Species Richness and Diversity of Forest Communities in Baiyunshan, Guangzhou

Species diversity of forest communities in Baiyunshan Scenic Spot was studied by computing their Simpson indexes and Shannon Wiener indexes. Simpson indexes and Shannon Wiener indexes were worked out to different community types, DBH groups and layers. Simpson indexes of species diversity of the 4 community types ranged from 4.539 7 to 9.359 1 , and evenness from 0.178 2 to 0.428 8 ; Shannon Wiener index of species diversity ranged from 2 767 2 to 3 669 1, and evenness from 0 663 7 to 0 811 9 Such values are similar to those of the natural forest communities in Dinghushan and the Nanling National Nature Reserve in north Guangdong, but are lower in species richness. The species diversity index varied with communities of different intervention. The “Schima superba+Castanopsis carlesii Psychotria rubra” community with least human intervention appeared to have the highest Shannon Wiener species diversity index. And the high species indexes of the seedling layers of the 4 communities indicated that they had great potential for natural regeneration.