Determination of the Minimum Sampling Area for Mid-subtropical Evergreen Broad-leaf Forest (Castanopsis carlesii Forest) in Fujian Province,China

The minimum sampling area of mid-subtropical evergreen broad-leaf forest (Castanopsis carlesii Forest) in Fujian was studied by using methods of species-area curves,community coefficient-area curves and importance value-area curves.The results showed that the minimum sampling areas calculated with these methods were approximate.The minimum sampling area corresponding to 60% of the total numbers of species of trees for the community was WT10.5,10.400 m²;The mini- mum sampling area corresponding to 90% of the total numbers of species for the community was 1000 m².According to previous research,it is better that the definite minimum area should be a little more than the theoretical calculated area.In other word,the sample area should be 1200 m².