Spatial Heterogeneity and Variability of a Large-Scale Vegetation Community Using a Power-Law Model

Spatial heterogeneity and stability are fundamental indices for describing vegetation communities. The spatial distribution characteristics of the vegetation in Nenjiang region of northeastern China were evaluated using a variance power-law model. The data fits the model well with estimates given for the levels of heterogeneity for not only single species but also the community as a whole. The linear regression indicates that the species in the community exhibit a consistently organized spatial pattern, as is often discovered in field surveys but rarely seen in artificial systems. The species deviations from the regression line, which exhibit a leptokurtic distribution, may reflect the variability of the community. Thus, the model provides a general tool for management and regulation of ecosystems, especially where there is human disturbances.