Abstract:

【Objective】 Ardisia violacea, a rare and endangered plant endemic to China, has been found only in Taiwan, Zhejiang and Anhui Provinces. The purpose of this study is to provide a scientific basis for maintaining the development of the Ardisia violacea population and ensuring the survival of the community as well as to lay a theoretical foundation for the protection, regeneration and ecological restoration of the population and community. 【Method】The population of Ardisia violacea in Shunxiwu of Lin’an District, Hangzhou City, Zhejiang Province was newly discovered in 2018; the northernmost region where Ardisia violacea is distributed was taken as the study area for this study. The sample square survey method was adopted. The sample areas were divided into sample squares of 20 m× 20 m, and then each sample square was further divided into 16 small squares of 5 m × 5 m. For each individual plant, we recorded species name, height, basal diameter (D_b), crown width and coverage; habitat factors were recorded, including altitude, latitude, longitude, slope direction, slope, forest canopy density, soil type and vegetation community. The population structure and dynamics of Ardisia violacea were analyzed by compiling the static life table and fertility table, drawing the population age structure diagram, survival curve, mortality curve and extinction rate curve. 【Result】 ① In the population, plants in the low age class (D_B≤ 1.4 mm) were the most abundant, while the middle age class (1.4 < D_B ≤ 1.8 mm) and the old age class (D_B > 1.8 mm) were the least abundant, which shows that this population is growing. ② The survival curve tended to Deevey-Ⅱ, and the population had similar mortality rates at all ages. ③ Under future external interference, V_pi'=0.008 8 > 0, the population growth rate is likely to be slower and sensitive to external disturbances. 【Conclusion】The whole population of Ardisia violacea in the sample plot showed a trend of low growth, a physiological life span of about 4.0 years, and the population size was relatively stable.

Key words: Ardisia violacea, population structure, static life table, survival curve, fertility