The Classification And Distribution Of Forest Vegetation Communities In The Simian Mountain, Chongqing

Simian Mountain is rich in forest resource. Forest coverage in this area has typical features of subtropical evergreen broad-leaved forest. Detailed analysis and research and systematical division on the existing forest vegetation is of great theoretical significance and guiding values for practical application. Research the classification and characters of forest vegetation community in Simian Mountain by the following means:comprehensively consider the factors such as landform, aspect and elevation in Simian Mountain area; select sample plots by typical community method for research; classify and name the vegetation according to the China's classification system and division method of the vegetation; analyse configuration and composition of different community.Referring to the classification principles in "Vegetation in China" and the classification system in "Ecology of Vegetation" and according to the configuration of dominant species from three different layer of the forest community:tree, shrub and herb, forest in Simian Mountain can be divided systematically into 3 classes of vegetation types (coniferous forest, broad-leaved forest and bamboo grove),6 groups of vegetation types (temperate needle-leaved forest, warm needle-leaved forest, deciduous broad-leaved forest, evergreen and deciduous broad-leaved mixed forest, evergreen broad-leaved forest and warm bamboo forest),9 vegetation types,13 groups of the formation,22 formations and 23 associations.By analyzing configuration and composition of different community, community features of forest vegetation in the Simian Mountain are as follows:coniferous forest mainly consisted of temperate and warm coniferous species such as community Cunninghamia lanceolata, Cryptomeria fortune, Pinus armandii And Fokienia hodginsii etc.; cultivated community Cunninghamia lanceolata distributs widely. Associated vegetation in tree layer of coniferous forest is rich and varied. The vegetation coverage in shrub layer and herb layer is smaller, with comparatively unitary spices. In Simian Mountain area, Oak coppice such as community Quercus aliena, community Quercus acutissima and etc. are typical deciduous broad-leaved forest while community Choerospondias axillaria is common in other deciduous broad-leaved forest. Deciduous broad-leaved forest has abundant undergrowth vegetation, with deep and fertile soil. Evergreen and deciduous broad-leaved mixed forest is transitional form between deciduous broad-leaved forest and evergreen broad-leaved forest. Evergreen broad-leaved forest is a representative vegetation distributed in subtropical region in China. Community Lithocarpus glaber, community Castanopsis fargesii and community Cyclobalanopsis glauca etc. are the typical evergreen broad-leaved forest in Simian Mountain. Phyllostachys heterocycla is the commonest in the bamboo grove.