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Research Progress on Karst Tiankeng Ecosystems

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Abstract

The geomorphologic features called tiankengs were first discovered and named at the end of the twentieth century in karst areas of China. They have enjoyed increasing attention owing to their unusual geologic processes and unique ecological communities. However, the understanding of classification, geomorphic evolution, developmental conditions, geological dating and ecological environments of tiankengs are still extensively disputed by geomorphologists and geologists. This article focuses on combining all main areas of recent research activities from three aspects: development, evolution and transformation of karst tiankengs; biodiversity of karst tiankeng forests; and the impact of human activities on karst tiankeng ecosystems. Finally, we suggest future direction for research on karst tiankeng ecosystems: (1) multidisciplinary systematic study; (2) processes of ecological change and environmental effects under the influence of both natural and human impacts; (3) research on their protection, rational utilization, and sustainable management.

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Acknowledgements

This study was supported by the Natural Science Foundation of Guangxi Province (2015GXNSFEA139001; 2015GXNSFAA139072), Guangxi Scientific and Technological Project (Guikezhong1598014-3) and the Fund of Guangxi Key Laboratory of Plant Conservation and Restoration Ecology in Karst Terrain (GKB15-A-33), the Natural Science Foundation of Shandong Province (ZR2015CL014) and the Fundamental Research Funds for the Guangxi Institue of Botany (Guizhiye, 15004). We thank Dr. Hong Liu, International Center for Tropical Botany, Florida International University, U. S. A., for her valuable comments and sugestions during manuscript preparation. We also want to thank three anonymous reviewers and Dr. Elizabeth Hamblin for the comments and suggestions made on earlier versions of the manuscript.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Guangxi Key Laboratory of Plant Conservation and Restoration Ecology in Karst Terrain,Guangxi Institue of Botany, Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region and Chinese Academy of Sciences, No.85, Yanshan Street, Yanshan District, Guilin City, Guangxi Province, 541006, China

    Gaozhong Pu, Guangping Xu, Danjuan Zeng & Yuqing Huang

  2. School of Pharmacy and Biological Sciences, Weifang Medical University, No.7166, Baotang street (west), Weicheng District, Shandong Province, Weifang City, 261053, China

    Yanna Lv

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  1. Gaozhong Pu
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Correspondence to Gaozhong Pu.

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Pu, G., Lv, Y., Xu, G. et al. Research Progress on Karst Tiankeng Ecosystems. Bot. Rev. 83, 5–37 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12229-017-9179-0

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