%A Dan Liu, Zhongling Guo, Xiaoyang Cui, Chunnan Fan %T Comparison of five associations of Taxus cuspidata and their species diversity %0 Journal Article %D 2020 %J Biodiv Sci %R 10.17520/biods.2019112 %P 340-349 %V 28 %N 3 %U {https://www.biodiversity-science.net/CN/abstract/article_60288.shtml} %8 2020-03-20 %X

Taxus cuspidata is a rare and endangered species in China. Understanding the composition and characteristics of its natural communities is of great significance for its conservation, utilization and restoration. In this study, with hierarchical clustering based on species composition, we classified 20 plots of 40 m × 40 m in Jilin Province into five associations, which were named after dominant species, respectively, i.e., I. Maianthemum bifolium-Schisandra chinensis + Actinidia kolomikta-Tilia amurensis + Abies nephrolepis, II. Aegopodium alpestre-Actinidia kolomikta-Abies nephrolepis, III. Thalictrum ichangense-Actinidia kolomikta-Abies nephrolepis, IV. Maianthemum bifolium-Actinidia arguta-Pinus koraiensis + Tilia amurensis + Abies nephrolepis, and V. Maianthemum bifolium-Actinidia arguta-Tilia amurensis + Abies nephrolepis. The composition, community structure, association type, and species diversity were analysized. Species diversity was indicated by the Menhinick richness index, Pielou evenness index, Simpson dominance index and Shannon-Wiener diversity index. The results suggested that the Rosaceae genera comprised a large majority of T. cuspidata communities. The diversity index of the five associations ranked as Assoc. V > Assoc. III > Assoc. IV > Assoc. II > Assoc. I. Assoc. I and Assoc. II had lower diversity and higher dominance. The differences in the diversity indices of the arbor layers in associations II and association III were not significant, but the dominance index and the richness index demonstrated an opposite trend. However, the richness was higher and the dominance was lower in association III. The herb layer’s diversity index was higher than the arbor layer’s in association III so that the coverage in association III was lower in community. Both Assoc. IV and Assoc. V were located in Huanggou Forest Farm in Helong City. With the rise in altitude, the species diversity decreases. It showed that there were significant differences in the community characteristics of T. cuspidata communities with different dominant species.