Ecological niches and interspecific associations of dominant species within an endangered Gymnadenia conopsea (L.) R. Br. community

Based on an ecological survey of the endangeredGymnadenia conopsea(L.) R. Br. community distributed in Shunwangping, Lishan National Nature Reserve, Shanxi Province, China, the ecological niche characteristics, interspecific relationships, and stability of the community were explored. Results showed that: (1) The community exhibited high species richness, comprising 48 plant species from 42 genera and 22 families. As an endemic species,G. conopseaoccupied a specialized ecological niche characterized by low population density and stringent habitat requirements. (2)G. conopseademonstrated the broadest ecological niche, with a high degree of overlap with other species, leading to heightened interspecies competition and relative instability within the community. (3) In the survivingG. conopseacommunity, interspecies associations were relatively weak, indicating a tendency toward independence among species. Furthermore, the interspecific relationships among the predominant herbaceous species were not fully developed. Our findings indicate that the community is currently in an intermediate to early stage of succession, exhibiting low stability and susceptibility to potential disruption and degradation. Overall, this study highlights the interdependence and resource utilization capabilities among various species within theG. conopseacommunity.