Eco-environment response of wetland species diversity to tourism disturbance in Wutai Mountain

The present paper is inclined to introduce our study findings on the ecological response of wetland species diversity to tourism disturbance by the speciesα andβ diversity indices in Wutai Mountain. For our research purpose, we have analyzed the process of the disturbance in the following manner: First of all, we have collected and chosen a total numberof 57 samples from the area around the actual 50 m distance along the Qingshui River. Secondly, a Two-Way Indicator Species Analysis(TWINSPAN) enabled us to divide 57samples into 9 types of community area.Thirdly, the wetland species diversity has been calculated by sevenα indices and fourβ indices.The results of our analysis show that:(1)With the tourism distur-bance increasing, we have found that both the species richness and the diversity tend to decrease gradually except for the first area. In addition, ithas been found that the evenness has also had a declining tendency with the increase of the disturbance except for the first and the third areas. Ithas also been found thatthe richness, the evenness and the diversity have also been declining in the first area because of the high altitude. However, in the third area, there has been found the best and encouraging richness and diversity due to the middle-level disturbance, though the degree of evenness doesn′t seem so encouraging due to the drastic interspecies competition.(2)Based on the study ofβ diversity indices between the neighboringwetland communities, although the trend of Whittaker index and Cody indexwere opposite to that of Jaccard index and Sorenson index, the results of the four indices prove to be consistent in fact, indicating the noticeable change of the species substitution. At the same time, the similarity of the communities proves to be minorbetween the first area and the second area, and between the third area and the fourth area, in addition to that between the fifth area and the sixth area.(3)Based on the study ofβ diversity indiceswith the different disturbance, both the change of species substitution and the difference of community types have been discovered to have increased gradually with the increase of the disturbance. As to the Cody index, it fails to show any definite change ofβ diversity with the disturbance difference.