoring.
- Taxon
- Cercidiphyllum japonicumCercidiphyllum japonicume0
- Outcome
- artificial regeneratione7
- Qualifier
- to supplement seedlings, active management of existing sprouts, and the establishment of a long-term monitoring programe7
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e0“Cercidiphyllum japonicum is a tertiary relict species”
e7“Conservation efforts must therefore prioritize artificial regeneration to supplement seedlings, active management of existing sprouts, and the establishment of a long-term monitoring program for this vulnerable population”