Community characteristics and conservation strategy of Ardisia gigantifolia in Nanxiong, Guangdong province / 中草药

ABSTRACT

Objective: To clarify the species composition, structural characteristics, age-class structure, and floristic diversity of the community where a precious medicinal plant Ardisia gigantifolia inhabited, and to provide a scientific basis for species conservation and large-scale-breeding management. Methods: Eleven plots of 10 m × 10 m were set up. Complete enumeration survey method was employed to study the species composition, diameter at breast height, tree height, and crown width. Data were analyzed using species diversity index. Results: There were 213 species of vascular plant belonging to 153 genera and 78 families in the 1 100 m2 plot; The flora were dominated by tropical-subtropical elements; Dominant tree species were Schima superba, Alniphyllum fortune, Liquidambar formosana, and Pinus massoniana, while dominant shrub species were A. gigantifolia, Itea chinensis, and Mussaenda pubescens; A. gigantifolia occurred in both shrub layer and herbal layer, possessing abundant age-class I seedlings, however scanty age-class IV Shannon-individuals show pyramid-type age-class structure of the population; The species richness of the community was 30.04, the Wienner index was 3.79, the Simpson index was 0.88, and the evenness Pielou index was 0.71; The species richness index of the community ranged as herb layer > shrub layer > tree layer > liana layer, while the Simpson index varied as liana layer > shrub layer > tree layer > herb layer, and the Shannon-Wienner index ranged as liana layer > shrub layer > tree layer > herb layer, when the evenness index turned out as liana layer > shrub layer > tree layer > herb layer. It indicated that the herb layer has the highest species richness but the most uneven distribution, and the predominant species stand out prominently. Conclusion: A. gigantifolia show gathering distribution in the lower layer of the community, and grown well as dominant species in shrub and herbal layer. The shade enduring species needs scattered light, prefers warm and humid environment with acid and porous soils.