Search

Daiyun Mountain plays a fundamental role in maintaining stability of subtropical evergreen broad-leaved forest in China. To explore the distribution of vegetation on Daiyun Mountain, two-way indicator species analysis (TWINSPAN) method was used to classify the Pinus taiwanensis forest. The effects of 10 environmental factors on the distribution of P. taiwanensis forest were studied using canonical correspondence analysis (CCA). The results showed that (1) the P. taiwanensis forest could be divided into seven associations, P. taiwanensis Hayata + Schima superba Gardn. & Champ - Oligostachyum oedogonatum (Z.P. Wang & G.H. Ye) Q.F. Zhang & K.F. Huang + Photinia parvifolia (Pritz.) Schneid, P. massoniana Lamb. + Acer davidii Franch -Sarcandra glabra (Thunb.) Nakai + Styrax odoratissimus Champ, P. taiwanensis + S. superba - Clethra delavayi Franch. + Eurya groffii Merr, P. taiwanensis + Cunninghamia lanceolata (Lamb.) Hook - E. groffii + Vaccinium carlesii Dunn, P. taiwanensis + Machilus thunbergii Sieb. & Zucc - Camellia sinensis (L.) O. Kuntze + Rhododendron mariesii Hemsl. & Wils, P. taiwanensis + S. superba - Syzygium buxifolium Hook. & Arn. + Itea oblonga Hand. -Mazz and P. taiwanensis + Ilex crenata Thunb - E. saxicola H. T. Chang + R. eudoxum Balf. f. & Forrest, respectively; (2) associations I-III, V, and VII were distributed along elevation and nutrient gradients, whereas associations IV and VI were distributed on the southern slope with low soil acidity; (3) the CCA results showed that elevation and soil organic carbon played a greater role in the distribution of the seven associations; and (4) the soil and terrain factors accounted for 33.28% of the spatial distribution of the seven associations on Daiyun Mountain, and other unexplained factors accounted for 66.72%. We recommend creating different community protection areas based on elevation, and communities can be managed according to elevation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]