A PRELIMINARY STUDY ON THE NICHE OF THE MAIN TREE POPULATIONS OF CHIMONANTHUS PRAECOX COMMUNITY IN NORTHWESTERN HUNAN PROVINCE

Based on the data from the field investigation, the Levin formula and the niche proportional similarity formula were used to calculate the niche breadth, niche proportional similarity and the niche overlaps among nine populations of Chmonanthus praecox community in Northwestern Hunan Province.The result shows that the order of niche breadth is: Chimonanthus praecox、Lindera communis、Alangium chinensis、Pistacia chinensis、Pittosporum truncatum、Adina racemosa、Machilus lichuanensis、Celtis jullunae、Prunus pseudocerasus.The niche proportional similarities and the nich overlaps among Chimonanthus praecox and other populations are low.The competition for resources is not intensive.Chimonanthus praecox became dominart species and plays an important role in the maintenance of the diversity and stability of the community.