Conservation ecology of endangered plant Castanopsis kawakamii

The biological characteristic，community composition and structure，ecosystem characteristic，genetic diversity，forest cultivation，disease and pest control and ecotourism assessment of rare and endangered plant， Castanopsis kawakamii，were reviewed in this study.With high species diversity and complex community structure，C.kawakamii natural forest in Sanming city of Fujian province was a transitional type between central and southern subtropical evergreen broad-leaved forests.The overmature population，species competition and human disturbance all could affect the dynamic periodic fluctuations of C.kawakamii populations.Therefore，C.kawakamii forest was already in a decline stage，with few individuals in middle age,difficult germination of seeds in field and poor growth of C.kawakamii seedlings.Due to the natural succession trend of C.kawakamii populations by Castanopsis carlesii，Schima superba and Pinus massoniana in C.kawakamii forest edge，it should further strengthen the protection of C.kawakamii seedlings and young trees to promote its population regeneration and maintain the stability of the population age structure.In addition，the carbon pool storage，nutrient pool storage，soil respiration rate，litter fall storage and soil total microorganism biomass of C.kawakamii natural forest were higher than those of the forest plantation.C.kawakamii natural forest had good self-fertility ability，which could effectively maintain the soil fertility.Moreover，the protection of C.kawakamii natural forest resource should be strengthened and promoted to realize its sustainable management.Finally，the advance research direction of C.kawakamii biological conservation was presented.