This study aimed to characterize the woody species composition and community structure of a typical southern subtropical evergreen broad-leaved forest in China, elucidate its succession pattern, species diversity, and development trend, and to provide a scientific basis for the refined management and biodiversity conservation of forest ecosystems in this region.
Sixteen permanent plots, each covering an area of 1 200 m2, were established in a secondary forest in Conghua, Guangzhou, which had naturally regenerated after logging in the 1990s. All woody plants with a diameter at breast height (DBH)≥5 cm were surveyed within each plot. The species composition, species diversity, diameter-class structure, and vertical stratification of the community were systematically analyzed.
1) A total of 4 095 woody individuals (DBH≥5 cm) were recorded in the plots, belonging to 58 species, 46 genera and 34 families; and the families Lauraceae, Ebenaceae and Fagaceae were predominant; 2) Eight family and 11 genus distribution area types were identified, with tropical elements predominantly accounting for 64.71% of families and 65.22% of genera; 3) Twenty-three species had an importance value above 1%; the top six dominant tree species were Machilus chinensis, Diospyros morrisiana, Schima superba, Castanopsis faberi, Triadica cochinchinensis and Camphora parthenoxylon; and M. chinensis was absolutely dominant (importance value: 22.36%); 4) The diameter-class structure showed a typical reverse “J”-shaped distribution, indicating favorable community regeneration; 5) The vertical structure was stratified into four layers: sapling (2.5-9.3 m), sub-canopy (9.4-12.9 m), mid-canopy (13.0-16.5 m), and upper-canopy layers (16.6-25.8 m), trees in the sub- and mid-canopy layers together accounted for 64.96%, and species diversity decreased significantly with increasing canopy height; 6) The overall species diversity of the community was moderately high, but individual abundance was unevenly distributed among species, concentrated in a few dominant tree species.
This community represents a typical warm subtropical evergreen broad-leaved forest in the Pearl River Delta region. Currently in a mid-succession stage, it is characterized by generally small tree diameters, a stable structure, and a growing trend. Forest quality can be rapidly improved through target-tree management and enrichment planting with valuable tree species characteristic of middle and late succession stages.
| 科 Family | 属数 Number of genus | 种数 Number of species | 占总种数比例 Percentage of total species (%) | 属 Genus | 种数 Number of species | 占总种数比例 Percentage of total species (%) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 鹅膏菌科Amanitaceae | 2 | 11 | 5.26 | 鹅膏菌属 Amanita | 10 | 4.78 |
| 小菇科 Mycenaceae | 2 | 12 | 5.74 | 丝盖伞属 Inocybe | 5 | 2.39 |
| 多孔菌科 Polyporaceae | 8 | 14 | 6.70 | 蜡蘑属 Laccaria | 5 | 2.39 |
| 红菇科 Russulaceae | 3 | 23 | 11.00 | 小皮伞属 Marasmius | 6 | 2.87 |
| 小菇属 Mycena | 11 | 5.26 | ||||
| 光柄菇属 Pluteus | 5 | 2.39 | ||||
| 红菇属 Russula | 17 | 8.13 | ||||
| 栓菌属 Trametes | 5 | 2.39 |