Topographic differences for vegetation types in Wuyishan National Nature Reserve,Fujian Province

The objective of this study was to explore the influence of topography on the distribution of mid-subtropical forest vegetation types.Topographic characteristics and vegetation landscape in the Wuyishan Nature Reserve of Fujian Province were determined using a Geographic Information System(GIS) technique and were then analyzed to disclose topographic vegetation distribution differences.Results showed nine vegetation types in the Wuyishan Nature Reserve with zonal evergreen broadleaf and coniferous-broadleaf forests being the main vegetation types and occupying 70.53% of the total area.Forest vegetation had a vertical zonal distribution due to elevation.Slope and aspect had a prominent effect on subalpine meadows,broadleaf coppice forests,and cultivated vegetation types.The coefficients of variation for vegetation types showed that elevation was the most important factor to the distribution of the vegetation.