Preliminary research on species diversity change of the regeneration layer in gap gradient in a coniferous-broadleaved forest in Jinyun Mountain

To research the species diversity change of the regeneration layer in gap gradients, we computed the Margalef index, Simpson diversity index, Shannon-Wiener index, Pielou evenness index and Alatolo index with the data from transects through the regeneration layer in a coniferous-broadleaved forest in Jinyun Mountain. Species diversity of the regeneration layer gradually increased from non-gap to the gap central area, such that: Non-gapGap borderNear gap centerGap center. The change of species richness coincided with the pattern above, but the change of species evenness was high on edges and low in the center. The degree of species diversity change of the regeneration layer in gap gradients is affected heavily by gap phase. As the gap grows, the degree of change is: Early phase gap Middle phase gap Late phase gap.