Liana Prevalence and Its Associated Factors in Tropical Forests of Xishuangbanna, southwestern China-Supplementary Materials

The primary environmental factors influencing liana prevalence included Climate Principal Component 1, which had positive loadings for temperature-related variables such as the minimum air temperature of the coldest month, the mean air temperature of the coldest quarter, and the mean air temperature of the driest quarter; Soil Principal Component 2, which was negatively associated with nutrient factors like total carbon concentration, total nitrogen concentration, and hydrolyzable nitrogen concentration; and Soil Principal Component 3, which was primarily loaded with total potassium concentration.

In all forest types, liana prevalence increased with tree diameter at breast height (DBH). Castanopsis indica exhibited liana prevalence of 54.3% in TRF and 40.6% in TLEBF, while Markhamia stipulata showed liana prevalence of 38.2% in TLEBF and 55.6% in TSMF. Additionally, Mallotus barbatus and Mallotus philippensis exhibited liana prevalence of 43.9% and 75.8%, respectively, in TRF and TSMF.

This study examined the variation patterns of liana prevalence in the tropical forests of Xishuangbanna in relation to environmental factors and tree diameter. It provided new scientific insights into the relationships among liana prevalence, vegetation types, and environmental factors in tropical forests, contributing to the sustainable management and conservation of these ecosystems in the context of global change.