Population Structure and Companion Community Characteristics of the Castanopsis eyrei in National Public Welfare Forest of Kaihua County, Zhejiang Province

Abstract

Objective: Castanopsis eyrei is the main constructive species of the national public welfare forest in the central mountainous area of the subtropical zone. The study of its population structure and associated community characteristics is of great significance to the discussion of the vegetation succession law of the central subtropical public welfare forest. Method: A large area of Castanopsis ey-rei community is distributed in the national public welfare forest in Kaihua County, Zhejiang. This study used a combination of fixed sample plots and typical sampling. The characteristics of Casta-nopsis eyrei population structure and associated community species composition, arbor and shrub species diversity, vertical stratification and individual diameter class structure in the small plot were discussed. Result: 1) The diameter structure of Castanopsis sylvestris, a national public welfare forest in Kaihua County, Zhejiang Province, presents a “pyramid type”, with more seedlings, and the population age structure is an increasing type. 2) Among the national public welfare forests in Kaihua County, Zhejiang, Castanopsis sylvestris can grow in evergreen broad-leaved forests and mixed coniferous and broad-leaved forests, but it has a greater growth advantage in evergreen broad-leaved forests and a weaker growth advantage in coniferous and broad-leaved mixed forests. 3) In the arbor layer and shrub layer, the biodiversity indexes of plot 1 are basically higher than those of plots 2 and 3. This is because plot 1 has a low altitude and better hydrothermal conditions, so the biodiversity is relatively higher. 4) Environmental factors all have a certain impact on Cas-tanopsis sylvestris. The higher the altitude, the greater the air humidity, the more light, the thicker litter and the less human interference, the better the soil development, and the better water and heat conditions. These are conducive to the growth, development and renewal of Castanopsis . Con-clusion: The vertical structure of the Castanopsis eyrei community in the area is relatively complex, with more seedlings, and the age structure of the population is an increasing type. Different environmental factors have different effects on the Castanopsis eyrei