Population quantitative characteristics and dynamic analysis of the endangered plant Acer miaotaiense

As a third-class nationally protected plant, Acer miaotaiense Tsoong is a rare and endangered species in the Qinling Mountains of China, with important economic and ornamental value. Through investigation of the wild resources of the main distribution area of Acer miaotaiense, we studied the age structure, static life table and survival curve of the populations. Furthermore, dynamic index (V_pi,V_pi') and time series model was used to predict the development trend of the populations, thus providing the basis for formulating feasible protection strategies. To understand the growth performance of A.miaotaiense, corresponding protection measures were taken. Results showed that the survival curve of the A.miaotaiense population was Deevey-Ⅲ type, with more young individuals and fewer middle-aged and aging individuals; the static life table and correlative curve analysis demonstrated that the survival rate of the A.miaotaiense populations was significantly negatively correlated with diameter, while the population mortality curve showed an initially decreasing then increasing trend; dynamic analysis of the population quantity showed that the overall structure of the A.miaotaiense population was increasing, but the ability of the population to resist disturbance from the external environment decreased in the absence of adult individuals; time series prediction showed that the A.miaotaiense populations at the same time curve increased slightly at the high-level, and the number of older-aged individuals was relatively small. The main vegetation types were deciduous broad-leaved forest and evergreen broad-leaved forest. In the wild A.miaotaiense populations, the number of protected trees was very small, and they were greatly impacted by human activities, diseases, and insect pests. Few seedlings and natural regeneration were discovered, and the outlook is not good.