The Species Diversity and Patch Characteristics in Subtropical Evergreen and Deciduous Broad-Leaved Mixed Forest

摘要

Forest communities are composed of different developmental types (gap patch (G), building patch (B),mature patch (M) and degenerate patch (D). The mean basal area, mean volume of each individual, meanDBH, standing volume, and mean height, all significantly increased along the process of forest cycle (G-B_x0002_M-D) (p<0.05). Different sized individuals and different functional groups only appeared in specific patchtypes. Bigger individuals mainly occurred in the late phase (M and D). Generalist species (GES) mainlyexisted in the G, while infrequent species (INF) and fern mainly appeared in the M. b diversity index of nonadjacent patch phases was higher than that of the two adjacent patch phases, and in the G, species richnessand diversity were the highest among four different patches (G, B, M and D). A possible mechanism thatcould explain the diversity maintenance in subtropical evergreen and deciduous broad-leaved mixed forestwas put forward.