Population Structure and Living Community Characteristics of Endangered Camellia luteoflora Li ex H. T. Chang

To better protect the rare and endangered Camellia luteoflora Li ex H. T. Chang, a survey on the community characteristics and species diversity was conducted through quadrat sampling in Guizhou Chishui Alsophila National Nature Reserve. Importance values of the plant were calculated and Raunkiaer's life-form spectra were analyzed. Community characteristics and species diversity were also analyzed using Margalef Shannon-Wiener, Simpson, and Pielou evenness indexes. The population age structure was categorized by height and diameter at breast height. Results showed:(1) The living community was divided into tree different types:bamboo forest, bamboo and broad-leaved forest, and evergreen and deciduous broad-leaved forest. The evergreen and deciduous broad-leaved forest had the most C. luteoflora. (2) Raunkiaer's life-form spectra showed that phanerophytes accounted for 43.24% of the total, chamaephytes accounted for 16.22%, hemicryptophytes and geophytes accounted for 16.89%, and therophytes accounted for 6.77%. (3) Evenness index analyses showed the pattern of herb layer > shrub layer > tree layer. (4) Age structure demonstrated that the whole C. luteoflora population was stable, but the local region was in recession. In the past five years, population numbers have decreased by 20%, and population survival has faced considerable threats. The rapid expansion of bamboo plants in the living community, human disturbance and animal damage are the main factors threatening C. luteoflora.