Floristic Diversity of Major Forest Communities in Zengcheng City,Guangdong Province
- Received Date: 2001-04-30
Abstract: Nineteen 400 m2 plots, including 7 plots in secondary forest and 4 plots in plantations of Pinus massoniana, P. elliottii and Albizia falcataria, respectively, were surveyed. A total of 163 species were recorded in these study plots, including two national protected species, Amentotaxus argotaenia and Artocarpus hypargyrea. The results of Hierarchy Clustering Analysis and Detrended Correspondence Analysis (DCA) showed similar trend: Secondary forest had the highest diversity, while the diversity of the plantations is relatively lower. Among the plantation communities, Albizia falcataria plantations had the highest diversity, followed by Pinus massoniana plantations, and the lowest is P.elliottii. The species composition and diversity varied among the forest communities. Secondary forests have richer species, but most are early successional pioneer species. The climax species or late successional species such as the species of Fagaceae, Magnoliaceae and Lauraceae are generally rare. Many native species are confined to secondary forest and are seldom to be found in plantations. The native species growing in the plantations are usually well dispersed by birds.