Population structure and spatial distribution point patterns of Tsuga chinensis var. tchekiangensis in Wuyishan Mountain, Jiangxi of eastern China

  Objective   Understanding the population structure and spatial distribution pattern of Tsuga chinensis var. tchekiangensis in Wuyishan Nature Reserve, Jiangxi of eastern China, is of great significance to reveal the succession and regeneration of Tsuga chinensis var. tchekiangensis.

  Method   Based on plot investigation of Tsuga chinensis var. tchekiangensis population, we analyzed the population structure and spatial distribution point pattern of Tsuga chinensis var. tchekiangensis by studying many parameters, such as age structure, static life table, survival curves, time sequence model and point pattern analysis.

  Result   (1) The population presented an increasing population with an age structure of ‘pyramid’ type, and the survival curves suggested that population of Tsuga chinensis var. tchekiangensis tended to be the type of Deevey-Ⅰ. The survival curve, mortality curve and vanish curve and survival function analysis of population showed that the characteristics of the population were stable in early age stage, decreased in middle age period, then declined in old age period. (2) Time sequence model predicted that the number of each age class individuals of the Tsuga chinensis var. tchekiangensis population would increase in the age classes of 3, 6 and 9 in the future. The number of Tsuga chinensis var. tchekiangensis was relatively abundant at a young stage, so that sufficient reserve resources can replenish the old trees, and the population can naturally renewed. (3) Point pattern analysis indicated that the individuals were significantly clustered at the small scale (r < 20 m), and the distribution became more random and regular at larger scales. The spatial distribution pattern of Tsuga chinensis var. tchekiangensis population at different developmental periods was closely related to the study scale. The spatial distribution point pattern of young individuals was of obviously aggregated distribution. The spatial distribution point pattern of middle individuals was aggregated to random as the study scale increased, and the old individuals showed randomly distribution.

  Conclusion   The population can regenerate naturally and the population will tend to increase under the maintaining of the current habitat.