Niche of Dominant Species of Larix principis-rupprechtii Communities in Wutai Mountain,Shanxi
Shannon-Wiener's index and Petraitis-s methods were used to analyze the niche breadth and overlap among 24 dominant species in the Larix principis-rupprechtii communities in Wutai Mountain,Shanxi. The results indicated that the species with sufficiently overwhelmingly broader niche breadth included Larix principis-rupprechtii , Carex lanceolata , Anthriscus sylvetris and Maianthemum bifolium , incontrast to those with the narrower niche breadth including PopuLus davidiana ,Saussurea jaPonica ,Allium victorialis and Rose davurica. The niche overlap was found only in 206 (37. 3%) among 576 dominant species piars. The less common niche overlap suggested the less severe competition in the communities. No absolutely general overlap among 24 dominant species was observed.