Community structure and regeneration types of dominant species in an evergreen broad-leaved forest in Mount Beishan of Jinhua,China

This study was carried out in the evergreen broad-leaved forest of Mount Beishan of Jinhua. The community structure and dominant species of the forest were analysed in this paper. The results showed that there were 100 species,67 genera and 31 families of vascular plants. The evergreen broad-leaved trees in woody plants were mainly composed of Fagaceae,Theaceae and Lauraceae,which accounted for 62.96%. And the structure incarnated the characteristics of the evergreen broad-leaved forest. The species diversity of four layers in the forest was analysed,and the result was shrub layertree layerinter layerherb layer. The population structures of the different tree species were categorized into four regeneration types based on their size-class frequency distribution patterns. After that,combining the biological with ecological characteristics of that species,the diagnosis of succession stage of this community was carried out. Important findings were obtained:(1)The constructive species of this community were Schima superba and Castanopsis sclerophylla,furthermore,Liquidambar formosana and Pinus massoniana also holded important dominance.(2)Inverse-J type species,such as Schima superba,Castanopsis sclerophylla and Cinnamomum camphora,were strong shade-tolerant and dominant species in climax forest,they could regenerate through seedling bank or sprouting under the closed forest canopy;L type species,such as Loropetalum chinensis,Ligustrum lucidum and Eurya muricata,were broad-leaved evergreen small trees or large shrubs,and they were the main components of upper tree layer and shrub layer species in climax community;Sporadic(multimodal)type species,such as Liquidambar formosana,Quercus acutissima and Castanea henryi,had the opportunity and volatility to the population structure,reflecting the characteristics of top pioneer species;Spindle type species,such as Quercus fabri,Pinus massoniana and Cunninghamia lanceolata,were high positive and the pioneer species in the successional sequence,but they had showed a recessionary signs because of the lack of updated population in the community;(3)The successional stage of the forest was classified as a late seral stage community that would develop into a climax community dominated by Schima superba and Castanopsis sclerophylla.