Study On Quantitative Ecology Of Quercus Variabilis Communities In TaiKuanhe Nature Reserv, Shanxi

Quercus variabilis is widely distributed in the mountain section, is an important timber species and an important industrial raw materials. Currently Q. variabilis has not yet been valued by the people, so they have run extensive management, deforestation. More serious damage comes from human activities. Based on the dataset from the field, Q. variabilis communities in Taikuanhe Nature Reserve, Shanxi were studied by using quantitative ecology methodology, including the communities classification, species diversity and the interspecific relationship, so that those results can be as theoretical basis of ecological conservation and scientific utilization with a view to Taikuanhe Nature Reserve.The classification and ordination of Q. variabilis communities in Taikuanhe Nature Reserve were studied by using TWINSPAN. The 42 plots were divided into 8 groups by TWINSPAN, which belong to 8 associations according to the principle of vegetation classification. Using DCA to dipartition the 42 samples in TaiKuanhe Nature Reserve and achieved good results, reflecting the different communities in order axis location of the relationship between distribution and environmental gradients, slope, elevation, slope aspect determine the ecological factors of habitats changed, so that the distribution of community types of the gradient change. The DCA ordination of 52 dominant plant species showed that the species acted as indicator for habitat factors and was impersonally reflected characteristics of biotope. The ordination of dominant species was similar to the classification of community types, reflecting the change trend of community type and species distribution with changing environmental factors. The species diversity of Q. variabilis communities was studied by using species richness indices, evenness indices and species diversity indices, respectively. In addition, the differences among these indices for all communities were studied by ANOVA. The results indicated that:(1) The species richness of Q. variabilis communities was mainly correlated with the shrub layer. However, the contributions of species at different layers to species diversity of community were not equivalent; (2) There were not significant differences among the diversity index of 8 Associations by ANOVA, which because of the similar adaptability, the similar habitat of species, the similar way of resources use. (3) The Q. variabilis communities had higher diversity index in the habitats with gentle slope, thick soil or the better condition of water, however, Q. variabilis communities's diversity index were lower in the highly disturbed habitats and the poorness habitats.The interspecific association and correlation of 1326 kinds of pairs build up with 52dominant species of the TaiKuanhe Nature Reserve were analyzed by usingχ2-test and Spearman's coefficient. In a total of 51 species-pairs hghly significant associate there were 42 species-pairs being significant associate and 9 species-pairs being insignificant associate. In a total of 13 species-pairs Significantly associated there were 4 species-pairs being Negative correlation and 9 species-pairs being Positive association. The positive correlation, positive association between various pairs of Species because of their similar biological characteristics, similar to the result of ecological adaptation. The Negative correlation, Negative association between various pairs of Species Because different biological characteristics, different ecological adaptability, niche overlap. In a total of 1261 species-pairs Not significantly associated there were 417 species-pairs being correlation and 844 species-pairs being Negative correlation. Community succession to a large extent reflected the changes in species composition, Especially the dominant species or group of species to build dynamic analysis, Test indicated a negative correlation to the number of species is far greater than being associated with the number of species pairs. Interspecific association index can be divided into ecological species groups as an one of the important basis. The 52 dominant species is divided into two groups:(1) Quercus variabilis ecological species group and (2) Crataegus maximowiczii ecological species group.