OBJECTIVETo study the community characteristics of Acanthopanax giraldii and its role and adaptability in the community.

METHODThe methods of community ecology were used to investigate vegetation composition in different sample plots and the number of the clumps and clonal ramets. The importance value of species and biodiversity index of each plot was calculated. The life form spectra in different community were counted. The chi-square test was applied to analyze the dependence degree of A. giraldii to other main shrub species in the community.

RESULTThe investigation had showed that A. giraldii community could be divided into three types. The number of A. giraldii population in each type had great difference. Statistical analysis had shown that there's no correlation between the growth of A. giraldii with biodiversity and no significant interspecific association between A. giraldii and other main shrub species in the community yet.

CONCLUSIONThe population growth of A. giraldii was sensitive to Sunshine. A. giraldii maybe has the biological characteristics for artificial planting as a single population.