Pattern of Larix principis-rupprechtii Plantation and Its Environmental Interpretation in Dongling Mountain

Based on a survey of 36 community quadrats,we examined the relationship between species composition of a Larix principis-rupprechtii plantation forest and environmental factors in Dongling Mountain using TWINSPAN,CCA,and species diversity analysis.The plantation communities were classified into four groups by TWINSPAN,and the results were validated by CCA.The distribution pattern of vegetation reflected a strong influence from the environments.The results of CCA clearly reflected the relationships between the pattern of plantation communities and environmental gradients.Our results showed that position,slope,soil thickness and altitude of communities were the dominant factors affecting the pattern of the L.principis-rupprechtii plantation in Dongling Mountain,and the majority of the plantation grew well.Based on the habitat preference of L.principis-rupprechtii for a cool and moist environment,we suggest that artificial afforestation of L.principis-rupprechtii should be based on its ecological characteristics.