Numerical classification and ordination of forest communities in habitat of Sichuan Snub-nosed Monkey in Hubei Shennongjia National Nature Reserve

A study on the Hubei Shennongjia National Nature Reserve identified that the forest community dominated by Abies fargesii (Sichuan fir) and Betula utilis (Himalayan birch), along with Acer megalodum (giant maple) and Rosa caudata (trailing rose), provides the optimal habitat for the Sichuan Snub-nosed Monkey. This conclusion was derived from a numerical classification and ordination analysis of 58 forest plots, which revealed that altitude gradient is the most influential environmental factor shaping forest community distribution in this region. The research also highlighted that species richness varies across vegetation types, with shrubs generally exhibiting higher diversity than trees or herbs in coniferous forests and mixed forests. Additionally, lichens, a crucial winter food source for the monkey, were found exclusively in coniferous and mixed coniferous-deciduous broadleaf forests. These findings offer critical insights for the conservation planning of Sichuan Snub-nosed Monkeys, emphasizing the importance of preserving high-altitude, well-developed forest communities.

LI Guangliang, 李广良, CONG Jing, 丛静, LU Hui, 卢慧, XUE Yadong, 薛亚东, SU Xiujiang, 宿秀江, YANG Jingyuan, 杨敬元, & LI Diqiang, 李迪强. (2012). Numerical classification and ordination of forest communities in habitat of Sichuan Snub-nosed Monkey in Hubei Shennongjia National Nature Reserve. Acta Ecologica Sinica, 32(23), 7501–7511. https://doi.org/10.5846/stxb201112261980