Community Structure of Manglietia patungensis in Xiaoxi Natural Reserve,Hunan Province

Manglietia patungensis was a rare and endangered species endemic to northwest Hunan Province,southwest Hubei Province and south Chongqing Municipality.The majority of the individuals of M.patungensis inhabited in Xiaoxi Natural Reserve,Hunan Province,where a research plot(1.05 hm²) was established in 2003.The plot was divided into two subplots(50 m×50 m and 80 m×100 m),which were divided further into 105 small plots(10 m×10 m).All the trees over(1 cm) in diameter at breast-height(DBH) in the plot were identified,measured,tagged,and mapped.The results showed that the community consisted of 74 woody plant species,belonging to 27 families and 49 genera,and the dominant families were Lauraceae,Fagaceae,Rosaceae and Theaceae.The tree layer could be divided into three sub-layers. In the first sub-layer,dominant species were Liquidambar formosana and M.patungensis.In the second and third sub-layers,dominant species were evergreen species Machilus lichuanensis,Lithocarpus henryi,Schirma argentea and Phoebe hui.The characters of community indicated that Manglietia patungensis was living in typical evergreen broad-leaved forest.The population structures of M.patungensis,Machilus lichuanensis,Lithocarpus henryi,Phoebe hui and Schirma argentea were vigorous types,that of Liquidambar formosana was a senescent type,and that of Machilus lichuanensis in sample I was an adult type.The structure of the whole community was stable.The spatial pattern of Manglietia patungensis was a clumped distribution.The result can be provided scientific information for rebuilding of M.patungensis’s community of lost habitat of M.patungensis and destroyed community structure of M.patungensis,resulting in the endangerment of M.patungensis.In order to ensure the populations and individuals of M.patungensis increasing in nature,it is suggested that seed collected should be limited and seedling dug should be forbidden in Xiaoxi Natural Reserve.